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The new Deputy Minister of Transport is viewed by some as having been appointed simply because he was daddy's son. He talks to The Nation's Budsarakham Sinlapalavan. Excerpts:

  Q. Do you think you got the job simply because of your father's influence?

A. I think before anyone is appointed there has been a vetting process to select the appropriate person. I don't want anyone to see me as the son of Banharn; I want them to wait and see my works. At present there are many who are qualified to do political work but many don't have the right channel. I am lucky that I have the opportunity and the decision to choose me is a result of the party executives' decision. I worked for some ministers from the Chart Thai Party before and it may have played a role in making the big people (phoo yai) choose me for the post.

 

Q. What's your plan for the new job?

A. I don't know yet because the work hasn't been relegated to me. I have talked with Transport Minister Santi Prompat already though and he's an adorable person. He told me if there's any problem I should just tell him because we're working at the same place.

 

Q. Do you feel the pressure of a minister's job?

A. It's natural that people will keep their eyes on a new minister. As for pressure, that's expected, especially given the fact I am the son of Banharn Silipa-archa, who is a political veteran. I don't feel pressured but will do my best.

 

Q. What sort of advice did you receive from your father?

A. Nothing as yet. That's because I haven't started my work and so I don't know what advice to seek. But if I have any doubts, my father would be the best adviser. My father has always been my political idol since I was a child. There have been only 26 prime ministers in Thailand so far.

 

Q. What sort of traits do you share with your dad?

A. Humility and being a man of reconciliation. Being a deputy minister at such a young age has its pluses because I can seek advice from more senior persons at any time. I don't see that there is any drawback.

 

Q. People think you will succeed your father as head of the Chart Thai Party.

A. The Chart Thai Party doesn't belong to the Silipa-archa family but that of the party executives, so whoever leads the party [next] will be up to them, and depend not on the fact that I am the son of my father. It's not an inheritance that can be passed on.

 

Q. How much political clout [baramee] do you think you have at present?

A. Compared to others in the party, very little. There are many senior people who have spent years in politics and they have much more baramee than I. I don't think I can measure up to them ... I still have much to learn from others.

 

Q. How long do you plan to be in politics?

A. Until the day when people vote for me no longer. Until I can still contribute to the country and I will do my best to make people happy and take the best care of them.

 

Q. The Silipa-archa family has been in politics for decades and you personally have three children. How do you see their future? Would you expect them to become politicians?

A. I never set an expectation that they should become this or that because their lives are not mine. I can't force them to be or not be someone. I can only advise them, just like my father who advised me, to try to enter politics, which I have done and have been doing since [he gave me the advice].