Samak never knew I voted for him : Chamlong

"Believe it or not, I used to vote for him. He himself never knew it, but I really did. I voted for him when he was a young-blood politician," Chamlong said.

"But of course, he was like my arch-enemy when we grew older. He didn't like the Santi Asoke Buddhist sect that much and I happened to be one of its members.

"We also clashed over an abortion bill in 1980. When I was secretary-general to former prime minister Prem Tinsulanonda, Samak pushed for virtual liberalisation of abortion but I put up resistance. I quit my government position and fought the bill until it was killed.

"There was another incident that I remember well. I was helping Gen Prem during the formation of a coalition government. Having hooked him [Prem] up with then Chat Thai leader Pramarn Adireksarn and then Social Action Party leader Kukrit Pramoj, there was Samak, who was then Prachakorn Thai leader, left to deal with.

"Samak wouldn't come to the meeting and while he was on the phone with me, Gen Prem who was with me at that time, sought to speak with him. It was a long conversation on Samak's side because all Gen Prem could manage was 'sir', 'sir' and 'sir'."