'Newbie' hopes to make political waves

Chitpas Bhirombhakdi, a new Democrat Party MP candidate for Bangkok's Dusit-Ratchathewi constituency, is visiting residents around Sriyan Market to introduce herself before the coming election.

"This week I'm still introducing myself because I am a 'newbie' and next week I'll be campaigning for the party," she said.

Although, she has been called a "new face", Chitpas is not really a "newbie" in politics. She is trying to prove herself since failing to get approval to stand in a by-election last year.

She has been secretary to the Information and Communications Technology minister since 2009 and has been closely involved in politics.

"If we need to help develop people in this area, we should try to be an MP candidate," she said.

She said the reason she was standing in the election was to be the voice of the people and to stand up for their rights.

Chitpas said that if she became MP, she would push for social development using ICT community programmes.

As a secretary to the ICT minister, she knows about the problem of children becoming addicted to games, and would aim to solve it. She said she wanted to give children a chance to get the right education and information.

She also wants to attack public health issues, including the problem of polluted water.

Chitpas said new-generation politicians could solve Thailand's political conflict because they were not dominated and divided by a political party.

"I believe that people are bored with the conflicts among the 'colour groups' and the new-generation politicians will end it, because we are not concerned about benefits."

The Democrat Party is highly democratic and has a good political ideology because it is not "led by a capitalist", she said.