Kris thanks southern voters

Published on February 11, 2005

Kris Srifah was yesterday busy thanking voters in Phang Nga’s Constituency 2 for the overwhelming support that enabled him to register the only victory for the Thai Rak Thai party in the South.

He also paid respect at shrines and temples in the area after his prayers for an election win over political heavyweight Jurin Laksanavisith from the Democrat Party were answered.

“This is my third day of thanking people,” the businessman-turned-politician said.

Kris said local people had given him moral support and talked to him openly about their needs, mostly about getting their lives back to normal after they were shattered by the December 26 tsunami.

Kris acknowledged that part of his success also stemmed from being a member of Thai Rak Thai.

“People believe it will be easier for a Thai Rak Thai member to work closely with Thai Rak Thai government,” he said.

Kris vowed not to disappoint his constituents, saying that his first and most urgent mission was to restore the lives of people affected by the devastating tsunami.

“I will start working as soon as the Election Commission endorses my victory,” he added.

Kris has planned a meeting with entrepreneurs on Monday to discuss problems and collect their ideas about the best solutions. He will hand the information over to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on February 19 during the premier’s visit to Phang Nga.

Kris was a successful businessman. He owned Krathom Moken Resort, Green Ville Resort and Green Ville Travel agency, and was also a shareholder of the Kuraburi Green Ville Hotel in Phang Nga. He transferred all his businesses to his family to be eligible to enter politics.

“I left business behind four years ago. I have now devoted myself fully to serving society,” he said.

Before entering national politics, Kris was a Phang Nga provincial councillor, the chairman of the Phang Nga Tourism Association and an adviser to the Senate committee on tourism.

He said local politics had allowed him to serve society at a certain level, but he his contribution would be greater if he entered the national political arena.

Kris is sure that his support came from all levels of the constituency – from farmers and the grass roots to the business community.

“Outsiders might have thought that I didn’t have much chance of winning. I knew it wouldn’t be easy to beat an incumbent MP, but when the general election was approaching, I started to realise that I was going to win because local people had been showing me support,” Kris said.

He vowed to repay people for their trust in him.

Paisal Rattana

The Nation

Post your comment to this story here