Prime Anutin Charnvirakul on Thursday left many Government House reporters scratching their heads with his response to a question about whether his government was too hesitant in cracking down on scam networks.
The question was related to one of the photos of African businessman Benjamin Mauerberger, also known as Ben Smith, taken in 2014 with several prominent Thai figures, including Anutin.
The photo went viral on Wednesday only hours after Anutin presided over a press conference to announce a seizure of assets by the Anti-Money Laundering Office from a number of scam suspects, including Smith,
“You know me little go,” Anutin said half-jokingly in English.
As the journalists appeared puzzled, the prime minister quickly asked: “Do you know what it means?”
“It means you know too little about me,” he quickly explained.
The phrase ‘You know me little go’ is a purely literal translation of a Thai expression and may not strike a chord even with many Thai people. It literally refers to someone being underestimated.”
Anutin was apparently trying to rebut the reporter’s question raising doubts about the seriousness of his government in combatting scam networks which the opposition MPs believe involve certain politicians in power.
On a more serious note, the prime minister tried to distance himself from Smith. He admitted that he knows Smith but “not close to him.”
“He is a friend of a friend of mine,” Anutin said.
Anutin was landed in hot waters after pictures showing him with the South African businessman and several other well-known figures, including former army chief General Apirat Kongsompong, Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas and Sarath Ratanavadi, CEO of Gulf Energy surfaced on the social media.
Ekniti on Thursday explained that his picture with Smith was taken during a chance meeting at a function organized by the Royal Thai Police a few years back where he was a guest speaker.
This wasn’t the first time that Anutin tried to deflect reporters’ questions with answers in English.
Last month, when pressed whether he intended to dissolve the House if confronted with a no-confidence motion by the opposition bloc, the US-educated prime minister said in English: “I will play it by ear.”
