Photo: Jirayu Houngsub/Government House
Jirayu Houngsub is set to become the next government spokesman after being appointed as public relations adviser to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on September 16.
Confirmation of his appointment as the new administration’s mouthpiece is expected to come next week after checks on his qualifications are completed.
Tougher scrutiny
The backgrounds of key political appointees, including Jirayu, are being carefully scrutinised, seemingly to ensure the prime minister is not undermined by any past ethical issues.
Adding to the usual criminal-record check by the Royal Thai Police and examination of qualifications by the National Anti-Corruption Commission and government legal experts, several other agencies are scrutinising the incoming officials.
These agencies include the Constitutional Court, Anti-Money Laundering Office, Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Securities and Exchange Commission, Legal Execution Department, and Office of the Auditor-General.
The new government appears to have learned its lesson after Paetongtarn’s predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was ousted for breaching the Constitution by appointing former lawyer Pichit Chuenban as his Prime Minister’s Office minister despite his prison record.
Jirayu, 55, took up his new post as Paetongtarn’s PR adviser immediately, holding a press conference to unveil decisions made at the new Cabinet’s first meeting at Government House on Tuesday (Sept 17).
Jirayu, a former Defence Ministry spokesman in the previous government, said he would begin his duties as PM’s adviser this week, while the screening of government appointments – including his own – was still underway.
He added that the decision on his appointment was expected at next week’s Cabinet meeting.
Formerly a journalist and TV announcer, Jirayu said he had sought advice on taking the role from previous government spokesman Chai Wacharonke and from Jakrapob Penkair, who was initially tipped to get the job.
Jakrapob, 56, served as government spokesman from 2003 to 2005 during the premiership of Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin, and as PM’s Office minister in the administration led by Thaksin’s proxy, Samak Sundaravej.
Once a red-shirt leader loyal to Thaksin, Jakrapob only returned to Thailand in late March after 15 years of self-imposed exile overseas.
Jakrapob denied media reports that he failed to get the spokesman job because of two criminal cases against him. He claimed in a September 15 Facebook post that the Attorney-General’s Office had cleared him of the charges.
He said the decision to choose Jirayu as government spokesman was based instead on a “new strategy that has just been finalised”.
Media career
Jirayu was born in Bangkok on February 11, 1969. He earned a bachelor’s degree in design from the University of Canberra in Australia and a master’s in journalism from Thammasat University.
He began his career as a creative director at an advertising agency then shifted to the mass media, working as a reporter for business newspapers and a radio station, before joining iTV, Thailand’s first independent broadcaster.
At iTV, Jirayu initially covered economic news and current affairs, later becoming its news anchor and news editor.
He left iTV after the station transformed into Thailand Independent Television (TITV) following the September 2006 coup that deposed Thaksin’s government.
After the pro-Thaksin People Power Party won the 2007 election and Samak became prime minister, Jirayu joined the state-run TV station NBT as a news announcer. He lost his job at NBT in March 2009 under the Democrat-led government of Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Jirayu later joined the red shirts’ People Channel, where he hosted political shows – including one known for its sharp criticism of Abhisit’s administration. He also hosted a motoring programme on Voice TV, which is owned by Thaksin’s son Panthongtae Shinawatra.
Entry into politics
After leaving the media, Jirayu joined the Pheu Thai Party, initially working in its spokesman’s team. He contested the 2011 general election in Bangkok under the party’s banner and won an MP seat. He was re-elected in 2019. However, he failed to get elected in last year’s national vote.
After Pheu Thai regained power in September last year, Jirayu was made the Defence Ministry's spokesman under Sutin Klungsang, the previous civilian defence minister from the ruling party.
