Unsung government official Suksit Srichomkwan faces one of the toughest tasks in Thai politics: convincing a sceptical public to support casino legalisation.
The prime minister's deputy secretary-general for political affairs has been tasked with promoting and explaining the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s entertainment complex-casino bill, according to Chayika Wongnapachant, a key Pheu Thai figure and cousin of PM and party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
“Government leaders assigned him to explain the entertainment complex plan to the public, noting his deep understanding [of the issue], communication skills, and involvement from the very start,” said Chayika, who serves an adviser to the foreign minister.
Chayika’s mother is Yaowares Shinawatra, sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra – the prime minister’s father and widely regarded as Pheu Thai’s patriarch and de facto leader.
Who is Suksit?
Chayika spoke out in support of Suksit after his emergence as de facto spokesman for casino legalisation sparked questions over his ability and background.
Endorsed by the Cabinet on March 27, the draft legislation was shelved by the PM on April 8 – just a day before its scheduled first reading in Parliament – amid mounting public opposition.
Paetongtarn said the bill was being held back until the next session, which starts in July. Pheu Thai figures also rejected calls for a referendum on casino legalisation.
Suksit has flown under the media radar up until now, working in the background as part of Pheu Thai’s economic thinktank.
His role in promoting casino legalisation only started in May last year after he was appointed deputy secretary-general under Paetongtarn’s predecessor, Srettha Thavisin.
He continued in the role after Paetongtarn took the helm last August and announced the casino plan as government policy.
Too little communication
Suksit has promoted the plan via interviews with online media outlets, including the pro-Pheu Thai Voice TV, as well as in the party’s social media posts.
They show him actively defending casino legalisation and seeking to allay public criticism over possible negative impacts on society while extolling the potential financial and economic gains for Thailand.
Suksit has also appeared at public events discussing the pros and cons of entertainment-casino complexes, suggesting they would be a “gamechanger” for the country.
In a February interview, Suksit promoted entertainment complexes as new attractions that would draw huge amounts of foreign investment and tourists.
“The aim is to bring [gambling] money into the system. Up to 90% of casino patrons over the border [in neighbouring countries] are Thais. This money slips out of Thailand’s system and helps fund criminal activities,” he said.
Suksit blamed the bill’s shelving on a “lack of communication” by the government. However, he insisted that information on the government’s plan to tackle possible downsides of casino legalisation, such as money laundering and other crimes, was freely available.
“We must communicate clearly with the public – both those who support and those who oppose [the plan],” Suksit said.
An expert in economics
Suksit has a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Flagler College in Florida and a master’s in business administration from Chulalongkorn University’s Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration.
He spent several years as an executive at various companies, including ING Life, Citibank, AIA, food-tech startup Advanced GreenFarm and his father’s Toyota dealership, Siam Auto Salon.
He joined Pheu Thai in 2023, as the party sought young talent to inject fresh ideas, according to Chayika.
Suksit joined the party’s economic think tank, led by Prommin Lertsuridej, the PM’s secretary-general under both Srettha and Paetongtarn.
Chayika credited Suksit with initiating Pheu Thai’s negative income tax policy. He also played a key role in arming Pheu Thai MPs and PM Paetongtarn with information to use during budget debates and the recent censure debate.
Additionally, as a member of House subcommittees, Suksit has helped promote and screen draft laws on clean air, and the protection and promotion of ethnic minorities.
