Governor Niran to be transferred to Bangkok

PHUKET: After serving eight years in Phuket, Governor Niran Kalayanamit will now leave the province, the state-run NBT news agency has announced.

Governor Niran was initially transferred to Phuket as a vice-governor and was promoted to governor on November 1, 2006.

His request to be transferred to his native Bangkok has been approved, where he will take up the post of Deputy Director General at the Interior Ministry’s Department of Provincial Administration, a source told the Gazette.

His replacement will be 55-year-old Dr Preecha Ruangjan, who has been transferred from his position as governor in his home province of Phichit, where bird flu outbreaks and flooding have been among the problems he has had to tackle.

Gov Preecha said that this would be his first posting in the South, but that he had been to the region “a few times”.

He said he was happy with the posting and would do his best to take care of all the foreigners who live on the island or visit as tourists.

“Of course I won’t be able to deal with every individual complaint, but I will do my best to improve the overall situation,” he said.

The transfers are just two among 62 orders requested by Interior Minister Pol Gen Kowit Wattana and approved by Cabinet last Thursday. Those transferred will take up their new positions on October 20.

In other announced moves, Phang Nga Governor Wichai Praisa-Ngob will be heading to the Central Plains after being transferred to become governor of Singburi. Gov Wichai served only a year in Phang Nga before his transfer.

His replacement will be Yiamsuriya Palusuk, who is currently vice-governor of Nong Bualamphoo.

Mr Yiamsuriya told the Gazette he had traveled to the South before, but had never held an official post here. He said he was looking forward to working in the Andaman region, where he plans to meet the needs of foreign tourism and help promote tourism.

Not transferred was Krabi Governor Siwa Sirisaowalak, who will likely remain as governor of that province until he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 60 next year.

In other transfers involving former Andaman region civil servants, former Phang Nga Governor Anuwat Metheewiboonwut has been promoted to the powerful position of Director General of the Land Department.

He was transferred to that position from Samut Prakan, where he had been serving as governor, NBT’s Andaman News reported.