PHUKET TOWN: Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi has ordered the replacement of Muang District Chief Somsak Sanyanuphap with Wirachai Chanpen of Phang Nga province. The transfer order, issued on Friday, is the first demonstration of the new power of the Governor CEO, granted as part of Thailand’s experiment in giving provincial governments more autonomy. Under the new system, the Governor CEO no longer needs approval from the Ministry of Interior before moving officials. K. Somsak told the Gazette that he did not want to comment on the reasons for his transfer, but said, “I’ve done my best for Phuket but there still a lot of problems on the island. I want to do good things for the island because I love Phuket – it’s my hometown.” He added, “I’ve tried hard to solve the problems within my power. However, some problems cannot be solved quickly.” K. Wirachai will start on December 11, the same day that K. Somsak takes up his new role as chief of Sadao district in Songkhla province.
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