Paiboon alone in start of Phuket election campaigning

PHUKET: On the first morning of enrollment for candidates for the position of Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) president, former president Paiboon Upatising was the first and so far only candidate to show his hand today.

All other potential candidates have until Friday to register.

Mr Paiboon, running for his second term as Phuket’s highest-ranking elected government official, arrived at Phuket Community Hall at 8:30am to register his candidacy with the Phuket Election Commission.

Being the first day of registration, and as Mr Paiboon was the first to register, he was given the favorable voting ballot number 1.

As yet, no other hopefuls have come forward. However, they have until March 9 to stake a claim to the job of OrBorJor president, with voters scheduled to go to the polls on April 7.

Mr Paiboon this morning announced to supporters gathered in front of the hall that his re-election would make Phuket a “more friendly place to live”, and he vowed to work with “morals” and “transparency”.

“The way I work is clean and clear, with everything open for the public [to see] and ready to be checked at anytime,” he said.

The former president listed a number of projects he wants to see completed if he is re-elected.

These included a new sports stadium in Thalang with a regulation football pitch, an indoor sports complex at Bang Wad Dam, and a fitness center at Saphan Hin.

“I want Phuket to have more parks for leisure and exercise. I want to encourage the ‘One Tambon, One Aerobic’ campaign, so people can exercise in their own community,” he said.

Mr Paiboon also stated his plans for public health with a promise to provide more emergency rescue services, doctors and nurses for those unable to visit hospitals.

“I want to provide more specialists at the OrBorJor Hospital [in Rassada], such as ophthalmologists, ENT specialists, and more. I will pledge to allocate an extra 200 million baht for human resources development,” he said.

Tourism was also on Mr Paiboon’s platform.

“I still want to work with the Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket Office and the Phuket Tourist Association in order to hold the activities that promote tourism in Phuket… We have a lot more direct flights to Phuket and I want to continue the good work if I get re-elected,” he said.

— Warisa Temram