Phuket Governor nominated for Interior Ministry promotion, successor revealed

PHUKET: Maitri Inthusut has been nominated for promotion from his current position as Governor of Phuket to Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Interior, effective October 1.

Governor Maitri was among more than 30 high-ranking officials nominated by the Ministry of Interior for promotion or transfer in a list to be presented to the Cabinet today, reported The Nation.

Any promotions or transfers approved by the Cabinet will be presented to HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej for royal endorsement.

Governor Maitri today declined to comment on his impending promotion.

“The order has yet to be made official,” Governor Maitri told the Phuket Gazette. “It is too soon to comment. Let’s wait until the order is official.”

Governor Maitri has served as the Governor of Phuket since arriving on the island in October 2012 (story here).

Nominated to succeed Mr Maitri as Phuket Governor is Nisit Jansomwong, who currently serves as Governor of Ratchaburi province.

Ratchaburi, with an official population of more than 800,000 people, covers an area of more than 5,000sq km and shares a border with Myanmar.

Like Phuket, Ratchaburi depends heavily on tourism. However, the province is far less densely populated than Phuket.

Despite Phuket having an official population of more than 600,000 residents, officials serving in positions on the island have for years considered Phuket to have more than a million people – including tourists and residents – on any given day.

Phuket is currently ranked as the sixth most densely populated province in the country.

— Chutharat Plerin