Top businessman dies of heart attack
PHUKET: Banlue Tantiwit, former President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) died this morning of a heart attack. Phuket-born K. Banlue, who was 70, was also the Founding Chairman of the Phuket Rotary Club, a former Chairman of the Kathu Shrine and Chairman of the Phuket Sports Association. A well-known businessman, he was Chairman of the Board of the Patong Resort, Chairman of the Patong Tower Co, Chairman of Phuket Golf View and owner of Pin Yoh Tin Mine Co in Yala. He is survived by his wife Piyaporn, a son and two daughters. K. Piyaporn told the Gazette that the couple’s younger daughter found her father in the early hours of this morning, lying on the bathroom floor. He was rushed to Bangkok Phuket Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. A medical examination established that he had died of a heart attack. In her last note to K Banlue, placed in his coffin, K. Piyaporn wrote, “Today is a good day. You go safely. As from today we are separated. Don’t worry about me or the family.” Pakin Ruktaengam, a member of the Pattana Tongtin Party, which was led by K. Banlue and which lost its domination of the OrBorJor in February last year, said he was shocked to hear of K. Banlue’s death because he had thought of K. Banlue as being strong, and in good health. “We had dinner together just last month and I was told that he took part in the Kathu Shrine parade during the Vegetarian Festival,” said K. Pakin, who is Managing Director of his father’s Layan Beach Resort. “My father (Norahaj) was the best man at his wedding and K. Banlue was the one who urged me to go into politics. I am proud to have known him; he was a man of vision who listened to everyone’s ideas, including mine, even though I am the same age as his son,” K Pakin added. Funeral rites were performed today at K. Banlue’s house, opposite the Surakul Stadium on Vichitsongkram Rd. The cremation, with Royal Holy Water, will take place at Wat Kathu at 3 pm on Sunday (November 4).
