PM: I'm not indecisive

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday rejected criticism that she is weak and indecisive in handling flood-related problems.

"I can assure you that I am not ignorant, indifferent or indecisive in solving problems. The problems concern not only the masses but also techniques," she said.

Ms Yingluck said officials from the Royal Irrigation Department, Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration were jointly repairing the damage caused by angry local residents at Khlong Sam Wa floodgate.

She believed the problem with the floodgate would be solved today.

The prime minister said overall responses from other countries showed they understood the flood situation in Thailand and she was prepared to explain it to the international community at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum meeting in Hawaii, the United States, on Nov 12 and 13.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra: I'm not indecisive.

On a proposal for the establishment of a ministry to specifically handle water management, Ms Yingluck said it was one of the many proposals offered to solve the problem.

She was of the opinion that initially there must be a master plan drawn up by experts from the various sectors to properly manage water in all dams.

By the time she took the office, every dam was already full, she said.

The premier denied a report that she had discussed the flooding problems with her elder brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawata, via the Skype channel.

Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa called on all parties to give their support to Prime Minister Yingluck.

“The prime minister has been working around the clock in the fight against the northern runoff,” Gen Yutthasak said.

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanont Intarakomalyasut said Prime Minister Yingluck has shown she is not in control of the flood situation, and the problem at Khlong Sam Wa is an obvious example of her failing.

The spokesman said he did not know what logic Ms Yingluck had used in ordering the floodgate to be opened to one meter wide.

What was worse, after the gate was lifted higher the volume of water in Khlong Sam Wa had not dropped at all because northern runoff was still pouring in, Mr Chavanont said.

The water released by lifting the gate higher was rushing down to Min Buri district, leaving Bang Chan and Lat Krabang industrial estates unprepared.

"The prime minister is doing everything in response to pressure from other people," he said.

"Similar examples have occurred one after another, from Pathum Thani to Wat Nawong community at Lak Hok in Don Mueang area, Khlong Sam Wa, Bang Sue, and Nakhon Chai Si district of Nakhon Pathom.

"These indicate that she is incapable of ordering where the floodwater should be held back."

Mr Chavanont said damage could be widespread and affect people everywhere because of Ms Yingluck's inability to properly administer the country.

He said the Democrat Party had asked her to invoke the emergency decree to enable effective control of the flood, but to no avail, because she did not want to accept the opposition's advice.

"We hope her shortcomings are soon corrected, otherwise there will be even more damage,” the Democrat Party spokesman said.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand 

Paribatra

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said cooperation between the government's Flood Relief Operations Centre (Froc) and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is the only way to overcome the flood crisis.

MR Sukhumbhand called on officials of both Froc and the BMA to refrain from making comments that could lead to conflict.

The governor said he had discussed the flood situation on the phone with Ms Yingluck and asked for cooperation in efforts to prevent the capital from flooding.

“A high ranking official at Froc had earlier said that the center could not work with the BMA, but since the prime minister and I have no problem with each other there should be no problem anymore,” he said.

He could not say when repairs to the damaged Khlong Sam Wa sluicegate would be finished or how many of Bangkok’s 50 districts would be flooded.

The situation will be clear within the next two weeks, he added.