PM defends handing out cash to flood victims

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was seen handing cash to residents while visiting flood victims in Bangkok's Sai Mai district on Tuesday. (Photo: Survive - สายไหมต้องรอด) Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was seen handing out cash to flood-hit residents of communities in Sai Mai district of Bangkok late on Tuesday, sparking online debate after footage was shared in a Facebook live stream.

Mr Anutin made an unannounced visit to the Ban Ua-Athorn housing estate in Bang Khen, Sai Mai, on the night of Sept 29 to hand out supplies and check on residents who have been living with floodwaters for five days. More than 10,000 people live in the community.

Afterwards, some residents asked to have their photos taken with the prime minister. In a live stream on Facebook, Mr Anutin is seen taking a wad of cash from his trousers pocket and giving 1,000-baht banknotes to residents.

“Hush hush, this is all I have. It won’t be enough,” he said. Security staff then raised their hands to block the camera, and a man could be heard saying: “Please, no filming.”

The clip has been widely shared on social media, with users debating whether such a gesture is permissible and appropriate for a prime minister.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Anutin said: “My money is clean. The money I gave the residents yesterday was not even half of what I earned as prime minister.”

He said residents had walked a long way to meet him, and he did not know what else to give as supplies for the handout had been depleted. “I handed out what I had. That was my intention,” he said.