Here are 10 quotes from General Prayut Chan-o-cha during this week’s parliament debate (so far).
On being an awesome leader:
“There’re a million complaints lodged at the Prime Minister’s Office. I’ve already solved over 90%. These are problems that have never been solved before.”
“I don’t monopolize power in the CCSA [Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration]. Almost all the ministers are in every meeting, including the Bangkok Governor, doctors, and advisors. I make decisions based on this.”
On modern education:
“Teachers must educate themselves in the modern world. Can you educate the children on fake news? Can you compare which is real and which is fake? Teach the children. Many countries do this.”
On Yingluck Shinawatra:
“You say I misuse the budget. Let me ask you, the increase in public debt, how much did I have to use to pay off the Rice Pledging Scheme debt?”
“I insist, there is no corruption in my government. Let me stress, MY government.”
On love and hate:
“I love the people. Every day in the car, I look out the window. I don’t know how to make the people I see have a better quality of life. I don’t want any benefit from them. This is how I manage [the country].”
“You [the opposition] may hate me. But I don’t hate you. And I love the people.”
“It doesn’t matter who loves me. I don’t want to monopolize love just for myself.”
On generals and planes:
“To reduce the number of generals or whatever. It’s not that I don’t think to do it. But can everything be done today? Some say the army should have the same number of generals as the airforce. How can you think like this? I just don’t understand. There are only two people per plane … When there’s an emergency, who do you call? Soldiers.”
On submarines and happiness:
“If we only have one submarine, what do you think will happen? … they are not for war. We have them, so we don’t have to fight wars. I have said this many times. It affects the economy, security, and other things because we are the center of ASEAN. It’s not because of my personal benefits, just because I used to be a soldier. I’m not doing this for myself. I’m doing it for the safety and happiness of the people.”