Ms Supajee took the stage at a campaign rally at Saphan Hin yesterday (Jan 28), where she appeared alongside senior party figures and local candidates contesting all three Phuket constituencies. The rally was led by southern regional party leader Pipat Ratchakitprakarn and drew a large crowd, with many supporters gathering for photographs after her speech.
The event was held to support Ploytalay Laksmisangchan (Constituency 1), Sanakorn Keesin (Constituency 2) and Wiwat Jindapol (Constituency 3), with party-list candidates Supachai Jaisamut and Chalath Ratchakitprakarn also present.
Opening her address by greeting the crowd in Southern Thai, Ms Supajee said she felt a strong connection with Phuket, describing the province as “a beautiful pearl of the Andaman Sea” and one of Thailand’s most important tourism hubs.
She said Phuket’s economic importance justified a new administrative and investment status.
“Phuket generates enormous income for the country, but the costs of living and doing business here are also high,” she said. “Upgrading Phuket to a Special Economic Zone will strengthen income, reduce expenses and allow the government to invest properly in solving long-standing problems.”
A major focus of her speech was traffic congestion, which she described as one of the most urgent issues facing the island.
“Phuket is a developed province with large numbers of Thai and foreign tourists, so congestion is unavoidable if infrastructure does not keep pace,” she said, noting delays to key projects. “The tunnel must finally be completed, because it will significantly ease traffic.”
She also highlighted what she described as a critical bottleneck at the Heroines Monument on the route from Phuket International Airport, calling for the urgent construction of an overpass to relieve congestion.
Beyond transport, Ms Supajee cited water shortages during the dry season, waste management problems, and insufficient incinerator capacity as issues requiring immediate attention, arguing that Special Economic Zone status would give Phuket greater capacity to address them.
She also outlined a broader regional development vision linking Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi under what she called the ‘Andaman Riviera’ concept, aimed at encouraging longer tourist stays and spreading income across the region. Of note, the ‘Andaman Riviera’ concept was first floated by Thaksin Shinawatra during his second term as prime minister.
“Phuket alone may not be enough,” she said. “Phuket should be a smart city, Krabi should focus on wellness tourism, such as the Khlong Thom saltwater hot springs, and Phang Nga should emphasise eco-tourism and low-carbon tourism. If we connect these provinces, tourists will stay longer and more money will flow into Phuket and the region.”
Ms Supajee also pointed to what she described as missed economic opportunities due to Phuket’s lack of large-scale convention and exhibition facilities.
“If we had venues that could accommodate more than 700 or 800 people, Phuket could host world-class conferences,” she said. “That means more visitors, more spending and more income for the province.”
Turning to labour and business issues, Ms Supajee said illegal foreign employment and nominee businesses were harming local livelihoods. She said the Ministry of Commerce was working with the Royal Thai Police and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to crack down on illegal operations.
“We must deal seriously with nominee businesses and illegal enterprises so Thai people can work to their full potential,” she said. “This will also reduce the financial burden on the public.”
On household finances, she raised the possibility of reviving the government’s Half-Half Plus (Khon La Khreung Plus) co-payment scheme, saying it had previously helped ease living costs. She also said the Bhumjaithai Party was ready to support small business owners through debt relief measures, including **interest-free loans of up to B1 million for at least three years, and programmes to help generate additional income.
Ms Supajee concluded by urging voters to give the Bhumjaithai Party an opportunity to govern and to elect its candidates in all three Phuket constituencies.
“Phuket is a beautiful pearl of Thailand,” she said. “Just tell us the problems. If we return to government, we are ready to work for the people of Phuket.”
She ended her appeal by asking voters to support Bhumjaithai Party number 37.
Reporters at the event noted a lively atmosphere throughout the rally, with a large crowd surrounding Ms Supajee for photographs after her speech. Supporters presented her with marigold and rose garlands as mobile phone lights lit up the area, creating what attendees described as a “sea of stars”.
Ms Supajee also drew attention for wearing a batik dress from Yayee, a local Phuket brand, which party representatives said was intended to show support for local entrepreneurs and creative industries.
The general election will be held on Sunday, Feb 8, with advance voting scheduled for Sunday, Feb 1. The election and advance voting will both invoke 24-hour bans on the sale and distribution of alcohol throughout the country.