The comments are Mr Nirat’s first on the proposal since he was transferred from Phuket to Bangkok last month during a sweeping Ministry of Interior reshuffle that followed mounting political pressure over allegations of corruption, the influence of local power brokers and conflict among senior provincial officials.
Now serving as Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Mr Nirat chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday (July 15) to review draft legislation establishing both Phuket and Chiang Mai as special metropolitan administrative organisations.
The meeting examined the structural impacts of the proposed laws before the Ministry submits its recommendations to the Cabinet.
Opening the meeting, Mr Nirat stressed that the Ministry “fully supports decentralisation” to local administrative organisations.
However, he immediately cautioned that abolishing the existing provincial administration in metropolitan areas required careful consideration.
“The Ministry of Interior has always been ready to promote decentralisation to local administrative organisations,” he said.
“However, restructuring metropolitan administration that would abolish regional administration in the area requires careful consideration in every dimension.”
He said concerns included maintaining national security, preserving an effective single-command structure during emergencies and preventing “inequalities” in provincial revenue collection.
Mr Nirat described the provincial administration as the “central link” between national policy and local implementation, warning that removing it could affect public services and public safety.
The Ministry will now compile recommendations from the meeting before forwarding its assessment to the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
However, the meeting treated Phuket and Chiang Mai as a single proposal despite the two provinces facing very different circumstances.
Supporters of the Phuket Metropolis Act have long argued that Phuket’s economy is unlike any other province in Thailand, requiring a different model of governance.
Phuket welcomed 4.9 million visitors in the first four months of this year alone, generating B186.9 billion in tourism revenue during the period, making it one of Thailand’s largest economic contributors despite having a resident population of only about 420,000 people.
Advocates say the province does not receive funding proportional to the revenue it generates and needs greater control over its own budget and administration to address long-standing issues including traffic congestion, infrastructure, wastewater management and rapid urban growth.
The proposal would replace the existing centrally appointed provincial administration with a special local authority, similar in principle to Bangkok’s system, giving Phuket greater autonomy over its own affairs.
Mr Nirat’s comments also mark a notable shift in emphasis from his time as Phuket governor, when he was regarded as supportive of greater decentralisation for the island.
His transfer to Bangkok took effect on June 25 after a Royal Gazette announcement, ending a tenure of just over eight months as governor.
The move formed part of the largest shake-up of Phuket’s provincial administration in years after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul intervened over complaints involving corruption allegations and internal divisions among senior officials.
The latest review follows previous delays to the legislation after House Speaker Wan Muhammad Noor Matha last year rejected an earlier draft of the Phuket Metropolis Act on constitutional grounds. Phuket MPs and supporters have since revised the proposal and continue pushing for parliamentary approval.