The Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket), which operates under the Prime Minister’s Office, announced the confirmation after 8:30pm last night (Feb 25).
However, the Phuket branch of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT Phuket) has yet to make its own public announcement directly.
According to PR Phuket, the Election Commission has endorsed 396 constituency MPs nationwide in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws. Phuket, which has three constituencies, now has its full slate of representatives formally certified to serve in the House of Representatives.
CHALERMPONG
Chalermpong ‘Coach Sam’ Saengdee of the People’s Party was confirmed as re-elected in Phuket Constituency 2.
In a brief online post, Mr Chalermpong acknowledged the formality of the certification, stating simply that the Election Commission had officially endorsed him as MP.
Instead of focusing on celebrations, he turned attention to what he described as an urgent environmental threat following the sinking of the cargo vessel SEALLOYD ARC southwest of Phuket on Feb 7.
Fuel oil from the wreck has begun washing ashore at Koh Hei, raising fears of wider environmental and economic damage.
Mr Chalermpong warned that the spreading slick threatens coral reefs around Koh Kaew Noi and Koh Kaew Yai, a 34-rai seagrass bed in Rawai Bay, and key tourist beaches including Nai Harn, Rawai and Kata.
“Will we allow this vital marine resource to be destroyed? No!” he wrote, urging authorities to act immediately to contain the spill, disclose information transparently, prepare restoration plans and assess impacts on coastal communities.
He had already been conducting site visits before formal confirmation of his election result.
On Tuesday evening (Feb 24), he inspected the installation of long-awaited traffic lights at the Hua Khuan Nuea intersection in Kamala, alongside officials from the Phuket Provincial Highway Department, Kathu District officers and local village leaders.
Mr Chalermpong said the installation would reduce accidents affecting residents and tourists and marked the end of a 20-year wait. The traffic lights are expected to be operational within three to four days.
He also followed up on drainage works at a flood-prone curve near Phuket FantaSea, where construction of a drainage ditch is underway to speed the flow of water into the public drainage system ahead of the rainy season.
SOMCHART
In Phuket Constituency 1, Somchart Techathaworncharoen, also of the People’s Party, was confirmed as re-elected.
Like Mr Chalermpong, Mr Somchart made only a brief acknowledgement of his certification, instead highlighting his team’s performance on the government complaint-tracking platform Traffy Fondue.
He announced that his office had achieved “Gold Medal” status on the system, indicating a high level of responsiveness to public complaints.
Mr Somchart encouraged residents to continue reporting issues such as clogged drains, overgrown trees, potholes and water supply problems, pledging to coordinate solutions promptly.
“We don’t want anything kept quiet or hidden,” he wrote, inviting constituents to submit reports directly through the platform.
ORATHAI
In Phuket Constituency 3, Orathai Kerdsap of the Kla Tham Party was confirmed as the winning candidate, unseating incumbent Thitikan Thitiphrutikul of the People’s Party.
Ms Orathai thanked voters in an online message. “Orathai is ready to work for the people of Phuket. Thank you for all the votes and good friendship,” she wrote.
She also received congratulations from Korn Chatikavanij, a former finance minister and key founder of the Kla Party who is now a Democrat Party prime ministerial candidate.
“All the best to you krub!” Mr Korn wrote, to which Ms Orathai replied that she would do her best after he had “ignited my dream of development”.
Like her fellow Phuket MPs, Ms Orathai was already addressing local concerns, urging residents experiencing power outages to call the Provincial Electricity Authority hotline 1129 and clearly state the location to speed repairs.
“Experiencing a power outage? Anyone can call 1129. Please clearly state the location of the incident and don’t forget to follow up!” she wrote.
With their victories now formally endorsed, Phuket’s three MPs have begun their new parliamentary term with a strong focus on immediate local issues ‒ from environmental protection and infrastructure safety to public service responsiveness ‒ signalling an active start to their return, or arrival, in the House of Representatives.