Mr Polapee, a Bhumjaithai MP for Nakhon Ratchasima, delivered the latest round of instructions while chairing a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall to review progress on urgent government and Ministry of Interior policies.
The meeting was attended by Department of Land Director-General Pornpoj Penpas, Secretary to the Interior Minister Chaiwat Junthirapong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration Ronnarong Thipsiri, Phuket Governor Chotinrin Kerdsum, Phuket MPs and senior government officials.
Mr Polapee praised the newly appointed Governor and Phuket provincial administration for what he described as swift action in enforcing the law, including implementing final court rulings that resulted in the order of demolition of illegal structures at Sirinat national Park and Freedom Beach.
He said authorities must continue to act immediately in cases where final court rulings had been issued or where officials had clear legal authority, while cases still under investigation must be handled carefully and fairly.
Mr Polapee again ordered the Department of Land to expedite investigations into land titles issued on mountaintops, forest reserves and SorPorKor agricultural land.
“If any illegal issuance of land titles or forest encroachment is discovered, immediate legal action should be taken without fear of influence or capitalists,” he said.
He said matters outside the Department of Land’s jurisdiction had been forwarded to agencies including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Royal Forest Department and local authorities.
On suspected nominee businesses, Mr Polapee said investigations had expanded to more than 300 establishments, with 353 cases submitted to the Board of Investment (BOI) for review and another 38 awaiting examination.
Of the companies already checked, only eight were found to qualify for special privileges, while 307 were not eligible for exemptions, he said.
Mr Polapee ordered agencies to proceed with legal action and called for investigations to go beyond the revocation of privileges by tracing financial transactions, identifying people behind nominee arrangements and examining the source of assets held by Thai nationals suspected of acting as nominees.
He also repeated his call for authorities to accelerate the processing of legitimate hotel licences while closing and prosecuting illegal operators.
Mr Polapee said Phuket had reviewed more than 600 pending hotel licence applications, with almost 100 licences processed within three weeks.
“If any establishment complies with regulations regarding civil engineering, building design, environmental aspects and fire escapes, their licences should be granted so that they can operate with dignity and pay taxes correctly,” he said.
However, businesses operating without licences, illegally adding rooms or using condominiums and apartments as illegal accommodation must be shut down and prosecuted, he said.
“Today we must do what is right. We must protect businesses operating legally and those paying taxes properly because state revenue comes from taxpayers who comply with the law,” Mr Polapee said.
He also ordered closer scrutiny of applications to establish new shrines and foundations, warning that such organisations could potentially be used as vehicles for money laundering.
Turning to cannabis, Mr Polapee cited recent cases involving more than 30 kilogrammes of marijuana being smuggled through Phuket airport and ordered district officials and local agencies to inspect cannabis shops in tourist areas and walking streets.
He warned that unlicensed shops must face immediate action and said he would personally conduct random inspections, with local officials to be held accountable for any negligence.
Mr Polapee concluded by again urging civil servants to enforce the law without fear, promising support for officials who performed their duties correctly.
Governor Chotinrin reported that the province was continuing action on hotel licensing, illegal structures on public land and beaches, foreign nominee businesses, illegal foreign workers, influential figures, crime, drugs and smuggled goods.
The measures were aimed at maintaining public order, protecting national interests and strengthening confidence in Phuket’s economy and tourism sector, he said.