Mr. Ong-Art Klampaiboon, the acting Deputy Leader of the Pheu Thai Party (PTP), discussed the case of Mr. Sutheen Klangsang, who became the first civilian to serve as the Minister of Defense under the Ministry of Defense, in a non-prime ministerial position. Ong-Art mentioned that this situation would undoubtedly be of great interest to society, and it is normal in other countries for politicians elected by the people to become the Minister of Defense. Therefore, whether Mr. Sutheen will perform well in his role as Defense Minister will depend on his work from now on, just like any other civilian politician serving in this position. Ong-Art encouraged Mr. Sutheen to fulfill his duties as the Minister of Defense to the best of his abilities, in line with the responsibilities and policies of the government.
Mr. Sutheen Klangsang, as the new Defense Minister, has been entrusted with several important tasks that are of interest and expectation to the public. These tasks include:
Transparently managing the defense budget and ensuring the highest efficiency, especially in weapon procurement and military equipment.
Determining the appropriate size of the military force in the current situation, particularly regarding the issue of a full general.
Reevaluating military conscription or reducing conscription requirements.
Adapting the role of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) to be more suitable for the current situation.
Seeking the benefit of the military in all its forms.
Ong-Art concluded by stating, "If you, Mr. Sutheen Klangsang, the new Defense Minister, can perform your duties appropriately and meet the expectations of the public, you will undoubtedly become the first civilian politician to serve as the Minister of Defense under the Ministry of Defense, admired by the people."
