BANGKOK — 12 May 2026, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn firmly denied on Tuesday any connection to claims that a family-affiliated company had been purchasing land in Ranong province as a precursor to the government’s proposed land bridge project.
During a press briefing at the Bhumjaithai Party headquarters at 15:00, Phiphat addressed inquiries regarding Ama Marine Plc., which had recently issued a statement in response to reports linking it to land acquisitions in southern Thailand.
“I don’t see how this has anything to do with me, and the company has already issued a clarification,” Phiphat stated to the assembled media.
When questioned about whether a director at the company had the same last name as his, Phiphat confirmed that the chief executive is his younger brother, before challenging reporters, “Do you have any problem with that?”
Opposition parties have suggested that the company was acquiring land in Ranong to capitalize on the planned land bridge project, a significant infrastructure initiative designed to link the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.
Phiphat dismissed these accusations, asserting that the company had publicly clarified its non-involvement and that it had not acquired any land. “The company has already clarified that it has no involvement and did not buy any land,” he emphasized, inviting reporters to reach out to the company directly for more details.
As the discussion concluded, Phiphat expressed his reluctance to delve deeper into the topic, remarking, “the more I speak about it, the more it could affect me.”
Source: Khaosod English
