BANGKOK: The government has come under fire after a deputy minister admitted his assistant had met a man who was hoarding face masks.
Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow was responding to a report on social media that claimed his aide had hoarded 200 million face masks to be sold to China.
Palang Pracharath member of parliament Sira Jenjaka called on Thamanat to resign to fix the image of the government.
His call was echoed across the floor by deputy Democrat leader Nipit Intarasombat and Democrat MP Panit Wikitset.
Thamanat said on his Facebook page there was a man hoarding masks for sale, but he had no connection with the man.
According to the Bangkok Post, he said his aide, Pittinant Rak-iad, was advised by a friend to meet the man at the Marriott Hotel in the Pratunam area to discuss a matter involving masks, but they did not make a deal.
Thamanat said that if Pittinant were to be involved in any such offence, he would support his prosecution.
Meanwhile, Sornsuvee “Boy” Pooraveenasawatchari, who was pictured meeting Pittinant in the hotel, told crime suppression police in Chon Buri province that he had not stocked any face masks.
Asked about a clip he posted showing himself with a large inventory of face masks, he said he did not know to whom they belonged.
“I just wanted to show off I had found much sought-after masks since the product is in short supply. No one can find them. I found them but didn’t have the money to buy them, so I posted the clip on Facebook."
He apologised for causing a misunderstanding.
When reporters asked who the masks belonged to, Sornsuvee said: “No one. I’ve never seen them. I don’t know who the owner is. I know nothing.”