Disaster management

Deputy Prime Minister Borwornsak Uwanno's decision to blame local mismanagement for the Hat Yai floods is a prime example of delivering useful information at the wrong time, as his remark makes the government look like it is hunting for a scapegoat.

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Yet it merits serious discussion. Which agencies or individuals should run disaster management operations? And who should be held responsible when things go awry?

The heated debate about how the administration of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has been running disaster management reflects the belief in centralised control.

According to this view, flood management must be the role of the premier, or at least the provincial governors, who should flex their muscles like a decisive CEO to command rescue operations. And when things go belly up, as has happened in Hat Yai, the CEO must take the blame.

It is clear that Mr Anutin, as chairperson of the national committee tasked with handling disaster management, must take the blame for his slow response in helping flood victims in Hat Yai.