MPs discuss flooding issues, ask the government to set up urgent relief measures after the water recedes, while "Suwanna", MP for Bueng Kan, Bhumjaithai Party, stops performing duties after the Supreme Court accepts the petition of the Election Commission, leaving 492 MPs to perform their duties. The House of Representatives meeting was chaired by Mr. Pichet Chueamuangphan, First Vice President of the House of Representatives. The first session allowed members to discuss the problems of hardship in the area. Many MPs raised the problem of the flood situation in several provinces in the North and Northeast. Mr. Chitwan Chin-Anuwat, Chiang Rai MP of the Prachachon Party, said that this flood situation is considered the most severe in 100 years. Many houses were damaged by mudslides, transportation routes and electricity were cut off, and assistance in many areas was difficult to reach. In some areas, there were no warning signs. Therefore, he asked the government to set up urgent assistance measures after the water receded and to review the timely notification of incidents in order to effectively deal with disasters. Mr. Siam Pengthong, MP for Bueng Kan, Bhumjaithai Party, discussed the flood situation in the Northeastern region, especially in Bueng Kan Province where flooding has affected houses and more than 33,000 rai of agricultural land. Currently, the water level in the Mekong River is rising at a worrying rate. He asked the Ministry of Public Health to prepare for water-borne diseases and prepare urgent relief measures after the water level recedes. While Mr. Phumipat Phacharathap, MP for Nakhon Phanom, Pheu Thai Party, discussed the problems of flooding, drought, and substandard water supply systems, he asked the Department of Groundwater Resources to drill groundwater wells to provide village water supply to alleviate initial suffering for the people. He also asked the government to plan to solve the problems of flooding and drought in the long term sustainably. The meeting then acknowledged the royal command appointing Mr. Pichet, Chiang Rai MP from the Pheu Thai Party, as the first deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, and Mr. Phradon Prisananantakul, Ang Thong MP from the Bhumjaithai Party, as the second deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. In addition, the president informed the Supreme Court's order that the president of the Supreme Court has sent a letter informing the Supreme Court's order in the case where the Election Commission (EC) filed a petition requesting the Supreme Court to order the revocation of the right to run for election or the revocation of the right to vote of Mr. Suwanna Kumpiro, MP for Bueng Kan District 2, Bhumjaithai Party, according to the Constitution, Section 226, in conjunction with the Organic Act on the Election of MPs, Sections 138 and 39. The Supreme Court has ordered to accept the petition for consideration and read to the petitioner on August 30, 2024, which results in Mr. Suwanna having to stop performing his duties until the Supreme Court rules that he has not committed an offense according to the Constitution, Section 226, Paragraph Four of the Organic Act on the Election of MPs, Section 138, Paragraph Three. Therefore, currently, there are 492 MPs who are able to perform their duties, and no less than half of them, which is 246 people, attended the meeting. Source: Thai News Agency