House committee member who criticised Similan park lodging faces probe

A diver from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) records observations on an underwater writing board during a coral reef survey in Mu Ko Similan National Park in January 2026. The assessment found the reefs in healthy condition, with no signs of coral bleaching. (Photo: DNP)

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has launched an investigation into whether the chief of Mu Ko Similan National Park improperly allowed an adviser to the parliamentary committee vetting the 2027 budget bill to stay overnight on the Similan Islands despite a long-standing accommodation ban, after the adviser criticised park conditions during a budget debate.

The probe follows remarks by Veera Dhirapatranon, a member of the House ad hoc committee scrutinising the fiscal 2027 budget, made during a parliamentary budget debate on Wednesday about the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which oversees the DNP.