It came as no surprise for People's Party (PP) MP Rukchanok Srinork to be more outstanding than the party leader, Natthaphong Rueangpanyawut, in Suan Dusit University's poll for the month of July.
She scored 33.70, ahead of Mr Natthaphong's 25.91 and 23.74 for Sirikanya Tansakul, the deputy party leader, who is regarded as the party's key economic brain.
On the government side, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul scored 37.71, followed by Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas's 28.74.
Ms Rukchanok is a first-time MP of the opposition People's Party, but was already well-known before entering politics for her stance on the sensitive issue regarding monarchy reform.
In 2023, she was sentenced by the Criminal Court to six years in prison without suspension after she was found guilty of lese majeste.
The case is still pending in the appeal process. She also faces several defamation charges.
Besides being an outspoken opposition MP, Rukchanok is chair of the House committee following and monitoring budget spending -- a new role which recently put her on a collision course with Panas Thailuann -- a former labour union leader.
Mr Panas is a former member of the Social Security board who is attempting a comeback after being on the board for about two decades.
In a heated argument with Mr Panas, Ms Rukchanok questioned the former labour leader's idea of retaining the practice of printing calendars for distribution to the insured people and the procurement of suits for staff of the Social Security Office (SSO), amounting to tens of millions of baht per annum.
In an era where people use mobile phones provided with calendars, Ms Rukchanok and many other critics viewed the physical calendars as a complete waste of budget -- as the money should have been spent on more worthy purposes.
During a morning TV programme, Ms Rukchanok told host Sorayuth Suthassanachinda that she would love to meet Mr Panas in person on this programme to discuss the matter.
She also expressed her readiness to be struck in the face by the former labour leader or his underlings for her criticisms.
In a quick response, Mr Panas said he would send a group of men to do the dirty job, as challenged by the MP.
Fortunately, this has not happened and appears to be just a heated exchange of rhetoric, but Mr Panas' rude remark has drawn widespread criticism on social media.
The ugly public catfight also brings much-needed spotlight to the SSO's dubious management again.
The House committee on budget spending is scrutinising the SSO's budget allocation, including the 275 million baht for organising the election of the new board, scheduled for Sept 27.
The election committee of the SSO had ordered a postponement of the election. But the Progressive Social Security Team, led by Sustarum Thammaboosadee, who is closely linked to the Progressive Movement and the PP, protested against the SSO's postponement and sought help from the Administrative Court.
The court last week issued an injunction to suspend the election committee's order, postponing the election.
However, Ms Rukchanok continues her campaign to block the attempt to return to the board by Mr Panas or his team of candidates by asking the voters to choose.
"If they want to retain the spending on calendars, they should vote for Panas or his team and if not choose the alternative team," she said.
Love her or hate her, the MP is doing the right thing, even though her working style is seen as aggressive and "unwomanly".
Readers may wonder why the PP is critical about the social security board's election and wants to have a greater say in the board.
The SSO is sitting on the social security fund, which is worth a staggering 2.9 trillion baht. The massive fund is accumulated from the monthly contributions paid by about 24 million insured people and their employers, as well as subsidies from the state.
The funds will be used to support insured individuals during key life events such as retirement, illness requiring medical care, disability, unemployment or childbirth for women.
In recent years, both subscribers and critics have begun questioning how the management handles the substantial social security fund.
They are concerned about whether the fund is being used wisely and efficiently for the benefit of those insured.
There are also concerns about potential misuse of the fund -- whether intentional or not -- and the fact that the board overseeing it has been operating without proper checks and balances.
They don't want to see poor investment projects being repeated due to poor judgment and a lack of oversight, such as the purchase of the SKYY9 Centre on Rama IX Road for 6.9 billion baht in 2022, while the real market price was estimated to be at most 3.8 billion baht, and the 800 million baht investment in the TU Dome Residential Complex Leasehold Property Fund (TU-PF) in 2006.
Even the National Audit Office has refused to comment after finding discrepancies in the figures regarding the SSO's assets, which are worth about 4 billion baht.
The SSO and its board need to be monitored closely and effectively to ensure transparency and protect the interests of the insured.
And the first step towards this goal is to revamp the board to weed out the incompetent members.
That means the insured should wake up, register for the election and vote for the most competent, honest and forward-thinking candidates to sit on the board.
