Thammanat Prompao vows to fight online scams in Thailand as Kla Tham Party campaigns in the north

Thammanat Prompao vows to fight online scams in Thailand as Kla Tham Party campaigns in the north

CHIANG MAI, Jan 26, 2026 — A Thai political party campaigning ahead of the 2026 general election said it would step up efforts to combat online scams throughout the country, as it launched a major rally in northern Thailand aimed at expanding its support base.

The Kla Tham Party held its first large-scale campaign rally in Chiang Mai, introducing parliamentary candidates from four northern provinces — Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang and Mae Hong Son — and outlining its policy priorities.

Speaking at the rally, Thammanat Prompao, the party’s chief adviser and prime ministerial candidate, said voters in the north were seeking political change and practical policies that could be implemented immediately.

While the party’s campaign has focused heavily on agriculture, education and social welfare, its leaders have also highlighted the need to address cross-border crime and online fraud, which has increasingly affected communities in northern provinces, party officials said.

Northern Thailand has been identified by authorities as a vulnerable area for online scam networks linked to transnational crime, with victims frequently targeted through call centres, messaging apps and social media platforms.

Thammanat said the party aims to present itself as a new political option in key northern constituencies, including Chiang Mai and Phayao, and has set an election target of at least 50 seats nationwide, with northern provinces seen as a strategic battleground.

The rally, held at the Chiang Mai 700th Anniversary Stadium complex, drew supporters from across four provinces, with organisers preparing more than 20,000 seats for attendees.

THE STANDARD