Prayut gets his motor running

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, wearing an orange cap, surprised security guards and media members when he unexpectedly took off on a big bike and rode around Government House yesterday morning.

Gen Prayut did so after presiding over the launch of the Education Ministry’s vocational volunteer programme at Government House. The scheme provides the public with free-of-charge repair services for electrical appliances, cars and motorcycles at 50 district offices in Bangkok.

The premier suddenly jumped on the back of a black Honda CBR250, fired up the engine, warned surrounding reporters to get out of his way and roared away into the distance.

Stunned by his move, security guards, cameramen and reporters ran after him to see what he was doing.

He rode the bike, which was parked for technical college students, to the front yard of Government House passing the Banchakarn Building, Thai Khu Fa Building and then returned to the Banchakarn Building.

As he tried to alight from the bike, he appeared t o find it difficult t o swing his right leg from one side of the bike to the other on his first try. “Maybe I’m a bit too old now,” he joked before l eaving to attend the cabinet meeting.

Gen Prayut is not only the prime minister to ride before the media − former prime ministers Thaksin Shinawatra and Chatichai Choonhavan also showed off their riding prowess.

A source close to Gen Prayut said the premier owns a chopper bike and has been looking for a new Harley Davidson but hasn’t yet found one to his liking.

Because he now doesn’t have enough time to ride his bike any great distance, the premier occasionally rides his motorbike around his home at the 1st Infantry Regiment base to keep the engine ticking over, the source said.

Gen Prayut learned to ride a motorcycle when he trained at the 21st Infantry Regiment in Chon Buri and he is still fond of riding, the source said.

Pictures of the premier riding the bike at Government House were published online yesterday.