HIS MAJESTY King Maha Vajiralongkorn has advised the government to revive projects initiated by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in order to help prevent severe flooding in the future.

The King also voiced concern at the number of people affected by the current floods in the southern provinces and called for unity among people across the country.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday disclosed some of what His Majesty had said to him, other senior government officials and certain privy councillors who attended a royal audience on Thursday night.

“His Majesty also presented a handwritten note to everyone offering his love and concern, as well as his moral support,” the prime minister said, while showing the King’s note with his signature and the royal garuda emblem.

His Majesty’s message read: “With love and concern, I would like to offer support for your efforts for recovery and development. May you have good morale and strong mind and health, for the happiness and stability of the country.”

The prime minister said the King was concerned for all groups of people and offered them encouragement.

“He suggested that we should be patient and learn to live with water. We should be aware of climate change. We will have to face this [severe flooding] again in the future, so we have to get ourselves ready,” the PM added.

The King was quoted as saying that in addition to integrated measures to fight flooding, there should be long-term plans for sustainable solutions to the flood problem.

“His Majesty also stated that the several relevant measures suggested by King Rama IX should be reconsidered,” Prayut said, adding that the relevant state agencies were taking action to put the King’s advice into practice.

The King noted that those royally advised measures stemmed from knowledge that had been tried and tested repeatedly throughout his father’s seven decades on the throne, Prayut said.

The premier also said that his government was in fact implementing projects initiated by the late King regarding the release of floodwater.

However, many local authorities have failed to follow those measures, he insisted, also blaming unplanned development involving the construction of roads and housing projects for the blocking of natural floodways.

His Majesty also called on everyone in the country to love one another and have unity for peace and safety of the country and confidence of the international community, said Prayut, who added that it was his government’s duty to maintain peace and order.

“In all, you will see that His Majesty voiced his concern from his heart,” the PM said.

Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda, who was also present during Thursday’s audience with the King, said yesterday that His Majesty had assigned a number of privy councillors to work with the government for updates on the flood situation.

“The King wants to know what the government has done, and to get the latest information so that he can provide help,” the minister said.

Moreover, a number of royal guards will be dispatched to the flood-affected areas to help with the relief operation, Anupong added.

At the Royal Plaza yesterday, the prime minister presided over a ceremony to send food and aid supplies to flood victims in the 12 affected southern provinces.

The ceremony was also participated in by five privy councillors – General Kampanat Ruddit, General Paiboon Koomchaya, General Dapong Rattanasuwan, General Theerachai Nakwanich and Palakorn Suwannarat – the first four of whom were appointed after the new King’s accession to the throne late last year.

The flood-relief caravan consists of more than 900 vehicles and involves some 300 teams of volunteers.

The aid operation is expected to cover around 150,000 households.

Speaking before volunteers and officials joined the caravan, the prime minister urged them to convey the King’s concern to flood victims in the South and to act as “reconciliation ambassadors” for the government.

Tomorrow, the government will hold a fund-raising event for flood victims at Government House from 6pm to 8pm, which is to be broadcast live on the state-run NBT television channel, Deputy Government Spokesman Lt-General Werachon Sukondhapatipak said yesterday.

At least Bt15 million has been donated to the project, he said.