Sontaya Kunplome

Sontaya Kunplome (Thai: สนธยา คุณปลื้ม, rtgs: Sonthaya Khunpluem; born 10 December 1963) is a Thai politician. He is the son of Somchai Khunpluem ("Kamnan Poh"). From 2001 to 2002, Sontaya was Minister of Science and Technology, and from 2002 to 2005 Minister of Tourism and Sports under Thaksin Shinawatra. As an executive member of the Thai Rak Thai Party, he has been banned from politics for five years since the Supreme Tribunal dissolved the party in May 2007. Since 2011, he is the chief adviser and de facto leader of the Phalang Chon Party. Sontaya is married to Sukumol Kunplome who has been culture minister in Yingluck Shinawatra's cabinet since 2011. Sontaya took over this position in nov 2012.