Samak Sundaravej died he was 74

Samak Sundaravej died he was 74. Sundaravej was a Thai politician who briefly served as the Prime Minister of Thailand and Minister of Defense in 2008, as well as the leader of the People's Power Party in 2008.

(June 13, 1935 – November 24, 2009)

Samak was born in Bangkok, Thailand to Sewok Eak Phraya Bumrungrajabhariphan (Samien Sundaravej) and his wife Khunying Umphan Bumrungrajabhariphan (Umphan Sundaravej). He is of Chinese descent (ancestral surname Lee (李)).^[1] He has five siblings. Samak studied at Saint Gabriel's College, Assumption Commercial College and Thammasat University. He also received diplomas from Chulalongkorn University and Bryant & Stratton College.^[2]

Beside from being a politician, Samak was a well-known television chef. For seven years until the military coup of September 2006, he hosted a cooking show called Tasting, Ranting on the Thailand ITV television network and Royal Thai Army Radio and Television. He said that once he became prime minister, he would also resume his career as a TV chef and has done so. On September 9, 2008, the full bench of the Constitutional Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for Samak to maintain his television career, to work in a private company while holding the office of prime minister, and disqualified him from office. .^[3][4]

Samak was married to Khunying Surat Sundaravej, a financial adviser to the Charoen Pokphand Group. They have two children with her.

At age 74 Samak admitted he had liver cancer and underwent laser surgery to remove a tumour and was treated at Bumrungrad Hospital on October 2, 2008. He was discharged on October 25.^[51][52]

On the morning of November 24, 2009, it was reported that at 8:48a.m. Samak had died at Bumrungrad International Hospital after fighting liver cancer, at the age of 74.^[53] Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Thai prime minister said, "My family and I express profound sorrow for the passing away of HE [His Excellency] Samak but I will not be able to attend his funeral."^[54] Samak's funeral will be held at the Wat Benchamabophit temple.^[55]

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