Samak Sundaravej ( 13 June 1935 - 24 November 2009 ) was the 25th Prime Minister of Thailand , Minister of Defense and also the leader of Peopleâ s Power Party . Samak Sundaravej ( June 13 , 1935 -- November 24 , 2009 ) ( ; RTGS : Samak Suntharawet ) was a Thai Chinese 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 .