Sanoh played a supporting role in the rise to premiership of Banharn Silpa-archa, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, Thaksin Shinawatra and Surayud Chulanont Sanoh was born into a Thai Chinese business family involved in the lumber industry.

Sanoh has an influential trucking business, his home district being located near an important checkpoint at the Thai-Cambodian border.

[6] When Banharn Silpa-archa became leader of the Thai Nation Party in 1994, he made Sanoh secretary-general.

After Thaksin had dissolved the parliament, Sanoh spoke at several rallies of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD, or "Yellow Shirts"), an anti-Thaksin pressure group.

Sanoh became leader of the party which declared political reform and the removal of the Thaksin regime as its aims.

[12] He supported the top candidature of Yingluck Shinawatra and on 5 August, it was Sanoh who proposed her election as Prime Minister to the parliament.