POLITICS
Insists ministers have done nothing wrong
Prime Minster Samak Sundaravej has ruled out an immediate cabinet reshuffle and insisted his ministers have done nothing wrong. In China yesterday, during a four-day official visit which ends today, Mr Samak said he saw no point in replacing his ministers.
Speaking in Guangzhou, he brushed aside calls by critics and some members of the press for the axe to fall on ''weaker links'' such as Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama and Commerce Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan.
Mr Noppadon has battled growing pressure for him to step aside over his formalisation of Thailand's support for Cambodia's push to register the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site.
Mr Mingkwan has also drawn flak for mishandling the rice policy.
Both ministers survived last week's censure debate in parliament after receiving a vote of confidence from coalition partners.
Mr Samak said that at the moment, he would only fill a vacancy left by a minister who had resigned.
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| Samak: Won't dance to the media's tune |
Former PM's Office minister Jakrapob Penkair quit after he was charged with lese majeste.
Mr Samak said he had brought Mr Mingkwan along on the China visit. Mr Noppadon also did nothing wrong that would have warranted his dismissal from cabinet.
''So the prime minister is such a fool that he doesn't know what's what? Other people see what I can't, and they are all smart. Is that it?'' Mr Samak said.
He would not change his cabinet line-up to dance to the media's tune.
He said that one of his ministers faces qualification problems, a reference to Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsab.
Mr Chaiya is accused of breaching the constitution by failing to declare to the National Counter Corruption Commission his wife's large shareholding in a company within 30 days of his appointment to cabinet.
He has vowed to fight the allegation in the Constitution Court. Mr Samak said he must be allowed time to prove his innocence.
Mr Noppadon yesterday dismissed a suggestion by People Power party MP Surapong Tovijakchaikul that he call it quits.
''I'm still working at my ministry as usual,'' he said.
The Constitution Court is considering whether the joint communique which Mr Noppadon signed with Cambodia to support its proposed Preah Vihear listing is constitutional.
Mr Noppadon said he had approval from the National Security Council and cabinet before signing the joint communique.
At least three other cabinet members, accused by the Assets Scrutiny Committee of involvement in the alleged illegal launch of two- and three-digit lottery during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration, also face an uncertain future in cabinet.
The three are Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Labour Minister Uraiwan Thienthong, and Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemart.
They served in the Thaksin cabinet which approved the lottery scheme.
PM's Office Minister Chusak Sirinil said the ministers should exercise their discretion and decide for themselves whether to resign.
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