POLITICS
SURACHAI PIRAGSA & PRASIT TANGPRASERT
Former and active politicians in Buri Ram have teamed up to free the province from the political influence of one influential family and monitor state projects to ensure transparency. About 30 former and active politicians from both the national and local level yesterday met in Buri Ram to form a group called ''Pitak Muang Buri Ram'', or Protecting Buri Ram.
The group will also investigate alleged irregularities in government projects being implemented in the province, any abuses of state power, unfair transfers of officials as well as receive complaints from the public.
Members of the group include former deputy House speaker Sophon Phetsawang, former Democrat candidate for Buri Ram Chaiwat Sinsuwong and Chart Thai MP for the province's constituency 4, Panawat Liangpongpan.
Mr Sophon, also a former Puea Pandin candidate, said there would be a committee comprising 15 members to receive complaints from officials and members of the public.
He criticised the government for its poor performance over the past three months and slammed Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej for resorting to crude language to intimidate the media and his critics.
He called on the government to urgently halt the soaring prices of goods and fuel instead of exchanging blows with the media and the opposition.
Meanwhile, a politician close to Newin Chidchob, a former influential Thai Rak Thai executive banned from politics for five years, claimed 110 northeastern MPs supported Chai Chidchob, Mr Newin's father, as the new House speaker.
Pirom Polwiset, a People Power party (PPP) MP for Nakhon Ratchasima, yesterday said the majority of northeastern MPs agreed that Mr Chai was the most suitable candidate to replace Yongyuth Tiyapairat.
Mr Chai, a veteran politician in Buri Ram, was expected to be nominated as the PPP's sole candidate for the House speaker post on Wednesday, said Mr Pirom. He added that about 110 northeastern MPs supported Mr Chai.
He also claimed that none of the northeastern MPs had been lobbied to support the senior politician.
But Niyom Vejkama, a PPP candidate for Sakon Nakhon, said many northeastern MPs wanted first Deputy House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont to get the job.
Following Mr Yongyuth's resignation as House Speaker last week, Mr Somsak emerged as a strong candidate to succeed him. He is known for his politeness, fairness and strict enforcement of House meeting regulations.
Mr Niyom said many northeastern MPs from the PPP and other coalition parties think the House Speaker's post should not be allocated to the PPP's Buri Ram political faction as several key posts, including a cabinet post, had earlier been given to politicians from the province.
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