POST REPORTERS
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and seven cabinet ministers yesterday comfortably survived the no-confidence debate, but critics and the opposition say a cabinet reshuffle is imminent. Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama, the opposition's top target over the Preah Vihear temple dispute, won with the least number of votes.
Mr Samak, who was accused of incompetence, received 280 votes of confidence against 160 votes of no confidence, while the other ministers targeted received between 279 and 280 votes, except Mr Noppadon, who got 278 votes.
Puea Pandin party-list MP Wallop Thainua abstained from giving a vote of confidence to Commerce Minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan and Mr Noppadon.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said the cabinet did not need a reshuffle, particularly of the economic ministers.
The only change would involve the post of the PM's Office minister left vacant by the resignation of Jakrapob Penkair.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was confident yesterday that the information presented by his party during the censure debate was solid enough to induce changes in the Samak cabinet.
Meanwhile, the Ramkhamhaeng University's rector confirmed that Transport Minister Santi Promphat was expelled as a student of the university, an issue which was bought up in the debate.
Assoc Prof Kim Chaisaengsuk, the rector, said Mr Santi was removed from the list of students after a man called Somyos Meesawat was caught taking an exam on behalf of someone else.
Mr Somyos claimed he was hired to take the exam for ''Saanti Prompatra'', the name which appeared on a forged student ID card. But the panel supervising the exam found it was supposed to have been taken by Santi, not Saanti.
But when Mr Santi was called to verify his identity, he failed to show up. The university decided to punish both Mr Somyos and Mr Santi and remove their names from the student list.
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