Won't be pressured into cabinet rejig
By Penchan Charoensuthipan
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said he was undecided about reshuffling the cabinet, but would not be pressured into it by the news media.
Mr Samak said during the budget bill debate yesterday in parliament that he refused to let the media dictate to him on changes to his cabinet.
The prime minister has been pressured to replace ministers who were targets of the censure debate which concluded on Friday.
One of the seven ministers who faced the bulk of the censure onslaught over the Preah Vihear temple controversy was Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama. He received the fewest votes of confidence _ 278 compared with 279-280 for other cabinet members. Mr Samak received 280 votes.
The prime minister said he would not bow to demands for a reshuffle just because the media demanded it.
He also denied press reports that he promised favours in return for the coalition parties' vote of confidence.
He dismissed an allegation that he had promised to look into budget cuts affecting road construction projects in some constituencies represented by Chart Thai party MPs if they supported the cabinet ministers.
During the debate yesterday, he was interrupted by Democrat Phatthalung MP Nipit Intarasombat, who criticised the prime minister for wasting time on irrelevant issues.
The MP's protest forced Mr Samak to sit down.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee echoed Mr Samak, saying that there had been no talk of a cabinet reshuffle.
There was one vacant seat up for grabs after the resignation of PM's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair, he said.
Mr Surapong denied speculation that the axe would fall on Commerce Minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan and Mr Noppadon. He said no secret deal was struck with coalition parties in exchange for a vote of confidence.
As for Preah Vihear temple, he said the Foreign Ministry had done its best handling a sensitive issue.
Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said a cabinet reshuffle was up to the prime minister, and Mr Samak should act decisively on it and other pressing issues such as the economy and the temple controversy.
He said it would be interesting to see how Mr Samak handled the problems which the opposition had raised during the censure debate.
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