Chamlong upbeat on identifying candidate

Ampa Santimetanedol

Apirak Kosayodhin, running for Bangkok governor under the Democrat Party banner, distributes campaign leaflets to students in Tha Phrachan yesterday. He is accompanied by Democrat Party deputy leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, right. _ SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUL

Apirak Kosayodhin, running for Bangkok governor under the Democrat Party banner, distributes campaign leaflets to students in Tha Phrachan yesterday. He is accompanied by Democrat Party deputy leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, right. _ SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUL
Former Bangkok governor Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Thai Rak Thai MPs and local politicians are looking for an honest, intelligent, hardworking and youthful candidate to run for them in the August 29 city polls.

The social development adviser to the prime minister yesterday called a meeting of MPs, city and district councillors under the Thai Rak Thai party at a vegetarian restaurant in Bangkok to discuss finding a suitable candidate in polls for the city administration.

Participants in the meeting included Bangkok MPs Wicharn Minchaiyanan, Prachuab Ungpakorn, Sawaeng Ruekcharal and Anek Hutangkhabodi, as well as city councillors Pongpisut Jinthasophon, Kawi na Lampang, Chupong Phetto, Pollaphum Wipatphummiprathet, Apichart Halamjiak, Khamron Bamrungrak and Praphan Netrangsi.

Maj-Gen Chamlong said he wanted to listen to the opinions of his former colleagues from the now-defunct Ruam Phalang group, Palang Dharma Party and Palang Thai group on the next step to take and to identify who should represent them since Thai Rak Thai had decided not to field a candidate in the race.

The former Bangkok governor said that his actions did not go against the Thai Rak Thai party's principles since he was not a Thai Rak Thai party member and anyone had the right to field candidates in the election for the city administration.

Maj-Gen Chamlong expressed confidence that his group would be able to find a suitable candidate before the application period ended whether or not the person was a member of the Thai Rak Thai party.

However, there were some conditions, he said. The person should be able to communicate well with his group and the government since the city and government depend a great deal on each other.

According to Maj-Gen Chamlong, the ideal candidate should be honest, intelligent, dilligent, well-qualified and younger than 60. The ideal candidate must be honest and should not make promises to the public that clearly were impossible to keep.