Published on January 13, 2006

Massage parlour tycoon-turned-politician Chuwit Kamolvisit said yesterday that if the Constitution Court disqualifies him from holding his seat in Parliament he would consider either becoming the secretary-general of a new political party or running for the Senate in April.

He was commenting after the court postponed until January 26 a decision on whether he should lose his seat.

The court’s secretary-general, Paiboon Varahapaitoon, said a majority of the judges sought the delay because they couldn’t conclude whether Chuwit had been a member of Chat Thai Party for the requisite 90 days, enabling him to contest the election under that party’s banner.

Chuwit said he would respect the court’s ruling – if found to be wrong, he was ready to quit his seat.

“For my [political] future I may move from Chat Thai to become secretary-general of a new party, or may apply to be a Bangkok Senate candidate,” the Chat Thai party-list MP said.

“I believe people trust me, because in one year of being an MP I have worked hard and have done everything that I vowed to the people I would do,” he said.

But Chuwit denied he was talking about joining Chalerm Yoobamrung, the veteran politician who recently announced he would establish a new party.

“Politics is an uncertain matter,” Chuwit said. “We should await the court decision on January 26. It may yet go in my favour.”

Chuwit was recently dubbed Parliament’s “shining star” by political reporters for catching the public’s interest and bringing flamboyance to debates. He’s also a member of Corruption Watch.

Nerisa Noei-kheaw

The Nation

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