Chairman Yongyuth Vichaidit said after meeting with Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand that the board handed in their letters of resignation to clear the way for the selection of new directors in line with the new government's policy.

"The new board following the new policy will have responsibility for directing electricity and natural gas," Yongyuth said, adding the existing board was responsible only for electricity.

Many boards have resigned since the appointment of Transport Minister Admiral Theera Haocharoen, who has a close relationship with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.

A source at a state agency said Theera had that signalled all boards under the supervision of the ministry that members should resign, as many boards were believed to have been involved in schemes with many benefits.

As a result, many high-ranking officials felt they were being forced to step aside, said the source. "Most of the projects under the supervision of the Transport Ministry are large scale with budgets of more than Bt100 billion," the source noted.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation