Dr Warong Dejkijwikrom claimed there were abnormalities in the planned appointment of the deputy director-general of the Health Department and the deputy secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration.

He said Mongkol was attempting to get his close aides into senior positions even though they lacked the right qualifications.

Warong said Mongkol's people had not passed a high level qualification which permits them to train officials.

"The minister's behaviour is shown to be that of a political official clearly trying to interfere in the transfers because there's an official letter which is putting pressure on [appointment] committee chairman Yuth Bodharamik," he said.

Yuth had announced officials seeking positions of level 9 or higher would have to have passed the advanced training qualification as specified under Civil Service Commission rules.

He said on November 22, the minister's secretary-general had sent a letter to the ministry's permanent secretary seeking to have Yuth revoke his announcement.

Warong said it referred to a meeting of senior officials two days earlier at which Yuth had revealed the decision on qualifications. Mongkol, he said, believed this would preclude provincial health or hospital directors from advancement.

"As I see it, the minister is trying to get his aides into the two posts. So his action is against the law and is also immoral," Warong said.

"The minister should leave it to the committee chairman to make the selections on December 18. If he continues to interfere, I will do something to stop him," he said.

Yossawadee Hongthong

The Nation