• 
• 

Published on August 11, 2007

"It is to show responsibility after the government was defeated in the voting," said committee chairman MR Kamloonthep Devakula.

Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet was forced to withdraw the draft from the NLA on Wednesday after members voted 76 to 64 to reject the ministry version.

NLA member Wallop Tangkhananurak resigned from the panel earlier over the government lobbying the whips to withdraw a bill to promote quality of life for the disabled from the assembly.

However, the NLA approved the bill after Wallop's resignation.

Wallop said the government whips were responsible for screening legislation presented by the government, but the decision to approve or reject a bill was the NLA's duty.

He not know why the whips decided to resign. In fact, the minister should have resigned after his draft bill was rejected, he said.

A source said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont wanted a new coordination committee to be set up as soon as possible.

SUCHEERA PINIJPARAKARN,

The Nation