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Published on September 21, 2007

Two members of the Surayud Cabinet have offered to quit after it was found they held stakes in companies in excess of the 5 per cent allowed under the graft law of 2000.

A third minister found to have a higher than allowed shareholding by the National Counter Corruption Commission refused to talk about the matter yesterday.

NCCC spokesman Klanarong Chantik named the two ready to resign as Deputy Com-merce Minister Oranuj Osathananda and Infor-mation and Commu-nication Technology Min-ister Sitthichai Pookai-yaudom. The third is Interior Minister Aree Wongsearaya.

Klanarong said because of a technicality - the suspension of the 1997 constitution - none of the three could be charged.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has decided to give the three ministers a week to consider their actions.

But Oranuj and Sitthichai immediately offered to resign to avoid damaging the government.

"I will discuss whatever decision the three ministers take on the issue after returning from my visit to the United Nations," Surayud said before leaving last night for a week-long trip to New York.

In spite of the legal technicality, the ministers involved might not feel comfortable to stay on in their positions, he said, hinting at a possible Cabinet reshuffle.

Oranuj has shares in a partnership and two companies exceeding half of the equity stakes, Klanarong said. Aree holds 20 per cent of shares in a company, while Sitthichai has stakes ranging from 16 per cent to 31 per cent in three companies.

Sitthichai said he would resign from his post to show transparency.

He will hold a press conference today and will tender his resignation to Surayud when the premier returns from his one-week trip to the United Nations in New York.

The minister said he had declared his assets to the NCCC since taking office.

Sitthichai owns 16.17 per cent in International Science and Technology, which runs Mahanakorn University of Technology, 31.33 per cent in Thai Space Industries, and 31.36 per cent in Technological Research and Development.

Oranuj yesterday was in Khon Kaen to preside over Commerce Ministryactivities. She said she did not have any details at that moment.

Oranuj said the businesses were subsidiaries under Wiangtai Hotel, Oranuj's family business. She was the only daughter of the family and had to carry on the business.

She said she had not prepared to become a politician, so she didnot check on any shares. She also had no management authority in the hotel since retiring from the Commerce Ministry.

Of late, the hotel had been managed by her daughters. As a result, she knew nothing about it. She may hold more than 5 per cent of the shares because she was the landlord of the hotel which is located on Bang Lamphu Road, one of Bangkok's prime areas.

However, it was a small and medium enterprises business and it was not a listed company.

"I'm ready to take responsibility and resign from the job if it damages the government's credibility," she said.

Under the graft law enacted in 2000, Cabinet members are banned from having more than 5 per cent of equity stakes in a company, Klanarong said.

"The penalty for violating the ban is termination of office, but a problem arises because the 1997 Constitution, which is the basis to meter out punishment, has been suspended," he said.

The 2006 Interim Constitution has no provisions to penalise the ministers and the 2007 Constitution has a temporary clause to exempt the interim government from rules relating to asset declaration, he added.

"Since there is no law for punishment, the NCCC has reported what it deems as misconduct to the prime minister for further action," he said.

Piyanart Srivalo,

Petchanet Pratruangkrai,

Hassaya Chartmontri

The Nation