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Published on September 29, 2007

"The National Counter Corruption Commission [NCCC] member should show his responsibility for smearing me," he said referring to Medhi Krongkaew, who opened the debate on the matter.

Wijit said he had to cope with undue suspicion from society because of the "irresponsible" comments against him.

The NCCC should have investigated and released its findings instead of rushing to tell the local press about a speculative issue, he said.

He said the NCCC failed to notify him of any charges or ethical violations even though he was legally entitled to a rebuttal.

"Since the NCCC has opted to communicate with me via the local press, I will likewise demand via the local press that this NCCC member should be held accountable for a lapse of ethics by making speculative judgement," he said.

He vowed to spend his remaining term in office to complete his job.

In his earlier remarks on Thursday, Wijit said that before assuming office he had already checked with authorities that there was no conflict of interest between his ministerial and academic appointments.

In a related development, the northeastern chapter of the People's Alliance for Democracy petitioned the Office of the Auditor-General to check the ministry's budgetary allocations for the privately-run Sayam University, where Wijit sat on the board as an academic expert.

Responding to the petition, Wijit said he welcomed the audit and that he was not involved in any university spending under the jurisdiction of the Higher Education Commission.

The Nation