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Published on October 3, 2007

His plea came hot on the heels of the resignation of five Cabinet ministers, who were found to have held company shares in excess of the 5 per cent permitted by law. Three more were also found to have held more than the permitted amount, but they insisted that their stocks were insignificant and would not affect the performance of their duties.

With only a few months to go before December's general election, Surayud said he would invite few outsiders to join his Cabinet because there is not much time left.

But he refused to reveal the names of the candidates until they have been officially endorsed by royal command.

General Sonthi Boonyaratglin has resigned as chairman of the National Security Council in order to join Surayud's government as deputy prime minister. Surayud himself will assume the interior portfolio in order to look after the general election.

The prime minister said he would push for the passage of important laws in the interim and lay the groundwork for the ethical conduct of Thai society.

Only after the Royal Gazette has announced the date of the election will the government stop implementing its key policies, he added.

Surayud defended the record of his ministers by saying that they had lived up to their responsibilities and had never had any intention of concealing their assets.

According to the interim constitution, he said, Cabinet ministers were permitted to own more than 5 per cent of companies as long as they informed the National Counter Corruption Commission and transferred the shares to trustees. This would prevent them from using their positions to benefit their businesses. Most of the Cabinet members were invited to join under very special circumstances brought about by last year's coup.

The Nation