• 
• 

Published on February 4, 2008

Samak yesterday refused to retract his statement, saying he disagreed with the selection of Ranongrak Suwanchawee, a member for Nakhon Ratchasima.

Samak said on Saturday he disagreed with the choice, but admitted there was nothing he could do. It is Puea Pandin's right to name its Cabinet quota.

Samak prefers Wutthipong Chaisang, a brother of Chaturon, the former Thai Rak Thai leader.

Ranongrak, a former public health official, is the wife of Pairoj Suwanchawee, a former Thai Rak Thai executive banned from politics.

Ronritthichai Khankhet, a Puea Pandin member for Yasothon, said the party would not change its selection. All its members agreed Ranongrak was qualified.

Ronritthichai said there should be no concerns about Ranongrak. It is not known which departments or agencies she will be asked to oversee.

Ronritthichai added that teams of experts and advisers would assist Ranongrak.

He said the People Power should respect the decision.

He added that several People Power Cabinet members were not experts in the affairs of the ministries they would take charge of.

Samak said yesterday his comments were a slip of the tongue.

"I made a slip by criticising a choice of Cabinet member. I was criticised for it. I was simply complaining, because there is nothing I can do about it. I have to give in.

"They asked me why I spoke about it, so I won't talk about it today," Samak said. "I wanted them to know how I felt. I asked them to change the selection but they did not, and I had to give in.

"But, I want them to know that I disagree. I feel I have lost face to have it

come out this way, so I need to tell them. Anyway, I had to give in to their demands," Samak said.

The Nation