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Published on February 11, 2008

It will scrutinise the government only, the party's spokesman said yesterday.

Ong-art Klampaiboon said the shadow cabinet would meet this afternoon and set the framework and scope of its mission.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he had received no response from the Public Relations Depart-ment over his requests for airtime for the opposition.

The Democrats have complained about their media coverage since the time of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government.

However, the party's idea for a shadow cabinet has caught the public's attention.

One benefit it will have is to show the potential of party personnel, many of whom it guarantees are "prettier" than the People Power coalition's Cabinet members.

Chulalongkorn University political science lecturer Trakul Meechai said the country should have had a shadow cabinet a long time ago. It would have pulled politics out of the "polluted waters" with a new standard of checks and balances.

"A shadow cabinet is not for toppling the government," he said. It must scrutinise the government's work, point out mistakes and suggest solutions. It must educate people so they can make informed decisions at election time.

He said the opposition's shadow cabinet included many good people.

MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra as shadow foreign minister and Korn Chatikavanij as shadow finance minister are stronger than the People Power's Noppadon Pattama and Surapong Suebwonglee.

Shadow transport minister Trairong Suwankhiri is knowledgeable about the ministry, he said.

Suthep Thaugsuban, interior, and Ong-art Klampaiboon, prime minister's office, make good matches for Chalerm Yoobamrung and Jakrapob Penkair, Trakul said.

He said it would stop ministers thinking they were the most powerful people who could do whatever they wanted. The opposition would have its work cut out because People Power had political experience.

The opposition could not use the excuse it had limited access to information, Trakul said. It should "create channels to receive information systematically".

He said the government would have to take care with its administration because state officials pressured to serve politicians could expose information. The government needs also to fear the Assets Examination Committee and the National Counter-Corruption Com-mission.

Political scientist Sukhum Nualsakul of Ramkhamhaeng University said the shadow cabinet was just another form of opposition work.

Trakul said the Democrat Party should not continue politicking as in the past. It needed to use the shadow cabinet wisely.

None of the members of the shadow cabinet attended the announcement of its personnel.

Abhisit said it was time for the Democrats to prove they could make a difference in politics, and not just headlines for a few days.

Kornchanok Raksaseri,

Bancha Khaengkhan

The Nation