Embattled sutha quits, citing health

Sutha Chansaeng, the social development and human security minister, yesterday resigned from the Cabinet citing health problems.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej approved his resignation which Sutha submitted yesterday morning. Samak told reporters the resignation would take immediate effect. The PM was tight-lipped over who will replace Sutha.

Sutha was admitted to Kasemraj Hospital again last Sunday after he passed out while hosting a funeral at a temple in Bang Khae district on April 27. He was admitted to the intensive care unit.

"After his hospitalisation, Sutha thought about resigning. If he becomes paralysed, who will take care of his wife and his children," said Anek Hutangkabadi, Sutha's adviser.

Anek said Sutha's wife sobbed over the phone while seeking advice on how to prepare his resignation.

He insisted Sutha should resign because of his health problems, not because of scandals about his failure to report the assets of his out-of-wedlock son or fake educational credentials.

According to Anek, Sutha had suffered a stroke. Doctors found that Sutha had suffered brain damage and must receive immediate treatment at the hospital or else his life would be at risk.

"The brain scan shows that the right side of his brain is damaged. If he uses his brain too much, he may end up being paralysed," Anek said.

However, Kasemraj Hospital Bang Khae director Dr Suwit Kositsurangkhakul said Sutha was admitted again a few days ago because he had nausea, dizziness and fainting spells.

"During his first hospitalisation period, we detected a slight problem in his brain," Suwit said.

He said Sutha's brain wave was similar to that of an epileptic patient.

"It's possible he has had the abnormality since he was young but the symptoms didn't really show until he worked too hard, had too much stress and lacked enough rest," Suwit said.

However, a source from the PPP said banned Thai Rak Thai Party executive Sudarat Keyuraphan had asked Sutha to resign to reduce the mounting political pressure on the ruling party.

Sutha, the first minister to resign from Samak's administration, was accused of lacking qualifications because he had allegedly failed to complete university-level education. He was later also accused of having failed to report the assets of his out-of-wedlock son.

"Sudarat advised him to use his health problems as the excuse," the source said.

The source said Bangkok MP Vichan Meanchainant of the PPP will likely replace Sutha.

However, Samak may not reshuffle the Cabinet soon, the source said and may assign Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat as acting minister. He reportedly wanted to wait for the impeachment of Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap and Deputy Commerce Minister Wirun Techapaiboon.

Sutha, 48, has been in the political arena for more than 20 years and had been a close aide of Sudarat since they were in the Palang Dharma Party together. He was Sudarat's deputy when she was in charge of Thai Rak Thai Bangkok MPs.

Sutha had been a Bangkok councillor twice since 1985 and an elected Bangkok MP four times since 1992. He has taken many adviser and assistant-secretary posts for ministers and deputy ministers including Interior, Finance, Transport and Agriculture.

He was also a Thai Rak Thai executive in 2002-2004, and is currently an executive member of the People Power Party.

The Democrat Party yesterday cancelled its plan to ask the Constitution Court to impeach Sutha through the House Speaker. The party claimed Sutha was unqualified.