Thumbs-down for Samak and cabinet

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his Cabinet have let down the public in their first three months in office, according to a survey and government critics.

The government has failed to reconcile conflicting groups and has ruled with arrogance, Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, said yesterday.

Its weak economic team has brought the country to the verge of paralysis, with prices for staples such as rice and sugar and the cost of living skyrocketing, he read from a statement issued by the CPD that gave the thumbs-down to the Samak administration's performance.

On the political front, the government has created strife in the country over constitutional amendments to whitewash some politicians and parties, Suriyasai said.

Conflicts between former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his alleged nominee Samak over the past three months have inevitably polarised the coalition.

The lack of solidarity in the government has weakened its power to solve the country's problems and implement policies.

The statement also said the country now faces new risks of another coup, economic problems and interference in the justice system just to save one man.

Noppadol Kannika, director of Abac Poll Research Centre, said most respondents to its opinion poll gave the government less than a 50-per-cent score for its performance.

Its survey from May 6-10 about the government's job approval rating after three months drew 3,404 responses in Bangkok and some provinces.

The questions covered SML funds, the village and communities fund, OTOP products, measures to solve global warming, tourism policies and a debt moratorium.

Both provincial and capital respondents gave the government less than a 50-per-cent score for urgent tasks the government must tackle such as easing the public's burden from rising oil prices, restoring harmony among people in the country and ending violence in the South.

Provincial respondents, however, gave a "passing" mark to Samak, at 55.8 per cent, while Bangkok respondents gave him a "failing" grade at 41.8 per cent.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap said he did not believe Samak should reshuffle the Cabinet now because each minister should be given more time to prove himself.

Responding to the impeachment proceeding against him in protest against his decision to review the compulsory licensing of cancer drugs, Chaiya insisted he carried out the policy with transparency and honesty.