Mingkwan faces attack from two sides

Commerce Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan has come under fire from the opposition, which claims he lacks basic understanding of the economy.

Commerce Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan faced attack from the opposition plus a challenge from the premier during yesterday's censure debate.

Mingkwan was accused of lacking the efficiency to be a minister, while Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej pointed the finger at him for the government's mistakes - particularly mishandling of rice issues - during its four-month term.

Mingkwan is now at risk of being sacrificed. The People Power Party has hinted that Mingkwan will be one of seven ministers to be replaced in the next Cabinet reshuffle.

Samak said Mingkwan had made a big mistake in selling cheap packs of rice. He said he had never supported this policy of the Commerce Ministry. "Mingkwan may have some flaws as he did not directly graduate in economics, but I had no choice when assigning this position. I can't invite economic experts from the opposition."

Samak also blamed the failure of rice-price management on commerce officials, saying Mingkwan was under the control of some senior officials at the ministry.

The PM also admitted he was the one who withdrew the rice contract with the Philippines because Bangkok had a commitment with Manila to sell low-priced rice and not attend the bidding.

Democrat MP Trairong Suwankhiri said Mingkwan did not deserve to be commerce minister because he lacked a basic understanding of the economy.

Trairong cited five major blunders made by Mingkwan.

He failed to limit the effect of rising pork prices on consumers and ignored protecting small retailers against competition from global chains. He created confusion in the rice trade, which caused prices to fall and that hurt Thai farmers.

He allowed chemical fertiliser prices to shoot up sharply without any measures to control them.

Finally, he stumbled in maintaining high rice prices by refusing to release 2.1 million tonnes from the government's stocks and instead left the government's team - which had no direct expertise in rice - to manage the whole rice system instead of the Commerce Ministry.

Three other Democrat MPs have called on Mingkwan to resign from the Cabinet, saying the government may not act to remove him as he has a special relationship with the ousted prime minister.

They said Mingkwan may have a clean background and may not be involved in any corruption, but he had failed as a minister.

Another Democrat, Atavit Suwannapakdee, said Mingkwan should resign as minister and turn to his strength and success when working with Modernine Television, where he was president.

The ministry's Blue Flag cheap rice project was also abruptly halted after just six days.

Mingkwan did not defend himself well against the accusations. He said he had worked during the four months based on full understanding, in particular on rice. He said he had tried to protect consumers and farmers rather than a group of authorised traders.

Despite being hit by both his own side and the opposition, a source who works close to Mingkwan said he would not resign.