Chart Thai seeks changes in Cabinet

The source expected Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to reshuffle his Cabinet by July 8, despite Samak's assertion over the weekend that no Cabinet reshuffle was imminent.

Chart Thai wanted to have replacements for deputy agriculture minister Sompat Keo-pijit and deputy transport minister Anurak Jureemas, said the source.

Chart Thai party leader Banharn Silapa-archa was quoted as saying that the Cabinet reshuffle was postponed slightly because of the no-confidence debate in Parliament so that Samak has more time to manage the changes.

"It's understood that there would be a replacement for the portfolio left vacant by former PM's Office minister Jakrapob Phenkhair.

"In addition, ministers censured in Parliament such as Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama could be replaced," said the source.

Meanwhile, the Medical Council will debate whether the profession's code of conduct was violated when a Democrat MP cited medical symptoms to question the prime minister's leadership during the censure debate.

"If the council suspects Malinee Sukwechworakit may have been guilty of professional misconduct, its ethics committee will be instructed to launch a probe into the matter," council secretary-general Amnart Kusalanant said yesterday.

Amnart was responding to remarks by Samak, who urged the council to rule whether it was appropriate for a medical practitioner who is also an MP to try and diagnose him in a public arena such as the House floor.

In her defence, Malinee said Samak misconstrued her grilling as an attempt at diagnosis.

"What I said was analytical advice on what the prime minister should do to improve his image," she said.

She said she had the right to be critical of Samak's conduct in office. She denied her censure speech was a medical opinion because she spoke from the floor as an opposition member.

Meanwhile, Samak saw his popularity rating jump 52 per cent from 48.5 per cent in early June, according to an Abac Poll released yesterday.

The survey was conducted from June 20-29, with 5,453 respondents from 18 provinces representing every region.

Samak enjoyed the highest

rating of 72 per cent in the Northeast and saw a lowest of 26 per cent in the South. His popularity in Bangkok hovered at around 50 per cent.