What's cooking for Samak now?

Several political cases are pending for the courts to rule upon. The verdicts could lead to drastic changes in our country.

As head of the government, Samak Sundaravej will be one of the most exhausted and worried people. One wonders how he will cope and how he will handle the court verdicts, considering his previous reactions to a number of things.

Samak often appears moody and angry in the media. Some of his opponents have even suggested he has a mental disorder and should seek medical help and take a break.

During last month's censure debate, Democrat MP Malinee Sukvejworakij, a doctor of medicine, told the House that Samak showed symptoms of mental problems and a behavioural disorder. Samak immediately angrily counter-attacked and asked the Medical Council to investigate whether Malinee had violated medical ethics or not.

To offer a little help to the PM, perhaps he should take the advice.

Psychiatrist Dr Kasem Tantiphalachiva offered his opinion on the prime minister's mental health and an interesting suggestion in an interview with Kom Chad Leuk newspaper.

Kasem said many people were talking about Samak's emotional state. Some say the prime minister has problems controlling his emotions and is easily provoked.

Kasem believes Samak always turns little issues into big problems. The premier does not answer questions directly but changes the subject to other, sometimes nonsensical, issues.

"He will speak only about what he wants. It's like an outburst. And it's not what a leader should do," Kasem said.

However Kasem blamed the public, too, because Thais turn their leaders into stars.

"People admire when he is cooking on TV. But that means he makes cooking his priority, not the people's suffering due to economic problems," he said.

However, Kasem said he could not say whether Samak had a mental disorder or not.

Nevertheless, the doctor offered some advice to the public. The new mental health law allows "forced treatment" for a person deemed dangerous to himself or others. If anyone thinks the premier suffers from such symptoms or displays such behaviour, they can ask for the law to be used.

jintana@nationgroup.com