Veerapong's appointment welcomed

President of the Federation of Thai Industries, Santi Vilassakdanont, said he agreed with the move though he believed that Veerapong was more suited to the post of finance minister.

He said Veerapong was highly competent, had a strong economic team and should be given the job of overseeing the economy. However, he added, as commerce minister, Veerapong could help contain soaring inflation.

The private sector also wants to see the Finance Ministry and the Commerce Ministry join hands in solving the country's economic problems, Santi said.

Chuookiat Opaswong, president of the Association of Rice Exporters, offered similar views, saying that the rice sector needs government policies that would not distort the market mechanism.

Thanawat Polwichai, director of the Economics and Business Forecasting Centre of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said having Veerapong take up the two posts would increase confidence and attract investment in the country.

He said he believed Veerapong could use his expertise in economics to solve the country's economic woes. As commerce minister, he could systematically penetrate world markets and amend business laws, such as the Alien Business Act, to restore business confidence. He should know how to control prices without tampering with market mechanisms, Thanawat added.

Noppadol Inna, a close aide of Purachai, said he was glad to hear that Purachai had been offered the job, but he did not know if the former minister would accept it. Purachai could not be contacted because is travelling in the provinces.

"He once said that in a crisis, he was ready to step in like the historical Bang Rachan heroes,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the Chart Thai Party decided to seek a Constitution Tribunal ruling on whether Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemas should stop performing his duties if the court agrees to hear the two- and three-digit lottery case.

The decision on whether Anurak should be included in the new Cabinet under the Chart Thai quota rests with party leader, Banharn Silpa-archa, a source said.