Surapong: I will take a brake

Surapong said he had notified the People Power Party (PPP) his intention.

"Since Samak (former prime minister Samak Sundaravej) stepped down and his Cabinet had to leave office as a result, I have no intention to carry on my work to set a norm. I inform my party at the meeting that I am not attached to my positions and I am not stubborn. I would like to take a brake and I request the party not to propose me to any political post temporarily,'' Surapong said.

He said his decision had nothing to do with the failure to be nominated as PM by Newin faction.

Surapong was among the three PPP leaders vied for PM, besides Somchai Wongsawat and Sompong Amornwiwat, both PPP deputy leaders.

PPP spokesman Kudeb Saikrachang said Surapong told the party that he wanted to go back to work for his family business. All northeastern PPP MPs continue their backing for Surapong. The PPP leaders are trying to persuade Surapong to change his mind because they did not want to lose a competent person like him to work for the party.

"The talk is still on,'' Kudeb said.

PPP party list MP Chatuporn Prompan urged Surapong to leave the past behind and move on. He said it is not known if Surapong also wanted to leave the secretary-general post of the party.

    
Meanwhile PPP MPs have gathered a list 100 MP signatures to oppose Puea Pandin Party leader Suwit Khunkitti from joining the Somchai Cabinet. They would submit the list to caretaker Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to show their opposition after he was royally endorsed.

PPP Khon Kaen MP Panya Sripanya said his group believed Suwit has lost legitimacy to join the Cabinet because he announced to withdraw his party from the Samak government even though his party MPs disagreed with the move. "Besides, he also sides with the government opponents and criticised that the PPP-led government would not survive,'' he said.

He challenged Suwit to show how many Puea Pandin Party MPs back him to get the ministerial post.
    
Suwit said it was possible he would join the Somchai Cabinet. He would wait to negotiate after Somchai Wongsawat was endorsed by a Royal command as the new PM. "This has nothing to do with my decision to withdraw from the Samak government because it is a different government,'' he said.