Puea Pandin MPs fight over post

This came yesterday after Puea Pandin spokesman Chaiyot Jiramethakorn met the press on Tuesday to say that Deputy Interior Minister Prasong Kositanon was stepping down due to health problems - a claim Prasong almost immediately denied.

Then, deputy party leader MP Suradet Yasawat stepped up yesterday to say that Suwit should look into the matter, which was damaging the party's reputation. After all, he pointed out, it was Suwit who had come up with the party list of Cabinet members.

During the press conference, Chaiyot showed a resignation letter that was allegedly written by Prasong. Later, Prasong admitted that the letter was his, but said he had written it before assuming his Cabinet post.

Yesterday, at the Interior Ministry, Prasong insisted that he would continue with his job and that the matter, a mere misunderstanding, had been cleared by some senior party members.

Prasong said one of these unnamed seniors called him yesterday morning to say there would be no changes as far as he was concerned. He was also quick to add that he had never made a secret arrangement with Chaiyot to give up his post after three weeks. He explained that if he were to give his job to Chaiyot, it would only cause more problems for an already embattled government.

A source said certain senior party members had earlier said that Prasong, a key party financier, would "return" the post to Chaiyot three weeks after appointment. However, when Prasong failed to step down, Chaiyot raised the matter at a party meeting last week. He also made a surprise visit to the Interior Ministry on Monday and held up the resignation letter signed by Prasong, the source said.

Meanwhile, Prasong said Chaiyot's public announcement reflected a lack of maturity.

"If he were a bit older, he would never have done what he did. He is well educated and is capable, but his decision may have been influenced by his young age," Prasong said.

Yesterday, Chaiyot said that Prasong had failed to keep his promise to step down "when his time was up", saying that it was about time he was allowed to take over.

"For someone who has been an MP for 20 years, I have the right to become a minister so I can help solve people's problems," Chaiyot said.

Meanwhile, Industry Minister Pracha Promnok, who is Puea Pandin's chief adviser, said yesterday that the issue was a personal matter between two individuals, and expected Suwit, who is away overseas, to help resolve the problem. He added that both Prasong and Chaiyot were qualified for the post of deputy interior minister.