Inquiry sought into SMS notes

Pheu Thai Chiang Mai Party MP Surapong Towichak accused Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij of breaking Article 103 of NCCC Act, for an abuse of authority in seeking support from mobile phone operators to send a text note to 50 million numbers. It allegedly cost the companies over Bt150 million.

Surapong urged Abhisit and Korn to step down after Korn admitted in media interviews they had carried out the publicity scheme.

Surapong urged the NCCC to handle the case in a straight-forward manner "if it wants peace in the country".

NCCC commission Klanarong Chantik said the agency was ready to look into the matter and would decide if the case had merit.

He said he could not make any comment because he had yet to see the complaint.

Surapong he would also file a complaint with the Attorney- General asking the agency to investigate claims of an Bt80-million donation by a business group to the Democrat Party in exchange for a Cabinet position.

The allegation made headlines after Democrat MP for Phattalung, Nipit Intarasombat, who was upset at missing a post in the Cabinet, revealed what he claimed was evidence of a donation from Virachai Virameteekul to the media.

Virachai was appointed as a PM's Office Minister under the Democrat Party's quota of non-politicians.

However, Virachai yesterday denied donating money to the party in exchange for his Cabinet seat. With a shaky voice and tears in his eyes, Virachai told reporters at Government House he was hurt by attacks that he got the portfolio just for donating money to the party.

"I've never given Bt80 million to the Democrats either openly or covertly," he said. "You won't understand how it feels to face what has been happening to me during the past few days if you don't experience it yourself," he told reporters, pausing a few times during his words.