I'll take public sentiment into account: PM

"I will not ignore public concern over the [scandal surrounding the] ministers. I will consider the matter fairly and will take responsibility for my decision," he said.

Demands from the opposition to dump Social Development and Human Security Minister Witoon Nambutr and Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat are growing.

Witoon, a Democrat MP from Ubon Ratchathani, has been accused of involvement in irregularities surrounding the purchase of rotten canned fish.

Boonjong, a Bhum Jai Thai MP for Nakhon Ratchasima, is suspected of vote-buying by distributing Bt500 notes and his business card to constituents in the northeastern province.

Abhisit will make a final decision on whether he needs to fire the two ministers within a couple of days.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday that the ruling Democrat Party would consider Witoon's case this afternoon.

"He is not a burden on the party, but there is a problem which the government has to fix," Suthep said when asked if Witoon was a trouble-maker for the Democrats.

Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul said the media should not manipulate public opinion against Boonjong.

"The media should not put pressure on him, but please allow the law to have its say," he said.

"If you stopped writing [about the case], there would be no pressure. Would the media take responsibility, if the reality turned out not to be as appeared in their reports," Chavarat said.

The Women's Rights Protection Centre, led by Supensri Pungkooksoung, yesterday called on the Democrat Party to dump the controversial ministers from the Cabinet.

"Prime Minister Abhisit should take this opportunity to bring clean persons into the portfolios," she said.

The social development and human security minister should be a person with a good family background, she said, adding, "The Democrats have many good and keen people to fill the job, so why bring a trouble-maker in?"

Meanwhile, Election Commission member Somchai Jungprasert yesterday defended the agency's decision to take criminal action against Suthep without an investigation, saying it was able to do so as he is not a direct suspect in the case.

Suthep has been charged with violating election laws by issuing scholarships to help candidates campaign for election to the Surat Thani Provincial Administration Organisation.

Somchai said the EC and the PAO had not summoned Suthep for questioning because the EC is seeking to disqualify other persons - Surinya Yuennan and Suthep's brother, Thani, the winning candidates.

He said if the Appeal Court did not approve the commission's decision, the EC would not take criminal action against Suthep, who is implicated as a person involved in the electoral offences but would not be subject to a red or yellow card.

Even if the court ruled that Suthep was guilty of the charges, the Democrat Party would not be dissolved because parties risk such action only when MPs or senators commit electoral offences.