PM clashes with Porntiva over corn stockpile plan

The row - seen as a first sign of cracks within the coalition - resulted in the misty-eyed minister from the Bhum Jai Thai Party relinquishing control of the stockpile to a Democrat overseer.

The policy debate on the issue at the weekly Cabinet meeting suddenly tensed up after Porntiva openly blamed Abhisit for condoning a "double standard" if he allowed Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu to take over her jurisdiction.

"What is my other standard?" Abhisit shot back in an angry retort.

This prompted Porntiva, who appeared emotional and close to crying, to keep silent and yield the floor to her fellow ministers to conclude the debate.

The Cabinet decided to assign Korbsak to oversee the corn stockpile, Abhisit said after the meeting.

When the agenda for the Commerce Ministry came up for review, Porntiva put forward a proposal to sell the Bt2 billion corn stockpile, which totals about 440,000 metric tons.

By precedent, a Commerce-appointed panel had been tasked to supervise the sale. Before its collapse last year, the Samak Sundravej government issued a standing order authorising the sale as per a recommendation by the then-minister Chaiya Sasomsap.

But yesterday a number of Cabinet members questioned the transparency of the sale, after which Tourism and Sports Minister Chumphol Silapa-archa, from Chart Thai Pattana Party, suggested Korbsak to assume control.

Porntiva then asked the Cabinet to decide whether she or the "other minister" should have the jurisdiction. She also instructed Internal Trade Department director general Yanyong Puangraj to brief ministers on why they should allow the matter to proceed as per the Ministry's recommendation.

But a number of Cabinet members appeared to resent the "high-handed" remarks by Porntiva and Yanyong.

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart vowed to block the sale, saying he suspected foul play.

Subsequently, Abhisit ordered Yanyong to leave the room to cool down the tension. But the barrage of criticisms against Portiva continued before she took on Abhisit as responsible for being treated unfairly.

Coalition whips are due to convene a meeting today to smoothen the coalition alliance.

On top of the Porntiva case, Industry Minister Chanchai Rungruang has reportedly been unhappy with the performance of PM's Office Minister Virachai Virameteekul, who supervises the Board of Investment.

In regard to today's House-Senate session, chief coalition whip Chinnaworn Boonyakiart voiced confidence that a quorum would be maintained without a hitch and that the meeting would not come to an abrupt end as happened on Tuesday.

"A quorum will definitely be achieved and the meeting will proceed to a successful conclusion," he said.

In one of its key agendas, Parliament is scheduled to debate the framework to raise the bar on public debt. This was seen as a crucial move to overcome the economic downturn.

Chinnaworn said coalition and opposition whips reached an agreement to ensure the meeting proceeded in an orderly manner.

"Only a few have been disruptive at the meeting and they will be dealt with harshly if they keep up trying to disrupt things," he said.