PM loses temper with ruling Yokemates

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday urged coalition partners to stop fighting because the people are fed up with their squabbling.

Abhisit said he had never discussed the "sharing of benefits" with any coalition partners over large projects, and insisted he only talked about work with them.

The remark was made in reference to Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul, leader of the coalition Bhum Jai Thai Party, who this past week opposed the public land-lease scheme proposed by Thaworn Senneam, deputy interior minister from the Democrat Party.

This was seen as an act of revenge on the part of Chaovarat, many of whose large projects proposed by his party have been stalled by the Democrat-led Cabinet.

 Abhisit said that if there were problems with the land-lease scheme, then they should be rectified. The scheme will not, however, be abandoned because many people would benefit from it, he added.

The prime minister insisted he was not vengeful against anyone.

"I will make work decisions by adhering to the public's interest," he said.

Abhisit said the government's work must proceed as there are many projects that simple cannot wait, while projects such as the controversial bus-lease scheme would be reconsidered by the Cabinet on Wednesday.

Despite the bickering, Abhisit maintained the coalition was still united and strong.

In a related development, three Democrat Party MPs led by Prachuap Khiri Khan member Chalermchai Sri-on joined an evening party on Friday and sang with Bhum Jai Thai Party executives until 3am, leading to speculation that Bhum Jai Thai may be trying to woo them to switch allegiance.

Chalermchai, a Democrat deputy leader, refused to comment to reporters, however.

Abhisit said it was normal for politicians from different political parties to meet in such an environment. He said he did not think Bhum Jai Thai was trying to persuade Democrat MPs to defect.