Impeachment threat over buses

Senator Naruemon Siriwat yesterday threatened to launch impeachment proceedings if the government approved the Bt69 billion bus leasing project.

"The prime minister and his Cabinet members will be targeted for impeachment if they insist on implementing the suspicious project," she said.

Naruemon said she suspected irregularities because the estimated maintenance costs appeared too high and the leasing contract would involve the government's liability for too long a period of time.

She said the government had no justification for approving the project, seen as a hasty attempt to replenish campaign funds ahead of the next general election.

Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondet said the government should delay the project pending a review of whether the leasing and maintenance costs would justify the deal.

"The government is risking a public backlash which can lead to its downfall if it ignores the fact that the project has been plagued with irregularities," he said.

Prasopsuk said at issue was not the row between two coalition parties - Democrat and Bhum Jai Thai- but the very survival of the government.

The two coalition parties had a joint responsibility to ensure a clean and honest administration, he said.

The authorities failed to adequately explain why the buses should be leased at such a high cost. He also questioned the price tag jacked up by interest payments.

Prasopsuk said he was optimistic the vetting of the bus leasing by the two coalition partners would not turn into a political expediency in which either side reached a mutual agreement regardless of the merits of the project.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the Democrat-led coalition had zero tolerance for corruption.

"Members of the public and media professionals are invited to scrutinise all public spending plans," he said.

Suthep urged parties concerned to step forward to expose any irregularities and pledged the prime minister would take immediate action to bring culprits to justice.

He said, however, he had no evidence to suspect foul play linked to the bus leasing project and that it was unjustified to assume the project was a contentious issue between the two coalition parties.

He said it would be up to the Cabinet to make a collective decision whether to give the green light to the project, which had been reviewed and revised according to recommendations from all sides.

In a latest revision, about 70 per cent of 4,000 buses would be assembled locally instead of being imported, he said.

In regard to concern that the rejection of the project might lead to the collapse of the coalition, he said he would do his best to keep the alliance intact.

Bhum Jai Thai Party leader Chovarat Chanweerakul said he was not informed whether the Cabinet debate on the project would take place tomorrow as scheduled.

He said he had read news reports on speculation about a delay in the debate and said the government might need more time to scrutinise details before rescheduling it.

He ruled out the allegation his party was trying to block the land lease project pushed by the Democrats in order to negotiate support for the bus leasing.

He said he was ready to give his blessing to the land lease if Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam could clarify certain contentious issues and ensure the leased plots for landless farmers would not end up in the hands of the developers.

Democrat Party spokesman Buranaj Smutharaks said the authorities were planning a publicity campaign to explain away issues related to crop and bus projects.

In regard to the bus leasing, authorities will raise awareness on problems plaguing the bus service for Bangkok commuters and how to rectify the situation.

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority is obligated to justify its plans to overhaul the service and tackle the financial predicament, he said.

The planned overhaul of bus services would in turn form a basis for Cabinet to debate bus leasing, he added.

Democrat MP Sathit Pitudecha said authorities should dispel lingering doubts about the attempt to fix a deal for the bus leasing.

The project's credibility had been compromised because of speculation about favouring certain suppliers in exchange for kickback payments, he said.