Korbsak backs his brother

The government faces new scrutiny over a Bt21-billion project to provide solar-powered water-vending machines to 80,000 communities across the country, after Pheu Thai Party warned it would launch a no-confidence debate over the matter in parliament next month.

Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu, who is in the hot seat after Pheu Thai's Prompong Nopparit brought the matter up, strongly defended the project, which has been supervised by his younger brother, who is a former senator and a former Democrat Party MP.

Korbsak said he welcomed opposition scrutiny of the project, and he would fire his brother if any wrongdoing was found. When told by reporters Prompong claimed the vending machine project was even more suspect than the 4-01 land reform scandal that unseated a Democrat-led government in the 90s, Korbsak said: "Fine. No problems. We'll find out about this project."

When asked to comment on allegations that his brother benefited from certain companies that were donors to the Democrat |Party, Korbsak said sternly: "How did that become involved" [with the project], and what connection is there between one and the other?"

Under a government project, water-vending machines are to be distributed to 80,000 communities nationwide. Around Bt10.5 billion has been allocated to local project offices. In Bangkok, Bt58 million has been allocated to projects approved in 109 communities.

He said the project, part of the government's "Strong Thai" campaign based on self-sufficiency principles, was implemented by communities who were fully involved in the purchase process. "The government has only initiated the project and supervised it in regard to the big picture. The government is now working on the median unit price."

Korbsak defending his brother, saying he had asked him to supervise the project at a salary of only Bt40,000.

"I can give you a 1,000-per-cent guarantee of my brother's transparency."