BALLOT BRIEFS: Newin, Wan Noor turn to prayer

Published on February 9, 2005

Agriculture Minister Wan Muhamad Noor Matha was yesterday in a foul mood, while his deputy Newin Chidchob prayed silently in his office after both failed in their efforts to help the Thai Rak Thai Party win seats in the South.

Both politicians showed up for yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, but they returned to the Agriculture Ministry grim-faced.

An official who works for Wan Noor disclosed that the minister was under stress and in a bad mood apparently because his Wadah faction, comprised of several former MPs in southern provinces, failed to win re-election in Sunday’s poll.

The Democrat Party swept the South, leaving the ruling party with no seats in the region.

“We don’t know if he has other engagements because no one dares to ask him,” the official said. Wan Noor shut himself in his office at the ministry.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin, who was in charge of the TRT election campaign in Satun and Phatthalung, refused to speak to reporters yesterday.

He also locked himself in his office. Aides said he was praying. – The Nation.

Count progresses

Vote counting has been completed in 171 of the 400 constituencies nationwide, the Election Commission said yesterday.

They said average voter turn-out was 72.3 per cent. Phuket province had the largest turn-out with 89 per cent, followed by Phrae (82 per cent), Nakhon Pathom (80 per cent); Chanthaburi (70 per cent) and Nong Khai (67 per cent). – The Nation.

PM back on air

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will resume his radio programme on Saturday after suspending it during the run-up to the election.

He said he would continue his “Thaksin meets the people” programme after his Cabinet was formed.

“Then, I will ask the people if the radio programme is useful or not. If it’s useful, I’ll continue to run the programme,” he said.– The Nation.

Next race: Senate

Chuwit Kamolvisit, a Chat Thai party-list candidate, said yesterday he would contest next year’s Senate election if he fails to win election from Sunday’s poll.

The former massage-parlour tycoon said he was waiting with fingers crossed for official results of the party-list system of proportional representation.

He was No 6 on the Chat Thai list, and it remained unclear yesterday whether the party would win any House seats from the party-list election. – The Nation.

Adisai moves on

Education Minister Adisai Bodharamik said yesterday he would not return to his job in the next Thaksin cabinet. He added that it would take time to see the fruits of his labour in the giant ministry.

The minister said he had no intention of returning to the helm of the ministry even though others believed he had managed it well. He said the Thai Rak Thai Party had other members who were competent and suitable to take the job. “I have laid down structural work for this ministry. What is left to do is to develop it. I believe others can continue this work without a hiccup,’’ he said. – The Nation.

Post your comment to this story here