The annual reshuffle of senior officials is underway at ministries and important organisations. The personnel changes serve to implement government policies and special assignments, either for personal or public interest. It's time for Prime Minister Abhisit to select his team to effect real policy implementation, now that the country has a Bt2 trillion budget for 2011.
Alas. A big chunk, up to 30 per cent in most cases, will be diverted to the pockets of the three partners in the axis of evil in our self-serving politics - politicians, bureaucrats and private contractors. They have already agreed to share the spoils from taxpayers' money.
For the record, Abhisit is generally recognised as a politician with a good conscience, integrity and clean hands, as opposed to others in the coalition and opposition. He has a strong sense of purpose, with a determination to succeed as the chief executive. He is the only person with any credibility left to ensure a fair degree of public support for his administration. The rest are regarded as a gallery of rogues, and many are crooks.
During his term so far, Abhisit has tried to prevent coalition partners from getting their hands in the cookie jar. The huge budget is too tempting for these political desperados. At times, he has had to let pet projects go to these partners in crime, just to enable the coalition to survive the red shirts' attempt to topple it. This means that, against his will, his position has been compromised; he has been a victim of coercive political bargaining by coalition partners who have taken key ministries in exchange for bought loyalty. The public accepts his status as a blackmailed victim.
The alternative is the return to power of Pheu Thai, funded and owned by Thaksin Shinawatra.
What is the ideal position that Abhisit should consider as his means for policy implementation and as a defence against political duress? We all know that politicians are building up power and influence for longevity on their own turf. Abhisit has so far not paid much attention to this aspect of influence building, or maybe he just cannot do so.
Now that he has survived two major national crises in two consecutive years, he should demand participation and decision making in selecting key officials. As chief executive, he has every right to do so - never mind the power sharing arrangement with the coalition partners. In the end, he has to accept the responsibility resulting from the success or failure of his administration.
But the coalition partners will never accept responsibility, once they have taken their loot and kickbacks. Abhisit must show that he is boss, and bang the table if need be. He needs trusted and competent people to fulfil his agenda. The key positions should include the chief of the Revenue Department, chief of Economic Crime Division, chief of Special Investigations, and key posts in the police, and they must all work together under him.
This way, he can enhance his leverage over the coalition partners. The Revenue Department would serve well in going after tax payments, the Economic Crime Division can investigate tax cases, and the DSI can arrest violators if evidence is substantiated. The coalition partners will hiss and show their discontent. Let them.
For over a year, Abhisit has used a soft approach in dealing with these political cut-throats and thieves. He needs to force them to toe the line rather than let them plunder the national coffers with him on the receiving end of the public's wrath.
He has two key ministries - Finance and Justice - under Democrat control. He chairs the Police Commission on Policy but his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban oversees transfers and reassignments. He should take full control of this as well, to ensure enforcement of law and order in the face of a revived red-shirt movement.
To achieve all this, Abhisit requires extra courage. He must take the bull by the horns. He must twist the arms of hotshots in his camp and in the coalition. Positions of power must be assigned to honest and competent officials who share his wavelength in pursuing the national mission. His judgement must be error-free and not based on cronyism.
This may sound too good to become reality. Success or failure can be possible only with guts and a strong sense of purpose. He has several days to decide the next course of action. Let's hope that he has the courage to fulfil our expectations.