Pongsak is back to claim transport post

Published on August 03, 2005 - Pongsak Ruktapongpisal has made a big political comeback to take the reins of the Transport Ministry.

In the first Thaksin government, he served as deputy commerce minister before moving on to become industry minister. He is a close friend of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who assigned him to work on the controversial deal to purchase a stake in the Liverpool Football Club, which eventually fell through.

A civil engineering graduate of Chulalongkorn University, Pongsak used to work in the contracting business and is a political veteran. He was close to Uthai Pimchaichon, former House speaker and a member of the New Aspiration Party.

He also developed a close connection with Snoh Thienthong, then secretary-general of the New Aspiration Party. Snoh asked him to look after his Alpine Golf Club before the golf course, developed on a plot previously owned by a temple in Rangsit, Pathum Thani, was sold to the Shinawatra family.

Pongsak is a regular in Thaksin’s inner golfing circle, which includes former transport minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, business magnate Prayuth Mahakitsiri, and Shin Corporation chairman Boonklee Plangsiri.