NEW CABINET: Expediencyplayed no part: PM

Published on August 04, 2005 - Thaksin sceptical of polls saying 80% unhappy with rejig. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday mounted a fierce defence of his new Cabinet line-up, insisting that the changes were meant to boost efficiency and were not a result of political expediency.

He said the transfer of Suriya Jungrungreangkit from the transport portfolio to concurrent positions as deputy prime minister and industry minister should not be seen as a political issue.

“Suriya is qualified for the industry portfolio and he will also carry out duties as my deputy,” Thaksin said, in an attempt to appease more than 100 MPs in Suriya’s Wang Nam Yom faction.

He added that he might assign Suriya to oversee the Transport Ministry and dismissed speculation that the minister’s move had been prompted by the CTX scandal at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Commenting on other Cabinet changes, Thaksin said he was satisfied with the outcome, although he had not achieved 100 per cent of what he had in mind when realigning the ministers.

He expressed scepticism about reports that up to 80 per cent of the people were dissatisfied with the Cabinet reshuffle, saying that polls conducted by television stations could be skewed.

Many stations, he said, polled opinions via SMS messages.

The prime minister said his newly appointed Transport Minister, Pongsak Ruktapongpisal, had an engineering background.

Pongsak was expected to work well with his deputy, Chaiyanan Charoensiri, who was an army engineer before accepting the government appointment.

Commenting on the appointment of Kongsak Wantana as the new interior minister, Thaksin said he expected Kongsak to be able to devote more time to the job than his predecessor.

“Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya did an excellent job as my deputy but he didn’t have sufficient time for interior affairs because he had to devote his full attention to the strife-torn South,” he said.

In combating the southern violence, Kongsak would work with Chidchai, who now also holds the position of justice minister.

The PM said he switched portfolios between Somkid Jatusripitak and Thanong Bidaya in order to allow them to work in their respective fields of expertise.

Somkid was a marketing graduate; hence he was moved from finance to commerce. Thanong had experience in fiscal policies, state enterprise management and debt restructuring, which he could put to good use as finance minister.

The premier said he would assign new PM’s Office Minister, Newin Chidchob, to supervise border affairs following his move from the Agriculture Ministry.

Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang, who was moved from the position of deputy prime minister, would continue to supervise rehabilitation measures for victims of southern violence.

He said Labour Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, Social Development and Human Security Minister Watana Muangsook, and Tourism and Sports Minister Pracha Maleenont were expected to realise their potential in their new positions.

He refused to explain why he sacked Adisai Bodharamik from the education portfolio.