Published on July 16, 2005

Kittiratt likely to get the deputy spot, says source

The post of finance minister could go to either leading economist Olarn Chaipravat or finance permanent secretary Suparat Khawatkul, a source said yesterday.

The source said that the Stock Exchange of Thailand’s chief, Kittiratt Na Ranong, was tipped to become deputy finance minister when Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra reshuffles his Cabinet next week.

Thaksin was leaning toward Olarn, now adviser to the finance minister, as a replacement for Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, the source said.

“Olarn’s wife doesn’t want him to take up the post, but the prime minister is still wooing him,” the source said, adding that Somkid preferred Suparat as his successor.

Thaksin admitted yesterday that he was in the process of inviting outsiders to join his Cabinet.

“I am still considering whether to make a major reshuffle or small reshuffle,” Thaksin said.

The reshuffle was imminent after Suriya Lapwisuthisin was pressured to resign as deputy commerce minister following a share scandal.

Thaksin said he was not sure if he would restrict the reshuffle to economic ministries because he had yet to consider all the options.

“The reshuffle will definitely be complete within this month,” he said.

A source close to the premier at the Natural Resource and Environment Ministry said the reshuffle should be completed by next week. He said the current Cabinet would have its last meeting on Tuesday before the reshuffle takes effect.

A leading Thai Rak Thai Party member and Cabinet minister said the uncertainty over the reshuffle made most ministers jittery and had caused them to scramble for information.

“Everybody is being kept in the dark. The premier will not usually inform anyone about the reshuffle in advance,” the minister said on condition of anonymity.

He said several Cabinet members were also keeping their fingers crossed yesterday on hearing media speculation that the new Cabinet list would be sent for Royal command today.

Meanwhile, Air Force Commander-in-Chief ACM Khongsak Wantthana is considered a likely replacement for Suriya Jungrungreangkit as transport minister, another Thai Rak Thai source said. Suriya was blamed for failing to tackle the CTX bomb scanner scandal.

The source said Thaksin sent a strong signal that he was about to remove Suriya by abruptly cancelling a special Cabinet meeting today in which Suriya was scheduled to propose mega-infrastructure projects.

The source said Khongsak was a good bet to join the Cabinet because Thaksin approached him to become transport minister in his first administration. However, Khongsak declined because his wife was sick and he wanted to remain in the military.

The source said Khongsak was on the board of directors of Airports of Thailand Plc and knew about the problems at the new airport.

He said Khongsak also had a close personal connection with the prime minister because his wife works as a personal secretary to Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra.

Somluck Srimalee

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

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