Political parties should be consulted during the drafting of the new constitution, Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa said yesterday.

"[Drafters] should not think politicians are simply concerned about their personal interests," he said. "They should invite all parties for consultation."

His call came as details of drafters' preferences for a new charter emerged.

They include reducing the number of members of Parliament, selecting senators via sectors and scrapping the election by proportional-representation of party-list members.

Banharn warned drafters that neglecting politicians and the public ran the risk of having their document rejected at a referendum. "The constitution-drafters will have to consider how they can make people understand, because there's a possibility the charter may be rejected," he said.

The former prime minister said he and his party were against reducing the number of members of Parliament because "it's not the number of members that's the problem".

Banharn does not object to scrapping the party-list system because party supporters were often named as list members and some even appointed to the Cabinet, which is not the original intention.

"As for prime ministers, they should still come from the ranks of members of Parliament," he said, adding that they must not be drawn from party lists.

Banharn was unconvinced an appointed Senate would solve problems.

He is against a possible rule requiring voting papers to be counted at election centres and not polling stations. He fears ballot-box tampering.

The new constitution should contain penalties for "immoral politicians", he said.

In a related development, constitution-drafter Charan Pakdithanakul assured a seminar the new constitution would be better than the 1997 "People's Constitution". He told disabled people a new charter would provide them with equality and protection.

At present, disabled people cannot be judges, and Charan said indirect discrimination had to end. With senatorial appointments via societal sectors disabled people may finally have legislative representation.

A Dhurakij Pundit University symposium heard original Election Commission member Yuwarat Kamolvej say the new charter should not differ too much from the 1997 Constitution.

The challenge, however, is

to prevent "corrupt and immoral people from assuming political power". Barring people involved in the gambling, sex and narcotics trades from running for office is one solution, she said.

Charter-drafter Wuthisarn Tanchai agreed. Making too

many changes to the 1997 Constitution could lead to confusion and more reasons to oppose it, he said.

The new charter should bar future prime ministers from engaging in commerce for five years after leaving the post, he said.

Thammasat University law lecturer Prinya Thewanaruemitkul supported minimal amendment of the 1997 charter.

"The 1997 Constitution may not be excellent, but it's a product of people's participation. Having nullified the 1997 charter

[the junta] has torn up the people's will and seized power from them."