"I don't know about the Bt800 million worth of electronic equipment that Saprang wants TOT to buy for the Army, but I wouldn't mind the donation [of it]," he said.

Boonrawd was reacting to reports that Vuthipong attributed his sacking to his objection to spending the telephone company's earnings when the Army could have used its own budget.

He said the equipment, if purchased, would be used to fight the insurgency in the South.

Gen Surayud Chulanont, the prime minister, said yesterday he would look into the matter on Monday.

Information and Communications Technology Minister Sithichai Pookaiyaudom said Vuthipong lost his job because he was disrespectful towards him.

"Vuthipong was fired after making a groundless accusation that I did not support his idea about the telecom pool," he said, adding the planned purchase of the electronic equipment was not an issue.

Sithichai said he supported the TOT donating the equipment to the Army because purchasing it through the military budgetary process would take two years and it might arrive too late to stop the violence and save lives in the deep South.