Mingkwan on the sidelines

Commerce Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan was ordered abruptly yesterday to leave for Kuala Lumpur to attend the World Economic Forum - a move that will leave him out of the government's crucial management of rice policy.

The snap order was issued by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who had apparently put Mingkwan under intense pressure over the past week following the government's announcement of a multi-billion-baht  rice-pledging scheme.

Sources said Mingkwan would be on his overseas trip over the weekend while more than 1,000 soldiers would be seconded to inspect government rice stocks in more than 100 warehouses nationwide.

Last week, Samak also chaired the National Rice Policy Committee while Mingkwan was abroad and launched the pledging scheme, which analysts said could be vulnerable to corruption if handled improperly.

The largest faction of People Power Party MPs, led by Newin Chidchob and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, are understood to be behind Samak's move to take over rice-policy management from Mingkwan, who has few government MPs on his side.

Mingkwan said yesterday that he agreed with the government in setting up an internal audit committee to inspect its rice stocks. If rice is found to be missing, the ministry will take legal action against culprits.

"I don't feel like I'm not trusted. It is a normal practice," he said.

Sources said Mingkwan had just learned about the order from Samak to attend the forum as the event, being held tomorrow and Monday, was not on his schedule beforehand.

According to sources, rice checkers will start their work over the weekend as the government is verifying stocks for upcoming government-to-government rice deals.

The Commerce Ministry previously reported total rice stocks of 2.1 million tonnes.

"Mingkwan is now working under strong pressure from big factions within the PPP and powerful businessmen," said a source.

The Cabinet recently approved a budget of Bt35 billion for rice pledging to guarantee a white-rice price of Bt14,000 per tonne - a move that critics said could lead politicians to take undue benefits.

 "Mingkwan has been isolated from the PPP and the Cabinet. His proposals in the ministry have not got any support at all," the source added.

Earlier, Samak suspended Mingkwan's project to sell lower-priced necessities under the Blue Flag programme.