Public Health Minister Resigns

[webfact]

THAI KHEMKHAENG SCANDAL

Public health minister resigns

By The Nation

Showing responsibility for poor supervision of Thai Khemkhaeng project

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai on Tuesday announced his intention to quit as a show of responsibility for lapse of duty in supervising the Thai Khemkaeng project.

Witthaya said he would tender his resignation effective as of Wednesday.

He made the decision after the Banlu Siripanit report singled him out for poor supervision triggering suspected irregularities related to the Bt86 billion stimulus budget.

-- The Nation 2009/12/29

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[Samuian]

there is a note in an article from a news source which is not allowed to be quoted or posted here about this minister and the allocations of funds to his home province Ratchaburi... it's the old story, he is one of many victims of the patronage system, his voters and supporters expect that from him as a return... it's how this countries system works... "Puu Yai" will make it possible if not - there is always another one....looks like time to clean up!

[webfact]

Thailand's Public Health Minister resigns, takes responsibility for management flaws in ministry projects

BANGKOK, Dec 29 (TNA) - Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai announced his resignation Tuesday to take responsibility for 'management flaws' in his ministry's projects under the Bt86 billion Thai Khemkhaeng (Strong Thailand) stimulus package.

Mr Witthaya told reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva early Tuesday morning at Government House that no funds designated for ministry projects were held back, untransferred, from the projects, "not even a single baht," so the public should not worry as no corruption had happened.

The minister said he did not want to be out of step with public feeling, and decided to resign from his post to take responsibility for 'management flaws' in ministry projects.

Mr Wittaya said he would submit his resignation letter to the prime minister on Wednesday with immediate effect. He asserted that during his one year of service as minister he performed his duties honestly.

However, Mr Witthaya said after resigning from the post, that he would remain on duty as a member of parliament. As for his deputy Manit Nop-amornbodi, who was mentioned in the investigation report, Mr Witthaya said it was up to Mr Manit as to whether he would resign or not.

The government-appointed committee investigating alleged corruption in ministry's Bt86 billion procurement projects, said earlier that it found signs of irregularities in disbursements of the funds, and advised a review of all projects.

Dr Banlu Siripanich, former permanent secretary, heading the inquiry panel, told a news conference Monday that evidence, both documents and witness testimonies, showed a high probability that politicians and senior ministry officials were involved in unusual procurement of medical equipment under the Bt86 billion Thai Khemkhaeng (Strong Thailand) stimulus package.

Dr Banlu said the funding was mobilised to build facilities and buy medical equipment and also focused on urban areas instead of rural areas. The budget allocations for hospital construction were skewed in favour of some politicians' selected constituencies.

Several procurement schemes for medical supplies were found to be not only overpriced but unnecessary, he said.

Dr Banlu said loopholes were possible because present and former public-health bureaucrats had failed to ensure transparency. The government budget was used inefficiently because of the negligence of senior ministry officials.

The former permanent secretary said Public Health Minister Witthaya could not avoid personal responsibility over these management flaws.

Meanwhile, Mr Manit, who has no involvement in the scheme, intervened to seek too high an allocation of funds to his own parliamentary constituency by exerting pressure on bureaucrats and is believed likely to be involved in the irregularities in an ambulance purchase project which was found to be overpriced.

Dr Banlu said the inquiry panel had advised the government to review the ministry's plan, as well as further investigation of all involved government officials, both those who still working and retirees.

Politicians involved in the corruption should face action under the nine strict rules Mr Abhisit announced when he took office on how his ministers should conduct themselves. (TNA)

-- TNA 2009/12/29

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[way2muchcoffee]

Very good news. I applaud any type or personal accountability in government.

[webfact]

Manit says he will make decision after New Year holidays

Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nop-amornbodi said Tuesday that he will decide after New Year holidays whether to resign to show responsibility over allegations that he planned to siphon from the Public Health Ministry's procurements under Strengthening Thailand pakcage.

Manit said he needed to remain in oversee the operation to try to prevent road accidents during the long New Year holidays.

A probe panel alleged that Manit was planning to have bidders collude in bidding for selling 800 ambulances to the ministry. The panel alleged that Manit had summoned an ambulance supplier to meet him recently.

-- The Nation 2009/12/29

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[basjke]

^^ Should we read,I'm not sure yet if I will have collected my bribes soon after the holidays?

[airplane]

Now if Kasit would be prosecuted or resign and elections would be held Thailand could recover.

[RegularReader]

Now if Kasit would be prosecuted or resign and elections would be held Thailand could recover.

Haha.

Please provide reasons as to why Kasit and possible corruption in the Health Department are related.

I would also like to know why Thailand "could recover", if Kasit resigns.

One might be able to put forward a very convincing case, as to why he should nt be Foreign Minister, but I do not follow your logic, or understand what it has to do with this topic.

Prey tell ?

[Latindancer]

Prey tell ?

Regular reader ? Methinks not regular enough......

[RegularReader]

Prey tell ?

Regular reader ? Methinks not regular enough......

Me thinks, Latindancer does not know what "leading questions" are meant to infer and from whom they are hoping to draw an informative response, to explain a vague statement...

[webfact]

Sanan to become caretaker public health minister

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart will concurrently become the caretaker public health minister pending the search for a successor to Witthaya Kaewparadai, the prime minister said on Tuesday.

Withaya's resignation will take effect on Wednesday and the Democrat Party is scheduled to name his sucessor by the first week of January, Abhisit said.

The appointment of the new public health minister will take place at the same time as the naming of Democrat Trairong Suwankhiri as the deputy prime minister in charge of economic affairs, replacing Korbsak Subhavasu who will move to assume the position of the secretary general to the prime minister.

-- The Nation 2009/12/29

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[animatic]

Yeah right ;

Manit MUST stay on till next year.... so why not pretended to be

the ONLY MAN IN THAILAND who can prevent traffic accidents.

Bet he wants to get his 2010 pension locked in by one day berfore showing face.

Golden pigs can fly too, but not like golden parachutes!

Edited December 29, 2009 by animatic

[mrtoad]

Some interesting names in there, I'm pretty sure that one of them has been implicated previously in this sort of nonsense when they held a position in one of the state run enterprises. Loathe to say too much, due to libel laws.

[webfact]

THAI KHEMKHAENG SCANDAL

While health minister resigns, his deputy dithers

By Piyanart Srivalo

Hassaya Chartmontri

The Nation

Published on December 30, 2009

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai announced his resignation yesterday, taking responsibility for alleged irregularities involving his ministry in planned purchases of medical supplies and construction projects.

The decision came after Witthaya met Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva - who is also his Democrat colleague and party leader - at Government House.

The health minister told a press conference after the meeting that he would tender his formal resignation today. He denied that he had approved the projects in question, which he said had all been halted.

"The investigation found that there was preparation for an irregularity. I am accused of being negligent, so I have to take responsibility. I act in response to people's feelings," Witthaya said, denying any pressure from within his party.

The veteran politician insisted that he had served honestly over the past year in his post and that he had never resorted to corruption during his 21 years in politics.

An independent investigation committee, led by former deputy permanent secretary for public health Banlu Siripanit, earlier found traces of irregularities relating to the Public Health Ministry's Bt86-billion budget under the government's Thai Khemkhaeng economic stimulus project. The public health minister, his deputy Manit Nop-amornbodi, and a number of senior permanent officials were found by the panel to be responsible for the suspected irregularities.

Witthaya said that his resignation was not intended to pressure Manit, who is from the coalition Bhum Jai Thai Party, to follow suit. Manit was expected to hold a press conference today about his decision on the matter.

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart will be the caretaker public health minister pending the search for Witthaya's successor, the prime minister said yesterday. Withaya's resignation will take effect today and the Democrat Party is scheduled to name his successor by the first week of January, Abhisit said.

Meanwhile, Manit's Bhum Jai Thai Party yesterday rose to his defence, saying he was simply doing his job as an MP.

The Banlu probe panel discovered that an unusually high amount of funds were to be spent in health projects in Manit's constituency of Ratchaburi province. It also alleged that Manit planned to have bidders collude in a project to procure 800 ambulances for the Public Health Ministry.

Bhum Jai Thai Party spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said Manit paid special attention to Ratchaburi because it was his political stronghold. "Is this wrong? Clearly, what he did is not about corruption. Corruption is about using one's authority for personal gains. But Manit is not involved in such practice," Supachai said.

"As of now, Manit has insisted that he is not involved in any corruption at all," the spokesman said. He added that the party would allow Manit to explain himself. "We won't allow him to stay on as the deputy minister if there's really evidence against him," he said.

Democrat deputy secretary-general Siriwan Prassachaksat-tru, Witthaya's former secretary, dismissed an allegation that she met with Manit and ambulance suppliers.

"I can explain myself. There's proof to dismiss the allegation against me," she said.

In a related development, Rural Doctors Society chairman Dr Kriengsak Watcharanukulkiat praised Witthaya for showing political responsibility. He said Witthaya's successor must be honest and able to choose the right people for the right jobs, adding that it was not necessary that the new public health minister be a politician.

Meanwhile, Manit said he would decide after the New Year holidays whether to resign or not.

Manit said he needed to remain in office to oversee operations to prevent road accidents during the long New Year holidays.

A probe panel alleged that Manit was planning to have bidders collude in the sale of 800 ambulances to the ministry. The panel alleged that Manit had summoned an ambulance supplier to meet him recently.

-- The Nation 2009/12/30

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[geriatrickid]

I guess the mishandling of the vaccine roll out, doesn't factor in.................

[mca]

Bhum Jai Thai Party spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said Manit paid special attention to Ratchaburi because it was his political stronghold. "Is this wrong? Clearly, what he did is not about corruption. Corruption is about using one's authority for personal gains. But Manit is not involved in such practice," Supachai said

Obviously Khun Supachai is referencing his "Politician's Revised Dictionary" for his definition of "corruption"

Let's hope he doesn't give up his day job and become a defense lawyer.

'Your Honour. If I may be permitted to address the court. Admittedly my client did a bag of meth and completely off his tree murdered his neighbour and stole his car. It is not disputed that he then kidnapped a nun, raped her and cut off her head. No one is denying that following this event he strolled into a 7-11 with a a pair of Glock 9 millies and, while wearing the nun's habit, proceeded to go postal leaving 8 people dead. But, the pertinent question which the members of the jury must discuss with deep deliberation before coming to a final decision which could send my client to prison for life. Is this wrong?"

Edited December 30, 2009 by mca

[slapout]

If news reports of postponed flu vaccines, no rabies vaccine in Thailand, ambulance shortage (pickups used throughout the kingdom) lack of trained paramedics, lack of trained doctors, hospital care and on and on are to be believed, it would appear the appointees to this Ministry are in all likelihood as inept as those making the appointments. From past history, it would appear that a resignation is looked at as similar to a free get out of jail (prosecution) card. Thailand the hub for global health care/cosmetic surgery as being advocated by the same officials who can not/will not publish accurate figures on flu, aids, traffic, etc deaths. The number of 'magic ladies', snake oil outlets, miracle spas/facilities, etc probably are indicative of the faith locals has in the health care in this country.

[Bagwan]

What a strange farrago this is. So a Government Minister tells the Press that he will offer a letter of resignation to the PM in a couple of days. For his lack of good manners, strange sense of timing and talking out of turn I would immediately fire him - unless of course this is a working of the Oracle. Could it be that the next pronouncement will be that the PM persuaded the Minster to stay on, hence he coming out of the affair smelling of roses?

I understand that a former Health Minister and a senior civil servant are already behind bars for corruption. Could this be a repeat performance?

[webfact]

Five Democrats vying for a Cabinet position

The Democrat Party has shortlisted five contenders for the position of public health minister, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban said on Wednesday.

The five are Ong-art Klampaiboon, Juti Krairerk, Chalermchai Sri-on, Chinnaworn Boonyakiart and Nipit Intharasombat.

Suthep said the main coalition will finalise the nomination after the New Year holiday.

Sources within the party said Education Minister Jurin Laksanawisit might be moved to shore up confidence at the Public Health Ministry in the wake of the Thai Khemkhaeng scandal. Under this scenario, one of the five contenders would secure the education portfolio.

-- The Nation 2009/12/30

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[hammered]

As always I welcome anyone of any party who accepts responsibility for actions. It is a start. Not perfect but a start.

It will be a shame if Jurin is moved form education. He is the only minsiter in that protfolio who has ever taken it seriosuly in my memory

[Bagwan]

Five Democrats vying for a Cabinet position

The Democrat Party has shortlisted five contenders for the position of public health minister, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban said on Wednesday.

The five are Ong-art Klampaiboon, Juti Krairerk, Chalermchai Sri-on, Chinnaworn Boonyakiart and Nipit Intharasombat.

Suthep said the main coalition will finalise the nomination after the New Year holiday.

Sources within the party said Education Minister Jurin Laksanawisit might be moved to shore up confidence at the Public Health Ministry in the wake of the Thai Khemkhaeng scandal. Under this scenario, one of the five contenders would secure the education portfolio.

-- The Nation 2009/12/30

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I don't know whether to laugh at, or cry for, Thailand.

The appointment of Government Ministers should be in the gift of the Prime Minister - or else the 'buck stops here' scenario goes out of the window. The Captain of the ship should choose his own crew (screw?).