Manit Steps Down As Deputy Public Health Minister

[webfact]

PUBLIC HEALTH CORRUPTION SCANDAL

Manit steps down as deputy public health minister

By The Nation

Manit Nop-amornbodi announced his resignation as deputy public health minister at 1 pm Sunday.

He said he did not want his Bhum Jai Thai Party to be under pressure because of himself.

He insisted his innocence and said his resignation would pave way for an investigation into an alleged plan to siphon from the Strengthening Thailand budget of the Public Health Ministry.

Earlier, a fact-finding panel headed Doctor Banlu Siripanit found that there was an alleged collaboration to massively siphon from the planned procurements of the Public Health Ministry to be done under the Strengthening Thailand budget.

The Banlu panel alleged that Manit was planning to carry out bidding collusions for the procurements.

Prasart Thongpaknam, an aide of Manit, is tipped to succeed him.

Earlier, public health minister Witthaya Kaewparadai tendered his resignation after being accused of negligence in supervising the ministry's procurement plans worth more than Bt70 billion.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday that he will change four Cabinet seats after Manit's resignation.

-- The Nation 2010-01-10

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[billd766]

Good.

If he is found not guilty he can always apply to come back.

Score 1 for Abhisit and 1 for honesty?

[Reasonableman]

Good.

If he is found not guilty he can always apply to come back.

Score 1 for Abhisit and 1 for honesty?

Hold on a bit. Let's see if the investigation actually happens, and if it does, whether it reaches any conclusions.

How is the score card looking so far? ... Honesty 1? : Corruption [ ] (please insert the appropriate number, and feel free to use another sheet if there is insufficient room)

[Davidusaf99]

Regardless, people keep talking about the "shaky ground" Abhisit is on, and he keeps racking up "W's" against the opposition.

[mca]

That "opposition" usually consisting of his coalition partners.

[Davidusaf99]

Very often yes, but the far lesser of two evils, in this case.

[slapout]

Where is the Health Minister who resigned initially? There was some info indicating he would become Senate Whip or some such position. The system may be to negotiate a new position, retirement, salary, benefits, etc, prior to official letter of resignation. Hope this is not the case.

[animatic]

He equivocated and postured for the better part of a week,

but he's toast none the less.

[Insight]

From what I've heard from sources is the figures being asked for under the table were shocking even by TRT standards. This minister was effectively rooted out by the people he was dealing with!

How the average person clings on to any hope in Thai politics is beyond me, but the Dems could really do without this baggage.

[hammered]

The interesting thing here is that Abhsiit insisted on Manit resgining even though it would negatively affect his relationship with an important coalition partner. Reading about the case it seems the guy who was accused of not overseeing resigned before the guy who was allegedly doing the deals.

It is positive to see resignations forced or otherwise and lets hope this trend continues whatever party is in power,. There is a difference between corruption being found and resignations occuring and corruption being found and people left in position because "everyone" does it although things do need to move a stage further imho. A small step but an important one.

[geriatrickid]

Regardless, people keep talking about the "shaky ground" Abhisit is on, and he keeps racking up "W's" against the opposition.

Is it really a win if the official accused of corruption is replaced by that official's close assistant and confidant that may have been implicated in the same corruption? I believe it's more like trying to establish the facade of honesty.

Not to bash PM Abhisit and yes he does have to start somewhere. However, if he was serious he would select a replacement far removed from the accused.

[Davidusaf99]

The cabinet seat is BJT's to fill - nothing they can do about it. Except watch the next guy like a hawk. Problem for BJT is that Dems just installed Jurin - their top, no nonsense heavy hitter, in the drivers seat. I bet the chances for corruption will be much less, and their have trouble filling the seat lol.

[mca]

The interesting thing here is that Abhsiit insisted on Manit resgining even though it would negatively affect his relationship with an important coalition partner.

I really can't see he had any other choice. To go into a metaphor frenzy he was stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea and had to put his money where his mouth is.

[hammered]

The interesting thing here is that Abhsiit insisted on Manit resgining even though it would negatively affect his relationship with an important coalition partner.

I really can't see he had any other choice. To go into a metaphor frenzy he was stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea and had to put his money where his mouth is.

Previous governments have sat out far worse ones than this with much more publicity and public anger. Airport stuff springs immediately to mind. I think credit to him for this. Hopefully a new corner has been turned although to see so awaits a change in government.

[Publicus]

The interesting thing here is that Abhsiit insisted on Manit resgining even though it would negatively affect his relationship with an important coalition partner.

I really can't see he had any other choice. To go into a metaphor frenzy he was stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea and had to put his money where his mouth is.

Previous governments have sat out far worse ones than this with much more publicity and public anger. Airport stuff springs immediately to mind. I think credit to him for this. Hopefully a new corner has been turned although to see so awaits a change in government.

While this in no way resembles a 'zero tolerance' policy towards endemic and inherent corruption, Abhisit must show respect towards the middle class he and the Dems always have had as a major constituency, especially in and around Bangkok. The middle class was largely the instrument of Thaksin's downfall and so Abhisit must show a clear delineation from Thaksin, especially in the present environment of conflicting contrasts between the two that Thaksin has been trying to define in terms of leadership. Abhisit also has to make efforts to somewhat neutralize Thaksin among the rural agrarian poor with whose argument we are long familiar, i.e., Thaksin like the rest of 'em is corrupt but, unlike the rest of 'em, he gave us something in return for our vote. It also shows some measure of independence by Abhisit which is another encouraging sign that Abhisit is growing in the position and is increasing his own authority, however slowly and (hopefully) methodically.    

[Dustybin]

These guys are just filling their boots while they got the chance.

The tip of the iceberg .

Abisits government is corrupt.

[way2muchcoffee]

These guys are just filling their boots while they got the chance.

The tip of the iceberg .

Abisits government is corrupt.

Source? Proof? Strong statement to make without any sort of backup. Don't you think that the red camp is leaving no stone unturned in their attempt to get some dirt on Abhisit?

[animatic]

These guys are just filling their boots while they got the chance.

The tip of the iceberg .

Abisits government is corrupt.

Source? Proof? Strong statement to make without any sort of backup. Don't you think that the red camp is leaving no stone unturned in their attempt to get some dirt on Abhisit?

Elements within the government camps may be, from old habit's, trying to fill their pockets.

But that on face value doesn't imply the government itself is in any way corrupt,

more than usual for any government in power. And seemingly less than most

Thai governments, as viewed by these removals, and faster than past resignations

for graft related issues. As this happens more and more, a corner will have been turned.

The business of Real Politik is messy at best and rarely unsullied by interest groups,

but blanket statements, such as above, counter to observable incidents, don't make and argument stronger.

Edited January 11, 2010 by animatic