Transport Minister Survives No-confidence Motion

[george]

Transport Minister survives no-confidence motion

BANGKOK: -- Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has comfortably escaped the no-confidence motion lodged by the opposition in the House of Representatives, as widely expected.

Mr. Suriya survived the censure motion by 367:119 votes, with 7 abstentions.

Members of the House of Representatives voted for the no confidence motion against Mr. Suriya Wednesday morning, after more than 12 hours of the censure debate on Monday.

The opposition Democrat and Chat Thai Parties recently tabled the censure motion against the transport minister for his alleged failure to perform his duty in supervising the procurement of CTX9000 bomb-scanners for Bangkok's new international airport, or the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The sale became the centre of an international scandal after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (US-SEC) suggested that the Thai government's procurement of the CTX9000 bomb detectors for the Suvarnabhumi Airport might not have been transparent.

The US-SEC claimed that Thailand's CTX deal might have been nearly Bt3.0 billion baht higher than the actual cost of the devices.

The opposition said that the alleged bribery case had cost the Thai government at least Bt1.2 billion.

Thailand purchased the CTX devices from the US-based GE-Invision Technology company, through an intermediary in Thailand, a firm called Patriot.

A recent government investigation into the case found no Thai government officials involved in any bribery.

--TNA 2005-06-29

[penzman]

Transport Minister survives no-confidence motion 

But how long will the present government survive?

"Slip slidin' away

Slip slidin' away

You know the nearer your destination

The more you're slip slidin' away"

- Paul Simon

[Kerryd]

Transport Minister survives no-confidence motion 

But how long will the present government survive?

"Slip slidin' away

Slip slidin' away

You know the nearer your destination

The more you're slip slidin' away"

- Paul Simon

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Judging from the results of the last election, it looks like they will be staying in power for a long time.

Most of the populace seems to accept that who ever they elect will be corrupt to some degree, but as long as they keep shelling out the money and promises, who cares ?

[Teach]

He may well have survived - for now!!!!

But when it's announced the new airport will not open for another 2 years I think he will be moved sideways. Allowing the new minister to announce the new date for the opening having recognized the causes for the delay...hero me???

T.

[penzman]

And what about Mr T who's been protecting Minister Suriya all along and denying any corruption was invovled knowing very well that there was?

[womble]

This is a complete mess for the Government, as much as they try to downplay it, it's front page news everyday. I don't suppose mentioning legalising casino's had anything to do with trying to divert public attension away from the debate.

It didn't work anyway, and Thai Rak Thai is looking vulnerable, soon as the economy falters (which it already has started to) and Thaksinomics is proved to be a failure, we can wave good bye to the only PM to be re-elected. By Thai political standards he's well past his sell by date anyway, at least 2 years past!