Most People Favour Cabinet Reshuffle : Poll

Most people favour cabinet reshuffle : poll

BANGKOK: -- An opinion poll conducted by Assumption University has found that most people in Bangkok and nearby provinces are in favour of a cabinet reshuffle.

The Abac poll was conducted with 1,677 people in which the majority of the respondents said they had high confidence that the government would complete its four-year term.

A total of 61.6% of the respondents were in favour of a cabinet reshuffle while 11.7% were against and 26.7% expressed no opinion, according to the poll.

Despite an ongoing sluggish economy and poor economic data, 60.3% of the respondents believed that Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak is still suitable for his post and should retain the portfolio in the imminent cabinet reshuffle. Some 45.9% said Commerce Minister Thanong Bidaya is still suitable for the post, and 46% still favoured Industry Minister Watana Muangsook.

Surprisingly, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit--grilled by opposition parties in the Parliament earlier on the alleged kickbacks of purchasing bomb scanners for the new airport--received a 41.5% approval from the respondents who indicated he should retain his portfolio.

However, 49.4% of all respondents said they were uncertain that the planned reshuffle satisfy people's expectations.

Major problems that the new cabinet should focus on solving quickly, according to the poll, are first of all the economy, followed by the continuing violence in the three trouble-plagued provinces in the deep South, rampant corruption, the high cost of living and soaring oil prices.(

--TNA 2005-07-31