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Prime minister orders Cabinet members to drop other jobs
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha wants any Cabinet members who also hold posts as government officials to give them up by the end of next month.

This is aimed at preventing conflicts of interest and a heavy workload on the ministers' part, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday.

He said Industry Minister Atchaka Sibunruang had said she would immediately quit her permanent-secretary post at the ministry, and PM's Office Minister ML Panadda Diskul said he was glad also to leave his permanent-secretary post at the ministry

Transport Minister Akom Termpitayapaisit might be willing to quit as permanent secretary of the National Economic and Social Development Board, Wissanu said.

He said the interim charter allowed permanent government officials to hold Cabinet posts because the prime minister believed the government was in transition and it was hard to find competent people to fill the Cabinet. Now that the government had passed the transitional period and the PM had reshuffled his Cabinet, he wanted the new Cabinet to restore business confidence.

This was "not just to change the economic team. It is important the new Cabinet members devote themselves fully. If they have dual roles, they may face problems of conflicts of interest and time management,'' Wissanu said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Prime-minister-orders-Cabinet-members-to-drop-othe-30267542.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-27

[bangkokfrog]

Now that the government had passed the transitional period and the PM had reshuffled his Cabinet, he wanted the new Cabinet to restore business confidence.

The transitional period was supposed to be one year, following which all would quit (including the PM) and we would see fresh elections. It seems as though he is finally admitting now that this government is settling in for the long haul.

[JAG]

They have passed the transition period. They have now settled in I rather suspect that this is to be Thailand’s government for the foreseeable future.

There is an inevitable sad event to be managed. A succession to be seen through, and "bedding that down" will be a long term project. Economic and social problems to be addressed. The massed forum of the people or whatever Suthep's calling it know provides a veneer of popular participation, or at least an illusion of it.

These are the Junta's people, and they are relinquishing lucrative prestigious permanent posts. There is no way they would do this if they weren't aware that their cabinet posts were at least as secure in the long term. This government is in for keeps.

[ikke]

Sure they can quit their job, he might have promised them they would stay long time in power anyway.

[Anthony5]

They can give their other government jobs to their relatives, as that of course are the ones best qualified. NOT.

[Bakseeda]

They can give their other government jobs to their relatives, as that of course are the ones best qualified. NOT.

Anthony, please can you back up your statement with some facts...which one do you know has given up their job to a relative...? Please DON'T post just for the sake of seeing your own avatar on TV. Better to keep quiet and let people think you are a fool, etc etc.......

[Anthony5]

They can give their other government jobs to their relatives, as that of course are the ones best qualified. NOT.

Anthony, please can you back up your statement with some facts...which one do you know has given up their job to a relative...? Please DON'T post just for the sake of seeing your own avatar on TV. Better to keep quiet and let people think you are a fool, etc etc.......

You mean it isn't a FACT that most of the members of the first Prayuth cabinet made their relatives assistant and whatever other function, at inflated salaries?

You mean it isn't a FACT that this is going on ever since Thailand has had a government?

What makes you think that this time will be different?

Edited August 27, 2015 by Anthony5

[Fat Haggis]

What Anthony was getting at was the cabinet members who "appointed" family members to the roles or "PA" etc. Nepotism and crony ism is alive and well today within the current "establishment" something the last lot were accused of, and had court action taken against the former PM for such abuses.. go figure!!

[bamnutsak]

They can always go back to the Ministerial Permanent-Secretary positions in the future. After all, those are where the big-bucks can be skimmed and hidden in your safe at home earned.

I think these moves, besides reducing workload (5-5-5), just reduce double-dipping.

[chainarong]

There was never any doubt that the Junta had in mind second half of 2017 to resume normal elections, the mammoth task of getting the constitution into some sort of order suggested from the onset that 1- 2 year was no where sufficient, also the longer period may slow down and repair damage with a divided Thailand, however as we have seen that is not the case and there is no guarantee that the constitution will be passed by the people and PM Prayut - O will not leave until that is sorted out, you'd better believe it , so these part time Cabinet members may as well do the job properly up till 2017, in most cases they all hold senior levels and are appointed not elected so they will return to their former rolls otherwise they would have declined the cabinet offer, Wouldn't they.

[Srikcir]

Does Prayut's edict also apply to his brother General Preecha who holds a flag officer commission in the military, Parliament Minister in the NLA and now Permanent Secretary of Defense?

Does Prayut's edict also apply to the active military officers besides General Preecha that he appointed to the NLA?

As Prayut has shown by his recent edict, his concern for conflict of interest in government is only an after-thought and then it is just a public relations tool.

[Strangebrew]

Ok no fair now they have to learn how to skim from the new jobs, But this order coming from PM who appointed an in-law to a government job, isn't that what he was trying to do away with? I'm confused. Just seems to me the qualified for job part just doesn't fit here.

[Sviss Geez]

They can give their other government jobs to their relatives, as that of course are the ones best qualified. NOT.

Anthony, please can you back up your statement with some facts...which one do you know has given up their job to a relative...? Please DON'T post just for the sake of seeing your own avatar on TV. Better to keep quiet and let people think you are a fool, etc etc.......

You mean it isn't a FACT that most of the members of the first Prayuth cabinet made their relatives assistant and whatever other function, at inflated salaries?

You mean it isn't a FACT that this is going on ever since Thailand has had a government?

What makes you think that this time will be different?

You're right, up to the point were you claimed they were paid inflated salaries. That's when you lost credibility as the salaries are dictated by the government.

[Anthony5]

They can give their other government jobs to their relatives, as that of course are the ones best qualified. NOT.

Anthony, please can you back up your statement with some facts...which one do you know has given up their job to a relative...? Please DON'T post just for the sake of seeing your own avatar on TV. Better to keep quiet and let people think you are a fool, etc etc.......

You mean it isn't a FACT that most of the members of the first Prayuth cabinet made their relatives assistant and whatever other function, at inflated salaries?

You mean it isn't a FACT that this is going on ever since Thailand has had a government?

What makes you think that this time will be different?

You're right, up to the point were you claimed they were paid inflated salaries. That's when you lost credibility as the salaries are dictated by the government.

Would you believe I don't give a flying fag about credibility against you spoonman.

[NCFC]

They can give their other government jobs to their relatives, as that of course are the ones best qualified. NOT.

Anthony, please can you back up your statement with some facts...which one do you know has given up their job to a relative...? Please DON'T post just for the sake of seeing your own avatar on TV. Better to keep quiet and let people think you are a fool, etc etc.......

You mean it isn't a FACT that most of the members of the first Prayuth cabinet made their relatives assistant and whatever other function, at inflated salaries?

You mean it isn't a FACT that this is going on ever since Thailand has had a government?

What makes you think that this time will be different?

You're right, up to the point were you claimed they were paid inflated salaries. That's when you lost credibility as the salaries are dictated by the government.

How has Anthony lost credibility when so many posters have given you examples of brazen nepotism that you choose to ignore?

[laocowboy2]

So this means that all the military cabinet members have to resign from the armed forces then? Or is it just more hypocrisy?

[lostmebike]

`This is aimed at preventing conflicts of interest and a heavy workload on the ministers' part`

Delegating work to your lackeys must be very tiring!

[h90]

Now that the government had passed the transitional period and the PM had reshuffled his Cabinet, he wanted the new Cabinet to restore business confidence.

The transitional period was supposed to be one year, following which all would quit (including the PM) and we would see fresh elections. It seems as though he is finally admitting now that this government is settling in for the long haul.

Lets hope you are right. As longer without the next Shinawatra as better for Thailand.

[Baerboxer]

What Anthony was getting at was the cabinet members who "appointed" family members to the roles or "PA" etc. Nepotism and crony ism is alive and well today within the current "establishment" something the last lot were accused of, and had court action taken against the former PM for such abuses.. go figure!!

Your right about cronyism and nepotism being alive and well. As it is throughout Asia and especially in those countries with a significant Chinese ethnic influence.

The former PM indulged in nepotism - remember a nice article one of her nieces wrote about working in marketing the government for Auntie Poo. Where she went wrong, and broke the rules, was moving people out of their job so she could manipulate her relative into a key position. If she waited and followed the rules she'd have got away with it. But following rules, procedures and the law has never been a Shin strong point.

[Baerboxer]

Would you believe I don't give a flying fag about credibility against you spoonman.

To be fair, you are right that some members, not sure how many, of the current government made their wives and/or siblings or relatives assistants of various kinds. He is right in that the salaries are fixed so could not be inflated.

Did that happen in previous government - you bet it did. Where inflated prices are paid is where government contracts are awarded at inflated prices to family and friends businesses without any tendering or competition.

The "expenses and assistants" claims have caught a number of UK politicians out too over the last few years when they were exposed. Strange how greed and corruption seems to be so common in politicians.

[jerojero]

About one of the few Orders that most would agree!