Minister denies ‘political’ bias

Regime accused of ‘snatching politicians’

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat yesterday said that he was not the person who chose his newly-appointed assistant Itthiphol Khunpleum, saying he was “not the owner of the ministry”.

However, he accepted the decision which was agreed by the cabinet and would wait and see how the new appointment works.

“Whoever proposes an appointment, I don’t care how they come. I just want to know only if we will be able to work together and how much power I will allocate to him. Now we have a lot of work but with the same workforce,” he said.

He said he only knew a few days in advance about the arrangement but denied it was a political appointment.

“It’s not my duty to explain. I don’t know how it all came together,” he said.

The cabinet on Tuesday appointed Sonthaya Khunpleum, former tourism and sports minister, as an adviser on political affairs to the prime minister and named his younger brother Itthiphol an assistant to the new tourism and sports minister.

Political observers believe the regime is plotting to snatch as many veteran politicians as possible ahead of the poll.

Mr Sonthaya, 55, is the leader of the Palang Chon Party and the eldest son of Mr Somchai aka Kamnan Poh, and Mr Itthiphol, 45, a former Pattaya mayor, is the fourth child of Mr Somchai.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha admitted he needs a well-connected political veteran to help him learn more about politics as the country heads toward the election.

According to the prime minister, the appointments were proposed by the tourism minister and a deputy prime minister with his approval before the move was tabled for cabinet consideration.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam yesterday defended the appointment, saying a leader of a political party is not disqualified from being a PM’s adviser or a minister’s assistant.

Mr Wissanu said the two are not required to resign from the posts when it comes to the election time.

In a separate development, the Internal Security Operations Command will step up its role over the next six months to make people understand about the upcoming election and ask them to support the polls.

Isoc spokesman Peerawat Sangthong said yesterday after a meeting with the Isoc agencies that the provincial Isoc bodies were told to create an atmosphere of reconciliation as well as promote a climate of justice and transparency so the election is accepted by all parties.

They were also asked to support all state agencies in keeping peace and order.

Army chief-of-staff Natthapol Nakpanich, as the Isoc secretary-general, also told the agencies to raise awareness among the people about threats from distorted information spread by people with ill intentions, and drugs, he said.