PWO chief to make way for Pheu Thai pick
Anukul Tamparsirt, president of the Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO), is expected to submit his letter of resignation to Commerce Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong today.
Traditionally, whenever a new political party takes the helm at the ministry, the existing PWO chief resigns to make way for an appointee of that party - in this case Pheu Thai.
The Commerce Ministry's marketing arm, the PWO will play a key role in the administration of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, assuming responsibility for the rice stockpile under the government's pledging programme.
Anukul declined to comment when contacted yesterday, saying only that it was for "political reasons".
Kittiratt said the ministry would today submit the list of members of the PWO's new board for Cabinet approval. He declined to disclose the names on the list.
Selection of a new president will take several months, said the ministry's permanent secretary, Yanyong Phuanrach. A PWO board member will be appointed acting president in the interim.
Anukul was appointed head of the PWO last November by the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.
The PWO normally sustains losses of several million baht each year as it must bear the cost of maintaining stocks of farm goods, and employs hundreds of people. The president's salary is higher than that of the commerce minister.
A senior source at the ministry explained that governments prefer to nominate their own leader for the organisation, as it must be a person they can trust.
PWO board members' terms typically end with the government's term.
The position of president is held for a two-year term.
