Full inbox awaits new transport minister

After six months in office, the Pheu Thai-led government has made little progress on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai high-speed rail project or the development of 10 mass-transit routes. Delivering on these pledges is among the huge tasks Jaruphong now faces.
Jaruphong replaced ACM Sukampol Suwannathat as transport minister in the recent Cabinet reshuffle, while Chatchart Sithipan replaced Kittisakdi Hathasongkroh as a deputy minister. The other deputy minister, Chatt Kuldiloke, remains in his post.
Jaruphong is the Pheu Thai Party’s secretary, with strong ties to party members. He has served as permanent secretary for both Justice and Labour. Chatchart was a board director at the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) and Transport Co. Jaruphong will be counting on Chatchart’s experience to help push the mega-projects forward.
Jaruphong is expected to assign Chatt to oversee the development of the rail system, while Chatchart will oversee logistics development.
One major obstacle Sukampol faced during his tenure was the flood crisis, which hampered further development of the mass-transit system. He also reportedly did not get along with his deputies.
Upon taking office, Jaruphong gave priority to seeking a budget for the restoration of flood-damaged roads and bridges on 1,700 routes, and also a plan to call bidding for contractors to start building some of the mass-transit routes.
The public and the Opposition are closely watching to see if implementation of transportation mega-projects under Jaruphong is done transparently, or if it will benefit particular groups. The scrutiny comes as the Transport Ministry’s permanent secretary, Suphoth Sublom, faces a probe by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) over his alleged unusual wealth. For the duration of the probe, Suphoth has been moved to the PM’s Office. Last week, Jaruphong said he would not rush to appoint a new permanent secretary until the NACC probe is completed.
Jaruphong said he plans to use the e-auction process to ensure transparency in developing the mega-projects.
It remains to be seen if Jaruphong will change the makeup of the board of the MRTA, and whether he can speed up the process of finding its new governor. The agency has operated without a governor for almost two years.
The new minister will also be closely watched to see if he will change the board of Thai Airways International, and whether he will support the idea that the Finance Ministry should sell its 2-per-cent stake in THAI, turning the national carrier into a private firm.
Virabongsa Ramangkura, chairman of the government’s Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development, has floated the idea of selling the ministry’s stakes in PTT and THAI, turning them into private firms. If implemented, the plan would see the government offload up to Bt700 billion of public debt.