Second ex-Thaicom exec on the move

According to a source who asked not to be named, Yongsit is at the top of the list to become the next chief of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), the state agency that will play a key role in bringing about the Pheu Thai Party’s election promise to build more electric trains.

Aside from Yongsit, two other candidates are shortlisted, and the names will be proposed to the MRTA’s board of directors today for consideration. The other two are Ronnachit Yamsa-ad, acting governor of the MRTA, and Petch Chinabutr, director of the National Food Institute. 

“Among them, Yongsit is expected to have great potential to be selected, as he gained the top score after the interview,” the source said.

A source at the MRTA said Yongsit would win votes for the top job: “All know that Ronnachit has conflicts with the MRTA chairman, Ratchanee Treepipatkul.”  Ronnachit sued Ratchanee over alleged unfairness of an executive reshuffle at the agency. From 2004 to May 2011, Yongsit served as executive vice president of marketing and sales for China at Thaicom, a flagship company of Shin Corp. He also briefly worked for Dubai-based Global PS Mining Investment Co, which reportedly belonged to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. 

Since former governor Chookiat Phothayanuwat died, the MRTA's top job has been vacant for nearly two years. The quest to appoint a replacement has led to an executive reshuffle and lawsuits. In the latest round, from seven applicants, six are from the private sector. 

“It’s worth asking why Yongsit would leave his job for the MRTA, which would pay him around Bt300,000 a month,” the source said.

While Arak was widely anticipated to bring to fruition Pheu Thai’s energy ambitions through the national energy company PTT, Yongsit, if appointed MRTA governor, would play a role in the party’s mass-transit election promise. Pheu Thai campaigned for the construction of 10 electric-train routes in Bangkok.