Rajata drops Mahidol U job, keeps Cabinet post
PUBLIC HEALTH Minister Rajata Rajatanavin has decided to give up the top post at Mahidol University (MU), which he held before he was recruited to the Cabinet. Rajata announced his decision via a statement yesterday.
“Now, I have decided to hold just the ministerial post,” he said, adding that he planned to inform the MU Council officially next Wednesday.
The MU Council earlier asked Rajata to choose one post or the other, either as MU president or as public health minister. That request was made in response to loud complaints by some lecturers that Rajata should not hold two positions.
Harsh criticism has apparently upset Rajata, who lamented in yesterday’s statement that he was sad to see some MU members lambasting him even before he started working at the Public Health Ministry.
Rajata’s appointment as the public health minister received royal endorsement on August 30, and he started working at the ministry on September 13. All ministers are legally required to attend a swearing-in ceremony before they can officially assume their duties.
“The issue of whether I should double as both the MU president and the public health minister can be discussed among MU intellectuals, but some have gone to social media and [traditional] media to provide one-sided information to the public,” Rajata complained.
He said he did not wish to retaliate because he was worried that MU’s image would be affected.
In yesterday’s statement, Rajata also explained that the current provisional constitution allowed a civil servant or a government employee to hold a ministerial post for a short period of time such as one year.
