Somkid set to join Cabinet

PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday he had submitted a Cabinet reshuffle for Royal endorsement on Monday. 

The PM did not give details of the changes, however the reshuffle is expected to be a major one. Prayut said last week he would switch some ministers and there would be outsiders and others who must go. 

Meanwhile, the economic adviser to the National Council for Peace and Order, Somkid Jatusripitak, has resigned as chairman of Saha Pathana Inter-Holding Plc.

In his resignation, he said he had a new mission to pursue. The resignation took effect on August 17, the company said.

It is anticipated that Somkid will be replacing Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Pridiyathorn Devakula.

Under the projected new line-up: Apisak Tantivorawong, director of Siam Commercial Bank, will serve as Finance Minister.

Deputy Transport Minister Arkom Termpitayapaisit will be appointed Transport Minister, replacing Prajin Juntong, who will serve as Deputy Premier.

Deputy Commerce Minister Apiradee Tantraporn will be appointed Commerce Minister, with Suwit Mesinsee, an academic from Chulalongkorn University as Deputy Commerce Minister.

Bangkok University rector Uttama Savanayana will be appointed Information and Communications Technology Minister.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan will remain as Defence Minister, General Anupong Paochinda will stay as Interior Minister, General Paiboon Koomchaya will stay as Justice Minister and Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya will be the new Energy Minister.

In a related development, Cabinet yesterday approved the appointment of Maj General Sansern Kaewkamnerd as the government spokesman.

Sansern quoted Prayut at the Cabinet meeting yesterday as saying changes would be made to the Cabinet to suit the altered situation and the new line-up was not the result of criticism or public pressure. Prayut said he believed all Cabinet members had sacrificed working for the country with the best interests for the public in mind. Those who would lose their posts would be invited to remain as advisers.

The PM said their role would be changed from “player” to “coach”.

“We work together as a team to move the country forward and resolve crises, especially economic [ones],’’ he said.

Prayut was quoted as saying all ministers and deputy prime ministers understood the circumstances that changes were intended for the country’s interest.

“There is no conflict among the Cabinet members. No one can cite the changes as conflicts in the future because all Cabinet members uphold the country’s interest, trust and believe in the PM,’’ Sansern said.

Banthoon Lamsam, chairman of the board and CEO at Kasikorn Bank, said it would take some time before the new Cabinet could be judged. There were many capable names in the new list, so he was confident they would do well despite the global economic slow down.

“They need some time to work before confidence is built up. It is best to give them encouragement for assuming positions under this tough economic time,” he said.

“The new team should find a way to work together and co-ordinate with each other immediately so there is a united strategy to work towards a goal. A good football team is one with individual stars who can work together as a team.” 

He believed the government’s policies would not change a lot but the way that strategies were executed would change. Policies should turn into tangible moves soon, which is the most challenging part. The recent bomb blast in the capital meant that the new Cabinet would begin their work on the back foot as tourism would be hit by the attack. 

Outgoing Information and Communications Technology Minister Pornchai Rujiprapa believed the new minister would continue his policies, given they are the government strategies. Among them is the promotion of a digital economy and attempts to solve disputes between state telecom agencies and private concession holders over network ownership.

He hoped the new minister would continue to try to resolve problems of spectrum use. The ministry and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission this week agreed that they will make a joint proposal for the government to invoke Article 44 of the Interim Constitution to solve spectrum usage problems.