Shameful display of self-interest

Shameful display of self-interest

The outrage expressed by dissident members of the New
Aspiration Party following the latest cabinet reshuffle was not
unexpected. On the contrary, what would have been surprising was
if these honorable representatives of the people had behaved
correctly and exercised restraint by keeping their views to
themselves.

But this was not to be. Instead these disgruntled MPs thrust
themselves over the accepted line of decency and responsibility
by threatening to scuttle the executive decrees on the
restructuring of financial institutions in an effort to force
their party leader, Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, to
resign.

It is totally unacceptable to make such threats. We need no
clearer proof that these people have absolutely no idea of what
constitutes national interest. All we can hope for is that their
consciences kick in and they do not stand by their word.

It is in the nature of most politicians to want to become
ministers, especially the more egocentric and ambitious who feel
they are more qualified than their colleagues. And it is in the
nature of most political parties to use these posts as rewards
for their members who make the biggest campaign contributions,
who deliver the most parliamentary seats or who generally have
the greatest clout in the parties, regardless of their
competency, resourcefulness and creativity which should be the
criteria for such appointments.

The NAP dissidents discontent was the product of broken
promises by Gen. Chavalit, and appropriately he did not escape
the outrage. But also to blame was the abovementioned habit of
overlooking competency, resourcefulness and creativity. This
oversight should be amended.

The prime minister has succeeded in attracting a handful of
respectable figures to the Cabinet in the form of Kosit
Panpiemras and Maruey Phadoongsidhi, who have served as finance
minister and deputy finance minister respectively in the past.
This belated cabinet shake up will give Gen. Chavalit what he
desires most, a little longer in office.

But whether the political gamble, probably his last, can
restore the confidence of the public and, more importantly, the
international financial community in the Thai economy and his
administration depends very much on his conduct, on how the new
economic team performs and on the extent of any political
interference in the teams operations.

-- Bangkok Post