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