The shareholdings scandal continues.
Three ministers have violated the anti graft law of 2000, regarding the ownership of shares (more than 5 %) in companies (read here).
The IT Minister said he will resign. Interior Minister said no. And eventually, the Deputy Commerce Minister, miss Oranuj, refused first and then agreed (during a press conference yesterday).
Her statement is very… revealing (her picture above).
“It’s uncomfortable to work with a team that is divided in its thinking. This government shows some signs of problems as members criticise others. I don’t feel bad about those persons, but they are breaking etiquette. As a team, if they feared that [her business holdings] would tarnish the government’s image, they should have sought personal discussion with me. They need not have talked about it in public,” Oranuj said.” (Nation)
To summarize : she doesn’t speak about the issue (what happened exactly, why this story is coming out now, etc.).
She just says that she will resign because it’s uncomfortable to work with a divided team ! A few government’s members dared to criticize her in public… therefore they have broken the etiquette…
On other latitudes, “etiquette” can have another meaning : “code of silence”…
Last point that will probably interest foreign investors : “A high-ranking official at the ministry said it was sad to see her leave, as Oranuj had been the key player in answering all questions, particularly those regarding the foreign business and retail business laws, as Krirk-krai [the Commerce Minister] was often away on overseas trips.”
At last we see a change, instead of the usual belligerence & denials.
Having shares in a small hotel & guest house hardly present much scope for corruption, but at least the precedent has been set, and hopefully the Thaksin type massive conflicts of interest are now a thing of the past (in my dreams).