By Post Reporters
The Democrats slammed Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee in the censure debate on Wednesday as parliament headed into a third day of rancorous opposition attacks.
The debate has been extended for another day. The vote will take place tomorrow instead of today.
Mr Surapong faced withering speeches by Democrats who charged him with failing to manage the economy and not taking action in Thaksin Shinawatra's alleged asset concealment case.
Korn Chatikavanij, a Democrat MP for Bangkok who serves as the party's shadow finance minister, in his attack on Mr Surpapong who is a leader of the government's economic team, said he has failed to manage the country's economic policy in the wake of three new crises _ those involving the US financial markets, soaring energy costs and skyrocketing food prices.
He said the government's economic policy mainly serves the rich, particularly the policy of the tax deduction increase, and ignores low-income people who have borne the brunt of spiralling inflation.
Mr Korn said the government has pursued the old policies of the Thai Rak Thai government despite the fact that economic conditions have changed. The government's economic policy has focused on goods price controls and solving problems when pressured by the various 'mobs'.
He suggested the government should solve economic problems, particularly inflation, by focusing on the supply side _ encouraging production capacity increases so goods prices fall.
''If the government does nothing, goods prices could drop as well due to more and more jobless people and lower purchasing power,'' he said.
Mr Korn also said Mr Surapong, who oversees the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), failed to instruct the SEC to take action against Mr Thaksin despite the fact that the SEC and Assets Scrutiny Committee say they have found evidence of Mr Thaksin's alleged share concealment in the SC Asset Corporation case.
Mr Korn also said the Finance Ministry under the supervision of Mr Surapong tried to push former treasury department chief Niphat Bhukkanasut as a board member of state-run Siam City Bank but the Bank of Thailand strongly opposed this move because Mr Niphat was found guilty in court of causing damage to the Government Savings Bank when he was chairman of the bank and the case is now in the Appeals Court.
Democrat MP Juti Krairerk said Mr Surapong had not tried hard enough to collect taxes from some politicians and their companies.
Instead, he said, the minister had instructed the Revenue Department to speed up collecting and seeking income tax by all means from the general public and foreign investors so that tax collection would reach the target.
Mr Surapong denied all the allegations, saying he had worked hard over the past four months to help solve economic problems.
Samart Kaewmeechai, secretary to the government whip, said he was confident the coalition will be able to secure a majority in the House to support the censured ministers at the end of the no-confidence debate.
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The Democrats slammed Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee in the censure debate on Wednesday as parliament headed into a third day of rancorous opposition attacks.
The debate has been extended for another day. The vote will take place tomorrow instead of today.
Mr Surapong faced withering speeches by Democrats who charged him with failing to manage the economy and not taking action in Thaksin Shinawatra's alleged asset concealment case.
Korn Chatikavanij, a Democrat MP for Bangkok who serves as the party's shadow finance minister, in his attack on Mr Surpapong who is a leader of the government's economic team, said he has failed to manage the country's economic policy in the wake of three new crises _ those involving the US financial markets, soaring energy costs and skyrocketing food prices.
He said the government's economic policy mainly serves the rich, particularly the policy of the tax deduction increase, and ignores low-income people who have borne the brunt of spiralling inflation.
Mr Korn said the government has pursued the old policies of the Thai Rak Thai government despite the fact that economic conditions have changed. The government's economic policy has focused on goods price controls and solving problems when pressured by the various 'mobs'.
He suggested the government should solve economic problems, particularly inflation, by focusing on the supply side _ encouraging production capacity increases so goods prices fall.
''If the government does nothing, goods prices could drop as well due to more and more jobless people and lower purchasing power,'' he said.
Mr Korn also said Mr Surapong, who oversees the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), failed to instruct the SEC to take action against Mr Thaksin despite the fact that the SEC and Assets Scrutiny Committee say they have found evidence of Mr Thaksin's alleged share concealment in the SC Asset Corporation case.
Mr Korn also said the Finance Ministry under the supervision of Mr Surapong tried to push former treasury department chief Niphat Bhukkanasut as a board member of state-run Siam City Bank but the Bank of Thailand strongly opposed this move because Mr Niphat was found guilty in court of causing damage to the Government Savings Bank when he was chairman of the bank and the case is now in the Appeals Court.
Democrat MP Juti Krairerk said Mr Surapong had not tried hard enough to collect taxes from some politicians and their companies.
Instead, he said, the minister had instructed the Revenue Department to speed up collecting and seeking income tax by all means from the general public and foreign investors so that tax collection would reach the target.
Mr Surapong denied all the allegations, saying he had worked hard over the past four months to help solve economic problems.
Samart Kaewmeechai, secretary to the government whip, said he was confident the coalition will be able to secure a majority in the House to support the censured ministers at the end of the no-confidence debate.
Discuss
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