By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PHEU THAI WHEELER-DEALER Phumtham Wechayachai commented today (Jan.2) it is too soon to say for the time being whether Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra might probably be named a new member of cabinet.
Phumtham said whether Paetongtarn, daughter of de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict at large Thaksin Shinawatra, could possibly be named a cabinet member anytime soon would not be taken into account at the moment.
Paetongtarn is currently tasked with the running of the largest coalition partner with 141 MPs at her command, according to the Pheu Thai wheeler-dealer, concurrently a deputy prime minister-cum-commerce minister.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin who had been allegedly promoted by deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatrra, sister of the de facto Pheu Thai boss, to rise to premiership following last May’s election has remained tightlipped toward the Pheu Thai leader. Both Srettha and Paetongtarn had contested the last general election as partisan candidates for prime minister under the Pheu Thai tickets.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, concurrently leader of the coalition partner Bhumjaithai under command of de facto Bhumjaithai boss Newin Chidchob, said Paetongtarn could eventually become “even more than just a member of cabinet”, apparently referring to the possibility of her being named head of the Pheu Thai-led coalition government sooner or later, given her being Thaksin’s daughter.
The de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict who has earlier bragged about his youngest daughter who, he said, could probably “outperform” himself as a future prime minister has been invariably accused of staying above the law since he has never spent a single day behind bars at Bangkok Remand Prison where he has been earlier destined since he had been convicted by court of perpetrating misconduct during his previous premiership and sentenced in absentia to an eight-year jail term which was curtailed by royal pardon to one year.
Nevertheless, the deposed prime minister who has globetrotted and resided in self-exile abroad for 17 years before he returned last August is speculated sooner than later to be transferred from Police Hospital where he has been staying in a tight-security, private ward for undisclosed “illnesses” for four and a half months now to some living quarters in “house arrest” fashion before he is released on parole some time next month.
Last month, the Corrections Department issued a contentious regulation allegedly designed to grant leniency for Thaksin to the extent that he be “detained” somewhere outside of a prison.
The billionaire Thaksin’s extended stay and medical treatments at Police Hospital has been reportedly paid for with taxpayers’ money provided by the National Health Security Office.
Members of the House Committee on Police Affairs is scheduled for Jan. 12 to pay an informal visit to the de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict at large at the hospital in the premises of the National Police headquarters and find out for themselves whether he may have feigned “illnesses” only to keep himself from jail.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page: Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
Insert: Pheu Thai wheeler-dealer Phumtham Wechayachai. All photos: Thai Rath
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