By Thai Newsroom Reporters
HOUSE SPEAKER WAN Muhamad Noor Matha today (Apr. 19) lashed at a sustained, hush-hush Pheu Thai attempt to replace him with an MP of the largest coalition partner, wondering what could probably be their rationale behind it.
Wan Noor told reporters at parliament he will never sacrifice a highly-honourable position such as head of the legislative branch for no reason though the Pheu Thai may desperately insist it belong to the largest coalition partner and not his own, namely the Prachachart.
“The House Speaker position is of prestigious status which, in my capacity as head of the legislative branch, I am definitely obliged to maintain,” Wan Noor said.
Wan Noor suggested whether he might possibly leave the highest legislative seat to others would largely depend on how the media and people, but not the largest ruling party, may evaluate his performance at parliament.
He contended that the legislative branch is constitutionally, completely independent of the executive branch which, he said, is by no means supposed to interfere in the former’s affairs.
But the Pheu Thai has insisted the House Speaker seat only belongs to the largest coalition partner with 141 MPs at their command and not the Prachachart ranking sixth among the coalition partners with only nine MPs.
The Prachachart-attached House speaker was responding to hearsay that the Pheu Thai under de facto party boss-cum-convict on parole Thaksin Shinawatra has planned to replace him with a senior Pheu Thai MP alongside an imminent cabinet reshuffle.
That could possibly refer to Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew who is anticipated to be reshuffled out of the cabinet, among others, and be instead named a House speaker in place of Wan Noor.
Apart from Chonlanan, who had earlier acted as Pheu Thai leader, albeit in nominal fashion, Defence Minister Suthin Khlangsang is more or less expected to lose his cabinet seat and be replaced by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin who could possibly take charge of the armed services in concurrent fashion.
Nattapon Nakpanich, known as a protege of former prime minister/now privy councillor Prayut Chan-o-cha, is speculated to be named a deputy defence minister in the imminent cabinet shake-up. The retired general currently performs as secretary-general to the civilian defence minister.
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Top and Front Page: House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha. Both photos: Thai Rath
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