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THE NATION: Chuan rejects Yingphan
- Subject: THE NATION: Chuan rejects Yingphan
- From: suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 20:24:00
Politics
Chuan rejects Yingphan's
plea on casinos
PRIME Minister Chuan Leekpai yesterday
rejected a call by Science Minister
Yingphan Manasikarn to legalise casinos
citing potential social and moral difficulties.
Yingphan who has been renewing calls for
legalising casinos since last week
reasoned that casinos would help to attract
foreign funds and boost the country's
tourism sector.
Chuan however ruled out the possibility on
the grounds of the moral questions arising
from legalising gambling activities. ''If we
really do go ahead with the idea, yes, we
could attract more funds. But the problem
is, is it morally justifiable? The government
has never thought about it [legalising
casinos],'' he said.
Yingphan said yesterday he would consult
with Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart
to organise a public hearing on the issue
since the Interior Ministry is armed with
relevant personnel including legal officials.
Sanan said he would listen to public
opinion and the media's response first
before making a decision, although his
adviser Sangsit Piriyarangsan, a lecturer at
Chulalongkorn University's Economic
Faculty, supports the idea.
Yingphan said if the Cabinet approved the
proposal, the Interior Ministry would
legislate the casino act, he said. ''Phuket is
the most suitable location for establishing a
casino complex. If the plan was executed,
we would invite the media to hold a 10 per
cent share in it,'' Yingphan said.
Deputy Interior Minister Chamni Sakdiseth
said although different sectors had
proposed the government legalise casinos,
further studies need to be carried out to find
out whether casinos would be suitable in a
Buddhist society like Thailand.
- Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has
ordered the Interior Ministry to call a
meeting of Tambon Administrative
Organisations (TAOs) nationwide saying
that many TAO executives are corrupt, a
Cabinet source said.
Deputy Prime Minister Panja Kesornthong
reportedly told the Cabinet yesterday that
the government's inefficient budget
administration upcountry had resulted in
corruption among TAOs and Tambon
Councils' members.
''Many TAO members take commission
from construction contractors, even though
it's illegal. Some TAO executives have
been punished because they do not adhere
to regulations,'' the source quoted Panja as
saying.
Chuan reportedly said that the Interior
Ministry should closely oversee TAOs by
organising financial management training
so that they can efficiently manage their
budget.