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THE NATION: Chuan rejects Yingphan



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.