Writer: BangkokPost.com
Published: 12/08/2009 at 03:27 PM

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted on Wednesday that he will not protect any cabinet members if they are found guilty of corruption.

Mr Abhisit was responding to the allegation by the opposition Puea Thai Party that the government’s community sufficiency scheme, supervised by Deputy Prime Minister for economic natters Korbsak Sabhavasu, was corrupted and could cause damage to the country.

Puea Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit recently filed a complaint against Mr Korbsak and key officials in the sufficiency economy community project with the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Mr Pronpong alleged that the project’s specifications for products were fixed to ensure that certain companies would win the contracts.

However, the Democrat MPs responsible for the project claimed that any malpractice was the fault of local community officials and not the fault of the Democrat Party or Mr Korbsak, who is the chairman.

The prime minister admitted he was unhappy with the reports of malpractice and possible corruption in the sufficiency project.

“I will not help protect or allow the whitewash any corrupt cabinet ministers,” Mr Abhisit said.