Thai PM, three ministers survive censure debate

BANGKOK, November 28 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and three other ministers on Wednesday survived a three-day censure debate, lodged by the opposition camp in the House of Representatives. Yingluck received 308 votes of confidence and 159 votes of no-confidence, four abstentions and nine MPs opted not to vote. Deputy Prime Minister Police Captain Chalerm Yubumrung gained 287 votes of confidence against 157 with 25 abstentions and 11 no-votes. Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat earned 284 in favour with 160 against, 25 abstentions and 11 did not cast votes. Deputy Interior Minister Police Lieutenant General Chat Kuldilok received 284-182 votes, with five abstentions and 10 no-votes. The Thai prime minister and the three other Cabinet members can, therefore, continue performing their duties following the censure debate, which began last Sunday. Meanwhile, Bangkok-based Assupmption University has conducted a survey on the no-confidence debate and found that most of the respondents were in favour of Premier Yingluck and other three ministers targeted in the censure debate. As many as 45 per cent of the total respondents said, however, they were satisfied with information given by the opposition in the House; while 29.8 per cent were happy with the ministers’ information and as many as 68.6 per cent out of the total respondents acknowledged that they still have confidence in the prime minister. Although satisfying with the ministers’ performances, the ABAC Poll found that up to 56.9 per cent of the respondents wanted to see a new Cabinet reshuffle in which those ministers accused of corruption should be removed in order to maintain the government’s popularity. (TNA)