Thai PM: Cabinet reshuffle to take place after New Year festival

A cabinet reshuffle will take place after the New Year festival, Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced Tuesday.

The reshuffle will be made only on necessary cabinet posts, the Thai leader said, Thai News Agency reported.

Ahisit's statement was made after Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai resigned on allegation of budget irregularities and flawed management concerning the government's economic stimulus funds.

Witthaya is an appointee to the current coalition government under the Democrat Party quota.

The Democrat Party's executive board is going to hold a meeting in a bid to find a person to replace Witthaya as the public health minister, Abhisit said.

For Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi, he is going to hold a press conference concerning the scandal, Abhisit said.

The allegations against Witthaya and Manit were earlier declared by a government-appointed panel investigating the alleged graft having involved with the ministry under the economic stimulus package.

Both Witthaya and Manit have denied all of the allegations as Witthaya argued that the funds were not yet disbursed.

Over 86.0 billion baht (2.57 billion U.S. dollars) worth of fund has been prepared to allocate to the ministry over the next three years to develop health-care facilities and medical professionals.

Source: Xinhua