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NACC discloses some ministers’ assets
The Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) last Friday
disclosed assets and liabilities of ministers who have resigned from
National Legislative Assembly (NLA) membership to take up ministerial posts
in the interim government of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin and his wife have total assets
amounting Bt139.27 million. They have no liabilities.
Dr. Rajata’s assets increased by Bt678,939 after leaving the NLA post.
Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith and his wife declared
total assets of Bt24.77 million upon accepting the ministerial post,
according to NACC.
Their liabilities amounted to Bt1.18 million.
Arkhom did not declare his money on deposit when he was appointed NLA
member, citing that he had lost his bank account books.
The NACC also disclosed assets and liabilities of three other ministers
after they resigned from the NLA on August 28.
Energy Minister Narongchai Akrasanee together with his wife have assets
approximately Bt281.35 million while their liabilities totaled Bt85,389,
said NACC.
Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul and her husband have
assets totaling about Bt317.67 million, it said.
Deputy Education Minister Lt Gen Surachet Chaiwong and his spouse have
assets totaling Bt24.3 million. His liabilities amounted Bt7.37 million.
The NACC is scheduled to announce the assets and liabilities of the entire
cabinet on October 31. (MCOT)
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Mortgage scheme offered to rice farmers to delay supply to market
The Rice Policy and Management Committee is launching a
short-term mortgage program for rice farmers in some areas in an effort to
reduce the amount of paddies entering the market and prevent the price from
falling.
Following a meeting of the Rice Policy and Management Committee, chaired by
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Permanent Secretary for Commerce Chutima
Boonyaprapatsorn revealed that the committee had approved the implementation
of a paddy pledging program for farmers within the northern and northeastern
regions. The objective is to absorb up to 2 million tons of paddies from the
total supply being delivered to the market during the upcoming period.
Under the program, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives
(BAAC) will pay participating farmers 90 percent of their grains’ market
value, or 11,700 baht a ton for sticky rice and 15,400 baht a ton for
jasmine rice. Each household is allowed to receive no more than 300,000 baht
and pledge no more than 20 tons of paddies. The interest, meanwhile, will be
subsidized by the government.
The pledging period will run for four months, from November 1 this year
until February 28 next year. If any of the farmers do not redeem their
pledged paddies by the deadline, the grains will be kept in the government’s
stock and be put up for auction later on. The quality of the rice entered
into the program will also be checked thoroughly by the BAAC before their
acceptance.
According to Ms Chutima, the market is expected to see around 5-6 million
tons of paddies in the months to come, half of which will be for domestic
consumption. The amount indicates that price increases are still possible.
(NNT)
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