Thai PM:There will be no Cabinet reshuffle soon

BANGKOK, September 29 (TNA) - As Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit has decided to step down from his ministerial posts, effective from October 1, 2012, over his alleged involvement in a land scandal several years ago, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Saturday she has no plan to reshuffle her Cabinet soon. Yingluck told a press conference at Thailand's main Suvarnabhumi International Airport Saturday morning, upon her arrival from attending the 2012 United Nations General Assembly in New York earlier this week, although she is sad upon seeing Yongyuth leaving her Cabinet, she respects his decision. Yingluck said works earlier performed by Yongyuth as a deputy prime minister will then be carried out by the rest of her four deputies and the Cabinet will later consider who among the deputies interior minister will be assigned to handle Yongyuth job temporarily. Currently, there are two deputies interior minister, including Chuchart Hansawad and Tarnis Thienthong. In response to the major opposition Democrat Party's plan to seek a Constitutionals Court ruling on Yongyuth’s political status, Yingluck acknowledged that she will study the laws whether Yongyuth is to strip off his positions as a member of the parliament (MP) and leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party. Yongyuth announced his resignation from the Thai Cabinet on Friday, after the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) ruled that he had unlawfully endorsed the sale of a piece of monastic land owned by Wat Thammikaram to the Alpine Real Estate Co. and the Alpine Golf and Sports Club while he was deputy permanent secretary for interior in 2002. (TNA)