If you ask him, Sondhi Limthongkul, the leader of the newly-formed New Politics Party (NPP), there is no conflict between his role as a political party leader, icon of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and operator of ASTV.
He went on ASTV just now to make his stand clear: The party is a part of PAD which has many other tools.
Asked whether as party leader closely associated with the ownership of a television channel, there wouldn't be questions of conflic of interests, Sondhi said: "No. When Thaksin (Shinawatra) was prime minister, he also owned ITV. One of his ministers, Pracha Malinond, owns Channel 3. Channel 9 was also under his control...so, as long as ASTV and NPP continue to play their professional roles, I see no conflict."
His critics, though, would find that kind of arguments rather feeble. "I know that once I am in politics, I will come under scrutiny. I am ready for that."
Ready or not, the scrutiny will begin in earnest soon enough.
Sondhi is always brave enough for every critic, every enemy, and every people.
ReplyDeleteOne fact is his self-belief are very high. If it is without his conflict of interests and is all about our nation's interests, there would be infinitely forward development of our politics.