Transport minister effects shake-up at the top in state enterprises

In a major management shakeup at major state enterprises, the transport minister has appointed new chairmen to the boards of the Port Authority of Thailand, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) and the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMA). 
The list of new chairmen has been sent to the State Enterprise Policy Office for approval, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said.
Already, new chairmen have been appointed at the Airports of Thailand and Thai Airways International although the appointments are not official yet, as the two companies are listed on the stock market. The final approval will need to wait for the meeting of shareholders, he said.
Saksayam also plans to appoint a new chairman of the Expressway Authority of Thailand, but will wait for the Cabinet to assign a new negotiator who could negotiate with the Bangkok Expressway and Metro Pcl (BEM) over dispute about the compensation demanded by the BEM.
Meanwhile, an informed source said that Chirute Visalachitra, the Transport Ministry deputy permanent secretary, is being designated as chairman of the Port Authority, Pisak Jitviriyavasin, also the ministry deputy permanent secretary, will take over as chairman of the SRT, and Sarawut Songvilai, director-general of the rail transport department, will be chairman of the MRTA. Inspector-general Withaya Yamoung will take over as new chairman of the BMA.