Chalerm blames inner-ear ailment for loss of balance

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, facing allegations that he was drunk in parliament, said an inner-ear disorder which affects his balance may have led Democrat politicians to believe he was intoxicated.

Sure on his feet A staff member offers to remove Chalerm Yubamrung’s shoes before he pays homage to a shrine in front of the Immigration Bureau. Mr Chalerm could not bend over to take off his shoes himself. SOMCHAIPOOMLARD

He added that it was not the job of any politician to determine whether he was under the influence of alcohol.

Mr Chalerm denied being drunk during the joint parliamentary session on Friday night last week and said he would gladly answer to any ethics investigation panel

He said if he had been intoxicated, he wouldn't have been able to cite the parliamentary debate codes, and the reason he spoke out at Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was because he believed Mr Abhisit had breached one of them.

"I listened to Mr Abhisit for 10 minutes and determined he had breached Code 43 of the parliamentary debate, so I protested. Would a drunken person know [the specific code]?" he asked.

He also denied harassing or threatening Rangsima Rodrasamee, Democrat MP for Samut Songkhram, who was the first to claim in the House he had been drinking.

He said he and Ms Rangsima knew each other well and he was just teasing her when he quipped that he was drunk not on alcohol, but on love.

"The Democrat Party then accused me of threatening her.

"Why would I do that? First of all I'm her senior.

"Second, the parliament is a highly respected place and such behaviour would not be acceptable," he said.

Regarding his legal complaints against four newspapers over their coverage of the story, Mr Chalerm said he would withdraw his complaint against Thai Rath if it publishes a clarification that the allegation against him came from Ms Rangsima and not the newspaper.

The other three newspapers are Thai Post, Naew Na and Siam Rath.

He threatened also to file a legal complaint against the Democrat Party spokesman team if it continues to criticise him.

The House committee on parliamentary affairs, chaired by a fellow Pheu Thai MP, will meet on Thursday to discuss measures to prevent alcohol consumption in the parliament compound.

The committee meeting is not concerned with Mr Chalerm individually, or the allegations against him, said chairman Paijit Sriworakhan, Pheu Thai MP for Nakhon Phanom.

Mr Paijit admitted there had been several previous instances of alcohol consumption in the parliament compound when House meetings had continued until late at night.

The allegations against Mr Chalerm had brought the issue to the public's attention, so the House committee wanted to prevent MPs drinking alcohol during parliamentary sessions in future, he said.

"Whether or not the deputy prime minister drank alcoholic beverages on Friday, House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont, in his capacity as chairman of the House committee on parliamentary ethics, has the authority to look into the allegation," Mr Paijit said.

Mr Abhisit said if Mr Chalerm had been drunk and no action is taken, it might give other MPs free rein to do whatever they want. "Don't ask me [if Mr Chalerm was drunk]," he said.

"People watching the live [television] broadcast at home could see clearer than me.