The government must swiftly reveal figures relating to the rice pledging scheme to prevent public misunderstandings sparked by critics of the scheme, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra says.
Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra has been on the phone to Pheu Thai to urge quick release of all figures on the rice-purchase scheme. (File photo)
Rice pledging was a good policy and should be continued, Noppadon Pattama, a member of the Pheu Thai Party's strategic committee and Thaksin's legal adviser quoted Thaksin as saying.
However, Thaksin suggested the government quickly clear up public doubts, especially on the loss of the scheme, to ensure it did not cause a loss of 260 billion baht as the opposition has claimed, Mr Noppadon said.
Asked about an Abac Poll which showed most people surveyed wanted Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom to take responsibility for any loss caused by the government's handling of the scheme, Mr Noppadon said every minister would be held responsible for their work.
However, Mr Noppadon said he believed Mr Boonsong would be able to clarify all figures relating the scheme next week.
Mr Noppadon also said the cabinet reshuffle could take place in August or September.
"We will look into this after the next parliamentary session convenes in August," he said.
An Assumption University opinion poll of 1,384 people in Bangkok and nearby provinces found 72.1% of respondents believe the government is facing a loss from the rice pledging scheme and 58.7% think the government should not make up for the loss with taxpayers' money.
They say the ruling Pheu Thai Party should take responsibility and raise funds to offset the loss.
When asked who should be held responsible for the losses, 31.8% said they wanted Mr Boonsong to step down while 53.5% said the minister should find money to pay back to the state.
Thirty percent of respondents said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra should resign to show responsibility in the rice scheme loss.
Most respondents said the rice pledging scheme reduced the public's confidence in the government.
Meanwhile, a poll of 1,303 people by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University has found that 47.5% of people believe the rice scheme has reduced the public's confidence in the government.
It also found 42% of respondents have more confidence in the opposition for its investigation into irregularities in the rice scheme.
Democrat list MP Ong-art Klampaibul said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong planned to cut pledge prices in the rice scheme because the scheme threatened to harm the economy. He called on Ms Yingluck to look into problems in the scheme by herself.
Pheu Thai list MP Prompong Nopparit denied the Democrat Party's accusation the scheme had caused a 260 billion baht loss to the state.
He said the cabinet would have clear figures on the scheme today.