(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-16 16:47

BANGKOK - Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on Sunday that he would not stop working as head of the government while the investigation of possible corruption regarding the controversial procurement of fire trucks and fire boats is underway.

Speaking during his weekly television program, Samak said he would not stop working as the premier because he was no longer governor of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. He said the law only stipulates that if a person is still in the post and accused of committing guilt then he must stop working.

Recently, Samak was troubled by the controversial procurement case. Especially on Thursday, the Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin announced that he was suspending his role as governor to clear his name before the Asset Examination Committee (AEC) that is pressing charges against him in the controversial deal.

During 2000 to 2003, when Samak was the governor of Bangkok, the city's administration purchased 315 firefighting trucks and 30 fire boats at what is alleged to have been an inflated price of 6.7 billion US dollars. Samak signed the contract on the last day of his governor term and Apirak later signed a letter of credit.

Samak said on Sunday that if he was charged with being guilty then why did the concerned authorities did not stop him when he contested the general election last December until he has now become the chief of the government.

"If I stop working, the entire cabinet would have to suspend working as well and a new prime minister and cabinet must be formed. There would be much chaos. The country is now moving ahead after struggling more than 18 months," Samak said.