Former [Thai] PM Samak dies of cancer

Former prime minister Samak Sundaravej died of liver cancer on Tuesday morning at Bamrungraj hospital, Sumitr Sundaravej, his younger brother said.

Mr Samak, 74, was the country’s 25th prime minister. As the leader of the disbanded People Power Party, he took up the positions of the prime minister and defence minister from Jan 29, 2008 to Sept 9, 2008.

Mr Samak was disqualified from the prime ministership when the court found he breached the constitution by being an employee of a private firm while in office. Mr Samak was the popular host of a popular TV cooking programme.

Mr Samak was a former governor of Bangkok and founder of the Prachakorn Thai Party.

He also held the offices of minister of the interior, minister of transport and deputy agriculture and cooperatives minister.

Bangkok Post

Posted in Polical , Thai