The results of an opinion survey on the luxury watches affair involving Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon were shelved because the report was untimely and could unfairly influence matters, the president of the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) said on Monday.
Nida president Pradit Wanarat issued his explanation after Arnond Sakworawich tendered his resignation of as the director of Nida Poll in a protest against self-censorship.
Mr Pradit said he halted the release of the results from the latest survey by Nida Poll because its questions required respondents to reply with either "yes" or "no", and could unfairly influence people because the National Anti-Counter Corruption Commission (NACC) had not finished its investigation.
The NACC had yet to announce if there was any irregularity.
Neither the government nor the National Council for Peace and Order had issued any order in this matter, Mr Pradit said.
He made his decision in his capacity as Nida president and it had nothing to do with his concurrent position as a member of the National Legislative Assembly.
He was sure once people understood why he made his decision, the credibility of Nida Poll would remain intact.
Meanwhile, Mr Arnond said he resigned as the Nida poll director in protest against "self-censorship".
"I see no reason for self-censorship, which is worse than a powerful body ordering censorship of a TV station or a publishing house. I disagree with the action of the president," Mr Arnond said.
Despite his resignation as poll director, Mr Arnond said he would continue as a lecturer at Nida's Graduate School of Applied Statistics.
Media reported that the controversial survey was made last Thursday and Friday and there were 1,250 respondents.
They were asked if a close friend had ever lent them a luxury watch, if they believed anyone who claimed a watch he wore belonged to a friend, if a liar tended to be corrupt, and if they could tolerate a junior protecting his senior. The survey did not mention any person's name.
The deputy prime minister, who is also the defence minister, is under investigation by the NACC amid harsh ongoing criticism after he was seen in a photograph wearing a showy diamond ring and a brand-name watch worth over a million baht that he had not declared as his list of assets.
He is accused of having worn about 25 very expensive luxury watches at various times, and has said friends lent them to him to wear.
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