PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers May 18

BANGKOK, May 18 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Thai newspapers on Monday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

TOP STORIES

- President of Parliament Chai Chidchob will decide if an executive decree to borrow a hefty 400 billion baht as part of the government's fiscal policy should be forwarded to the Constitutional Court for a judicial review (THE NATION)

- Thailand is unlikely to borrow any of the $11.9 billion quota available under a regional currency swap agreement in the next few years due to its relatively strong fiscal position, Finance Ministry officials said (THE NATION)

- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has indicated the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle after the Bhumjaithai Party made it clear it wanted Chartchai Pookyaporn replaced as deputy agriculture minister (BANGKOK POST)

- A Cabinet reshuffle is always a possibility to improve government performance but at this juncture coalition partners have not sought a new line-up, Prime Minister Abhisit said (THE NATION)

- For Prime Minister Abhisit, the price of shunning eye cream has cost him his youthful look, not that he is complaining (BANGKOK POST)

- The Office of Public-Sector Development Commission will seek Cabinet approval to tighten regulations governing executive salaries and performance of 19 public organisations (THE NATION)

- The Puea Thai Party is preparing to find a new party leader amid reports that former supreme commander General Chaiyasit Shinawatra is ready to take the reins (THE NATION)

- D Station is expected to resume broadcasting by satellite with television programming focused on telling the red-shirt side of the story on the Songkran mayhem, leading up to a mass rally to be held sometime next month (THE NATION)

BUSINESS

- Some electronics and electric appliance makers have put their workers on overtime to complete orders for third-quarter delivery as foreign buyers grow more optimistic about a speedy economic recovery (THE NATION)

- Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction PCL (STEC.BK) expects its backlog will rise by 50 percent to 15 billion baht this year despite the local outlook, as it seeks to enter overseas markets starting with the Maldives (BANGKOK POST)

- SF Cinema City has allocated 1.2 billion baht to build more movie complexes this year, with two already opened in the first quarter, says Managing Director Suvit Thongrompo (BANGKOK POST)

($1 = 34.58 baht)

** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including Bangkok Post and the Nation. (Bangkok Newsroom +66 2648 9721, e-mail: bangkok.newsroom@reuters.com)