Their children may hold the shares, but the public still believes the real influence lies with the first couple. The rumours have hit at a somewhat ironic moment. Just a couple of days after his family’s business empire was declared, once again, to be the wealthiest in the stock market, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had to watch leading Shin Corp figures deny “unconfirmed reports” that Singapore Telecom was getting ready to take over his flagship company.

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE KAVI CHONGKITTAVORN: The Asean way vs the Burmese way

“Help us, help you” has become the dictum that epitomises the painful relations between Asean and its pariah member, Burma. After many hours of discussions, senior Asean officials agreed at their summit this month in Kuala Lumpur to increase the pressure on Burma. It was the first time that Asean had been so assertive towards one of its members.

ARUN’S VIEW: Three can play that game

We walked past a rubbish heap of not-so-old campaign posters in blue, white and red. The prime minister’s face beamed up, down, left, right and centre. Somnuk, the veteran political hack, pushed back his beret, looking at me quizzically. What did I mean by asking: “Whatever happened to Prime Minister Thaksin?”