"We are now forced to sell the postcards," an official at the Labour Ministry said, on condition of anonymity.

The official questioned Somsak's motive in launching the project, in which the Social Security Office (SSO) had to advance a huge amount of money for 9.9 million specially made postcards, which cost Bt2 each and need a postage stamp.

Agencies under the Labour Ministry were required to sell the postcards at Bt5 each in a campaign supposedly to encourage people to do good deeds as a tribute to His Majesty the King.

"Actually, we can encourage people to do good deeds without forcing them to buy the postcards," the same official complained.

She disclosed that a PR company with close links to Somsak had initiated the project and claimed that the project would give Bt27 million to His Majesty if all postcards were sold.

Under the campaign, workers across the country were to be encouraged to buy the postcards and write down their good deeds. The postcards would then be sent back to the Labour Ministry.

A source said the PR company produced the postcards at Bt0.44 each and has reaped huge benefits from the project. In fact, Thailand Post Plc has sold the postcards for Bt2 each and the senders are not required to pay for postage.

The source said the Labour Protection and Welfare Department was now assigned to sell 2.5 million postcards, while the SSO and the Employment Department were asked to sell 1.5 million each.

The Office of the Permanent Secretary for Labour was expected to sell one million postcards and the Skill Development Department was asked to sell 500,000.

"Senior government officials and labour offices in foreign

countries have been asked to sell the remaining postcards," the source said.