With the choice of Paiboon Wattanasiritham as Social Development and Human Security Minister and Thira Sutabutra at Agriculture, it is clear the new administration will pursue tangible values to boost people's happiness.

"I am going to focus on human development. I am going to promote reconciliation, ethics and morality in society," Paiboon said yesterday.

He was also quick to emphasise he would encourage public participation.

"First of all, we have to discuss existing problems. We will listen to people," he said. He also hoped to promote reconciliatory politics - a subject he has written extensively on in recent times.

Born on March 24, 1941, Paiboon obtained a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom in 1967. After graduation, he started his career at the Bank of Thailand, rising to executive rank by the time he left in 1980.

He held posts at organisations including the Stock Exchange, the Moral Centre, Community Organisations Development Institute, Government Savings Bank and the National Economic and Social Advisory Board.

Paiboon is a former senator and has worked for non-governmental organisations over the past decade.

"But I am going resign from all posts to take up my new job at the ministry," Paiboon said.

At Agriculture, a shift from commercial agriculture to the sufficiency economy is imminent with Thira at the helm.

Thira - the former president of Kasetsart University - promotes the sufficiency economy philosophy.

Thira has Rungruang Isarangkura Na Ayudhaya as his deputy. Aside from key posts at the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board and the Agriculture Ministry, Rungruang was an adviser to the Office of the Royal Development Projects Board.

His Majesty the King's idea of the sufficiency economy is to guide his people towards a balanced way of life.

At Education, new minister Wijit Srisa-an has pledged to achieve reform. He was committed to develop ethics in children.

Similarly, Khunying Khaisri Sriarun, 69, was appointed as Culture Minister and assigned to promote ethics, too.

Justice Minister Charnchai Likhitjittha, a former president of the Supreme Court, takes up a portfolio with many daunting tasks.

Among them are ensuring justice in the deep South, tackling corruption in the national lottery and solving many "disappearances", such as that if high-profile rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit.

The lack of justice was identified as a main reason why violence continues in the South.

Public Health Minister Dr Mongkol Na Songkhla brings with him high expectations. He is credited with playing a crucial role in sending a former public health minister to jail on graft charges. He is now expected to eradicate corruption at the ministry and develop good policies to regulate tobacco, alcohol and drugs.

Born on January 16, 1941, Mongkol received medical training at the Mahidol University Faculty of Medicine. He earned a master's degree in public health in the Netherlands.

In 1976 he was named Outstanding Rural Doctor of the Year.

He previously served as director of Phimai Hospital, director-general of the Medical Services Department, secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration and permanent secretary for Public Health.

Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation