Given that it is dealing with high-tech complexities in this brave new digital age, the ICT Ministry deserves a young minister.

Forget it. With the emergence of Sitthichai Pookaiyaudoom, the ministry has sent a contradictory message to the world.

At 58, Sitthichai is not young. But this is only counting by his years, not by his heart. Judging from his biography, it seems Sitthichai must be a very modern man. He spent most of his younger days overseas.

Still, that does not prevent him from being superstitious.

While most ministers started working yesterday after the first Cabinet meeting, telecom reporters waited in vain for the new ICT minister to reveal his policies.

They learned that Sitthichai would not be in his office until Thursday.

First, they thought that he must be on an overseas trip that prevented him from coming to his office.

However, they were tipped that Sitthichai was warned to be careful. The ICT Ministry's guardian spirit is really powerful and the minister should wait for the right moment to start work.

That's why he could not start work before Thursday. And at precisely at 9am on that day,

he is expected to pay his respects at the ministry's spirit house.

Obviously, he must be aware that since the ministry came into existence in 2002, it has welcomed four ministers who have all come to a dismal end. Surely, he doesn't want to do the same.

Now, let's pray that he arrives at the ministry right on time on Thursday, or suffer

the wrath of the guardian spirit.

achara_d@nationgroup.com