Chantra Purnarisksha, director-general of the Export Promotion Department, said yesterday she might quit over her unexpected transfer to the Insurance Department.

Chantra was quoted by Thai News Agency as saying she was upset by Commerce Minister Krirkkrai Jirapaet's proposal to ditch her.

"Over the past three to four years, I have worked with dedication," she said during her business trip to Germany.

"On October 28, I will come back to Bangkok to wrap up work with the ministry's executives. Then, I will consider whether to resign from the position."

Krirkkrai said he had not heard anything from Chantra, but would urge her to stay on as the ministry's reshuffle was based on the qualifications of the officials.

The Cabinet at its weekly meeting approved rotations at many ministries.

Also at Commerce, Rachane Potjajasuntorn, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, was named to replace Chantra at the Export Promotion Department.

Chutima Bunyapraphasara becomes the director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department, while Thawatchai Sophastienphong is the new ambassador to the World Trade Organisation.

Chantra's move to the In-surance Depart-ment came as a surprise.

At the Tran-sport Ministry, Chaisawasd Kitti-pornpaiboon, director-general of the Highways Department, was promoted to permanent secretary, replacing Wan-chai Sarathulthat, who retired.

Chaisawasd, 56, was seen as a dark-horse candidate as ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government had named Piyaphant Champasut, director-general of the Land Transport Department, to become the top official at the ministry.

However, Piyaphant's appointment never became effective as it was pending confirmation by the Election Commission when the coup took place on September 19.

Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen said Chaisawasd was "the most qualified among the C-10 candidates". He was given the highest score by the ministry's selection committee, chaired by former permanent secretary Sribhumi Sukhanetr.

The permanent secretary is a high-profile position as the Transport Ministry's mega-projects have been plagued by delays and controversies.

Theera said some might view Chaisawasd as the most junior among the candidates because he became the director-general of the Highways Department only last year.

But Chaisawasd has served the ministry longer than the other candidates and is qualified to oversee the ministry because he has experience in heading the Highways Department, which is also a big agency. These experiences should enable Theera to work productively at the ministry, Theera said.

"When I accepted the minister's post, I didn't have anyone in mind. In appointing the permanent secretary, the process had to be done with fairness and transparency, and without any interests. We also provided an opportunity for candidates to express their visions," he said.

"When the selection committee agreed unanimously, and the deputy transport minister and I agreed on Khun Chaisawasd, we proposed him for the Cabinet's approval. The process should end here."

New assignments for other C-10 civil servants and other positions should be ready next week, he said.

After graduating in engineering from Chulalongkorn University, Chaisawasd started his career in the civil service at the Highways Department. He was promoted to director-general of the Highways Department by then transport minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation