And the most unhappy must be the Cabinet members, as amid a mountain of complaints all have to rush on with their work as they have only a year in office.

Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet has already complained about physical deterioration after three months in office. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula could also be happier, given the attacks on the 30-per-cent capital-reserve requirement following his failure to push through the two- and three-digit lottery law. Indeed he is rumoured to be in line for replacement.

Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand should also expect stronger criticism once the draft energy-business law is passed to the Cabinet for approval, as activists are saying that the law protects PTT rather than Thai citizens.

What about Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont? He can't be very happy either.

Though he has on his side Sonthi Boonyaratglin, chief of the Council of National Security - who is so helpful about answering questions on the political situation that should be reserved for the prime minister - Surayud still has to answer many questions. Two of them are when Thailand will let ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra return and how the government counters Thaksin's comments.

Moreover, as a true supporter of the sufficiency-economy philosophy, Surayud has to make a tour to explain the concept to foreigners, or even Thais, who may be confused as to how the Kingdom might move forward under a concept that advises people to be content with what they have.

Today will be one of the test days. Surayud is to give a speech at a dinner organised by the Federation of Thai Industries at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. His speech is entitled "The Sufficiency Economy and Thailand's Industrial Development".

Following Surayud will be the views on Thai industry from three veterans, including Kan Trakulhoon, president of Siam Cement. It will be interesting to see how Kan's speech compares with Surayud's, given that Siam Cement announced last week that it would invest Bt30 billion this year, its largest annual investment since the 1997 economic crisis.

Certainly the speech will be interesting to those who pay Bt3,000 for a seat. The plenary hall will smell divine today if all those attending bring along their scented cards. They should not forget to wear yellow shirts or yellow ties as stated on the cards, apparently to show respect to His Majesty the King, who first introduced the sufficiency-economy concept to Thailand.

Be there, and you don't need to ask Surayud again when sufficient is sufficient.

achara_d@nationgroup.com