He said allowing Somkid to help the interim government would bring more advantages than disadvantages.

"It's normal in society that people have different opinions. I respect others' opinions, but they should also listen to my reasons as I'm the country's administrator. Sometimes people say I'm slow, but when I act quickly they say that is no good either," he said, in reference to the People's Alliance for Democracy who have threatened to rally against the appointment.

"We can't be slow on economic issues. We have to do things while confidence in us is still high," he added.

Meanwhile, a group of National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members yesterday filed a motion for the NLA to discuss the decision.

Akapol Sorasuchart said he would bring the issue to the NLA's whip when a PM's Office minister joins the meeting today.

However, if the government's representative said the prime minister was not available, he would file a query for him to explain in person at the meeting on Thursday, he said.

"Prime Minister Surayud is a soldier, he knows war strategies and he should have heard about the City of Troy and the Trojan Horse. The horse was given as a gift to deceive the city that it had won the war, but the horse was actually full of soldiers who came to burn the city," said Akapol.

"I don't know who sent Somkid as a gift and don't know if anyone will follow," he said.

"This could cause rifts in society as happened back in 1999 when then prime minister Chuan Leekpai appointed Field Marshal Thanom Kittikajorn as a royal guard. People protested until he [Thanom] quit and then peace was restored," he added.

Piyanart Srivalo,

Woranaree Kosajan 

The Nation