He replaced Varakorn Samakoses, the authority said in a statement to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

The board is chaired by General Saprang Kalayanamitr, deputy secretary-general of the Council for National Security. - The Nation.

Tale scotched

PTT yesterday dismissed rumours that General Saprang Kalayanamitr will be appointed as its chairman.

"I, as PTT president, am not aware of any plan that General Saprang will become the company's chairman. He now serves as chairman of the boards of Airports of Thailand and TOT and he has a lot of work to do. I can assure you that the rumour is groundless and we have never approached him for the position," president Prasert Bunsumpun told reporters yesterday.

Energy Ministry permanent secretary Pornchai Rujiprapa is now PTT's chairman. - The Nation.

Property deals

Land and property transaction fees in the first quarter slumped 10.1 per cent to Bt2.45 billion from Bt2.73 billion in the same quarter last year, according to the Government Housing Bank's Real Estate Information Centre.

Samma Kitsin, the centre's acting director-general, said yesterday that nationwide buyers also dropped 7.5 per cent to 206,227 from 222,988 last year.

"On average, each person paid Bt11,900 per transaction, 4.9 per cent down from Bt12,247 last year. This reflects the falling prices of land and property," Samma said.

Greater Bangkok is the region showing the largest drop in transaction fees, 12.3 per cent. The East lost 11.6 per cent, the North 8.9 per cent, the Northeast 8 per cent, the Central region 7.2 per cent and the South 0.02 per cent. By value, Bangkok was tops at Bt791 million, followed by Nonthaburi with Bt161 million, Chon Buri with Bt148 million, Pathum Thani Bt142 million and Samut Prakan Bt125 million. - The Nation.