"The Cabinet will decide on this issue," Aree told reporters at the Interior Ministry.

He said there was no need to have any discussion or debate on the bill at any stage except what was required in the legislative process.

"A Cabinet screening committee can take charge of the issue and the Cabinet will review it and make the decision," Aree said in response to reports that Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham was planning to organise such a forum.

Paiboon, who is also the social development and human security minister, has strongly advocated the bill, which would give communities a say in local development. He even threatened to resign from the Cabinet if it was not approved.

Meanwhile, Aree is seen as objecting the bill so as to retain the Interior Ministry's powers regarding local administration.

About 500 people gathered in front of Government House yesterday morning while their representatives met Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to express their support for the bill.

"The premier has promised to make his Cabinet understand the bill better," said Son Roopsoong, secretary-general of the Community Organisation Assembly of Thailand.

However, Surayud believed some clauses in the bill must be adjusted, Son said.

National Legislative Assembly (NLA) member Wallop Tangkhananurak said he would make sure that the bill reached the NLA.

Proposed legislation usually needs to be approved by the Cabinet before it is tabled before the assembly, but Wallop said the bill could come straight to NLA if at least 25 members supported it.

"I can gather the signatures of 25 NLA members," he said, adding that the assembly should be able to deliberate the bill early next month.

Meanwhile, respected academic Prawase Wasi said the community organisation councils, if established, should play an advisory role or else their work could interfere with that of the local administrative organisations.