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Published on January 28, 2008

Why were you favoured as your party's candidate to lead the House?

I had never thought that I would be the House Speaker. I had already told the [People Power] party I wouldn't accept a ministerial post because it could cause concern for someone - they probably feared I would take revenge. If I thought I might be "the cause" of a conflict for the country, then I wanted to be left out.

But the party thought I should take some responsibility in the Legislative Branch that might not cause any social conflict. I also want to prove to society that, no matter where I work, I will try to do my best to create harmony.

Will your nickname "Yuth the Refrigerator" be an obstruction in your duties?

Nicknames and politicians are born for each other. I have clarified many times that I had nothing to do with the incident [police mistakenly opening fire on the house of an elderly couple while trying to catch drug suspects in Ayutthaya]. It was the police who cleared the area during the night.

As the prime minister's secretary-general, I tried to help them the following morning. But there was also speculation that the then prime minister [Thaksin Shinawatra] had sent in the troops to open fire [on the house]. This is not fair because it is not true. Before too long, society will know the truth.

During Thaksin's term there was criticism the Legislative Branch was not neutral but rather biased towards the Executive Branch, which led to the crisis in the country. Do you think that problem will happen again under your era?

I won't look back but forward. I plead for mercy. Please note my performance first and then judge later. I will definitely accept the judgement on that day. The consequences will tell if I'm neutral or not.

What do you think about suggestions the government will dissolve the House after it achieves two missions: amendment of the 2008 Constitution and issuing an amnesty for the 111 banned executive members of the defunct Thai Rak Thai Party?

Those issues aren't just the concern of the government and the opposition as we have to listen to the people also. I don't want to see the issues as a cause of conflict. If we do good things for the country, people will agree with us. But if anything creates chaos, we should not be in a hurry to do that. For example, all political parties have agreed to amend some articles of the charter. But we need to consult about when the best timing is.

The first thing you said after you received royal endorsement was that you would never betray the monarchy. What is your motive behind saying that?

Nothing. It was a feeling from the bottom of my heart. I want to tell people that what is in my mind is to show esteem to the nation, religion and

the monarchy. If I declared my stance, there should be no more suspicions about me.

The Nation