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Published on February 8, 2008

Her immediate plan is to have officials from the Department of Skill Development report to provincial governors, which she said would be more beneficial.

She also plans to issue an Employment Department regulation which allows labourers, heading overseas to work, to pay for their flights later.

She has told the Social Security Office to find a way to take care of workers not registered with the office, such as taxi drivers.

"I am here for a second time. Some government officials might be depressed, but I believe many are glad. I call on everybody to pay attention and do your best. Don't give your bosses any problems. Think of the organisation. I return with a stricter working style," she said.

Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat said he would follow His Majesty the King's demand for honesty. Although he has held ministerial posts three times before, he said the Justice Ministry was important and new for him. He hoped the officials would treat him with compassion and advise him when he makes mistakes.

He said he would do everything to ensure success.

However, when asked if interference in the Department of Special Investigation's probe into former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's cases was possible, Sompong responded angrily: "Officers must do their jobs. If I didn't come here, wouldn't they be doing their jobs? You don't have to ask me a question like this. Everything must follow the law. Why did you ask me this question? What you are worried about will definitely not happen during my term.

"The issue depends on righteousness. Did you ask the September 19 coup-makers this question? Maybe I could copy their answer."

PM's Office Minister Choosak Sirinin said he would be in charge of legal issues as well as the Office of the Consumer Protection Board. The job was particularly interesting because loan sharks demanded high interest rates and were aggressive with debtors as if the country were lawless.

Choosak said the government would soon appoint a committee to scrutinise the Constitution and find the parts that needed to be amended. The panel would refer to the 1997 Constitution and compare the 2007 Constitution against it. The amendments might include the MP and senators election system as well as asset declaration - something chairmen of independent organisations and military chiefs do not have to do at present.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Anongwan Thepsuthin said she had some projects in mind, but would prefer to reveal them only after the Cabinet meeting.

However, she said it was appropriate to say her projects would be about water management as mentioned earlier by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

"I am an easy-going person. I love nature and believe in conserving natural resources just like other Thais. I am confident of taking charge of the ministry," she said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Suwit Khunkitti said the government would expedite the search for solutions for people from the grassroots to the national and international levels.

He would be in charge of integrating industrial investment as well as information and communication technology to help develop the country's economy as well as increase investor confidence.

The Nation