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Published on February 23, 2008

"An interior minister had been drinking wine since noon and summoned me to be scolded in front of many businessmen when I was a junior officer," he said at the meeting with provincial governors and top officials to outline his policy guidelines.

He said he always reminded himself about the incident in order to factor in the feelings of his subordinates when he became a minister himself.

"Call me any time you encounter a problem with powerful figures, and I welcome everyone of you to drop by for a drink or a meal so you can speak freely about your difficulties," he said.

He admitted he had earlier prohibited his subordinates from calling on him at home but had changed his mind in order to make himself accessible.

Chalerm said provincial governors could now reach him at his private number  (081) 514 8811 and district chiefs at the number (081) 612 1144.

Under his leadership, top priorities include drug suppression, social order, management of natural resources and the quelling of violence in the South, he said.

"My door is always open, and I am ready to hear your suggestions," he said.

Chalerm said he would schedule a breakfast meeting with each of the 75 provincial governors in order to update himself on problems facing each province. He said he had no policy to issue new licences for massage parlours and love motels but issued a stern instruction that authorities enforce the 2am closing time for entertainment venues.

The Nation