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Published on February 26, 2008

Earlier, Mingkwan, who bruised his forehead when he struck his head on the podium as he fell, had told his business audience that he was not feeling well.

Today, the 56-year-old minister, who was appointed to his first political post after heading up the Mass Communications Organisation of Thailand, will undergo further tests at the Police Hospital. Though doctors found his blood pressure and heart rate to be stable yesterday, they have scheduled heart tests as a precaution.

Mingkwan passed out at the podium while in the middle of a speech to businessmen at the "Marketing Thailand - A New Government; the Way Forward" forum. Before stepping onto the stage, he said he had a cold and might not be able to finish the speech.

He eventually collapsed, but regained consciousness after 10 minutes and was taken to the Police Hospital after being given cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Mingkwan's aides cancelled a planned meeting with 200 farmers and pig farmers scheduled for 4pm.

Mingkwan was one of the government's economic ministers sharing his views on economic policy at the forum.

The Nation