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PM Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair is at it again. Samak's lieutenant keeps shooting himself in the foot, so much that one wonders constantly how he is able to stand on his two feet or, more to the point, keep his head up and his dignity and integrity intact. As time passes, he seems unstoppable. Just days ago, Jakrapob, the PM Minister in charge of media affairs, displayed his holier-than-thou attitude when he announced a proposed regulation that would prohibit state-owned media from directly or indirectly reporting news related to coups that could lead to misinterpretation.

This is a very strange guideline because it is tantamount to media interference and violation of the constitutional rights which guarantee press freedom for both privately and state-owned media.

Since he has been in the job for the past three months, there hasn't been a day without Jakrapob being at the centre of some controversy.

He loves headlines and squabbling with the media.

Almost from the first day at work, Jakrapob irked the entire media industry when he suggested that the director of the Mass Communication Organisation of Thailand (MCOT) be removed. Jakrapob never really explained why he didn't think Vasarn Paileaklee, who was chosen by committee, was not up for the job or what benchmark he was using to measure his performance.

Not long after that, Jakrapob was blasted for trying to co-opt the country's community radio network, suggesting that if it wanted to continue operating it needed to heed the government's line. Because the country has yet to come up with a law to govern community radio,Jakrapob thought he could use the uncertain nature of the situation to bring it to his side.

 Shorted-sighted opportunism would be an understatement for this unabashed young man who, in spite of still being wet behind the ears in Thailand's cut-throat politics, actually thinks he is changing the country's policy for the good.

Thailand has suffered lots of beatings lately, especially in the area of press freedom.

When former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was in power, he created an outrageous attitude among his senior party members, including Jakrapob, that the media must  and could be controlled. That kind of thinking has prevailed ever since. It was no surprise then that the young minister would display such an arrogant trait. He could have created a great legacy if he had humbled himself a little.

Like other politicians in the country, sooner or later, he will realise he is here today but gone tomorrow.

But between now and then great damage could be done by this delusional young man who is determined to leave his mark by any means necessary.

At the opening of a recent seminar, Jakrapob told participants, as minister responsible for the media he was entrusted to locate the "disease" that was eating up Thailand's democracy.

According to his thinking, Thai media that directly or indirectly calls for seizure of power is considered part of the very disease he is out to destroy. And if guilty, these publications and outlets must be punished.

Jakrapob is drifting intodangerous territory and this is disturbing. Remember the pig in George Orwell's "Animal Farm"? At first, it was "all animals are created equal". But in the final analysis, it was "all pigs are created equal." Jakrapob is behaving like that very big power hungry control freak that Thailand can do without. And this is dangerous.

Sadly, none of the country's leaders have had the gumption to step up to counter Jakrapob and put him in his place.

Airforce chief, General Chalit Pookpasuk broke his silence, stating that the PM's Office Minister was out of line because the media was just doing its job and there are certain principles that need to be upheld.

Chalit is right. Thailand is not a nanny state and Jakrapob surely does not have the kind of moral authority - nor the right or invitation - to push the country towards the Dark Ages where fascist-leaning authorities define what is right or wrong.

Strangely, for a man who used to run a half-baked media company that operated more like a sugar coated public relations operation, Jakrapob continues to act like an el supremo editor.