Does Samak have 9 lives like his cats?

As always, Samak began his weekly live TV show in the morning by saying that he was being persecuted and lamenting the attempts to oust his government.

However, at the end of the programme he brightened up by singing along to "Choke Manud" (Human Fate), an old-style Thai classical song.

"I'll smile at all the dangers," was one line in the song the prime minister sang for about a minute at the end of the talk show.

Samak appeared in a good mood. Before singing, he said he had been criticised in recent weeks about his humming. But he said there was no law banning a PM from singing a song.

Samak intentionally mentioned his qualifications. The PM has been accused of breaching the Constitution by hosting a cooking programme on television, thus making him an employee of a private enterprise.

The Election Commission last week agreed to petition for a judicial review with the Constitution Court on Samak's qualifications, seeking a ruling on whether he has violated the Constitution in regard to his cooking programme.

What made Samak smile more on his beautiful day was his favourite pets.

Known as a cat lover, Samak presided over the opening ceremony of the "Thailand Cat Show" at a shopping mall on Sunday afternoon. With various breeds on show, the PM seemed to have a good time talking to cat lovers.

"Unlike dogs, cats are hard to pamper. Whoever can raise cats will please others easily," said the PM, who used to have 18 cats but now has only five.

He also revealed a secret which perhaps helps him to overcome obstacles.

"In whatever place a cat of mine died, I always took it home and buried there. I know that the bones of dead cats will help protect people from danger," Samak said.

However, Samak did not mention Foy Thong, one of his favourite cats, who disappeared from his house after he became PM.

While Samak was abroad, Foy Thong went missing and no one knows the cat's fate.

If Samak really believes in the power of cats' bones, the dark clouds may remain over him as long as he can't find Foy Thong - dead or alive.

jintana@nationgroup.com