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Top interior officials turned out in full force to welcome Kowit on his first day.

"My topmost priority is to forge national unity in order to ease political rifts and tensions, which will be resolved by the rule of law and peaceful means."

Kowit said he would push for vacant and under-utilised plots of state land to be redistributed to farmers and would focus on promoting the Otop (One Tambon, One Product) project.

The Interior Ministry was likely to intensify its suppression of illicit drugs by imposing social sanctions as well as strict law enforcement, he said.

Kowit said he had no immediate plans to reshuffle his subordinates. He also confirmed that he had already delegated responsibilities to two deputies following the precedent set by his predecessor Chalerm Yoobamrung.

His deputies are newcomer Prasong Kositanont, from the Puea Pandin Party quota, and incumbent Supon Fongngam from the People Power Party.

Kowit is expected to leave today on a two-day inspection of the far South.

He said he would personally answer questions from reporters once or twice a week. He dismissed concerns about his qualifications for the job.

When he was the national police chief, a subordinate Maj General Nissai Boonsiri won a lower court conviction against him for negligence in approving an early retirement application.

Kowit was given a one-year suspended jail term.

The case is currently being appealed and his conviction for negligence had no bearing on ministerial qualification.

Meanwhile, new Public Health Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul vowed to support compulsory licensing to ensure people have access to quality medicines at a fair price.

However, he said tax measures, bulk medicine purchases and some control mechanisms could also be used to lower medicine prices in the Thai market.

Chaovarat previously served as the social development and human security minister.