New job a challenge for Chalerm

Chalerm first told the press that he had to do a lot of homework before taking on the new post. He said he had ordered ministry officials to come up with detailed reports about melamine and its effects on humans. He also told the officials to follow the issue closely.

Later he warned the media to stop publishing reports about contaminated milk imports from China.

"Don't over-publicise the issue, it could hurt powerful China. If you ask whether I fear China, I've never begged them for a meal. But we have to think of our relations as we trade a lot. I don't know where we would be if China were to cough even softly in our direction," he said.

Though he admitted that the post did not suit his personality, he said he found it challenging even though he could not talk about politics. He explained that discussing politics was all right when he was Interior Minister, because the job was closely related to politics.

"But I am here [as Public Health Minister], I must speak less about politics and avoid boring the doctors. I must do my job properly," he said. "When I want to comment on politics, I will invite the media into my office. I don't know how long I can stop discussing the subject, and don't know when I will lose my patience."

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Kudeb goes out with a bang

In his final press conference, outgoing People Power Party spokesman Kudeb Saikrachang threatened to reveal the secrets of some party MPs if they did not stop attacking him.

He said he was not angry about not getting any Cabinet posts in this government, but that "serious accusations" of him distorting the party's resolution were the last straw. He said this could even force him out of politics.

He declared that PPP was being ruined by conflicting factions, that he was not part of the Friends of Newin group and that he backed Samak because he was a good man.

Kudeb has always presented himself as an independent person. During the early period of Samak's government, he said Samak's administration could not compare with that of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Yet, he remained careful as party spokesman.

Now, however, he may be taking an aggressive stance because he has little to lose.

He has been announcing that the party faces dissolution and that he was ready to sink with it, especially since he does not believe he will be accepted into the new party Puea Thai because of his perceived Gang of Four ties.