I befriend the good people and avoid the bad ones : deputy agriculture minister

He talks to The Nation's Piyanart Srivalo about his background before entering politics and his job overseeing three major departments in the ministry.

Q : You were a successful businessman. What made you interested in a political job?

A : My father [Dr Sukh Pukkayaporn] once worked with the Chart Thai Party and he was among its co-founders. He almost became an adviser to the prime minister, but for some political change. My father did not want political appointment; he merely wanted to work for and help people. I always wanted to fulfil my father's dream. Now I am ready financially and my children are all grown up. I have sufficient knowledge and have a background in management.

Q : Did you get support from anyone to become part of the Cabinet?

A : Frankly speaking, I have to admit that I got backing from Sora-at Klinpratum, a former executive of the Thai Rak Thai Party. He read my CV and approached me. In fact, I don't have a close relationship with Sora-at; [but] our fathers have rather good ties.

Q : You have become a government minister on a quota system by representing a party financier. How independent can you be?

A : Reporters often ask me questions like this. And I often tell them I won't allow myself to be forced to do anything that is wrong. I won't do anything that goes against the interest of society or the public. I made this known before I accepted the job. That's my principle and I won't accept any condition. If they want to pressure me to do something, I am ready to resign. I am now in this position and I will do my best.

I have never tried to have closer ties with the prime minister or any other seniors in the government. I have no political bonds with anyone. During Cabinet meetings, I often sit in the group of first-time ministers.

Before I joined Sora-at's group, I worked for Suwat Liptapanlop. I entered politics in 2004 as a vice minister and later I became secretary to the energy minister. I never intended to contest an election or become a lawmaker. I accepted this [Cabinet] position just to use my knowledge and skills to serve the country. And I expect nothing in return.

Q : You were part of the private sector. Have you found any difference in having to work with permanent officials now as their superintendent?

A : Civil servants are knowledgeable and many of them are more capable than employees in some private businesses. But they have to work under various rules and limitations, which makes it difficult for them to perform their duties. I have tried to talk frankly with senior civil servants I am working with. Some of them may have some kind of political support behind them, which puts me in an awkward situation. I befriend good people and avoid bad ones.

Q : Among the work under your responsibility, which projects do you want to push for faster progress?

A : The three major departments I oversee are the departments of Cooperative Promotion, Agriculture and Land Development. In the case of the Department of Agriculture, my instructions were to focus on research studies that will help reduce farmers' problems, and to find new methods to improve production and increase income for farmers. The work should not be for political or for personal benefit.

As for the Department of Cooperative Promotion, there are now more than 10,000 cooperatives of various types throughout the country. In fact we are capable of promoting Thai cooperatives at the international level. I don't expect all of the more than 10,000 places to achieve that goal, but there should be a pilot project that covers some 100 cooperatives. My instruction was for this to involve the cooperatives with good potential to expand their business overseas. At present, cooperatives have a lot of products but most produce for the local market. We have to encourage them to produce for the international market by providing them with know-how about export and trade.

For the Department of Land Development, the focus should be on improving and maintaining the quality of land used in farming.

Another project that I want to see a success - and I have already discussed with Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut - is turning all communities into a "Green Village". A pilot project will encourage plants to be grown in houses and communities in line with the royal philosophy of a sufficiency economy.