PM unfazed by allies' pressure

Amid constant rumblings from allies over delays in the city bus leasing project and pledging schemes for farm crops, Abhisit stressed that government work was a "collective responsibility" and his Democrat Party never wanted to make itself look good at the expense of its friends.

During his weekly TV show, Abhisit claimed that he did not feel any pressure from coalition partners, and the only things that concerned him were ongoing national problems.

He was referring to speculation that he was being increasingly hounded by the Bhum Jai Thai Party, which has been pushing hard for the controversial NGV bus leasing project.

"I have no political agenda and the only pressure comes from all the problems our country is facing, which are a lot," Abhisit said.

His success or failure would rest on his ability to overcome those problems, he said.

"We will have to accept it" if one day his government allies cannot work together, he said in his most telltale statement to date concerning relations with his coalition team.

During his TV programme and in interviews with reporters over the weekend, Abhisit said there were no hidden motives behind his treatment of the Bangkok bus project and farm price support schemes.

"It's simple on the bus case. We want good buses to serve the public. They should be using good energy and in good condition and the public should get reasonable prices for them and the government must not pay more than it should. I'm only thinking about that, and nothing else," he said.

The bus proposal is now going through the proper process of screening by impartial parties while both its advocates and critics can present their side to the public.

Public forums were also welcome to scrutinise the pros and cons of the project.

On the price intervention policy for agricultural commodities, Abhisit said he was only interested in the right measures that benefit not just those farmers covered by the programmes, but farmers as a whole, leaving the government with the least burden possible, and enabling the market to function as normal as possible.

It remains to be seen if Abhisit's latest comments would further strain his ties with his increasingly restless partners.

Bhum Jai Thai has already started openly criticising the government for having nothing to show for its economic work, suggesting that the Democrats' obsession with presenting a "good guy" image has hindered the administration's performance.