A lack of legal knowledge has forced Ampon Kittiampon, who is set to become Cabinet secretary-general, to set up a team of legal advisers to help his job go smoothly and ensure the government stirs clear of lawsuits.
He also plans meet with Dr Vishanu Krua-ngam, a legal expert and secretary-general to the Cabinet during the Thaksin Shinawatra era, to ask for suggestions.
"I know that's my weak point, so I'll have to work harder and study more legal matters," Ampon said.
As secretary-general of the NESDB, Ampon has attended Cabinet meetings for five governments. This experience is expected to help him select suitable projects for ministers to assess.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had also asked him to do other tasks - take part in the Economic Ministers meeting, the neighbouring countries' committee and Joint Public-Private Standing Committee.
Ampon will move from being the NESDB head to sit in as secretary-general to the Cabinet on October 1. He wants to take a month or more to learn the working culture of the organisation and increase his ability to manage the office smoothly.
However, he insists he had never sided with any politicians. He said he had worked with many political figures such as former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban, former secretary to the PM Nipon Promphan, veteran politician Suwat Liptapanlop, former Agriculture Minister Kosit Panpiemras and Newin Chidchob, now 'advising' the Bhum Jai Thai Party.
"I don't know why I've been called a close aide of Newin because I've never worked with him alone," he said, adding that if he was a close aide of Newin, why would the prime minister choose him for this job?
"You can instruct me to write the facts for a report in principle, but not to do it in a positive way for political benefit," he emphasised.
Ampon fears that people have high hopes for him and that he may not be able to meet such expectations. "I can say that I will do it (his new job) in my full capacity but I can't guarantee that I'm the right medicine to treat all conflicts in the Cabinet," he noted.
Working at his new office will soon force Ampon to stay more in Bangkok, rather than going upcountry almost every weekend. It is one facet of his work that helped him learn more about the way of life and problems of people in rural areas since he began work as a civil servant.
Ampon said he had wanted to go back to work at the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, where he started his working life, or the Science and Technology Ministry, but that may be impossible now.