Don't erect big images of me : Prayuth
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BEFORE PRIME Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha visited the flood-affected province of Sukhothai last Friday evening, local officials set up a big cut-out with a larger-than-life image to welcome the new PM.
But in fact Prayuth ordered such images to be taken down in his policy address to parliament last Friday morning.
Yesterday the premier gave an order to the Cabinet forbidding the display of any picture glorifying ministers or state officials along the streets or in other public areas, the deputy government spokesman said.
Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the newly-appointed deputy government spokesperson, elaborated on the order after the Cabinet met yesterday, saying the PM didn’t want to see such cut-outs as they invariably use taxpayers’ money. Sansern said Prayuth said there was no need to display images of politicians or government officials, as it is their duty to carry out jobs for the public.
“It’s better to show what he has done,” said Sansern of his boss. “So if someone wants to put up a cut-out then put details about the works he has done that has had an affect on the public, but please don’t show his image.”
Sansern added that local politicians should also use their judgement on what is appropriate or not when it comes to such things.
Other directives given by Prayuth yesterday included that informal advisers for ministers not have name cards printed, as there are too many of them. He also ordered the salary of assistants to ministers to be cut.
Currently, an assistant to a minister earns a government salary of Bt63,800 but Prayuth wanted that reduced to Bt50,000 in order to save Bt13,800 of taxpayers’ money.
“There are 30 assistants to ministers all in all. Bt400,000 can be saved each month and used for other benefits,” Sansern explained.
Prayuth also ordered that all schools that carry posters detailing the 12 Thai values advocated by the National Council for Peace and Order should ensure that the poster doesn’t come with his image.
