PM tells cabinet she wants quick and concrete results

At the three-hour meeting held at Pheu Thai headquarters, Yingluck made it clear her first order of business was to produce results, quickly and concretely.

Those present at the meeting included Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha, Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit and Justice Minister Pracha Promnok.

Regarding the campaign pledge on security, the prime minister wanted tangible progress on quelling violence in the three southernmost provinces, Yuthasak said.

Today, the prime minister is expected to convene a high-level meeting at Government House to issue a new policy directive on the southern insurgency, he said.

Next month, she will convene her first meeting as chair of the Internal Security Operations Command to follow up on the situation in the strife-torn region, he said.

Deputy Transport Minister Kittisakdi Hathasongkroh said the prime minister instructed every Cabinet member to devote full attention to tackling the people's grievances.

"Yingluck told her ministers that their top priority was to eradicate the people's hardships," he said.

The government was determined to resolve problems faced by the people without delay, he said, adding the premier promised that the ministers would have her full backing on the budget earmarked for tackling grievances.

Ministers will have to submit their respective work progress reports every Monday.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Preecha Rengsomboonsuk said each ministry would have to draw up a work plan specifying the time frame to complete their work, which could range between one and four years.

Preecha said on instructions from Yingluck, his priority would be water management.