Focus on content of infographics, PM says

Government Spokesper-son Maj General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the premier stressed that the infographics aimed to raise public awareness of ideas, orders, policies and performance of the Cabinet and all ministries.

The infographics were developed to deliver messages in a simple and attractive manner, compared with the traditional way of publicising the government.

The sets of infographics, containing quotes from Prayut and other ministers and elaborating on the government’s performance, entered the public domain after Sansern distributed them to the Government House media’s Line group.

During Prayut’s briefing after the Cabinet meeting, he asked the spokesman’s team if it had already sent the infographics to the media and public.

The premier appeared irritated when Sansern and his team replied in the negative, then asked the spokesman to pass his mobile phone over to him so that he could show everyone the infographics.

A political pundit said the spokesman’s team might have been caught off-guard because it might not have prepared to release the infographics in their current form.

The infographics came under criticism for their unprofessional standard, with some text tightly packed and somewhat poor, outdated artistic styles.

Prayut also expects all government agencies to do more to raise public awareness, considering that the current propaganda push is still insufficient, Sansern said. Agencies could do more publicity via online channels such as websites, Facebook and Line, he said.

More rounds in the series of infographics will be forthcoming. 

The private and public sectors were welcome to contribute to the project.

Prayut did not claim on Friday that the premier would dismiss the PM’s Office minister and the director-general of the Public Relations Department if the infographics were barely viewed. The premier only wished to stimulate officials into focusing on the agenda, he said.