Cabinet to discuss final draft of govt's policies

The policy guidelines prepared by the ruling Pheu Thai Party's working group and other coalition partners have been "more than 90 per cent complete" and the Cabinet would give them the final touches, according to Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisal, a Pheu Thai party-list MP.

Niwatthamrong yesterday attended a meeting between |the working group charged |with preparing the policy guidelines and representatives from |the relevant state agencies. He |said they would include the policy platforms of all the coalition |parties.

When asked if Pheu Thai's campaign promises such as the Bt300 daily minimum wage for labourers and a Bt15,000 monthly salary for new graduates would be implemented within the first year in power, Niwatthamrong said that matter would be announced by the government.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Kittirat na Ranong yesterday said the government would include in its policies Her Majesty the Queen's suggestions and concerns made during her speech on her birthday |on Friday. The government |would take urgent action on those issues, such as narcotic drugs, deforestation, natural resources, and insurgent violence in the deep South.

According to Kittirat, 16 issues would be considered "urgent policies" and would be completed within the first year the government is in power. He did not discuss the policies in detail.

In a related development, the new prime minister is likely to have a weekly television programme in which she reports to the people about the government work, according to PM's Office Minister Surawit Khonsomboon, who oversees the state media.