Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday exercised his power as National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief to transfer, remove, demote and promote more than 70 state officials and locally-elected political office-holders.

Sansern will take the helm of the PRD, replacing current incumbent Apinan Chanrangsi, who will retire at the end of the month.

“As the acting chief of the PRD, I will do my best to ensure that the public is aware of the government works and how those works including reform efforts are related to their lives,” Sansern said.

He is also apparently determined to respond to Prayut‘s suggestion that state-owned television stations should support government work.

Sansern is a former spokesman for the Royal Thai Army, the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order, and Centre for Resolution of Emergency Situation.

Prayut‘s order stated that for the sake of seamless public relations work of the NCPO and the government, Sansern would hold both posts.

“I expect the integration of PR work for all government agencies. Sansern is chosen for the job because he has solid understanding in the NCPO as well as the government works,” Prayut said.

He did not specify the time frame for Sansern’s stint at the helm of the PRD.

Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan said Sansern would take charge of the PRD only temporarily because he belonged to the Defence Ministry.

“The recruitment of the permanent holder of the post is ongoing,” he said.

Apinan said he believed Sansern would perform well as the PRD chief.

“The head of the PRD must have deep understanding of government works and be able to explain them to people in easy-to-understand manner. Sansern clearly has both qualities,” he said.

Pol General Wut Liptapanlop and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Kasemsan Jinnawaso were also affected in Prayut‘s reshuffle.

In an unsual move, Wut, the most senior deputy national police commissioner, leaves his post at the National Police Office to become a |special inspector for the Office of the Prime Minister.

“It’s OK. Don’t interpret the transfer negatively,” said Wut, a younger brother of former Chart ThaiPattana Party leader Suwat Liptapanlop.

Prawit also sought to downplay any negative speculation about Wut’s transfer.

“It’s a promotion. This way, he can become a C11-level official. If he remains in his old position, he will get stuck in the C10-level post,” Prawit said.

He said the government had recognised Wut’s good performance and this switch offered him a chance to move higher. Prawit, however, could not specify yet which assignments he planned to give to Wut.

Kasemsan was also made a special inspector at the Office of the Prime Minister. His transfer took place while Natural Resources and Environment Minister General Surasak Kanjanarat was on an overseas trip.

Asked whether he had conflict with Surasak, Kasemsan said: “I can only say that I have already worked to the best of my abilities.”