The King’s remark came after the PM led 12 new cabinet members – seven current members who have been relocated, four new faces and one returning former colleague – to have an audience with the King for a swearing-in ceremony.

After the new members took an oath of allegiance, the King blessed the cabinet members for mental and physical health and happiness. The King, who succeeded his father, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej who died in October, also asked the Cabinet to study and follow the late king’s words and actions.

“Over the past 70 years, [the late monarch] had been kind and done a lot of works. And he had given his royal speeches and shown the action steps on a wide range of the topics. I would ask you to study and analyse his royal wish and his royal duties,” said the King.

The King also wished his father to bless, guide, and protect the cabinet members, adding that to follow and recall King Bhumibol’s words and actions would be auspicious for life.

His Majesty also asked the new Cabinet to discuss, find solutions to problems together and cautiously perform their duties.

“Every work has problems and burdens which are the test. And the test will become our lessons,” he said.

Meanwhile, the reshuffled Cabinet would prioritise low-income people when alleviating economic problems as they are the most affected groups of people. Prayut’s government has launched a series of stimulating programs and schemes to relieve the situation.

As quoted by Assistant Government Spokesperson Colonel Taksada Sangkachan, Prayut said that the government considers people of all classes but the poorest will be in focus.

The premier also insisted that despite speculation, reform agendas would still adhere to the “roadmap to democracy”, Taksada said.

Prayut stressed that the Cabinet reshuffle, the third since the junta government entered in 2014, was based on systematic reasons.

“There is no particular reason behind any particular figure, nor whether they are civilians or military officers,” the premier said at is weekly news briefing. “I’m not a politician. I don’t have political reasons or we will only return back at zero. So, please help us in creating correct understanding.”

The premier also added that despite reports he had no intention to reshuffle his deputy and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wognsuwan. “Show me if you find his flaws. I never think of reshuffling him,” he said.

Government Spokesperson Lieut Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, said that ministers were also assigned by Prayut to take some of the workload from the deputy PMs.

The deputies are already in charge of functional works, chairing some committees and conducting local clusters. With ministers taking over some of the workload, deputies will be able to focus their agendas at structural levels, Sansern said.

For instance, illegal fisheries which are considered part of the government’s urgent agenda, will be taken care of by the agricultural and cooperatives minister. The agenda is currently overseen by Prawit who oversees security affairs.