Chuwit, 55, made his promise by swearing before the Tiger God Shrine, a famous Chinese temple within the walls of Rattanakosin Island. He said he aimed to tell the truth to people on a television channel, but declined to say which one. His programme will be aired Monday to Friday from 8.30pm, starting on January 30, he said.

Chuwit was freed from prison in December among the first batch of 30,000 inmates released under an amnesty granted to mark HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s accession to the throne.

He was jailed in January last year over the illegal demolition of bars and shops at Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Square night entertainment area in 2003, when he was known as a massage-parlour tycoon.

Chuwit, a former Rak Prathet Thai Party leader, said he was willing to hand over his party to anyone who wanted to run it.