He asked them to avoid voting for “bad people” in the next general election, which he said would take place in accordance with the government’s road map to democracy.

“What worries me is that voters will vote for the same people they did before. I don’t know why. If we want to create a better society as well as changes and reforms to the country, we need to vote for new people,” General Prayut said.

“You don’t need to favour me. Just pick whatever choice that is not the same old problematic people. You don’t have to love me. Love your country. Don’t hate me. I work for the country. Actually, you may hate me but do not hate your country,” he added.

The prime minister was making a keynote speech at Mahidol University on the roles of Thai universities and the government policy of “Thailand 4.0”.