When asked if he would instruct the Culture Ministry to caution the young rising star, Prayut said: “I want people and the media to warn her. I don’t know what to do. People like this style of performance and dressing.”

He was commenting on a controversy surrounding singer Lamyai Haithongkham’s twerking that involves nine consecutive “air banging” moves.

Critics have said the 18-year-old singer’s dance moves and scanty outfits were unsuitable to Thai culture.

In response, Prajakchai Naowarat, a senior executive of Haithongkham, the singer’s music label, which means “gold jar”, promised the performer would tone down her routine in future shows. Prajakchai said the company accepted criticism regarding the singer. “We will correct it. The pelvic-thrust moves will be done for three consecutive times, not nine as is the case now,” he said.

He said the singer would also wear shorts that “look better” in future performances.

However, the executive also defended Lamyai’s dance moves, saying that similar twerks were done by world-class singers.

Lamyai, whose real name is Suphansa Vechkama, is well known for her song “Pusao Kha Loh”, or “fun-loving girl”. The song’s official music video on YouTube garnered more than 230 million views in just six months, surpassing videos of every other popular Thai singer.

The prime minister’s comments yesterday were a return to verbal communications with the media. Over the past two weeks he has refused to reply to questions verbally and has answered inquiries through handwritten notes.