AGRICULTURE and Cooperatives Ministry permanent secretary Theerapat Prayurasiddhi will be transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister on October 1.

The Cabinet approved his transfer yesterday, along with the rotation of several senior officials belonging to various ministries.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikalya said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngarm was interested in Theerapat’s abilities and had requested his transfer.

“Wissanu wants to have Theerapat help with his work at the Office of the Prime Minister. So, I have no objection,” Chatchai said.

However, a high-level source at the ministry said Chatchai had asked Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to consider transferring Theerapat beginning on July 18.

“Theerapat has long failed to respond well to Chatchai’s orders and suggestions,” the source said.

According to the source, it remained unclear who would become the new permanent secretary for the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry.

“But there are two apparent candidates – the ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, Leadviroj Kowattana, and Agricultural Extension Department director-general Somchai Channarongkul.”

The source added that Leadviroj’s most recognised achievement was the AgriMap app that helped farmers decide what types of plants were suitable for their farmland location, while Somchai had stood out in work on projects related to HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s concepts.

As for the Public Health Ministry, Dr Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk – who now heads the Disease Control Department – is poised to succeed Dr Sopon Mekthon as the permanent secretary.

Sopon will retire due to his age on September 30.

With a medical degree from Southwestern University in the Philippines, Jedsada will become the first permanent secretary for Public Health who has not graduated from a prestigious Thai medical school.

The Cabinet also approved the promotion of Energy Ministry deputy permanent secretary Thammayot Srichuai to the post of the ministry’s permanent secretary while PM’s Office deputy secretary-general Patcharaporn Intreyonk will rise to the helm of her agency.

Agency promotions have also taken place.

For example, the Cabinet yesterday gave the green light to the appointment of the Board of Investment deputy secretary-general Ajarin Pattanapanchai as the new permanent secretary for Digital Economy and Society.

Local Administration Department director-general Jarin Chakkaphark has also been endorsed as the new permanent secretary for Labour.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda said his ministry had concluded reshuffles of officials at similar levels already, many of which won Cabinet approval yesterday.

For example, Interior Ministry deputy permanent secretary Chayapon Thitisak will become the new director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department starting on October 1.

Another deputy permanent secretary for Interior, Nattapong Sirichana, will become Nakhon Nayok province governor. Nisit Chansomwong, another deputy permanent secretary, will serve as Nonthaburi governor.