By Piyanart Srivalo The Nation on Sunday Published on August 9, 2009

A plan is afoot to replace the caretaker government spokesman and the Cabinet secretary-general, a source in the government said yesterday.

After six months in office, government leaders have found flaws and weaknesses in public-relations work and Cabinet coordination with state agencies, according to the source.

Panitan Wattanayagorn, the caretaker government spokesman, who is also deputy secretary-general of the prime minister, was singled out as a major weakness as having failed to perform the task of spokesman efficiently.

The coalition leaders agreed that the spokesman had done little to promote the prime minister's and the government's work, leading to allegations that the government had not achieved much.

Panitan, previously a lecturer in political science at Chulalongkorn University, reluctantly accepted his political appointments. But he preferred not to become a full government spokesman, a position normally held by a seasoned politician.

The source said that the government was looking for someone from the ruling Democrat Party to replace Panitan as government spokesman. A number of candidates were considered, but former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin, who is a deputy party leader, is front-runner for the job, according to the source.

Apirak is currently an adviser to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and appointment as government spokesman, a less senior job, could be a "demotion" for him. The source said it was likely that Apirak would also concurrently serve as adviser or be promoted to vice minister while acting as government spokesman.

Another political job expected to see change is that of Cabinet secretary-general, now held by Surachai Phuprasert, a long-serving bureaucrat at Government House.

Surachai is thought to have been ineffective in coordinating with state agencies, leading to delays in Cabinet's work according to the source.

Tongthong Chandransu, secretary-general of the Education Council, was expected to be approached to take over the job of Cabinet secretary-general, the source said. His expertise in legal matters and good ties with former holders of the office, Vishanu Krueangam and Bowornsak Uwanno, would give him an edge, the source said.