Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has likened the new government, which is yet to be set up, to a large steel ship, carrying both people and cargo, which can go rusty and sink if the rust is ignored.

The best way to protect the steel ship from rust is for everyone on board to do their jobs properly, he added.

Dr. Wissanu disclosed that he had already completed the formal documents required by all would-be ministers, but did not know which cabinet post he would be assigned, saying jokingly that he might be named the energy minister.

He said that the checking of the qualifications was almost complete adding, however, that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is the person who has the final say on the cabinet lineup.

Regarding the policy statement, to be presented to parliament by the Prime Minister, Dr. Wissanu said the draft is complete and all coalition parties will have the opportunity to make changes by incorporating their policies.

He stressed that, according to the Constitution, the government must clearly specify in the policy statement the sources of the funds to be used to implement its policies, saying that some previous governments overstated their policies and could not find the budget needed to implement them.

However, he warned that coalition partners must help the government to perform its duties in order to fulfill its declared policies and to prevent it from collapsing mid-term.