Thai PM visits Thaksin stronghold in Northeast

Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont embarked on deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's rural stronghold on Friday, assuring the rural poor that his post- coup government will continue the former government's populist policy that benefit them in a more efficient and transparent manner.

Speaking during his first visit to a popular base of the ex- premier's Thai Rak Thai Party in the northeastern provinces of Sakhon Nakhon and Buri Ram, General Surayud allayed concerns that the populist policy championed by the former government proved widely popular among lower-income groups will be scrapped.

"I assure you that any policy that benefits the poor will not be changed but will be improved to be more efficient and transparent, such as the 30-baht healthcare scheme which has just been relauched as a universal healthcare program, free of charge, as well as other social projects," Surayud was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying.

Voters in the populous northeast overwhelming voted for Thaksin 's Thai Rak Thai Party in three successive election victories.

The premier downplayed media reports that his visit related to reports that Thaksin supporters were believed to be rallying against the new government.

Source: Xinhua