Gods to protect Govt House

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha says he doesn't believe in magic, superstition or even feng shui, but Government House officials are taking no chances as it opens for business tomorrow.

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PM's office gets mystic makeover

Wassana Nanuam

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has insisted he does not believe in superstition or in feng shui – Chinese geomancy – but the recent major feng shui-inspired refurbishments of Government House may prove otherwise.

Gen Prayuth, who also heads the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), told a council meeting last Tuesday that someone asked him for information about the date and time when he was born so it could be given to feng shui masters to help arrange the Government House premises in line with feng shui beliefs. "But I didn't give him the information. I don't believe in feng shui," he told the meeting.

But as it happens, the Prime Minister's office at the Thai Khu Fah building has been newly furnished, with a whole new set of carpets and sanitary facilities, a source said.

In particular, the prime minister's chair was also changed to a new, brown one. The chair occupied by ex-premier Yingluck Shinawatra was black, the source said.

In the prime minister's office, a set of altar tables has been arranged for a Buddha statue which was moved from Gen Prayuth's office at army headquarters, the source said, adding that a separate altar has also been prepared for deities to protect Government House.

Government House has undergone its first major refurbishment in decades. The NCPO approved a budget of 252 million baht for the renovations on July 22.

The money has been spent on renovating buildings including the Naree Samosorn building, the two Command buildings, the Thai Khu Fah building and Ban Phitsanulok.

The source said all buildings on the premises have now been painted yellow, adding the colour is believed to bring good luck to people born on a Sunday. Gen Prayuth was born on a Sunday. All red flowers were also replaced with yellow ones, the source said.

The source also said the access road to the Thai Khu Fah Building has been covered with a new layer of asphalt.

This was a symbolic gesture to replace the "old path" stepped upon by Ms Yingluck and other former premiers, the source said, adding that Gen Prayuth has a collection of auspicious rings. The rings he wears vary from day to day to suit his tasks.

Gen Prayuth is due to move in and begin his job as prime minister at Government House at 8.19am tomorrow, which falls on the 9th day of the 9th month. For Thais, 9 is an auspicious number believed to bring good luck, the source said. Gen Prayuth will pay respect to all the holy statues at Government House before chairing the first cabinet meeting tomorrow.

The source said Gen Prayuth has told cabinet members to dress in the phra rajathan silk shirt for meetings, instead of formal Western suits. Privy Council president and former prime minister Prem Tinsulanonda was the first prime minister to wear the phra rajathan shirt in formal settings and he stills wears it today.

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