Gen Saprang has yet to decide on his next move

Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr, who failed to get the army chief position, said Thursday he has yet to decide on this next move.

He declines to comment further on the reshuffle, which lands him deputy permanent secretary for defence post.

When asked whether he will resign from Airports of Thailand (AoT) board chairman, he replied he will wait for the right moment.

Gen Saprang was scheduled to chair the AoT meeting, which has the agenda on the air crash at Phuket airport on Sunday.

He also said the board will not hold a press conference on the one-year anniversary of the Suvarnabhumi airport, adding that there are still problems that need to be fixed.

Meanwhile, deputy permanent secretary for defence Bannawit Kengrian said he believes Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr will not resign from the army after he was not appointed to be the new army commander-in-chief.

Adm Bannawit, a classmate of Gen Saprang, also said that Gen Saprang will not enter politics after his retirement next year.

"He (Gen Saprang) told me many times that he will not enter politics," Adm Bannawit said. "He said he does not fit well in political arena."

He also said that Gen Saprang is a decisive man, and he will not change his decision easily.

Gen Saprang was among three contenders for the army chief post. His Majesty the King endorsed Gen Anupong Paochinda to be the new army commander-in-chief on Wednesday to replace Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin who is scheduled to retire at the end of the month.

Thailand's Council for National Security (CNS) chairman Gen.Sonthi Boonyaratkalin on Thursday revealed Gen. Anupong had been appointed as the new army chief because he is proven to be a good and smart military officer.

In his TV interview, Gen. Sonthi said he had felt at ease and comfortable with the matter all along because members of the committee tasked to consider the military reshuffle list

agreed unanimously with the appointment.

All the (committee) members shared the view that the person suitable for the top army post must be decisive and intellectual. He must be an honest and disciplined military officer loyal to the monarchy.

"Gen. Anupong is suitable because he is a good and capable officer, who is both decisive and intellectual," said the outgoing army chief.

Gen. Sonthi said a key mission the new army chief had to pursue is to cope with the southern unrest and supervise Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC) affairs.

He believed Gen. Saprang, who had been appointed as deputy permanent secretary for defence, would accept the post.

"I think he will not leave in disappointment because we are disciplined soldiers," he said.

Asked what he would do if the People's Alliance for Democracy is unhappy with the appointment and moved to protest, Gen. Sonthi said all the candidates must accept the decision when the royal command for the appointment is given.