Bangkok Post

The prime minister said this in responding to the report that a cabinet reshuffle would come by Aug 1 and she was likely to concurrently take the post of defence minister.

"I don't know where the report that I will concurrently take the defence post came from.  A cabinet reshuffle is not yet up for consideration.  Let the government have time to do its work.  I will let you know when there will be a reshuffle," Ms Yingluck said in reply to reporters' questions.

She said all cabinet ministers were required to work to the best of their abilities as long as they were still in their  positions.

The performance of each of the cabinet minister had been monitored and evaluated, because the government was about to complete the first year of its term in office.

On the Constitution Court's pending ruling on the constitutionality of the charter amendment bill, scheduled for Friday, Ms Yingluck said it had not caused her to lose any concentration in performing her duty.

She said she would wait to hear the court's ruling on that day in Cambodia, where she is due to make a speech to United States' businessmen from the US-Asean Business Council and the US Chamber of Commerce at the invitation of US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

So far there had been no indication at all  what the court's ruling would be on July 13, she said.

On her meeting with permanent secretary-level officials this morning, the prime minister said she repeated her instruction that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration speed up dredging the city's canals.

The city clerk promised to complete the work in September, she said.

Ms Yingluck said she asked the city administration to work closely with the various districts.  If there were complaints from the people, they must be reported to the central administration.

The government had no intention and no reason to cut the BMA's budget, but would make sure it properly complied with the given policies, she said.