The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) insisted it has no plans to change the boards of the 56 state-owned enterprises at this time.
NCPO spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree addressed the issue on Sunday following the meeting between NCPO deputy chief ACM Prajin Jantong, head of economic affairs for the NCPO and executives of the state enterprises at the Army Club on Saturday.
Col Winthai said the meeting was aimed at reviewing the state enterprises' projects so that efficiency can be improved.
No change is being made to the boards of the enterprises, the spokesman said.
Earlier, a source on the CAT telecoms board said several members are planning to step down when a new interim government is in place, to allow the new information and communications minister to appoint their replacements.
Meanwhile, ACM Prajin yesterday held a meeting with high-ranking civil servants at the Finance Ministry to conclude an economic plan, which could be used by the new government as its policy.
ACM Prajin said after the meeting that the committee decided not to change the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) price.
His remarks did not elaborate on the price details as he said he could not remember the exact price that was used previously.
The diesel price will be kept at 30 baht per litre until a reform of oil price structure is done, ACM Prajin said.
The diesel excise tax is currently set at 0.005 baht per litre, resulting in losses to the government of 9 billion baht monthly and 180 billion baht annually, as the government has been reducing the diesel excise tax to shoulder lesser costs for consumers. He said the exact budget for fiscal 2015 will take some time for further assessment.
Gen Chatchai Sarikalya, an assistant to army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha and deputy head overseeing economic affairs, said the value added tax (VAT) will be maintained at the current 7% for at least a year.
The VAT will expire in September this year and the planned extension will prolong the current level until September next year.
Regarding the decision to keep the LPG price unchanged, the permanent secretary of the Energy Ministry and other associated organisations, such as PTT Plc, will oversee the LPG price change with gas providers next week, he said.
The strategic plans of each ministry are expected to be laid out this week, he said.
Sangsit Piriyarangsan, dean of the College of Social Innovation at Rangsit University, yesterday urged the NCPO to consider setting up a bank for the poor, saying the measure should help farmers and rural people gain better access to financial sources.
If no financial sources are available for them, the farmers will have no option but to turn to predatory lenders, he said.
Mr Sangsit said the NCPO should find other ways to bring loan sharks into the mainstream financial system so the authorities will be able to monitor them.
Meanwhile, the 4th Infantry Regiment task force yesterday ordered the reopening of nine jetty spots along the Moei River for shipments across the Thai-Myanmar border in Tak's Mae Sot district.
Ten other locations remained closed to prevent the transport of illegal items and products across the border. Large numbers of troops are deployed along the border in Mae Sot.
Yu Jianyuenyongpong, president of the Land Transport Federation of Thailand, said the NCPO should attach importance to trade with neighbouring countries and exports as the Asean Economic Community (AEC) formation next year is fast approaching.