"I think it is a good thing if anti-conflict-of-interest legislation is enacted," he said.

Abhisit said he believed such a law would enhance the jurisdiction of the National Counter Corruption Commission.

The NLA will have to prove it is not a military puppet as some have speculated, he said, adding that he would closely monitor its performance before deciding if it was a rubber stamp or a credible legislative body.

He was speaking after attending a ceremony marking the 33rd anniversary of the October 14, 1973 democracy uprising.

Abhisit said it had been this event which had inspired him to enter public service. He added that the September 19 coup was his first since he had entered politics in 1992.

He also called for the ban on political activity to be lifted.

"The ban has no bearing on the stability of the interim government if the police enforce the law with impartiality," he said.

Previous political tension on the streets spiralled out of control because the police had tended to serve those in power, he said.

The Royal Thai Police and Department of Special Investigation should change their approach to law enforcement and revive cases relating to basic rights and arbitrary justice, he argued.

Meanwhile, an academic yesterday demanded the government implement political, economic and social reforms.

"The interim administration should repair flawed mechanisms," Chulalongkorn University economic lecturer Sompop Manarangsan said.

Each policy should address a specific issue and have a clear implementation timeframe, he said.

A social safety net for low-income earners is a priority because the economy will be volatile due to external factors such as slowing international economic growth, he explained.

The interim government is expected to announce policy initiatives next week.

In a related development, NLA member Wallop Tangkhananurak yesterday suggested the body fill eight vacant seats with representatives of poor farmers, a section of society little reflected in its ranks.