Newly elected National Legislative Assembly Speaker Meechai Ruchuphan pays respects yesterday at the statue of King Rama VII.

Meechai's critics claim his rela-tionship to military leaders and shrewd political skills will see him influence the Constitution Drafting Assembly to produce a charter serving vested interests.

The former Senate speaker was elected on Tuesday in the face of stiff opposition from activists and academics. They cited his record of serving coups and the administration of overthrown prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

But Meechai said his critics mis-understood the current legislative structure. He said the NLA was totally separate from the drafting assembly.

"The NLA has no right to inter-fere. It will get to see the draft at the same time as the public. We have no influence or way to lobby the drafting assembly,'' he said.

Meechai reported yesterday the Surayud Chulanont government would submit policies it intended to enact to the assembly on November 2.

Meechai said debates in the assembly would differ from those held in the House of Representatives, mainly because there were no opposing sides.

"I hope no one expects the NLA to vote against government policies. Naturally we can only acknowledge them. But please do not say we are just a rubber stamp," he said.

Meanwhile, Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa threw his support behind Meechai. He said he did not believe Meechai would serve vested interests or the Council for National Security.

"Give him a chance to prove himself. I believe he is capable and knowledgeable in the law. I think he is a gentleman and is straight-forward,'' Banharn said.

He called on government critics to end their vocal opposition to the military-backed government.

"The government has been attacked for being slow. I believe every Cabinet member is working well. Don't say the country has run away from a tiger to meet a crocodile because you will stir the tiger back. The tiger has already been calmed,'' he said, in an apparent reference to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban was also supportive. He said there was no indication of vote rigging during Meechai's election. "He was voted for because of his competency," he said.

Assoc Prof Dr Pairoj Wongwipanon, former dean of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Economics, said the voting for Meechai as NLA speaker - despite strong public opposition - led him to believe political reform would not be smooth.

 "Meechai has a record of working for people who incorrectly come into power," he said.