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Published on August 2, 2007

With a doctoral degree in art history from Cornell University, he joined the government sector decades ago. He has risen quickly. In 2001, he was awarded the national researcher award on philosophy - the first awarded to a contemporary art researcher.

At the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, he has initiated many important projects.

No wonder, before the political change late last year, he was tipped to become the new permanent secretary of the Culture Ministry. Alas, the position was instead awarded to Vira Rojpojchanarat. However, that did not mean that Apinan's ability was not recognised. He was instead approached to be chairman of the Office of the Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD). And since November, he has been working extra hard as the chief of both OKMD and the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture.

It's natural for people who don't know him to think that the 51-year-old man must earn a lot of money. Under its umbrella is the Thailand Creative and Design Centre. Given that the design centre's director earns about Bt300,000 a month, Apinan must surely earn more. Why not, when his unit takes care of the centre? Moreover, he is also serving as OKMD director.

But the truth is he gets paid only for his work at the Office of the Contemporary Art and Culture. Certainly, his salary is well below Bt100,000.

We have been tipped that Apinan even refuses the right to an official car and a chauffeur. Why would anybody refuse this?

He does not want to taint his name if one day he is nominated to be permanent secretary of the Culture Ministry.

Ah, that dream is still on his mind, as was shown during an interview with The Nation. Once all questions on the OKMD were answered, he asked about our opinions on the Culture Ministry. It was obvious that he took our answers seriously, as if he were plotting what to do with the answers in the future.

That reaction convinced us that Apinan will keep working for the government sector until retirement age.

achara_d@nationgroup.com