PHUKET: The appointment of Pranai Suwanratha as the new Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of the Interior should help Phuket to overcome its tourism rip-offs - and perhaps even become corruption-free.

As deputy secretary, Khun Pranai has been overseeing an investigation of tourism-related scams and other issues on Phuket for the past few months.

The general understanding still is that unless local Phuket authorities can fix the problems reasonably quickly, Bangkok will step in. So far, the odds are on intervention.

European embassies in particular are pressing for action not words in dealing with Phuket's tuk-tuk and taxi monopoly and jet-ski scams.

Khun Pranai, appointed to the task of reform by the Democrat-led government, has now been promoted under the new Pheu Thai Government. In his elevated position, Khun Pranai oversees the activities of all governors and district administrators throughout Thailand.

Improving safety and security for tourists on Phuket appears to have remained a priority.

It was Khun Pranai who was tasked in May with starting the ''rip-off revolution'' to restore the reputation of Thailand's troubled holiday island.

Phuket's envoys are likely to continue to ask questions as often as they can until some real changes come.

No matter which party is in government, an international tourism destination with no real public transport remains an embarassment.

And Phuket is still the most prosperous province in Thailand, with envoys telling a Foreign Ministry delegation last year that probably for that reason, it's also the most corrupt.

Why is corruption an issue that concerns ambassadors and honorary consuls? Because inevitably corruption leads to the extortion of visitors, and on too many occasions, to violence.

The bottom line is that when it comes to corruption on Phuket, it's the tourists who pay for it.

Sadly, for two years the Democrats were too busy trying to survive to take up Phuketwan's suggestion of making Phuket a corruption-free role-model province, an example for the rest of Thailand.

We still think that pursuing the Phuket project would be the swiftest means of demonstrating the sincerity of the new Government in tackling corruption.

Action, not words, are what's required, and Khun Pranai appears to understand this need.

What international envoys mean when they call for action is to have Thailand's existing laws enforced.

However, the interpretation of ''action'' by officials on Phuket is to form a committee and reach a compromise solution with the law-abusers.

Encouraging signs are coming. Phuket needs to be straightened out, and soon, for the good of Thailand's tourism future.

And it also makes sense politically for a red-colored government to sort out one of the country's yellow strongholds.

Khun Pranai, free from political alignments, just may be the man for the job.

Back in May, he was appointed to oversee four inquiries into aspects of tourism:

1. Entertainment, including clubs, restaurants, conditions, and closing times.

2. Transport, including jet-skis, taxis and tuk-tuks, scams, fares and thuggery.

3. Corruption and tourism, including jewellery price scams.

4. Breaches of law, including the holding of passports, illegal payments, and more.