The Cabinet has resolved to appoint Police Colonel Wathanyu Witayapholothai, also known as Police Colonel Nui, a former close protection officer for the Shinawatra family from the era of Thaksin to Paethongtarn, as Director of the Office of National Reform Steering.
On 5 August 2026, reporters at the Government House reported that today's Cabinet meeting has approved the appointment of Pol. Col. Wathanyu Witayapholothai, or Police Colonel Nui, from Deputy Director of the Office of National Reform Steering for Country Reform, National Strategy, and Reconciliation Efforts (ONRS) to Director of the Office of National Reform Steering.
Pol. Col. Wathanyu is a former close protection officer intimately connected with the Shinawatra family since the time when Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra was Prime Minister, up to the period when Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra was Prime Minister. He transferred from the Royal Thai Police to become a civilian government official serving as Deputy Director of the ONRS in November 2025 during the first Anutin Cabinet.
