Like it or not, a message from our new PM Abhisit Vejjajiva maybe popping up on your cellphone.

"I am your new PM. I would like to invite you to help our country pull out of the crisis. If you are interested in receiving my messages, please send your five-digit postal code to 9191."

One AIS subscriber, who chose to remain anonymous, says: "I quickly sent my postal code. I am eager to hear what he has to say. I don't mind paying Bt3 for it." At press time, she had not received a response.

For those who got one, it reads: "I am Abhisit Vejjajiva. Please accept my thanks. I will be in touch with you shortly."

From the horse's mouth

It wasn't just text messages, some people got a message in their voicemail saying: "I am Abhisit Vejjajiva, the prime minister. I am aware that people are suffering from many problems and stress. I am determined to serve the country to the best of my abilities. I would like to ask you to help, because without unity, my mission can never be successful."

MP Sirichok Sopha, a close aide of the PM, says the messages were sent out to encourage public participation. "Cellphones allow us to reach people in all sectors, regardless of their gender and age," he says.

Plus, he says, the postal codes will help the Democrat Party identify the clusters of Abhisit supporters.

The SMS idea came from Democrat MP Korn Chatik-avanij, who is tipped to become the Finance Minister.

"We hope this move will bring us closer to people," he says, adding that asking cellphone operators to send out these messages wasn't a violation of rights or the law.

So, who's complaining?

"Still, I would like to apologise if the message has upset anyone," Korn says.

Sirichok also says that cellphone operators stand a chance of making money. "If people respond, they get Bt3."

Korn and Sirichok were speaking after the Telecommu-nications Consumer Protection Institute's director Saree Ongsomwang voiced concerns.

"Our institute has received a lot of complaints about intrusive messages before," Saree says, adding that the PM should keep in touch with his people via television and other media channels.

Still, not everyone is complaining. "Advertisers bombard us every day anyway - Abhisit's message is hardly this sort of junk," a fan says.

Many cellphone users are still waiting to hear from the PM.

"I haven't got the message yet," one female fan said.