BANGKOK - Thai new foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul reaffirmed on Monday that there has been no preparation to hand back the ousted ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra his diplomatic passport.

He also convinced the public that in the future if the issue is raised, it would be done in line with the Foreign Ministry's regulations.

"Pheu Thai Party has no such a policy and the most important issue the party has focused on is trade," he added.

The Foreign Ministry under the Democrat-led government revoked Thaksin's diplomatic passport in December 2008 as the former premier was convicted of misconduct and lived in self-imposed exile abroad to avoid jail term.

Thaksin was deposed by a bloodless coup in 2006 and has remained as a divisive figure in Thai society since.  

Pheu Thai is the third reincarnation of the Thai Rak Thai Party which was formed by Thaksin but was then dissolved because of alleged electoral fraud in May 2007. Pheu Thai won decisive election against then ruling Democrats on July 3 election this year and so formed the government.

Watchers are closely observing if the first female PM and the youngest sister of Thaksin Yingluck Shinawatra and Pheu Thai party will move to return Thaksin the controversial passport.