THAI Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has apologised for spraying reporters with hand sanitiser at a weekly press conference recently.
According to the Bangkok Post, Prayut said he did not mean to harm or disrespect them as they sometimes joked with each other.
"Who spread the pictures? I was joking with you. Therefore, from now on, we won't joke with each other. That's it," he said.
The incident took place after the prime minister answered some questions and was asked about a possible cabinet reshuffle.
He told the reporters to mind their own business, before grabbing a bottle of liquid alcohol and dousing the front row of reporters.
The PM was criticised by Thai and foreign media, many saying he had been disrespectful, even insulting, towards the reporters, although some journalists at Government House said they realised it was only meant as a joke.
It was earlier reported in numerous media that Prayut had become frustrated when asked about a list of potential candidates for potential Cabinet positions.
This follows the recent jailing of three ministers for insurrection during protests seven years ago.
"Is there anything else to ask?, " he said on Tuesday, standing at a podium.
"I don't know, I haven't seen it. Isn't it something the prime minister should know first?"
In the live briefing, Prayut then left the podium, grabbed a small bottle of sanitiser, casually walked over to the journalists and sprayed each of them while holding a surgical mask in front of his face.
Prayut, a former military coup leader, is known for his casual, at times comical, remarks to media but he often lashes out at reporters.