Showing 81 - 90 of 151
Broken by design
Oped, Postbag, Published on 25/04/2020
» Re: "Covid-19 exposes our broken system" (Opinion, April 23).
Malls can wait
Oped, Postbag, Published on 24/04/2020
» The mall operators are the same moguls who want to help the government. It is the right time for the government to think and act in new ways as Thai society passes through the turmoil caused by Covid-19. Starting next month, the focus should be on four key issues, not on opening the malls. They are: How to prevent the current stage of the virus from reaching a next-stage outbreak; how to help poor people affected by the Covid crisis; how to reform immigration laws to attract foreign investment and prevent our image from deteriorating; and how to reform education and integrate online learning at all levels. Surprisingly, online businesses are thriving, hence malls can wait. It is high time to bring structural reforms in commerce, immigration and education.
Navy sets an example
News, Postbag, Published on 21/04/2020
» Re: "Virus broadsides sub procurement plan", (BP, April 19).
Why close the parks?
Oped, Postbag, Published on 04/04/2020
» Over the past month, hundreds of people -- especially the elderly -- jogged in Benjakiti Park daily and thousands in Lumpini Park. At this time, it is important for people, especially elderly people, to get lots of sunshine and exercise.
Too early to tell
Oped, Postbag, Published on 31/03/2020
» Re: "Who believes the stats?" (PostBag, March 29).
Mass testing best
News, Postbag, Published on 21/03/2020
» The most effective and cheapest way of controlling the Covid-19 pandemic will be to conduct mass testing of the population, as urged by eminent French infectious diseases expert Dr Didier Raoult. He has pointed out that cheaply mass produced testing equipment is already available and is being used effectively in South Korea. Countries, including Thailand, should build up this mass testing capability as fast as it can and test as many people as possible. That way it will be possible to isolate only those who test positive and it also makes it possible to treat those who start showing symptoms early which boosts the chance of a favourable outcome for them. This will be far more effective than locking down entire populations of people who are not infected and causing a massive economic dislocation in the process. In Thailand's case, it may cost US$325 million (10.5 billion baht) to test the entire population, but that would be a drop in the bucket compared to the $8 billion cost of a 5% decline in GDP.
Privatise THAI
News, Postbag, Published on 16/03/2020
» Let's turn Thai Airways' chronic losses into an opportunity to privatise entirely.
FFP was singled out
Oped, Postbag, Published on 14/03/2020
» Re: "It's not just about FFP", (PostBag, March 12). Khun Piya Samyan defends the Constitutional Court dissolving the Future Forward Party, because "it did violate the law regarding acquisition of income". This is about the "rule of law that is equally applied to all". I fully agree with Khun Piya that the law must be applied without fear or favour -- for if not, the government would be weaponising the law to slay its enemies, so to speak.
Ruling is inconsistent
News, Postbag, Published on 27/02/2020
» I agree with the spirit of the Constitutional Court's verdict on the FFP's loan saga: loans should be considered as contributions. But have the Thai Election Commission or courts previously ruled that loans are, legally speaking, contributions? The Bangkok Post's Feb 21 editorial said: "The EC never ... informed political parties that there are regulations barring them from taking out loans. That's because there are no such rules." Also, if we had such specific and clear rules and laws, our EC and CC would have explicitly based their decisions on them, quoting the section -- but that's not the case.
Unfounded beliefs
News, Postbag, Published on 22/02/2020
» Re: "Historic ruling offers pro-choice hope", (Opinion, Feb 21).