Showing 1 - 10 of 15
Political instability adds to viral woes
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 05/03/2020
» The economy weakened last year thanks to the Sino-US trade war. This year, its health could worsen further due to two emerging factors. One is the Covid-19 outbreak which has hit the country's tourism industry hard. Another is potential political turmoil signalled by a series of "flash mobs" of students which gathered after the Constitutional Court's ruling to dissolve the Future Forward Party (FFP). If the rallies continue unabated, this year's growth could be worse than analysts predict.
Proxy vote saga puts entire economy at great risk
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 30/01/2020
» As the Constitutional Court yesterday accepted a request by House Speaker Chuan Leekpai to rule on the validity of the 2020 budget bill, the fate of public spending and investment now hang in the balance, thanks to proxy voting by government coalition MPs which has put the legality of the bill in question.
Good governance sorely lacking at state-run banks
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 25/07/2019
» During parliamentary debates on the Prayut Chan-o-cha government's policy statement, scheduled for tomorrow and Friday, the state-run Krung Thai Bank's (KTB) 9.9-billion-baht loan scandal will likely be taken up by the opposition targeting one cabinet member, Finance Minister and Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader Uttama Savanayana. When the loan was approved in 2003, Mr Uttama was an executive board member of the bank.
Govt needs more than luck with new lottery plan
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 27/06/2019
» The idea of having the Government Lottery Office (GLO) run a two- and three-digit lottery scheme is taking shape once again.
Debt woes expose education integrity crisis
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 16/08/2018
» Recent stories about teacher and student loan defaults have shed light on a crisis of integrity within our education system.
Reform, reform, reform: 3 gates to growth
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 10/08/2017
» Thailand's economic growth has been bogged down in the past decade by political instability. Since the 2014 coup, the military government of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has managed to stabilise the political climate. But uncertainty prevails when it comes to the country's political future.
Corruption? You can bank on it
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 18/05/2017
» The huge loss of the state-owned Islamic Bank of Thailand (IBank) has raised questions as to how a bank that runs on principles of integrity could turn into a financial institution riddled with suspected graft in just over a decade.
Sad state of city buses holds back economy
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 06/04/2017
» "Please make room for other passengers," a middle-aged female bus conductor shouted across the cramped cabin of an air-conditioned Bangkok bus during the Monday morning rush hour.
Thaksin share case rocks faith in tax system
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 16/03/2017
» The Revenue Department's failure to collect 12 billion baht in tax from former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has shaken the public's confidence over the transparency, fairness and equity of the country's tax collection system. It stands as a reminder of the need for tax administrative bodies to be independent of political pressure.
Weeding out corruption in state enterprises
News, Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Published on 02/02/2017
» The latest saga of bribery scandals involving state enterprises has caused me as much pain as it could possibly inflict on the average Thai.