Showing 1 - 9 of 9
Baht Better Spent
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 28/08/2020
» On Monday, the Royal Thai Navy defended its controversial purchase of two Chinese submarines at a humungous price tag of B22.5 billion (that's 11-digits, if you're wondering). The purchase incited online backlash for its inopportune timing, given the severe impact of Covid-19 on the economy. Not to mention, speculation of good ole corruption synonymous with a procurement project.
Lost S44 bid not the end
News, Editorial, Published on 05/12/2019
» After putting up a tough fight, the Prayut Chan-o-cha coalition government has narrowly defeated a motion to set up a panel to study the impact of orders issued under the contentious Section 44 of the coup charter. However, there is very little for it to feel proud about.
An S44 order too many
News, Editorial, Published on 16/04/2019
» In what has been branded abuse of power, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has invoked the all-powerful Section 44 to delay payments by the three big mobile players and bail out digital TV operators from their financial obligations.
No need for S44 payments
News, Editorial, Published on 18/02/2019
» The government is already out of line for even considering new subsidies for the Big Three mobile phone companies. But its admission that it can only put billions of baht from taxpayers into such a scheme by using Section 44 is outrageous. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his chief legal adviser Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam seem not to realise they are in charge of a lame duck administration. Their obligation is to put this questionable issue on the shelf for the next government and parliament to consider.
If there was ever a need for S44, haze crisis is it
News, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 19/01/2019
» A month after being exposed to the haze crisis, we still haven't seen any breakthroughs except for a few piecemeal measures in the capital that have failed to tackle the problem properly. This is because the powers that be underestimated the crisis.
11 things to do while being stuck in the traffic
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 24/08/2018
» PM Prayut Chan-o-cha recently tasked relevant agencies to ease traffic congestion in Bangkok and expects to see some improvement in three months. If any government can solve this perennial problem, I think it'll be his Cabinet since he can always invoke S44 magic. Think about it, people, he can order car owners to drive only on even or odd days, depending on their licence plate numbers.
The country is a tangled-up mess
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 14/05/2018
» What's the end result of negligence, of carelessness? What's the cost of not doing one's job properly?
S44 misused to bail out big business
News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 18/02/2018
» Earlier this week, General Rolex -- also known as Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon -- came out to say that the government had agreed in principle to give the winners of the 24 digital television and the 4G telecommunication licences a break from what is being perceived as being a loss-making venture.
Worm escapes hook
News, Postbag, Published on 18/01/2018
» Re: "Prawit to resign if NACC watch probe finds him guilty", (BP, Jan 17)