Nida polling chief quits over survey on Prawit scandal

[webfact]

Nida polling chief quits over survey on Prawit scandal

By The Nation

 

 

‘I DON’T HAVE TO LICK THEIR BOOTS,’ ARNOND WRITES AFTER POLL RESULTS SUPPRESSED

 

THE SCANDAL involving luxury watches and rings that is dogging the prime minister’s right-hand man, which has already hit the government’s popularity, yesterday caused the chief of a leading polling office to resign on the grounds that his academic freedom was not being honoured.

 

Arnond Sakworawich, chief of the polling office under the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), did not identify what poll topic had pushed him to quit, but Nida’s president, Associate Professor Pradit Wanarat, said Arnond’s latest poll had been about people’s opinions regarding Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan’s luxury watches and rings.

 

“The scandal is under the scrutiny of the National Anti-Corruption Committee [NACC], therefore any opinions on it could possibly be considered as leading for society,” Pradit said, defending a decision to withhold the release of the poll’s results.

 

Arnond, who is a lecturer on business analytics and intelligence at the School of Applied Statistics, had just been appointed to lead the Nida polling office.

 

He wrote yesterday on Facebook that he had decided to quit with immediate effect. “For me, academic freedom and being respected are the most important values. Even before I had a position, I always stood in society on the side of what is right.”

 

He added that he had supported the coup and government but if there were wrongdoing or injustice “I don’t have lick their [the military’s] boots”.

 

Arnond said as an academic and Nida’s poll director, he had to stand up to reflect public opinion openly based on scientific evidence, with honesty and bravery. “If I cannot do so, I have no reason to hold the position. I will never betray the people and righteousness,” Arnond wrote.

 

The poll this week reportedly was titled “The luxurious watches were borrowed: Just distortion or the reality?”, in which 85 per cent of respondents did not believe Prawit’s claims that he had borrowed the expensive wristwatches from friends. 

 

Prawit, who is also defence minister, has been Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s right-hand man as they are both from the Chulachomklao Military Academy. Prawit has held his positions throughout Prayut’s premiership, surviving at least five Cabinet reshuffles.

 

Recently he has been spotted wearing many luxurious wristwatches, some of them believed to be worth many millions of baht. The NACC has launched an investigation into his possession of the items, which were not included in his public declaration of assets.

 

Prawit has already submitted an explanation to the NACC, but the body declined to reveal the details of his account. However, a series of news reports released to the public indicated that the explanation claimed a now-deceased friend had lent him the watches.

 

An NACC member last week hinted that Prawit would be cleared of failing to declare the watches if the report that the watches were borrowed was found to be true. 

 

Associate Professor Phichai Ratanatilaka Na Bhuket, vice dean of Nida’s School of Social Development and Environment, also confirmed on his Facebook page that Arnond’s resignation was because the institute’s administration had suspended the release of the poll results. “That is the end of freedom in academic work, if any administrators have similar ways of thinking as Nida’s president [Pradit],” he added.

 

Meanwhile, Pradit told The Nation that he had stopped the release of the poll results because the issue was under investigation by the NACC and the poll had not been appropriate because it was directed at an individual.

 

He said he has not yet talked with Arnond but planned to discuss the issue with him today. He added that Nida always prioritised freedom in its polling, but on the condition that the results of polls did not “lead” public opinion on issues. 

 

“A poll can only be done when an investigation ends,” said Pradit, who is also a member of the appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA). 

 

Meanwhile, General Akanit Muensawat, another NLA member, shrugged off a demand by activist Sirawit Seritiwat, who called for the NLA to launch a censure debate on the government, particularly regarding Prawit’s watch scandal.

 

Akanit quoted Prayut as saying the matter was Prawit’s “personal affair”, while according to the Constitution, issues in censure debates had to have consequences for the public and influence policy. The NACC has stated that the inquiry into Prawit’s alleged wrongdoing would end next month.

 

Nida has been a leading pollster in Thailand but has also been criticised sometimes for apparently supporting Prayut’s government. However, the latest poll released on Friday reported that 76.32 per cent of respondents believed the government and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) were guilty of irregularities.

 

Asked whether the government and NCPO had intervened in the NACC’s work, 61.04 per cent of respondents said there had been interference, while 28.72 per cent disagreed.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30337353

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-29

[Get Real]

23 minutes ago, webfact said:

resign on the grounds that his academic freedom was not being honoured

As far as I know it never existed! Thanks for lasting so long.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

21 minutes ago, webfact said:

“For me, academic freedom and being respected are the most important values. Even before I had a position, I always stood in society on the side of what is right.” “I don’t have lick their [the military’s] boots”.

Thailand would do well if they could fine people like Arnond Sakworawich to lead them.

[Oziex1]

"which has already hit the government’s popularity"

 

Were they popular?

[Somtamnication]

Poll is a 4 letter and dangerous word in Thailand.

[Samui Bodoh]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The poll this week reportedly was titled “The luxurious watches were borrowed: Just distortion or the reality?”, in which 85 per cent of respondents did not believe Prawit’s claims that he had borrowed the expensive wristwatches from friends. 

"...in which 85 per cent of respondents did not believe Prawit’s claims..."

 

What is wrong with the other 15%?

 

[Disting]

Finally, someone with principles.

[BigBadGeordie]

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...in which 85 per cent of respondents did not believe Prawit’s claims..."

 

What is wrong with the other 15%?

 

They are serving in, married to or are relatives of the military.

[gunderhill]

1 hour ago, Somtamnication said:

Poll is a 4 letter and dangerous word in Thailand.

not as dangerous as  "dead"

[crazykopite]

A man with principles ??

[mikebell]

If only there were more like him.  I sense there is a change in the wind and more Thais are willing to stand up and be counted.

[grumbleweed]

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The poll this week reportedly was titled “The luxurious watches were borrowed: Just distortion or the reality?”, in which 85 per cent of respondents did not believe Prawit’s claims that he had borrowed the expensive wristwatches from friends. 

If the poll didn't show 98.9% approval for the junta, or any of its highly esteemed members, it was obviously skewed and so shouldn't see the light of day

 

[ostyan]

This type of human has been almost extincted

[YetAnother]

35 minutes ago, mikebell said:

If only there were more like him.  I sense there is a change in the wind and more Thais are willing to stand up and be counted.

Some, but are they enough in numbers;  whole lot of non-thinking thais out there....

[RichardColeman]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Nida has been a leading pollster in Thailand but has also been criticised sometimes for apparently supporting Prayut’s government. However, the latest poll released on Friday reported that 76.32 per cent of respondents believed the government and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) were guilty of irregularities.

The other 23.68 worked for the NCPO I guess

[mtls2005]

Of course, for nearly four years he loved the taste of boot leather in the morning.

 

Who remembers one of the early (post-coup) NIDA polls that pegged "happiness" at ~ 97%?

 

[varun]

Bravo.

Finally someone with integrity who doesn't kow-tow to the useless phooyai.

 

 

 

[CGW]

3 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Poll is a 4 letter and dangerous word in Thailand.

Appears to be! when a "government" takes power against the wishes of the majority be hard for an honest poll to come out in their favour, better to suppress any negatives! They really are trying hard to cling onto power!

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

23 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 Of course, for nearly four years he loved the taste of boot leather in the morning.

 

Who remembers one of the early (post-coup) NIDA polls that pegged "happiness" at ~ 97%?

 

In the newspaper we cant mention here it says that he just been on the job for 2 weeks and worked on 3 different polls.

Edited January 29, 2018 by HiSoLowSoNoSo

[Lupatria]

It would be a blessing for the country with people like Arnond at the helm. Even though it means some boots will stay dirty.

[NCC1701A]

Arnond Sakworawich and Toon Bodyslam for PM.

[quadperfect]

It was 85 percent on thai visa who did not believe.  However In the thai group it was 100 percent believe the watch story.

[jayboy]

18 minutes ago, Lupatria said:

It would be a blessing for the country with people like Arnond at the helm. Even though it means some boots will stay dirty.

Utter rubbish.He is already tainted by the years of NIDA propaganda polls over which he presided which indicated more or less universal love for the Junta.He was a coup supporter.He left the sinking NIDA ship because he presumably knew the game is up.Full marks for being realistic but as a model for society, give us a break.

[Valentine]

4 minutes ago, jayboy said:

Utter rubbish.He is already tainted by the years of NIDA propaganda polls over which he presided which indicated more or less universal love for the Junta.He was a coup supporter.He left the sinking NIDA ship because he presumably knew the game is up.Full marks for being realistic but as a model for society, give us a break.

If you read the article Arnond only worked there for 2 weeks

[mtls2005]

48 minutes ago, HiSoLowSoNoSo said:

In the newspaper we cant mention here it says that he just been on the job for 2 weeks and worked on 3 different polls.

 

Missed that, but one assumes he did a bit of research before taking the job?

 

Or, maybe he didn't?

[janclaes47]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

‘I DON’T HAVE TO LICK THEIR BOOTS,’ ARNOND WRITES AFTER POLL RESULTS SUPPRESSED

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The poll this week reportedly was titled “The luxurious watches were borrowed: Just distortion or the reality?”, in which 85 per cent of respondents did not believe Prawit’s claims that he had borrowed the expensive wristwatches from friends. 

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Asked whether the government and NCPO had intervened in the NACC’s work, 61.04 per cent of respondents said there had been interference, while 28.72 per cent disagreed.

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

the latest poll released on Friday reported that 76.32 per cent of respondents believed the government and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) were guilty of irregularities.

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

He added that he had supported the coup and government but if there were wrongdoing or injustice “I don’t have lick their [the military’s] boots”.

 

 

Something is brewing in this country

[smedly]

The truth of the matter is that having a public poll while there is a possible criminal investigation ongoing is just wrong, directing the public poll at an individual isn't great either

 

Maybe a poll about public confidence in the NACC investigation might have been of better use

[klauskunkel]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Pradit told The Nation that he had stopped the release of the poll results because the issue was under investigation by the NACC and the poll had not been appropriate because it was directed at an individual.

Here is a good boot licker. Now, roll over, Boy.

[candide]

28 minutes ago, jayboy said:

Utter rubbish.He is already tainted by the years of NIDA propaganda polls over which he presided which indicated more or less universal love for the Junta.He was a coup supporter.He left the sinking NIDA ship because he presumably knew the game is up.Full marks for being realistic but as a model for society, give us a break.

I agree with you. My guess is that it is a symptom of the yellow internal power struggle between the Dems and the Junta.  The Dems are influent in the yellow network, i.e. the NIDA, TDRI, the Judiciary, media, etc... They were all united when it was about going against the reds, but the Junta will have a hard time struggling against the Dems.

[robblok]

37 minutes ago, jayboy said:

Utter rubbish.He is already tainted by the years of NIDA propaganda polls over which he presided which indicated more or less universal love for the Junta.He was a coup supporter.He left the sinking NIDA ship because he presumably knew the game is up.Full marks for being realistic but as a model for society, give us a break.

Shooting your mouth off again without reading Jayboy.. how very like you did they not teach you to read articles carefully before commenting. Your a bit set in your opinions even though based on fantasy like this one

 

Arnond, who is a lecturer on business analytics and intelligence at the School of Applied Statistics, had just been appointed to lead the Nida polling office.