PM assesses infrastructure projects for the Northeast

By THE NATION

 

Prayut

 

WARM WELCOME FOR CABINET ALTHOUGH PRAYUT DENIES POLITICAL MOTIVE
 

AFTER A GRAND reception to show their support for Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the people of ฺBhum Jai Thai party’s stronghold in Buri Ram and other three lower northeastern provinces had their project proposals seen by the Cabinet yesterday.

 

While Prayut’s field trip to the region has widely been seen as a political move, the premier said local authorities and politicians who proposed the projects would not get everything they wanted.

 

Among those considered yesterday included 40 projects, worth a total of Bt1 billion, on irrigation to solve flooding and drought issues. They accounted for almost half of all proposed agricultural and water resources development projects, with a total worth of Bt3.4 billion.

 

The projects were proposed by the private sector in Buri Ram, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum and Surin for Prayut’s Cabinet to consider during their mobile meeting in Buri Ram.

 

The Cabinet meeting was part of the junta premier’s two-day field trip, one among many held recently. The PM spent time talking with people, meeting local politicians and looking over local development project papers.

 

Prayut, who has taken frequent rural field trips for more than a year, is regarded as having gathered popularity in the provinces by keeping in touch with local authorities and politicians ahead of the election, in which the general is highly expected to seek a way to maintain power.

 

At yesterday’s meeting, the Cabinet looked into infrastructure, trade and investment projects, border trade, tourism and life-quality enhancement.

 

While most of the projects are still under assessment, they are estimated to be worth as much as Bt21 billion.

 

The Transport Ministry was assigned to undertake an environmental study to reconstruct Buri Ram Airport following a proposal for a new two-storey terminal building and the expansion of the current 2,100-metre runway to 3,000 metres.

 

“With this enhancement, the airport would have the capacity to hold a big event such as an international car race,” said Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith.

 

Other proposals examined included a Bt70-million study for a dual-rail logistics system, Bt40 million to study the possibility of constructing a commercial airport in Surin and Bt100 million in additional budget to promote elephant tourism.

 

Buri Ram, a border province with a low per-capita income, has been developing as a sports hub in the past decade under the auspices of the province’s key man, Newin Chidchob.

 

With a long history as a “kingmaker”, backing at least three prime ministers, Newin joined 30,000 other locals who filled Chang Arena to greet Prayut on his arrival in the province.

 

The Cabinet’s support for a sports and development agenda is in line with the desires of Newin’s bloc and this might manifest in more political support for the PM - but both Prayut and Newin refuted the suggestion that the visit had any political agenda.

 

“This travel is not at all for political purposes. The government only tries to move forward with every provincial cluster,” Prayut said.

 

“We can’t approve all the requests but we have to consider everything and decrease some budgets.

 

“You can’t ask for a trillion or 10 billion baht and have it all delivered,” the premier continued. This was possibly a reference to Newin’s remark to the cheering masses on Monday that the premier would give the nod to multi-billion-baht projects.

 

Meanwhile, a Pheu Thai Party politician has claimed that Prayut’s visit to lower northeastern provinces would not alter the party’s stronghold in the region.

 

“He [Prayut] might not want to pull politicians from the Bhum Jai Thai party,” ex-MP Prayuth Siripanit, referring to an influential party in Buri Ram, “but it is likely that he would much want the party to support him. The scene, to me, is staged and not surprising.”

 

Democrat Party deputy leader Kalaya Sophonpanich also urged Prayut to distribute budgets to all northeastern provinces equally. “They might not have 30,000 people cheering you but they also need support,” she said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30344912

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-09

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“You can’t ask for a trillion or 10 billion baht and have it all delivered,” the premier continued. This was possibly a reference to Newin’s remark to the cheering masses on Monday that the premier would give the nod to multi-billion-baht projects.

If those projects fail miserably, then what ?  Will the "elected" Prayuth stand trial for gross negligence for acting like an irresponsible politician.  A politician who only wanted to garner votes ?  Sounds like the sort of corruption he was going to eliminate.  This and the last coup's focus was only to marginalize Thaksin Shinawarta influence at the expense of the Thai people.  A battle of egos of the few which has hurt the many.

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Buri Ram, a border province with a low per-capita income

Yet a junta lover was going on about how Buri Ram a dynamic place

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The Cabinet’s support for a sports and development agenda is in line with the desires of Newin’s bloc and this might manifest in more political support for the PM - but both Prayut and Newin refuted the suggestion that the visit had any political agenda. 

“This travel is not at all for political purposes. The government only tries to move forward with every provincial cluster,” Prayut said. 

“We can’t approve all the requests but we have to consider everything and decrease some budgets. 

“You can’t ask for a trillion or 10 billion baht and have it all delivered,” the premier continued. This was possibly a reference to Newin’s remark to the cheering masses on Monday that the premier would give the nod to multi-billion-baht projects.

"...You can’t ask for a trillion or 10 billion baht and have it all delivered...because Newin needs to steal his share!" (additions and Italics mine).

 

What happened to all those whistle-blowers who took to the street to protest 'corruption'? Where are they now? 

 

I propose a new campaign in Thailand, let's rename 2013-14 in the history books as...

 

"The Years of Hypocrisy".

 

 

 

I  have not fully read the article yet, but just look at that photo of all those Isaarn women delightedly smiling and giving Prayut the warmest welcome imaginable. It speaks volumes.

 

I'm sorry - but I see little hope for Thailand when the people continue to be so UTTERLY gutless, spineless and unprincipled. Any decent people would turn on their heel in disgust as soon as that creature drew near to them. But not here. Here they get out the red carpet and wear their very best smiles.

 

Oh dear, dear, dear. What a sorry country. 

 

 

Edited May 8, 20188 yr by Eligius

2 hours ago, webfact said:

AFTER A GRAND reception to show their support for Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the people of ฺBhum Jai Thai party’s stronghold in Buri Ram and other three lower northeastern provinces had their project proposals seen by the Cabinet yesterday.

the rewards are being handed-out even before the election

What's with Thai politicians and the heavy metal salute?

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Newin joined 30,000 other locals who filled Chang Arena to greet Prayut on his arrival in the province

30,000......wonder what drew them out? 

24 minutes ago, coulson said:

30,000......wonder what drew them out? 

What drew them out? Amongst other things (the promise of money)  - a TOTAL lack of honour, integrity and principle.

 

Edited May 9, 20188 yr by Eligius

Great airport at Korat, just never used to fly to Bangkok, 

even one flight on a Friday would be nice,  

 

7 minutes ago, Eligius said:

What drew them out? Amongst other things (the promise of money)  - a TOTAL lack of honour and principle.

 

They may have coincided the trip with a free soccer match.

52 minutes ago, Eligius said:

I  have not fully read the article yet, but just look at that photo of all those Isaarn women delightedly smiling and giving Prayut the warmest welcome imaginable. It speaks volumes.

 

I'm sorry - but I see little hope for Thailand when the people continue to be so UTTERLY gutless, spineless and unprincipled. Any decent people would turn on their heel in disgust as soon as that creature drew near to them. But not here. Here they get out the red carpet and wear their very best smiles.

 

Oh dear, dear, dear. What a sorry country. 

 

 

Sorry country indeed! More than likely those smiling women were rent-a-crowd ladies or the wives of the village heads and local administrators showing pleasure at the prospects of commissions and kickbacks that will be coming their way from these new projects. Whether the projects are a useful or needed is immaterial. What is important is how quickly and by how much they can line their pockets.

Assuredly there will be a rush to the new car showrooms and fashion houses. Mia nois will also be rubbing their hands.

In the meantime the PM's vote buying election roadshow rolls on while other political parties are left handcuffed and helpless and crushed by the PM's selective laws. Thai democracy, junta style.

The PM is learning from Thaksin,he knew if you could garner the Issan vote,

you would win elections,using taxpayers money ,instead of your own was another

ploy Thaksin used,and it looks like the PM is following suit.

 

Throw money at it and you will win,doesn't really matter if the projects fail,the 

point is to win.

regards worgeordie

1 hour ago, coulson said:

30,000......wonder what drew them out? 

 

1 hour ago, coulson said:

They may have coincided the trip with a free soccer match.

Or a concert by Jintara. 

1 hour ago, Poottrong said:

What's with Thai politicians and the heavy metal salute?

Devil horns..it's entirely appropriate.

Just now, akirasan said:

Devil horns..it's entirely appropriate.

Yes, I've said this on a number of threads: Prayut is constantly throwing up this old, traditional finger sign of the 'horned beast', the devil. Yes, very appropriate!

4 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Yes, I've said this on a number of threads: Prayut is constantly throwing up this old, traditional finger sign of the 'horned beast', the devil. Yes, very appropriate!

Well, if he's able to make a deal with Newin in order to succeed, he may well have been able to make a deal with....

If this isn't a political rally I don't know what is! 30,000 divided by 5 = 6,000 breaches of the law on political gatherings of more than 5 persons! Imagine the uproar from the little general if another politician of whatever party tried to hold such a rally! Disgraceful!

Sent from my Lenovo A3000-H using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

1 minute ago, candide said:

Well, if he's able to make a deal with Newin in order to succeed, he may well have been able to make a deal with....

Ha ha! That's a good one, Candide. I like it. Maybe we should remember, though: 'many a true word spoken in jest' - ha ha!

Money money money

Is there honest person in Thailand?

3 hours ago, Poottrong said:

What's with Thai politicians and the heavy metal salute?

It's only Heavy Metal if the thumb is tucked in. Otherwise it is simply bozo.

Edited May 9, 20188 yr by baboon

3 hours ago, Eligius said:

I  have not fully read the article yet, but just look at that photo of all those Isaarn women delightedly smiling and giving Prayut the warmest welcome imaginable. It speaks volumes.

 

I'm sorry - but I see little hope for Thailand when the people continue to be so UTTERLY gutless, spineless and unprincipled. Any decent people would turn on their heel in disgust as soon as that creature drew near to them. But not here. Here they get out the red carpet and wear their very best smiles.

 

Oh dear, dear, dear. What a sorry country. 

 

 

I couldn't agree more. 'The Thai people deserve better'? No, I am afraid the majority don't when it comes to politics and everything which stems from politics. 

Oh yes! only the reds ever buy votes.. 

3 minutes ago, starky said:

Oh yes! only the reds ever buy votes.. 

'But that's different...'

4 hours ago, Eligius said:

I  have not fully read the article yet, but just look at that photo of all those Isaarn women delightedly smiling and giving Prayut the warmest welcome imaginable

I agree, but could it not be, that they have been hand picked, screened,  rewarded in some way, to be on their best behaviour and look at he who must be obeyed with enthusiasm and adoring eyes?

14 minutes ago, baboon said:

'But that's different...'

Clearly, just sick of years of hypocrisy by the Junta fan club on here and their but but Thanksin bull shit when it's clear to anyone with half a brain that this mob is far worse, utilises exactly the same tactics and more and that the only thing they don't have in common is that the reds were actually popular and duly elected...

 

Edited May 9, 20188 yr by starky

8 minutes ago, ratcatcher said:

I agree, but could it not be, that they have been hand picked, screened,  rewarded in some way, to be on their best behaviour and look at he who must be obeyed with enthusiasm and adoring eyes?

Of course that could well be the case. However that still makes them gutless / spineless / unprincipled just as Eligius said.

4 hours ago, Eligius said:

I  have not fully read the article yet, but just look at that photo of all those Isaarn women delightedly smiling and giving Prayut the warmest welcome imaginable. It speaks volumes.

I'm sorry - but I see little hope for Thailand when the people continue to be so UTTERLY gutless, spineless and unprincipled. Any decent people would turn on their heel in disgust as soon as that creature drew near to them. But not here. Here they get out the red carpet and wear their very best smiles.

Oh dear, dear, dear. What a sorry country. 

 

Terrible that people show others respect .

All people in authority should be treated with contempt .

The anti -Facists should have held a demonstration , disrupting it and causing violence and called him a fascist  , thrown chairs around and turned it into a riot and then make a claim that Nazis attacked them and that they are victims of a fascist police state

13 minutes ago, starky said:

Clearly, just sick of years of hypocrisy by the Junta fan club on here and their but but Thanksin bull shit when it's clear to anyone with half a brain that this mob is far worse, utilises exactly the same tactics and more and that the only thing they don't have in common is that the reds were actually popular and duly elected...

 

The current Government is way better then the previous Red/Yellow stalemate non governing Government .

   This Government is governing , previously , the Reds and Yellows were stopping each other from governing 

14 minutes ago, starky said:

Clearly, just sick of years of hypocrisy by the Junta fan club on here and their but but Thanksin bull shit when it's clear to anyone with half a brain that this mob is far worse, utilises exactly the same tactics and more and that the only thing they don't have in common is that the reds were actually popular and duly elected...

 

Fully agree with you.

The difference between Thaksin and the current crowd is with Thaksin it was 1 man scamming,

With the current crowd there are loads of them wanting a piece of the action.

4 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Terrible that people show others respect .

All people in authority should be treated with contempt .

The anti -Facists should have held a demonstration , disrupting it and causing violence and called him a fascist  , thrown chairs around and turned it into a riot and then make a claim that Nazis attacked them and that they are victims of a fascist police state

It isn't for me to tell other people what to do, but isn't it a little bit early for a drop of the hard stuff?