Nicknames resurface for government and ministers

By THE NATION

 

 

It is an year-end tradition for the press corps at Government House to come up with nicknames for the government and the ministers in an expression of collective opinions towards those in power, based on what they have achieved in the course of the year.

 

However, it took a long pause for the past six years in the absence of an elected government until now.

 

For the first time in several years, nicknames have again been assigned to the administration and ministers.

 

 

Government’s nickname: Sieng Kong government

 

Sieng Kong is a well-known shopping district in Bangkok that sells second-hand automotive parts at cheap prices, therefore the nickname reflects the current status of the government coalition comprising old-timer politicians and state officials from previous governments who were stitched together to form a new team but unlikely to work well together.

 

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s nickname: The Drunken Boxer

 

In the eyes of the press, Prayut seems like a confused boxer especially when he condemned certain policies but ended up embracing them, such as the populist policy, attracting MPs from other parties, appointing ministers who were involved in past political rallies, and raising the minimum wages. Prayut also seems confused when facing questions from the opposition and on many occasions simply changed the subjects.

 

 

Deputy PM Gen Prawit Wongsuwan: Big Bro The Entertainer

 

As the oldest member of the 3P gang (Prawit, Prayut and Pok Anupong), Prawit is the big brother who needs to look after his little siblings as well as entertain members of government coalition when they run into problems, from international conflicts to chicken farm scandal.

 

Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak: Mr. Pracharat

 

Somkid initiated several state welfare or “Pracharat” projects over the past years but most of them were unsuccessful while new projects have failed to gain support, even among members of the government parties. He is now left holding his pet Pracharat projects.

 

Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam: Sri Thanonchai

 

The government’s legal guru was compared to Sri Thanonchai, a trickster and antihero in Thai folklore, famous for his skills in finding loopholes in rules and regulations to get himself out of hot water.

 

Deputy PM and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit: Independent State

 

Jurin got this nickname from his working style that mainly compliments the policies of his Democrat Party while ignoring the opinions of its coalition partners, as if he is operating independently from the government.

 

 

Deputy PM and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul: Rat Poison

 

Anutin became famous for the ban of toxic agrochemicals which caused widespread criticism from several parties, coupled with the fact that his real nickname is “Noo” or rat in Thai.

 

Deputy Agriculture and Cooperative Minister Capt Thamanat Prompow: Mr Grey Area

 

Thammanat got his nickname from being involved in many scandals including the shady validity of his academic qualifications, having been convicted and jailed in Australia for drug offense, and making an under the table deal with an opposition party.

 

Deputy Agriculture and Cooperative Minister Mananya Thaiset: Madame Awkward

 

Mananya was in the spotlights when she joined Anutin in spearheading the ban of three toxic chemicals, only to face opposition from the public. The proposed ban of two of the chemicals were delayed while the useage of glyphosate, was allowed to continue.

 

 

Transport Minister Saksyam Chidchob: The Demolisher

 

Not only he is the owner of controversial ideas such as forcing all personal cars to install GPS, Saksyam is also famous for his penchant to dismante existing projects including the lowering of skytrain’s fee, driver's licence tests and construction of train-crossing gates.

 

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Warawut Silpa-archa: The Undertaker

 

Ever since he took office, all we heard on the natural front were bad news: deaths of rare wild animals such as Mariam the dugong, Chuang Chuang the panda, wild elephants at Khao Yai’s Hell Abyss Waterfall. The press however applauded Warawut’s effort in cleaning up the mess and urging people to take better care of nature.

 

Quote of the year

 

“Don’t get sick of me just yet, for I will be here for quite a while”

 

Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said to the athletes and staff of the national team before thier departure to the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines, at Government House on November 13.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30379752

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-12-23

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I can think of some nicknames for this shower, but I would probably get banned for putting them on here ???? 

I think it's best to give them a collective noun to describe them all. Example:  a hive of bees, a school of whales, a <deleted> age of Thai politicians.

 

Open to suggestions regarding the collective noun for this shower. ????

An "MD"  as we are not allowed to use the full lenght name.

I thought a better nickname for the PM, would be Mr. Grumpy.

regards worgeordie

15 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

I thought a better nickname for the PM, would be Mr. Grumpy.

regards worgeordie

you re making him sound like the bad guy of a kid's TV show. I'm sure you could do better.

'Donosaurs' would be the right collective name !

They're all childish and poorly educated buffoons

Guessing they all start with C????

13 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Guessing they all start with C????

no that object is useful, try again you are sitting on one.

8 minutes ago, legend49 said:

no that object is useful, try again you are sitting on one.

A chair.............

Napoleon, squealer, old Major and snowball would be apt, they always need a snowball -Thaksin/Thanathorn

Edited December 24, 20196 yr by Orton Rd

Sorting the big issues, good to see. How about Dopey, Grumpy, Doc(toring the tourist numbers) Sleepy, Greedy, Greedy, Greedy.

15 hours ago, thequietman said:

I think it's best to give them a collective noun to describe them all. Example:  a hive of bees, a school of whales, a <deleted> age of Thai politicians.

 

Open to suggestions regarding the collective noun for this shower. ????

A kakistocracy...? Look it up... ????

Happy smiling faces who don't give a damn... they're still in power.

 

16 hours ago, thequietman said:

Open to suggestions regarding the collective noun for this shower. ????

How about a thicket of idiots... a great collective noun.

My favorite "

Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam: Sri Thanonchai

The government’s legal guru was compared to Sri Thanonchai, a trickster and antihero in Thai folklore, famous for his skills in finding loopholes in rules and regulations to get himself out of hot water."

 

Speaks for the entire circus!

30 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Happy smiling faces who don't give a damn... they're still in power.

 

Its happy hour ????

21 hours ago, PremiumLane said:

I can think of some nicknames for this shower, but I would probably get banned for putting them on here ???? 

Banned by who? If everyone who called a government official by a nickname got banned then there would not be many of us left. Is that right Colin?  .

Edited December 24, 20196 yr by possum1931

20 hours ago, worgeordie said:

I thought a better nickname for the PM, would be Mr. Grumpy.

regards worgeordie

Right, that's it.  BANNED. 

Edited December 24, 20196 yr by possum1931

3 hours ago, Brigand said:

How about a thicket of idiots... a great collective noun.

A clutch of cacklers...

 

 

A bunch of coconuts.....starts with 'C'.....ends with 'T'....has U,N in the middle.

A gang of robbers.

On 12/23/2019 at 4:00 PM, webfact said:

Sieng Kong is a well-known shopping district in Bangkok that sells second-hand automotive parts at cheap prices,

 

Yes and since they even can't buy new buses this name suits them perfect!

I have one "winkers"

The 7 dwarfs spring to mind as appropriate nick names for some of the Ministers.....Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Dopey, Bashful, Sleezy.

Den of Thieves