Thansettakij columnist hits govt over ‘failed’ mask distribution

Opinion

By The Nation

 

 

The government’s failed administration over face-mask distribution amid the present Covid-19 situation resulting in a shortage of masks and overpriced products has become an indicator of its survival under the leadership of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Thansettakij columnist “Erawan” wrote in the newspaper.

 

People have started questioning where the 1.2 million-1.3 million face masks produced daily are, since they are necessary in the current situation, he wrote.

 

“The rumour that one of the minister’s associates was [allegedly] involved with hoarding face masks to sell to China at a price of Bt12–Bt14 each while the law limits the highest price of Bt2.50, together with the overpriced masks in the market and on online platforms, showed that the government has no capability to deal with the situation,” he said.

 

“Moreover, they seem to [allegedly] have a business with traders and factories seeking their own benefits while people are suffering, leading to higher public displeasure. 

 

“The country’s leader should rethink about how to govern the country during this crisis and contemplate using Bt120 million-Bt150 million of the national budget per month to give to medical personnel and Thai citizens for free of face masks.

 

“Regarding fabric face masks for the group with a low risk of infection, the plan made by Ministers Somkid Jatusripitak, Uttama Savanayana and Suriya Juangroongruangkit ordering production of 30 million fabric face masks to distribute to 10 million people was opposed by the government itself as the Interior Ministry also needed to disburse Bt225 million to produce the masks,” Erawan wrote.

 

“Opposition to a prior project made by the Interior Ministry was a result of the ministry’s desire to let local governments produce fabric face masks, and if it cannot meet demand, then the Thai Textile Manufacturers Association should take its place. 

 

“The ministry was so afraid of losing face, saying that it has allocated a budget of Bt225 million to local governments for fabric face mask production; people might find it is absurd as this is a time of crisis when everyone should jointly solve the problem.

 

“We have to wait and see whether face masks produced by local governments or by the private sector have a higher quality that satisfies people, but till now the situation looks like doom for people in the country, and if there is no improvement soon, the government has to count down the days to losing power,” he added.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/opinion/30383780

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-11

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8 minutes ago, webfact said:

and if there is no improvement soon, the government has to count down the days to losing power,

Let's all hope so !

A very brave reporter....presumably he/she will be forced to write "attitude adjustment" a thousand times in the not too distant future.

Failed mask distribution, what else can people expect from the bunch of failures who ARE SLOWLY DESTROYING THE COUNTRY.

The events of the last few weeks and the sever shortages in the markets only comes to illustrate how fragile and unprepared economies around the world are who largely relied on peaceful good times to keep the supply lines going, but in the event of the smaller disruption or panic the shortfall, hopelessness and failure of the supply lines are all bare to see...

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The government’s failed administration

At least they show consistency in one thing...………….......Failure! S100?

For some reason I keep thinking of Roddy McDowall

1 hour ago, PatOngo said:

At least they show consistency in one thing...………….......Failure! S100?

10/10.

2 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

A very brave reporter....presumably he/she will be forced to write "attitude adjustment" a thousand times in the not too distant future.

Pfffft.

this story big news for 4 days already. Turn on the TV now. Everyone show. Talk about it many station, on radio. Every newspaper.

And 20 million talk about it social media. Actors make parody video etc etc.

Doctors post social media mock them, nurses, everyone. 

 

Can trick the election. But can not control the Thai people.

Social media get this story first. The “officials” go to the factory and demanding all the mask. Then doctor have no mask. The “officials” sell them to China. Make millions profit.

The factory worker post on social already.

 

 

And they sell bad quality mask to thai people that breathe the particle, because it broken easily. 

 

i post the link about this before but the mod remove it because Thai language.  (Sorry, I can not find English one)

 

Can trick the election. But can not control the Thai people.

I reckon something like this could well be the catalyst for something much bigger, people have learned to live with thievery but playing with lives is something else entirely.....people may have badly misjudged the impacts here.

Yeah great, such a pity we cant discuss the real power the real problem.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The country’s leader should rethink about how to govern the country during this crisis

the country's leaders govern the country according to their nature...

20 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

the country's leaders govern the country according to their nature...

At a very poor level.... 

There is a similar editorial in the other Bangkok paper today. 'Unmasking mask failures'

3 hours ago, colinneil said:

Failed mask distribution, what else can people expect from the bunch of failures who ARE SLOWLY DESTROYING THE COUNTRY.

I think that they have just put their feet on the accelerator.

4 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

I think that they have just put their feet on the accelerator.

Currently the saver for this mob of pretend politicians is the low death rate ( if true numbers are being reported), otherwise there could be some really angry people out there looking for blood. 

4 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

A very brave reporter....presumably he/she will be forced to write "attitude adjustment" a thousand times in the not too distant future.

 

Ppffft. Everyone in thailand forced “attitude adjustment”. You imagine can control the thai people. Look. 

 

First video is Boy, with the mask. Real story.

 

 

 

This is actor Jiab, copy him and mock him. So funny!! 

Show your thai friend, will laugh so much. 55555555

 

 

 

And look same!!!! 555555555555

Boy buy the new Benz red plate, since he sell the mask. 

Hmmmmmm

 

On the news.

 

TV 

1 hour ago, Yinn said:

Can trick the election. But can not control the Thai people.

Because y'all civilians have a lot of guns too.

2 hours ago, Yinn said:

Pfffft.

this story big news for 4 days already. Turn on the TV now. Everyone show. Talk about it many station, on radio. Every newspaper.

And 20 million talk about it social media. Actors make parody video etc etc.

Doctors post social media mock them, nurses, everyone. 

 

Can trick the election. But can not control the Thai people.

Social media get this story first. The “officials” go to the factory and demanding all the mask. Then doctor have no mask. The “officials” sell them to China. Make millions profit.

The factory worker post on social already.

 

 

And they sell bad quality mask to thai people that breathe the particle, because it broken easily. 

 

i post the link about this before but the mod remove it because Thai language.  (Sorry, I can not find English one)

 

Can trick the election. But can not control the Thai people.

this is just beyond words.

these says very hard to hide large scale crimes.

cameras everywhere.

social media can't be controlled, such a shame .

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

For some reason I keep thinking of Roddy McDowall

Chimp springs to my mind.

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Thansettakij columnist hits govt over ‘failed’ mask distribution

Been much more successful at hording masks and lining their pockets. ???? 

 

Fortunately we stocked up before hand due to the horrendous, totally preventable, air pollution they subject the citizenry to here. ????

2 hours ago, Artisi said:

Currently the saver for this mob of pretend politicians is the low death rate ( if true numbers are being reported), otherwise there could be some really angry people out there looking for blood. 

Yes..however such anger can be conveniently directed elsewhere which the present gov't has actually been doing for almost 6 years so the population is well prepped..

 

"Foreigners" of one sort or another-or all- fit the bill rather nicely.

 

Be careful what you wish for if the whole house of cards comes trumblin' down.

Can't trick the Thai population you say?

 

The Thai population has been tricked for years now, each and every day.

"Every nation gets the government it deserves" - Joseph de Maistre

5 hours ago, colinneil said:

Failed mask distribution, what else can people expect from the bunch of failures who ARE SLOWLY DESTROYING THE COUNTRY.

great post Colin, only 1 word I don't agree with and appreciate if you could replace it.... replace SLOWLY with FAST  555

5 hours ago, ezzra said:

The events of the last few weeks and the sever shortages in the markets only comes to illustrate how fragile and unprepared economies around the world are who largely relied on peaceful good times to keep the supply lines going, but in the event of the smaller disruption or panic the shortfall, hopelessness and failure of the supply lines are all bare to see...

And I am sure that once the Covid 19 Virus is eradicated, many , many Companies will be looking at their Supply Chains, and restructuring them. This will mean many Plant Closures in China and SE Asia as the sub assemblies / parts are bought back home, where controls can be easily implemented

34 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Yes..however such anger can be conveniently directed elsewhere which the present gov't has actually been doing for almost 6 years so the population is well prepped..

 

"Foreigners" of one sort or another-or all- fit the bill rather nicely.

 

Be careful what you wish for if the whole house of cards comes trumblin' down.

Not too sure that the overall population is really anti-foreigner, sure there has been a major push from some quarters in an effort to discredit foreigners (not misplaced in some cases), but overall I can't see it as many locals benefit from the likes of you and I and many many others. 

6 minutes ago, Artisi said:

Not too sure that the overall population is really anti-foreigner, sure there has been a major push from some quarters in an effort to discredit foreigners (not misplaced in some cases), but overall I can't see it as many locals benefit from the likes of you and I and many many others. 

Hmm...

 

But it is "some quarters" that I am interested in.

 

The overall population cannot even vote in a meaningful election.

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

For some reason I keep thinking of Roddy McDowall

For some reason i keep thinking of the Devil himself !

44 minutes ago, Bassosa said:

Can't trick the Thai population you say?

 

The Thai population has been tricked for years now, each and every day.

"Every nation gets the government it deserves" - Joseph de Maistre

They call themselves a 'Tolerant Society'.   Fact is they are so lazy it's easier every day to say 'Mai pen rai' and keep picking their noses !