Thai PM admits government can only afford single 5,000 baht subsidy payment

[Wiggy]

Apparently they’ve sent the submarines back.

They said they didn’t want them as they kept sinking.

[dinsdale]

Both corruption and another case of thought bubble policy. It's frightening and really quite clear that these people really don't know what they're doing or using an adjective INCOMPETENT. As for corruption well that's certainly has lessened what's in the pot along with massive military spending.

Edited April 16, 2020 by dinsdale

[heybuz]

12 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Every other country is printing more money. Complete BS to infer Thailand can't.

Not sure if Prayut is aware of it, but he is hated in Northern Thailand.

Also in the area of bkk where i stay according to the locals.

[Sharp]

The lockdown won't work under these conditions people who have nothing fear nothing so they will return to work to make ends meat come what may  !!

[Farmerkev]

For the 11 million employees covered by the social security scheme, who are also eligible for the 5,000 baht, he said that the Government will use 200-300 billion baht from the Social Security Fund.

 

come on get a preschool math teacher to help you, 11 million people at 5k each comes to 55billion, for 3months 165billion, add in the other 6million people who already got 1st month is 30billion for remaining 2 payments total 195 billion. 

195 billion not 200-300 or is the 105 billion left admin fees or watch fund or is it to give wives and girlfriends another oh so much needed 1st class flight and all expenses shopping trip abroad when the situation calms down

[ThailandRyan]

3 hours ago, Chelseafan said:

Well for a start why not reduce the military budget by 20%, that'll cover it.

 

Just think without feeding from the trough, and not buying un-needed subs, how much would be available for the people.  This unfortunately will not end well, and is why I fear this imposed lockdown will get stricter, longer, and the military may be used.  Unless, it will end up causing them to re-open everything haphazardly to allow streams of income to re-start.   However, maybe I am completely wrong in my views......

[JAG]

44 minutes ago, John1012 said:

And the aircraft carrier and blimp? Which one of the 500 generals/senior orificers will lead the defense ?  (500 is just a random number, may be less)

 

Try three times that!

[Antonymous]

Expect to see a 180 degree about face today.

 

Perhaps to say that he 'mis-spoke' at the news conference.

 

Perhaps to say that the Government is bending over backwards to help the people and have miraculously found a solution, for which the public should be very, very grateful.

 

Either way, this Government, like all others around the world, fear anarchy more than anything else and will not risk it occurring.

[ChouDoufu]

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

Main reason for only being able to pay people 5.000 baht once, is because little P and cronies have squandered many millions on useless submarines, and Stryker apcs, so there is little left for the people.

 

but those are for the people.

[craigieboy1973]

Pockets too small for his starving people .... but never deep enough for his watch fetish lol good luck thailand except my wife burn in hell lol

[Misterwhisper]

1 hour ago, John1012 said:

And the aircraft carrier and blimp? Which one of the 500 generals/senior orificers will lead the defense ?  (500 is just a random number, may be less)

 

Triple that number and you get into the vicinity. It's actually about 1,700 flag officers (i.e. army generals and navy admirals), with much fewer admirals than there are generals. Statistically, Thailand shines with 1 general for every 212 army troops. If appointments continue at that pace, there soon will be more generals than actual soldiers.

[Assurancetourix]

4 hours ago, torturedsole said:

So the obvious question is:  where's all the money gone, Prayut?

Guess ..

The HiSo who hold Thailand by the balls used it to buy some mansions in Europe or the USA;

two or three Vuitton bags for their ladies

and feed their giks

 

I forgot ..................luxury watches , of course 

Edited April 16, 2020 by Assurancetourix

[Drax]

3 hours ago, Trip Hop said:

So a country with an alleged circa $175Bn in foreign exchange reserves alone can only afford to shell out approx $1.36Bn to help its people during this time? I think someone is telling porkies somewhere?

Pretty sure they still have it. They just don’t want to spend it.

[Bobby Firminho]

There's loads of printing shops open in patong so  print more money for the people 

[Creasy]

They coukd ask Minister Thammanat Prompao to get a cut of his heroine smuggling racket to top up the state coffers.

[Brickbat]

3 hours ago, bangkokfrog said:

My thoughts exactly. The only reason I can think of for not tapping into foreign reserves if this amount of money really exists is to prop up the baht. However, (rhetorical question) I wonder who would benefit most from this?

Absolutely!, but Unfortunately, this situation is way beyond the comprehension of most Thai nationals. All they can say is “ government stupid”. But we all know who really are the donkeys! 

[worgeordie]

What a cock up, you promise those out of work,because their workplaces

are closed, 3 months @ 5 K a month,many are rejected because of unsound

reasons,that's bad enough,now they say they have funds for only 1 month,

people with no money to live are not going to be very happy to say the least,

and I am sure they will not forget .

What has happened to the huge foreign reserves ,that we have been told 

Thailand has?

regards Worgeordie

[Assurancetourix]

26 minutes ago, Drax said:

Pretty sure they still have it. They just don’t want to spend it.

Which would drastically lower the value of the baht;
but they especially do not want that otherwise how to buy submarines with toilet paper?
They have not always understood that the baht will not fall because the European and American economies print thousands of billions of euros and US dollars so their currencies will not be worth much compared to the others.

but maybe i said too much?
If they ever read me they will understand ..

[cyril sneer]

if they had the lottery system up and running again they could use these profits for all to live a comfortable life

[Jimbo2014]

I really cannot believe the people have not yet stormed the Bastille.  Perhaps its fear of Covid thats preventing them ????

[jasonsamui55]

pathetic. why not just give everybody a carrot or a few grains of rice. its insult after injury.

[transam]

Where's Yinn at a time like this for the low down, well she does know everything..........????....................

[johng]

And the 200+ billion USD  foreign currency reserve  ????

[Assurancetourix]

2 minutes ago, transam said:

Where's Yinn at a time like this for the low down, well she does know everything..........????....................

She is not yet awake;
she had to take care of her earthworm farming late last night;
then he or she wanted to consult the oracle of Apollo Pythian at Delphi and it took a long time ... 

to ask Google  to translate ancient Greek into Thai 

[Assurancetourix]

3 minutes ago, johng said:

And the 200+ billion USD  foreign currency reserve  ????

I talk about it in another post; it would lower the price of the baht ...

[Mama Noodle]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s Government can afford to make only the April payment of the 5,000 baht cash hardship subsidies to nine million

 

The tippy top has pillaged the national coffers and every thai person should be furious about it. 

[FarFlungFalang]

11 minutes ago, transam said:

Where's Yinn at a time like this for the low down, well she does know everything..........????....................

She's off posting how England won't bring out their dead.

[smedly]

the UK  pays out this amount to millions on welfare weekly and has been for decades 

 

The stark truth is Thailand has its priorities all wrong and also - where exactly is all the money ? they seem happy enough to collect taxes and enrich the corrupt few

 

why is the lock down suddenly ending - the answer is clear

[FarFlungFalang]

6 minutes ago, smedly said:

the UK  pays out this amount to millions on welfare weekly and has been for decades 

 

The stark truth is Thailand has its priorities all wrong and also - where exactly is all the money ? they seem happy enough to collect taxes and enrich the corrupt few

 

why is the lock down suddenly ending - the answer is clear

Where is the money?Here is a quote from the link I posted earlier:

 

“This portion is only a small part of the SSO’s total investment fund of Bt2 trillion, which should be enough to cover other benefits under the Social Security Act,” said the source.

 

The source also said that in the past few years the unemployment fund has been rarely used, since the jobless rate was relatively low, adding that “the SSO has managed this portion of the fund and kept it ready all these years to prepare for an emergency situation such as the Covid-19 outbreak”.

 

Turns out the outbreak is not as bad as they thought so they will just keep it for when they lose their jobs as they have more important things to spend it on than the nobodies being left behind!

[smedly]

27 minutes ago, transam said:

Where's Yinn at a time like this for the low down, well she does know everything..........????....................

in a line at her bank