Thousands of expats & tourists in Thailand could head to Malaysia soon

[KhunLA]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I feel the same way about Thaksin. Loathed him at the time. Now, compared to Prayuth he seemed like a stable genius, a highly competent leader and a man who actually cared about the masses. Corrupt? They all are. At least he got stuff done. There is a reason why millions still love him, and only 3500 still support Prayuth. 

Yea, the Thaksin s had to go.  One gives the people Universal Healthcare, and the other raises the minimum wage from ฿215 a day to ฿300. 

 

The nerve of some people... ????

[spidermike007]

8 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Yea, the Thaksin s had to go.  One gives the people Universal Healthcare, and the other raises the minimum wage from ฿215 a day to ฿300. 

 

The nerve of some people... ????

Many do not understand how absolutely profound the Universal health care deal was. Most Thais had no access to health care for the previous centuries. It changed their lives, and was one of the first times a PM actually did something to really benefit the masses. No wonder Thaksin is beloved by millions still, while Prayuth is despised by 98% of the nation. Thaksin may have been corrupt, but he was very clever. Prayuth is the former, but not the latter. 

[daveAustin]

Thaksin is an absolute darling compared to the current uncaring automaton. With the exception of steven, anyone who thinks the current status is all good has an agenda, is an army stooge or is trolling. 

[ChaiyaTH]

17 hours ago, TropicalGuy said:

NOBODY is giving up Thailand for dull religious Malaysia over Ed / Vol visa issues easily sidestepped by use of Agents.OP could be considered a naive or troll non- story.????????

Thailand is as dull as it can get for 2 years already, and each year prior that was 10% better. People dislike change but change is happening.

 

Just ask how long the average expat lives here aside how they feel about Thailand now. You will here mainly discontent or that they are one of the new ones, that usually leave 2-3 years later again if not 5 at tops.

 

Vietnam is as vibrant as it gets, it resembles the old thailand for a large part. As soon they do offer the long term visa for these target groups, you will see a big migration.

 

That said, Bali already took 90% of the digital nomads that preferred Thailand initially, again visa story.

Edited February 12, 2022 by ChaiyaTH

[ChaiyaTH]

17 hours ago, bbko said:

The same statement could be made for Thailand, get rid of the criminals, the fake ED visas, the fake covid extensions, the fake volunteer visas, the falsified bank statements and Thailand could return to it's glory days.

Be real, any criminal being worth labeled as such is still here or can stay here setting up a company or paying a agent.

 

The real loss is in good people mostly who cant proof funds or are too young for retirement at the same time + not have a marriage or child here. 

 

For those chang wearing bottom scrapers, those were few and still come on short term holidays.

[soi3eddie]

17 hours ago, TropicalGuy said:

NOBODY is giving up Thailand for dull religious Malaysia 

Totally agree. I travelled by bicycle from Singapore toThailand in year 2000. After 60 kms up from Singapore Malaysia is boring as <deleted>. <deleted> all going on and can't even get a beer. After arriving in Narathiwat and subsequently Pattani onwards to Songkhla was an oasis and ended up staying there for nearly 2 weeks. Met my wife there and was married for 14 years. Those days it used to be cheaper to fly LHR/KL/HDY than via BKK. Stayed many nights in KL and it was OK but nothing like Bangkok. Went to Penang a couple of times and was always happy to return to LOS. I'm sure I read somewhere that Malaysia is making it more difficult for retirees and long-termers to stay. For me LOS is the place to be. Until the coup on 1st Feb 2021 Yangon, Myanmar looked like a promising city with prospects.

 

[soi3eddie]

26 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Thailand is as dull as it can get for 2 years already, and each year prior that was 10% better. People dislike change but change is happening.

 

Just ask how long the average expat lives here aside how they feel about Thailand now. You will here mainly discontent or that they are one of the new ones, that usually leave 2-3 years later again if not 5 at tops.

I'm calling BS on this. I was here for a full 14 months Feb 20 to Apr 21. After 22 years was the best time in Thailand (and best year of my life). OK there were a lot of pandemic restrictions. Met many new expat friends during this time and they are now lifelong friends. No stupid 2 week millionaires or dysfunctional individuals who fled the country and now complain about entry requirements (I've arrived back in Thailand twice since Nov 21 with no issues). Sure comments from gov ministers created increased xenophobia but most Thais still very welcoming in all areas. Met many new expats since and Thailand is still the best option by far. Safe, friendly, reasonably priced and lovely people. Long term stay and quality of life here still easier than virtually all other countries.

 

[billd766]

31 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Thailand is as dull as it can get for 2 years already, and each year prior that was 10% better. People dislike change but change is happening.

 

Just ask how long the average expat lives here aside how they feel about Thailand now. You will here mainly discontent or that they are one of the new ones, that usually leave 2-3 years later again if not 5 at tops.

 

Vietnam is as vibrant as it gets, it resembles the old thailand for a large part. As soon they do offer the long term visa for these target groups, you will see a big migration.

 

That said, Bali already took 90% of the digital nomads that preferred Thailand initially, again visa story.

How would you classify me then? I have been living in Thailand 21 years now. The difference is that I have lived in rural Kamphaeng Phet which has never been a tourist province for 17 years with my wife and son, so little of the complaints and problems that seem to arise for some people never seemed to happen to me.

 

I am on a No-Imm O visa extension legally and went from a retirement extension to a marriage extension a couple f years ago. I was a FIFO until 2009 when I got my first extension at Mae Sot in Tak province, then transferred to the Nakhon Sawan province and then to the Kamphaeng Phet IO.

 

All my income has ben provable from the start.

 

At 77, married with 1 son I have no desire to leave Thailand for anywhere else.

[Hummin]

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pattaya and Penang
You would need around 66,256.32฿ (8,484.48RM) in Penang to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 79,000.00฿ in Pattaya (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living.

 

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Thailand&city1=Pattaya&country2=Malaysia&city2=Penang
 

 

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur 

You would need around 75,458.55฿ (9,662.88RM) in Kuala Lumpur to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 110,000.00฿ in Bangkok (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living

 

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Thailand&country2=Malaysia&city1=Bangkok&city2=Kuala+Lumpur&tracking=getDispatchComparison

[MarcelV]

I live in Narathiwat Province, bordering Malaysia, and - before CV-19 - crossed the border to Kota Bharu City at least four times a year for a quick shopping trip or, at most, a one-night stay. I could never wait until I got back home though. Always breathed a sigh of relief upon returning to restive, insurgency-ridden Narathiwat. No matter how life is here and how cheap Malaysia is to go shopping, Malaysia just doesn't appeal to me to live there. It feels soulless and boring.

[The Hammer2021]

On 2/12/2022 at 1:16 AM, bbko said:

The same statement could be made for Thailand, get rid of the criminals, the fake ED visas, the fake covid extensions, the fake volunteer visas, the falsified bank statements and Thailand could return to it's glory days.

Thailand has not diminished because of any of the things you mention. Not at all. The problems reside in poor governance and strong baht.

I have no idea what you mean by 'glory days'.

Non of the things you list have any impact on me. Why would they have any impact on you?

I suspect you have never been to Thailand.

[The Hammer2021]

On 2/11/2022 at 6:28 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

Perhaps some would prefer Malaysia to Thailand, but I did a visa run to Penang a few years ago and it sucks very very badly IMO. Had to pay waaaaay more for a tiny bedroom in a guest house than I'd pay for a better hotel room in Pattaya or Chiang Mai, the place was completely boring because bars and such are obviously not allowed. Even Maccers in the shopping mall was a joke- I had to pay extra to eat in the restaurant, and satay, which I had hoped to eat while there was way too expensive. The beaches were rubbish and horrible. People complain about dual pricing in Thailand, but try going on the cable car and you'll never complain about Thailand prices again. If I couldn't live in LOS I'd never consider Malaysia as an alternative.

Penang old town is a great place. It's charming but full of eating places and bars and nightlife. Did you stay on the other side of the Island?

[Rimmer]

Off topic post and personal attack removed, also a reply

[mokwit]

On 2/12/2022 at 9:47 AM, Saanim said:

Hadn't it been wonderful during the former non-junta administrations, had it? 

It was wonderful pre the Thaksin dictatorship. Everything changed then.

[Saanim]

22 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Many do not understand how absolutely profound the Universal health care deal was. Most Thais had no access to health care for the previous centuries. It changed their lives, and was one of the first times a PM actually did something to really benefit the masses. No wonder Thaksin is beloved by millions still, while Prayuth is despised by 98% of the nation. Thaksin may have been corrupt, but he was very clever. Prayuth is the former, but not the latter. 

 

20 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Thaksin is an absolute darling compared to the current uncaring automaton. With the exception of steven, anyone who thinks the current status is all good has an agenda, is an army stooge or is trolling. 

Thaksin did not provided the health care - and made himself a darling - by his own money. Forgotten how he had got his wealth by his monopoly, lucrative supplies to police, by the clever investment in $ (as finance minister) the day before the $ jumped from 25 to 40 Baht, to name just few?

 

And his kind MT signal had stayed for long as one of the world's most expensive rate. Luckily, Thai people like gadgets and phoning, they do not think on the bill coming next week.

 

And not only the signal charge, also the hardware. I bought Nokia in Europe for half the price than in Thailand, working and roaming OK in Europe with Thai SIM (even with exaggerated rates), when landing in Bkk and switching on, suddenly crack, no signal. Luckily there were clever people in MBK who knew how to crack the Thaksin's code. And so it had gone for many years until the kind company was internationally forced to abandon such ugly practise. And also to slowly reduce the rates.

 

Should I mention his Cayman billions accounts in name of his maid and driver? No problem for the judges to find something unlawful (even if not unanimously).

 

And the subsequent democratically elected govt by his B-I-L, later by his sister, another sister was stand-by in case the former one would be forced out because of the scam with rice. Etc, etc for the "absolute darling"...   

 

         

[spidermike007]

2 minutes ago, Saanim said:

 

Thaksin did not provided the health care - and made himself a darling - by his own money. Forgotten how he had got his wealth by his monopoly, lucrative supplies to police, by the clever investment in $ (as finance minister) the day before the $ jumped from 25 to 40 Baht, to name just few?

 

And his kind MT signal had stayed for long as one of the world's most expensive rate. Luckily, Thai people like gadgets and phoning, they do not think on the bill coming next week.

 

And not only the signal charge, also the hardware. I bought Nokia in Europe for half the price than in Thailand, working and roaming OK in Europe with Thai SIM (even with exaggerated rates), when landing in Bkk and switching on, suddenly crack, no signal. Luckily there were clever people in MBK who knew how to crack the Thaksin's code. And so it had gone for many years until the kind company was internationally forced to abandon such ugly practise. And also to slowly reduce the rates.

 

Should I mention his Cayman billions accounts in name of his maid and driver? No problem for the judges to find something unlawful (even if not unanimously).

 

And the subsequent democratically elected govt by his B-I-L, later by his sister, another sister was stand-by in case the former one would be forced out because of the scam with rice. Etc, etc for the "absolute darling"...   

 

         

Please explain your accusation that Thaksin's administration did not provide the health care. To the contrary. Not only did they create the bill, they managed to get it passed, even though the elite hated the idea of helping the masses, as they do to this day. It was truly one of the most extraordinary things any political has done for the Thai people, in the history of this nation. If you care to, name another that even compares.

 

This discussion is not about corruption. Do you honestly believe Prayuth and his band of goons are less corrupt than Thaksin? If so, I can offer you a great deal on the Brooklyn Bridge. 

[JustAnotherHun]

17 minutes ago, Saanim said:

And not only the signal charge, also the hardware. I bought Nokia in Europe for half the price than in Thailand, working and roaming OK in Europe with Thai SIM (even with exaggerated rates), when landing in Bkk and switching on, suddenly crack, no signal. Luckily there were clever people in MBK who knew how to crack the Thaksin's code.

"Thaksin code"? LoL.

Most mobile phones were branded then. And each shop in Thailand could easily bypass it.

You have no idea what you're talking about.

Edited February 13, 2022 by JustAnotherHun

[rott]

On 2/11/2022 at 11:49 PM, stigar said:

I been working in malaysia(labuan)for 3,5 years before.Great country and cheap prices.1 beer daytime was 2 ringit(22 bath)for a pine.At nigthtime more expencive when the beatiful pinay and indonesian girls arrived.Cheap hotels and crime wery low.

Labuan not a typical example of Malaysia though. And how long would you have stayed there if not working. 

[thaibeachlovers]

23 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Many do not understand how absolutely profound the Universal health care deal was. Most Thais had no access to health care for the previous centuries. It changed their lives, and was one of the first times a PM actually did something to really benefit the masses. No wonder Thaksin is beloved by millions still, while Prayuth is despised by 98% of the nation. Thaksin may have been corrupt, but he was very clever. Prayuth is the former, but not the latter. 

Yes he was loved for that, but the hospitals couldn't afford it.

 

He was responsible for the disaster masquerading as an airport, and IMO was the most corrupt politician ever to rule Thailand.

I was there during his time so from personal experience.

 

IMO no way he would ever have been allowed to continue, so one way or another he was toast.

[thaibeachlovers]

56 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Please explain your accusation that Thaksin's administration did not provide the health care. To the contrary. Not only did they create the bill, they managed to get it passed, even though the elite hated the idea of helping the masses, as they do to this day. It was truly one of the most extraordinary things any political has done for the Thai people, in the history of this nation. If you care to, name another that even compares.

 

This discussion is not about corruption. Do you honestly believe Prayuth and his band of goons are less corrupt than Thaksin? If so, I can offer you a great deal on the Brooklyn Bridge. 

5555555555555555555

Of course any discussion about Thaksin is about corruption. IMO he was the most absolutely corrupt man I ever knew of.

[billd766]

31 minutes ago, Saanim said:

 

Thaksin did not provided the health care - and made himself a darling - by his own money. Forgotten how he had got his wealth by his monopoly, lucrative supplies to police, by the clever investment in $ (as finance minister) the day before the $ jumped from 25 to 40 Baht, to name just few?

 

And his kind MT signal had stayed for long as one of the world's most expensive rate. Luckily, Thai people like gadgets and phoning, they do not think on the bill coming next week.

 

And not only the signal charge, also the hardware. I bought Nokia in Europe for half the price than in Thailand, working and roaming OK in Europe with Thai SIM (even with exaggerated rates), when landing in Bkk and switching on, suddenly crack, no signal. Luckily there were clever people in MBK who knew how to crack the Thaksin's code. And so it had gone for many years until the kind company was internationally forced to abandon such ugly practise. And also to slowly reduce the rates.

 

Should I mention his Cayman billions accounts in name of his maid and driver? No problem for the judges to find something unlawful (even if not unanimously).

 

And the subsequent democratically elected govt by his B-I-L, later by his sister, another sister was stand-by in case the former one would be forced out because of the scam with rice. Etc, etc for the "absolute darling"...   

 

         

Let me see, who were the PMs and what political parties were in power before Thaksin?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prime_ministers_of_Thailand

 

There was Chuan Leekpai and the Dems from September 1992 until July 1995, followed by  Banharn Silpa-Archa Chart Thai from July 1995 until November 1996. He was followed by Chavalit Yongchai of the New Aspiration party from November 1996 to November 1997, who was in power during the Tom Yam Gung financial crash. After him came Chuan Leekpai and the Dems once again from November 1997 to February 2001.

 

Only then, after a free election does Thaksin come along from November 2001 until September 2006. He was so well liked by the Thai people that he was the first Thai PM to complete the full 4 year term and then had the audacity to win a second term and would have probably completed the second term if he hadn't been deposed in yet another military coup.

 

IMHO if he were to stand in the next election he would win it by a landslide, and for a change there would be yet another military coup.

 

quote from you. "Should I mention his Cayman billions accounts in name of his maid and driver? No problem for the judges to find something unlawful (even if not unanimously)." Well you just did and with no mention of the current PMs fortunes as we will never be allowed to know how much he is worth.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, mokwit said:

It was wonderful pre the Thaksin dictatorship. Everything changed then.

I doubt it was wonderful for the poor Thais, but it was wonderful for me. Yes, Thaksin destroyed the previous political system, and his stooge Purachai destroyed the farang bar scene. Unless one was there, I doubt anyone would know how fantastic it used to be for us farangs, and how far it has fallen since.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, billd766 said:

Well you just did and with no mention of the current PMs fortunes as we will never be allowed to know how much he is worth.

I'm pretty sure he is worth far, far more than we could imagine. IMO he was becoming unusually wealthy from day one as PM.

 

 

BTW, while I'm happy to rubbish Thaksin, isn't it getting a bit far off the topic?

Edited February 13, 2022 by thaibeachlovers

[BritManToo]

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I doubt it was wonderful for the poor Thais, but it was wonderful for me. Yes, Thaksin destroyed the previous political system, and his stooge Purachai destroyed the farang bar scene. Unless one was there, I doubt anyone would know how fantastic it used to be for us farangs, and how far it has fallen since.

Don't care what it was like before I came here in 2009.

I couldn't manage any more sex than I've been getting in the past 13 years.

I probably did it more than I really wanted, just because it was available..

[JustAnotherHun]

18 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

He was responsible for the disaster masquerading as an airport, and IMO was the most corrupt politician ever to rule Thailand.

No one would deny that Thaksin was corrupt. As any Thai leader before and after him.

But facts show, that the country over all was less corrupt in the Thaksin years than it is now:

Acoording to Transparency-org, Thailand ranked:

2003: 70

2004: 64

2019: 101

2020: 104

Edited February 13, 2022 by JustAnotherHun

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Penang old town is a great place. It's charming but full of eating places and bars and nightlife. Did you stay on the other side of the Island?

I stayed in the old town in the area where the guest houses are. B O R I N G. I have zero interest in "charming eating places" and I'm pretty sure there is zero resemblance between a Penang bar and any in Pattaya, so why would I pay to drink overpriced beverages without any benefit for doing so?

Nightlife? How do you define "nightlife"? Eating?

 

I went to the other side of the island, where a dump cost more to stay in than a flashpacker resort in Thailand. Beach was worse than rubbish.

I had intended staying in Penang for a week- I lasted two days.

 

Back in the 1970s it was actually a great place to visit, and I used to go there all the time when stationed at Butterworth air base. Sadly, time has not been kind to it.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 minutes ago, JustAnotherHun said:

No one would deny that Thaksin was corrupt. As any Thai leader before and after him.

But facts show, that the country over all was less corrupt in the Thaksin years than it is now:

Acoording to Transparency-org, Thailand ranked:

2003: 70

2004: 64

2019: 101

2020: 104

If that is true, please explain how they built a dump at Swampy. The taxiways were so badly built they had to repair them from the get go. Badly designed dysfunctional monument to corruption IMO. They couldn't even build the railway connection for many years after. IMO for the usual reason. After all, if people are using a train, they aren't in a taxi.

[thaibeachlovers]

10 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Don't care what it was like before I came here in 2009.

I couldn't manage any more sex than I've been getting in the past 13 years.

I probably did it more than I really wanted, just because it was available..

IMO the sex was better before Thaksin, and the gogos were certainly way more enjoyable.

[JustAnotherHun]

What's so funny about my post, @thaibeachlover? The facts you do not like? ????

 

[billd766]

18 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I'm pretty sure he is worth far, far more than we could imagine. IMO he was becoming unusually wealthy from day one as PM.

 

 

BTW, while I'm happy to rubbish Thaksin, isn't it getting a bit far off the topic?

I was responding to Saanim.