PM Prayuth blames press for misleading public on electric bills - "It's only up a few satang" he says as he talks of "Buddhist suffering"

[webfact]

 Sanook Thai Caption: Electric bills have only gone up a small amount!

 

Embattled Thai prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha - facing the most serious challenge to his leadership after seizing power 8 years ago - took out his anger on the Thai press yesterday.

 

And he even ranted about Buddhist suffering despite being a multi-millionaire. 

 

Prayuth told the media they were deceiving the public over the true extent of the rise in electric prices - now up to 5 baht a unit.

 

He said that it was wrong to tell people they were going up four and five baht a time - "It's only a few satang each time. 

 

"Don't you lot understand?", he said dismissively to the press, as reported by Sanook yesterday. 

 

Prayuth seemed to have forgotten that many people were struggling in hard economic times, notes ASEAN NOW. In his mandatory asset disclosure to the National Anti-Corruption Commission last year Prayuth listed 128.6 million baht in assets.

 

Electric bills are not his worry.

 

But the former general was not finished with his broadside against the press saying that higher bills were inevitable.

 

He then went off on the mother of all tangents, suggests ASEAN NOW.

 

"The reason that prices need to be raised is connected to the four noble truths of Buddhism," he ranted incoherently.

 

"Okay the price has gone up, it has to go up. Look at the cause - look at Buddhist teaching.

 

"Educate yourselves - ask yourselves why?"

 

The Four Noble Truths comprise the essence of Buddha's teachings, notes ASEAN NOW though they leave much to be explained, a bit like the PM's rant.

 

They are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.

 

Many in Thailand have been suffering for years and want change, suggest ASEAN NOW, as Prayuth faces challenges from all sides to his continued premiership.

 

Many see Prayuth as a belligerent, out of touch bully of a former general who should be sent packing.

Ending the suffering of the Thai people. 

 

A poll this week saw his better side but many felt enough was enough for the general known as "Uncle Too" (a word meaning to grab by force) who took over Thailand in 2014 in a military coup. 

 

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[ThailandRyan]

The man is starting to become a mental case, he truly believes everyone is out to get him. He gets free housing, free housekeeping, free landscaping, and pays for nothing, yet he tries to say it is the way of Buddhism, oh Buddha please forgive him please.....

[RandiRona]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

They are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.

So essentially it’s causality… cause and effect… Prayut is the cause … suffering is the effect.

[RandiRona]

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

Look at the cause - look at Buddhist teaching.

Buddhist teaching?? Yup Buddha did say that you can always take over democratic government with Coups and install yourself as premier..

flash note:: non violence is core to Buddhism… hey but why stop using religion when everyone else in the world is using it.

[proton]

No comment from him on all those legal experts telling him his term in office ends next week then ????

[Laughing Gravy]

38 minutes ago, webfact said:

Many see Prayuth as a belligerent, out of touch bully of a former general who should be sent packing.

Ending the suffering of the Thai people.

Yes. Best piece of journalism for a while.

[MaiDong]

 

"The reason that prices need to be raised is connected to the four noble truths of Buddhism," he ranted incoherently.

 

What an <deleted>. 

 

I know there are some devout Buddhists in Thailand, but most people use it just to gain something.. Oh, hang on... 

[JimmyJ]

"A poll this week saw his better side...".

 

What does this mean?

[jonclark]

The PM is completely correct. The price rise is only a few satang for a single unit.

 

Sadly though most business and home use more than a single unit of electricity in a month. This few satang will translate into about a 15% rise your electricity bills. So if for a medium sized business, your electricity bill is 500'000 baht a month you are now paying an extra 75'000 baht in electricity per month. Which is considerably more than a few satang. 

 

I shudder to think how much the rise in electricity bills will be for the super cooled shopping malls  that litter the capital and country- I am sure that this few satang increase will be clawed back from their customers in some form or another

 

Clearly his understanding of the economics of the situation is as coherent as his leadership. 

[zzaa09]

When in doubt, cast the blame on the evil media.

[Gottfrid]

No need to talk about suffering. That, like is delivered automatically every time this guy opens his mouth.

[engamann]

If I ever need to educate my self more I think the Junta leader Prayuth is the last man I will take new wisdom from.

[BusyB]

2 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Buddhist teaching?? Yup Buddha did say that you can always take over democratic government with Coups and install yourself as premier..

flash note:: non violence is core to Buddhism… hey but why stop using religion when everyone else in the world is using it.

AB-using

[jacko45k]

Backpedaling..... should fix a generator to his wheels.

[Tarteso]

Too much “uncle too” much????

[thailand49]

B.Teaching?   So that is his sorry excuse for everything that is wrong?????  Suffer does he even know or understand the word!

[Purdey]

To be honest, based on what we saw under previous governments, I am not sure there will be an improvement should he go. 

[Millcx]

55555 That’s an expected new one 

[new2here]

The reality is that “arguing” with the press at large is a no-win situation.. so, while emotionally one may want to, it’s almost always a loosing battle for the government as the “playing field” is largely controlled by the media.. 

 

Plus arguing only adds more ammunition for the media to use against you… you’re only playing into their strength. 

 

You put your narrative out there and largely sidestep all other issues that detract from it.

 

I think the media plays a very critical role in the dynamic between issues such as government narrative, public criticism and transparency.  But if i were sitting on the government side, I’d try like hell to get the PM to stop “taking the bait” 

[AussieinThaiJim]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayuth seemed to have forgotten that many people were struggling in hard economic times, notes ASEAN NOW. In his mandatory asset disclosure to the National Anti-Corruption Commission last year Prayuth listed 128.6 million baht in assets.

He should shut his mouth and leave to spend his 128 million baht!

[mikeymike100]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Electric bills are not his worry.

They may not be his worry as he is a dollar multimillionaire, but there are a lot of poor in people in Thailand who are trying to make ends meet! But he doesn't get it, no surprise there!

[Golden Triangle]

Might be a be a problem come the next election.

[Cake Monster]

With rants such as this , it would be best if he took a long Holiday.

The man has obviously lost the plot, and gone completely doo-lahli

It is Prayut himself that has mislead the Public after telling them there would be no Electricity increases.

Prayut is a Kipper

That is to say he is Two Faced and has no Guts.

 

[Lucky Bones]

3 hours ago, jonclark said:

The PM is completely correct. The price rise is only a few satang for a single unit.

 

Sadly though most business and home use more than a single unit of electricity in a month. This few satang will translate into about a 15% rise your electricity bills. So if for a medium sized business, your electricity bill is 500'000 baht a month you are now paying an extra 75'000 baht in electricity per month. Which is considerably more than a few satang. 

 

I shudder to think how much the rise in electricity bills will be for the super cooled shopping malls  that litter the capital and country- I am sure that this few satang increase will be clawed back from their customers in some form or another

 

Clearly his understanding of the economics of the situation is as coherent as his leadership. 

Cha-Cha'ism 101.

The guy is getting more bizzzzzzare by the day????????

[Lucky Bones]

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

No need to talk about suffering. That, like is delivered automatically every time this guy opens his mouth.

You know things are about to get wierd when he opens his mouth.

????????

[kevin612]

 Many stuff in 711 are getting more expensive, like more than 10 %. 

[spidermike007]

Incoherent and inconsistent messaging is never the fault of the administration. It is always someone else's fault. 

 

There is something about this society that does not allow most people to grow up with an understanding of themselves. I think face has something to do with it. The utter refusal to take responsibility for one's actions and the unwillingness to "own" a situation, and man up when you screw up. That propels a man like Cha Cha into the ever deepening direction of denial, refusal to man up, and constant deflection. 

[ThailandRyan]

Just saw prices have risen across the board on all items at TOP's here in BKK.  Same Items we bought 2 weeks ago to supplement our once a month Makro trip today ran us 132 baht more.  We are talking about fruit and veggies.  Green seedless grapes were selling for 599 Baht for a kg.  That's up almost 200 baht in the past 3 months.  The food stalls have raised prices again this week because it is costing them more across the board.  2 months ago Chicken & Rice was 40 baht, today its now 55 baht.  My GF talked to the daughters father whose family runs a few Pizza Co. franchises and they have had to raise their prices as well as bringing on new menu items featuring chicken to bring in the customers.  He was complaining that she needs to give him money each month now to help care for the daughter.  She just laughed at him and told him that if that's what he wants then he can just give her full custody.

[MrJ2U]

"Prayuth blames press".

 

Oil prices down, record profits for the energy companies.

 

Who else is going to take the blame? 

These are the things that p*SS off the people so much they may finally overthrow this Junta regime once and for all. 

 

 

 

[dallen52]

Don't blame me...

I just get several disgustingly large salaries for being popular...