PM to donate his salary to charitable foundations

[webfact]

 

BANGKOK, Sept 28 (TNA) — Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced to donate his salary and meeting allowances to various charitable foundations to help the vulnerable group of people in the country, according to the Government Spokesperson Chai Wacharonke.

Mr Chai said that Mr Srettha who is also Minister of Finance concurrently wanted to donate all of his montly income from the Prime Minister and Finance Minister posts to assist the vulnerable group of people in the society that needed help.

 

He said Mr Srettha came up with the idea that “giving” was a good thing and he wanted to begin from himself. He, therefore, will donate every single baht from his monthly income – a total of 125,590 baht (comprising a 75,590-baht salary and a 50,000-baht position allowance), to charitable foundations.

 

Full story: TNA-MCOT 2023-09-28

 

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[JoePai]

He would have paid tax on that so in actual fact he is only giving away 80k odd each month - a drop in the ocean for him

[mark131v]

I am sure he will more than make up any loss from other means but after all face is everything....

 

 

[timendres]

Did Prayut offer this? Any prior PM?

It may be a "drop in the ocean" for him, but it is still real money for the recipients.

Decent gesture.

[bamnutsak]

I've never liked this idea. It's all for show.

 

Take the salary.

 

Make separate donations.

 

 

[bdenner]

Just a drop in the ocean. He is now at the top of the food chain. "Happy Days"!!

[dinsdale]

6 hours ago, timendres said:

Did Prayut offer this? Any prior PM?

It may be a "drop in the ocean" for him, but it is still real money for the recipients.

Decent gesture.

Yes. Prayut did. Compared to the backhanders, Prayut's and Srettha's salary were and are small change. It's not a "Decent gesture." It's populist grandstaning.

Edited September 28, 2023 by dinsdale

[zzaa09]

Not buying this surface goodness sh**. 

A con - the nature of politicians. 

[webfact]

PM to donate his monthly salary to charity : Government spokesman
 

 

Every month of his premiership, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will donate his salary to various charitable foundations, according to government spokesman Chai Wacharonke.

 

The first donation will go to the Foundation for Children.

 

Srettha, also Finance Minister, receives a total of Bt125,590 (Bt75,590 plus a Bt50,000 position allowance) per month, the spokesman said.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-09-29

 

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[webfact]

PM Forgoes Own Pay As Donation For Child Care
By Thai Newsroom Reporters

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Photo: Thai Rath

 

PRIME MINISTER SRETTHA Thavisin has offered to forgo his monthly pay and to turn it into a donation for child care activity.

 

Government spokesman Chai Wacharong confirmed today (Sep.28) that the prime minister has willingly offered to do without a total of 125,590 baht in monthly pay plus any allowances with intent to use that particular sum of the taxpayer’s money as a contribution to foundations looking after underprivileged children.

 

The prime minister’s monthly pay includes 75,590 baht in salary and 50,000 baht in entitlement pay in addition to allowances to be provided for his chairing or attending official meetings.

 

Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2023-09-29

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[webfact]

Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, gives all salary to charity
by Petch Petpailin

 

Photo via Facebook/ เศรษฐา ทวีสิน - Srettha Thavisin.

 

Prime Minister of Thailand Srettha Thavisin today declared that he will not accept his 125,590 baht monthly PM salary while he is in office, adding he will donate it to charity.

 

PM Office spokesperson Chai Watcharong said PM Srettha stressed to officials that charity is a good thing and everyone can do good according to their ability. To extend the act of kindness to every official, the 61 year old PM started with himself by donating his entire salary and allowance to charity.

 

According to Bright TV, PM Srettha earns about 125,590 baht per month, 75,590 baht is his salary and 50,000 baht is his position allowance. This amount does not include the allowance he receives for attending each Cabinet meeting.

The Bangkok-born prime minister stated that his salary could help people in immediate need, which would be faster than waiting for the budget and policies to work their way into the system. Official support from the government has to go through several steps, which makes it slow.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-09-29

 

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[arithai12]

Amazing how many still have to complain and bash even if he does something really nice.

[neeray]

There's nothing novel about this idea. That FORMER president in another, much bigger country said that he would do this. From what I read though, he never did. Just grand standing. 

[new2here]

15 hours ago, mark131v said:

I am sure he will more than make up any loss from other means but after all face is everything....

 

 

I agree.. sure 125k (pretax) isn’t going to materially change the national financial picture nor any one of the charity organizations that are recipients… but… you’re also right it can have a meaningful impact on single recipients — so I’m all for it.

 

Plus, I suspect that like it is in the US with senior political positions (ie cabinet members and the like) they’ll make more on a post-service basis than they would have while actively in office though things like Board positions, consultancy gigs etc.

 

 

 

[jippytum]

Donald Trump did the  same. A low bar to follow. 

[Boedog]

he will be keeping all the brown envelopes for himself

[Brian Hudson]

After reading these comments. There’s no pleasing some people 

[Muhendis]

41 minutes ago, Brian Hudson said:

After reading these comments. There’s no pleasing some people 

Yes. Quite.

However it would be better if Strettha were to do this quietly without making a big issue of it.

[J Branche]

Maybe with his salary and some government investment they could actually work on some of the developments in stopping mosquito reproduction and reduce spread of dengue, yellow fever and malaria.  

 

The Soi Dog problem any little bit would help.

 

Next maybe a look at Temples and the enormous wealth they accumulate and making them account for and pay taxes.  Also have to assist locals in need.

[daveAustin]

17 hours ago, timendres said:

Did Prayut offer this? Any prior PM?

It may be a "drop in the ocean" for him, but it is still real money for the recipients.

Decent gesture.

Bought! It’s not a decent gesture at all. The bloke is a pandering, patronising populist. If he were truly genuine and empathetic with the masses, he’d give over a portion of his massive wealth without a second thought. He thinks the people adore him and everything he does is on point. Can’t wait to see that smile wiped off his chops when he has to do some real work. 

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced to donate his salary and meeting allowances to various charitable foundations to help the vulnerable group of people in the country,

It's going to need more than his salary.

[Tarteso]

Altruism theory says we give to feel good, or at least not as guilty. Being altruistic and saying it to the public is so banal that it only serves to feed the ego. Go figure !

[AhFarangJa]

Smoke & mirrors, and re-direction. 

 

[Paradise Pete]

11 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Yes. Prayut did. Compared to the backhanders, Prayut's and Srettha's salary were and are small change. It's not a "Decent gesture." It's populist grandstaning.

At least he actually did it instead of just saying so, unlike the lying orange man.

[kcpattaya]

SAYING and DOING, are two different things...

I bet one of his family members is involved in some kind of charity... ????

[wombat]

Brown envelope inclusive?

[proton]

4 hours ago, arithai12 said:

Amazing how many still have to complain and bash even if he does something really nice.

It's not nice to make it known in a press release, only done for PR reasons. Why not do it and keep quiet about it?

[jacko45k]

32 minutes ago, Paradise Pete said:

At least he actually did it instead of just saying so, unlike the lying orange man.

I believe his predecessor also forewent his PM stipend.... so in good company!

[bamnutsak]

4 hours ago, arithai12 said:

Amazing how many still have to complain and bash even if he does something really nice.

 

Well he could have donated the 30 million baht, he blew on airfare to take his wife and daughter to NYC for eight days, to charity.

 

(BTW he forced a THAI Airways A350-900, and all of the crew, to go out of service for those ~ 9 days, where for most of the time it was ferried to/from IAD where it was parked, probably costing a further significant expense.)

 

Accept the salary, then feel free to make charitable donations, maybe one each month. Publicize those donations so as to draw attention to them which might encourage additional donations from the public. Visit each charity, assist in what they do for half a day. Meet the people. But no, he's a patrician elite.

 

 

[mfd101]

Well we can all be cynical, an essentially negative substitute for activity.

 

Politics is about symbolism. When politicians make the right symbolic gestures, things can change and improve. Make the wrong gestures - those of passivity & cynicism - and nothing ever changes.