Thai Govt Hopes To Quickly Find Bt80 Bn For Post-Flood Rehabilitation

[webfact]

Govt hopes to quickly find Bt80 bn for post-flood rehabilitation

Nalin Viboonchart

The Nation

Starting on Monday, the Yingluck government will try to find Bt80 billion - 10 per cent of total fiscal expenditure - for post-flood rehabilitation, as more residences and industrial plants fall victim to flooding, deepening concern in the foreign business community.

The long-term impact of the floods on foreign investment will depend on the government's relief measures and the steps it takes to mitigate future disasters, investors said.

The Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce yesterday urged the government to quickly drain water from flooded industrial sites.

Jetro president Setsuo Iuchi said investor confidence depended on many factors. If the government shows it can handle the flood crisis and no more industrial zones are hit, foreign investors could be persuaded to keep their production bases in the Kingdom, he said. He urged the government to boost measures to save industries from flooding and to provide updated information on the crisis in English.

The Finance Ministry this week estimated the damage at Bt80 billion, while estimates from private economic houses ranged from Bt80 billion to Bt157 billion, which could shave as much as 1.5 per cent off 2011 economic growth.

Industry Minister Wannarat Charnnukul said yesterday that the government is closely monitoring the situation at the Bang Pa-In Industrial Estate in Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani's Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate and Bang Kradi Industrial Park. Bang Pa-In has 89 factories with 27,000 employees.

Meanwhile, Wannarat was concerned over possible leakage of hazardous materials.

Over 400 factories at Rojana Industrial Park and Saha Rattana Nakorn Industrial Estate are submerged and 143 factories in Hi-Tech Industrial Estate, which employs 51,186 workers, are at risk. At press time, rescue efforts were underway at Hi-Tech, where the water was 50cm deep. As these house mainly automotive and electronic-parts manufacturing plants, supply chain disruption has prompted concern over Thai exports. Automotive and electronics exports account for over 20 per cent of Thailand's total exports.

Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong was visibly upset, shedding tears as he expressed regret to executives of auto-parts maker Aapico Hitech, whose plant is flooded.

Though its two plants in Thailand are unaffected, Seagate Thailand admitted that its hard-drive supply would be hurt in the fourth quarter due to supply disruptions. Representatives of Canon, in an interview with Bloomberg, said the firm is considering shifting ink-jet production to Vietnam.

Piangjai Kaewsuwan, vice president for government relations at Nissan Motor (Thailand), said Nissan's assembly plant at Bangna-Trat Road km 12 has gradually reduced its production capacity due to supply disruption, and might have to suspend production altogether.

Piangjai said suppliers should be able to resume production within three months, if the water retreats next week.

Toyota Motor Thailand and Honda Automobile (Thailand) have suspended production altogether. Ford Operations (Thailand) yesterday resumed one shift of production after a temporary suspension on October 10, said government affairs director Arnupab Tadpitakkul.

-- The Nation 2011-10-14

[TackyToo]

Starting on Monday, the Yingluck government will try to find Bt80 billion - 10 per cent of total fiscal expenditure - for post-flood rehabilitation, as more residences and industrial plants fall victim to flooding, deepening concern in the foreign business community.

I can't believe that there is a single person in this country not knowing where to find such a huge sum...

[wana]

this goverment could have a whip round and raise 80 Billion in an afternoon ,its loose change even between Yingluck and Abhasit who are both apparently worth several hundreds bilions each

i love the way they say "try to find " in relation to the 80 bil as if theres no cash left in thailand

any of them could put their hand in their pocket and cover it if they really wanted to .......but they will more than likely urge donations from the public / hike up taxes etc so everybody has to pay for their fuc_k ups except themselves

[Tywais]

even between Yingluck and Abhasit who are both apparently worth several hundreds bilions each

Don't know where you came up with those numbers but definitely way off the mark. Top of the list is Dhanin Chearavanont at $7.4 Billion = 222 Billion Baht. Thaksin and family has shrunk to $600 Million = 18 Billion baht. Abhisit isn't even on the list. Forbes - August 2011

[Thaddeus]

this goverment could have a whip round and raise 80 Billion in an afternoon ,its loose change even between Yingluck and Abhasit who are both apparently worth several hundreds bilions each

Well, no they aren't but I agree with the sentiment.

The Poo Yai in my village has been on the tannoy system all day, and I mean all day, asking the locals for flood relief donations.

[wana]

sorry if i have mistaken on the number but i thought i read yingluck was worth 400 odd billion and abhasit was worth even more ,regardless of the figures

theres no chance any of them are going to buy food for the poor or the homeless ,it will be another excuse to take more from the people who have the least and the greedy fat cats at the top will feel good about themselves when they are shouting for donations to help their flood afflicted countrymen

[DP25]

Starting on Monday, the Yingluck government will try to find Bt80 billion - 10 per cent of total fiscal expenditure - for post-flood rehabilitation, as more residences and industrial plants fall victim to flooding, deepening concern in the foreign business community.

I can't believe that there is a single person in this country not knowing where to find such a huge sum...

Thaksin's confiscated 76 billion would just about cover it

[wana]

hes some interesting numbers ,somebody has 600 million Dollars never mind baht

Thai businessman and politician, Thaksin Shinawatra, has a net worth of $600 million as of August 2011, according to Forbes’ Thailand rich list. The Thailand’s former prime minister was ousted in 2006 coup, lives in self-imposed exile to avoid 2-year jail term after conviction in absentia on corruption charges. Thai authorities froze $2 billion in assets, largely from family’s sale of Shin Corp., the telecom company he founded. He bought Britain’s Manchester City football club in 2007

Read more: http://www.therichest.org/celebnetworth/politician/minister/thaksin-shinawatra-net-worth/#ixzz1akZ5F4Uc

http://www.therichest.org/celebnetworth/politician/minister/thaksin-shinawatra-net-worth/

[GentlemanJim]

Thaksin will probably front it up to the Government for 10% per month interest.

[MAJIC]

sorry if i have mistaken on the number but i thought i read yingluck was worth 400 odd billion and abhasit was worth even more ,regardless of the figures

theres no chance any of them are going to buy food for the poor or the homeless ,it will be another excuse to take more from the people who have the least and the greedy fat cats at the top will feel good about themselves when they are shouting for donations to help their flood afflicted countrymen

Abhisit in terms of wealth, compared with Yingluck or Thaksin is a non starter,

his wealth on leaving the office of PM.was a mere 54.3 Million Baht,and no Billions in sight. quote: Wikipedia

[wana]

how about plodprasop ? is he a wealthy individual ?

[wana]

could always cancel the order of the T-84 Oplot 's from Ukraine that was made a few weeks back .......thats a 29 billion thb deal for something that is less important/more important? than saving the flooded citizens

Up to 200 may be acquired. First order of 49 tanks was placed in September 2011^[12] although there are no official announcements from the Royal Thai Army. So far, the government has just approved 7.155 billion Baht to purchase the first 49 T-84 Oplot main battle tanks to be assigned to the 2nd Cavalry battalion (Royal Guard at Fort Chakkraphongse, Prachinburi), the 4th Cavalry Battalion (Royal Guard at Kiakkai, Bangkok), the 8th Cavalry battalion (Fort Suranari, Nakhon Ratchasima), and the 9th Cavalry Battalion (Fort Ekathotsarot, Phitsanuloke).

there is military helicopters and unmanned military drones on order as well but there is no price listed for those but theyre seems to be more cash for new toys for the army than fighting the floods

[wintermute]

It's interesting how when it's time to pony up real cash to help Thai people and not just issuing piddly $1 million baht checks on TV the billionaire businessmen in Thailand all disappear. At least Wal Mart helped out during Hurricane Katrina. What the hell are mega-conglomerates like C.P. doing? Or the Thai Bev people? Or Boonrawd?

[steveromagnino]

It's interesting how when it's time to pony up real cash to help Thai people and not just issuing piddly $1 million baht checks on TV the billionaire businessmen in Thailand all disappear. At least Wal Mart helped out during Hurricane Katrina. What the hell are mega-conglomerates like C.P. doing? Or the Thai Bev people? Or Boonrawd?

I can't speak for all of them but Thaibev owners have made mind boggling donations; however unlike the PM, they aren't out there crying on queue when they do it.

[wintermute]

[q

I can't speak for all of them but Thaibev owners have made mind boggling donations; however unlike the PM, they aren't out there crying on queue when they do it.

How much is "mind boggling" ? Are they handing out free whiskey and 15% off coupons to oishi or are they offering up substantial logistics and material donations?

[serenitynow]

how about plodprasop ? is he a wealthy individual ?

He's the wealthiest individual in the current Thaksin government (aside from Thaksin himself) and by a wide margin. He's done pretty well for himself working in the public sector. And that's just the wealth he's chosen to disclose.

Edited October 14, 2011 by serenitynow

[steveromagnino]

not whisky and oishi vouchers; large amounts of water, staples, medicine, etc; a bunch of money to fund things that are not their branded stuff; Charoen and his family already make some massive contributions to charity already; this is ongoing and people of all walks of life contributing are

helping to pay for a lot of the stuff going to the villagers who need it.

I would guess far more than 50% of the food, water, medicine that villagers are receiving now is NOT coming from the govt, it is coming from the personal donations/private sector/NGOs.

This is partly the issue with distribution; distribution is a mess; this is the one thing the govt/army is needed for...but they aren't being used for it. So some people are smart and asking for extra...while others have no voice and are starving.

[ratcatcher]

It's interesting how when it's time to pony up real cash to help Thai people and not just issuing piddly $1 million baht checks on TV the billionaire businessmen in Thailand all disappear. At least Wal Mart helped out during Hurricane Katrina. What the hell are mega-conglomerates like C.P. doing? Or the Thai Bev people? Or Boonrawd?

Those are all valid questions. But why should the rich help the hoi polloi?

They didn't get rich by donations. The politicians Yingluck, Plodasop etc, multimillionaires all , cannot be seen to be assisting the lowly "Phrai"..

It's the same the world over.

No Chearavanont comments, No Sirivadhanabhakdi comments, No Bhirombhakdi saying "Kop Koon Khap, Hen ok hen jai khap""

It's OK to, sell millions of litres of Chang & Leo to the poor but hey, when the water comes, no time for a beer or three eh?

They're all the same Thaksin on down. What's theirs is theirs and bugger the rest of you.. It's only charity if it's on camera. Anyway Channel 3 Maleenont family owned has been pretty damned good coverage and sincere too ! IMHO

IOf any of the aforementioned have made donations fanfare or no, my apologies.

Edited October 14, 2011 by ratcatcher

[mdechgan]

how about plodprasop ? is he a wealthy individual ?

He's the wealthiest individual in the current Thaksin government (aside from Thaksin himself) and by a wide margin. He's done pretty well for himself working in the public sector. And that's just the wealth he's chosen to disclose.

This guy is a farce, a true Thaksin henchman.

He is out of his league.

His was fired from his last position for allowing Tigers to be sold to China.

At the time he was the at the helms of thr ministry of forestry and wildlife.

After that debacle he became the head of some zoo in Chiang Mai. Wait it was some safari.

Most the animals died because guess what?

The exotic African animals couldn't cope with the Chiang Mai climate.

[OZEMADE]

They could keep the cash they allocated to purchase submarines on 2 occasions, the planes, tanks and Armoured personnel Carriers, the Skywalk, the Sky trains and tracks etc to mention a few. Then we have the cameras," O" thats right that cash went somewhere. What a crock.

[KKK]

PM should ask her brother...he had a lot of 'donations' made to him while he was here...it's time to give some back.

[wana]

only in thailand can the stupidest man also be the richest in government

maybe old plodprasop is smarter than everyone thinks he is and the boats

idea was nothing to do with draining water faster but actually a sneaky way

to pocket a fat cheque from some boat owners or a contractor who supplies

marine diesel..........

[wintermute]

They could keep the cash they allocated to purchase submarines on 2 occasions, the planes, tanks and Armoured personnel Carriers, the Skywalk, the Sky trains and tracks etc to mention a few. Then we have the cameras," O" thats right that cash went somewhere. What a crock.

That makes too much sense. It's better to spend billions on fancy second hand military hardware to showcase at parades and boat festivals than to actually spend money on infrastructure like roads, hospitals, dams, drainage etc..

[whybother]

They could keep the cash they allocated to purchase submarines on 2 occasions, the planes, tanks and Armoured personnel Carriers, the Skywalk, the Sky trains and tracks etc to mention a few. Then we have the cameras," O" thats right that cash went somewhere. What a crock.

The submarines haven't been purchased. The skywalk has been shelved.

Why stop the skytrains? People need to get around when the roads are flooded.

[phiphidon]

could always cancel the order of the T-84 Oplot 's from Ukraine that was made a few weeks back .......thats a 29 billion thb deal for something that is less important/more important? than saving the flooded citizens

Up to 200 may be acquired. First order of 49 tanks was placed in September 2011^[12] although there are no official announcements from the Royal Thai Army. So far, the government has just approved 7.155 billion Baht to purchase the first 49 T-84 Oplot main battle tanks to be assigned to the 2nd Cavalry battalion (Royal Guard at Fort Chakkraphongse, Prachinburi), the 4th Cavalry Battalion (Royal Guard at Kiakkai, Bangkok), the 8th Cavalry battalion (Fort Suranari, Nakhon Ratchasima), and the 9th Cavalry Battalion (Fort Ekathotsarot, Phitsanuloke).

there is military helicopters and unmanned military drones on order as well but there is no price listed for those but theyre seems to be more cash for new toys for the army than fighting the floods

You might want to consider that it was during the democrats term of office that they decided to approve 170 Billion Baht for the last Defence Budget.

Perhaps by holding back on some of the "toys for the boys" money and spending it instead on useful infrastructure and maintenance projects it could have helped avert some of the problems the country is facing now.

Politicalization of the Armed Forces is not a new phenomenon.

[whybother]

...

Politicalization of the Armed Forces is not a new phenomenon.

According to some, the military was moving away from politics after the 92 coup and particularly, the 97 constitution, and it was Thaksin that re-politicized the military by putting friends and relatives in powerful positions.

http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?ccrcountry=171&ccrpage=37&edition=8&page=140

[wana]

could always cancel the order of the T-84 Oplot 's from Ukraine that was made a few weeks back .......thats a 29 billion thb deal for something that is less important/more important? than saving the flooded citizens

Up to 200 may be acquired. First order of 49 tanks was placed in September 2011^[12] although there are no official announcements from the Royal Thai Army. So far, the government has just approved 7.155 billion Baht to purchase the first 49 T-84 Oplot main battle tanks to be assigned to the 2nd Cavalry battalion (Royal Guard at Fort Chakkraphongse, Prachinburi), the 4th Cavalry Battalion (Royal Guard at Kiakkai, Bangkok), the 8th Cavalry battalion (Fort Suranari, Nakhon Ratchasima), and the 9th Cavalry Battalion (Fort Ekathotsarot, Phitsanuloke).

there is military helicopters and unmanned military drones on order as well but there is no price listed for those but theyre seems to be more cash for new toys for the army than fighting the floods

You might want to consider that it was during the democrats term of office that they decided to approve 170 Billion Baht for the last Defence Budget.

Perhaps by holding back on some of the "toys for the boys" money and spending it instead on useful infrastructure and maintenance projects it could have helped avert some of the problems the country is facing now.

Politicalization of the Armed Forces is not a new phenomenon.

its impossible to get back that 170 billion baht that was already spent for "toys for the boys "

the oplot tanks ,unmanned drones and miltary choppers are still on the shopping list of the current Govt ,they could cancel those and use that money to build a few water drainage systems instead if the priorities were in a differnt order but having the latest tanks and helicopters is more important because only 1/3 rd of the country is flooded

maybe when it gets to 2/3 rds they might reconsider

[phiphidon]

...

Politicalization of the Armed Forces is not a new phenomenon.

According to some, the military was moving away from politics after the 92 coup and particularly, the 97 constitution, and it was Thaksin that re-politicized the military by putting friends and relatives in powerful positions.

http://www.freedomho...tion=8&page=140

Well they were certainly well rewarded for their efforts last year.

[ginjag]

Skipping the military waffle pages, we always end up OFF TOPIC-or near.

Trying to find the money eh!.it's not very hard is it ?? the Yingluck/Thaksin family, who have always been here for the people, before and after the election, the promises, the total let downs, the dribble that came out of their mouths regarding you are all going to be rich in 6 months, these were not just promises but LIES.

Now we are in a desperate situation, ( whoever fault it is) Don't you think these people running the job should dip into their own banks for a little small change, and PAY UP. You are in for 4 years to make as much money as you can, it stands to reason through near all the ditched promises. Now that you are here show some warmth to the poor people you fooled into electing you.:jap:

[hyperdimension]

you are all going to be rich in 6 months

When Thaksin said that, maybe he meant rich in water. Now they are swimming in it and it has happened a few months early. All hail Thaksin.