Pm Yingluck Fails To Impress Private Sector

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SPECIAL

PM fails to impress private sector

BUSINESS REPORTERS

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A year in office, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra barely gets passing scores according to the private sector for her leadership and overall economic management.

However, they think she has been fairly able to deal with situations such as inflation, preparation to counter the impact of the euro-debt crisis, and for the upcoming Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Business persons had not expected much from her as a leader, as they believed her brother - former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra - would call the shots, and economic ministerial teams would incubate policy planning and implementation.

However, overall they say she looks "good" as she does not hit back when criticised, she has softened political tension and also let governmental work move on.

Some businesses avoided evaluating her leadership but instead touched on the performance of her government.

PAIBOON PONSUWANNA, chairman of the Thai National Shippers' Council, gave Yingluck less than 50 points out of 100 for her leadership of the country's economy.

He said "during the one year of her administration, the PM has done nothing to drive economic growth, especially export growth, especially considering the global crunch resulting from the EU debt crisis.

Some of her government's policies such as the minimum wage increase have destroyed Thai export competitiveness as well as created cost of living problems for the people.

Although Yingluck led a meeting for export proposals and instructed the ministry to set up working committees to boost trade growth, the government has not shown any real action, he added.

He said the PM had only used traditional methods for controlling the rising cost of living. Like other governments, she too imposed price controls without considering the real cost of production, for which the government is partly responsible.

"The premier has not yet shown her ability to solve the problems for a majority of the people who are consumers because cost of living has gradually increased," said Paiboon.

However, she did show some leadership by setting up a working panel to prepare for the full liberalisation of regional markets under the Asean Economic Community in 2015, despite a delay.

VALLOP VITANAKORN, vice president of The Federation of Thai Industries, gave Yingluck 6 points out of 10 as she has to work under her brother's influence. As a result, her leadership is not as bright as she could be. However, it does not mean that she does not have leadership qualities.

"Her image now is not bad as we had initially feared but that's probably due to her background in property management," said Vallop.

In economic management, she is trying to reduce the impact of external factors on domestic growth, and in that she is moving in the right direction.

Vallop suggested that she should increase confidence in the administration by making more decisions herself.

"Particularly, she should review all of the government's populist policies, which would hamper the Kingdom's economic growth rather than persevere with them only with a political motivation," Vallop stressed.

SUTHIPHONG PHEUNPHIPHOP, president of Thai Travel Agents Association, said her government cannot run the country well, especially in dealing with some problems.

Preparing the tourism industry for the opening of the AEC is an example. The government has not been productive enough to offer any help. Obviously, the government has never talked to the private sector before negotiating with other countries. It had also exploited this sector to exchange some benefits with neighbouring nations. It is not fair and he felt "disappointed" about it.

"Today, the private sector is leading the tourism sector, not the government. Most of them are SMEs and may struggle to survive after the AEC," he said, adding that private operators would move forward with their own plan instead of waiting for the government. As the leading tourism nation in the region, he urged the government to work more closely with operators before the AEC comes into effect in 2015.

Regarding inflation, unfortunately the government took office during a time of rising prices. Though the government may have tackled the problem, it had not dealt with the cause. "I think for solving inflation, the prime minister can get only 50-60 per cent marks," he said, adding it was a complicated issue that needed more time to find an integrated solution.

In terms of investment, her government's image was plagued by "corruption". Budget injected into projects will not help boost the economy as planned. The rice mortgage scheme is an example. About 30-40 per cent of budget is expected to be pilfered before it reaches the farmers. Her policy also helps only some industries, especially automobiles with the first-car buyer programme.

TIPP DALAL, group chief executive officer of Tripple i Logistics Group, said her leadership as premier was not very visible yet. Though she has had experience in the property business before taking the PM's post, her vision on the economy has not been seen. To be fair, this might be because she lacks a group of capable aides.

"In my view, I don't think any of the economic policies are by her directly. If she had any role, it would be marginal," he said.

Tipp also criticised her government for having too many populist policies, especially the rice pledging, which not only distorts the market, takes away the country's competitiveness, but also leads to wasteful budget expenditure.

In addition, the Yingluck government has not launched any long-term strategic plan. "What we have seen are pieces of short-term policies such as first-car buyer scheme, rice pledging, investment projects in road, rail and airport. But, we don't see any medium-term and long-term strategic plan which would give the country a direction in the next three to five years," he said.

Tipp said there has not been any strategic plan for logistics development by the Yingluck government

"Two things that challenge Yingluck the most are being a woman, and a nominee of her brother [ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra]," said Tipp.

"However, Thais did not expect much from her. But, in the second and third years of her premiership, she should show her capability to be a leader and she has a tendency towards that. We wish to see her own "policies" or "vision" on one big thing that could make the country better off," he said.

SUBHAK SIWARAKSA, president of CIMB Thai Bank, said that Yingluck's role has been to help soften the political tension, and the situation today can restore business confidence.

"Businessmen want only political stability, and the premier proves that she can ease political tension," he said.

Yingluck's role to prepare for the AEC was seen recently, he said, adding that she recently chaired the workshop with ministries and representatives from the private sector. "She has ordered participants to draw up a master plan in preparation for the AEC single market."

However, he said the impact of the global economic recession should not be overlooked.

Controlling the prices of goods is not easy, but the government has attempted to solve it by launching the Took Jai shops, selling low-cost consumer products. Meanwhile, the Bt300 daily minimum wage and Bt15,000 salary for new graduates is a good policy that can boost domestic consumption.

ISSARA BOONYOUNG, president of the Business Housing Association, said that "the property sector has faced higher costs due to the daily minimum wage increasing from Bt215 per day to Bt300 per day".

However, in the one year she has been in power "she has managed to ensure the country's economic growth at nearly 5 per cent despite production capacity being hit by the floods in the last quarter of last year". Meanwhile, global economies are slowing down, he said.

SUPHACHAI CHEARAVANONT, chief executive officer of True Corp, said Yingluck had shown good leadership as she is so calm and never talks back when criticised. She is also a hard-working person and Thai society admires hard-working people.

CHALONGPHOB SUSSANGKARN, former finance minister, said "the Yingluck government has weakened the market mechanism by its intervention in many farm product prices. Such action will erode the country's competitiveness while other countries such as Myanmar will emerge".

"Fifty years ago Myanmar and Thailand competed with each other to be world's largest of rice exporter, but later Myanmar lost its market [due to its isolation policy]. Now it is open to the global community and will come back to compete with Thailand," Chalongphob warned.

In order to help low-income groups, the government should use other measures rather than high price subsidy, he suggested. He agreed that there is an urgent need to address the widening income gap between the rich and the poor. However, Chalongphob said he did not believe that the government or anyone else could allocate economic resources more efficiently than the market mechanism does.

CHATCHAI TUANGRATTANAPAN, a director of the Thai Retailers Association (TRA), said that "the Yingluck government has made no strategic decision over the past 12 months. They have only maintained the status quo." There is no negative and positive matter in the country as well as in its retail sector.

"The government plans to advance Bt2.2 trillion loans to invest in local infrastructure. But we have seen no concrete plan from the government about such infrastructure projects that will generate long-term economic benefits in the next five to 10 years," said Chatchai.

He said the Yingluck government had no policy to fight corruption, which is one of the serious problems facing the country. The government should have a clear direction and position the nation correctly in moving towards the Asean Economic Community in 2015.

HASAN BASAR, managing director of Bangkok PR agency, said that "not just is the current premier considered weak but the country is frustrated with a lack of capable leader for quite long. What we need is a leader who can bang the table and get the job done."

He said that the best way to handle inflation is not to try and stamp it out, but to make its effects on the daily cost of living easily manageable. And the way to do that is to increase the real prosperity of people.

Though the impact from prolonged financial crisis in the euro zone has not yet affected the country directly, Basar said that the government led by Yingluck Shinawatra should put a bit more focus on longer-term strategies that can enhance economic vitality and comprehensiveness.

"The private sector in the country is very good at looking after itself. But if the government provides the right environment for them to flourish - to work conveniently and efficiently - it would be the best and the most sustainable protection for each individual's prosperity," Basar added.

To create a sustainable economic environment, the government must ensure that it can provide modern and sufficient infrastructure such as roads, railways, a proper IT network and sufficient power and drainage system.

Meanwhile, the PM sector must have consistency and clarify policies in aspects that affect business such as a low tax environment.

"Of course, it's too late as it's less than 1,000 days to come. We should have had an aggressive tax reduction programme that attracted key corporations to set up base in the kingdom years ago," Basar said.

He suggested that the government is still going to have to do it though it would probably have less impact. For instance, the government should provide long-term tax breaks to international organisations who want to set up business in Thailand and the tier two supporting such industry will then follow. Another easy measure is to start developing English language skills.

-- The Nation 2012-08-06

[MaxLee]

Useless bla bla bla...

Popularity and status and face is what that politicians live and die by...

Edited August 6, 2012 by MaxLee

[saltandpepper]

Why am I not surprised?

[animatic]

She impresses the fashion sector, except in Paris.

Of course businessmen wanting to do business in Thailand, will not bad the titular head of government if they want their official interactions to have minimal tea-money neccessities. Hense the silence,

[tlansford]

Some of her government's policies such as the minimum wage increase have destroyed Thai export competitiveness as well as created cost of living problems for the people.

pure unadulterated dogmatic BS offered up without a stitch of evidence... because the argument can't be made on a national, economic level...

[animatic]

Some of her government's policies such as the minimum wage increase have destroyed Thai export competitiveness as well as created cost of living problems for the people.

pure unadulterated dogmatic BS offered up without a stitch of evidence... because the argument can't be made on a national, economic level...

When the problem is dogmatically keeping the baht high,

and pretending the election sops of excessive price controls and pledging schemes,

are not the core issues of economic decline in world market place competativeness.

[tlansford]

"Particularly, she should review all of the government's populist policies, which would hamper the Kingdom's economic growth rather than persevere with them only with a political motivation," Vallop stressed.

Businesses don't concern themselves with "people". That is why governments have this role in the first place.

[maidu]

Granted, economics are absolute top priority, particularly for writers at Nation newspaper. Pretty much every article they print is steeped in economics.

How does the stylish lady rank in

>>>> education? (enabling poorest Thais and hill tribers and immmigrants to afford schooling, for example)

>>>> environmental husbandry? (proposing added parks to the existing paucity of parks in Thailand)

>>>> energy policy (nixing nuclear, for example)

>>>> alternative energy (encouraging concentrated solar, river power, wave power and thermal)

Answer: Out to Lunch on all four of the above topics. Or perhaps she's out comparing prices for European boots or simply having a clandestine meeting at some hotel with insider-traders.

[maidu]

Ms Yingluck should study the governing styles of Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton. When they were presidents, respectively, they came to work each morning - reading reports, walking down hallways in congress, knocking on doors, talking to everyone, asking tough questions, campaigning openly and hardily for legislation they believed in. 180 degree different than the stylish lady who is sitting in for her clone.

[SuneeTH]

Some of her government's policies such as the minimum wage increase have destroyed Thai export competitiveness as well as created cost of living problems for the people.

pure unadulterated dogmatic BS offered up without a stitch of evidence... because the argument can't be made on a national, economic level...

When the problem is dogmatically keeping the baht high,

and pretending the election sops of excessive price controls and pledging schemes,

are not the core issues of economic decline in world market place competativeness.

They lazy Thais don't deserves 300 Baht/day, more like 120 baht/day due to the cheap food and housing in Thailand.

That is why the scheme fail.

[tlansford]

HASAN BASAR, managing director of Bangkok PR agency, said that "not just is the current premier considered weak but the country is frustrated with a lack of capable leader for quite long. What we need is a leader who can bang the table and get the job done."

Funny! One of the advantages of electing a female PM was supposed to be a more reasonable, measured, and harmonious (less confrontational) style of leadership. Which is one of the things the PM has delivered, whether you like her results or not.

Based on this comment, is seems clear that HASAN did not cast his vote for YS.

[steveromagnino]

HASAN BASAR, managing director of Bangkok PR agency, said that "not just is the current premier considered weak but the country is frustrated with a lack of capable leader for quite long. What we need is a leader who can bang the table and get the job done."

Funny! One of the advantages of electing a female PM was supposed to be a more reasonable, measured, and harmonious (less confrontational) style of leadership. Which is one of the things the PM has delivered, whether you like her results or not.

Based on this comment, is seems clear that HASAN did not cast his vote for YS.

55555555555555555555555

You obviously don't know Hasan so best you keep your opinion on how he would vote to yourself.

Aside from the obvious sexism in the thought that a woman would be somehow more reasonable, measured, etc, most people who actually deal with the PM see that she is potentially a good figurehead type leader with some leeway given as she is not a career politician, but on the flip side she has shown to have been a weak leader unable to instill a sense of urgency in her cabinet; one might guess this is due to a personal superficial understanding of most issues, being a poor public speaker, and lack of legitimacy since without her brother she would not have been able to get into power. Her work record at AIS and SC Asset reflects that; she got those jobs through family, not through merit. Looks have bought her some time, but results speak louder.

If she used this situation to made her cabinet and the civil service scared/respectful of her (as her brother or former sister in law did) then things would get done; instead she drifts along, with managed PR opportunities and meetings only. Hence the 'bang on the table' remark. It isn't about confrontation, it is about being an effective leader (instead we have the same situation as we have had since 2004, when the government internally argues and doesn't actually do much of anything).

Edited August 6, 2012 by steveromagnino

[KKvampire]

Yingluck was only made PM candidate for PTP to "impress" a part of the uneducated electorate to win.Its no surprise she fails to impress anyone else

Sent from my LG-P350 using Thaivisa Connect App

[yeeowww]

She is but the twit of a figurehead poster girl anyway... so when is the powerful & almighty "Oz", er I mean Thaksin, who has really been the one calling all the shots the past year, going to start waving his magic wand as promised and transform Thailand into a bountiful, thriving country, bringing riches and fulfillment to the poor and struggling? Everyone is still waiting and wanting Mr. T...

[tlansford]

HASAN BASAR, managing director of Bangkok PR agency, said that "not just is the current premier considered weak but the country is frustrated with a lack of capable leader for quite long. What we need is a leader who can bang the table and get the job done."

Funny! One of the advantages of electing a female PM was supposed to be a more reasonable, measured, and harmonious (less confrontational) style of leadership. Which is one of the things the PM has delivered, whether you like her results or not.

Based on this comment, is seems clear that HASAN did not cast his vote for YS.

55555555555555555555555

You obviously don't know Hasan so best you keep your opinion on how he would vote to yourself.

Aside from the obvious sexism in the thought that a woman would be somehow more reasonable, measured, etc, most people who actually deal with the PM see that she is potentially a good figurehead type leader with some leeway given as she is not a career politician, but on the flip side she has shown to have been a weak leader unable to instill a sense of urgency in her cabinet; one might guess this is due to a personal superficial understanding of most issues, being a poor public speaker, and lack of legitimacy since without her brother she would not have been able to get into power. Her work record at AIS and SC Asset reflects that; she got those jobs through family, not through merit. Looks have bought her some time, but results speak louder.

If she used this situation to made her cabinet and the civil service scared/respectful of her (as her brother or former sister in law did) then things would get done; instead she drifts along, with managed PR opportunities and meetings only. Hence the 'bang on the table' remark. It isn't about confrontation, it is about being an effective leader (instead we have the same situation as we have had since 2004, when the government internally argues and doesn't actually do much of anything).

no I don't know him which is why I said 'based on this comment' and 'it seems'. Not unlike your own use of the term "one might guess"... On the other hand you state point blank that she did not get her jobs within SC & AIS on merit - something you are very unlikely to actually know. You could have re-used your own phrasing, "one might guess"...

As for your obvious sexism, that might just be in your own mind. It is certainly not in mine. I was referring to how the candidate Yingluck positioned herself during the election campaign as potentially Thailand's first female PM and how her style differ from other candidates.

And you state that this government "doesn't actually do much of anything" which denies the fact that programs have been launched and/or implemented for every campaign promise. Minimum wage, corp tax reductions, tablet PCs, rice subsidies, car purchase incentives, women's fund, etc...

I still have a hard time recalling all the achievements of Abhisit's first year in office, but then again, he didn't have any campaign promises to fulfill, either...

[tlansford]

Yingluck was only made PM candidate for PTP to "impress" a part of the uneducated electorate to win.Its no surprise she fails to impress anyone else

Sent from my LG-P350 using Thaivisa Connect App

people here like to talk about the "uneducated electorate" in Thailand.

Besides noting that uneducated and uninformed are not the same thing, and maybe KKV meant gullible instead...

Does anyone (Farang) really think that Thai voters are less informed that the electorate in their own countries?

Does anyone recall the youtube video at the height of the Iraq war where Americans were asked to find Iraq on a world map?

Get real... The Thai people I know, even the uneducated, are better informed about current events in their own country than a representative sample of Americans.

[MunterHunter]

Yingluck was only made PM candidate for PTP to "impress" a part of the uneducated electorate to win.Its no surprise she fails to impress anyone else

Sent from my LG-P350 using Thaivisa Connect App

people here like to talk about the "uneducated electorate" in Thailand.

Besides noting that uneducated and uninformed are not the same thing, and maybe KKV meant gullible instead...

Does anyone (Farang) really think that Thai voters are less informed that the electorate in their own countries?

Does anyone recall the youtube video at the height of the Iraq war where Americans were asked to find Iraq on a world map?

Get real... The Thai people I know, even the uneducated, are better informed about current events in their own country than a representative sample of Americans.

http://www.dvb.no/an...scontents/22272

Worst of all, she thought that the citizens of the 10-ASEAN states, estimated at 600 million, represents half of the world’s population.

[tlansford]

Yingluck was only made PM candidate for PTP to "impress" a part of the uneducated electorate to win.Its no surprise she fails to impress anyone else

Sent from my LG-P350 using Thaivisa Connect App

people here like to talk about the "uneducated electorate" in Thailand.

Besides noting that uneducated and uninformed are not the same thing, and maybe KKV meant gullible instead...

Does anyone (Farang) really think that Thai voters are less informed that the electorate in their own countries?

Does anyone recall the youtube video at the height of the Iraq war where Americans were asked to find Iraq on a world map?

Get real... The Thai people I know, even the uneducated, are better informed about current events in their own country than a representative sample of Americans.

http://www.dvb.no/an...scontents/22272

Worst of all, she thought that the citizens of the 10-ASEAN states, estimated at 600 million, represents half of the world’s population.

is this in any way shape or form supposed to address something, anything in my post or is it just another stupid jab at a politician whom you do not like?

[Buchholz]

Yingluck was only made PM candidate for PTP to "impress" a part of the uneducated electorate to win.Its no surprise she fails to impress anyone else

people here like to talk about the "uneducated electorate" in Thailand.

Besides noting that uneducated and uninformed are not the same thing, and maybe KKV meant gullible instead...

http://www.dvb.no/an...scontents/22272

Worst of all, she thought that the citizens of the 10-ASEAN states, estimated at 600 million, represents half of the world’s population.

That's a good example of Yingluck as someone who is educated (such as she was), but who is uninformed.

.

Edited August 6, 2012 by Buchholz

[animatic]

HASAN BASAR, managing director of Bangkok PR agency, said that "not just is the current premier considered weak but the country is frustrated with a lack of capable leader for quite long. What we need is a leader who can bang the table and get the job done."

Funny! One of the advantages of electing a female PM was supposed to be a more reasonable, measured, and harmonious (less confrontational) style of leadership. Which is one of the things the PM has delivered, whether you like her results or not.

Based on this comment, is seems clear that HASAN did not cast his vote for YS.

55555555555555555555555

You obviously don't know Hasan so best you keep your opinion on how he would vote to yourself.

Aside from the obvious sexism in the thought that a woman would be somehow more reasonable, measured, etc, most people who actually deal with the PM see that she is potentially a good figurehead type leader with some leeway given as she is not a career politician, but on the flip side she has shown to have been a weak leader unable to instill a sense of urgency in her cabinet; one might guess this is due to a personal superficial understanding of most issues, being a poor public speaker, and lack of legitimacy since without her brother she would not have been able to get into power. Her work record at AIS and SC Asset reflects that; she got those jobs through family, not through merit. Looks have bought her some time, but results speak louder.

If she used this situation to made her cabinet and the civil service scared/respectful of her (as her brother or former sister in law did) then things would get done; instead she drifts along, with managed PR opportunities and meetings only. Hence the 'bang on the table' remark. It isn't about confrontation, it is about being an effective leader (instead we have the same situation as we have had since 2004, when the government internally argues and doesn't actually do much of anything).

no I don't know him which is why I said 'based on this comment' and 'it seems'. Not unlike your own use of the term "one might guess"... On the other hand you state point blank that she did not get her jobs within SC & AIS on merit - something you are very unlikely to actually know. You could have re-used your own phrasing, "one might guess"...

As for your obvious sexism, that might just be in your own mind. It is certainly not in mine. I was referring to how the candidate Yingluck positioned herself during the election campaign as potentially Thailand's first female PM and how her style differ from other candidates.

And you state that this government "doesn't actually do much of anything" which denies the fact that programs have been launched and/or implemented for every campaign promise. Minimum wage, corp tax reductions, tablet PCs, rice subsidies, car purchase incentives, women's fund, etc...

I still have a hard time recalling all the achievements of Abhisit's first year in office, but then again, he didn't have any campaign promises to fulfill, either...

"... - something you are very unlikely to actually know.... "

He is more likely than you to know for real, than you are giving any credit.

You are making an assumption on his lack of connections,

and I have met the man and can attest to his being extraordinarily well informed.

As to programs launched.

They've launched boat loads, but the percentage that are more the superficial fluff is very small.

[hellodolly]

Some of her government's policies such as the minimum wage increase have destroyed Thai export competitiveness as well as created cost of living problems for the people.

pure unadulterated dogmatic BS offered up without a stitch of evidence... because the argument can't be made on a national, economic level...

Got to agree with you on that one. People talk about inflation because of the minimum wage raise.

It has only been implemented it 6 or 7 provinces and you can bet your bottom baht that they were some of the highest paying provinces in the country.

We will have to wait until all the provinces have to cough up that kind of money then give it a little time and see if it is still not affecting the inflation.

On a Economic level because of the floods it would be hard to make a judgement. But if there handling of the rice is any kind of barometer we are in big trouble. (Well not me I get guaranteed pensions) but the rest of the people might have a hard time of it.

Doe's any one know when they are going to make 15,000 baht a month the starting wage for collage graduates?

[whybother]

Got to agree with you on that one. People talk about inflation because of the minimum wage raise.

It has only been implemented it 6 or 7 provinces and you can bet your bottom baht that they were some of the highest paying provinces in the country.

We will have to wait until all the provinces have to cough up that kind of money then give it a little time and see if it is still not affecting the inflation.

On a Economic level because of the floods it would be hard to make a judgement. But if there handling of the rice is any kind of barometer we are in big trouble. (Well not me I get guaranteed pensions) but the rest of the people might have a hard time of it.

Doe's any one know when they are going to make 15,000 baht a month the starting wage for collage graduates?

Wages were "lifted" by about 40% in all provinces that didn't get 300 baht per day.

The 15,000 baht has supposedly started through using allowances.

Sent from my HTC phone.

Edited August 6, 2012 by whybother

[jerrysteve]

Saving Face has to be one of the most ubsurd notions I have come to know.

But Saving Money and the hell with Face is a far superior philosophy.

Especially in a country where the word BAHT is used 3 or 4 times in every single sentence spoken.

I remember a Thai woman 7 years ago asking me how much money I was going to giver her mother and father to Marry Her.

My Reply: That isn't the question lady.

Rather the question is: How Much Money Are Your Parents Going to Pay Me, To Take You Off Their

hands? Thats The Only Question There Is. !!!!!

[waza]

So bottom line is she is a fails as a leader, as Thaksins hand puppet, he also fails in business and economic policy. But the convicted criminal was always a poor businessman unless the dices were loaded in his favour.

Edited August 6, 2012 by waza

[yoshiwara]

She is the pleasant face in front of the nasty Thaksin machinations going on behind her and for that we should be grateful.

[maidu]

Thaksin was too much 'hands on' whereas his sister is too aloof. She's somewhat like TAT's tourism campaigns: cater to the elite, rosy images which paper over nitty gritty issues.

She was compelled to appoint low performers for cabinet positions, due to the fact her brother makes all high level appointments. Mediocrity in one end, mediocraty out the other end.

[tlansford]

- deleted for quote limits

55555555555555555555555

You obviously don't know Hasan so best you keep your opinion on how he would vote to yourself.

Aside from the obvious sexism in the thought that a woman would be somehow more reasonable, measured, etc, most people who actually deal with the PM see that she is potentially a good figurehead type leader with some leeway given as she is not a career politician, but on the flip side she has shown to have been a weak leader unable to instill a sense of urgency in her cabinet; one might guess this is due to a personal superficial understanding of most issues, being a poor public speaker, and lack of legitimacy since without her brother she would not have been able to get into power. Her work record at AIS and SC Asset reflects that; she got those jobs through family, not through merit. Looks have bought her some time, but results speak louder.

If she used this situation to made her cabinet and the civil service scared/respectful of her (as her brother or former sister in law did) then things would get done; instead she drifts along, with managed PR opportunities and meetings only. Hence the 'bang on the table' remark. It isn't about confrontation, it is about being an effective leader (instead we have the same situation as we have had since 2004, when the government internally argues and doesn't actually do much of anything).

no I don't know him which is why I said 'based on this comment' and 'it seems'. Not unlike your own use of the term "one might guess"... On the other hand you state point blank that she did not get her jobs within SC & AIS on merit - something you are very unlikely to actually know. You could have re-used your own phrasing, "one might guess"...

As for your obvious sexism, that might just be in your own mind. It is certainly not in mine. I was referring to how the candidate Yingluck positioned herself during the election campaign as potentially Thailand's first female PM and how her style differ from other candidates.

And you state that this government "doesn't actually do much of anything" which denies the fact that programs have been launched and/or implemented for every campaign promise. Minimum wage, corp tax reductions, tablet PCs, rice subsidies, car purchase incentives, women's fund, etc...

I still have a hard time recalling all the achievements of Abhisit's first year in office, but then again, he didn't have any campaign promises to fulfill, either...

"... - something you are very unlikely to actually know.... "

He is more likely than you to know for real, than you are giving any credit.

You are making an assumption on his lack of connections,

and I have met the man and can attest to his being extraordinarily well informed.

As to programs launched.

They've launched boat loads, but the percentage that are more the superficial fluff is very small.

you don't know me.

But then I admit that I don't know the man and just use reading comprehension skills to make a comment.

I did not make any assumptions about steverom...'s connections or lack of connections except for the statement about him being very unlikely to know in detail how it was that YS got the different jobs at AIS and SC - a perfectly reasonable claim to make about a random, anonymous poster on TVF - but Steve can come out and add more color to his comment that might make it credible rather than it seeming to just be the usual slam against the PM.

I don't know you nor steveromag and as you post anonymously, there is not any way that I can verify your statement.

And if Steve really knows him so well, then perhaps he could have pointed out how this comment is perhaps taken out of context given what he knows of Hasan, or he could have shed some additional light on the commentary since the information from The Drivel just included

"not just is the current premier considered weak but the country is frustrated with a lack of capable leader for quite long. What we need is a leader who can bang the table and get the job done."

which excuse me, without more information this sounds like someone who probably did not vote for YS, which is exactly what I said.

So maybe stevero knows Hasan better than the Drivel. Or maybe you, steve, and the nation have all watched his youtube video

and we all have the same level of information. But since there are only 3 views and one was me, I guess that can't be true.

As for programs launched, I notice that no one can point to a campaign promise that has not been started or implemented already. But since people can't actually just state the facts and appear to feel the need to denigrate this government, they just do their best to paint 1 year in office as insignificant. Exactly as The Nation, the paid anti-Yingluck, pro-Abhisit mouthpiece of the right, has done this last week.

The overwhelming lack of honest journalism in the Thai English "press" this week was nauseating.

Edited August 7, 2012 by tlansford

[KKvampire]

Yingluck was only made PM candidate for PTP to "impress" a part of the uneducated electorate to win.Its no surprise she fails to impress anyone else

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people here like to talk about the "uneducated electorate" in Thailand.

Besides noting that uneducated and uninformed are not the same thing, and maybe KKV meant gullible instead...

Does anyone (Farang) really think that Thai voters are less informed that the electorate in their own countries?

Does anyone recall the youtube video at the height of the Iraq war where Americans were asked to find Iraq on a world map?

Get real... The Thai people I know, even the uneducated, are better informed about current events in their own country than a representative sample of Americans.

Your apologetic stance on anything involving the current PTP /UDD government is nothing new.You are so consistent .well done

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[tlansford]

- deleted for quote limits -

Your apologetic stance on anything involving the current PTP /UDD government is nothing new.You are so consistent .well done

Sent from my LG-P350 using Thaivisa Connect App

Yingluck was only made PM candidate for PTP to "impress" a part of the uneducated electorate to win.Its no surprise she fails to impress anyone else

Sent from my LG-P350 using Thaivisa Connect App

people here like to talk about the "uneducated electorate" in Thailand.

Besides noting that uneducated and uninformed are not the same thing, and maybe KKV meant gullible instead...

Does anyone (Farang) really think that Thai voters are less informed that the electorate in their own countries?

Does anyone recall the youtube video at the height of the Iraq war where Americans were asked to find Iraq on a world map?

Get real... The Thai people I know, even the uneducated, are better informed about current events in their own country than a representative sample of Americans.

Your apologetic stance on anything involving the current PTP /UDD government is nothing new.You are so consistent .well done

Sent from my LG-P350 using Thaivisa Connect App

I'm sure you meant to say my "realistic" stance.

Only people to the right of the rising sun would call my positions "apologetic".

But then you seem to miss the fact that my comment was about Thai voters and not about the government, the PTP, or the UDD.

Not well done.

[Noistar]

Yingluck was only made PM candidate for PTP to "impress" a part of the uneducated electorate to win.Its no surprise she fails to impress anyone else

Sent from my LG-P350 using Thaivisa Connect App

people here like to talk about the "uneducated electorate" in Thailand.

Besides noting that uneducated and uninformed are not the same thing, and maybe KKV meant gullible instead...

Does anyone (Farang) really think that Thai voters are less informed that the electorate in their own countries?

Does anyone recall the youtube video at the height of the Iraq war where Americans were asked to find Iraq on a world map?

Get real... The Thai people I know, even the uneducated, are better informed about current events in their own country than a

representative sample of Americans.

I have a hard job finding a Thai who knows where Thailand is on a blank World map. I realise my contact is limited, but it's a valid observation nonetheless.

I believe the Thai voters are less informed than the electorate in my home country. Perhaps it's different 'down south', but here in CM it is my belief.

The Thai people I know, especially the uneducated, don't know or care about current events in Thailand. They have less of a clue, or interest in, World events. They choose to think of their day-to-day lives.