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'Mr Wrong' Asks For Understanding

Lite Beer

By Lite Beer
in Thailand News Headlines

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Lite Beer Legendary Member

Lite Beer

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

'Mr Wrong' asks for understanding

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation on Sunday

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Plodprasob

BANGKOK: -- Plodprasob admits to image problem, says he's innocent as tiger-export graft case kicks off

No matter what he does, no matter what he says, Science and Technology Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee, who chairs the Water and Flood Management Committee, is resigned to the fact that he is always "Mr In the Wrong".

"Maybe my handsome face annoys them," he told The Nation in an exclusive interview.

Plodprasob, a deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party who is known for speaking frankly, has received a lot of public criticism of his work over the past year.

The most notable instance was when he told the media that he was "10,000 per cent" and "1 million per cent" confident that Don Mueang Airport, which was used as the headquarters of the Flood Relief Operations Command (FROC) to handle last year's massive flooding, would not be inundated. A few days after he made the comments, the airport was under water.

He also told the media in the early stages of the crisis that the flood situation in Bangkok would not get worse, but some areas of the capital ended up submerged under more than two metres of water.

His faulty predictions have been parodied by netizens. One group produced a video clip entitled "Nostradamus of Thailand and his prediction about flood". The video went viral, with more than 400,000 people viewing the clip. One commented, "Plodprasob, he has always been a ridiculous person."

"I know that I am not the type of guy who is always flattering other people. Nor am I good at socialising," Plodprasob said.

He has held many senior positions including director-general of the Fisheries Department, secretary-general of the Sea Policy and Recovery Committee, deputy permanent secretary of the Agriculture Ministry, secretary-general of the Agricultural Land Reform Office, director-general of the Royal Forest Department and permanent secretary of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry. He was also the first director of the National Disaster Warning Centre.

During his tenure as Natural Resources and Environment permanent secretary, he was accused by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) of having approved the export of 100 tigers to China in 2003, when he was head of the Royal Forest Department.

Later, then-prime minister Surayud Chulanont removed Plodprasob from his position as permanent secretary.

Last week, NACC secretary-general Apinan Israngura Na Ayuthaya met with the Office of the Attorney-General to arrange for proceedings to begin against Plodprasob over the tiger-export case.

Plodprasob said he was currently immune to legal prosecution because he is a sitting member of Parliament.

"Oh, please. Come on - I don't know anything about this and had no involvement in it," he said.

Last year after the flooding, Plodprasob was appointed to the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM). Reports emerged of many conflicts among committee members, some of whom resigned.Plodprasob was later designated chairman of the Water and Flood Management Committee to oversee the implementation of water and flood policies drawn up by the SCWRM.

However, the relevant agencies have not collaborated with him much on proceeding with the plans.

"I am not the sort of person who uses power to force other people to follow my orders, even though the government had given me authority over all related ministries. Instead of using power, I just talk with them and try to understand their job. If I could ask them something, I would like to say, please understand that this is the way I am," he said.

As chairman of the Water and Flood Management Committee, he is now drafting legislation to establish a Water Ministry to manage water and flood problems in the long term. All water- and flood-related agencies would come under this ministry. "I am not an ambitious person who wants to be water minister - I don't know when this ministry will be set up. Even though this ministry will not be a Grade A state agency, it will get a large budget," he said.

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-- The Nation 2012-08-19

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ratcatcher Diamond Member

ratcatcher

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Another priceless quote from Mr Wrong

"I am not an ambitious person who wants to be water minister - I don't know when this ministry will be set up. Even though this ministry will not be a Grade A state agency, it will get a large budget," he said.

There it is, in a nut shell. "A LARGE BUDGET"thumbsup.gifermm.gif

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Moruya Platinum Member

Moruya

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Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood

Baby, do you understand me now? Sometimes I feel a little mad.

But don't you know that no one alive can always be an angel?

When things go wrong, I seem to be bad.

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geriatrickid Star Member

geriatrickid

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The gentleman does not belong in cabinet until such time as his charges regarding the tigers proceeding is dealt with. It is inappropriate that a man under serious investigation be a cabinet member, let alone be allowed to sit in caucus. Perhaps he was incompetent in respect to the flood crisis management, I don't know. I doubt most other cabinet ministers would have done better, whether they were PTP or Democrat. That is not an excuse, just an indication of the abilities of the typical cabinet minister.

I don't know what it is about Thailand, but it is ridiculous that an MP or cabinet minister under investigation is allowed to retain his/her position.

The Democrats had the accused murderer. Last week it was a senator that shot a relative and we have had this fellow allowed to be a cabinet minister . Is it any wonder why the population does not believe any of the political parties when they talk about integrity and corruption?

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Pseudolus Gold Member

Pseudolus

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Just a little question. He's in charge of wildlife and sells 100 tigers to a country who thinks eating their penisis will make them more virile. He is in charge of water management where in a considerable amount of the cash put into that was syphoned away through graft. Could there be a trend forming? Someone like this in China would be executed....

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hgma Gold Member

hgma

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clearly a victim of PT spin doctor doctrine.

Speaking frankly is not done when party spin doctors set the pace and their clear message is...talk as much as you can to anyone, but don't forget to say nothing!

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TackyToo Silver Member

TackyToo

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Plodprasob said he was currently immune to legal prosecution because he is a sitting member of Parliament.

Here we go again, what a ridiculous law this is.

I see a couple more immunities:

To common sense, integrity, expertise, modesty…

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kimamey Ruby Member

kimamey

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"Maybe my handsome face annoys them," he told The Nation in an exclusive interview.

Well whatever else he's done wrong at least he's got an understanding of sarcasm which I like.

He is being sarcastic..................... isn't he?

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ratcatcher Diamond Member

ratcatcher

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He would have to swim mightily for the light,

to not be permanently sunk in his own mouth made mud follies.

Some people are just born to shoot their feet regularly.

Somebody else who needs understanding.

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"This is my gun There are many others like it, but this one is mine.

My gun is my best friend. It is my life."

FMJ

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kimamey Ruby Member

kimamey

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The gentleman does not belong in cabinet until such time as his charges regarding the tigers proceeding is dealt with. It is inappropriate that a man under serious investigation be a cabinet member, let alone be allowed to sit in caucus. Perhaps he was incompetent in respect to the flood crisis management, I don't know. I doubt most other cabinet ministers would have done better, whether they were PTP or Democrat. That is not an excuse, just an indication of the abilities of the typical cabinet minister.

I don't know what it is about Thailand, but it is ridiculous that an MP or cabinet minister under investigation is allowed to retain his/her position.

The Democrats had the accused murderer. Last week it was a senator that shot a relative and we have had this fellow allowed to be a cabinet minister . Is it any wonder why the population does not believe any of the political parties when they talk about integrity and corruption?

Pretty much agree with that. There is a problem if someone is removed from their post because of malicious or incorrect allegations and i could imagine that happening here a lot. It obviously works in other countries so there's no reason that Thailand can't look to those to work something out. Unfortunately Thai politics seems to be less professional than others. Yes I know that's unbelievable.

Does any other country have immunity from prosecution for sitting members? I know that in the UK MPs are protected from slander and libel laws regarding anything presented within the house but other than that they are bound by the law although some issues are dealt with within parliament.

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ratcatcher Diamond Member

ratcatcher

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The gentleman does not belong in cabinet until such time as his charges regarding the tigers proceeding is dealt with. It is inappropriate that a man under serious investigation be a cabinet member, let alone be allowed to sit in caucus. Perhaps he was incompetent in respect to the flood crisis management, I don't know. I doubt most other cabinet ministers would have done better, whether they were PTP or Democrat. That is not an excuse, just an indication of the abilities of the typical cabinet minister.

I don't know what it is about Thailand, but it is ridiculous that an MP or cabinet minister under investigation is allowed to retain his/her position.

The Democrats had the accused murderer. Last week it was a senator that shot a relative and we have had this fellow allowed to be a cabinet minister . Is it any wonder why the population does not believe any of the political parties when they talk about integrity and corruption?

Pretty much agree with that. There is a problem if someone is removed from their post because of malicious or incorrect allegations and i could imagine that happening here a lot. It obviously works in other countries so there's no reason that Thailand can't look to those to work something out. Unfortunately Thai politics seems to be less professional than others. Yes I know that's unbelievable.

Does any other country have immunity from prosecution for sitting members? I know that in the UK MPs are protected from slander and libel laws regarding anything presented within the house but other than that they are bound by the law although some issues are dealt with within parliament.

In some cultures there is a word often used, "HONOUR".

In many countries, a disgraced leader, politician or public figure will sometimes do the "honourable" thing, and resign. In some more extreme cases, such as in Japanese culture, suicide (hara kiri is the term, I believe) is committed.

I am not sure that the Thai culture allows for shame or guilt to be shown, otherwise many cases would be quotable, where the person in question "did the right thing" and resigned or apologized..

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slapout Ruby Member

slapout

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This indivudal is just one of several in the present government who are hiding behind the immunity card.

This indivudal has pulled himself up by his boot staps to be the wealthest member of government as per declaration. When you consider he has had some plum appointments via the present PM as well as her older brother. The funds involved in projects under his appointments, his meager salary as a civil servant, his apparent disdain for public opinion, an ego that seems to know no boundry, he must be another clone of Thaksin the almighty.

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MaxLee Platinum Member

MaxLee

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God forbid that you speak up against a Phu Yai high status person. You're gonna get shot like a dog and no ody can bail your family out for compensation, as they get away with murder...

Edited by MaxLee
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