ANALYSIS

Indictment the final blow to Yongyuth's lacklustre career

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Interrior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit led his team in announcing their one-year ministerial performance last week - but it was crystal clear he lacked any concrete results to show.

It's possible not many people are aware he is the current Interior minister as he is seen in public mostly accompanying Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, as if he was her bodyguard, not a minister.

"I walk along with Prime Minister Yingluck not to decorate her appearance but because I'm also a deputy prime minister who needs to synchronise work with the prime minister," he said.

Many people said he was chosen for the position of deputy prime minister and Interior minister because of his loyalty to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Yongyuth admitted during an interview with The Nation years ago that Thaksin was a person he highly respected, second only to his parents and teachers. He could be anything Thaksin wants him to be. He nearly resigned as Pheu Thai Party chief when Thaksin signalled he was seeking a new leader to replace him - but when Thaksin changed his mind, Yongyuth stayed on.

Why is Thaksin's support so important for him? He managed to sit in the top position at the Interior Ministry as its permanent-secretary during Thaksin's time in office. It was very rewarding for Yongyuth, as Thaksin appointed him to the position only seven days before his retirement, but listed his term of duty from the time he'd been acting permanent-secretary eight months earlier. Days in office mean a lot for a bureaucrat as they affect his salary and welfare.

It was said Yongyuth was rewarded with the position after he managed to clear a business deal on the purchase of temple land when he was director-general of the Land Department at the ministry.

The case was complex, beginning when Nieum Chamnanchartsakda donated 924 rai of land to Wat Thammikkaram Worawiharn and the temple wanted to sell it to the Alpine Village and Golf Course. Yongyuth granted permission for the temple to make the deal - with veteran politician Sanoh Thienthong.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission decided in June this year to indict Yongyuth on the grounds he abused his authority. The temple's property could not legally be sold for commercial purposes. The anti-graft body suggested the attorney-general file a criminal lawsuit against Yongyuth and recommended the Interior Ministry punish him.

So, he got his position in the government as a reward for a deal, not because of his ability to run the Interior Ministry, which has seen a lacklustre performance with him as minister over the past year.

Thaksin selected Yongyuth as Pheu Thai party chief simply to handle routine jobs and paper work at the party. However, Thaksin expected more from Yongyuth as the Interior minister, since this ministry controls all administrative branches throughout the country. Yongyuth, however, runs the ministry as if he was still its permanent-secretary, doing only routine jobs, not as minister.

Critics say he has no policy initiative and merely allows officials at the ministry to do their routine jobs. Many Pheu Thai MPs are disappointed with his style of work and have put pressure on Thaksin to dump him.

Thaksin responded at first by dispatching his close aide Padung Limcharoenrat to be Yongyuth's secretary at the ministry. It was said Thaksin wanted Padung to control Yongyuth, but Padung also kept a low profile and was quiet over the past year.

The Interior Ministry under Yongyuth appears to have no direction. Officials run it as per their own will, as if there is no minister to control it. Two deputy ministers, Choochart Harnsawas and Thanis Thienthong have also been totally invisible.

The question is, who actually runs the Interior Ministry? The answer can be seen clearly in the fact that candidates for permanent-secretary of the ministry visited Thaksin in Hong Kong recently, before Wiboon Sanguanphong was officially named to the post.

For Yongyuth, the future is not so bright after the anti-graft body's decision to indict him. Thaksin and Yingluck have good reason to dump him from the portfolio.

-- The Nation 2012-09-10

as if he was her bodyguard, not a minister.

I think perhaps the word he's seeking is 'minder' ?

A loyal sycophant with no achievements to his name- in other words Thaksin's ideal minister.

The quality of Pheua Thai's ministers is truly dreadful.

The ability of PTP Ministers is measured in inches of mercury.

A seat warmer.

It's incredible how often the phrase 'so and so, who is close to Thaksin, has been appointed as secretary to', or 'in a position of controversial promotion', is this normal politics, normal for Thailand, or taking things to a new level of nepotism?

Just another day in Thai politics.

PTP do nto get their positions based on merit, but based on whose backside they kiss

The ability of PTP Ministers is measured in inches of mercury.

You sure it is not the ability to squirrel away millions of baht?

Abuse of power by Thaksin?

It was very rewarding for Yongyuth, as Thaksin appointed him to the position only seven days before his retirement, but listed his term of duty from the time he'd been acting permanent-secretary eight months earlier.

Bit of difference between "acting" and "permanent" wouldn't you say.

Oh, that's right, Thaksin can do anything, and not be touched because he had the madate of the people.

"I walk along with Prime Minister Yingluck not to decorate her appearance but because I'm also a deputy prime minister who needs to synchronise work with the prime minister," he said.

What work?

He got the spotlight today, but the sad fact is PT is chock full of dildos dodos, in every corner. Their offices are as little used as their gray matter. To be a success in Thai politics requires a brown nose.

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Like It Or Not, Corruption Is The Name Of The Game In Thailand

Started by webfact, 2012-09-07 16:24

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Like it or not, corruption is the name of the game in Thailand

BANGKOK, Sept 7 – Corruption is increasingly acceptable in Thai society with an alarming trend of people seeing it as a way of life and willing to ‘tag along’ for personal gain.

An Assumption University poll conducted Sept 1-6, found the number of Thais not objecting to corruption if it was with their partial advantages increased from 63.4 per cent in June to 65.8 per cent in August.

Only one-third – 34.2 per cent – of the 2,117 respondents insisted that corruption is unacceptable.

Assumption Poll director Noppadol Kannikar said the younger generation is most worrisome with 79.1 per cent of respondents under 20 and 76.5 of those aged 20-29 said state corruption is acceptable if it benefits themselves personally.

A similar attitude was reported by nearly two-thirds of the rest of the respondents -- 64.8 per cent of the 30-39 age group, 65.4 per cent of the 40-49 age group, and 59.9 for people above age 50.

Among career groups which embrace the same attitude, students represented the highest percentage at 70.6 followed by entrepreneurs at 66.2 per cent, private employees at 64.3 per cent, general wage earners and farmers at 61.9 per cent.

Lying? White lies only, or more? More than two-thirds, 68.3 per cent, approved lying for survival while slightly under one-third, 31.7 per cent, said they would not lie regardless.

In the public sector nearly 60 per cent of state officials described corruption as acceptable, and referred to benefits in terms of job promotion, transfer to a better location and profit.

They claimed that every government is corrupt and politically intervene in public administration. (MCOT online news)

Business as usual....and Thai people like it that way.

But the real questions are:

1. Where did Yongyuth get that nifty jacket?

2. Why are there so many people (reporters?) in the picture seeming to want to hear what Ypngyuth will say? Don't they know it will be nothing of consequence?

Actually, I feel a bit sorry for Yongyuth as he, if convicted, is the fall guy for Sanoh & the Shinawatras, who were the immediate & ultimate beneficiaries respectively of the Alpine land. On the other hand, Yongyuth probably received a decent 'commission' for his 'work'.

DP.

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Like It Or Not, Corruption Is The Name Of The Game In Thailand

Started by webfact, 2012-09-07 16:24

• 
  

Like it or not, corruption is the name of the game in Thailand

BANGKOK, Sept 7 – Corruption is increasingly acceptable in Thai society with an alarming trend of people seeing it as a way of life and willing to ‘tag along’ for personal gain.

An Assumption University poll conducted Sept 1-6, found the number of Thais not objecting to corruption if it was with their partial advantages increased from 63.4 per cent in June to 65.8 per cent in August.

Only one-third – 34.2 per cent – of the 2,117 respondents insisted that corruption is unacceptable.

Assumption Poll director Noppadol Kannikar said the younger generation is most worrisome with 79.1 per cent of respondents under 20 and 76.5 of those aged 20-29 said state corruption is acceptable if it benefits themselves personally.

A similar attitude was reported by nearly two-thirds of the rest of the respondents -- 64.8 per cent of the 30-39 age group, 65.4 per cent of the 40-49 age group, and 59.9 for people above age 50.

Among career groups which embrace the same attitude, students represented the highest percentage at 70.6 followed by entrepreneurs at 66.2 per cent, private employees at 64.3 per cent, general wage earners and farmers at 61.9 per cent.

Lying? White lies only, or more? More than two-thirds, 68.3 per cent, approved lying for survival while slightly under one-third, 31.7 per cent, said they would not lie regardless.

In the public sector nearly 60 per cent of state officials described corruption as acceptable, and referred to benefits in terms of job promotion, transfer to a better location and profit.

They claimed that every government is corrupt and politically intervene in public administration. (MCOT online news)

Business as usual....and Thai people like it that way.

This is just ridiculous. So incredibly short-sighted.

A loyal sycophant with no achievements to his name- in other words Thaksin's ideal minister.

The quality of Pheua Thai's ministers is truly dreadful.

Dreadful!!! are you being kind?

This government is full of so many nonentities (that don't know what they are doing) that I cannot understand how it has managed to stay in existence for a whole year!! Leading the nonentity stakes is Yingluck who hardly ever answers a question because she simply doesn't know how to respond to the most basic of things put to her, when she decides to turn up that is.

They are incompetence personified - I can honestly say that Abhisit is the only intelligent Thai that I know (probably because he studied in England).

How can you choose ministers on the basis of they are 'good mates' of yours or are intent upon serving just one person (sod the people).

I am just watching the Thai news at the moment and there are 2 people standing waist deep in a torrent of water (resembling rapids) being pulled out of the road with a rope!!! I see that their flood safeguards are working well.

I simply cannot go on as I'm getting exasperated.........

A political career lacking in lustre but not in lucre....... and that's what really matters.

Actually, I feel a bit sorry for Yongyuth as he, if convicted, is the fall guy for Sanoh & the Shinawatras, who were the immediate & ultimate beneficiaries respectively of the Alpine land. On the other hand, Yongyuth probably received a decent 'commission' for his 'work'.

He got the best sort of pay-off, paid by the public purse with a nice little back-dated promotion a week before he retired. Of course their may have been extras, like a Ministry.

is an interrior minister reponsible for small dogs who eat rats or for funerals?

His nickname given by Thai people is... Wallpaper, I think this is an accurate description.

He got the spotlight today, but the sad fact is PT is chock full of dildos dodos, in every corner. Their offices are as little used as their gray matter. To be a success in Thai politics requires a brown nose.

A brown nose and a red skirt, a empty brain is the toppings.

Actually, I feel a bit sorry for Yongyuth as he, if convicted, is the fall guy for Sanoh & the Shinawatras, who were the immediate & ultimate beneficiaries respectively of the Alpine land. On the other hand, Yongyuth probably received a decent 'commission' for his 'work'.

Thaksin's wake is littered with loyal underlings who have fallen on their swords for him, except their swords are made from bamboo coated with fish sauce.