Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Seeks Explanation Over Nomination

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GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

Sukhumbhand seeks explanation over nomination

Tanatpong Kongsai,

Pimnara Pradubwit

The Nation

File photo : Sukhumbhand

BANGKOK: -- Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra says he wants an explanation if the Democrat Party decides not to nominate him for the upcoming Bangkok election.

"I am not worried. All we need to do is discuss the issue and the party should explain why it wants to field someone else. I would not interfere in the party's decision," he said yesterday.

When asked if the party was likely to field him, he said he did not have the right to overestimate himself. Sukhumbhand spoke to the press after chairing a final meeting with his executives. His term comes to an end on January 10.

It has been rumoured the party would prefer that Sukhumbhand does not run as an independent if he is not nominated

"If he were to run independently, he will definitely harm both himself and his party. Democrat supporters will be split and the number of votes that Sukhumbhand and the party's candidate get will be reduced. Also, he cannot be totally sure that he will be able to win votes even from his own supporters," a source close to the governor said.

The Democrat Party should be able to make a final decision before the year is over, Banyat Banthadtan said yesterday. Banyat chairs the committee tasked with selecting a gubernatorial candidate.

Two potential Democrat candidates - former deputy PM Korbsak Sabhavasu and ex-vice minister at the PM's office Apichai Techaubon yesterday unveiled their policy platforms to the party's selection panel. Sukhumbhand and former deputy Bangkok governor Prakob Jirakitti presented their policies last week. Banyat said he should be able to forward all four names to the executive board today.

-- The Nation 2012-12-25

[airconsult]

You never know - if he runs as an independent he might actually get more votes - those from Pua Thai who would like an independent governor, and those from the democrats who like him.

Many people in Bangkok respect him just for his family connections - I find that annoying as I think you should be judged on your results, but I would place him as the most likely person to win the election, running in any party.

If he'd just sit down and concentrate on some of the outstanding issues in Bangkok - finishing the drainage tunnels, ensuring the mass transit constructions run on-time, resurveying and deploying a new traffic control system (last one is 30 years old now?), and maybe, just maybe, solving the outstanding issue of the new firetrucks sitting/rusting in customs for the last 2 years.

You could dream.....(feel free to add to the list)

[TheGhostWithin]

You never know - if he runs as an independent he might actually get more votes - those from Pua Thai who would like an independent governor, and those from the democrats who like him.

Many people in Bangkok respect him just for his family connections - I find that annoying as I think you should be judged on your results, but I would place him as the most likely person to win the election, running in any party.

If he'd just sit down and concentrate on some of the outstanding issues in Bangkok - finishing the drainage tunnels, ensuring the mass transit constructions run on-time, resurveying and deploying a new traffic control system (last one is 30 years old now?), and maybe, just maybe, solving the outstanding issue of the new firetrucks sitting/rusting in customs for the last 2 years.

You could dream.....(feel free to add to the list)

Agreed. But I do believe he is a good person for the job. He has wanted to do more, but been constrained by the political establishment and been a victim of "big fish eats little fish" syndrome, with the politicians not being as cooperative as they should be (the time of the floods comes to mind) in dealing with both development and also (most importantly) crisis management.

Bangkok has a lot of crisis situations, I believe that whoever the new governor is, he should be given more freedom and be less constrained by the decrepit, corrupt governmental setup in the current form.

I believe he could be a better governor without political ties and loyalties, with the freedom to carry out his work without having to adhere to corruption before even taking on the duties required to make things work (such as allowing illegal casinos owned by the party in power at the time to operate with impunity within his borders, and then closing down some when the new party gets into power, and being forced to close others of the old regime).

Governors or mayors really should be party neutral, supporting one party or another can and does cause conflicts of interest and makes for a less-efficient local government.

Edited December 25, 2012 by TheGhostWithin

[DekDaeng]

the outstanding issue of the new firetrucks sitting/rusting in customs for the last 2 years.

You could dream.....(feel free to add to the list)

What are they doing in customs? Weren't they made here?

Why has the walkway from Bitec to BangNa station been half finished - for around two years now? The Bitec side.

Stinks of politics. As usual, shut up plebs.

[airconsult]

the outstanding issue of the new firetrucks sitting/rusting in customs for the last 2 years.

You could dream.....(feel free to add to the list)

What are they doing in customs? Weren't they made here?

Why has the walkway from Bitec to BangNa station been half finished - for around two years now? The Bitec side.

Stinks of politics. As usual, shut up plebs.

This article from last year may explain the difficulties.

They were made by Steyr Daimler Puch - http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/12/17/national/national_30118676.php

Read with a grain of salt however - everyone is accusing everyone else of corruption on the deal - normal - but I agree that 6.7 billion THB does seem a bit much, are they gold plated?

By the way, 5.21 billion has been paid up until now - 3 billion of which came from the central government in Feb 2010 as an emergency budget.

[whybother]

What are they doing in customs? Weren't they made here?

Why has the walkway from Bitec to BangNa station been half finished - for around two years now? The Bitec side.

Stinks of politics. As usual, shut up plebs.

Is there even a plan to build a walkway to the station?

[DekDaeng]

What are they doing in customs? Weren't they made here?

Why has the walkway from Bitec to BangNa station been half finished - for around two years now? The Bitec side.

Stinks of politics. As usual, shut up plebs.

Is there even a plan to build a walkway to the station?

Maybe half a plan. BITEC to the boundary - built already. Then 150 M of clear air to the station - nrly 2 yrs now.