Chalerm in bid to aid Thai workers in M'sia

The Nation

KUALA LUMPUR: -- Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday discussed ways to improve the welfare of tom yam restaurant workers in Malaysia and offer them educational opportunities.

He will today meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak as part of a trip to address unrest in the southern border provinces.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at 9am this morning.

Chalerm paid a call yesterday on Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein. According to the Malaysian government news agency Bernama, the two agreed to explore five issues, including prisoner transfers, an extradition treaty, a memorandum of understanding on transnational crimes and cooperation on Thai migrant workers.

Earlier in the day, Chalerm sat for a discussion with the governors of Thailand's five southernmost provinces and met the Thai ambassador to Malaysia.

He also talked with representatives of Thai-owned tom yam restaurants. Authorities estimate that there are more than 5,000 such restaurants in Malaysia, each hiring between 20 and 30 Thai workers.

According to an informed source, Thai authorities have long suspected that the tom yam restaurants in Malaysia have served as financial fronts for the insurgency and provide shelter to the insurgents who carry out attacks on Thai soil.

This view changed last year under the direction of Tawee Sodsong, secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre. Instead of seeing the tom yam restaurants as threats, Thai authorities are now paying attention to the quality of life of the workers.

Chalerm said negotiation, not the use of violence, would be the best way to end the unrest in the South. He also instructed provincial governors to actively engage local administrative officials in the efforts to restore peace.

"Local officials know best about the situation," he said.

-- The Nation 2013-01-10

What a truly bizarre story. The govt is going to aid educationion for overseas thai workers in a thai company.

How?

Maybe Big Bother will start visiting tom yum resto's in Malaysia to give them educational talks on manipulating Thai society from other countries.

Long term exposure to ear medication seem to have further impaired his performance.

I was under the impression that Chalerm was going to Malaysia to talk about defeating terrorism (or whatever he is calling it this week) and now he seems to be on a crusade to promote the consumption of spicy prawn soup throughout Malaysia

Maybe Big Bother will start visiting tom yum resto's in Malaysia to give them educational talks on manipulating Thai society from other countries.

Big Bother? Typo, maybe. True, absolutely!

I thought the best bit was Chalerm met the THAI governors of the 5 southern provinces in Malaysia rather than go into the danger zone...Thailand. pussy

sent from my Q6

Edited January 10, 201313 yr by thaicbr

Someone is going to make a nice packet of money acting as the conduit to these workers, if they see anything at all.

Yet another way to reward those loyal to their shirt color.

Someone is Malaysia is going to be shopping for a new Mercedes as well.

I thought the best bit was Chalerm met the THAI governors of the 5 southern provinces in Malaysia rather than go into the danger zone...Thailand. pussy

sent from my Q6

And looking at him on tv yesterday, i swear he was wearing a big vest under his suit. Say what u like but this guy normally looks very dapper. Yesterday, he looked like Michelin man.

One of the most preposterous and editorially inept stories ever appearing even in this low grade news forum.

I think this all ties in with the Southern boarder issue, they are going to turn the whole region into a Tom Yam restaurant,

Now I got an idea what his son was doing as a fugitive in Malaysia... Must have made many friends there while hiding in a tom yam restaurant.

Edited January 10, 201313 yr by TackyToo

One of the most preposterous and editorially inept stories ever appearing even in this low grade news forum.

It's not the story that's inept. Ironically your post rather lowers the grade even further.

This is about a cowardly bully grand standing by doing the foreign minister's job & spending time on discussing restaurant workers who are probably better off financially than they would be working at home.

His job is supposed to be in the south of Thailand. Why doesn't he do it?

Wonder how happy FM-Surapong is, that Chalerm seems to be doing his job for him, negotiating with the PM of Malaysia ?

Visit Malaysia in the south, just across the southern provinces where people die daily....

First action reported in the news:

"discussed ways to improve the welfare of tom yam restaurant workers in Malaysia"

Deputy PM in charge of security is he?

"Thai authorities have long suspected that the tom yam restaurants in Malaysia have served as financial fronts for the insurgency and provide shelter to the insurgents who carry out attacks on Thai soil.,

This view changed last year under the direction of Tawee Sodsong, secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre. Instead of seeing the tom yam restaurants as threats, Thai authorities are now paying attention to the quality of life of the workers."

Seriously, this part is pure jewel, don't know if I should ROFL or cry.......

5000 restaurant x 20-30 worker is a lot of potential terrorist connections... But since last year, we like them again, just help them................

Ohh, I know, maybe send them some rice, apparently there is plenty in stock ........

"Local officials know best about the situation," he said "leave me well and truly out of it!"

Edited January 10, 201313 yr by OzMick