Sukhumbhand Vows To Make Bangkok's Chinatown Famous

[webfact]

BANGKOK GOVERNOR CANDIDATES WARM UP FOR MARCH 3 POLL

Sukhumbhand vows to make Yaowaraj famous

TANATPONG KONGSAI,

ANAPAT DEECHUAY

THE NATION

Pongsapat aims for 'clean' bid to win March 3 poll

BANGKOK: -- Ex-Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday vowed to make Yaowaraj famous as the best Chinatown in Southeast Asia if he is re-elected in the poll to be held on March 3. The date for the election was announced yesterday.

Sukhumbhand made the promise while launching his election campaign on Yaowaraj Road. It was his first campaign speech since he stepped down as governor of the Bangkok Metropolitan Adminis-tration last Wednesday.

Sukhumbhand told Yaowaraj residents the area was an important attraction that helped make Bangkok one of the best tourist destinations for three consecutive years.

He said he would push for standardising the quality of food served in roadside stalls and restaurants, and would encourage all eateries to have English menus as well.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pong-charoen said yesterday he would highlight "seamless" cooperation with the government in his election campaign.

Pongsapat was speaking to reporters after he met Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to inform her of his decision to resign as a deputy police commissioner-general and secretary-general of the Office of Narcotics Control Board to contest in the gubernatorial poll.

Pongsapat said he would quit the two positions once the Election Commission issues an official announcement to set the election date, which it has now done. The Royal Thai Police had a rule to allow police officers to resign to contest an election, he said.

"The prime minister gave me moral support and would like me to tell Bangkok residents about my strategy that would enjoy seamless cooperation with the government," Pongsapat said.

He said Yingluck pledged full support for him, if elected as the next Bangkok governor, to drive Bangkok to become the centre of the ASEAN Economic Cooperation and to solve all problems, as well as pushing for development of the capital.

Pongsapat said he would not attack other candidates during the election campaign but would focus on detailing his vision on how to develop Bangkok to make city residents happy.

The Pheu Thai Sunday announced it has picked Pongsapat as its candidate.

Pongsapat is scheduled to apply for Pheu Thai Party membership today when he announces his policies as the next Bangkok governor.

He would point out to Bangkokians how he would change the city for the better for the sake of its residents. He would focus on close cooperation with the central government.

He said he would not yet announce his team of deputy governors because he had to consult with Pheu Thai's Bangkok councillors and district councillors first.

Pongsapat added he had no conflict with Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, former Thai Rak Thai executive who is regarded as the leader of the group of Pheu Thai Bangkok MPs. Sudarat was earlier considered as the likely Pheu Thai gubernatorial candidate. He said he would welcome Sudarat's help in the election campaigning.

In a related development, Thaweesak Tuchinda, chairman of the Bangkok Election Committee, said the committee resolved yesterday to hold the gubernatorial election on March 3.

He said candidacy registration wold be held on January 21 to 25.

Thaweesak said election candidates could campaign on social networks of all types on condition they did not slander other candidates, oltherwise they could be disqualified.

-- The Nation 2013-01-15

[Thai at Heart]

He said he would push for standardising the quality of food served in roadside stalls and restaurants, and would encourage all eateries to have English menus as well.

Truly a political visionary

Edited January 15, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[bigbamboo]

The 'best Chinatown'...........is that from a Chinese or non Chinese perspective?

[GiHadOrange]

He said he would push for standardising the quality of food served in roadside stalls and restaurants, and would encourage all eateries to have English menus as well.

Truly a political visionary

Why should china town people vote for this guy?

[dcutman]

Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pong-charoen said yesterday he would highlight "seamless" cooperation with the government in his election campaign.

He is really pushing this point.

While he could be his own man and govern the city that is truly in the best interests of it citizens. It really sounds like he will be taking orders from the upper chain of command of the ruling PTP and their brothers.

[Thai Dreamer]

vowed to make Yaowaraj famous as the best Chinatown in Southeast Asia if he is re-elected

Um, I do not know, but is the country of China in South East Asia ????

Wouldn't a town in china take this out?

[GiHadOrange]

Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pong-charoen said yesterday he would highlight "seamless" cooperation with the government in his election campaign.

He is really pushing this point.

While he could be his own man and govern the city that is truly in the best interests of it citizens. It really sounds like he will be taking orders from the upper chain of command of the ruling PTP and their brothers.

people will have the choice.

[Kananga]

vowed to make Yaowaraj famous as the best Chinatown in Southeast Asia if he is re-elected

Um, I do not know, but is the country of China in South East Asia ????

Wouldn't a town in china take this out?

China is not in South East Asia

[noitom]

He said he would push for standardising the quality of food served in roadside stalls and restaurants, and would encourage all eateries to have English menus as well.

Truly a political visionary

Excellent!

[GiHadOrange]

vowed to make Yaowaraj famous as the best Chinatown in Southeast Asia if he is re-elected

Um, I do not know, but is the country of China in South East Asia ????

Wouldn't a town in china take this out?

Not in China but a district in a town out of china where many expat Chinese or ethnic Chinese people live.

Sukhumbhand thinks the Bangkok Chinatown could become the best in SEA with having English menus in the restaurants. what an odd idea.

[Kananga]

How exactly does he intend to make Chinatown a better Chinatown, by ensuring menus are in English?

Chinatown in Singapore is awful, a tacky tourist trap with crappy souvenir shops and mediocre restaurants on every corner. Is that what is to become of Yaowarat?

Bangkok Chinatown is fine the way it is and seems to be very popular with Chinese tourists already. If it aint broken...

[EyesWideOpen]

This is a funny look at Thai politics. To win a general election in Thailand, you hand out 500 baht notes to the peasants

and promise them a bunch of free stuff. To win in Bangkok you promise to improve Chinatown.

Guess that sort of shows who runs and owns Bangkok......

[Thai at Heart]

vowed to make Yaowaraj famous as the best Chinatown in Southeast Asia if he is re-elected

Um, I do not know, but is the country of China in South East Asia ????

Wouldn't a town in china take this out?

Not in China but a district in a town out of china where many expat Chinese or ethnic Chinese people live.

Sukhumbhand thinks the Bangkok Chinatown could become the best in SEA with having English menus in the restaurants. what an odd idea.

You think that the Chinese restaurant owners are particularly interested in having tourists? Chinatown is basically as it says, a part of town for Chinese.

They are more than capable of organising it themselves if they want. Actually rather patronising to say their food is crap and they can't print their own English menus. Then how would they charge farang price?

Edited January 15, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[GiHadOrange]

vowed to make Yaowaraj famous as the best Chinatown in Southeast Asia if he is re-elected

Um, I do not know, but is the country of China in South East Asia ????

Wouldn't a town in china take this out?

Not in China but a district in a town out of china where many expat Chinese or ethnic Chinese people live.

Sukhumbhand thinks the Bangkok Chinatown could become the best in SEA with having English menus in the restaurants. what an odd idea.

You think that the Chinese restaurant owners are particularly interested in having tourists? Chinatown is basically as it says, a part of town for Chinese.

They are more than capable of organising it themselves if they want. Actually rather patronising to say their food is crap and they can't print their own English menus. Then how would they charge farang price?

indeed.

i doubt that the majority of people living in Chinatown wait for a guy with ideas like that.

[1bbcd5]

I'm awesome like that!

[DocN]

I think he vowed something else lately...and we all remember how well that went!

Futsal Stadium, anyone?

[sprq]

Leave it alone! Chinatown is fine without your interference!

[fire and ice]

IMHO eating in Bangkok's Chinatown is terrible compared to the rest of Bangkok - few street vendors have seats, there is traffic next you everywhere and its extra stinking hot as the smoke & heat from cooking oil gets in your face etc.

Places to eat indoors are few & far between as most actual shops sell gold & Chinese medicine etc.

Note that I have a positive opinion about about eating street food virtually everywhere else in Bangkok including in non-tourist suburbs etc - its great almost everywhere else, Chinatown is hot stinky and full of exhaust fumes and cooking smoke & fumes (in other places this is insignificant to me).

Edited January 15, 2013 by fire and ice

[Thai at Heart]

vowed to make Yaowaraj famous as the best Chinatown in Southeast Asia if he is re-elected

Um, I do not know, but is the country of China in South East Asia ????

Wouldn't a town in china take this out?

Not in China but a district in a town out of china where many expat Chinese or ethnic Chinese people live.

Sukhumbhand thinks the Bangkok Chinatown could become the best in SEA with having English menus in the restaurants. what an odd idea.

You think that the Chinese restaurant owners are particularly interested in having tourists? Chinatown is basically as it says, a part of town for Chinese.

They are more than capable of organising it themselves if they want. Actually rather patronising to say their food is crap and they can't print their own English menus. Then how would they charge farang price?

indeed.

i doubt that the majority of people living in Chinatown wait for a guy with ideas like that.

All in all, a rather big let down. I suggest he come up with some people who can actually come up with some ideas. Unless of course, he has it in the bag already, but with ideas like this, the opposition might well be licking their lips at the prospect of going up against him in these elections.

Cue the PTP candidate to come up with utterly unachieveable goals, which get enough of the gullible to vote for them.

Listening to this uberplan for menus, is Sukhumband under some illusion that Yaowarat or the rest of Bangkok is some kind of utopia that can be fixed with little caveats such as English language menus? What city is he living in?

Traffic has to be the issue surely? Vehicle charging? Interlock the traffic light systems? Although that would probably need a Kray supercomuter for Bangkok. Surely someone has to come up with something?

[Thai at Heart]

IMHO eating in Bangkok's Chinatown is terrible compared to the rest of Bangkok - few street vendors have seats, there is traffic next you everywhere and its extra stinking hot as the smoke & heat from cooking oil gets in your face etc.

Places to eat indoors are few & far between as most actual shops sell gold & Chinese medicine etc.

Note that I have a positive opinion about about eating street food virtually everywhere else in Bangkok including in non-tourist suburbs etc - its great almost everywhere else, Chinatown is hot stinky and full of exhaust fumes and cooking smoke & fumes (in other places this is insignificant to me).

The residents don't seem to be complaining. I heard the restaurants in Klong Toei aren't too hot either.

[eddie61]

The 'best Chinatown'...........is that from a Chinese or non Chinese perspective?

Vowed: translation = lied

Thai politician's promises are worth less than a street hooker's

[eddie61]

The 'best Chinatown'...........is that from a Chinese or non Chinese perspective?

Vowed: translation = lied

Thai politician's promises are worth less than a street hooker's

Apologies if I insulted any street hookers: in my experience they have some morals

[belg]

maybe he can push those street vendors to : wash their hands, clean the cutterly and stop buying deseased chicken, rat or dog to mix in their foods ?

[Locationthailand]

Why not vow to clear traffic for pedestrians and all the illegal vendors? That would attract more people...

[GreenSnapper]

The hub of China towns!

Actually, I like BKK China town, despite the noise, the heat, the traffic and the fumes.

There is lots of good food to be found, which is not available elsewhere in Thailand. And a great place for taking photos.

[TackyToo]

Sukhumbhand vows to make Yaowaraj famous.

for what? Rhino horns, Ivory, Nembutal or just the typical TMC and Chinese "cuisine" crap?

[stoli]

He said he would push for standardising the quality of food served in roadside stalls and restaurants, and would encourage all eateries to have English menus as well.

Truly a political visionary

Why should china town people vote for this guy?

Ex-Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday vowed to make Yaowaraj famous as the best Chinatown in Southeast Asia if he is re-elected in the poll to be held on March 3. The date for the election was announced yesterday.

He knows that the Chinese New Year is next month, and he is looking for votes. Even the Chinatown in San Francisco is much nicer than the one in Bangkok. And yes, they are Chinese in S.F.

[attento]

maybe he can push those street vendors to : wash their hands, clean the cutterly and stop buying deseased chicken, rat or dog to mix in their foods ?

that's all part of the "visit Thailand" experience. A land of excitment, thrills and spills, a hint of danger. Very few foreign visitors can honestly say they dont expect different standards from their home country. How many of these foreign visitors would buy and eat something unidentifiable from a street vendor in their own country ? caveat emptor.

[GiHadOrange]

He said he would push for standardising the quality of food served in roadside stalls and restaurants, and would encourage all eateries to have English menus as well.

Truly a political visionary

Why should china town people vote for this guy?

Ex-Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday vowed to make Yaowaraj famous as the best Chinatown in Southeast Asia if he is re-elected in the poll to be held on March 3. The date for the election was announced yesterday.

He knows that the Chinese New Year is next month, and he is looking for votes. Even the Chinatown in San Francisco is much nicer than the one in Bangkok. And yes, they are Chinese in S.F.

Well, ask a resident of Yaworat if he wants his home district turned into a Disneyland like in America with English menu and fish & baked beans for the tourists to come. and not forget the new set of regulations and restrictions for their beloved roadside foodstalls so authorities can charge them for any violation of that new set of rules.

Will they love it or do they see their home turf with a different set of eyes then the tourists on thaivisaforum?

[Payboy]

Ex-Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday vowed to make Yaowaraj famous as the best Chinatown in Southeast Asia if he is re-elected in the poll to be held on March 3.

It's gonna need a lot of spit and polish.