BANGKOK GOVERNOR RACE 2013

The countdown begins

Jintana Panyaarvudh,

Attayuth Bootsripoom

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The battle for Bangkok governor officially starts today - the first day of candidate registration. The election will be a direct contest between the two major parties, the ruling Pheu Thai and the opposition Democrat Party. None of the political parties linked to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - Thai Rak Thai, People Power, and Pheu Thai - has won the election even when they were in power. Despite winning the general elections to run the country, they have never won the hearts of Bangkokians. The Democrats have retained their popularity in Bangkok. The Nation talks to the two campaign managers.

Ong-art Klampaiboon’s interview

Continuity will be the key message the Democrat Party will convey during its election campaign after having governed the capital city for eight years.

"Our campaign strategy is to convince voters to vote for our candidate MR Sukhumbhand [Paribatra] so that he can continue his work, with the full collaboration of our Bangkok MPs and local council members," Ong-art Klampaiboon, the Democrat Party campaign manager, told The Nation.

Policies will be proposed to voters in Bangkok on safety, traffic, quality of life, the environment, and significantly, how to make Bangkok the world's top tourist destination.

Under the Democrat Party's local administration, the capital city won tourism awards several times. Bangkok has been named "World's Best City" by Travel + Leisure magazine's survey of its readers for three consecutive years since 2010.

"The awards were given to us by others. It means they recognised us. This could be used in our PR campaign," he said

While Pheu Thai is keen to introduce new policies, the Democrats won't propose any striking or "wow" policies, Ong-art said, adding, the party had run Bangkok for eight years and was aware which policies could or could not be done.

"We are realistic and won't propose any exaggerated policies. We will implement what we promised in the last election and continue to deliver what we promise in this election," he said.

Ong-art was not much concerned about Pheu Thai's "seamless" campaign. Pheu Thai is urging voters to choose the government's candidate for seamless cooperation between the national and city administration. He said it was a formula used by every government when it had to compete with the opposition. Voters would pick the candidate who put up realistic policies, he said.

The Democrat Party has won three consecutive Bangkok governor polls, including a by-election, while they were the opposition party but Ong-art admitted the battle this time is tougher than in previous elections. "Politics has changed a lot and the government has thrown its whole effort to win. Especially, fugitive ex-premier Thaksin [shinawatra] recently expressed confidence that Pheu Thai would definitely win. We fear that they may take advantage of legal loopholes," he said.

The two main candidates - Sukhumbhand and Pheu Thai's Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen - have contrasting characters. Sukhumbhand is seen as a person not so keen to communicate with the public while Pongsapat appeared to be a PR man or a person keen to make news or publicise himself. Pongsapat appears down-to-earth while Sukhumbhand looks the opposite. However, the campaign manager was not concerned about the contrasting personalities.

"Sukhumbhand is truly himself. We cannot change or portray him as another person. People have known him as Khun Chai all his life. We have to present the truth to voters," he said.

In Ong-art's view, Sukhumbhand does not have the gift of the gab and is too much of a "gentleman". He is not a person who always counterattacks. But his ability, well-rounded personality, devotion and good intention to work, sincerity, and considerable experience will help cover his weak points, he said.

Sukhumbhand has also faced several accusations during his term. For example, signing an extension of the Skytrain's operations contract with Bangkok Mass Transit System without due authority, failing to meet the deadline for the futsal stadium construction, and failing to solve the flood problem in Bangkok. But Ong-art said those accusations were not related to corruption scandals. "This could be the right time for Sukhumbhand to clarify about the accusations, during his campaign," he said.

The campaign manager said the Bangkok governor candidate would get votes from all sections of society otherwise he would not get up to a million votes.

-- The Nation 2013-01-21

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS (2)

Pheu Thai unveils grand plan for Bangkok

Achara Deboonme,

Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Phumtham Wechayachai, secretary-general of Pheu Thai Party, which runs the central government, wants to sell Bangkok voters on a practical strategy to improve their quality of life and make their city one of the world's leading capitals.

"Give us a chance," he said.

"The race [for governor] is of great importance to the party since Bangkok is an integral part of the national economic and social development strategy. As the world is looking east and Bangkok stands to benefit from this chiefly through Pheu Thai's infrastructure development policies, people in Bangkok have to realise the city has potential.

"Bangkok will be the regional centre linked to the world. To achieve this, seamless cooperation matters," he said in an interview. "Like in water management, we have a national strategy but it can't work at full efficiency without support from downstream Bangkok."

To Phumtham, in charge of Pheu Thai’s Bangkok election campaign, in a fast-changing world, Thailand is positioning itself as the centre of Asean, which is drawing global attention with its integration under the Asean Economic Community (AEC). Bangkok will be part of this and without its support, the national agenda may not be accomplished, he said. Bangkok couldn't afford to be "left behind" just because its voters put political division ahead of "national interest".

In regard to some voters' belief that Bangkok should be supervised by the Democrats while Pheu Thai rules the country, he said the Democrats were active at both levels. At local government level, the Democrats command the majority of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council. If Pheu Thai's choice, Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen, is elected Bangkok governor, the council could play the opposition role.

Today, as Pongsapat will register as a candidate, he will unveil the first set of policies chiefly aimed at improving the quality of life and offering new opportunities.

The campaign plan, which has 12 points, is shaped by Pheu Thai's four themes - connectivity, balance of life, resource allocation and preparation for the AEC.

For example, in connectivity, Bangkok would be the centre of the future high-speed train network. Commuters could travel from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima in just 15 minutes, once it the line is done. And Bangkok would need a transit system that could serve mounting demand.

"This is not a political ambush policy to take control of the national government and the Bangkok administration. Under our master plan, Bangkok is the centre of everything and its prosperity will be shared by everyone in the country, so it'll be easier if the Bangkok governor comes from the same party.

"Hindrances are promised if the national and local governments don't share the same concept," he said.

The campaign policies are geared towards everybody living and working in Bangkok, including the four to five million voters, residents of neighbouring provinces who work in Bangkok and foreign workers. Like at the national level, where the needs and demands of people in each province differ, Pheu Thai also sees different needs for people in different Bangkok districts.

Diverse policies are designed to support Bangkok's future as a key Asian metropolis, through surveys and focus group meetings. Like at the national level, residents and non-residents would be offered new opportunities.

Voting for Pongsapat is like voting for Pheu Thai, as all parts of the party are ready to help his promises materialise. He stands a chance, Phumtham said. Bangkok has been run by Democrat governors for eight years. Bangkok people will have to ask themselves if they are happy with their performance. Pheu Thai deserves victory if voters share the idea Bangkok must change, he added.

New to politics, Pongsapat could learn to overcome weak points and work with Pheu Thai. Democrat candidate MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra appears to have the upper hand as he has more information on Bangkok. Yet, Pongsapat offers a fresh approach for voters who may be dissatisfied.

"Give us a chance," said Phumtham. "We want to win the Bangkok governor race. Higher efficiency will gear Bangkok and the entire country towards the better future. Pheu Thai comes as the second in Bangkok, but we can prove that we can offer the capital city new opportunities. In this fast-changing world, Bangkok must change and time doesn't wait."

-- The Nation 2013-01-21

Whist the argument by the Reds is always against the BKK populace, there is little in the PTP track record that would entice intelligent Bangkokians to vote for them. The Dems may be a bit lame but they have proven track record on which to hang their laurels. But as for the comments on traffic management, only international intervention, timed traffic lights and hefty policing of drivers who infringe basic driving skills will change that. Further easing of congestion through removal of stupid vote buying like 100,000 Baht rebates for 1st car buyers will certainly 'defoliate' a bit of the traffic but as for the votes, Dubai's puppet master would be increasing his strangle hold threatening any form of real governance thus Bangkok should vote against PTP candidates simply to prevent any further intrusion to fill the coffers of the Shinawatra clan.

City election officially kicked off amid cheers, high hopes

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 21 – The Thai capital's City Hall was overwhelmed with hustle and bustle this morning as almost 20 candidates for the Bangkok gubernatorial election registered their candidacies for the March 3 poll.

Two strongest rivals, Pongsapat Pongcharoen of the ruling Pheu Thai Party and Sukhumbhand Paribatra of the Democrat Party, were given No. 9 and No. 16 respectively as their “election ID.”

Most candidates arrived at Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) headquarters before sunrise – hours before the official registration which started at 8.30am. All 16 candidates were subject to a lot-drawing procedure to get their respective ID numbers for the ballot and election campaign.

Ex-Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand said No. 16 is a positive sign that he will be elected as the 16th governor of Bangkok, adding that Bangkokians are intelligent enough to know whom to vote for without caring much about the candidacy number.

In every poll, candidates prefer a single-digit number, if not No. 1, which is easier for voters to remember and for the candidates to raise their fingers with two hands to show their election ID. A number below five is preferable as the candidate need raise only one hand, and use the other to wave to the crowd, during his election campaign.

Mr Sukhumbhand, Bangkok governor for the last four years, said ex-city governor Apirak Kosayodhin will be in charge of campaign strategy in which the social network is included while the traditional door-knocking campaign is compulsory. Mr Apirak was Mr Sukhumbhand’s predecessor at the BMA.

Charupong Ruangsuwan, leader of the Pheu Thai Party under which Pol Gen Pongsapat is contesting, said his party was asking for change to a new and better Bangkok after the rival Democrat Party has led the BMA for eight years.

Admitting that Pol Gen Pongsapat was trailing behind Mr Sukhumbhand in most surveys, he said the Pheu Thai’s campaign policy of naming Bangkok as “AEC Metropolis” is not merely for Bangkokians but also for suburban people. AEC stands for ASEAN Economic Community which is set to be effective in 2015.

Other candidates received numbers as follows: Vila Udom (1), Varanchai Chokechana (2), Capt Metta Temchamnan (3), Sophon Pornchokechai (4), Smith Smittinand (5), Sanhapote Suksrimuang (6), Mr Natdanai Pubetattavich (7), Mr Sumet Tantanasirikul (8), Pol Gen Pongsapat (9), Mr Kosit Suvinitjit (10), Pol Gen Seripisut Temiyavej (11), Mrs Jongjit Hiranlarp (12), Mr Vasin Pirom (13), Mr Prateep Vacharachokekasem (14), Mr Chamras Intumarn (15) and Mr Sukhumbhand (16). (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-21