BANGKOK POLL TRACKER

Toilets at all bus-stops, Pongsapat says

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen promised yesterday to build public toilets at all 4,900-plus bus stops in the capital if he is elected as the next Bangkok governor.

He also promised to set up 38 24-hour outlets at district offices to serve Bangkokians non-stop.

Pongsapat said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration under his leadership would not suffer from floods.

He would also implement a Bt10 flat rate for air-conditioned buses and would use a flat rate of Bt20 for BTS Skytrain services while all non-air-conditioned buses would provide services free of charge.

He said he would build small incinerators for all communities to reduce the build-up of garbage.

The BMA would also boost the number of security cameras and ensure Bangkok residents' houses were free from theft all-year round.

Monorail, tunnel and bridge among Sukhumbhand's plans

Democrat Party candidate Sukhumbhand Paribatra unveiled his plan yesterday to build a monorail from Watcharapol to Rama IX bridge, if he is re-elected as Bangkok governor.

He said the monorail would cover Lat Phrao and Din Daeng and serve Bangkok residents living in a 200 square-kilometre area.

If the central government did not provide the budget, the city administration would use its own money. The first stage would be 8km long from Watcharapol to Lat Phrao, he said.

Sukhumbhand unveiled the plan while campaigning at Victory Monument, where he sat on the sidewalk and ate khao larm (bamboo-stuffed sticky rice) from a roadside vendor.

He said traffic would worsen when cars bought under the first-car scheme hit the road this year.

He would tackle traffic problems with a long-term plan by building a tunnel under the Srinakharin Intersection and also build a bridge over the Chao Phraya at Kiakkai.

Promises breach electoral law, Abhisit says

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday called on the Election Commission to monitor the campaign of Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen.

Abhisit alleged Pongsapat may have violated the election law by promising to do things beyond the power of the Bangkok governor.

Abhisit said reducing rental fees at Chatuchak Weekend Market and providing free bus and boat services were duties of the transport minister, not the BMA governor.

"I want the EC to ensure that the law will not be violated," Abhisit said.

BMA warning over signs

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration yesterday threatened to remove all election campaign signs that violate the BMA directive on posters.

BMA City Clerk Ninnat Chalitanon said election candidates must also remove all the signs within three days after the election on March 3.

Ninnat said the directive clearly stated which areas are prohibited for campaign signs.

Mostly, signs are not allowed in an area that would block views of motorists, as they could be dangerous for drivers.

Posters would not be allowed on road islands, or on any part of pedestrian bridges and vehicle flyovers, traffic signs and lights, bus stops, phone booths, government offices and their walls.

The signs were not allowed near Chitralada Palace, on the Royal Plaza, and on Rajdamnoen Road either, Ninnat said.

The 18 Bangkok governor candidates

Eighteen candidates have registered to run in the Bangkok

gubernatorial election and drew their ballot numbers on Monday:

1 Wila Udom; 2 Waranchai Chokechana; 3 Metta Temchamnarn; 4 Sopon Pornchokechai; 5 Samit Samitthinan;

6 Sanhapoj Suksrimuang; 7 Natthadani Phubetatthawit; 8 Sumet Tanthanasirikul; 9 Pongsapat Pongcharoen;

10 Kosit Suwinijjit; 11 Sereepisuth Temeeyaves; 12 Jongjit Hiranlarp; 13 Wasin Pirom; 14 Prateep Watcharachokkasem; 15 Jamras Inthumas; 16 Sukhumbhand Paribatra; 17 Suharit Siamwalla; 18 Nannapas Kosaiyakanon

-- The Nation 2013-01-23

He forgot to mention taxis that are flying pigs.

Bkk needs more public toilets, but does it need this many? Also, more bins would be nice. Maybe a video clip on the sky train, etc, explaining how to use them.

Something like this?

He forgot to mention taxis that are flying pigs.

Bkk needs more public toilets, but does it need this many? Also, more bins would be nice. Maybe a video clip on the sky train, etc, explaining how to use them.

Agree,

You can add all the new bins you like,

as they don't empty the ones already in place the point is moot.

Incinerators would produce smoke and pollute the air more in the City.

Toilets would have to be cleaned, who is gonna clean them?

More lip service and the last thing Thailand needs is 4,900 'Thai' toilets in Bangkok as stinking eyesores in the streets. Where will they fit them? Amongst the illegal street vendors? You can't walk down any footpath in Thailand without being forced on the roadway already. Add a "hong naam" and you would need a traffic cop to monitor the queues. I wonder who comes up with these blind ideas?

He wants to build incinerators to reduce the build of garbage?

Perhaps a basic course in environmental science is what he needs most. BKK has a problem with air pollution far more serious than the build up of garbage. BKK cannot take any more air pollution. The city needs less heavy metals and organics in the air that the people breath.

How about some recycling centers and a public education to reduce unnecessary packaging; Real fines for illegal dumping and littering enforcement of the existing BMA environmental protection laws in respect to the dumping of raw sewage and industrial effluent?

None of the candidates wants to tackle these issues.BKK is one stinky, filthy place.

It would be nice if a governor said something about more green space, more trees & less pavement and a cleanup of the klongs.

...blah blah blah bins blah blah toilets blah blah free buses blah blah no floods blah blah...

And for a word from the other candidate:

...blah blah tunnel blah blah bridge....

Total waste of money. Within a short period they will have the same fate as the public water dispensers. broken and dysfunctional. I was glad the BMA removed most of the old telephone booths and now they want to obstruct the sidewalks again? Come on.

Every Thai bus stop already resembles a toilet.. please please no more open air s**tholes !!

Think of the money....

Will these be organized by Mr Happy Toilet from Chalerm's lot?

BTW, what happened to the PTP 20 Baht BTS flat rate election promise??

]Toilets at all bus-stops, Pongsapat says

How appropriate, considering the BMA bus "service" is crap anyway.

He wants to build incinerators to reduce the build of garbage?

Perhaps a basic course in environmental science is what he needs most. BKK has a problem with air pollution far more serious than the build up of garbage. BKK cannot take any more air pollution. The city needs less heavy metals and organics in the air that the people breath.

How about some recycling centers and a public education to reduce unnecessary packaging; Real fines for illegal dumping and littering enforcement of the existing BMA environmental protection laws in respect to the dumping of raw sewage and industrial effluent?

None of the candidates wants to tackle these issues.BKK is one stinky, filthy place.

It would be nice if a governor said something about more green space, more trees & less pavement and a cleanup of the klongs.

Must be your birthday or something, i actually agree with you for a change

BTW, what happened to the PTP 20 Baht BTS flat rate election promise??

That was once all 10 routes were built.

As with most things here, these new toilets will be subject to corruption.

Only recently a stock check was done in a large public toilet at the main bus station in Ratachisma by the government audit department.

Results later revealed that the manager was embezzling. He was twenty one shits short and at least twenty five gallons light of pish.

As with most things here, these new toilets will be subject to corruption.

Only recently a stock check was done in a large public toilet at the main bus station in Ratachisma by the government audit department.

Results later revealed that the manager was embezzling. He was twenty one shits short and at least twenty five gallons light of pish.

Had the best laugh of the week here!!! Great posting...

I can't believe you guys are actually debating some of the promises as if they may actually happen.

They are all lies. Empty promises for the masses created purely with intention to get their vote. None of them will happen....but what does that matter once he's elected?

He definitely stole the PTP playbook and has taken it to a whole new level.

Now this is breakthrough campaigning! Toilets at bus stops. 38 of them!! Boy oh boy these Thais, they sure knowhow to campaign.

It's only the start of a month+ campaigning for these hopeful...(should read hopeless) wanna be politicians....and already we are seeing the level of inteligence displayed over this time....think any Thais will swallow any of it?

Again..or still, Thailand is bombarded with drivel from people that have the IQs of split peas!

Is Thailand becoming the toilet hub now??

The promises made by politicians in the Bangkok governor's elections are just one big joke. When are the Thai people going to realize that these campaign promises are just smoking mirrows? Just look at what Yingluck promised during her election and how many programs have been successfully implemented.

Until Thailand can hold their politicians accountable for their promises, it will continue to be more of the same. So Sad!

The promises made by politicians in the Bangkok governor's elections are just one big joke. When are the Thai people going to realize that these campaign promises are just smoking mirrows? Just look at what Yingluck promised during her election and how many programs have been successfully implemented.

Until Thailand can hold their politicians accountable for their promises, it will continue to be more of the same. So Sad!

smoking mirrows = smoke and mirrors.

Considering that buses stop in the middle lane, a couple of port-a-cabins in the middle of every Bangkok road would cause considerable merriment.

More lip service and the last thing Thailand needs is 4,900 'Thai' toilets in Bangkok as stinking eyesores in the streets. Where will they fit them? Amongst the illegal street vendors? You can't walk down any footpath in Thailand without being forced on the roadway already. Add a "hong naam" and you would need a traffic cop to monitor the queues. I wonder who comes up with these blind ideas?

Pongsapat Pongcharoen came up with it..it tells you in the article!!

But what silly promises, who would believe this sort of thing?

True, most governments and politician take the citizens to be idiots but this is bringing it to a new level.

I guess the people who will believe this are the same one who did believe the many promises of Mr Taksin..like he will make every Thai citizen rich in 6 months after elected

All of these promises raise lots of questions. For instance, why are the more important projects, like traffic alleviation, not already being planned and worked on? The point is that you don't wait for elections to do this stuff....unless you are not really going to do it. I mean, where is the accountability for politicians both making such promises and for not keeping them if they don't do what they promise?

This shows the lack of an effective or meaningful civil society or real government oversight by the public. Is the public asking for that many toilets? And, as others have said, where will they be placed and who will keep them clean? And, as is typical for countries where personal freedoms come second to government and it's big business cronies, it is glaring that there are record auto sales in Thailand (good for the economy, right?) but nothing being done about the public infrastructure that is already way over its limit with autos. Doesn't anybody see the obvious transparent pandering by the current Bangkok mayor with his plans for congestion management? This is the type of planning the belongs anywhere but in the hands of politicians.

Incinerators would produce smoke and pollute the air more in the City.

Toilets would have to be cleaned, who is gonna clean them?

Wasn't one of Chalerm's sons given the job ??

Posts containing derogatory comments toward Thais have been removed as well as the replies.

Incinerators would produce smoke and pollute the air more in the City.

Toilets would have to be cleaned, who is gonna clean them?

No problem those are details the important thing is to get your vote.

Maybe they could dry the sh-t out and burn it in the incinerators.

You have to admit there is nothing like a ride to the smell of burning garbage.

Put toilets on the buses themselves, easily cleaned at the end of each day.