I Sell The Truth, Not Dreams: Sukhumbhand

[Lite Beer]

GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

I sell the truth, not dreams: Sukhumbhand

Kornchanok Raksaseri,

Tanatpong Kongsai,

Attayuth Bootsripoom

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat Party's Bangkok governor candidate MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra was emotional and lost his temper during a speech on Friday evening.

But it seems the question that pricked him - whether he would have left the party and run as an independent candidate if the party had not picked him - was not the only pain in his neck.

"I wish I didn't have to answer questions about (opinion) polls every day," he repeated in an exclusive interview with The Nation, saying he would rather highlight his achievements in the past and his knowledge of the job and newsjsexperience. He knew the city's needs and what was possible for a Bangkok governor.

"I have served the position for four years. If I still promote policies that cannot be done or are outside a Bangkok governor's mandate, where can I hide my face (with embarrassment)? The only thing I can do is sell the truth, not dreams," he said.

Opinion polls over the past few weeks suggest his popularity is second to Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen from the Pheu Thai Party.

Sukhumbhand said he did not pay much attention to survey results and questioned the credibility of them. He repeated many times that he did not want to comment about poll results.

He was not looking at other candidates - only competing with himself. If polls had suggested that he was leading, they may make him less competitive due to carelessness.

He was not as worried as he had been four years ago, he said, when opinion polls before the election suggested he would win.

The former Bangkok governor said he evaluated feedback from people's eyes and gestures during his election campaign. The feedback was good and was not different from when he first ran for the post four years ago. He has yet to see if this positive response will be replicated in the form of votes for him on March 3.

On the question of why he had not implemented many policies he promoted during his first term, Sukhumbhand said it took time to study and prepare them.

"Something I wanted to do, such as a rail-based mass transit system, is not instant. First, it needs study on how to design the routes and second, it needs a study of the market's demand. Sometimes that can take up to two years. Now I have a conclusion for one route from Bang Na BTS station to Suvarnabhumi Airport," he said.

Moreover, he said that during the first term, he spent a lot of time implementing policies promoted by his predecessor, Apirak Kosayodhin and the Democrat Party. They included the 10,000 closed-circuit cameras' project under which 24,000 CCTV had been installed during his term.

"This time I will [concentrate on] my own policies," he said.

While Pongsapat promotes 'seamless' cooperation with the central government, Sukhumbhand said he had no problem working with government officials under a Pheu Thai administration. Local and central governments should share and discuss ideas on particular issues, and the incumbent government of Yingluck Shinawatra agreed with his proposals to solve and prevent flood problems in Bangkok.

The measures included preparing places in Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi to hold floodwater and delay it before reaching Bangkok, constructing walls along Rangsit Canal 4-metres above average sea level, improving Chulalongkorn Water Gate and other water gates, he said.

He said it was not reported in the news when his Bangkok government went along well with the central government - there was only news if they had a conflict.

Sukhumbhand opposed Democrats who during the 2011 election campaign cited the 2010 political turmoil during the red-shirts' rally to attack their opponents. He only spoke on policies that were about good issues and he did not acknowledge ideas of other Democrats and his supporters.

"Political attacks are normal. I have been in politics for more than 10 years, so I understand. At this moment, my former position is really attractive. Many parties want it. That's fine. I myself want it (the position), so how can I blame others (for longing for the post)," he said laughing.

-- The Nation 2013-02-11

[Ricardo]

Sadly many Thai voters seem to prefer dreams, or 'pre-election promises' as another politician calls them, to the truth.

[Locationthailand]

I don't think he has done a bad job compared to some precious governors and he is solid. One foot in front of the other using a limited budget handed down from the govt. Major hiccups like the central govt's first car buyer scheme throws a spanner in his works but any governor would have issues over that and PTP are pipe dreaming traffic management which has consistently failed since 1996 irrespective of governance. If I had a right to vote he would have mine. Give the guy a chance, he has the track record.

[noitom]

Thai are not interested in truth and reality. You can see by the news in the paper and the reporting. Facts and reality are ignored. Issues are discussed and "strategies" proposed without being in touch with what's really happening and the true state of affairs. Thais live in denial and duplicity. For example they criticize airline calendars for featuring girls in bikinis as giving "Thai woman a bad rap." but prostitution and sex trade is all around and massive and everyone know it and profits from it. That's just one example.

[h90]

Sadly many Thai voters seem to prefer dreams, or 'pre-election promises' as another politician calls them, to the truth.

I don't know for Bangkok, but upcountry they prefer cash money and not dreams.

[OzMick]

Re rail infrastructure, he said "First, it needs study on how to design the routes and second, it needs a study of the market's demand. Sometimes that can take up to two years."

What a refreshingly novel approach, for Thailand at least, where the first thing decided is the content of the lunchboxes.

[FarangTalk]

Now I have a conclusion for one route from Bang Na BTS station to Suvarnabhumi Airport," he said.

What a ridiculous idea. There is absolutely no need for another rail link to the airport given the first one is a tragic failure and owes billions.

No wonder the public are going to punt him in; he's achieved nothing in his tenure.

He obviously cannot control himself either. Don't let the door hit you on the way out Sukhumbhand.

[muttley]

Re rail infrastructure, he said "First, it needs study on how to design the routes and second, it needs a study of the market's demand. Sometimes that can take up to two years."

What a refreshingly novel approach, for Thailand at least, where the first thing decided is the content of the lunchboxes.

And what a refreshingly novel U Turn for someone who thinks that Rail Project Feasibility studies are a waste of money

AirAsia CNX-BKK for around B2000 (slightly more or less depending on flight) and around 1.25 hrs.

Any guesstimate on High-Speed Rail fares and travel time? If the same fare as AA, will take 300,000 passenger trips to GROSS the cost of the feasibility study.

[DocN]

Shouldn't that read "I sell my soul and sh1t on your dreams"?

[ThaidDown]

Why shouldn't he sell the truth, probably to the highest bidder, he's a politician so he's got no use for it.

[mistitikimikis]

Dream on Khun Sukhumbhand! Who is doing your PR and marketing??

[OzMick]

Re rail infrastructure, he said "First, it needs study on how to design the routes and second, it needs a study of the market's demand. Sometimes that can take up to two years."

What a refreshingly novel approach, for Thailand at least, where the first thing decided is the content of the lunchboxes.

And what a refreshingly novel U Turn for someone who thinks that Rail Project Feasibility studies are a waste of money

AirAsia CNX-BKK for around B2000 (slightly more or less depending on flight) and around 1.25 hrs.

Any guesstimate on High-Speed Rail fares and travel time? If the same fare as AA, will take 300,000 passenger trips to GROSS the cost of the feasibility study.

How does that quote say that the feasibility studies are a waste of money? I was pointing out that HSR will never cover the most basic costs associated with it if it wishes to be competitively priced, and have pointed out numerous times that no economic feasibility study seems to have been done. I would like very much to see a study on passenger numbers expected, at what ticket price, running costs, and estimated time for capital recovery.

Another reading and comprehension FAIL.

[Payboy]

Everyone's had enough of reality already, now all that sells is dreams.

[ib1b4]

Selling the truth? Is this not the governor that was cought out sand bagging the storm water drains ?

[h90]

Selling the truth? Is this not the governor that was cought out sand bagging the storm water drains ?

yes which prevents flooding as he could explain and what is clear for everyone with a basic education.

When overloaded else the deepest points of the network would be flooded, so he blocked these with sandbags and installed pumps there.

Done well!

[h90]

Now I have a conclusion for one route from Bang Na BTS station to Suvarnabhumi Airport," he said.

What a ridiculous idea. There is absolutely no need for another rail link to the airport given the first one is a tragic failure and owes billions.

No wonder the public are going to punt him in; he's achieved nothing in his tenure.

He obviously cannot control himself either. Don't let the door hit you on the way out Sukhumbhand.

yes but he isn't corrupt....for what PTP cronies would take into their pockets you could buy a few useless BTS stations.....

[indyuk]

Now I have a conclusion for one route from Bang Na BTS station to Suvarnabhumi Airport," he said.

What a ridiculous idea. There is absolutely no need for another rail link to the airport given the first one is a tragic failure and owes billions.

No wonder the public are going to punt him in; he's achieved nothing in his tenure.

He obviously cannot control himself either. Don't let the door hit you on the way out Sukhumbhand.

yes but he isn't corrupt....for what PTP cronies would take into their pockets you could buy a few useless BTS stations.....

Then we wonder why he allowed / caused a 195 Billion rail transport ops contract to be signed withou seeking the required authority from the Thai Government?

[FarangTalk]

yes but he isn't corrupt....

There has been suspicion on Sukhumband over the dummy security cameras .

He's also been charged over the BTS contracts scandal by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

[FarangTalk]

Then we wonder why he allowed / caused a 195 Billion rail transport ops contract to be signed withou seeking the required authority from the Thai Government?

Beat me to it.

[rubl]

Then we wonder why he allowed / caused a 195 Billion rail transport ops contract to be signed withou seeking the required authority from the Thai Government?

Beat me to it.

Allegedly, according to k. Tarit who found a somewhat older law which might be interpreted in the right way. Mind you, of course he's more likely to accept the word of a Police General than that of someone like Mr. Sukhumbhand. That's something all Bangkok people and it's electorate will clearly understand

[Tanaka]

"sell the truth"? So he is flogging fortune cookies now then?