Thai Govt's First-Car Scheme Slammed On Social Media

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Govt's first-car scheme slammed on social media
ASINA PORNWASIN



BANGKOK: -- The government's first-car tax-rebate scheme appears to be a boon for the auto industry and oil and gas companies. So far, the project has drawn some 800,000 applicants, which will translate to another 800,000 cars on Bangkok's already busy streets.

Bangkok residents, already suffering from bad traffic jams, are now furious about huge snarls on the roads and many have taken to voicing their complaints on the social-media network.

Facebook user Rungnapa Sukhmol said this first-car tax rebate scheme was nothing more than a political game because the price of fuel is continuing to rise.

Chirawat Sitarachiyanon said this first-car tax-rebate scheme did not really address the problem of transportation for people with no cars, because many people making use of this scheme already owned a car. He said the government should have introduced a rebate scheme for people's first house instead.

Nara Thip said this scheme was just a populist campaign that is only boosting consumerism rather than offering real benefits. Also, this scheme has made the city more polluted and is nothing more than a waste of tax revenue.

However, Anna Nattaya said there was nothing wrong with people taking advantage of this scheme as public transport, especially taxi service, in Bangkok was not safe, cheap or good.

Suphaphit Rujiput said it is only people who already have a car who are complaining about this first-car scheme, while Nunchavit Chaiyapaksopon said people who cannot afford a car should not join the scheme.

Somchai Ngamvannagul said that though he backed the scheme, he was dissatisfied by the lack of government measures to deal with the increase in cars on Bangkok roads. He said the government should have first set up measures to manage the traffic, parking system and the increase in pollution before granting tax-free cars to people.

Many Facebook users are saying this scheme was only offered to benefit a small group of people, not people across the country. Also, many are calling on the government to take more responsibility and solve the problems caused by the increase in car numbers, such as more traffic jams, lack of parking areas and environmental problems. Plus more cars means more oil consumption.

Twitter was also buzzing with comments about this scheme. For instance, @zhanpisshu said the government could have launched a proper public bus service instead of offering people a tax rebate on their first car, while @Oam_Oamm just put it down to pure and simple consumerism, saying it does nothing for the country's development.


-- The Nation 2013-03-23

[MESmith]

All 800,000 extra cars on Bangkok's streets? Didn't bother to read beyond that.....

[Locationthailand]

At least 'some' Thai's can see the stupidity of the scheme. But will they voice that opinion at the next election?

[Bluespunk]

Viva skytrain.

[Markaew]

At least 'some' Thai's can see the stupidity of the scheme. But will they voice that opinion at the next election?

The people in Issan won't buy a car so they don't care. They are the majority that voted this government in.

[jammer6116]

So all 800,000 applicants live in BKK.

[waza]

another economic miracle from the PTP

[Valentine]

So all 800,000 applicants live in BKK.

I am sure I read in an earlier report there are 1.2 million nationwide.

[kimamey]

So all 800,000 applicants live in BKK.

I am sure I read in an earlier report there are 1.2 million nationwide.

I think you're right about that and it's just bad reporting.

[kimamey]

At least 'some' Thai's can see the stupidity of the scheme. But will they voice that opinion at the next election?

The people in Issan won't buy a car so they don't care. They are the majority that voted this government in.

Am I right in assuming that's a sarcastic remark since it's obviously not accurate?

[Halion]

Simply a scam in order to get votes in an area that is not predominately PTP. When will Thailand wake up to the blatant fact that this Government is bleeding them dry and does not give a dam regarding any other issue except the promotion of their own position and wealth. There are, as many other OP state a myriad of concerns in this broken down metropolis that need urgent attention and providing rebated cars to the streets of Bangkok is farcical. Nepotism, ignorance and shere incompotence are the hallmarks of the PTP.

[retell]

reminds me of visting BKK (all of the times) sorry taxi expensive traffic jam (06.00 am) sorry cannot take you traffic jam (11am) taxi 4 km 400 thb traffic jam ( 2 pm ) other words eternal traffic jam

[thomash]

Why does one even want to have a car in Bangkok so they can wait in traffic? There are parts of Bangkok where it is faster to get where your going by walking and of course certainly by the sky train. But I guess some Thais want to impress people by having a car while sitting in traffic.

[mic6ard]

People've been saying the same thing since the program was announce.

[Greer]

Traffic in Bangkok is bad, there is no denying that, but its not the worst by any means (try getting anywhere at all in Manila during the day). To say that taxis are not cheap is absolute rubbish - try taxis in Sydney if you want to compare service and cost - it is also good to have the BTS, but of course that only helps along a few very limited corridors around the city.

We need more public transport, better mid-sized busses (with properly trained and safe drivers), and of course expansion of the rail system, be it the BTS or the MRT, as both offer truly excellent service, at international levels of quality and convenience, and extremely cheap too. I compare our system favourably against the Hong Kong MTR, the Singapore MRT, and the KL LRT - but all of them are really well ahead of things like the infrequent and dirty rail service offered in places like Sydney - so Asia in general is good, and Bangkok's rail services are world class.

One major pain that is already frustrating for travellers is the lack of a high speed connection between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, so any increase in city traffic impacts that as well - perhaps a rail system along Viphawadee-Rangsit Road would be helpful to all concerned, and if it also happened to connect in a convenient manner to the Airport Link, that could be a real help (although rush hour would not be the time to transfer from airport to airport if it could be avoided).

I tend to agree with those who feel that a first HOME buyers scheme would be money well spent, rather than this rather short sighted, and obviously politically motivated silliness.

[Pib]

^{...just put it down to pure and simple consumerism, saying it does nothing for the country's development.}

Or, let's just put it down to pure and simple indirect vote buying.

[chainarong]

Yep, gotta give credit, where credit is due , this crowd of Horsesh!!t will do anything to sweeten the peasants appetite, when everyone else , I might add, in a environment where the atmosphere counts and sometimes not to the governments advantage, are trying to up grade public transport and get as many cars off the road , this scheme could have been money well spent on just that, improving public transport.

[lensta]

Chirawat Sitarachiyanon said this first-car tax-rebate scheme did not really address the problem of transportation for people with no cars,
because many people making use of this scheme already owned a car.

If many people using the scheme already have a car, then it cannot be first-car tax-rebate scheme or maybe Chirawat isn't the brightest of light bulbs?

[JoeW]

Many people who already owned a car -> Daddy bought them a car, because they couldn't afford one. Now they can so technically its their first OWN car. I guess that's what he means.

[harryfrompattaya]

At least 'some' Thai's can see the stupidity of the scheme. But will they voice that opinion at the next election?

Yes only me should have a car none else

[Guest]

Traffic in Bangkok is bad, there is no denying that, but its not the worst by any means (try getting anywhere at all in Manila during the day). To say that taxis are not cheap is absolute rubbish - try taxis in Sydney if you want to compare service and cost - it is also good to have the BTS, but of course that only helps along a few very limited corridors around the city.

We need more public transport, better mid-sized busses (with properly trained and safe drivers), and of course expansion of the rail system, be it the BTS or the MRT, as both offer truly excellent service, at international levels of quality and convenience, and extremely cheap too. I compare our system favourably against the Hong Kong MTR, the Singapore MRT, and the KL LRT - but all of them are really well ahead of things like the infrequent and dirty rail service offered in places like Sydney - so Asia in general is good, and Bangkok's rail services are world class.

One major pain that is already frustrating for travellers is the lack of a high speed connection between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, so any increase in city traffic impacts that as well - perhaps a rail system along Viphawadee-Rangsit Road would be helpful to all concerned, and if it also happened to connect in a convenient manner to the Airport Link, that could be a real help (although rush hour would not be the time to transfer from airport to airport if it could be avoided).

I tend to agree with those who feel that a first HOME buyers scheme would be money well spent, rather than this rather short sighted, and obviously politically motivated silliness.

Fair comments, but its worth noting that there are a large number of rail projects either already under construction (purple line, red line etc), or about to begin construction, and one of those is a Suvarnabhumi - Don Muang link.

As for the tax rebate scheme for cars, madness. Build better homes and provide better bus services.

[kurnell]

Yep, I hear Thais all day long "no good na" to everything, corruption, traffic, violence etc. but do Thais ever do anything? The masses are just good little sheep bleating their way through life, happily distracted by a Hello Kitty doll or a new iphone and those in power know it.

[apetley]

In my experience the people complaining most about traffic problems in BKK are car drivers so to complain about others buying and using a car seems a tiny bit hypocritical to me.

What is really needed is a root and branch change to the transportation system in the capital where a truly integrated public transit system serves the masses.

[grjm378]

Is it possible the government were under pressure from the car manufacturers that lost hundreds of new cars in the floods to come up with a scheme that would result in selling more of their new cars ? I agree about the traffic jams. I was in Bkk yesterday going from the Government offices compound to Mo Chit and the traffic was impossible.

[01322521959]

Viva skytrain.

Viva my little Honda Tena and Yammy Sark.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

Newer cleaner safer emissions cars are probably better if they replace old smelly unsafe ones.

Now they need to start fining and crushing a lot of this old junk on the road.

[seminomadic]

Slow news day.

[seminomadic]

"Bangkokians' Dress Sense Slammed on Social Media"

[culicine]

PTP is silly if they think this was used to buy votes. I bet a majority live in BKK and are Democrat supporters! So it's just free money to them. However, such policies could explain why the PT candidate gave a good run in the BKK elections.

Heard a story about a guy who got a car under the scheme, died, and not the government is chasing the family for the tax to be returned. There are a lot of black holes, it seems, and a lot of people are going to get caught having to return the money.

[AyG]

Chirawat Sitarachiyanon said this first-car tax-rebate scheme did not really address the problem of transportation for people with no cars,

because many people making use of this scheme already owned a car.

If many people using the scheme already have a car, then it cannot be first-car tax-rebate scheme or maybe Chirawat isn't the brightest of light bulbs?

Have a poor relative who hasn't owned a car? Buy a car in their name, but use it yourself.