Thai Parliament performance: More 'public participation needed'

[webfact]

PARLIAMENTARY PERFORMANCE
More 'public participation needed'
Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Nation

Influence of big businesses, vested interests must be removed to develop the system, seminar hears

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Parliament needs greater public participation and requires to be less under the influence of big businesses and groups with vested interests, a seminar organised by the King Prajadhipok Institute (KPI) was told yesterday.

The seminar, held to discuss challenges facing Parliament, said the performance was satisfactory though the administrative branch and independent agencies required greater scrutiny. Also, Thailand was urged to end the culture of military coups so that the parliamentary system could be given a chance to develop.

Pornsan Liangboonlertchai, a law lecturer at Assumption University, said Parliament

was being negatively portrayed as having become a "parliamentary dictatorship" or "dictatorship of the majority", which could be seen as a move to prevent the legislative branch from exercising its power.

KPI said the World Justice Project gave the Thai Parliament 57 out of 100 points in 2010, which dropped to 51 in 2011 but inched up to 67 in 2012. The latest score came with the recommendation of strengthening the country's parliamentary system.

Appointed Senator Vicharn Sirichai-ekwat said the Senate was divided and hence could not function fully as stipulated by the Constitution. Some senators side with the government and refuse to scrutinise the administrative branch, while others are simply not interested in their work, he said, adding that sometimes only 10 out of 150 senators attend meetings to examine proposed bills. He said the lack of responsibility was another major obstacle.

The Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Rai, Pichet Chuamuangpan, said bringing the cycle of military coups to an end was a key prerequisite for the parliamentary system to develop. He also decried the practice of vote buying at local levels, such as the election of subdistrict chief or kamnan, where some spent as much as Bt1 million to buy 250 of the 400 votes to win.

The Democrat MP for Rayong, Sathit Pitutecha, said he wanted to see the Pheu Thai Party launch a no-confidence motion against the government in order to fully scrutinise the Yingluck Shinawatra government.

Meanwhile, Suwit Mesinsri, director of Sasin Institute for Global Affairs, said lawmakers should rewrite the charter to improve the country's competitiveness or it will soon become a failed state in the world market.

Suwit said that by adopting a new mindset of solving the country's problems in the long term, lawmakers could help tackle the shortfall in the country's competitiveness despite the ageing population.

He said studies showed that Thais in general still possessed the attitude and behaviour of people living in an agricultural society even though the country is gearing up for industrialisation.

"The studies said that most people in the country lack motivation and drive. This cultural factor will always hamper development," he said.

He added that governments have failed to resolve political conflicts, hence a new charter was needed so every side could participate in running the country.


-- The Nation 2013-07-09

[Thai at Heart]

These have been the same problems for 70 years or so....

[NongKhaiKid]

These have been the same problems for 70 years or so....

It would be nice if the PM participated more too instead of hiding overseas at every opportunity

[notmyself]

[Thai at Heart]

Of course, they could have been drumming the meaning of democracy into kids in school for 70 years, and drumming the dangers of corruption the same.

Add that to making examples out of high profile corruption for 70 years and the problem wouldn't exist. But so much nicer to have a seminar which 99% of the Thai population will never hear about.

[A Member]

These have been the same problems for 70 years or so....

It would be nice if the PM participated more too instead of hiding overseas at every opportunity

Does she know where the Parliament is or is there a mall nearby ?

[chainarong]

Public participation in a Thai parliament is a wish list that will not happen with the thought set at it's present level , zero, Thailand needs to move into the year 2013 before any actual reforms could be expected, this will not happen in the short term and could only be termed a nice thought, but no thanks, one of the first challengers to face, is off loading all the generals that run the departments, appointing heads of departments with local talent or from oversea's this is not going to happen, so Da Da Da

[MaxLee]

Kids these days are too busy playing and chit chatting in their iPhones and be cool among themselves and their peers and watch their favorite Korean pop stars and whatever...

Real values of life and the willingness to work hard is long gone, since people are populist policy-promised with instant quick-fix benefits of what the majority WANTS to hear...

Public participation??? As if the majority in Thailand cares,... THE HAVE BEEN BRAINWASHED BEYOND ANY BRAIN DAMAGE CONTROL ALL CENTURY LONG TO BE ABLE TO THINK STRAIGHT...,

[clockman]

Any meeting, note the presence of people in uniform! nothing ever going to change! Nothing to do with anything military, just business!

[Mampara]

Public participation in Parliament is actually just a dream that will never come true. Why? because the majority are followers, not doers, and are incapable of making any logical decision. Why? because the have been deprived of a proper education. Why? because the major powers and companies need to control them not educate them.

Regardless of the above, do you really want to participate in parliament, if only 1/3 of the senators actually attend parliament meetings? this clearly shows a lack of interest in the welfare of the country. just imagine what would happen if the public also had this view! what would happen if only 1/3 of the teachers, factory workers, banks, and other critical institutions came to work? the country would be in a shamble wouldn't it? So who really cares about the welfare of the country, the people or the senate? what would you do if you were a senior manager and some of your employees are continually late for work or never even bother to show up?

[OzMick]

"The Thai Parliament.....................requires to be less under the influence of big businesses and groups with vested interests"

The speaker conveniently ignores the 800lb gorilla in the corner, wearing his Shin Corp T-shirt.

[razer]

Sadly, this is a too familiar pattern in Thailand. The 1999 National Education Act called for action to reform Thai education. There has been a lot of talk, committees, think tanks for Thai education but everyone knows the results. This is the same thing. Showing the world they are diligent in knowing the problems .. BUT ... knowing a problem exists and having the collective political will to solve it are two different things. Thailand can never be a first world country until the culture changes and the meaning of national pride and love of country is discovered.

[Thai at Heart]

"The Thai Parliament.....................requires to be less under the influence of big businesses and groups with vested interests"

The speaker conveniently ignores the 800lb gorilla in the corner, wearing his Shin Corp T-shirt.

There is barely an MP on any side who isn't there to protect his own personal interests.

[OzMick]

"The Thai Parliament.....................requires to be less under the influence of big businesses and groups with vested interests"

The speaker conveniently ignores the 800lb gorilla in the corner, wearing his Shin Corp T-shirt.

There is barely an MP on any side who isn't there to protect his own personal interests.

True, but is there any other that exerts as much influence?

[Thai at Heart]

"The Thai Parliament.....................requires to be less under the influence of big businesses and groups with vested interests"

The speaker conveniently ignores the 800lb gorilla in the corner, wearing his Shin Corp T-shirt.

There is barely an MP on any side who isn't there to protect his own personal interests.

True, but is there any other that exerts as much influence?

Don't underestimate some of the Democrat heavy hitters. Mess with their business patch at your peril.

[Rust Never Sleeps]

And who controls the strings in financial matters in western countries, big business,so no difference to Thailand.