Corruption today 'unprecedented', says Abhisit

[webfact]

Corruption today 'unprecedented', says Abhisit
Prapasri Osathanon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A whopping Bt235 billion could be spent on four mass-transit routes, or 2,000 hospitals, or a million teachers instead of being wasted in kickbacks, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Monday.

The opposition leader said the government had committed double mistakes - neglecting to root out corruption and focusing on self-serving goals rather than the people's grievances.

"In the next two months, the Democrats will carry out an awareness campaign to point out the administrative flaws," he said.

Contrary to the government's propaganda, the economy has contracted for two consecutive quarters, he said, emphasising this was the first time the country had suffered such a decline when not facing an international crisis.

A main factor contributing to the weakening economy is wasteful spending plans, such as the rice-pledging scheme, which served vested interests, he said.

Despite rampant corruption allegations, the government still tries to bypass public scrutiny, he said, citing the Bt2-trillion loan bill as a case in point of avoiding checks through regular budgetary spending.

From today to October 28, the Democrats will fan out to alert the public about alleged graft violations. They also plan to offer alternative plans designed for sustainable development.

The Democrat leader said he wanted rice farmers to be aware that they were just small recipients of the massive spending to shore up paddy prices.

Farming livelihoods would further improve if ill-gotten gains were to be channelled back to the farmers, he said.


-- The Nation 2013-10-22

[whybother]

I'll save some people some effort.

But the Democrats ...

[Thai at Heart]

I'll save some people some effort.

But the Democrats ...

To coin a phrase "let he who casts the first stone....."

[Bkungbank]

The failure of Democrats was promotion site, now days from sweets to mama also needs packaging to attract customers, the success of Mr, Dubai is promotion itself and the party image. The more opposition bark the more people get fed up with it.

The rice scheme is very important to hold in power of majority votes even everyone knows it's a failure .

Famous Chinese Sun Zu art of war once saying 'to win your enemy was to understand him and he thinks he was intelligent but his ego that kills himself one day.

[bkkfaranguy]

I'll save some people some effort.

But the Democrats ...

To coin a phrase "let he who casts the first stone....."

One should not throw stones when he lives in a glass house!

Edited October 22, 2013 by bkkfaranguy

[Thai at Heart]

I'll save some people some effort.

But the Democrats ...

To coin a phrase "let he who casts the first stone....."

One should not throw stones when he lives in a glass house!

Well you filled in a blank.

[whybother]

I'll save some people some effort.

But the Democrats ...

To coin a phrase "let he who casts the first stone....."

Someone has to start throwing stones, otherwise it will never change.

[jonclark]

I'll save some people some effort.

But the Democrats ...

To coin a phrase "let he who casts the first stone....."

One should not throw stones when he lives in a glass house!

Well you filled in a blank.

Surely the correct filling of the blanks should have been..."Let he who is without sin amongst you, let him be the first to throw a stone"?

[JoeThePoster]

The opposition leader said the government had committed double mistakes - neglecting to root out corruption and focusing on self-serving goals rather than the people's grievances.

Mistakes that serious could make them lose the next election?

[waza]

So true, this administration has conducted corruption on an industrial scale that will affect the Thai quality of life for generations to come. Thaksin culturists think of him as a Robin Hood type thief when in fact he is just a criminal out to amass a fortune of corrupted funds that will dwarf anything that has ever been attempted in Thailand. Hopefully the Dems education program will highlight that to those that are blinded by Red spin.

[theblether]

I'll save some people some effort.

But the Democrats ...

To coin a phrase "let he who casts the first stone....."

Someone has to start throwing stones, otherwise it will never change.

He should have been throwing stones when he was Prime Minister, he'd may as well throw White Feathers now.

[jaltsc]

"Corruption today 'unprecedented"

Does he mean "unprecedented" in that his cronies aren't at the receiving end? "The crooks are in control of the government and the economy, but they aren't our crooks".

[Riley'sLife]

The failure of Democrats was promotion site, now days from sweets to mama also needs packaging to attract customers, the success of Mr, Dubai is promotion itself and the party image. The more opposition bark the more people get fed up with it.

The rice scheme is very important to hold in power of majority votes even everyone knows it's a failure .

Famous Chinese Sun Zu art of war once saying 'to win your enemy was to understand him and he thinks he was intelligent but his ego that kills himself one day.

The sooner Google Translate is abolished the better!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Curt1591]

"Unprecedented"

Edited October 22, 2013 by Curt1591

[Somtamnication]

Not unprecedented, it is that it is more open than before.

[arthurboy]

Same ole', same ole...

There's no point in comparing whose corruption record was/ is the worst.

Corruption is an integral way of life in Thailand and has been for a very, very long time.

Starting - probably - with the 'tax farming' system of over a century ago, running through to the likes of the military dictators, Sarit and Thanom in the 50's and 60's and now today, systematic, systemic and massive corruption has always been present in Thailand.

Nothing is going to change in the foreseeable future.

[robblok]

The democrats cant even punch a dent in a package of butter. I wish they were more powerful they never were this corrupt or spend this wasteful. The big rally against the bill to set free mr T. I doubt it will happen or make an impression. It seems the Thais don't care. Let them loan let them be corrupt, just wait in 10 years when their neighbors pass them. Its the only way.

[GeorgeO]

I'll save some people some effort.

But the Democrats ...

To coin a phrase "let he who casts the first stone....."

One should not throw stones when he lives in a glass house!

Well you filled in a blank.

Except that it was the wrong blank ...

I think he was referring to:

"let he who is without sin cast the first stone"...!

[asdecas]

The failure of Democrats was promotion site, now days from sweets to mama also needs packaging to attract customers, the success of Mr, Dubai is promotion itself and the party image. The more opposition bark the more people get fed up with it.

The rice scheme is very important to hold in power of majority votes even everyone knows it's a failure .

Famous Chinese Sun Zu art of war once saying 'to win your enemy was to understand him and he thinks he was intelligent but his ego that kills himself one day.

Uh?

[drdoom6996]

Not unprecedented, it is that it is more open than before.

Do you mean that corruption is the only thing transparent about the PTP and BIB??????????????????????????? I've been here 26 years and I will take any government prior to the Shin Clan, over the current thugs that do nothing but get useless articles and photo's in the newspapers and on the television.

[Halion]

Perhaps a day late and a dollar short but nevertheless it is an irrefutable reality that this Government and the all the Shin acolytes are abusing their positions on behalf of personal gain and total misrepresentation of the issues. This country is in by far, a sorry state and incompetent governance rampant corruption is on the ascendant. Should the public fail to remove this incompetent band of imposters before they bring the credibility and reserves of this nation to an all time low then recovery will be almost impossible. In my opinion the PTP have been by far the most ignorant and financially abusive regime of the fast few decades.

[h90]

The democrats cant even punch a dent in a package of butter. I wish they were more powerful they never were this corrupt or spend this wasteful. The big rally against the bill to set free mr T. I doubt it will happen or make an impression. It seems the Thais don't care. Let them loan let them be corrupt, just wait in 10 years when their neighbors pass them. Its the only way.

The Democrats would have the power to make a big demonstration but I doubt they'll be able to get it organized.

[HUAHIN62]

There is corruption, but personally I am tired of AV shouting corruption at everything and never giving any details of the corruption. No names, amounts, places etc. If he continue without details he is crying wolf and are not doing the Thai people any favors. He should take a specific case and put the heat on that case until conviction in a court of law. Until he do that its only politics.

[fab4]

I'll save some people some effort.

But the Democrats ...

To coin a phrase "let he who casts the first stone....."

Someone has to start throwing stones, otherwise it will never change.

"Yes ,but" you immediately hamstring the "other side" from saying anything in response by disallowing them from mentioning anything about the opposition - how does that work with your sense of fair play?

[whybother]

"Yes ,but" you immediately hamstring the "other side" from saying anything in response by disallowing them from mentioning anything about the opposition - how does that work with your sense of fair play?

Hopefully, the "other side" should be agreeing that something needs to be done about the corruption.

[fab4]

There is corruption, but personally I am tired of AV shouting corruption at everything and never giving any details of the corruption. No names, amounts, places etc. If he continue without details he is crying wolf and are not doing the Thai people any favors. He should take a specific case and put the heat on that case until conviction in a court of law. Until he do that its only politics.

I too acknowledge there is corruption in Thailand (as there ever was) but don't stop at Abhisit - I am tired of constant whinging about "corruption" and "stealing millions" by certain TV posters without a single detail to back up their allegations.

[chrisrazz]

There is no corruption in Thailand. It is illegal.

Seriously, this fellow had his time in office and did nothing about it. Corruption was beneficial then to his set of cronies, now another set are on the receiving end the issue is worthy of his comment. The current administration won an election based on attracting votes from the regional population that have been economically marginalised for decades. Wake up Dems/Thai elite! you need to embrace the issues that affect the poor, not see them as an subhuman exploitable resource. You need to develop policies that are easy for the population to grasp, you can't blame them for not understanding complex issues when you have intentionally crafted an education system that leaves students bereft of the analytical tools required to understand them. An education system that trains students for compliance and subservience. Rather than maintaining the status quo, you had a chance to instigate policies that would have provided universal benefit to the populace. You had the chance to instigate infrastructure projects to lift the rural Thai from the mud. What did you do?

Edited October 22, 2013 by chrisrazz

[indyuk]

Khun Abhisit has never done anything constructive to reduce or stop corruption himself yet he includes it in yet another statement of Democrat objectives all of which he has presented over and over again with no substantial result..

It is time for you to put your back into your claims and accusations in a genuine quest to produce results.

Calling this or any government names and making disrespectful remarks about their Prime Minister serves neither the Nation or yourself.

Last but not least inciting your various Democrat alliance mobsters to rally for the removal of the present government repeatedly by a variety of target dates, none of which have achieved a positive result, is having a negative effect on the government's attempts to return Thailand to normality.

Please use your ingenuity to remove corruption from your own party members and their families This is a challenge which of course you and others have laid at PM Yingluck's feet too and hopefully she is making an attempt to achieve same.

[Emdog]

Just jealous and figure maybe left too much on the table before getting voted out. They want another turn at the trough.

[steveyinasia]

Instead of making statements about things people already know, how about implementing the action plan to stop this happening. In my opinion, all politicians are irrupt to the core and the only way ahead is to start prosecuting.