Why Is Thailand So Backward?

[fox]

Quote:

But many muslims come over to Had Yai to live it up at the weekends. for years TAT were not allowed to advertise on Malayian TV, the authorities feared further exoduses at the weekends.

Religion divides Malaysia, very few Malay Chinese marry muslims what with having to convert.

A point of clarification.

The Chinese in Malaysia are called Malaysian Chinese an not Malay Chinese.

Malay is an ethnic race and the dominant race of this nation. And they are muslims.

This nation is make up of Malays, Chinese, Indians, and other indigenous races in East Malaysia.

Muslims (Malays) 60% and the rest (non muslims) 40%.

If you marry a Malay you have to convert to their muslim faith. No way out.

For non muslims marrying non muslims, you are free to do what you like.

You are free to practice your own faith, eat and drink what you like, gamble at Genting Highland's casino

and go to the turf club (horse racing) and so on. For muslims, they are not allowed to do so.

BTY, more than 90% of visitors going over to Hatyai are Malaysian Chinese and Malaysian Indians.

We are categorized as Nationality: Malaysian/ Race: Malay or Chinese or Indian or European or what ever the case can be.

Good example for a Malaysian born Thai. Nationality: Malaysian/ Race: Thai.

Malaysia is multi racial, multi cultural, and multi religious. However, it is a muslim nation.

[beleby]

I'm surprised the C word has not been mentioned more on here. Corruption is a big restraint on Thailand's progression, the more successful countries like Singapore and Hong Kong have taken big steps against corruption.

The partisan mentality of Thai people - which I admire very much - is often manipulated by those in power to keep the poor and uneducated from improving themselves too much. I also believe that this is part of the reason that standards of English are improving more slowly than in Vietnam, for example.

This is a simplified argument of course, I could go on all day giving more detail but I'm sure anyone who has lived out here a while will get my point.

[Postie]

Points taken ROFL.

Thailand is in a state of flux. It can be violent as f@@k...and I LOVE IT!

Why? Cos you know when you've overstepped the line. You knew where it was going and didn't have the common sense to shut your f@@king mouth.

The British and French were desperate to build Rama V a railway. From Krung Thep Through Khorat and up to Laos. Pretty bloody handy to ship a colonising army (see A Hitler/autobahns)

Luckily for Chulalongkorn. It did not happen. (Shit, that is.)

Thailand joined the United Nations after WW2.

Allowed the USA to base/fly it's bombers from Khorat in the Vietnam conflict.

Ceded Laos to the ever aggressive French. Gave land to the British on the Malay border.

All this in the last century.

In the 1700s, the Ayuthaya Royal bodyguard was Japanese. Gave trading rights to the Dutch and Portugese...

...Chronologically a bit disjointed, but just some examples of how Siam has courted foreign Powers.

Thailand, like a Venice or a Rome has sat astride the interface of two diametrically opposed cultures.

The Orient and the West. Trade and knowledge was gleaned from cultures eager to establish GREED

NETWORKS.

We now have another GREED NETWORK interface.

The long haul seeker of "consolation".

Company, girlfriends. Beers in the sun. A hangout for the lads. A pad/palace to retire to.

Lo So or Hi So.

All welcomed, beguiled and parted with their cash.

It has copious amounts of water except the Khorat plateau. Three subtropical growing seasons a year. The fifth highest exporter of foodstuffs in the World, I have read somewhere...

Loads of food. Absolutely bouncing with vitality.

A philosophy that champions the individual. Doesn't spin you "Go to Heaven" religion.

It says "See the joke. See how fragile it ALL IS.

You can try ALL the sweets in the sweetshop.

Smiles as you are allowed to chase your dreams.

Chasing your ego like Peter Pan chasing his shadow.

This doesn't answer a specific...

"Why does Thailand lag behind it's neighbours?"

It puts foward a specific...

"Is there anywhere quite like Thailand?"

IT'S NOT YOUR COUNTRY. IT DOESN'T OWE YOU A LIVING.

IT DOESN'T OWE YOU AN EXPLANATION.

FIGURE IT OUT ON YOUR OWN.

(That means you've been dumped for acting like a <deleted>))

Khatort.

[sriracha john]

Quote:

But many muslims come over to Had Yai to live it up at the weekends. for years TAT were not allowed to advertise on Malayian TV, the authorities feared further exoduses at the weekends.

Religion divides Malaysia, very few Malay Chinese marry muslims what with having to convert.

A point of clarification.

1. The Chinese in Malaysia are called Malaysian Chinese an not Malay Chinese.

2. Malay is an ethnic race and the dominant race of this nation. And they are muslims.

3. This nation is make up of Malays, Chinese, Indians, and other indigenous races in East Malaysia.

Just thought I would post some clarification to your clarification post:

1. The more more common description I've heard or seen is Chinese Malay or Chinese Malaysian.

2. Not all ethnic Malays are Muslim. Several families attend the Christian church we went to when I was a primary student there.

3. An additional category to the make-up of Malaysians are the Caucasians, mainly of European descent and with full Malaysian citizenship, who having been living there for generations.

[fox]

Quote:

Just thought I would post some clarification to your clarification post:

1. The more more common description I've heard or seen is Chinese Malay or Chinese Malaysian.

2. Not all ethnic Malays are Muslim. Several families attend the Christian church we went to when I was a primary student there.

3. An additional category to the make-up of Malaysians are the Caucasians, mainly of European descent and with full Malaysian citizenship, who having been living there for generations.

Thank you John for your extra info.

Additional Info:

We are normally categorized as Malaysian Chinese or the latest term is Chinese Malaysian.

Both terms can be used. However, we are so used to the former.

I hold a Malaysian Citizenship and I hold a Malaysian passport.

For further example, my former colleague..... Nationality: Malaysian/Race: Dutch.

I know of an late State Education Officer...... Nationality: Malaysian/Race: British.

One former (The Late) Headmaster..... Nationality: Malaysian/Race: Japanese

The Federal Constitution states that a Malay is a muslim.

Apostasy for muslims here is not allowed by their Islamic Jurisprudence.

A muslim here is forever a muslim. No way out. Unless you leave the country.

A very sensitive issue here. As non muslims, we have been strongly advised/warned

not to discuss this issue in the open or in public.

[micky]

In this connection, I wish to add the following info. Even though not Thai related.

After getting Independence from Britain in August 1957, (it was known as Malaya then),

quite a number of British and European planters, police and army officers and men

stayed back and subsequently acquired Malaysian citizenship.

When Malaysia was formed in 1963, a British officer, the late Tan Sri Sir Claude H. Fenner,

became the first Inspector General of Police in the newly formed Malaysia.

[Martin]

In #393, 'Postie' said:

This doesn't answer a specific...

"Why does Thailand lag behind it's neighbours?"

It puts foward a specific...

"Is there anywhere quite like Thailand?"

The answer is, of course, "No".

And that is why we are having so much trouble deciding whether it is behind, alongside, or forward of its neighbours.

It also means that understanding the family/society/nation/country we have come to live in is going to take a bit of doing. Because we will have to think from 'first principles'. And that means, first, loosening our thinking from a lot of the conceptions that we have built up in our earlier times in a different culture/nation/country.

It is a good job that we have thaivisa.com.

If we didn't, we would also have to invent it!

[thankuverybig]

i think the problem is that its difficult for people to think about a country,outside of your own experiences.

everybody developes predjudices.if your living in a greedy money pit for a length of time,it may affect your judgement.

even the words "why is thailand so backward",sound a bit bitter.

why not "why isnt thailand progressing more,from the unbelievable growth of the last ten years" (although it is a bit long)

[monochaser]

Thailand has a lot of rice, not exactly a cash cow

[Postie]

Rice.

Three growing seasons

3000 - 4000 years.

Not bad as a sideline!

Chonburi Province has it's sea container fed assembly lines in the ascendency.

Roads are there.

Airport about to open. Dirt cheap for Asean flights.

What's to say it gets a BKK high speed rail link.

And We finance it!

It's never looked rosier.

Threads R Us.

[farang prince]

Yes, Thailand has the available hot chicks, without them this place is toast, I mean toast

I pity you for not fully realising what Thailand has to offer...

totster

No, he does realize exactly what Thailand has to offer, even if its not a particularly original observation to say it.

This guy merely repeats what uncounted other people say all the time and he's instantly denounced here as a social mitfit. Good Lord. The board is at least being consistent in its blind, unstinting boosterism about Thailand, isn't it?

undefined My biggest complaint about farangs in Thailand is that they bring their cultural biases with them and usually don't get rid of them, even if they have lived in LOS for years. I'm not happy about the government and their inefficiencies either. But I'm here by choice, not by circumstance. For everyone who feels that life could be better elsewhere, I would encourage you to go find it. Me? I've found my perfect life. I hope you find yours.

[Postie]

With you there, Farang Prince!

Be interested in some insight on When the realisation kicked in that -

"You got it right."

Respect for your input.

Take it ALL in Prince...

[Postie]

Martin & Thankuvery big

You've got it!

I didn't come to live and build in Thailand to join the Farang Ratrace.

Borderline alcoholics and dopeheads included.