Prayuth lambastes at town and country planning department

BANGKOK: -- Junta chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha Friday lambasted at the Public Works and Town and Country Planning Department for letting Bangkok city plan become a mess.

"The city planning department should be dissolved for causing [bangkok's city plan] to become confusing like this. Foreign tourists have to walk until they are soaked with sweat because we can't tell them to 'go straight ahead and turn left and turn right," Prayuth said, saying the direction guide in English.

He said city plan has not been defined clearly and has not been designed in squares as it should have been.

He was speaking while chairing a budget meeting with government agencies. The meeting was broadcast live on Channel 5 and NBT at 9 am.


-- The Nation 2014-06-13

Hey. He goes up in my estimation.

But its quaint and all. I can't stand these army generals moaning and complaining. If you dont like it, why don't ..............

I mean did that all just happen like yesterday?

Can't we just make him PM he seems to be doing a superb job

Prayuth, are you listening ? Do what Napoleon did: re-assign house numbers, odd ones on the left, evens on the right, in correct ascending series.

The current addresses in Thailand mean nothing, it's "700m from 7/11 by the scooter shop that used to be there twenty years ago". That's why tourists walk around in circles.

And maybe that's EXACTLY what's needed!

Yeah, but what good does it do when "Dad" has to return every 8 years to slap the kids around? They're never allowed to grow up.

My God!!! Is this man the only one with brains in this country??

This guy rocks

And maybe that's EXACTLY what's needed!

Yeah, but what good does it do when "Dad" has to return every 8 years to slap the kids around? They're never allowed to grow up.

Maybe dad needs to, because some kids never learn

This chap impresses me........

Can't we just make him PM he seems to be doing a superb job

What constitutes "a superb job", in your opinion?

I mean this guy's flying by the seat of his pants, spouting off about any issue large or small, And, what does he propose re: addressing city planning? All he's done is try to shame professionals by treating them like children, as if he's the father - who's been absent for 8 years - now back to tell everyone that they haven't lived up to his expectations.

Don't you wonder why no-one else has brought up these issues. Plenty of things wrong, and it's right that he mentions them. What do you suggest, that he ignores all the problems. They need to be sorted out and he's doing a great job so far. People like you complain about problems and then complain if someone tries to sort them out. Get over yourself.

Tourist's have to walk until they are soaked in sweat,well is that not all part of the amazing Thailand experience,it is good for them to get a sweat up.

This chap impresses me........

I think you have a secret crush on him.

Hey. He goes up in my estimation.

But its quaint and all. I can't stand these army generals moaning and complaining. If you dont like it, why don't ..............

Firstly He is quite right you know, there are no landmarks for the foreigners to follow, and when one asks a local for directions they simply say “noon” without giving any real directions or landmarks.

Secondly, I can bet my bottom dollar that the majority of us all support the generals moaning and groaning, because you know what! They are changing the country for the better. And most of all they are teaching us not to accept wrongdoings, like the “never mind” syndrome that have been imbedded into our brains in the past.

Can't we just make him PM

Too late, he already declared himself PM.

People like you complain about problems and then complain if someone tries to sort them out.

Well I did not complain about Bangkok city planning efforts, and I have not complained about any efforts to improve Bangkok city planning efforts. That's all in your mind.

All I asked was "what has he - Prayuth - done", in this case, other than to "lambaste"? Essentially, he's the one doing the complaining.

Other than the ongoing media censorship, it's hard to argue with most of what he's done thus far -- putting a boot to the Thai police, canceling the high speed rail plan, canceling the rice pledging scheme, cleansing government of Shin shills and cronies, etc etc.

A fresh breath of common sense and practicality in Thai government.

I just hope he stays around long enough to ensure that the various structural and policy changes the current government is trying to implement are lasting and impactful.

Bangkok city planning IS a MESS, a political wild west where few rules apply, and money and/or influence are enough to overcome most any instance where any rules are sought to be enforced.

And maybe that's EXACTLY what's needed!

Yeah, but what good does it do when "Dad" has to return every 8 years to slap the kids around? They're never allowed to grow up.

True, the slapping period should be 2 years or less. Let politicians try it out for two years, if they make a mess (which they most likely will do), back in goes the army to fix it. Repeat & rinse until the miracle of finding a viable government happens. This could be a Nobel Prize worthy export from Thailand to the West.

He said city plan has not been defined clearly and has not been designed in squares as it should have been.

Oh snap. That's where we went wrong.

Seriously, there has been a long history of comprehensive city planning efforts for Bangkok, maybe as early as 1960. Not sure who was in charge then? Could have been the Military for all I know.

Up until the General mentioned it I didn't think there was a town and country planning department.

I don't think it's all about tourists getting all sweaty, there is just no plan nor rhyme or reason to how things are done.

God forbid you need a firetruck or an ambulance in this place. Every street is a dead end, just to turn around can take you km's

out of your way. It's a mess in so many ways and good for him for wanting to clean it up.

It's just so 3rd world!

Town planning has been a thorn in the side of anybody who has to negotiate BKK or any large city outside , take Chiang Mai , getting around there is like playing Russian roulette, it has been said before, even in TVF, that it would appear that town planning had been on the pi!!s for twenty years, inmost Thai cities.

Once he sees rectangles, I'm sure his tune will change.

Can't we just make him PM he seems to be doing a superb job

What constitutes "a superb job", in your opinion?

I mean this guy's flying by the seat of his pants, spouting off about any issue large or small, And, what does he propose re: addressing city planning? All he's done is try to shame professionals by treating them like children, as if he's the father - who's been absent for 8 years - now back to tell everyone that they haven't lived up to his expectations.

From Kindergarten to university and corporate life, Thais are told to shut up and do what they’re told.

You wrote: All he's done is try to shame professionals by treating them like children, as if he's the father –

Looks like you are long enough in Thailand to know, how way too many many “professionals” fill important positions and I’m sure you also know how they obtained them…

Treating them like children seems just to me. If you remember the recent past, don’t you feel that too many armed and blindly angered “citizen’ were acting like a bunch of ill-behaved brats demanding democracy without knowing the true meaning of the word?

As long as the entire society don't undergo drastic changes, and even that will take generations, I believe a father who bangs the fist on the table when necessary, is not a bad option for this country.

That's why I say: go ahead Prayuth!

Can't we just make him PM he seems to be doing a superb job

What constitutes "a superb job", in your opinion?

I mean this guy's flying by the seat of his pants, spouting off about any issue large or small, And, what does he propose re: addressing city planning? All he's done is try to shame professionals by treating them like children, as if he's the father - who's been absent for 8 years - now back to tell everyone that they haven't lived up to his expectations.

So basically, you're envious of a man large and in charge, getting stuff done with courage that NEEDS to be done and HASN'T been done, and is intimidated by no one. Penis envy?

Somebody at TOT might want to mention the jetski scammers to him. Be nice to see the army boys carting a few of the scammers off to pastures new.

And while they are sorting Bangkok's streets out, how about running a single heavy-duty cable along each road and a junction box at each street, with it's own single 3 phase cable feeding a single phase to each building, instead of the hundreds of individual cables we have now.

Dear General: thank you for shaking things up. It was sorely needed, and I am sure there are more than enough screw ups and shirkers here to piss off a saint. Just try to keep a somewhat humble attitude, ask yourself at decisive moments "Is this of benefit to the Thai people?" and remember Lord Acton's "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" saying.

And while they are sorting Bangkok's streets out, how about running a single heavy-duty cable along each road and a junction box at each street, with it's own single 3 phase cable feeding a single phase to each building, instead of the hundreds of individual cables we have now.

Blasphemy. The tangled mass of overhead wires are considered a tourist attraction by TOT. Many first time visitors to Thailand specifically request rooms on the 2nd floor of their hotel or guest house to get a better view of them.

The lucky ones also have a transformer up the pole outside their balcony and they wait happily in the rainy season for a free fireworks show.

Can't we just make him PM

Too late, he already declared himself PM.

People like you complain about problems and then complain if someone tries to sort them out.

Well I did not complain about Bangkok city planning efforts, and I have not complained about any efforts to improve Bangkok city planning efforts. That's all in your mind.

All I asked was "what has he - Prayuth - done", in this case, other than to "lambaste"? Essentially, he's the one doing the complaining.

Man your comments are weak, shallow and completely reflective of a scorned Thaksin supporter.

Get used to it, Prayuth is changing Thailand for the better at warp speed.

If you had 2 brain cells to rub together, you would see this 'lambasting' as a pre-cursor to justification to remove the current idiots who probably only develop the city based on who passes them the biggest envelopes under the table and not based on logic and convenience of tourists and city dwellers alike.

Have you ever sat behind the wheel of a car at 8 am on Sukhumvit/Asoke????

Can't we just make him PM he seems to be doing a superb job

What constitutes "a superb job", in your opinion?

I mean this guy's flying by the seat of his pants, spouting off about any issue large or small, And, what does he propose re: addressing city planning? All he's done is try to shame professionals by treating them like children, as if he's the father - who's been absent for 8 years - now back to tell everyone that they haven't lived up to his expectations.

Karma my friend karma.