webfact Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW'Fewer MPs would mean less corruption'KRIS BHROMSUTHITHE NATIONChai-Anan Samudavanija, National Reform Council memberBANGKOK: -- Chai-Anan Samudavanija, National Reform Council member, believes in reducing the role of national politics and emphasising the empowering of local municipalities, as that could curb corruption.The NRC member for political reform proposed that the country should press on with decentralisation of power.In an exclusive interview with The Nation, he said the country only needed a single Parliament of 77 members, with one elected MP from each province, no party-list MPs, and there was no need for the Senate.Chai-Anan called for a pyramid-like political system with "a narrow top and a broader base", referring to a shift in administrative power from the national government to local ones.His reasoning for such a proposal is that it would be a more effective and convenient system in which ordinary people could take part."The fewer the MPs, the lesser the corruption. It is easier for the people to regulate and examine local affairs - because they are closer to the people - in comparison with national politics, which are generally perceived as far-reaching and complex," Chai-Anan claimed.The checks and balances duties performed by the Senate could be delegated to a committee of experts in various fields.The distribution of administrative power to local municipalities raised concerns over the overlapping responsibilities between municipal and local administrations, together with the budget inefficiency from the over-complex layers of local administrative bodies, he said.Chai-Anan suggested that local administrations be abolished, retaining only local municipalities.No need for elected PMor referendumThe former drafter of the so-called "1997 People's charter", declared his intention to stand for membership of the constitution drafting committee.Chai-Anan has abundant experience in drafting constitutions and national reforms. He said a PM could be an elected or a non-elected MP, but he disagreed with the idea of having a directly elected PM.Once the constitution had been drafted, he saw no need for a national referendum, because there weren't any clearly conflicting issues."Usually, a referendum is required when opinions are split between alternative options; whether society wants A or B. However in the current situation, those alternative options aren't apparent, therefore, a referendum is not necessary.""Public endorsement of the constitution can, instead, be demonstrated through the absence of public dissent," he pointed out.He said the national reform process would take many years and only a framework could be drawn up, cautioning people against expecting too much from the one-year period."The foundations of national reform can be put in place and there can be prioritisation of various issues in accordance with their urgency. We can prioritise which issues are more important so that we know what needs to be done first," said the 70-year old former Constitutional Court judge.He stressed that this period of one year was an important one when "people needed to participate as much as they could", as the country's future depended on current deliberations on the reform framework.No guarantee for continuityOnce the new constitution comes into effect and a general election takes place, he said this NRC could not remain. In order to ensure continuity of the reform process, a new council should be appointed by the next elected government, he said.He admitted that such continuity could not be guaranteed, as its fate rested on the political willingness of the next government."It is up to the [next] government, we should just focus on doing our best,"Economic inequalityAnother area of his passion is the economic inequality. He proposed that the central budget allocation be geared towards the poorest provinces.The more wealthy provinces should receive lesser budget allocations. This would ensure that the money would go to where it was most needed and ease the inequality issues, which was not the case in the past.Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Fewer-MPs-would-mean-less-corruption-30245348.html-- The Nation 2014-10-13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post EricBerg Posted October 13, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 13, 2014 And while at it fire the entire policeforce. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjjmmi Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 More $$$$$ for them then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post aussieinthailand Posted October 13, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 13, 2014 NO,,,,, it just means they can each take a larger slice of the pie. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tx22cb Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 77 MPs in total (1 per province) and no Senate? Mr Chai-Anan will be in trouble with the "Righteous Gang". Didn't he get the memo that "they" want to have more appointed MPs and more appointed Senators to counter the foibles of the voters? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NongKhaiKid Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 The picture sums up so much of what happens here, A Thai would be ' somebody ' plus a microphone = a d..ickhead comment. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireMedic Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Soon, even the bosses will run out of fingers for all the pies.The money will keep coming in. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NongKhaiKid Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 77 MPs in total (1 per province) and no Senate? Mr Chai-Anan will be in trouble with the "Righteous Gang". Didn't he get the memo that "they" want to have more appointed MPs and more appointed Senators to counter the foibles of the voters? I would also suggest that a massive reduction in MPs would likely cause its own problems of corruption, vote buying, vote rigging etc in the scramble to be elected to that single post that gives access to an even bigger trough. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatsujin Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Thai logic at work . . . it's different from "western" logic . . . here, 1 + 1 can mean anything you want it to . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BSJ Posted October 13, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 13, 2014 I think he is a creative thinker....maybe a dreamer. But the world needs people who think outside the box. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesetat2013 Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 When will Thais ever learn? It is not the quantity that is important! Its the QUALITY 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chainarong Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 I know what lobby group this clown represents , to be sure the less of anything in Thailand means less corruption, but to suggest that transferring to local government is only amplifying the problem , the sticky fingers brigade would be rubbing their collective hands on reading this B/S and it is only Monday, one can only dream in anticipation like teenager at what the rest of the week will bring and besides the upper crust won't be interested whatsoever . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halloween Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 He's gotten too complex. KISS - reduce the number of MPs by cancelling the party list. Boom, boom. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatOngo Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 'Fewer Thai MPs would mean less corruption' ..........And fewer cars would mean less traffic.........yeah..right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiSoLowSoNoSo Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 If integrity is missing, why any MPs at all? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post halloween Posted October 13, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 13, 2014 the one MP per province has one huge and fatal flaw, it is unequal representation. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomerangutang Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Whether there are 600 corrupt officials, all 100% toeing their party line while standing at the feeding trough, ....or 60, what does it really matter? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaimaishoe Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 The former drafter of the so-called "1997 People's charter", declared his intention to stand for membership of the constitution drafting committee.Chai-Anan has abundant experience in drafting constitutions and national reforms. At what point does "abundant experience" become obvious incompetence here in Thailand? "Usually, a referendum is required when opinions are split between alternative options; whether society wants A or B. However in the current situation, those alternative options aren't apparent, therefore, a referendum is not necessary." I'm pretty sure they are "not apparent" because dissent is banned under threat of arrest and speedy imprisonment via Martial Law. "Public endorsement of the constitution can, instead, be demonstrated through the absence of public dissent," he pointed out. Soooo.... the "She didn't say NO!" rape defence - in advance. Niiiice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTO Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Less Politicians = less corruption, hes down to 77 - how long before it's only one politician? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaimaishoe Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 the one MP per province has one huge and fatal flaw, it is unequal representation. A fatal flaw or design intent? I guess that depends if you are on the side that can't seem to win an election or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydebolle Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Too many clowns and too few circuses; except Thailand, where the size of the circus is "fnexibn" (flexible) ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orac Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 the one MP per province has one huge and fatal flaw, it is unequal representation. A fatal flaw or design intent? I guess that depends if you are on the side that can't seem to win an election or not. Bangkok has a population something like 30 times the size of Ranong but i get the impression that the plan would be to totally emasculate any parliament anyway. The idea of replacing the senate with experts sounds like the same old 'good people' line that keeps being tripped out. Also, how can the PM be an elected or unelected MP if his plan is for all MPs to be elected? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halloween Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 the one MP per province has one huge and fatal flaw, it is unequal representation. A fatal flaw or design intent? I guess that depends if you are on the side that can't seem to win an election or not. Doh! How many MPs are elected in BKK? Most go to which party? hint , it's not Pay Twice (real value) Party. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halloween Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 the one MP per province has one huge and fatal flaw, it is unequal representation. A fatal flaw or design intent? I guess that depends if you are on the side that can't seem to win an election or not. Bangkok has a population something like 30 times the size of Ranong but i get the impression that the plan would be to totally emasculate any parliament anyway. The idea of replacing the senate with experts sounds like the same old 'good people' line that keeps being tripped out. Also, how can the PM be an elected or unelected MP if his plan is for all MPs to be elected? AFAIK he was referring to the earlier proposal of an appointed non-political PM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisrazz Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Given that currently there are no MP's does that mean there is exponentially less corruption? This is just the start of the 'softening up' period to provide reasons to reduce the voting power of the poor in the North and NE. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piersbeckett Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Seems to me that the gun is being jumped; surely the main thing should be to demonstrate that an altered governmental system is open to social pressures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post heybruce Posted October 13, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 13, 2014 "Once the constitution had been drafted, he saw no need for a national referendum, because there weren't any clearly conflicting issues." With protests and criticism of the junta banned, how does he know?"Usually, a referendum is required when opinions are split between alternative options; whether society wants A or B. However in the current situation, those alternative options aren't apparent, therefore, a referendum is not necessary." Gee, I wonder why alternative options aren't apparent?"Public endorsement of the constitution can, instead, be demonstrated through the absence of public dissent," he pointed out. Right, after the constitution is a done deal then the public can dissent. Unless martial law is still in place, or re-imposed. Of course the junta can choose to ignore the dissent and impose the constitution in spite of it. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borzandy Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Democracy in Thai means, decentralized corruption, or share .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upena Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Only 76 provinces in Thailand. Bangkok is NOT a province Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soalbundy Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 When will Thais ever learn? It is not the quantity that is important! Its the QUALITY Never mind the quality, feel the width. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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