Asean Community: Thai government sector not yet ready

[webfact]

ASEAN COMMUNITY
Thai government sector not yet ready

BANGKOK: -- The Thai government sector is still unready to protect Thailand's national interest in the Asean Community, said former Asean secretary general Surin Pitsuwan.

The private sector however is ready for the Asean Community in its knowledge and experience in competition.

"Thailand’s government and politicians still lack direction, knowledge and capabilities necessary to protect the national interest," Surin was quoted as saying by Thai News Agency.

He attributed the unreadiness to the deep-rooted patronage system in the Thai government sector that, he said, blocks capable officials from reaching key positions where the national interest can be protected.

Surin considers Thai politics as having been trapped in considerable conflict. He suggested that politics be developed to quickly ensure complete participation and general acceptance.

The development would allow Thailand to have capable representatives in negotiations with other Asean members, he said.

Surin was speaking at an international seminar on "Asean Youth in the Asean Community and the Global Community at Thammasat University."

Asked about Asean’s readiness to become a community, Surin said that the grouping had never been a single body as intended.

He said that it had not developed even one single market where non-tariff trade barriers were lifted.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thai-government-sector-not-yet-ready-30251475.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-08

[JoePai]

Thailand’s government and politicians still lack direction, knowledge and capabilities - quite correct now how many years have they known about this ...

[Just1Voice]

Thailand will be ready........in about 10 more years.....maybe.

[JOC]

"He attributed the unreadiness to the deep-rooted patronage system in the Thai government sector that, he said, blocks capable officials from reaching key positions where the national interest can be protected." Quote

A system of which Surin Pitsuwan was a part for many years!! (And still is)

Instead of giving well-paid speeches at seminars, what about trying to bring about changes by joining the active political life.

Too easy to stand on the sidelines criticizing !!

[FireMedic]

"He attributed the unreadiness to the deep-rooted patronage system in the Thai government sector that, he said, blocks capable officials from reaching key positions where the national interest can be protected." Quote

A system of which Surin Pitsuwan was a part for many years!! (And still is)

Instead of giving well-paid speeches at seminars, what about trying to bring about changes by joining the active political life.

Too easy to stand on the sidelines criticizing !!

Maybe because he doesn't want to rot in a jail cell for speaking his mind.

[daiwill60]

Jing Jing Lohr. and this is news????

[DKUNPUTAF713]

"Thailand’s government and politicians still lack direction......."

Something is really wrong here. Thailand has not had a "government" since 22 May 2014 and will not be ready at the end of 2015

as Thailand is currently tentatively scheduled to have an election some time in 2016 and probably won't be ready then anyway!!!!

[iReason]

"unready to protect Thailand's national interest in the Asean Community"

Translation: We need to stay a world unto ourselves.

"Thailand’s government and politicians still lack direction, knowledge and capabilities necessary to protect the national interest," Surin was quoted as saying by Thai News Agency.

No shit?

"He suggested that politics be developed to quickly ensure complete participation and general acceptance."

Right.

That will happen overnight.

Maybe consult the stars or the spirits to speed it up...

[Dah fahrang]

Thailand will be ready........in about 10 more years.....maybe.

Won't need ASEAN after just ten months closer relations with these nutters.

Or, perhaps, given this new bed-fellow, ASEAN will shun Thailand, as the pariah it seems to want to become.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790130-thailand-to-celebrate-close-relations-with-north-korea/

[DeaconJohn]

"He attributed the unreadiness to the deep-rooted patronage system in the Thai government sector that, he said, blocks capable officials from reaching key positions where the national interest can be protected." Quote

A system of which Surin Pitsuwan was a part for many years!! (And still is)

Instead of giving well-paid speeches at seminars, what about trying to bring about changes by joining the active political life.

Too easy to stand on the sidelines criticizing !!

Surin is one of the more intelligent and capable of Thailand's public figures.

He showed a considerable amount of courage in speaking out at this point.

Unlike you, he seems to understand that this is not the right or opportune moment for provoking change by "...joining the active political life."

[NeverSure]

Who needs Asean or the West? Thailand has the crocodile China.

[englishoak]

"He attributed the unreadiness to the deep-rooted patronage system in the Thai government sector that, he said, blocks capable officials from reaching key positions where the national interest can be protected." Quote

A system of which Surin Pitsuwan was a part for many years!! (And still is)

Instead of giving well-paid speeches at seminars, what about trying to bring about changes by joining the active political life.

Too easy to stand on the sidelines criticizing !!

Surin is one of the more intelligent and capable of Thailand's public figures.

He showed a considerable amount of courage in speaking out at this point.

Unlike you, he seems to understand that this is not the right or opportune moment for provoking change by "...joining the active political life."

Indeed, his message is clear

[selftaopath]

Thailand’s government and politicians still lack direction, knowledge and capabilities - quite correct now how many years have they known about this ...

Perhaps this is a clear example of "Thainess" I hear about.

[janpharma]

...Will they ever be ready?...

[Thai at Heart]

Is the national interest threatened by ASEAN, particularly the public sector?

I don't see that ASEAN is going to threaten Thai bureaucracy? They might laugh at it, but I presume the Thais can laugh at themselves just a little?

[tonbridgebrit]

I really don't think that Thailand needs to worry about ASEAN and all the rest of it.

2015 was suppose to be a massive year for ASEAN, but we're now ten days into 2015, and what's happened ? No, the people of Cambodia, Laos and Burma have not been allowed to flood into Thailand. The vast number of illegal migrant workers from those countries are still illegal, they're NOT being given legit ASEAN work permits.
And those hard-working Philipinos, and they can speak English too, NO, there is no flood of them coming into Thailand. The number of Philipinos entering into Thailand, via Savurnabumi airport, is the same as any other January. Actually, if those Philipinos are such good workers, why can't they stay in the Philipinnes, and make their country better ? And those Philipinos, they've been in the Philipinnes for years, working there, how comes the Phillipinnes is still so poor if their workers are so good ?

I think people should accept, ASEAN is not the same as the European Union. ASEAN might set a timetable for whatever events, but nothing really happens. And whatever dates are set, they just get put back and forgotten about. Just as well, really, for Thailand.

I mean, how does Thailand benefit by converting a vast number of illegal immigrants into legit workers ? Either keep them as illegal (that way, they're almost slave labour), or remove them totally (that way, Thais can do the same jobs, but demand far more money). How does Thailand benefit by having a load of Philipinos making a load of Thais un-employed ? A whole load of people on Thai Visa were going on about how Thailand was f____.

Get real, the Thais aren't dumb. They'ill never put themselves into a situation where they are going to be worse off.

[trogers]

I really don't think that Thailand needs to worry about ASEAN and all the rest of it.

2015 was suppose to be a massive year for ASEAN, but we're now ten days into 2015, and what's happened ? No, the people of Cambodia, Laos and Burma have not been allowed to flood into Thailand. The vast number of illegal migrant workers from those countries are still illegal, they're NOT being given legit ASEAN work permits.

And those hard-working Philipinos, and they can speak English too, NO, there is no flood of them coming into Thailand. The number of Philipinos entering into Thailand, via Savurnabumi airport, is the same as any other January. Actually, if those Philipinos are such good workers, why can't they stay in the Philipinnes, and make their country better ? And those Philipinos, they've been in the Philipinnes for years, working there, how comes the Phillipinnes is still so poor if their workers are so good ?

I think people should accept, ASEAN is not the same as the European Union. ASEAN might set a timetable for whatever events, but nothing really happens. And whatever dates are set, they just get put back and forgotten about. Just as well, really, for Thailand.

I mean, how does Thailand benefit by converting a vast number of illegal immigrants into legit workers ? Either keep them as illegal (that way, they're almost slave labour), or remove them totally (that way, Thais can do the same jobs, but demand far more money). How does Thailand benefit by having a load of Philipinos making a load of Thais un-employed ? A whole load of people on Thai Visa were going on about how Thailand was f____.

Get real, the Thais aren't dumb. They'ill never put themselves into a situation where they are going to be worse off.

Singapore did, since almost a decade ago. Boy! Aren't they dumb...But then, it's only applied to the private sector. Posts of politicians and civil servants are somehow protected...

[tonbridgebrit]

I really don't think that Thailand needs to worry about ASEAN and all the rest of it.

2015 was suppose to be a massive year for ASEAN, but we're now ten days into 2015, and what's happened ? No, the people of Cambodia, Laos and Burma have not been allowed to flood into Thailand. The vast number of illegal migrant workers from those countries are still illegal, they're NOT being given legit ASEAN work permits.

And those hard-working Philipinos, and they can speak English too, NO, there is no flood of them coming into Thailand. The number of Philipinos entering into Thailand, via Savurnabumi airport, is the same as any other January. Actually, if those Philipinos are such good workers, why can't they stay in the Philipinnes, and make their country better ? And those Philipinos, they've been in the Philipinnes for years, working there, how comes the Phillipinnes is still so poor if their workers are so good ?

I think people should accept, ASEAN is not the same as the European Union. ASEAN might set a timetable for whatever events, but nothing really happens. And whatever dates are set, they just get put back and forgotten about. Just as well, really, for Thailand.

I mean, how does Thailand benefit by converting a vast number of illegal immigrants into legit workers ? Either keep them as illegal (that way, they're almost slave labour), or remove them totally (that way, Thais can do the same jobs, but demand far more money). How does Thailand benefit by having a load of Philipinos making a load of Thais un-employed ? A whole load of people on Thai Visa were going on about how Thailand was f____.

Get real, the Thais aren't dumb. They'ill never put themselves into a situation where they are going to be worse off.

Singapore did, since almost a decade ago. Boy! Aren't they dumb...But then, it's only applied to the private sector. Posts of politicians and civil servants are somehow protected...

Trogers, obviously, different countries will be effected in different ways if we see freedom of movement of workers or scrapping of national borders.

In Singapore's case, not that many of their own population do un-skilled and manual labour. So, for them, drafting in cheaper foreign labourers has made sense. Singapore has certainly NOT said 'everybody in ASEAN is welcome to come into our country if they feel like it'. What they have done, is allowed in a 'controlled' number of foreign workers.

Singapore has got a reasonable 'balance'. Local people do a lot of skilled work, not at cheap labour rates, and the system also drafts in skilled foreigners. Yes, if there was no skilled foreigners in Singapore, then wages for skilled Singaporeans would be higher than what they are. But right now, skilled Singaporeans already earn a decent pay-packet, and skilled foreigners also earn a decent pay-packet.

Singapore will simply not say "all skilled foreigners are welcome, you can all flood in, and we don't care if you make a load of our own skilled workers un-employed (or doing jobs that they are over-qualified for)."

So, to sum up, letting in a controlled or certain number (a limited number) of foreigners into a country will probably benefit that country. But scrapping borders and giving a vast number of work permits to cheap foreigners will probably damage that country. Especially if the foreigners are making the locals unemployed, or driving down the wages in a big way.

Bear in mind too, that Thailand has very little dole money or welfare. Thailand can't say 'bring in the cheap foreigners, and we'ill just have our own people collecting government money and not working'. I'm not aying other governments actually say that, and I'm not actually trying to say that lots of people would rather collect dole than work for a low pay-packet.

[trogers]

I really don't think that Thailand needs to worry about ASEAN and all the rest of it.

2015 was suppose to be a massive year for ASEAN, but we're now ten days into 2015, and what's happened ? No, the people of Cambodia, Laos and Burma have not been allowed to flood into Thailand. The vast number of illegal migrant workers from those countries are still illegal, they're NOT being given legit ASEAN work permits.

And those hard-working Philipinos, and they can speak English too, NO, there is no flood of them coming into Thailand. The number of Philipinos entering into Thailand, via Savurnabumi airport, is the same as any other January. Actually, if those Philipinos are such good workers, why can't they stay in the Philipinnes, and make their country better ? And those Philipinos, they've been in the Philipinnes for years, working there, how comes the Phillipinnes is still so poor if their workers are so good ?

I think people should accept, ASEAN is not the same as the European Union. ASEAN might set a timetable for whatever events, but nothing really happens. And whatever dates are set, they just get put back and forgotten about. Just as well, really, for Thailand.

I mean, how does Thailand benefit by converting a vast number of illegal immigrants into legit workers ? Either keep them as illegal (that way, they're almost slave labour), or remove them totally (that way, Thais can do the same jobs, but demand far more money). How does Thailand benefit by having a load of Philipinos making a load of Thais un-employed ? A whole load of people on Thai Visa were going on about how Thailand was f____.

Get real, the Thais aren't dumb. They'ill never put themselves into a situation where they are going to be worse off.

Singapore did, since almost a decade ago. Boy! Aren't they dumb...But then, it's only applied to the private sector. Posts of politicians and civil servants are somehow protected...

Trogers, obviously, different countries will be effected in different ways if we see freedom of movement of workers or scrapping of national borders.

In Singapore's case, not that many of their own population do un-skilled and manual labour. So, for them, drafting in cheaper foreign labourers has made sense. Singapore has certainly NOT said 'everybody in ASEAN is welcome to come into our country if they feel like it'. What they have done, is allowed in a 'controlled' number of foreign workers.

Singapore has got a reasonable 'balance'. Local people do a lot of skilled work, not at cheap labour rates, and the system also drafts in skilled foreigners. Yes, if there was no skilled foreigners in Singapore, then wages for skilled Singaporeans would be higher than what they are. But right now, skilled Singaporeans already earn a decent pay-packet, and skilled foreigners also earn a decent pay-packet.

Singapore will simply not say "all skilled foreigners are welcome, you can all flood in, and we don't care if you make a load of our own skilled workers un-employed (or doing jobs that they are over-qualified for)."

So, to sum up, letting in a controlled or certain number (a limited number) of foreigners into a country will probably benefit that country. But scrapping borders and giving a vast number of work permits to cheap foreigners will probably damage that country. Especially if the foreigners are making the locals unemployed, or driving down the wages in a big way.

Bear in mind too, that Thailand has very little dole money or welfare. Thailand can't say 'bring in the cheap foreigners, and we'ill just have our own people collecting government money and not working'. I'm not aying other governments actually say that, and I'm not actually trying to say that lots of people would rather collect dole than work for a low pay-packet.

Point of this topic - AEC and the government sector. Read my last statement. What does the government sector need to be ready when their interests are protected. Singapore showed the way.

[tonbridgebrit]

I'ill have a smirk on my face, and say that the government sector does not need to be ready. That's because nothing much is going to happen to the government sector. How can you get ready (or why would you get ready) for an event that is almost a non-event ? I think you yourself are trying to say that the government sector will carry on being 'protected' !