Thai talk: Real reform can't begin without tackling old ailments

[webfact]

THAI TALK
Real reform can't begin without tackling old ailments
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- No, we haven't been officially labelled the new "Sick Man of Asia" just yet. But if we dig deep enough into our social, economic and political ailments that are being addressed by the National Reform Council (NRC), we might find the task so daunting that it's hard to see light at the other end of the tunnel.

General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the prime minister and head of the all-powerful National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), has admitted in public that since the coup last May, only 30 per cent of the country's problems have been addressed (no, not solved), and 70 per cent of the nation's pending issues are still out there in the wilderness.

In another address, he was even more blunt: "We haven't got anywhere so far with the country's problems."

In other words, he was suggesting that despite the absolute power he wields, he was still at his wits' end to get things done in a country where efficiency and accountability are not usually associated with work ethics.

Where do you start to "reset" Thailand? Dr Suvit Maesinsi, chairman of a special commission on designing a new vision for the country, sums up three main issues that will decide whether reform is possible at all: Social conflicts, inequality and corruption.

"The country's reform agenda would be meaningless unless we can address these three main issues," he said.

To overcome these main obstacles, the national reform agenda will have to boost efficiency in managing the public sector and to shake up state enterprises and national budgeting. At the same time, the agricultural sector has to be revamped to achieve food and energy security.

Other analysts point to three other specific areas that have weakened Thailand's position both domestically and internationally.

First, the country's competitiveness has declined due to rising production costs. Second, the shortage of skilled labour is getting acute, resulting in the inability to upgrade productivity through the application of new technology. Third, the quality of the country's infrastructure is low - so much so that it can't accommodate new technology.

These three obstacles explain why Thailand's exports have not grown for two consecutive years. 2015 may prove to be the third year in a row that this worrying trend raises serious concerns. Vietnam has overtaken Thailand in the export of electronic products and Indonesia is challenging Thailand's position as the "Detroit of Asia".

Bureaucracy has become a threat rather than a contributing factor in national development. A recent survey of businessmen concluded that 80 per cent of the problems affecting their activities are one way or another related to the corrupt and inefficient bureaucracy. That major weakness has become one of the most serious factors undermining the country's economy.

The other major issue is the lack of free and fair competition in the country's economy. That has resulted in an economy that is dominated by a patronage system instead of competition that is measured by efficiency and merits.

It's a dark joke but nonetheless quite apt to say that in order to succeed "know-who" has become more important that "know-how" in Thai society today. Innovation is not a priority if connection counts more than performance.

Worst of all, national policies and market mechanisms aren't based on building a more transparent and visionary future for the country but rather based on pursuing the narrow interests of cliques that happen to be in power through a "quasi-democratic" electoral system.

Unless all these deep-rooted issues are tackled in a serious manner with an action plan and a clear roadmap, the ongoing reform exercise and the vigorous constitution drafting process would be futile. The next election will only put the country back on the old merry-go-round and the vicious cycle will resume yet again.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Real-reform-cant-begin-without-tackling-old-ailmen-30258047.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-16

[deckape]

the ongoing "reform" exercise.

Fixed that for ya.

Edited April 15, 2015 by deckape

[zaphod reborn]

Brilliant. Too bad the country has so few critical thinkers such as Dr. Maesinsi.

[rametindallas]

Hard to find fault with this argument.

[Robby nz]

Also very difficult to find answers on to how to solve these deeply entrenched problems.

Not just a matter of making a law and expecting it to happen or even arresting a few and making an example of them.

Edited April 15, 2015 by Robby nz

[jerojero]

Also very difficult to find answers on to how to solve these deeply entrenched problems.

Not just a matter of making a law and expecting it to happen or even arresting a few and making an example of them.

It starts in the schools and how education is delivered. It took hundred years to get what is entrenched, and cannot to undone in a year or two.

[bheard]

Perhaps the major problem aspect of all Thai systems and mentality is: Accountability, the lack thereof.

The boss needs to totally revamp all government systems to include requirements for accountability.

The reason accountability does not exist in Thailand is the culture of 'face'.

The two concepts cannot exist together. The boss needs to realise this.

[wabothai]

Real reform starts with reform of "face". Face it !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Broeno]

Good article that makes me realise how hopeless this country is.

[ourmanflint]

Also very difficult to find answers on to how to solve these deeply entrenched problems.

Not just a matter of making a law and expecting it to happen or even arresting a few and making an example of them.

I don't agree. Any reform has to start at the center and not at the periphery, that means government and civil service have to be reformed first. Major infrastructure projects should not be undertaken until this has happened to ensure transparency. There should be a zero tolerance approach to anyone working within the government, and real actual effective punishments for those that transgress. By that I mean actually doing jail time, not suspended sentences.

To achieve that, the legal system from the police to the courts has to be beyond reproach and be evenhanded. So that is where I would start, the police! Without reforming the police first, no progress can ever be made elsewhere.

[retarius]

Follow China's example and jail corrupt officials quickly. The puyai in our village charges 1000 baht for his signature because "it costs a lot to get elected." He is permitted to get away with this because the corruption goes all the way up the chain of command. Part of the problem is that public officials are not paid enough, and bribes supplement their income...this goes for police, amper officials, chiangwat officials, and apparently government officials. Apparently 30 to 50% of the cost of government commissioned jobs goes in graft. Yet a couple of years back Supoj, the permanent secretary of Transport, responsible for handing out contracts for roads etc was alleged to have billions of baht in cash in his home....he told authorities that he worked as night as an architect to make the money (even then it wasn't taxed). Surely he is in jail you say, but no, he's not in jail, he hasn;t even seen the inside of a court room yet....he's been moved to an inactive post. In China given his position and the scale of the graft he would, perhaps deservedly, lost his life.

[realenglish1]

One in a million For the most part most Thais are not taught to think critically They are taught to follow the leader and not rock the boat .

That is why leaders come that take advantage of the masses