rooster59 Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 5 double-track rail projects halted for ‘lack of transparency’ By The Nation Five controversial double-track railway projects worth of Bt99 billion have had their bidding processes put “on hold”, possibly causing a delay in their launches. The move came after the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) held a meeting on Friday to revise the projects’ specifications following an order invoked by junta chief Prayut Chan-o-cha after he received numerous complaints about the projects’ lack of transparency for bidding and procurement. Anon Luangboriboon, recently appointed acting SRT governor, said before the meeting that the board would revise the projects’ terms of reference. Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30307957 -- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
localczar Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 the word transparency does not exist in the vocab. of modern day thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reigntax Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 12 minutes ago, localczar said: the word transparency does not exist in the vocab. of modern day thailand. Yes,, not many parents will admit their sons are practicing ladyboys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heybruce Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 I suspect the requirement for transparency will be as selective as the fight against corruption. For example, I don't expect to see any push for transparency in the military budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCC1701A Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 so predictable. and sad for the Thai people who just want a frickin' train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optad Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 These infrastructure developments were needed twenty years ago. If Prayut wants to really justify his autocratic powers should create a statutory infrastructure body with non Thai auditors from KPMG or something and a CFO from an accounting firm abroad. Cannot put 4 billion US into the hands on Thai rail managers and expect it go where stated. Quote He ordered the transfer of SRT governor Wutthichat Kalayanamit and the agency’s entire board in response to alleged irregularities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerojero Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 He knew damn well that there would be underhandedness. Why didn't he preemptively structure the process. He's got absolute power! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jabis Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 25 minutes ago, jerojero said: He knew damn well that there would be underhandedness. Why didn't he preemptively structure the process. He's got absolute power! The backhander revenues perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smedly Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 what a sad bunch of people you are Having read the whole article I can see very plainly that the PM did indeed act and put in place sensible solutions and sack a lot of people - a bold move to say the least any of you experts that have been first posters on this topic care to put forward your own suggestions as to how you would have handled this and what solutions you would have dreamed up from your 4/4 bedsit do please share, either put up or shut up no didn't think so and just to add - probably for the first time ever I actually agree with something heybruce said - this arrangement must also apply to military procurement or all military procurement be removed from the military and brought under civilian government control and oversight - no exceptions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wakeupplease Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 So no trains, only to be expected, mind you we will have some subs or just one old relic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esprit Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 Economically the nation can not actually afford it anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oziex1 Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 Were the complaints from those where the gravy train was not stopping at their Station? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 6 hours ago, jerojero said: He knew damn well that there would be underhandedness. Why didn't he preemptively structure the process. He's got absolute power! Because he lacks the abilities to govern and believes Thais do not need any help from the outside world. That is probably changing now. He is probably beginning to understand that his legacy will determine how he might live in the future. If he makes some monumental mistakes, he will become a laughing stock at home and abroad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtls2005 Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 From the "story": The SRT had been set to announce the names of the companies that had qualified for bidding. Hmmm. The Junta, and its many, many, many "groups" (like the Superboard) have been in charge for over two years. These rail projects have been harped upon by the Junta ad nauseam. Now they getting around to sacking the board, and replacing it? Perhaps the old board wasn't sharing, or directing the work, to the "good people"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spidermike007 Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 Thailand desperately needs to improve it's rail service. It is antiquated, and compared to so many other countries, it is an abomination. Whatever it takes to do this. Transparency is a good objective. It is easy to accomplish. The project does not need to be halted. He just needs to select some intelligent people to watch over it. Something he has had a very hard time doing to date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smedly Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 22 minutes ago, spidermike007 said: Thailand desperately needs to improve it's rail service. It is antiquated, and compared to so many other countries, it is an abomination. Whatever it takes to do this. Transparency is a good objective. It is easy to accomplish. The project does not need to be halted. He just needs to select some intelligent people to watch over it. Something he has had a very hard time doing to date. yes and no past elected government would ever even have made an issue of this let alone share it with the public because they would have been up to their necks in the corruption and stuffing their pockets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aj Mick Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 Well, let's see now….. What else could be halted because of lack of transparency? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debate101 Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 21 minutes ago, smedly said: yes and no past elected government would ever even have made an issue of this let alone share it with the public because they would have been up to their necks in the corruption and stuffing their pockets While this is probably true, we should also admit that things don't get done in present-day Thailand without grease money. Any government operating in this environment has to strike a balance between actually accomplishing policies and being seen as too corrupt. For a middle income country such as Thailand, growth and development is probably more important than eliminating corruption. Of course it needs to be gradually phased out by developing transparency, accountability, and un-politicized independent oversight, but at the end of the day, people are going to ask what their government is doing for them. If the answer is "not a whole lot," they aren't going to be happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTHERNSTAR Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 His cut is not enough so a new process must be followed to increase the tea money to the statutary 30%. But lets be serious the real problem is the money needed for these projects. These projects is supposed to be financed directly by government but that is turning into a massive problem. Instead of losing face they are now spinning the delay as an anti corruption move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickmouse1 Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 Many companies with rtd Army Gen at the helms are involved and most if not all have foreign partners or consultants as I am aware having been involved on a diff project with a big co also bidding for part of that Rail project. All having " special arrangements " ? I applaud the PM here for duch action but I hope he will not halt or delay the bidding process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddavidovsky Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 There's no substance to anything in this article. What complaints? What revisions to specifications? How are the two connected? How are the public to get any clear and verifiable information on what is happening? It's all blather. Just window-dressing to make it look like the junta is actually doing sometime to counter corruption. Don't forget who controls the news. Behind the scenes, it's business as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spidermike007 Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 1 hour ago, debate101 said: While this is probably true, we should also admit that things don't get done in present-day Thailand without grease money. Any government operating in this environment has to strike a balance between actually accomplishing policies and being seen as too corrupt. For a middle income country such as Thailand, growth and development is probably more important than eliminating corruption. Of course it needs to be gradually phased out by developing transparency, accountability, and un-politicized independent oversight, but at the end of the day, people are going to ask what their government is doing for them. If the answer is "not a whole lot," they aren't going to be happy. I cannot wait for the day the Thai people start asking what is their government doing for them, why are they doing so little, why are we getting so little, and why are we constantly getting short changed by the creeps in power? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maoro2013 Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 I also think they need to work out how these projects are to be funded. A bit of a delay is no doubt in order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
localczar Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 Next news headline: "Tourism Halted due to lack of prostitution" ....after major military assault using invisible underground submarines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard052 Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 15 hours ago, smedly said: what a sad bunch of people you are Having read the whole article I can see very plainly that the PM did indeed act and put in place sensible solutions and sack a lot of people - a bold move to say the least any of you experts that have been first posters on this topic care to put forward your own suggestions as to how you would have handled this and what solutions you would have dreamed up from your 4/4 bedsit do please share, either put up or shut up no didn't think so and just to add - probably for the first time ever I actually agree with something heybruce said - this arrangement must also apply to military procurement or all military procurement be removed from the military and brought under civilian government control and oversight - no exceptions Hey Smedly, go take a Valium will you, you seem to think that you are the resident expert. When have you seen Prayut doing anything right unless it is to put more money in his pocket along with his little Generals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomacht8 Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 Good move. More transparency, why not. This makes an economy more dynamic in any case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usual Suspect Posted March 11, 2017 Share Posted March 11, 2017 IMO forget the Chinese subs, & (for the time being) forget the high-speed rail project, just give the nation a double line, & lots more Sprinter trains that (almost) run on time...As Jeremy Clarkson always states.. "How hard can it be"? But for once the Gen may just have seen the big picture of rail-linked corruption forming before his final go-ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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