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Murky mega-projects are shaping new govt’s formation


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Murky mega-projects are shaping new govt’s formation

By The Nation

 

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Political power is shifting unseen under pressure from three multibillion-baht schemes

 

At least three mega-spending projects are facing in-depth scrutiny following the March 24 general election, whose official results have yet to be announced by the Election Commission.

 

Using special powers under Article 44 of the charter, the Prayut government has pushed ahead with the multibillion-baht schemes during this transition period.

 

The ongoing bidding for the right to invest more than Bt200 billion in a high-speed train system linking Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-Tapao airports is one of the most closely watched of the schemes, largely due to its sheer size and relatively high investment risk.

 

Secondly, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued another controversial order on April 11 to help players in the telecom and digital TV industries who are facing financial difficulties.

 

All three telecom giants – AIS, True and Dtac – have been offered a lengthy postponement of the deadline for 4G spectrum payments totalling more than Bt100 billion, while digital TV broadcasters are now permitted to return their licences after suffering years of heavy losses.

 

Thirdly, the bidding to renew the duty-free shopping concessions at Suvarnabhumi and other international airports has been fast-tracked ahead of the new government taking office.

 

Under this scheme, a highly lucrative 10-year concession worth tens of billion baht in potential income is up for grabs.

 

The risks associated with fast-tracking these mega-investment schemes are significant.

 

For example, the Bt200-billion rail link for the three airports is a complex undertaking, meaning the government must conduct thorough negotiations with private investors so as to secure the project against any negative and costly consequences.

 

Private-sector players mulling the scheme are already pushing terms and conditions beyond those specified by the government. For example, the government has been asked for a guarantee that businesses would not lose money during the initial years of their investment. It has also been pressured to provide a low-cost loan package to private investors. The requests lie outside of the original terms of reference for the scheme.

 

The worry now is that the outgoing government will tie the hands of its successor in its desire to cut a deal with the private sector.

 

Regarding relief measures for the telecom and digital TV broadcasting sectors, it is also obvious that big business and corporate interests are the clear winner whereas public and consumer interests are taking a back seat.

 

The relief measures, which are worth tens of billion baht in taxpayers’ money, have been offered to address mistakes previously committed by policymakers as well as to solve the private sector’s financial problems resulting from business decisions.

 

On the bidding for the extension of the duty-free concessions at Suvarnabhumi and other airports, transparency and anti-corruption advocates have voiced concern over the procedures and urged the government to revamp the process.

 

Unsurprisingly, big businesses and corporate interest groups are all behind these multibillion-baht schemes, which are linked to political backing and other vested interests. The mega-schemes are playing a crucial role in shaping the political landscape following the March 24 general election as Thailand attempts to return to democracy.

 

Unfortunately, the new government is being formed under immense 

 

pressures from a wide range of political and business interests, at the expense of transparency and other long-term public interest.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30367943

 

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-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-04-19
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25 minutes ago, webfact said:

The worry now is that the outgoing government will tie the hands of its successor in its desire to cut a deal with the private sector.

What outgoing government?

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1 hour ago, webfact said:

Using special powers under Article 44 of the charter, the Prayut government has pushed ahead with the multibillion-baht schemes during this transition period

The rush is on by the incumbent junta government to get all the envelope ducks lined up just in case any change might occur.

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That totally alien concept of "caretaker mode", which in modern democracies. starts when the election is called, has been missed/ignored by this lot. Surely following an election the incumbents should be in some form of caretaker mode till the new government takes control.

It is not as if the end result is going to be that different. Maybe different people getting the commissions.

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Better information from an knowledgeable press would help us readers to fully understand what is happening here. Huge amounts of money are involved and anyone in Thailand long enough (see other posts) assume some of it will be making its way into hands that shouldn't be touching it. But its all hints and suggestions without informing the reader how its actually done and where it will be going. History tells us that last minute deals of alarming amounts are only done to secure wealth for the outgoing power, Samak and his fire engines for Bangkok being a great case, but a better description of who is involved and just how they rip off the millions and where they put them would be nice. 

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3 hours ago, webfact said:

Murky mega-projects are shaping new govt’s formation

 

Sticky fingers and their off-shore bank accounts love these mega-deals. The larger the project...the easier it is to divert sizable chunks of money, create fake paper trails, and conceal where it’s all going.

 

 

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41 minutes ago, Lungstib said:

But its all hints and suggestions without informing the reader how its actually done and where it will be going.

Maybe the media is feeling just a little bit "stifled" to really say it like it is.

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4 hours ago, webfact said:

Using special powers under Article 44 of the charter, the Prayut government has pushed ahead with the multibillion-baht schemes during this transition period.

Where are those ethics crusaders who lambasted the previous elected government off-budget proposal for infrastructure spending that didn't happened. 

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But, but, but Thaksin was the corrupt one. We had to have the coup to end all that evil Shinawatra corruption and return Thailand to it's golden age of purity and goodness experienced in the joyous era prior to Thaksin's stolen election victory in 2001. Even Prem has come and and said that Prayuth's government is not corrupt - what more do you doubting Thomas's need? Everything will be above board and all contracts will be signed only with the sole purpose of the betterment of Thailand and all Thais. 

 

There is nothing to see here.

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We now know why there's 60 days between the election and the official results: so the incumbents, and they won't all be in the new Prayut Government, get one last big payday; in fact make that several last big paydays.

 

It's just so blatant and I hope that one day all members of the NCPO are investigated, but there's probably more chance of Thailand putting a man on the moon.

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47 minutes ago, pornprong said:

Even Prem has come and and said that Prayuth's government is not corrupt

Pornpring's reference is correct!

When Prayut invokes Article 44, he "legally" waives all anti-corruption laws and constitutional oversight.

Thus, without accountability there can be no criminal corruption.

Just "good people" doing "good things."

Albeit, for themselves.

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1 hour ago, pornprong said:

But, but, but Thaksin was the corrupt one. We had to have the coup to end all that evil Shinawatra corruption and return Thailand to it's golden age of purity and goodness experienced in the joyous era prior to Thaksin's stolen election victory in 2001. Even Prem has come and and said that Prayuth's government is not corrupt - what more do you doubting Thomas's need? Everything will be above board and all contracts will be signed only with the sole purpose of the betterment of Thailand and all Thais. 

 

There is nothing to see here.

Sarcastic much ? ????

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14 minutes ago, madmitch said:

We now know why there's 60 days between the election and the official results: so the incumbents, and they won't all be in the new Prayut Government, get one last big payday; in fact make that several last big paydays.

 

It's just so blatant and I hope that one day all members of the NCPO are investigated, but there's probably more chance of Thailand putting a man on the moon.

 

moon.jpg

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4 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

That totally alien concept of "caretaker mode", which in modern democracies. starts when the election is called, has been missed/ignored by this lot. Surely following an election the incumbents should be in some form of caretaker mode till the new government takes control.

It is not as if the end result is going to be that different. Maybe different people getting the commissions.

It's not only that Prayut refuses to place his government into caretaker mode.

It's the conversion of temporary NCPO Orders through his junta-appointed NLA to make them into permanent laws that will bind the next government legislatively if it's not pro-military.

Furthermore, where ever one sees a new Prayut government "roadmap" policy, it is being memorialized as part of the 20-year National Strategy Plan that requires an amendment to the Constitution for change - difficult if not impossible with a pro-military Senate. Thus, not only would the next government be constrained to enact new government policies, successive new governments will to be constrained, albeit unless there is another coup.

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How do any of these projects benefit the general public in any way?  I wait for the day to see an outgoing government rush through a massive spending program to significantly upgrade the education system ... OK not wait but wish.  

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7 hours ago, webfact said:

All three telecom giants – AIS, True and Dtac – have been offered a lengthy postponement of the deadline for 4G spectrum payments totalling more than Bt100 billion, while digital TV broadcasters are now permitted to return their licences after suffering years of heavy losses.

Privatize the Profits; Socialize the Losses.  

Governments working hand-in-hand with Corporations to make a better world!

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I can never see how this rail line between the airports will work Utapao Airport is a nonsense hardly any flights, not close to the industrial area of Rayong. The 2 airports in BKK do they really need a fast train link. BKK Swampy already has an good rail connection.

The numbers just don't add up for me.

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12 hours ago, webfact said:

following the March 24 general election as Thailand attempts to return to democracy.

 

Really????

 

Glad they added the word "attempts".... 

 

Can we at least find out who won the election, and who will be the next PM, before jumping to any rash conclusions.....

 

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8 hours ago, Darkside Gray said:

I can never see how this rail line between the airports will work Utapao Airport is a nonsense hardly any flights, not close to the industrial area of Rayong. The 2 airports in BKK do they really need a fast train link. BKK Swampy already has an good rail connection.

The numbers just don't add up for me.

Me, too. The murkiest of the mega-projects. Many other more needy projects starting with Bangkok's creaky and very overcrowded bus and rail systems.  And a number of perpetual bad traffic bottlenecks that need sorting.  

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There is nothing new in this post and there will be nothing new in any post.

The old regime rules and will always rule.

Why is anyone surprised? Contrived Democracy is the term.

It has never been different in Thailand. Not ever.

Unlike US. A recent contrived event. But the same formula.

Who ever would have thought that Thailand could teach US how to suck eggs.

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