Pattaya: Seafood restaurant blames "corrupt government" for closure

[webfact]

Pattaya: Seafood restaurant blames "corrupt government" for closure

 

Picture: Pattaya Update News

 

An online post from the owner of King Seafood in Walking Street, south Pattaya, pulled no punches as the popular restaurant announced its temporary closure. 

 

It said "Close(d) due to Covid and Corrupt Government".

 

The owner blamed government corruption among state employees or civil servants in areas such as border incursions and cases of transmission through illegal casinos. 

 

He said that the private sector is bearing the brunt of their actions and they could just not remain open any longer - cancellations at New Year after closure orders were the final straw for the business. 

 

The government had also been hopeless in looking after businesses in the private sector and providing assistance to their employees, he said.

 

"We have to admit defeat, we can't go on," he said. "We have been losing money since reopening in August. We had hoped that things would improve but our hopes have been dashed. We are exhausted mentally and physically".

 

He said that during the first lockdown the restaurant had helped the needy with 30,000 packaged meals over 2 months. The restaurant received a lot of praise for being helpful to society and he said that people promised to patronise the restaurant when things improved.

 

But these proved to be empty words as they never showed up. 

 

They came up with spurious excuses like "no parking" or not wanting to visit a "vice area". Others said it was "too expensive" compared to what you could get outside Pattaya. 

 

"We took the complaints on the chin," he said and continued to try and do out best."

 

Pattaya Update News went to Walking Street and spoke with restaurant executive Premrudee Jittiwutthikan, 67, who said the online post was the work of her son. 

 

She said that just when they were turning the corner and were beginning to help their staff again they had been forced to close.

 

Messages of support from both Thais and foreigners were left after the original post. 

 

Source: Pattaya Update News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-01-05

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[JoePai]

Is this the restaurant which is built illegally on Walking Street…

[colinneil]

Just now, webfact said:

The government had also been hopeless in looking after businesses in the private sector

Yes but not been hopeless when looking after themselves, what do people expect? This so called government are only interested in making money for themselves, they dont give a rats a++e about others.

[HashBrownHarry]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

Is this the restaurant which is built illegally on Walking Street…

Yes and the one that has been charging outrageous prices every night for the last 40 years ++, they should have plenty money put away for a rainy day but.....

[GrandPapillon]

8 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Yes and the one that has been charging outrageous prices every night for the last 40 years ++, they should have plenty money put away for a rainy day but.....

all spent on bags, luxury cars, and empty condos ????

[HashBrownHarry]

4 minutes ago, GrandPapillon said:

all spent on bags, luxury cars, and empty condos ????

Correct.

[jacko45k]

Not  wrong there!

[edwinchester]

Two biggest outbreaks in Thailand were at Lumpini Stadium, owned by the Army and in Samut Sakhon, blamed on illegal Burmese migrants. The Army control the Thai/Burmese border.

Some may say the restaurants comment is entirely justified....I couldn't possibly comment.

[ChipButty]

 

Same with all governments Feather their own nest first

[Patts]

I know of King Seafood but I have never eaten so I won't comment on the owners or business practices but I respect them for calling out government corruption, policies and lack of support for private business and individuals. There aren't many business owners with the balls to do this publicly. 

 

I know of many Thais who never received a baht from the government, despite completing all the documents to apply for 3000baht.  

Edited January 5, 2021 by Patts

[ukrules]

Since September 2020 when the virus started to have a resurgence in Europe and other places in the world it has been reasonably obvious that this is going to be a long drawn out and protracted process and the country will remain closed.

 

The time to close permanently was around October, especially if there's any leases to renew any time soon.

 

The economic devastation hasn't fully hit Thailand yet, but it's coming.

[Golden Triangle]

Corruption in government circles !!!!...................Never, ????????????????????????

 

Ideal opportunity to start the redevelopment of the ocean side of Walking street, ????

[spidermike007]

Kudos to Premrudee and her son, for speaking out. More need to do this. A cultural revolution is required. The army has failed over and over and over again. The dinosaurs must go!

 

And yes, the corruption allegation is no doubt spot on. If only people knew the extent of it. 

[Destiny1990]

3 hours ago, JoePai said:

Is this the restaurant which is built illegally on Walking Street…

Yes and now they blame a corrupt government..

[kingofthemountain]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Pattaya: Seafood restaurant blames "corrupt government" for closure

It's pretty funny coming from the owner of a restaurant built many years ago on 

an unbuildable part of what was (And it's still but under the cement structures) a public beach

i wonder how much money it cost at the time to corrupt locals officials

and to keep going the business during 40 years

anyway in 40 years overcharging the tourists with silly prices i presume

the owner is forever well prepared to stay without any income for future years

Honestly i am much more concerned for the employees

Edited January 5, 2021 by kingofthemountain

[DaLa]

31 minutes ago, ukrules said:

Since September 2020 when the virus started to have a resurgence in Europe and other places in the world it has been reasonably obvious that this is going to be a long drawn out and protracted process and the country will remain closed.

 

The time to close permanently was around October, especially if there's any leases to renew any time soon.

 

The economic devastation hasn't fully hit Thailand yet, but it's coming.

I have a place down in Cha Am and as soon as the restaurant and bar owners realised there were going to be no long term western winter visitors they closed up..as you say in October/November. 

 

At this rate in 6 months time they'll be 20,000 farangs all packed into one very happy restaurant owners bar.

 

Edited January 5, 2021 by DaLa

[sammieuk1]

It said "Close(d) due to Covid and Corrupt Government".

 

About the size of the country also ????

[Rimmer]

An inflammatory post has been removed

[soi3eddie]

5 hours ago, colinneil said:

Yes but not been hopeless when looking after themselves, what do people expect? This so called government are only interested in making money for themselves, they dont give a rats a++e about others.

 

Agreed, watching (no pun intended) the news tonight and saw a piece with 75yr old General Prawit. He could hardly walk so GF said "why is he still working" at his age? I think many of us could guess... ????????????

  

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Kudos to Premrudee and her son, for speaking out. More need to do this. A cultural revolution is required. The army has failed over and over and over again. The dinosaurs must go!

 

And yes, the corruption allegation is no doubt spot on. If only people knew the extent of it. 

Do you think the democratically elected western leaders have done a better job?

I really don't see any reason to knock the Thai government over this, when nobody in the world appears to have done better.

[Patts]

11 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Do you think the democratically elected western leaders have done a better job?

I really don't see any reason to knock the Thai government over this, when nobody in the world appears to have done better.

No doubt Thailand has done well to control Covid but this is nothing to do with the virus, it's to do with the corrupt, money hungry government and on that front no democratically elected government could compete. 

[Leaver]

4 hours ago, ukrules said:

Since September 2020 when the virus started to have a resurgence in Europe and other places in the world it has been reasonably obvious that this is going to be a long drawn out and protracted process and the country will remain closed.

 

The time to close permanently was around October, especially if there's any leases to renew any time soon.

 

The economic devastation hasn't fully hit Thailand yet, but it's coming.

 

Correct.

 

The next few months will knock out many more from the game.  After that, even those left in the game will question the financial viability of remaining in the game.  Many will do the maths  and see inevitable, and decide to call it a day.   

 

Covid is a long way from over in Thailand, both from a health issue, and a financial issue.

 

Tourists were never coming back in 2021, and that has nothing to do with this latest lock down.    

[Leaver]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Kudos to Premrudee and her son, for speaking out. More need to do this. A cultural revolution is required. The army has failed over and over and over again. The dinosaurs must go!

 

They will be begging Thaksin to come back.  ????

[foreverlomsak]

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

And yes, the corruption allegation is no doubt spot on. If only people knew the extent of it. 

They know it but are not prepared to rock the boat and admit to it. As the saying goes the tallest tree is always culled first, i.e. if you speak out against it you become a target.

[foreverlomsak]

2 hours ago, Patts said:

No doubt Thailand has done well to control Covid but this is nothing to do with the virus, it's to do with the corrupt, money hungry government and on that front no democratically elected government could compete. 

All politicians are there for their own benefit despite what they say, as the story goes what does a first term government want to achieve during their initial tenure, a second term of office that's where the real money is made and a third term is highly unusual (not unknown admittedly).

[GrandPapillon]

6 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Do you think the democratically elected western leaders have done a better job?

I really don't see any reason to knock the Thai government over this, when nobody in the world appears to have done better.

that's very true, everyone has failed, as predicted

 

but having tired old army leaders giving lessons is not making things easier, and just feel like a trigger for revolts

[jacko45k]

11 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

 

Agreed, watching (no pun intended) the news tonight and saw a piece with 75yr old General Prawit. He could hardly walk so GF said "why is he still working" at his age? I think many of us could guess... ????????????

  

My Mrs said the same and said many of them have lost their marbles, but can't be shifted. 

[jacko45k]

10 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I really don't see any reason to knock the Thai government over this, when nobody in the world appears to have done better.

They did the right thing stopping International travel and requiring quarantine, even for their own. But looked less capable quite sharply when Covid made it to their borders. 

[spidermike007]

14 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Do you think the democratically elected western leaders have done a better job?

I really don't see any reason to knock the Thai government over this, when nobody in the world appears to have done better.

 

It seems only fair. They were getting so much praise when they had it under control. Now, they deserve to take the heat. This thing was easier to control here, than in many other countries. There were only two neighbors with real pandemic issues. Malaysia and Burma. Few were flying in. So, you keep those borders locked down. Get 10,000 soldiers on SUVs patrolling the hills, put some boats in the rivers, and warn the immigration guys on the border, that they will be looking at 10 million baht fines, that will be levied against their families for 100 years, and facing 50 years in prison, if they are found to be letting people who are sick across the border. And what did they do instead? Nearly nothing. Did they lock down Samut province, like San Quentin, the minute the cluster broke out? No. What did they do? Use color coded wrist bracelets. Wow. Such competence.

 

Such brains at work. Prayuth once again says responsibility needs to be shared. So, I ask. When was the last time he took responsibility for anything? Has he apologized? Has he admitted this happened on his watch, and it very possibly could have been prevented? If not, Prayuth should offer to resign immediately, and the people, and especially the youth, should demand that. It is their right to demand a competent leader, during an emergency, especially.

So my message to the administration is this. Man up. Admit you messed this one up badly. Admit the border could have been controlled if you had devoted the tens of thousands of soldiers required then, instead of now. You dropped the ball.  

Edited January 6, 2021 by spidermike007

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

There were only two neighbors with real pandemic issues. Malaysia and Burma.

Take a look at Burma, it didn't take off there until September. The same is true for Malaysia, although they had an earlier but much smaller 1st Phase in March and April. I think initially Thailand  did well by imposing flight bans then quarantine.  Also controlling it well in country, infections flown in prior... but at that time, land borders posed little threat....now they do, and are suffering because they took their eye off the ball.

Edited January 6, 2021 by jacko45k