In the mid-1980s,the local real estate market received another boost. The cabinet approved the cabinet approved the eastern seaboard development plan in 1981 and finally began construction on the massive project in 1987. The prospect that the project would bring a large increase in population and secondary businesses to the whole surrounding area aparked off
A land boom. Speculators bought up land around Laem Chabang, raising the land price by more than 10 times in a few years. Bo did not invest in the industrial ventures of the eastern seaboard, as he did not have the expertise and the skill of modern management. He confined to ancillary activities like resorts, housing and land speculation.
As Bo s business expanded, so also did his political connections and his control of public office. He was elected the phuyaiban (village headman) of Tambon Saensuk (Bsng, Saen) in 1976 at the start of his career as a fishing entrepreneur. He was chosen as kamnan in 1979 When his business career was really taking off. In 1988 he resigned from being kamnan to make it easier for him to play and active role in support of Kitsangkom (Social Action) in the national elections. In 1989 Tambon Saensuk was raised to a municipality and Bo was elected mayor unopposed.
In the locality he presents himself as a generous man. He explains that since he makes so much money and cannot take it with him to his grave, it is only natural that he should give generously. Anyone it the community can bring their problems to him. He also gives generously for public projects. He says a selfish person does no good to the society. He claims to spend more than 10 million baht a year on public projects such as building roads, installing sewage systems, constructing and repairing Chinese temples. In addition he donates money to other government projects. He likes to tell newspaper interviewers: I only give
Bo is very proud of the relocation of slums from the beach of Bang Saen. He was able to persuade all the slum dwellers to move to a site of eight rai he himself bought for one million baht. Now about 100 families live in this land on the condition that they cannot sublease their plot if they move out. Land which is taken over by the village committee and planted with