Govt may reel under great expectations
The Nation December 23, 2008 12:00 am
The Democrats have had a long time to talk leadership; now is the moment for action
In spite of initial high expectations, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's Cabinet lineup has failed to impress the business community, which feels that the ministers in charge of industry and commerce are not qualified. Of course, it is impossible to expect Abhisit to have a free hand in choosing the Cabinet members in the same way that US President Barack Obama will choose the executive members of his administration. Abhisit has had to strike a balance between the quota system among the coalition parties, and the qualifications of the contenders to head each ministry. The quota system is normal in the Thai parliamentary system and is essential now if the country's economy is going to function well.The line-up under the Democrat Party's quota was said to be generally acceptable to the business community. Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij is known to have extensive experience in the money markets, even though he still has to prove himself in terms of macro-economic policy management. Korbsak Sabhavasu has an interesting view on economic policies through his comments and articles, even though he still has to prove whether he will be good at executing these policy ideals. In spite of some controversy over his contribution to the party, Virachai Virameteekul, an outsider under the Democrat Party's auspices, has long been known as a capable trade expert, specialising in China, a market that is crucial to Thailand.However, the credentials of the economic ministers from the other coalition parties are not quite as impressive. The choices of the industry and commerce ministers were big disappointments. With Thailand set to experience its worst economic crisis since 1997, the public and business communities wished to see ministers with the qualifications to help pull them out of the economic doldrums. After all, several surveys had shown that the public had hopes for Abhisit to improve the current political and economic situation. However, ministerial portfolios would still depend on the number of MPs each coalition party had in the House. It was a welcome statement from Abhisit when he said he would oversee the economic team of this government. Abhisit has an impressive background in economic education. Now is the time for him to translate what he has learned into tangible action, to steer the future economic direction of Thailand.Abhisit's idea to set up a "fast track" committee to consider economic matters is a good thing. It will promote efficiency in his coalition government. In the past, ministers from different coalition parties would go back and forth between the executives of their own parties rather than with the heads of the government. Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra changed that tradition when he formed his single-party government in the House, even though the members came from the merger of smaller parties into his Thai Rak Thai Party. This strength enabled Thaksin to have an influential say in economic management and the effectiveness of his policy execution led to expected results, even though some of his populist policies left debatable affects in the longer term. At any rate, this is what 44-year-old Abhisit should learn from. A young prime minister can still command respect and make a good leader.Ideally, the fast-track committee should be composed of well-versed experts. They must utilise their best ideas to formulate policy direction. The fast-track committee should live up to its name by quickly executing policies to respond to the current economic crisis.The economic picture next year does not look good, as the impact from the financial crisis in America and Europe is set to become even more severe. The crisis will spread to other regions and economies. Abhisit will have to tell the people what they should expect in realistic terms. But, at the same time, as leader, he must execute policies promptly - if only to counter the criticism levelled at previous administrations of working at a snail's pace. Abhisit will not be granted the luxury of a honeymoon period.Four key export sectors for Thailand - automobiles, electronics, electrical appliances and basic metals- which make up around 40 per cent of the country's entire exports - are cyclical in nature and are set to be directly affected by the global recession. Unemployment in these sectors is set to increase. This is the most urgent problem that the government will have to tackle. The upside of the Thai economy is it is agricultural-based. In addition, local inflation is under control. Now the business community is looking forward to hear what Abhisit will say in his policy statement from December 29 to 30. The real question, however, is how the government will execute its policies.If it works ideally as Abhisit has claimed, the fast track committee should help the prime minister work around the limitations and restraints of the current parliamentary and quota system. This will help streamline the operations of the government. It should create a supportive mechanism for the Abhisit government, which does not have the luxury of time. The Democrats said in their last campaign that they can begin to turn things around in 99 days. Now it's time for the party to prove whether it can do it.
EDITORIAL
Govt อาจหมุนภายใต้ความคาดหวังมากประเทศ 23 ธันวาคม 2008 12:00 am ประชาธิปัตย์มีนานพูดนำ ขณะนี้ เป็นช่วงเวลาสำหรับการดำเนินการIn spite of initial high expectations, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's Cabinet lineup has failed to impress the business community, which feels that the ministers in charge of industry and commerce are not qualified. Of course, it is impossible to expect Abhisit to have a free hand in choosing the Cabinet members in the same way that US President Barack Obama will choose the executive members of his administration. Abhisit has had to strike a balance between the quota system among the coalition parties, and the qualifications of the contenders to head each ministry. The quota system is normal in the Thai parliamentary system and is essential now if the country's economy is going to function well.The line-up under the Democrat Party's quota was said to be generally acceptable to the business community. Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij is known to have extensive experience in the money markets, even though he still has to prove himself in terms of macro-economic policy management. Korbsak Sabhavasu has an interesting view on economic policies through his comments and articles, even though he still has to prove whether he will be good at executing these policy ideals. In spite of some controversy over his contribution to the party, Virachai Virameteekul, an outsider under the Democrat Party's auspices, has long been known as a capable trade expert, specialising in China, a market that is crucial to Thailand.However, the credentials of the economic ministers from the other coalition parties are not quite as impressive. The choices of the industry and commerce ministers were big disappointments. With Thailand set to experience its worst economic crisis since 1997, the public and business communities wished to see ministers with the qualifications to help pull them out of the economic doldrums. After all, several surveys had shown that the public had hopes for Abhisit to improve the current political and economic situation. However, ministerial portfolios would still depend on the number of MPs each coalition party had in the House. It was a welcome statement from Abhisit when he said he would oversee the economic team of this government. Abhisit has an impressive background in economic education. Now is the time for him to translate what he has learned into tangible action, to steer the future economic direction of Thailand.Abhisit's idea to set up a "fast track" committee to consider economic matters is a good thing. It will promote efficiency in his coalition government. In the past, ministers from different coalition parties would go back and forth between the executives of their own parties rather than with the heads of the government. Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra changed that tradition when he formed his single-party government in the House, even though the members came from the merger of smaller parties into his Thai Rak Thai Party. This strength enabled Thaksin to have an influential say in economic management and the effectiveness of his policy execution led to expected results, even though some of his populist policies left debatable affects in the longer term. At any rate, this is what 44-year-old Abhisit should learn from. A young prime minister can still command respect and make a good leader.Ideally, the fast-track committee should be composed of well-versed experts. They must utilise their best ideas to formulate policy direction. The fast-track committee should live up to its name by quickly executing policies to respond to the current economic crisis.The economic picture next year does not look good, as the impact from the financial crisis in America and Europe is set to become even more severe. The crisis will spread to other regions and economies. Abhisit will have to tell the people what they should expect in realistic terms. But, at the same time, as leader, he must execute policies promptly - if only to counter the criticism levelled at previous administrations of working at a snail's pace. Abhisit will not be granted the luxury of a honeymoon period.Four key export sectors for Thailand - automobiles, electronics, electrical appliances and basic metals- which make up around 40 per cent of the country's entire exports - are cyclical in nature and are set to be directly affected by the global recession. Unemployment in these sectors is set to increase. This is the most urgent problem that the government will have to tackle. The upside of the Thai economy is it is agricultural-based. In addition, local inflation is under control. Now the business community is looking forward to hear what Abhisit will say in his policy statement from December 29 to 30. The real question, however, is how the government will execute its policies.If it works ideally as Abhisit has claimed, the fast track committee should help the prime minister work around the limitations and restraints of the current parliamentary and quota system. This will help streamline the operations of the government. It should create a supportive mechanism for the Abhisit government, which does not have the luxury of time. The Democrats said in their last campaign that they can begin to turn things around in 99 days. Now it's time for the party to prove whether it can do it.กอง
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