Steps on a stairway inside the Democrat Party headquarters are posted with messages ridiculing policy platforms of the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party. The Democrats yesterday introduced their policy platform in preparation for the next general election.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday reasserted his party's policies to reduce people's cost of living, including a cut in oil prices.

He announced a "people's agenda" that aims to provide free basic education and better universal health care free of charge.

About 80 media representative attended a press conference, curious to know the details of policies that were criticised when the party revealed a glimpse of them.

However, Abhisit said the party would reveal more in the next few weeks about its budget and schedules for policies.

He said good management and administration would reduce unnecessary costs such as that imposed by corruption, which he described as the most expensive tax, and one that people should not have to pay.

The Democrats would bring in new-style leaders and policies that put the people first, he said, adding that politicians must be honest, decisive, quick and careful but also aware of the facts and ready to listen to all parties' opinions.

With PTT Plc mostly owned by the government, Abhisit said it could increase its dividend from 30 to 50 per cent of its profit and put it towards paying the debt amassed by the Oil Fund. Oil prices could then be reduced by Bt0.5-2.5 per litre, he said.

"This level of dividend won't affect the financial strength of PTT. The ratio of debt to capital might increase, but it would stay at a suitable level. If PTT needs to invest more, having some loans is not so bad, as it will increase its executives' financial discipline," he said.

The Democrats also propose higher minimum wages and a new formula for electricity charges.

Abhisit said the minimum wage in Bangkok, currently Bt184 per day, should be increased by Bt13 - Bt7 for the increased cost of living and Bt6 for increased skills. Business owners could still make a profit if they had to increase wages, he said.

The party would extend the benefits of people receiving social security to their family members. This would reduce the number of people relying on universal healthcare, even though the budget would remain the same, allowing improvements in services, he said.

The government would need more than Bt20 billion to fund free basic education, he said.

He said state enterprises being privatised must be regulated by officials independent from administrators. "We won't privatise organisations with monopoly businesses or national assets such as dams and expropriated land," he said.

The Democrats would turn crises to opportunities, especially in the restive South, said Abhisit. For example, the party would promote trading areas along the southern border and develop an international centre for Islamic education. Unscrupulous government officers in the South must be punished to increase local people's trust in government officials, he said.

The Democrats would also revise free-trade agreements with other countries. It would consider comments from Parliament and the public before agreements were signed. It would also ask the US government to delay an agreement if necessary, he said.

Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation