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Published on September 16, 2007

 The next prime minister should revitalise the economy by pushing ahead with Bangkok's mass-transit schemes and the Southern and Eastern Seaboard projects, MR Pridiyathorn Devakula said yesterday.

The former deputy premier said Surayud Chulanont's successor would have luck on his side as far as a revival was concerned because the outgoing administration had been slow in implementing these mega-projects, resulting in a slowdown of the economy.

For nearly a year, the junta-installed Surayud government was unable, for instance, to get any of the city mass-transit projects off the ground, he said.

Speaking at a seminar entitled "The Future of Thailand" held by the Mass Communications Organisation of Thailnd, Pridiyathorn said there would be massive investments to stimulate the country's economic growth if the next government approved the Southern Seaboard industrial schemes.

In addition, the next government must solve environmental problems on the Eastern Seaboard so that a series of large-scale investment schemes could go ahead, he said.

"All it takes is to push three buttons, and things can move forward. I hope the next PM will be decisive so people forget that knight on the white horse," he said, referring to the still popular ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

Banthoon Lamsam, the CEO of Kasikornbank, said at a separate event held by Amway (Thailand) that private investment would increase significantly if the country became politically stable. He added that the Thai economy was still fundamentally strong.

Meanwhile, former foreign minister and newly named Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said at the MCOT seminar that he was not sure if economic revival would be as simple as described by the former deputy premier.

"The question that will arise is what will be gained and how much. It may seem obvious what needs to be done, but some politicians may be slow [and wait for kickbacks]. Do not have any over-expectations," Surin said in response to MR Pridiyathorn's remarks on economic revival.

Respected historian Nidhi Eiewsriwong suggested that Thai labour skills needed to be upgraded through education reform that should lead to life-long learning.

He also warned that the public should not have too many expectations of existing politicians and candidates for the post of PM.

"These people operate under severe limitations exerted by those around them. PM candidate Abhisit may have to do things that he himself disagrees with if he becomes the next PM."

"Unfortunately, political parties in Thailand do not have a real people base, and they do not want people to participate, merely to vote for them at election time."

Nidhi said hope rested upon civil society with people's movements such as the Assembly of the Poor and other groups exerting pressure on the government to act in a more responsible manner.

He also urged people to be more patient in dealing with political crises without resorting to support for a future coup.

"If you always need the armed forces you will never mature. The forces that determine public policy are not the armed forces but social forces."

Nidhi also urged the next government to solve problems arising as a result of the large number of landless farmers.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

 The Nation