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Published on October 25, 2007

Well, we will refrain from giving any comment on whether we were convinced by Prachai's message. After all, politics is all about perception and image. That's why we have spin doctors.

In the TV commercials, Matchima Thippatai Party leader Prachai projected himself as a shrewd businessman with an impressive background, who managed to turn around his business empire when it was on the verge of collapse.

In short, the commercials are aimed at promoting Prachai's personality as a ultra-capable businessman along the same line as deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Political website chat rooms said the resemblance between their personalities was uncanny - except that Thaksin's face is square and Prachai's round.

The ads follow Prachai's career, rising from a family business trading commodities to the pinnacle of the petrochemical industry.

"Prachai Leophairatana, the scholarship engineer student . . . Although his business empire was laden with debt, he managed to rise again from the ashes." Blah blah blah. He also promised to construct nine million reservoirs, even though Thailand has only 72,000 villages.

If there's any knight in shining armour, Prachai is the one. We were almost carried away by his message.

But wait, let me parse his TV ad a bit.

The voice-over said at one point that Prachai had decided to give up the animal-feed industry because, no, not because animal feed is a sunset industry, but because if the industry grows, more animals will be killed.

 Oh dear, Khun Prachai. We are desperately trying to make sense of whatever politicians say to score points among voters.

But his decision to leave the animal-feed industry because of his concern for animal welfare?

Well, it's all a bit too hard to swallow.

You've been warned!

Intellectual Property Department director-general Puangrat Aswapisit recently issued a warning to people who carry fake designer brands into the European Union, as EU authorities are planning to impose tighter restrictions on owners of counterfeit goods.

She said she had been informed by French designer brand-owners during her recent visit to France that the EU would randomly inspect foreigners who carry fake bags or other luxury items into the Union.

Make sure you've got the right (genuine) monogrammed bag before taking off on a plane to the EU, especially during the New Year festival. Otherwise, don't say we haven't warned you.

And if you are convicted, the fake monogram is not a worthy consolation.

Jeerawat@nationgroup.com

The Nation