Shadow body calls for action

The Democrat Party's shadow cabinet yesterday advised the government to pay immediate attention to stimulating the economy, developing education, solving violence in the southernmost provinces, reviving democracy and controlling the problem of drugs.

After its first meeting yesterday, party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who also heads the shadow cabinet, said the country's economic problems should be regarded as urgent because people are in trouble and expect the government to step in and sort things out.

Besides controlling the rising prices of consumer goods and farmers' debts, the government should also pay attention to credit card debt, Abhisit said.

The administration should also consider lifting the central bank's 30 per cent capital reserve measure along with maintaining the currency exchange rate, he said.

The Democrats back the government's mega-projects, as long as they are worth the budget and not just a reason for pouring money into the system to stimulate the economy, he said.

While solving poverty, the government should consider the different needs in different areas of the country, he said.

Abhisit said the opposition's shadow Cabinet would meet every Thursday morning before the parliamentary session and discuss urgent issues to come up with suggestions for the government.

The Democrat leader added that his cabinet's work would not overlap with the jobs of other organisations, explaining that the opposition was a parliamentary mechanism to scrutinise the government.

Meanwhile, shadow deputy public health minister, Buranaj Smutharaks, urged the government to urgently promote HIV/Aids prevention among teenagers, especially before Valentine's Day.

He said this after learning from Thai Red Cross research centre director Prapan Phanupak that teenagers do not realise the risks they were facing.

In past years more teenagers have consulted the Anonymous Clinic, but few realise the risk they face. Besides, the HIV/Aids campaigns have not reached all youths, he said.

Shadow public health minister Terdpong Jayananda said he had studied information from the Public Health Ministry about compulsory licensing, but has to look into the standpoint of other related ministries, such as the Commerce Ministry, before he can make suggestions to the government.

The ministers should first find all the information and not rush into making up their minds, he advised.

Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation