Attacks from rivals do nothing to dent Apirak's confidence

"Voters should focus more on the policies being declared, not the attacks," was Apirak's counter-acting mantra. "People who like my achievements usually keep quiet, while those who are dissatisfied with unfinished or unsuccessful projects make their opinions known."

Apirak has been attacked over the unfinished Bus Rapid Transport project, the BTS extension down Sukhumvit Road and Thonburi, the unpopular bicycle lanes and irregularities in the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority's fire-truck project. He was also criticised for wasting large sums of money on public relations and other projects.

However, apart from his popularity deduced by opinion polls, Apirak could be a better candidate, not just because he has done the job before but also because people have seen what he is like at the job.

Some Bangkok voters may be impressed with the success of his projects like streetlights on isolated sois and a better drainage system in case of floods. He also improved the BMA 1555 hotline, though that may have been because he outsourced the job. Apirak has often said that many of the BMA's projects would not have been accomplished without cooperation from the private sector.

He says he plans to continue his "make Bangkok a green city" scheme, and in his next term he wants to turn vacant plots in residential areas into community markets, parking lots or food courts, spaces that would be rented to vendors.

"I have done the job for four years, and it's not easy without understanding the problems. The BMA will not be a bureaucratic institution but will be more practical," he said.

He also plans to negotiate with shopping centres to allow school buses and parents to use their parking lots as pick-up and drop-off points.

Private sectors would also be encouraged to take part in promoting Bangkok as a tourist destination and make the city more eco-friendly by producing electricity from garbage, he said.

Also, in order to manage the BMA's limited budget, Apirak said he wanted people from other provinces who spend six months to a year working in Bangkok to transfer their household registration to the capital. This way not only will they and their children be given access to welfare schemes in the capital, they could also play fair and pay city taxes.