Cabinet line-up determined by quota not quality

I note, too, that his is one of the very rare times where an incoming administration discussed its choices with civil society groups, such as the Federation of Thai Industries, and took its recommendations seriously before finalising the list, and applaud such a step.

I would request that critics step up their scrutiny, but always propose something better - and if the critic is a party leader, commit his party to follow his recommendation when it's next in power. For example, would Pua Pandin let its nominees be subject to approval by the Senate committee that oversees the candidate's area of responsibility?

If we keep improving the selection process, hopefully we won't have an ex-deputy finance minister who didn't know what value-added tax was, and so got promoted to be minister of information and communication technology.

BURIN KANTABUTRA

BANGKOK

Old clique dominate new govt's policies

Re: "Govt to unveil populist policies", News, December 22.

The battle may have been won by the Democrat Party with the appointment of Abhisit Vejjajiva as prime minister, but the war to eradicate "Thaksinomics" and anything connected with Thaksin Shinawatra is far from over.

Your esteemed newspaper reported that the "populist policies" would be revived by adding a "sufficiency element", with the budget being doubled from that proposed by the previous government. On the day of their "engagement" prior to the election of the prime minister, Newin Chidchob was heard as suggesting to Abhisit that "if you dish out something like a hundred billion baht into the North and Northeast the people there will forget Thaksin very fast."

Not likely, I would think. On the contrary, they would remember Thaksin even more because he started these policies and he would get the credit even if it is the Democrat-led government that revives them, albeit in a different form.

So the old power clique still holds sway as the Friends of Newin faction displays its clout not only by succeeding to get its recommendation adopted as a pillar of the government's policy, but also by capturing two of the most powerful ministerial portfolios under its belt.

I fail to see how these populist policies will turn the economy around, even if a safety mechanism will be built into them to avoid abuses and mismanagement of the past. These policies are purely political tools with which to woo grassroots support.

Two hundred billion baht is a lot of money and if it is not spent wisely Thailand will sink deeper into an abyss.

It is no secret that Thailand's prosperity depends on three main sectors and they are exports, foreign investment and tourism. These are the sectors that create jobs, not debts. In the past, thanks to the ingenuity of the Thai business and industrial people who were the engine of growth, Thailand was lifted from the developing status on their efforts without much help from the government. And they still do not get help from the government today. Certainly not from the appointment into key portfolios of personalities who have yet to show anything in the way of past achievements.

In my opinion it is true that if a society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. The populist policies that will be implemented should not be for the objectives of seeking the votes or popularity from rural folks. The government also cannot neglect or ignore the needs of the rich or those people who used to be rich, either.

After all, in these difficult times there should not be any distinction between rich or poor. We are all in the same boat and if we sink or swim we will do it together as Thai people.

PRACHYADAVI TAVEDIKUL

BANGKOK

Abhisit can't count on coalition partners' loyalty

After seeing the Cabinet line-up, I wonder how long the White Knight will last.

"All of the Cabinet members will work under me for the entire country, and not for the Democrat Party alone," Abhisit said. Wow! Suddenly he is above everyone else including his own Democrat Party. Does he not sound like CEO Thaksin already?

He allocated, or should I say sold, the much-coveted Transport, Interior, Tourism and Sport, and other portfolios to banned and crooked politicians in exchange for their supposed support and loyalty. These portfolios are where the mega bahts are at.

Economic matters will be under Virachai of the Charoen Pokphand Group (CPG). It sounds like the Uncle Dick and Halliburton of Thailand to me. Interior goes to Chaovarat, former caretaker prime minister. Did he refuse to dissolve the House so that another election would not happen in exchange for the portfolio? The list goes on.

Will the White Knight turn the other cheek when the musketeers run astray? Will he replace them as he stated and lose their alliance while trying to massage the bruised egos of his loyal Democrat Party members? I hope the White Knight will not see flying shoes coming his way.

MAX DEADHEAD

BANGKOK