This govt's policies copied from previous govts : Pheu Thai

The opposition Pheu Thai Party launched an attack on the government at a Bangkok hotel yesterday, accusing it of stealing policies from previous administrations and lacking a proper vision and strategies.

Former finance minister Suchart Thadathamrongvech said yesterday he doubted the government would be able to restore confidence in the country, in terms of tourism and investment.

He said Thailand would need at least Bt700 billion to be injected into the economy, and not Bt300 billion as estimated by the government. The new administration did not have the money and did not know to get it.

"I believe this government will definitely go in six months. You can prepare for a snap election at that time," the former minister said.

Suchart and other Pheu Thai people spoke at a gathering at the Miracle Grand Hotel during which opposition MPs criticised the government's policies and attacked Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Democrat Party.

Chalerm Yoobamrung, who served as public health minister in the previous administration, was the first speaker. He said yesterday's function was not an "outside-of-Parliament censure debate" but was held because of the lack of debate on the government's policy statement, which the opposition missed when the venue was shifted from Parliament to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Chalerm said government policies lacked clarity and did not reflect current situations. They lacked vision, strategies and direction.

Abhisit delivered the policy statement for his government at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week after anti-government red-shirt protesters blocked entry to Parliament. No opposition MPs attended the session.

Prime Minister Abhisit said yesterday he would the opposition's comments about his government's policies. But he dismissed Pheu Thai claims that policies were copied from Thaksin Shinawatra and People Power administrations.

He said the policies of the three previous governments all followed the Constitution. But his urgent policies were different, including the free-basic education and a pension for the elderly.

His government also had a clear policy to crack down on drugs, he said.

Many opposition MPs missed yesterday's event. Some said they were busy campaigning for upcoming by-elections in many provinces while others were simply afraid of possible legal action because MPs can be sued for defamatory statements made outside Parliament.

Pracharaj Party leader Snoh Thienthong did not attend yesterday's event but he sent his son, MP Sorawong.

Jatuporn Promphan, a Pheu Thai MP who led the recent red-shirts blockade, said yesterday he expected "people from all regions of the country" to besiege the venue when the Asean summit is held in Bangkok next month.

He said he would write an open letter to embassies of the nine other Asean countries to explain the "need" for the protest.