The Capital Market Academy under the Stock Exchange of Thailand, which provides intensive training in equity investment to executives, is now drawing students who are senior politicians and bigwigs - a tendency its director said was not aimed at political networking.
"More politicians are attending CMA courses because they want to learn more about finance and stock markets. They take off all their hats when in class," Phanthasak Wejanurak said yesterday.
About 50 per cent of the past nine classes were comprised of executives selected from financial institutions, though in Class 10, most of the 95 members were active or suspended politicians as well as retired and active military or police officers.
"I don't think they will exploit this in a negative way or to benefit themselves. The relationship among the class members should be an 'interdependent kind'," he said, without explaining what he meant.
Among the students were former PM Banharn Silapa-archa, Surapong Suebwonglee from the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, Senate Speaker Prasobsook Boondech, Deputy Attorney-General Waiyawuth Lortrakool, former Army chief General Chettha Thanajaro and former interior minister and Thai Rak Thai MP Chidchai Wannasathit.
