Tourism News

Tourism News Phuketwan Tourism News
facebook recommendations

NEWS ALERTS

Sign up now for our News Alert emails and the latest breaking news plus new features.

Click to subscribe

Existing subscribers can unsubscribe here

RSS FEEDS

Patong Mayor Pian Keesin acknowledges changes in outlook

Phuket's Mayor Pian Targets the Environment and Corruption

Thursday, August 11, 2011
PHUKET: Beating corruption and finding a balance with nature are two viewpoints that Patong Mayor Pian Keesin has come to embrace as priorities for Phuket's future.

Is he a changed man from the old Pian Keesin, the legendary ''hard man'' of local politics on Phuket? He certainly is.

The new Pian even admits to owing a debt to an old foe.

There was a time when his clashes with the former head of Phuket's Natural Resources and Environment office, Ong-art Chanachanmongkol, were the stuff of legend.

Khun Ong-art, perhaps more than any other individual, gave Phuket its 80 metres above sea level limit on construction.

While there are certainly some notable cases of abuse, even in the five-star property category, the height limit that Mayor Pian once sought to have lifted or shifted has mostly been upheld.

''I am grateful to Khun Ong-art for what he did and I am glad that the law did not change,'' Khun Pian told Phuketwan. ''Just imagine what Phuket would look like without the 80-metre limit.''

Khun Pian speaks as someone whose family has land above 80 metres - and he once wanted to build high in the Phuket hills. Not any more.

''Khun Ong-art's height limit has been very good in the long term,'' he said. The firebrand Mayor Pian is much more mellow now, more considered. Gentler, even.

He would even like an 80-metre style ''ceiling'' to be applied to the number of resorts, villas and other accommodation for tourists on Phuket. ''Another 6000 rooms would be plenty,'' he says.

That would cap the number at about 50,000, perhaps giving Phuket the sustainability it seeks in a climate where Thai and expat developers are never going to admit that it's time to stop.

''It's good that the hills have been preserved for future generations and it is important for the government to protect the titles of public land,'' he said.

''Actually, our country has double standards. ''People who have big money can buy public land, yet local people who have lived in the area for generations have no right to that same land.''

He said it was important to preserve Phuket's precious environmental treasures, to make sure they were not lost.

Involvement in the Asean Economic Community in 2015 would be a real test for Thailand, he said: ''We have to make ourselves strong. But the problem is, Thai people do not like to follow rules.''

The new Yingluck Shinawatra government, Mayor Pian says, needs to concentrate on improving education and health.

''Many people come for interviews, sometimes even with a master's degree, but they often don't have real training or skills,'' he said.

''The government needs to improver education as a priority, along with health. Young people need alternatives to taking drugs.''

When it comes to the thought of giving everyone a minimum 300 baht daily wage, Mayor Pian notes that it's better to teach a poor man how to fish than it is to keep providing him with fish to eat.

''Look at this 300 baht minimum,'' he said. ''There is no point in taking a Thai person who does not know how to work and making them lazier and lazier.''

He warned that Thailand could be forced to import rice from Vietnam without forward planning and good policies.

Corruption, he said, was an issue that needed to be addressed for the good of Phuket and Thailand.

''Me, the mayor, and my staff, we don't eat for free. Nobody is entitled to a free meal. There are about 700 people involved in local authorities on Phuket and we have to care for about 200,000 people. We can do it.

''I don't understand why the government doesn't pay superintendents at police stations 70,000 baht or 80,000 baht a month, instead of 20,000 baht. They mostly have wives and children to feed.

''How can they be expected to survive on that? An end to corruption begins with the government spending its money in the right way.

''And if those highly-paid police do the wrong thing, then they should be severely punished.

''The government does not pay them enough. That's why corruption happens.''

He said aspiring for too much was also a problem. ''I may have a Mercedes to carry me to work,'' he said.

''But I don't really need it. If necessary, I can ride a bicycle, or walk. People shouldn't be too greedy.''

Observers think that Mayor Pian has changed but when we talked to his son Prab in 2010, he said his father, as well as being a good dad, was a consummate politician.

As Khun Pian said last election: ''The sky belongs to the birds, but the mayorship of Patong belongs to Pian.''

Next year is re-election year.
'Pian Patrol' To Guard Patong Beachfront
Save Our Beaches campaign Patong Mayor Pian Keesin announces a new patrol that will protect tourists and residents - and Patong beach - around the clock every day.
'Pian Patrol' To Guard Patong Beachfront

Phuket Sin Strip Needs Tougher Laws, says Culture Ministry
Latest The Phuket Culture Office would like to see tougher laws and tighter policing to prevent unclothed pole dancers shocking tourists in Patong's Soi Bangla walking street.
Phuket Sin Strip Needs Tougher Laws, says Culture Ministry

Planet Phuket: Save the Beaches from Bad Water, Greed and Self-Interest
Phuketwan Opinion Phuket's beaches will continue to disappear beneath restaurant tables, loungers, bad water and selfishness unless action is taken quickly.
Planet Phuket: Save the Beaches from Bad Water, Greed and Self-Interest

Save Phuket's Beaches, Pleads Hotelier
Latest Phuket must fight to save its beaches from commercialisation or face an end to its good years as a popular tourist destination, says a leading hotelier.
Save Phuket's Beaches, Pleads Hotelier

Phuket Surf Fest Moves to Patong
Latest A free beach rock concert and 300 competitors are likely to bring international interest as this year's Phuket surfing title grows, moves to Patong and joins Asia's surf circuit.
Phuket Surf Fest Moves to Patong

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

gravatar

One to think about, very, very seriously. Your account very well done Phuketwan.

Posted by ssresident on August 11, 2011 18:05

gravatar

(moderated)

Posted by LivinLOS on August 11, 2011 18:14

Editor Comment:

If you have evidence for your claim, Livin LOS, we'd like to see it. If not, better stick with Thai Visa.

gravatar

Very interesting and timely article. I will stick with my post of the other day. K. Pian is a very savvy individual and learned a great deal from his experiences with the last Shinawatra government.

Posted by Martin on August 11, 2011 20:33

gravatar

We await the instigation of all your new policies, Mr Mayor. I guess the new broom in Bangkok is having the desired affect in shaking up the local old guard. Please keep up the good work, Khun Ong-art

Posted by Scunner on August 12, 2011 00:02

gravatar

Many of us who have visited Phuket over the years have feared that the unique "sense of place" that the island has is rapidly diminishing, particularly in recent years. This is another most encouraging step to "turn things around". Now words need to be turned into action, something I am certain 'Phuket Wan' will monitor and report on. We wish you all well.

Posted by rfdunedin on August 12, 2011 04:41

gravatar

So Mayor Pian doesn't want a 50 percent pay rise for those on minimum wage, but is ok to increase Police Supt. wages by 400 percent because they have wives and children to feed! So those on minimum wage obviously don't have wives and children? I challenge anyone who is against the minimum wage increase and in particular Mayor Pian, to try and live off 300 baht a day, particularly in Phuket!

Posted by Antz Pantz on August 12, 2011 10:17

Editor Comment:

And if inflation follows, it will be 600 baht next . . .

gravatar

I don't even know why you bother publishing this.

Posted by chalongian on August 12, 2011 12:17

gravatar

" I am certain 'Phuket Wan' will monitor and report on. We wish you all well."
@ rfdunedin I will beat the Ed to a comment. Send in your 20 Baht for a Twenty Years subscription to PhuketWan, then they can follow up stories.
I sent my money via snail mail, as I could not find their offices to hand deliver it? You get the letter yet Mr Ed?

Posted by Graham on August 12, 2011 12:37

Editor Comment:

Thanks Graham, that was much appreciated. We had a 1000 baht laugh when we saw that the postage to get the 20 baht delivered was 27 baht.

gravatar

Hey Ed. It was 20 Baht slow delivery, up to four weeks to get to you. 27 Baht was via EMS?
Who is screwing who?
Glad you had a good laugh.
I could not find your office, then we could have had a good laugh together.

Posted by Graham on August 12, 2011 12:52

gravatar

Driving through Patong tonight was quite an eyeopener. Every thing, well most shops were empty and shuttered closed at midnight. My, my what happend? Someone enforcing the new governments existing laws, or was it because of Her Majesty's Birthday today?
Quite an eye opener it was. I like it.

Posted by Robin on August 13, 2011 01:45

Editor Comment:

Robin, Many people use the mother's day holiday to visit their mothers. This year, being a long weekend, probably more people are travelling.

gravatar

I can see K. Pian definitely has his ear to the ground, it shows up in the photo. Note his left ear? Neat.

Posted by Dun on August 15, 2011 11:10


Friday March 29, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter