PHUKET: Pheu Thai party leader Yingluck Shinawatra promised a land bridge between the Andaman coast and the Gulf of Thailand as she spoke to Phuket supporters on a radio hookup yesterday.
With Philippines-style populist policies being used by both major parties to attract voters in Sunday's national general election, the sister of fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has shot to the lead in both the polling and the promises.
The message of the woman who may on Sunday become Thailand's first female PM to about 200 supporters who gathered at Pheu Thai party headquarters in Phuket City was that Pheu Thai recognised the importance of Phuket tourism to the whole country.
Victory this weekend would see a Pheu Thai government invest in real solutions to Phuket's problems, traffic issues particularly, she said.
She also promised a sports complex capable of improving further Phuket's growing reputation for attracting sports tourists.
Khun Yingluck undertook to visit Phuket in person sometime soon.
''Every poll confirms that all of Thailand has faith in Pheu Thai,'' she told the gathering. ''Everybody approves of our ideals.''
Well, not quite. On past election results, Phuket is a Democrat stronghold. Khun Yingluck has made a promise to herself to change that.
About the same time as she addressed her supporters yesterday, around the corner in Phuket City Democrat Party candidate and sitting MP Raewat Areerob issued a media release denying there was any rift between him and the other Phuket Democrat candidate, Anchalee Thepabutr.
Khun Anchalee, a former Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation chief executive, former secretary to the office of PM Abhisit Vejjajiva and the wife of just-retired Phuket MP Tossaporn Thepabutr, replaced Khun Raewat this election as Phuket Zone One candidate, relegating Khun Raewat to stand in Zone Two.
Observers say the Democrat voting base in Zone Two is not as strong as in Zone One.
With Philippines-style populist policies being used by both major parties to attract voters in Sunday's national general election, the sister of fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has shot to the lead in both the polling and the promises.
The message of the woman who may on Sunday become Thailand's first female PM to about 200 supporters who gathered at Pheu Thai party headquarters in Phuket City was that Pheu Thai recognised the importance of Phuket tourism to the whole country.
Victory this weekend would see a Pheu Thai government invest in real solutions to Phuket's problems, traffic issues particularly, she said.
She also promised a sports complex capable of improving further Phuket's growing reputation for attracting sports tourists.
Khun Yingluck undertook to visit Phuket in person sometime soon.
''Every poll confirms that all of Thailand has faith in Pheu Thai,'' she told the gathering. ''Everybody approves of our ideals.''
Well, not quite. On past election results, Phuket is a Democrat stronghold. Khun Yingluck has made a promise to herself to change that.
About the same time as she addressed her supporters yesterday, around the corner in Phuket City Democrat Party candidate and sitting MP Raewat Areerob issued a media release denying there was any rift between him and the other Phuket Democrat candidate, Anchalee Thepabutr.
Khun Anchalee, a former Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation chief executive, former secretary to the office of PM Abhisit Vejjajiva and the wife of just-retired Phuket MP Tossaporn Thepabutr, replaced Khun Raewat this election as Phuket Zone One candidate, relegating Khun Raewat to stand in Zone Two.
Observers say the Democrat voting base in Zone Two is not as strong as in Zone One.
Glad to hear she intends to focus on traffic issues on Phuket but I'd be much happier if she would address the endemic and overwhelming corruption on Phuket.
So many problems here are a direct result of corruption and until it is resolved, the problems will continue.
Case in point Jet-Ski insurance scheme or Tuk-Tuk parking restrictions.
Even the best efforts don't help unless the underlying corruption is weeded out.
I will not be holding my breath, though.
Posted by Chris on June 30, 2011 10:30