PostBag
The government is urging a switch from gasoline to gasohol. I kept careful records of distance, litres and speed for three months, using gasoline 91. I then did the same with gasohol 91. (I drive a Honda jazz). While these are not accurate laboratory studies, I managed to duplicate both conditions almost to the litre and distance. I concluded that although gasohol might be 2-3 baht cheaper per litre, it also gave me 20% less distance per litre than gasoline 91.
Would the Minister for Energy kindly tell me how I am saving money? If more people would bother to write down their comparisons between the two fuels, they would find they are actually spending more for gasohol in the long run. This may be good for government revenue, but it is not economical for drivers.
There is no substitute for the real thing, price or not, like it or not.
JACK GILEAD
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Not a Bangladeshi
The attention of the Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok has been drawn to a news item on the front page of the Bangkok Post on April 28, 2008 headlined "Fake passport racket busted." It tells of the arrest of one Mohammed Karim, identified as a citizen of Bangladesh.
This is erroneous, since Mr Mohammad Karim's passport was seized by the Bangladesh Embassy back in September 2006, following his admission that he was not a Bangladeshi.
After his arrest by Thai police on April 30, 2008 Mr Karim was interviewed by the embassy's consular staff at the detention centre, during which he confessed he was not a Bangladeshi. The embassy therefore wishes to categorically state that Mr Mohammad Karim is not a Bangladesh national.
Mr Karim, alias Kamal, is locally known as "Ghutnu Kamal." He has residences in Mae Sot and Bangkok. His Thai wife lives in Mae Sot with their 14-year-old son.
Members of the Bangladeshi community in Thailand have expressed their concern and have asked the embassy to declare in the Thai media that Mr Mohammad Karim not a Bangladeshi. We hope this helps end the confusion about the nationality of the arrested individual.
PABAN CHOWDHURY
Counsellor, Embassy of the People's
Republic of Bangladesh, Bangkok
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Unable to say sorry
Isn't it amazing how people in the public eye here in Thailand simply cannot say sorry and admit to a mistake? Our dear slick-tongued prime minister is the latest of many who simply lack the humility to apologise and accept the consequences, even when the evidence is overwhelmingly obvious.
Perhaps it's all part of the "save face" culture here that we are expected to accept blatant lies and gloss over the worse of offences without any recourse. In a parliamentary debate PM Samak categorically denied mentioning anything about collapsing banks, even though it has been recorded on national TV.
Did he not learn anything from his embarrassing gaffe on CNN a while back? Does he take us for a bunch of docile fools?
Is this a characteristic trait of being Thai? NOT ME Immature teen or PM? PM Samak and the government are increasingly becoming separate entities. While Mr Samak is saying one thing, the government claims another. This became very obvious when PM Samak announced that some Thai banks were in trouble, but Finance Minister Surapong reassured everybody that the banks were doing fine.
On Sunday PM Samak came out again with one of his tactfully timed comments. He pronounced his full support for Burma as Thailand was a neighbour and called off his plan to meet the devout Buddhist regime to push for American and British rescuers to be allowed into Burma. He said that if this stance would isolate Thailand from the West, he would not mind. Is this comment coming from the mouth of a prime minister or an immature teenager? The whole world is condemning the Burmese generals for refusing foreign aid into the country where millions are in need of relief, and the Thai prime minister is saying that he supports this regime because Burma is a neighbour!
A prime minister is supposed to be a leader of his people and represent his country to the rest of the world. I strongly feel that Mr Samak is only voicing his own opinions and is not taking a stand for the rest of Thailand. Mr Samak, you are the prime minister of Thailand, so please start acting like one.
WILLEM DEENIK
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Hopeless case, this man
As time goes on, instead of growing into the job or rising to the challenge, we see PM Samak behaving more and more like a spoilt, petulant teenager. The latest gaffe in regard to two banks and the bad-tempered "I will not change my style" and denial of any media interviews, is utterly pathetic.
It is clear this man is simply not up to the job. That he has been in politics for so long and was governor of Bangkok, does not say much for the quality of those within Thai politics, if the likes of him can rise to the top of the heap.
J DUNDASS
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