Governor insists on legality of BTS deal

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Governor insists on legality of BTS deal

Published: 4 Jul 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) hired Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTS) to run electric trains on the Green Line system legally, the Bangkok governor insists.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra speaks at a forum to defend his decision to extend the Bangkok Mass Transit System’s contract to operate electric train services for the next three decades. CHANAT KATANYU

Those who oppose the deal risk violating the constitution, Sukhumbhand Paribatra told a discussion yesterday.

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majority
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Discussion 16 : 04 Jul 2012 at 16.1116
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As BTS's Green Line concession will expire in 17 years, the BMA has hired the company in advance to operate the original 23km route over the 13 following years.

Rushing a deal 17 years in advance is really fishy. And it is better to let the government make the profit rather than giving the profit away to a private company, correct?
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blob123
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Discussion 15 : 04 Jul 2012 at 15.3515
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I would say a little change or pressure wont hurt since the management of the BTS is really lousy. The trains have far to long time gaps in between means to many pax in each trains, thats the same with the airport link. There are also not enough ticket machines, all this is visible every day and shows a clear incompetence of management, this BTS is maximized for some people to make good profit without investing anything so that the user can feel comfortable.
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dao
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Discussion 14 : 04 Jul 2012 at 12.4214
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If the current governemnt is so worried about the massive profits the BTS makes then maybe instead on whining about one contract they could build more train lines .A lot more .I dont think the millions standing in traffic guzzling millions of liters of wasted gas will mind .
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fundeena
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Discussion 13 : 04 Jul 2012 at 10.1813
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Disc.3. Yes, what is happening with Mr Supoj lately? I wonder.
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amazed
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Discussion 12 : 04 Jul 2012 at 08.5312
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Disc. 8 - This is not the first, or likely the last time I criticize those not of the red persuasion. I criticize both sides when appropriate. It just seems that the PT/red side attracts more attention because of the way they go about things. It would be refreshing if those who nearly exclusively take the PT/red side in every matter, would see it as you indicate. This country needs a big third party owing to no one and seeing the faults wherever they lie and correct them.

Disc. 10 - I am usually in total agreement to your comments and look for them each time. Even though I have criticized this action, I completely agree with your point about the need for consistency when supporting a specific position. I feel that one can do that and still question the ethics of the man, even if he supposedly has the legal right to act. I find that not to be an unusual situation.:)
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hawaiiman
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Discussion 11 : 04 Jul 2012 at 07.3211
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As the flow of water affects the broader region directly, administration of water flow should be strictly in the hands of central government. As to the transport system in BKK, that is solely the purvey of local elected officials, and should stay that way. Excessive centralization of power causes more problems than it solves. If BKK people don't like this guy, they can vote him out.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 10 : 04 Jul 2012 at 07.2810
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Hang on a sec , I see the usual Democrat critics here, the same ones who harp on about how the govt of our country was elected by the people and the opposition/elite are constantly meddling, obstructing their work and trying their best not to let Peua Thai get their hands 'in the the cookie' jar, challenging the legality of their decisions. Now, is this exactly a reverse case, the 'majority' in Bangkok voted for a democrat governor, they entrusted him to get on with it, they incidentally pay most of the country's taxes, I don't think they appreciate the central government overstepping their authority and trying to take away the BMA's power or revenue. It's all just political tit for tat isn't it?
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grassroots
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Discussion 9 : 04 Jul 2012 at 07.209
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Sir, why don't you wait for the new BMA administration to decide?
We are going to have a new governor elected early next year, aren't we?
The contract is still 17 years to go, isn't it?

Why in a hurry, sir?
Why Interior Minister is not consulted before implementing it, sir?
BMA is independent state and is not a part of the government, isn't it?

And, is it because you are not sure you'll be back the second term?
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bkposter
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Discussion 8 : 04 Jul 2012 at 07.118
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RE: D1... So the Democrat are as crooked as the rest, that is hardly news...my friend...it is not the message pedaled by the propaganda machine, but has always been the fact. Who was in control of government purse string for so long prior to 2000? Who lost it to TS? who could not win any elections to get it back? Who now wants a CC to rule that any opposition to their inherent power is unconstitutional? We have crooks on the left and crooks on the right and crooks above and crooks below.
So the only reason for the election is to determine which crooks will have first dibbs with their hands in the cookie jar.
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spiceman
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Discussion 7 : 04 Jul 2012 at 07.067
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Khun Android #6, I would love to see Thailand being governed as a constitutional representative republic, like the USA, where people in each region electing their own governor, mayors, representatives, and etc. For example, the people of BKK will be the ones who decide whether to keep or fire their own governor. Hopefully, we can put an end to the current divisive and destructive color-coded political practice, once and for all.
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