Earlier last week, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told us the next election, which was to be held in accordance with the government's political roadmap, might be postponed if unrest is still prevalent.
He was referring to the device which exploded at Phramongkutklao Hospital on May 22 which injured over a dozen people, mostly retirees. One elderly woman was seriously injured.
The incident appeared to be blown out of proportion by the media, with the police and the military top brass making statements about it almost on a daily basis and the media playing them up heartily.
Veera Prateepchaikul is a former editor, Bangkok Post.
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid shared his view on the incident. According to the New Straits Times, he said Phramongkutklao Hospital's bombing, the twin suicide bomb attack in Jakarta and the Maute terror group's rampage of Marawi City in Mindanao were all linked to Islamic State.
I don't agree for the simple reason that the Bangkok incident did not have a trace of IS's hallmarks of extremism or extreme violence.
The bomb was a low-intensity device hidden in the drug dispensing room of the hospital.
Some say the bomb was not intended to kill, but to make a protest statement to the junta because it took place on the 3rd anniversary of the May 22, 2014 coup.
Nonetheless, the perpetrators were criticised for choosing a hospital as their target, when hospitals are usually spared even in times of war.
But is that enough to serve as an excuse to postpone the election?
Just look at Britain after the Manchester Arena suicide bombing which killed at least 22 people, mostly teenagers, and wounded many others and the Westminster attack on March 22 which left six people dead, including the perpetrator.
And yet, Prime Minister Theresa May has not postponed the June 8 general election. Britain was calm in dealing with these heinous act of terrorism.
On Friday, during his weekly nationwide address, Prime Minister Prayut dropped another bombshell, asking Thais for feedback about his four questions regarding the next election and "undesirable" politicians.
His questions are: 1. Do you think, after the next election, we will have a government which has good governance? 2. If not, what should we do? 3. Is it right or wrong to have an election which does not take into account the country's future such as national strategy and reform even though elections are an integralpart of democracy? 4. Should "undesirable" politicians be allowed in the election and if there is problem again, who should solve it and how?
The prime minister wants Thais to send him the answers to the Damrongtham centres and the Interior Ministry will process them and send him a report.
What was the prime minister thinking when he came up with the four questions?
Unsurprisingly, criticism poured in from politicians of various parties, especially Pheu Thai, through their Facebook pages. The harshest appears to be that of Chaturon Chaisang who accused the prime minister of being addicted to unchecked power.
I have answers for some of the questions. For the first question, I am not sure if I will get a government which runs the country well. It all depends on the politicians.
So what is needed is independent check-and-balance mechanisms to make sure the post-election situation is transparent and there are stiff punitive measures to deal with abuses.
For the second question, the law should take care of this and I think the constitution spells out how unaccountable governments should be dealt with.
I believe most of us have the answer of the third question. For the fourth question, I don't know how can we judge a politician as being undesirable and prevent him or her from contesting the poll if he or she has not been found guilty by the court and barred from contesting.
I believe many Americans despise President Donald Trump because of his notorious behaviour but they could not prevent him from running for the presidency because he has the right to do so, and it depends on Americans themselves whether to elect him or not. And Americans voted for him.
But one thing is sure. The emerging signs are not healthy for the next election in Thailand. There is still a lot of uncertainty about when the election will be held. This year? I doubt it. Or next? Frankly, I cannot tell.