OPINION

Cronyism 'typical'?

Re: "Right man for the job", (Editorial, April 12).

I make no judgement on the appropriateness or otherwise of the recent botched senior civil service transfers (which led to the resignation of Finance Ministry permanent secretary Khun Somchai Sajjapongse). However, I take issue with the Bangkok Post editorial criticising the transfers as "typical practice that the government will keep some positions for those it trusts, a practice also known as cronyism."

First, we need to establish that governments are in power to do a job and the civil service is the manpower it needs to use to effect its policies. In this context, using people a government trusts to get the job done is not unreasonable. More importantly "cronyism" is not defined to be the employment of people one trusts, but should be defined as "the practice of appointing friends (or family members) to high-level, especially political, posts regardless of their suitability" (Collins Dictionary).

Last week I had occasion to visit the Pattaya Park Tower and had a meal in their revolving restaurant on the 52nd floor. Amazing views of the coastline, Pattaya City and surrounding countryside. The food, buffet style, was good, many selections and well presented.

What I do not understand though, is the fact that Thai people pay 400 baht and foreigners pay 600 baht. Is it because foreigners eat far more than Thai people and Thai people only select small portions? I have to say that what I saw does not bear this up.

Is it because Pattaya Park Tower is government subsidised and Thai tax payers deserve to have a discount? Perhaps someone can enlighten me.

The proposed axeing of energy licences for waste to energy as reported by Khun Yuthana Praiwan in the April 11 edition of the Bangkok Post can be justified based on performance of licences issued to date. Simply ask how many licences will be issued to purchase electricity at a premium price (which is funded by taxpayers as an incentive to invest in renewable energy), and how many are actually operating and performing as intended? The answer I suspect is not many.

While there are many varied reasons for this, the fact is that Thailand is short on fuel of any type and has huge imports of coal, gas and crude oil. Not to mention the shortage and high cost of biomass. When looking at the problem of rubbish in Thailand, it therefore makes sense to concentrate on fuel replacement technology which does not require incentives funded by taxpayers.

High quality RDF as produced in Europe is a great substitute fuel for many coal and biomass fired applications. But whereas the waste in Europe has different characteristics to Thailand's high moisture and high plastic content waste, simply using European machinery designed for European waste has proven not to produce a consistent and sustainable fuel which therefore relates to an attractive investment without the need for incentives. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the machinery, it is the application of that machinery which is the problem. As an example, statistics show Thailand imports some 24 million tonnes of coal annually. If we were to take all the Municipal Solid Waste generated in Thailand and converted it to high quality RDF, we would produce less than 4 million tonnes annually.

Another totally illogical story on a BBC website, headlined with "Chinese protests fail to stop 'illegal' water vessel sale". This water vessel is reported to be between 2,200 and 3,600 years old and was taken from the Summer Palace when the British ransacked it.

Funny how the Chinese are protesting as illegal one of the many items "taken", or stolen as would be the proper term. When the Chinese forcibly marched uninvited into Tibet in the 50s, they did the same thing. Suddenly the shoe doesn't fit the other foot, does it, eh, Mr Xi?

A thief is a thief is a thief, no matter whether a British or a Chinese soldier. Why should anything taken from China be returned to China when China pilfers from others?

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