Chance for Surayud to prove his worth
Military presence: Thai military personal stand guard before a procession of Chinese goddess Lim Koh Niew, which is celebrated annually, by the Thai-Chinese community in Thailand's Yala province last Saturday.Picture: Reuters
Monday, March 5, 2007
WITH his popularity sagging due to a lacklustre performance since he took office, Prime Minister General Surayud Chulanont still has another chance to prove his leadership and judgment in adjusting his Cabinet line-up to complete his term, though it may not mean that he will be able to fulfil his mission to the public's satisfaction.
His team's performance during its first 100 days was hardly inspiring. Surayud's government has been saddled with chronic problems and new ones that continue to pile pressure on an administration with a bureaucratic mind-set and a serious lack of imagination, not to mention a lack of ambition to be well remembered in history.
The limited Cabinet changes, as expected, will make it difficult for Surayud to change his style of management.
The public sees that he has been almost too cautious.
Apart from some talk concerning the sufficiency economy theory, he has avoided any meaningful policy changes that would lay a new foundation for the country's future.
His cautious moves have been interpreted by some as timidity on the part of Surayud to attempt a serious overhaul of a national structure corroded by massive corruption on the fertile ground of Thaksinomics and cronyism in politics, which has also taken root in the graft-infested bureaucracy.
It is understandable for most, if not all, Cabinet members to not disturb the status quo.
After all these former bureaucrats and civil servants must consider their subordinates, friends and others they have to deal with in the years prior to retirement.
Some of them might even have something they would prefer not to have exposed — this based on an easy assumption that our bureaucracy does not allow anybody to rise to the top without committing some mistakes, some sins, or at least some stepping over of bodies, so to speak.
It's understandable that they want to pursue normal and peaceful lives after their time in Cabinet is over and that they do not want to encourage any sort of vendetta, or have politicians after them seeking revenge.
But again, being what they call themselves, "Old Ginger", what else is more important than the desire to serve the country and have their names well respected and honoured in history?
General Surayud has to a certain degree raised the public's patriotism and sense of responsibility for their country.
His remaining months in office should allow him to take a leading role in attaining that goal without hesitating to do whatever is necessary to meet public expectations.
That includes an appropriate national agenda for long-term prosperity, or a kind of social environment with the prospect of a better future and more optimism.
He is the only one who can take the lead and make sure that the others follow. If he does not do it, he cannot or should not expect anybody in the Cabinet to come up with initiatives or take a prominent role. As we all are aware, our social norms frown upon anyone who causes their bosses to lose face.
The prime minister is leader by requirement and definition. If the government's sinking popularity does not disturb him and his Cabinet members, it is difficult to understand why they are so numb to negative reaction.
And that has occurred even without scandals over corruption or bad practices in office.
It is due solely to the lack of any sort of impressive performance, or rather the government's aloofness in dealing with the pressing need to deal with potentially explosive problems, such as terrorism in the south and the so-called political undercurrents being stirred up by elements loyal to Thaksin, who are struggling to regain their lost self-serving interests.
General Surayud is expected to come up with a new finance minister shortly. But does he know what the public expects his team to achieve before the end of the Cabinet's term? If he is aware, as we can presume he is, an immediate question is why he has not been in a hurry to act?
What is the main obstacle if he wants to exercise leadership and political will to serve the public's interests? There is another disturbing question: if he believes that this is the most he and his Cabinet members are capable of achieving, then what prevents him from quitting and letting somebody else take over the hard task?
The sense of responsibility and a desire to preserve what is left should not serve as excuses for not allowing other capable hands to have a chance to prove their worth and potential.
Being honest and showing good intentions should not be confused with real and tangible achievements. The present Cabinet members are not politicians; they should not worry about the negative impact on their standing among voters. Instead, they should try to engage in or pursue policies not popular in some sectors, but with a clear conscience that it would be for the public good over the long term. The Nation
His team's performance during its first 100 days was hardly inspiring. Surayud's government has been saddled with chronic problems and new ones that continue to pile pressure on an administration with a bureaucratic mind-set and a serious lack of imagination, not to mention a lack of ambition to be well remembered in history.
The limited Cabinet changes, as expected, will make it difficult for Surayud to change his style of management.
The public sees that he has been almost too cautious.
Apart from some talk concerning the sufficiency economy theory, he has avoided any meaningful policy changes that would lay a new foundation for the country's future.
His cautious moves have been interpreted by some as timidity on the part of Surayud to attempt a serious overhaul of a national structure corroded by massive corruption on the fertile ground of Thaksinomics and cronyism in politics, which has also taken root in the graft-infested bureaucracy.
It is understandable for most, if not all, Cabinet members to not disturb the status quo.
After all these former bureaucrats and civil servants must consider their subordinates, friends and others they have to deal with in the years prior to retirement.
Some of them might even have something they would prefer not to have exposed — this based on an easy assumption that our bureaucracy does not allow anybody to rise to the top without committing some mistakes, some sins, or at least some stepping over of bodies, so to speak.
It's understandable that they want to pursue normal and peaceful lives after their time in Cabinet is over and that they do not want to encourage any sort of vendetta, or have politicians after them seeking revenge.
But again, being what they call themselves, "Old Ginger", what else is more important than the desire to serve the country and have their names well respected and honoured in history?
General Surayud has to a certain degree raised the public's patriotism and sense of responsibility for their country.
His remaining months in office should allow him to take a leading role in attaining that goal without hesitating to do whatever is necessary to meet public expectations.
That includes an appropriate national agenda for long-term prosperity, or a kind of social environment with the prospect of a better future and more optimism.
He is the only one who can take the lead and make sure that the others follow. If he does not do it, he cannot or should not expect anybody in the Cabinet to come up with initiatives or take a prominent role. As we all are aware, our social norms frown upon anyone who causes their bosses to lose face.
The prime minister is leader by requirement and definition. If the government's sinking popularity does not disturb him and his Cabinet members, it is difficult to understand why they are so numb to negative reaction.
And that has occurred even without scandals over corruption or bad practices in office.
It is due solely to the lack of any sort of impressive performance, or rather the government's aloofness in dealing with the pressing need to deal with potentially explosive problems, such as terrorism in the south and the so-called political undercurrents being stirred up by elements loyal to Thaksin, who are struggling to regain their lost self-serving interests.
General Surayud is expected to come up with a new finance minister shortly. But does he know what the public expects his team to achieve before the end of the Cabinet's term? If he is aware, as we can presume he is, an immediate question is why he has not been in a hurry to act?
What is the main obstacle if he wants to exercise leadership and political will to serve the public's interests? There is another disturbing question: if he believes that this is the most he and his Cabinet members are capable of achieving, then what prevents him from quitting and letting somebody else take over the hard task?
The sense of responsibility and a desire to preserve what is left should not serve as excuses for not allowing other capable hands to have a chance to prove their worth and potential.
Being honest and showing good intentions should not be confused with real and tangible achievements. The present Cabinet members are not politicians; they should not worry about the negative impact on their standing among voters. Instead, they should try to engage in or pursue policies not popular in some sectors, but with a clear conscience that it would be for the public good over the long term. The Nation
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