Private sector expects general election by mid-2016
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THE COUNTRY'S three most powerful private-sector organisations expect a general election to be held under the government's time frame by the middle of next year, while hoping to see a new constitution in place that is accepted by all sectors.
To create understanding about the proposed constitution among private enterprises, the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the draft of the new charter on May 24.
After meeting yesterday with Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Borwornsak Uwanno, representatives from the private sector shared their views that Thai businesses wanted to see stable government and less conflict in society.
Supant Mongkolsuthree, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said the joint standing committee would organise the public hearing to provide information and receive the business sector’s views.
This would include getting across the key points that the new charter should be fairly implemented and help increase the country’s competitiveness, he said.
The private sector expects the new constitution to create better rights and freedom for all segments of the population, balance people’s rights and promote fairness in society, result in greater political transparency, and lead to peace in the Kingdom, he explained.
Isara Vongkusolkit, chairman of the Board of Trade of Thailand and the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the private sector hoped the new charter would create stable government.
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“Overall, the private sector wants to have government with high stability; government that does not change often, as such changes negatively affect the business sector,” he said.
Boontuck Wungcharoen, chairman of the Thai Bankers Association, said the draft charter would create more democracy, and should be accepted by all sectors.
FTI vice chairman Vallop Vitanakorn said private enterprises expected a general election to be held in line with the military-led government’s time frame – that is, by the middle of next year.
However, he did not want the drawing up of the draft constitution to be unduly rushed, as it could lead to conflict and problems in the long run if not done properly.
The new charter needs to reflect concerns from all sections of society in order to reduce conflict in the future, he added.
Meanwhile, the monthly meeting of the private-sector bodies found that any Thai economic recovery was still fragile following lower investment and consumption by the business sector, and despite more investment by the government and better performance in the tourism sector.
The private organisations expect the recent decisions to cut the policy interest rate and relax capital-inflow measures will help weaken the baht’s value, and thus benefit the export sector.
The joint standing committee also supports the government’s plan to continue to create more financial liquidity for small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as help provide farmers with better incomes.
Boontuck suggested that the government should provide a short-term subsidy for rice farmers at Bt9,000 per tonne for paddy white rice, while urgently proceeding with rice zoning.
