A clear blueprint is necessary for reform to be successful, Kobsak says
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NATIONAL REFORM should become clearer in the near future as ideas among members of the reform committee are getting synchronised, National Reform Council (NRC) member Kobsak Pootrakool said.
“The reform process is like building a house. We need a good blueprint and a good contractor to build a good house, which is what Thailand plans to do,” he said.
Kobsak is the secretary of NRC’s ad hoc committee on “vision towards Thailand’s future”, which was set up in November after some NRC members pointed out that national development is being affected.
Some NRC members, including Kobsak, panel chairman Suvit Maecinsee and Silaporn Buasai, also asked how the country could move forward and develop without a clear vision.
By recognising the problems the country faces, the ad hoc panel has come up with a “blueprint of change” focusing on 18 areas of reform.
Kobsak, who is also a businessman, said he realises that reform will take time, but the most important matter is to have a clear plan for the future, which does not just concern this generation but the following generations as well.
“We cannot compete with our neighbouring countries, like Malaysia. It would be like a marathon, because judging by their gross domestic product, they are moving faster and are well ahead of us,” he explained.
Furthermore, he said, in the early stages, everybody in the NRC had their own ideas of reform based on their expertise.
However, these reforms could not be implemented efficiently within the short period that the NRC has been allowed.
Four months later, the picture of national reform is becoming apparent with each proposal being synchronised for maximum benefit.
“It is necessary to take into consideration all 18 areas of reform, like how to create a new generation of high-quality people, how to make Thailand a centre of excellence as well as giving a peaceful society back to the citizens,” he said.
Kobsak explained that reforming state organisations would be effective with decentralisation, especially in terms of budget allocation and power delegation.
“For instance, the police bureau, which is now controlled by the central government. Many in the NRC are now studying to see if it can be localised, like the LAPD [Los Angeles Police Department] or NYPD [New York Police Department],” he said.
The business expert also said that budget reallocation should be more focused and the taxation system has to be reformed in a move to reduce inequality.
“For instance, only 0.7 per cent of the 7 per cent value-added tax goes to the locals, the rest is kept by the central government – which promotes inequality in society,” he said.
Kobsak reasoned that solving these issues would also strengthen local administrations.
He also pointed out that national reform is not something that can be accomplished in a short period of time, but the important issue is laying down clear blueprints for the country and for future generations to have better lives.
When asked how reformers can be sure their plans will continue once a new government is put in place, Kobsak said the reforms could be implemented as organic laws.
“This new Constitution can be considered an innovation in Thailand’s legal area, because it comprises the topic of reform and enforcing law, which might be key to addressing these questions,” he said.
