Abhisit criticism of energy policies only partly right

Former opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva’s criticism of this government’s energy policy would have been valid if he was certain that the current extremely low price of crude will remain for life or had our energy market been based on pure supply and demand instead of being regulated for the sake of price stability.

His ridiculing of the government’s recent permission for a taxi-fare hike while the oil price has dropped by half appears valid. But he was incorrect in saying that Thailand is the only country being so inconsistent. Many regulated countries 

such as Indonesia have also been inconsistent. 

The Oil Fund is used to stabilise the price for private and industrial consumers. It is meant to support or save up funds when crude oil prices are higher or lower than the regulated price without having to resort to taxing the public when the fund is exhausted. 

On the contrary, this government and Energy Minister Narongchai Akrasenee should be lauded for being so careful and for courageously plugging the physical loopholes of the diesel smuggling in the South. 

With the good excuse of low crude prices, the minister could have adopted the populist policy and let the next government take the blame in the future for not having sufficient funds to support higher crude prices. 

My hat goes off to him for not being concerned with his own future.

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok