Public must vet new political animals

With Thailand desperately in need of a new generation of politicians to move the country forward, the screening of qualified candidates has become crucial.  
Over the past five years, users of Bangna-Trat highway have been treated to the sight of a 100-metre-long row of vehicles parked (sometimes two deep) in front of an auto-part company’s premises at Kilometre 12. No less than 50 vehicles are parked here during peak hours, adding to what is already a bottleneck for traffic close to the turnoff into KingKaew Road. Why the authorities have turned a blind eye to this brazen illegal use of public road for so long is anyone’s guess.
If Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, reportedly an executive and heir to the same large auto-parts company, is serious about entering politics, he could show his integrity by stopping his firm using the public road as its own private parking space. If not, people will view him like old wine in a new bottle – little different to those old-style politicians who wield power for their own benefit.
Yingwai Suchaovanich