THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Prem advises against populist policies

Prem advises against populist policies

Populism is problematic and weakens people's thinking skills, Privy Council President and statesman General Prem Tinsulanonda said yesterday

Prem advises against populist policies
 
Populism is problematic and weakens people’s thinking skills, Privy Council President and statesman General Prem Tinsulanonda said yesterday. 
“Populism stops people from thinking. They simply start waiting for benefits,” Prem said in a speech at the 60th anniversary celebration of the National Institute of Development Administration.
The statesman also expressed concern over corruption, saying people had started accepting it due to changing social values – they think corruption is fine as long as it benefits them. 
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) alone cannot deal with this problem, he said, which is why people need to be educated about the negative repercussions of graft. 
“We have to reject corruption and stop respecting corrupt people,” he said “Some people get promoted not because they are capable but because they are corrupt.”
He relayed this message to government officials, saying they should work honestly and put the country’s benefits above their own. 
The 95-year-old also said national administration had to be adjusted to match the country’s rising population, reasoning that Thailand was a regional leader until a decade ago, when it became mired in problems. “Now, we are ranked where we shouldn’t be,” he said. “So every civil servant has to work together so we can lead the region once again.” 
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