Super committee set up to push country forward

THE government has unveiled a super-committee to map out a policy framework for national reform, reconciliation and long-term strategies over the next 15 years as Thailand aspires to leap from a middle-income to a high-income country.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who chaired yesterday’s meeting with concerned agencies at Government House, said the new body would be responsible for the reform agenda as well as formulation of economic development and reconciliation strategies.
According to Prayut, the super-committee will be the most important mechanism to advance the country over the next 15 years with economic, political and other reforms implemented simultaneously.
“Today, it’s not only about [political] reconciliation or amnesty, but we want to see how our country can move forward in the next 15 years. So, the question is what can this government do under the road map to help begin ‘fixing, strengthening, and contributing’ to the country’s [long-term development],” said Prayut.
Under the programme, the supreme body would act as the strategic policy supervisor and command body on three fronts. Three committees – the reform preparation committee, the national strategy preparation committee, and the reconciliation preparation committee – would be set up to help direct policies and work on each front.
The chairs and vice chairs of the National Reform Steering Assembly and National Legislative Assembly would be invited to sit on all three committees along with concerned deputy prime ministers and ministers.
Another committee would be established as a “mini Cabinet” to help drive the committees’ strategic policies and administration, said Suvit Maesincee, Prime Minister’s Office Minister, who was appointed secretary to the supreme committee. A Prime Minister Delivery Unit would be formed to assist.
“What we would see from now on is the effort to steer the country forward while reforming it,” said Suvit, during a press conference after the meeting.
Outdated laws and regulations were highlighted as major obstacles for change and the new ambition of the country was to become a high-income country with the new economic model, Thailand 4.0, being the key driver.
Suvit said besides this year’s Bt1.9-billion budget to empower provincial clusters to receive development based on the new economic model, the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) mega-project was also approved in principle to help drive the country towards the new economic goal.

Prawit tasked with reconciliation
Under the EEC scheme, at least five development projects, including the U-tapao Airport development, expansion of phase III of Laem Chabang seaport, and the high-speed train connecting Thailand’s eastern region, would be pushed forward this year.
Suvit said the meeting addressed laying out a framework and concept for reconciliation work and members wanted to see how unity and reconciliation could take place.
Suvit said Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan would take care of the work and added that to boost reconciliation, it cannot avoid reform work in areas such as the justice system.
Prawit said he would propose a structure and procedure for reconciliation after talks with the political sector and involved senior figures.
Surachai Liengboonlertchai, deputy president of the National Legislative Assembly, said Prayut wants the national strategies and plans for national reform and reconciliation to start being implemented within this year.
The NLA president said he has learned that the government would start submitting relevant draft laws for the assembly’s deliberations in March.
“I will consult with NLA whips if the reform laws can be expedited so that the deliberation is shorter than for other laws,” he said at the Parliament building.
The Pheu Thai Party yesterday welcomed the government’s talk on reconciliation as a “positive sign” ahead of the next election.
Chavalit Wichayasit, a key Pheu Thai figure who previously served as its deputy secretary-general, said the government has signalled there would be talks on reconciliation before the next election. 
“It’s better late than never. If they are sincere, there will be success,” he said.