Saturday, June 13, 2009

Up close and personal with Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva

Abhisit Vejjajiva

NOT the type to dodge a challenge, Abhisit Vejjajiva is said to be edging closer to the people’s hearts even as protesters line the streets in Thailand. And he appears to be winning the battle, at least as far as media supremacy is concerned.

Just hours after being installed as Thailand’s 27th Prime Minister last Dec 15, the British-born leader of the Democrat Party was already engaging with CNN.

His first act as PM was to send SMS texts to millions of Thai mobile phone users, asking them to help solve the country’s crisis, signed off simply as “Your PM”.

Since then, he’s granted countless interviews both at home and during overseas trips in attempts to reposition his fragile premiership.

And over the past week, Abhisit (pronounced as A-phi-sit Wet-cha-chi-wa in Thai) was doing just that – granting two interviews to the Star – in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in a space of 48 hours!

The first took place at the Impact Muangthong Convention Centre in the outskirts of the busy Thai capital last Saturday, followed by another at the posh JW Marriot Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

And here’s a quick take on the Thai PM – “patient, reasonable, articulate and unambiguous”. And yes, incredibly smart. Many cite that as the Oxford-trained Abhisit’s chief “qualification” to lead his country.

“Prime Minister, thank you for seeing me again,’’ I say to Abhisit who approaches with a smile, offering a handshake.

“It’s a pleasure,” he replies, as his top aides watch at the private suite of the luxury hotel here.

The strain of the two-hour long talks he held with his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Putrajaya and dissecting issues with the Thai business, student and working communities here hardly show in his face.

There are deep political differences in Thailand but the Thai public (political pundits included) is united in commending Abhisit for what they say is his “lor yai” (handsome in Thai) looks.

The photogenic leader and heartthrob Thai figure does not mind a little chat before we take our seats, a striking testament of his patient ways.

During the first interview in Bangkok, Abhisit waited for some time as a TV crew struggled to get their equipment ready to record the interview.

He wasn’t miffed, but asked softly: “Is it about your equipment, or mine?” as he checked the mini microphone pinned on his suit.

When informed that the problem was with the TV cameras, he shot back in jest: “Oh, then I am powerless!”

There was more time for light-hearted banter as the cameras waited to roll. “You don’t look your age, Prime Minister.” He responds: “I am about 44 ... 45. Don’t worry, I’m catching up fast!”

Khun (the polite Thai way to say Mr) Abhisit may be no powerful orator, but dour he’s not when he gets the chance to speak about his people and country.

He looks sombre in his dark blue suit (and comfortable in black strap shoes), but the responses come through clear and confident as the embattled PM projects a calm front.

“We’re doing what we can for the (Thai) people. We want to make sure that things are on track,’’ he says, the courage evident in his eyes.

It’s almost six months since he took over the helms of Government House (where the PM’s Office is located in Bangkok) after a Constitutional Court banned three government parties for election fraud, paving the way for a Democrat-led Government.

The violent protests that followed led to the embarrassing closure of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, cancellation of an Asean Leaders meet in Pattaya, and declaration of an emergency in Bangkok.

The mobs were also trying to get to Abhisit, who has escaped from armed protesters on more than one occasion.

“There was no question that my life was seriously threatened,’’ he says.

The work he has done so far only represents the foothills of change but the young PM (he is not the youngest PM in Thai history, that credit goes to Seni Pramoj who took office at the age of 40 in 1945) is desperate to get things going.

The hardest is yet to come, and the intellectual Abhisit, born in England to wealthy Thai-Chinese parents who were both medical professors, knows it.

“It’s going to be tough, but not impossible to overcome,’’ the Opposition Leader-turned-Prime Minister says when asked about the enormous tasks ahead.

Top on his agenda is to steer Thailand’s once mighty, now faltering, economy back on track.

The picture is grim – the Thai National Economic and Social Development Board (NSEB) has forecast a rather shallow 3.5% negative growth for the year as a whole.

Exports are down 20%, investments by 15.8% and the tourism industry hit by 100 billion baht.

Adding to this, Abhisit faces deep divisions between the elite middle-class that backs him and the rural poor who are throwing their lot behind former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted from office in a military coup in September 2006 sparking off the Red Shirts vs Yellow Shirts tug-of-war.

These are tough times indeed for the kingdom but the slightly-built Abhisit, described as a “what works” politician among admirers, is taking it in his good-natured stride.

He proposes a “colour change” to heal the wounds and unite the country: “To my knowledge red and yellow makes orange. And orange stands for innovation.

“And I think innovation is what we need, to find a way out of the political problems over the past few years.

“If the Red Shirts feel that the constitution should be more democratic, I can agree with them. If the Yellow Shirts feel that there isn’t much accountability in government, I can agree with them too.”

Colour choices aside, political foes are asking: “Is Abhisit the right man for Thailand?” “Does he know how to fix the issues that are of concern to Thais?”

The people are responding, quite positively. An opinion survey conducted by Assumption University in 17 provinces (including Bangkok) last month showed 70% of the respondents ticking Abhisit for best performance among top 10 Cabinet members polled.

The PM, who is well-liked for his moralistic stand on issues, opens up when asked how he plans to use this to his advantage.

“We need to protect the most vulnerable. We have put in place a comprehensive public investment programme with the aim of creating up to two million jobs,’’ reveals Abhisit, who is advocating free healthcare, a higher minimum wage, free education, and milk for nursery-schoolchildren.

He draws comparisons with Malaysia. “But as an open economy, maybe not as open as Malaysia’s, we can’t avoid the consequences of a global downturn.

“We cannot really expect to have a strong recovery until the global economy recovers,” reasons Abhisit who was educated at Eton College, one of Britain’s top private schools, before studying politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University.

Critics constantly hound him over his ascension to Thailand’s top job not having been endorsed at the ballot box.

(As leader of the Democrat party since 2005, his party has failed to win either of the elections contended).

“Of course we are!’’ he retorts when I ask him if his Democratic Party-led coalition government was one “by the people”.

“Because I have been elected by a majority of parliamentarians who have been elected by the people,’’ he counters to the charge of him leading a disreputable government.

His many Malaysian friends include Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who started his political career about the same time as Abhisit. The minister had to be in Kota Kinabalu and tried his best to catch up with Abhisit at the KLIA but their schedules stood in the way.

Hishamuddin gives his own take on Abhisit: “He is very articulate, sincere and humble, and is someone I truly respect. It is unfortunate that he is leading Thailand in such a trying time. He has genuine views about Malaysia and is certainly someone we can work with.”

As a protégé of former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, Abhisit learnt many valuable lessons about politics knowing that one day he could be a national leader.

It was Chuan, the former Democratic Party leader who was PM from 1992-1995 and 1997-2001, who opened the party’s door to Abhisit, who is said to have wanted to be a politician since he was 10!

The skills of Thailand’s fresh, new hope as a national leader will be tested to the brim in the period ahead.

“I welcome the competition … as long as it’s for the good of the people and country,’’ he concludes.

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李光耀:比不上芙蓉怡保 檳城設施落後

(檳城13日訊)檳州首席部長林冠英指出,新加坡內閣資政李光耀告訴他,若與芙蓉及怡保的設施相比,檳州的設施比較落后。

認同李光耀說法

林冠英相信,李光耀是以18年前訪檳時的情況,與現在的情況比較,檳城的設施不像怡保和芙蓉般有很大的改變。

林冠英表示不會怪罪中央政府,畢竟過去的已經過去,檳城政府也不會否認李光耀的說法。

他說,檳城的基設嚴重落后,州政府會著重提升及改善州內設施。

“我們呼籲中央政府提供協助、拋開政治歧見,改善檳州的設施。州政府準備與中央政府合作,推動檳城發展。”

林冠英今早與李光耀會面后,在記者會上受媒體詢問時,這么指出。陪同李光耀前來的有新國財政部長尚達曼,及教育部長兼國防部第二部長黃永宏。

詢及有什么是檳州政府需要中央政府首要幫忙進行的計劃時, 林冠英表示是通訊及交通。

他說,此次和李氏會面,雙方並沒有討論特定方向,只是著重政府與政府之間的看法,同時談及旅遊業、保健旅遊、清真產品中心、教育、制造業及服務業。

他說,對于李資政給予的觀點,州政府會關注;李光耀在鳥瞰喬治市古蹟時,也稱讚檳州古蹟的美,並勸告州政府要維護古蹟。

他指出,雙方也提及明年開始,檳城直飛新加坡航線時,每週會有84趟飛機,幾乎每天有12趟飛機。李光耀也鼓勵新國投資者來檳城投資,並指檳城是新國人民的首選,這里有他們熟悉的環境及美食。

林冠英也希望,新國投資家聽從李資政的話,前來檳城投資。

行政議員:把檳做得更好
李光耀評語視為動力

行政議員曹觀友及彭文寶異口同聲說,將把李光耀對檳城的評論內容視為動力,並矢言把檳州做得更好。

曹觀友還打趣的說,對李光耀的印象非常深刻,這是因為他們兩人的名字,福建讀音都一樣,曹觀友的是“KON YEOW”,李光耀是“KUAN YEW”,因而小學時,時常被同學作弄名字是“光耀”。

他說,他很尊敬李光耀,並會把李光耀對檳州的評論視為動力。

李光耀評論檳州的基設、交通設施衰退。

彭文寶說,李光耀是他的偶像;1964年那年,李光耀曾出席檳城的一場政治講座,他有去棒場。那時他大約是13歲。

他感到慶幸的是,當年李光耀在台上講,他在台下聽,今天他是坐在李光耀身旁,聽他評論檳州。

他說,他會汲取李光耀的評論,為檳州人民謀福。

大馬內閣支持納吉政策
樂觀看待馬新合作

(吉隆坡13日訊)在與大馬領袖進行多天的會面后,新加坡資政李光耀發現首相拿督斯里納吉對馬新兩國的合作政策,獲得大馬內閣成員一致支持,因此,他對馬新在未來的合作,感到樂觀。

《馬來西亞局內人》引述李光耀接受新加坡《海峽時報》記者談話說,他向納吉強調馬新兩國涉及大型投資項目,因此兩國的合作必須是長期,而且是全面的。

“我已向他強調,不能只是今天合作,明年又不合作,之后再恢復合作,向前進,又向后退。”

他說,除非有長期性的穩定政策,否則大型項目的私人投資不會進駐,因為大型投資需要數十年才能回本。

馬新兩國主要的合作大型項目包括依斯干達經濟走廊,以及銜接新加坡樟宜的第三座大橋。

李光耀訪首相夫人
“深入瞭解納吉團隊”

(新加坡13日訊)新加坡資政李光耀說,他拜訪大馬首相夫人拿汀斯里羅絲瑪,因據他了解,羅絲瑪和丈夫同屬一個工作隊伍,他有必要了解工作隊伍中的兩位成員。

他說,他提出要與羅絲瑪會面,納吉就安排兩人會面。

他說,他發現大馬首相和夫人是“熱情、積極,比他期望發現的來得更多”。

“他們都對我很坦白、直率,而我也以同樣方式回應他們。”

李光耀是週三中午到位于吉隆坡的首相私邸拜訪羅絲瑪,雙方進行了一小時的會面。

他說,羅絲瑪表達她對新加坡教育計劃的興趣,希望雙方可在這方面有進一步的合作。

李光耀也向羅絲瑪提及較早前,他與納吉針對兩國須要長久性合作關係的會談內容。

首長助理翁書福
隔20年再遞紀念冊

新加坡資政李光耀闊別20年后再訪檳城,首席部長早已換人,遞上紀念冊給他簽名的,卻是同一名首長助理翁書福。

年屆75歲的檳首長林冠英私人助理翁書福,今日重演20年前一幕,親手遞上紀念冊給李光耀簽名。

翁氏曾于1989年敦林蒼佑擔任首長時,在李光耀訪檳期間交上紀念冊給對方簽下大名,20年后的今天,檳州政局改朝換代,這本20年前留下的紀念冊依然還在,意義深重。

今天,翁書福親手交紀念冊予李光耀時,也拿出20年前那本紀念冊給李光耀觀賞。

翁書福已擔任39年的檳首長私人助理,並經歷3代首長,即林蒼佑、許子根及林冠英,而他于1960年任職于檳島市政局,曾經替首任首長王保尼服務。

翁氏也是首長辦公室中,資歷最深的員工。

闊別20年后重返檳城的李光耀,州政府為顯誠意,在李光耀官訪州政府時,林冠英還增送一幅由大馬峇迪之父蔡天定兒子蔡小傑所畫的“胡姬”送予李光耀。胡姬也是新加坡的國花。

讚賞敦達因
“最佳政治觀察家”

林冠英說,他與李光耀在會談中談及大馬新的政治局勢,李光耀向他提到我國前財政部長敦達因是最佳政治觀察家,因為達因曾指國陣在未來10年很難奪回檳州政權的言論。

他相信李光耀此次前來檳城,是要瞭解檳州的新政府行政以及人民對新政府的期待,包括新加坡和檳城如何互相協助。

詢及民主行動黨與新加坡人民行動黨有類似背景,兩黨是否有談及政治合作,林冠英說,雙方擁有不同的看法及觀點,惟他不願多談。

許子根:李光耀做比較
怡保道路比檳好

首相署部長兼前檳州首長丹斯里許子根博士指出,新加坡資政李光耀以怡保與檳州道路做比較,怡保的道路情況比檳州還好。

許子根說,他向李光耀解釋說,很多道路是屬于檳島市政局的,而基本上檳城的道路是分別由市政局、州政府及中央政府三方面所管理。

許子根是在李光耀向他提出以怡保的道路與檳州的道路做比較時,向李光耀作出上述解釋。

也是民政黨全國主席的許子根是在今午于依恩澳酒店會見李光耀,進行了約半小時的會談后,于記者會上如是指出。

許子根說,怡保是在由民聯政府執政一年,如今是由國陣政府執政。

他指出,不知李光耀所做比較的道路是哪一條路,但多數是地方政府所管轄,只是州回教堂路、蘇丹阿斯蘭沙路、峇都丁宜路及機場的道路是由中央政府所管轄。

另一方面,針對檳州首長林冠英所指出的檳州的基設仍處于落后一事,許子根認為,林冠英應該向中央政府相關的部門反映與提出要求。

冠英廁所首會李光耀

林冠英與李光耀首次見面的地方不在首長辦公室,而在依恩奧酒店廁所!

據林冠英向他身邊的人透露,林冠英週五晚上碰巧跟李光耀共用一間廁所,兩人雖有見面,但未有交談。

據知,李光耀下榻依恩奧酒店,週五晚上林冠英剛好在酒店出席一項閉門會議。

當時,李光耀剛好上廁所,其保鑣也在廁所“清場”,供李光耀一人使用。

巧的是,林冠英剛好要上廁所,李氏保鑣認得林冠英,當然不敢阻止,讓兩人有機會在廁所碰面。

據知,兩人上廁所時背對背小解,但沒碰面和交談。

中國‧能否發現彩俑成焦點‧秦兵馬俑一號坑再發掘

(中國‧西安)被譽為“世界第8大奇跡”的秦兵馬俑號坑,今日(週六,613日)開始進行時隔24年後的第3次考古發掘,能否發現彩色兵馬俑,是此次發掘的最大看點之一。

當天下午1時許,古城西安秦始皇兵馬俑一號坑舉行了第3次考古發掘儀式,中國中央電視台及陝西電視台在現場進行直播,一些遊客也見證這一激人心的歷史性時刻。

國家文物部門給秦俑博物館考古隊頒發了“發掘證”後,考古工作者開始進行發掘,並陸續有銅鏃之類的文物出土。

有工作人員還發現了帶有彩繪的車的局部,立即進行了相關的保護。

發掘預計將持續1年

專家指出,兵馬俑本來是彩繪,如果發掘區域沒有徹底被火燒,可能掘出彩色兵馬俑。

考古隊隊長劉占成透露,此次發掘預計將持續1年,“目前們暫定挖掘工作進行到年底。”

兵馬俑一號坑的第3次發掘,埋藏地下2000年的軍團也許將完整“複活”,而秦始皇留給世人的千古謎團,也有望進一步揭開。

兵馬俑一號坑第3次發掘有“5大亮點”

‧亮點1:彩繪俑

兵馬俑最初都是彩繪的,但因深埋地下、火燒等原因,有的彩繪已脫落,有的則因遇空氣等原因變成了灰色,此次發掘可能會看到精的彩繪兵馬俑。

‧亮點2:秦兵器

一號坑內的戟、弓弩、青銅劍等兵器數不勝數,此次發掘可能會發現其他武器。

‧亮點3:軍師

一號坑內的6000兵馬俑都屬“武”類,居然沒有一個文職人員,此次發掘可能會出現“文官俑”。

‧亮點4:外國人

秦始皇在位時,東亞人群和歐亞西部人群間就可能已有了較為頻繁的聯繫,既然有“洋勞工”,在秦始皇的“軍陣”中也不排除有外國人面孔的可能。

‧亮點5:綠臉俑

在已發現的幾千個兵馬俑中,與其他陶俑呈粉色或肉色的臉孔不同的“綠臉俑”備受矚目,有人戲稱是工匠們的“惡作劇”,此次發掘會不會出現更多“綠臉俑”或“藍臉俑”,值得期待。

中國‧500年一遇‧日全食將達6分鐘

(中國‧北京)722日,中國將出現500年遇的日食,最長可達近6分鐘,全國11個省市自治區部份地區可看到。

中科院紫金山天文台表示,這次日食是自1814年至2309年間,在中國境內全食持續時間最長的一次,最長可達到近6分鐘之久,西藏、四川、雲南、重慶、湖北、河南、湖南、安徽、江西、江蘇、浙江11個省市自治區的部份地區能看到,其中上海市絕大部份地區都能看到。

最精彩的日全食從早上9時至9時38分(北京時間)開始。

天文台研究員王思潮表示,中國其他地區都能看到日偏食,包括遠離長江的北京市。

據報,下一次發生在中國見到日全食,將要到2034年3月20日,不過僅有西藏、青海等地區能看到。

新加坡‧清潔保安致排名滑落‧樟宜機場輸掉世界第一

(新加坡)清潔與保安無法勝出,樟宜機場輸掉世界第一!

得獎無數的樟宜機場,雖然今年上半年已13個第一名,卻在英國咨詢集團Skytrax一項球世界機場排名中,從第二名滑落到第3名。

這是樟宜機場這8年來首次被擠出冠亞軍之外,敗給獲得亞軍的香港國際機場及冠軍韓國仁川國際機場。

自1999年開始進行機場問卷調查的Skytrax過去一年裡,針對世界190個機場向超過97個國家的860萬名旅客進行問卷調查。問卷分39個項目,從辦理登機手續、抵境、轉機、機場保安、衛生清潔、零售餐飲消費、行李處理等項目,讓旅客打分。

民航局:仍受旅客推崇

管理樟宜機場的民航局通過電郵回覆媒體詢問時表示,雖然樟宜機場在Skytrax調查報告的排名榜上滑落,但相信它仍受到旅客的推崇。

民航局發言人指出,今年樟宜機場已贏得13個獎項,其中包括連續23年獲得香港雜誌《亞洲貨運 雙週刊》(Cargonews Asia)頒發的“亞洲區域最佳機場”;過去6年得到中東雜誌《商務旅遊》讀者投選的“最佳機場”;連續4年贏得DestinAsian雜誌讀者投選為“ 亞太區最佳機場”、3度獲得英國Ultratravel雜誌讀者投選為“全球最佳機場”等。

樟宜機場自1981至今已獲得超過300個“最佳機場”獎項,2008年一年內就囊括了30個獎項,刷新了全年得獎最的記錄。

新加坡‧拋錨巴士暗藏私煙‧“拖車計”闖關失敗

(新加坡)6學校假期般是一家大小同到鄰國遊的旺季,關卡車流量往往比較大,不法之徒以為就可以乘虛而入,以拖車拖拉拋錨巴士為掩飾,企圖走私香煙入境。

他們以為這個伎倆萬無一失,能瞞天過海,但最終還是被移民與關卡局稽查員識破。

6月3日午夜,一輛新加坡註冊拖車拖著拋錨巴士,從兀蘭關卡入境。走私團伙以為關卡人員會起惻隱之心,不會對這樣的修車運作起疑。

但關卡人員不放鬆檢查,他們覺得巴士的行李廂地板比巴士地板新,而且地板周圍的硅酮(silicone)膜和油漆散發出的刺鼻味,顯示剛粉刷,懷疑另有乾坤,於是用探測器從縫隙鑽入行李廂地板探窺,果然發現裡藏有東西。

走私香煙值18萬

他們於是撬開地板,查近約19萬9960條漏稅香煙;這些香煙所漏繳的關稅與消費稅分別超過7萬新元(約馬幣16萬8000令吉)及6300新元(約馬幣1萬5000令吉)。

31歲的大馬司機蘇西亞斯曼自稱他是代班司機,遵照一位名叫Louis的大馬男子指示,把乘客從新山惹蘭士姑來載到新加坡。

根據計劃,蘇西亞斯曼過關後必須將把巴士停在關卡附近回教堂,等候下一步指示,但他連關卡人員這一關都過不了,結果身陷法

蘇西亞斯曼承認走私香煙,觸犯關稅及消費稅法令,因此被判入獄16個月。

菲律賓‧Facebook用戶大串連怒吼‧10萬人聯署反修憲

菲律賓的Facebook戶,正展開大串連,以向政府擬修憲的計劃,發出團結的反對怒吼聲!

早前,數千人在首都馬尼拉的馬卡蒂金融區舉行反修憲示威,與此同時,絡反修憲行也在如火如荼進行著。

互聯網及Facebook用戶貝那文特於63日通過Facebook發起“立即停止修憲大會!”的活動,反對及譴責眾議院通過決議召開修憲大會,在沒有參議院的參與下修改憲法。

貝那文特表示,每天約有2000名Facebook用戶聯署,在週五(6月12日)的聯署人數突破10萬人。

貝那文特說:“在網際空間反對修憲大會的人數,還在持續增加。”

他透露,參與網上聯署活動的還包括“不能親身參與示威集會,但想表達意見”的政府官員。

他說:“這是們的互聯網國會。”他解釋,如果眾議院拒絕人民召開公開聽證會的要求,互聯網用戶就會通過網絡論壇發表意見。

近2年來,互聯網已成為菲律賓人發動政治運動的有力平台。

在上次的“人民力量”週年紀念,互聯網用戶及部落客發起人民新力量革命活動,要求現任總統阿羅約辭職。(亞洲新聞網‧菲律賓《每日問訊報》)

Anwar Ibrahim, former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister

Check it out .... http://www.france24.com/20090603-ibrahim-anwar-malaysia-politics-prison