Avenues of illogicality

Re: "PM Prayut wants Bangkok traffic relief in 3 months", (Online, Aug 15).

I'm not sure if PM Prayut really knows firsthand just how bad it is and the impression it gives anyone visiting the city but I invite him to join me, incognito, while I drive around the city.

If he did, I think he would insist on an improvement plan within the next two weeks.

There are quick and easy steps the Land Transport Department can begin today to relieve congestion now.

Many intersections need traffic lights equipped with turning lane arrows, for example, going north on Thong Lor turning into Soi 10 and also going west on Ekamai Soi 12 turning right into Ekamai at the intersection. Soi 12 was just repaved and the new traffic pattern only adds to the congestion. Why they made three lanes going west and only one going east makes no sense. It should be two west and two east. Almost daily there's an accident at this intersection because of the confusing traffic pattern.

In general, throughout Bangkok one of the major contributors to congestion is the motorbike traffic. There is no logical reason for motorbikes to not obey the same laws as cars. Do not allow motorbikes to weave in and out of traffic. It only makes car drivers more nervous resulting in more congestion from the confusion. At traffic lights they all pull to the front of traffic waiting for the light creating a major congestion area when the light does change. Whenever there is an accident involving a motorbike and a car the police always favour the motorbike driver.

Revising major roads to begin with to have designated motorbike lanes that are shared only with buses would improve congestion and the safety of passengers. Anyone violating those lanes, either motorbikes or cars, should be fined initially and if they are repeat offenders, take their driving licence away for three months or more. This can be enforced manually with police or using cameras, which has already shown their effectiveness in various areas in Bangkok. A proven example of designated lane use is in Jakarta, with their buses. It's improved traffic flow and increased the use of buses, proving to be economically beneficial to the city.

These are only a few of the simple and cost effective changes that could be initiated immediately to achieve the directive of Prime Minister Prayut.

RON MRAMOR
Not a fair cop, guv

At 5pm on Wednesday I drove my motorbike along Highway 1089 into Tha Ton (in Chiang Mai) to buy food at the market. I found myself behind an ageing Ford saloon meandering all across the road in the style typical of the seriously drunk. The male driver had a dog sat on his lap between him and the steering wheel, was probably aged 65 and had trouble holding his head up straight. At one point he veered way across the central dividing line and caused a truck full of students to veer toward the grass verge to avoid a collision.

A quick look through his open window confirmed his awful condition and I shouted that he was drunk and should stop the car. Angered by my suggestion, he fell right into my trap by chasing me all the way to Tha Ton police station where I reported a drunk, dangerous driver now parked some distance from the kerb trying to abuse me for my comments. The young policeman understood my complaint and spoke with the driver but obviously intended to do nothing.

I once again remarked that the driver was drunk, in charge of a car on a highway and seriously dangerous. He agreed with me, said a few more words and then, amazingly, let the driver pull away into a busy village full of potential hazards. When I suggested that someone could now ultimately die due to this decision, he showed more anger to me for my comment than he did to the drunk driver. In all that time, the driver avoided trying to get out of his seat and he could hardly speak.

My already low opinion of the police is now even worse. What hope of ever decreasing these awful road death figures if this is the official response.

LUNGSTIB
Snogging verboten

Re: "Beware the nanny state", (Editorial, Aug 17).

This highlights the double standards experienced by all Thais, but in this case mostly students. Pushed by bureaucrats at the Education Ministry the cabinet has made the decision to bring in new regulations enhancing the already restricted practices of instigating violence, expressing intimacy, even in their own homes, and engaging in sexual behaviour. All of which can be seen on any day of the week by switching on TV soaps or tuning into the Netflix channel.

Why is it okay for Thais to watch movie stars express intimacy like holding hands or for that matter -- heaven forbid -- even kissing, while at the same time being told that it is forbidden for themselves? When is Thailand going to wake up to the 21st century and stop treating its citizens like children?

BRIAN CORRIGAN
Going postal at Boris

Re: "Can Jones and Johnson be the face of 'new politics'?", (Opinion, Aug 13).

John Lloyd writes about Boris Johnson (the former British foreign secretary) and the recent comment that he made about the burka. It's an item of clothing which is worn by some Muslim women despite there being no requirement in their book to do so.

Mr Johnson has been labelled a racist and an Islamophobe for his remark in which he said that women in burkas looked like "letterboxes" or "bank robbers" and for this he is now under investigation by the Conservative Party. He did not attack any race and did not attack Islam, and he didn't even call for a ban on the wearing of the burqa, but his crime it seems, was to make a corny joke about it.

To those who called Mr Johnson a racist, as he was not attacking any person or race, how on earth can anyone find the comment he made to be racist? As for that nonsense word "Islamophobia", can anyone define exactly what it is?

There have been demands that Mr Johnson apologise for his comments but he has nothing to apologise for. If he had made a similar comment about the clothing worn by nuns or about the frocks worn by priests nobody would have taken any notice.

In the UK it is perfectly acceptable to mock and poke fun at Christianity and comedians have (rightly so, in my opinion) been doing it for years. But for some reason anyone making the slightest attempt to poke fun at Islam or to criticise it is immediately denounced by so-called liberal left-wing progressives as well as by Muslims who claim that not only is their religion under attack but that they are grossly offended.

Though the burka is not banned in the UK, France and a few other European countries have already banned it, as have a handful of countries in central Africa including Muslim-majority countries Chad and Niger. And recently Angela Merkel (the German chancellor) called for a ban in Germany. Though Boris Johnson is against a ban, if you look at all the polls in the UK as did Channel 4 News just a few days ago, they concluded that "every poll we've seen suggests more Brits would support a burqa ban than oppose it".

Some people argue that the government should not be involved in dictating what you are allowed and not allowed to wear in public, but there is already a ban in some countries, including the UK, against the wearing of political uniforms.

As for Alex Jones (the US radio show host), let him keep his microphone and let the listener decide for himself if he wants to listen to him. No one is forced to listen to him. There are already laws in place to protect against crimes such as incitement to violence, and libel or slander, and in a free and open society Jones should be free to voice his opinions just as his critics are free to either criticise him or ignore him. If they can silence Alex Jones, they can silence you as well.

Free speech, either you have it, or you don't. If you start chipping away at it, a little bit here and a little bit there, before you know it, it's gone.

PETER ATKINSON
50 shades of weird

It has been reported in the press that Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon serves on 50 committees. Even US President Trump would think twice. Thailand is a small country where everything appears at times to be larger than life.

DAVID JAMES WONG
Chinese tsunami

Re: "Easy come easy go", (PostBag, Aug 16).

While it is true that today's tourists to Thailand spend fewer days here than before, there's another factor in the arithmetic. At the moment, only 8.7% of Chinese citizens (120 million people) have a passport with many, many more in the queue, all anxious to see the outside world. You ain't seen nothing yet.

BARRY KENYON

Only foreigners pollute

Re: "Indonesia smoke haze arrives", (BP, Aug 16).

The Pollution Control Department was quick to announce pollution from Indonesia is making its way to Thailand, something they cannot control. When it comes to the zillions of sources of air, water and soil pollution that originate within Thailand we seldom hear about them, and if there is an announcement it is often made in defence of the polluters.

The department enforces regulations which although appearing to limit pollution actually license it. Only when extreme violations occur with associated protests by locals directly in harm's way is anything actually done.

This is why Thailand became a centre for processing hazardous electronic waste, why Mae Ramphueng beach is covered in trash and bilge waste, and why the air in Chiang Mai is unbreathable for months at a stretch.

In the spirit of the government's many successes at reform, and for simplification, I suggest the Pollution Control Department be renamed the Pollution Department.

MICHAEL SETTER
Superunbelievable

Re: "Prawit moved to 'ease work'", (BP, Aug 17).

Ya gotta be kidding. He serves on 50 committees? He must be Superman.

How can anyone serve on 50 committees unless he puts in one appearance somewhere every 50 days.

But since the prime minister considers Gen Prawit his "can do no wrong" buddy, I guess anything and everything is possible. After all, as the saying goes, TIT: This is (indeed) Thailand.

CHARCOAL RIDGEBACK
Bangkok bubble

The price of a condo in the centre of Bangkok is relatively high. A lot of tower cranes for new condo projects are going up and sales are going well, according to the news.

I sometimes compare the price, size and location with the centre of Tokyo, and the unit price in Bangkok is higher than in Tokyo.

This may be a real estate bubble in Bangkok, and the bubble will absolutely burst based on the law of supply and demand.

The government needs to control this immediately otherwise the impact will influence not only the Thai economy but the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.

DURIAN NINJA
Storm in a coffee cup

Re: "Cup of coffee costs $120m for firm facing China backlash", (BP, Aug 16).

Alex Huang, who is Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's spokesman, condemned the need to issue a humiliating statement: "It shouldn't have happened in a civilised society."

But we know China is a civilised society on paper only. Deep down, it is still a barbaric country run by barbaric, crude leaders.

TSIBELEH
Head in the soil

The Bangkok Post has outlined the importance of improving agricultural management with the target of reducing the use of toxic chemicals. This would lead to better agro produce, with much less chemical residue.

I recall one article saying 70% of the samples bearing the official Q (quality) mark contained high residues of toxic substances.

I contacted official authorities, who had claimed to target more sustainable agricultural management, offered a workable concept, and never got any response.

LUPUS

CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING 136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 Fax: +02 6164000 email:
postbag@bangkokpost.co.th

All letter writers must provide full name and address.
All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.
17 Aug 2018 17 Aug 2018
19 Aug 2018 19 Aug 2018

SUBMIT YOUR POSTBAG

All letter writers must provide a full name and address. All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion

SEND