"Mark" Slams Land Bridge, Recommends Motorways, "Korn" Criticizes Govt.

MGR Online•Politics•2d ago

Reader Briefing

Democratic Party figures criticize the proposed Land Bridge project as unprofitable and a 'pipe dream,' advocating instead for infrastructure development in the South, while accusing the government of narrow-mindedness for opposing a parliamentary committee.

•The Democratic Party, represented by Abhisit Vejjajiva and Korn Chatikavanij, has voiced strong opposition to the Land Bridge project, deeming it unprofitable and a 'pipe dream.'
•They propose alternative infrastructure development for the South, including motorways and electric dual-track railways, arguing these would be more beneficial.
•The party criticizes the government's stance against establishing a special parliamentary committee to study the project, calling it narrow-minded.
•Concerns are also raised by Karndee Leowiroj regarding the unstudied environmental impacts and the potential loss of ecological value and tourism opportunities in the South.

Overview

•On May 28, Abhisit Vejjajiva stated that the Democratic Party does not oppose the Land Bridge project solely due to profitability concerns.
•Abhisit Vejjajiva suggested reallocating funds to develop motorways and an electric dual-track railway for the South, connecting to Malaysia.
•Korn Chatikavanij asserted that the Land Bridge is a 'pipe dream' and would not result in savings for shipping companies.
•Korn Chatikavanij expressed that signals from the government indicate opposition to setting up a special committee, which he views as narrow-mindedness.
•Korn Chatikavanij stated that he received signals from the government that they would not allow the establishment of a special committee.
•The article references an ongoing parliamentary debate on May 28, concerning the proposal for a Land Bridge project.
•Karndee Leowiroj highlighted that the environmental impacts of the Land Bridge have not been adequately studied.
•Karndee Leowiroj warned of significant loss of tourism opportunities and biodiversity value in the South due to the project's unstudied environmental consequences.

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Key Quotes

Abhisit Vejjajiva

"The Democratic Party believes that with the same or even less investment, our southern brothers can have motorways running from Bangkok to the border and an electric dual-track railway connected to Malaysia."

พรรคประชาธิปัตย์มองว่าด้วยเงินลงทุนจำนวนเดียวกันหรือน้อยกว่าด้วยซ้ำพี่น้องชาวใต้สามารถมีมอเตอร์เวย์ที่วิ่งตั้งแต่กรุงเทพฯไปถึงชายแดน มีรถไฟรางคู่ที่เป็นระบบไฟฟ้า เชื่อมโยงกับมาเลเซียได้

Korn Chatikavanij

"The Land Bridge project is a pipe dream. It's impossible to save time or cost."

เรื่องของแลนด์บริดจ์เป็นเรื่องการขายฝัน มันเป็นไปไม่ได้ จะไม่มีการประหยัดในแง่ของเวลา หรือต้นทุน

Korn Chatikavanij

"I received signals from the government that they will not allow a special committee to be set up. Frankly, I see that as narrow-mindedness."

ได้รับสัญญาณ จากฝั่งรัฐบาล ว่าจะไม่ยอมให้มีการตั้งกรรมาธิการวิสามัญฯ ถ้าพูดตามตรงมองว่าใจแคบ

Karndee Leowiroj

"What has not been studied is the direct environmental impact, as the TDRI report mentions 16 billion baht for environmental compensation."

สิ่งที่ยังไม่มีการศึกษาคือผลกระทบด้านสิ่งแวดล้อมโดยตรง เพราะในรายงานของ สนข. มีการพูดถึงงบประมาณในการเยียวยาด้านสิ่งแวดล้อมอยู่ที่ 16,000 ล้านบาท

Key Entities

Person

Mark(มาร์ค)

A nickname referring to a key political figure in the article, specifically associated with criticism of the Land Bridge project and advocating for Southern infrastructure development.

Korn(กรณ์)ℹ️

A political figure and Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party, criticizing the Land Bridge project as a 'pipe dream' and government's stance on parliamentary oversight.

Abhisit Vejjajiva(อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ)ℹ️

Member of Parliament and Head of the Democrat Party, who criticized the Land Bridge project as unprofitable and suggested alternative infrastructure development for the South.

Mr. Korn Chatikavanij(นายกรณ์ จาติกวนิช)ℹ️

Member of Parliament and Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party, who argued that the Land Bridge project is a 'pipe dream' and criticized the government's opposition to a parliamentary committee.

Mr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas(นายเอกนิติ นิติทัณฑ์ประภาศ)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, who chairs the additional committee established by the Prime Minister to study the Land Bridge project.

Mrs. Karndee Leowiroj(นางการดี เลียวไพโรจน์)

Member of Parliament and Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party, who raised concerns about the unstudied environmental impacts of the Land Bridge project.

Place

Parliament(รัฐสภา)ℹ️

The legislative body where the debate and discussions regarding the Land Bridge project and the establishment of a special committee took place.

Organization

Democrat Party(พรรคประชาธิปัตย์)ℹ️

A political party whose members, including Abhisit Vejjajiva and Korn Chatikavanij, are critical of the Land Bridge project and are advocating for alternative development plans for the South.

NESDC (National Economic and Social Development Council)(สภาพัฒน์)ℹ️

An organization whose assessment of the Land Bridge project's cost-effectiveness is mentioned as differing from that of the TDRI.

TDRI (Thailand Development Research Institute)(สนข.)ℹ️

An institute whose report on the Land Bridge project included a budget for environmental compensation, a point raised by Mrs. Karndee Leowiroj.

UNESCO(องค์การยูเนสโก)ℹ️

An international organization recognized for prioritizing areas of tourism and biodiversity, which Mrs. Karndee Leowiroj highlighted as being at risk from the Land Bridge project.