Orathai backs Land Bridge probe, warns of job loss for locals

MGR Online•Politics•2d ago

Reader Briefing

Phuket MP Orathai Kerdsub vehemently opposes the proposed Land Bridge project, raising concerns over job displacement, land alienation for local southerners, and potential economic dominance by foreign entities.

•N.S. Orathai Kerdsub, MP for Phuket, supports the establishment of a special committee to study the Land Bridge project.
•Orathai expresses strong doubts about the projected 280,000 jobs, citing a lack of clarity and past failures in similar projects like the EEC.
•Concerns are raised that the project could lead to locals losing their land, traditional livelihoods, and becoming mere employees in their own region, with potential for foreign and nominee businesses to take over.
•Orathai calls for robust measures to protect local occupations and prevent foreign capital from encroaching on the local economy.

Overview

•N.S. Orathai Kerdsub, an MP from Phuket and representing the Kla Tham Party, voiced support for establishing a special committee to study the Land Bridge project.
•N.S. Orathai Kerdsub expressed significant concern that the projected 280,000 job opportunities from the Land Bridge project lack clear details on job types and accessibility for local residents.
•N.S. Orathai Kerdsub cited the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project as a past example where actual job creation fell short of projections, with most jobs going to non-locals.
•N.S. Orathai Kerdsub warned that the Land Bridge project, with its focus on automation and advanced technology, might favor foreign experts over local workers.
•N.S. Orathai Kerdsub highlighted the risk of southerners losing their original livelihoods such as rubber plantations, palm gardens, durian farms, traditional fishing, and community tourism businesses due to land expropriation.
•N.S. Orathai Kerdsub expressed worries that the Land Bridge project could open doors for foreign and nominee businesses to dominate the logistics sector and extend their influence to small businesses like restaurants and shops, impacting local entrepreneurs.
•N.S. Orathai Kerdsub urged the government to implement measures to protect Thai workers from job displacement and to ensure local communities genuinely benefit from the project.
•N.S. Orathai Kerdsub emphasized that the committee's study should not solely focus on economic feasibility but also on social dimensions, genuine job creation for locals, and long-term public interest protection.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on MGR Online (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: MGR Online (Original)

View Original Article

Key Quotes

N.S. Orathai Kerdsub

"“Will locals truly get jobs, or will they lose more than what the government has dreamed up for them?”"

“คนในพื้นที่จะได้งานจริงหรือไม่ หรือกำลังจะสูญเสียมากกว่าสิ่งที่รัฐบาลสร้างฝันไว้ให้“

N.S. Orathai Kerdsub

"“Will these experts truly be from the local area, or will the jobs ultimately go to foreigners?”"

“ผู้เชี่ยวชาญเหล่านี้จะเป็นคนในพื้นที่จริงหรือไม่ หรือสุดท้ายจะกลายเป็นงานของชาวต่างชาติ”

N.S. Orathai Kerdsub

"“A trillion-baht project must not create inequality, nor cause Thai people to lose both land and business opportunities, leaving them with no way to make a living in their own homeland.”"

“โครงการระดับล้านล้านบาท ต้องไม่สร้างความเหลื่อมล้ำ ไม่ทำให้คนไทยสูญเสียทั้งพื้นที่และโอกาสทางธุรกิจ จนไม่มีหนทางทำมาหากินในบ้านของตัวเอง”

Key Entities

Person

Orathai Kerdsub(อรทัย เกิดทรัพย์)

Member of Parliament for Phuket representing the Kla Tham Party, who raised concerns about the Land Bridge project.

Organization

Committee(กมธ.)

The proposed special committee to study the Land Bridge project, supported by N.S. Orathai Kerdsub.

Office of Transport and Policy Planning (OTP)(สำนักงานนโยบายและแผนการขนส่งและจราจร (สนข.))

An organization that conducted a feasibility study for the Land Bridge project, cited by N.S. Orathai Kerdsub.

Kla Tham Party(พรรคกล้าธรรม)

The political party represented by MP Orathai Kerdsub.