'Phiphat' Postpones Land Bridge Visit, Awaiting Study; Bhumjaithai Policy Since '19

MGR Online•Politics•21d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn postpones his site visit for the Land Bridge project pending a 90-day study by Ekniti Nitithanprapas, while affirming the project's long-standing origin within the Bhumjaithai Party's campaign strategy since 2019.

•Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn will not visit the Land Bridge project site on May 8, deferring to a 90-day study by Ekniti Nitithanprapas.
•The Land Bridge project has been a campaign policy of the Bhumjaithai Party since 2019, not a new initiative.
•The project aims to enhance Thailand's economic competitiveness by developing transport infrastructure, distinguishing itself from previous canal-digging proposals by not dividing the country.
•Officials plan to address public concerns and explain the potential benefits and drawbacks, especially to residents of Chumphon and Ranong provinces.

Overview

•On May 8, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn decided not to visit the Land Bridge project site.
•The Land Bridge project is currently under a 90-day study led by Ekniti Nitithanprapas.
•Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn stated, 'If I go now, I could be right or wrong, so I choose not to go' regarding the site visit.
•The Land Bridge project is a long-standing policy of the Bhumjaithai Party, first campaigned on in 2019.
•Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn is waiting for the results of the 90-day study before making further decisions or site visits.
•Residents of Chumphon and Ranong provinces are expected to be directly impacted and informed about potential livelihood opportunities.
•The study committee, chaired by Ekniti Nitithanprapas, is expected to complete its 90-day comprehensive review.
•Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn emphasized that the Land Bridge project differs from the 'Thai Canal' by not involving canal excavation that would divide the country.

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Key Quotes

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn

"Waiting for the study results from the committee of Mr. Ekniti, who will undertake the 90-day study as assigned."

รอผลการศึกษาจาก คณะกรรมการชุดของนายเอกนิติ ที่จะดำเนินการศึกษาระยะเวลา 90 วันตามที่ได้รับมอบหมายให้เรียบร้อยก่อน

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn

"If I go now, I could be right or wrong, so I choose not to go."

หากตนลงไปตอนนี้ก็อาจจะถูกหรือผิดก็ได้ ฉะนั้นจึงเลือกที่จะไม่ลงดีกว่า

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn

"This project is a policy of the Bhumjaithai Party since 2019, which the Prime Minister has mentioned before, and it's a flagship policy used for campaigning."

โครงการดังกล่าวเป็นนโยบายของพรรคภูมิใจไทยตั้งแต่ปี 2019 ซึ่งนายกรัฐมนตรีได้เคยพูดมาแล้วก่อนหน้านี้ และถือเป็นนโยบายธงเดิม ที่ทำการหาเสียง

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn

"Don't forget that every time the Kra Isthmus canal project or Thai Canal was considered in the past, there were things that couldn't move forward, but the global situation has changed."

อย่าลืมว่าทุกครั้งที่จะดำเนินการโครงการขุดคอคอดกระในอดีต หรือ คลองไทย อาจจะมีบางสิ่งที่ไม่สามารถทำให้เดินหน้าได้แต่ปัจจุบันสถานการณ์โลกเปลี่ยนไป

Key Entities

Person

Phiphat(พิพัฒน์)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport of Thailand, who postponed a site visit for the Land Bridge project.

Ekniti(เอกนิติ)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Thailand, chairing the 90-day study for the Land Bridge project.

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญ วีรกูล)ℹ️

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Thailand, who assigned Ekniti Nitithanprapas to lead the Land Bridge project study.

Organization

Bhumjaithai Party(ภท.)ℹ️

Political party that has championed the Land Bridge project as a flagship policy since 2019.

Finance Ministry(คลัง)

Government ministry responsible for financial matters, overseen by Ekniti Nitithanprapas.

Ministry of Transport(คมนาคม)

Government ministry responsible for transportation infrastructure, overseen by Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.

Place

Chumphon(ชุมพร)ℹ️

A province in Thailand, one of the key areas that will be impacted by the Land Bridge project.

Ranong(ระนอง)ℹ️

A province in Thailand, one of the key areas that will be impacted by the Land Bridge project.

Policy

Eastern Economic Corridor(EEC)ℹ️

A major economic development zone in Thailand, mentioned as a precedent for large-scale government projects.