thailandedition
Tawee Calls for Public Benefit, Energy Price Control, and System Restructure

Tawee Calls for Public Benefit, Energy Price Control, and System Restructure

Khaosod•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai MP Tawee Sodasong calls for immediate government action to control energy prices and restructure the system for the benefit of the public, citing issues of cronyism and lack of accountability.

  • •MP Tawee Sodasong criticizes the current energy pricing structure and calls for government intervention.
  • •He highlights potential conflicts of interest and lack of legal basis in energy policy decisions.
  • •Tawee emphasizes the importance of public interest and affordability of energy as essential utilities.
  • •The call comes amidst concerns about potential price increases and their impact on ordinary citizens.

Overview

  • •On April 12, 2026, Pol. Col. Tawee Sodasong, a list-MP and leader of the Prachachat Party, spoke on the 'Time Out' program. He stated that 'today must ensure people can live.'
  • •The discussion on April 12, 2026, addressed oil hoarding and shortages in Thailand, a nation with significant income inequality.
  • •Pol. Col. Tawee Sodasong argued that energy, land, and electricity are public utilities, contrary to being treated as free trade, as mandated by the constitution for equitable and sustainable access.
  • •Tawee criticized the decision-making process, referencing a 2018 resolution by the Energy Policy Administration Committee (Gub.Eng) to peg prices to Singapore, despite the existence of Thai refineries and legal frameworks.
  • •A study by the council indicated that Thai refineries can produce over 160 million liters of oil daily, with domestic consumption exceeding 10 million liters, leaving a surplus for export.
  • •Pol. Col. Tawee Sodasong expressed concern over the reliance on Singapore's pricing, stating it's 'false' to assume Thailand has no refineries, as they possess the capacity for domestic use and export.
  • •Tawee highlighted a potential conflict of interest, noting a former chairman of Gub.Eng, who was from an oil refinery, has since returned to work for an oil company.
  • •He questioned why a prime minister would establish a new committee (Sop.Kor.) with a deputy prime minister in charge during a crisis, instead of utilizing the existing structure of the National Energy Policy Committee (Gub.Por.Chor.), suggesting the new committee comprised representatives acting for capitalists rather than diverse ministries.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Khaosod (Thai Version)

Source: Khaosod (Original)

View Original Article

Key Quotes

Tawee Sodasong
"He declared today must ensure people can live."
ลั่นวันนี้ต้องทำให้ประชาชนอยู่ได้ก่อน
Tawee Sodasong
"This is the prologue that we do not uphold the rule of law and justice, instead of Thai people receiving protection."
นี่คือปฐมบทว่าเราไม่รักษานิติรัฐ นิติธรรม แทนที่คนไทยจะได้รับความคุ้มครอง
Tawee Sodasong
"Instead of representatives from various ministries, the committee members are representatives thinking for capitalists to solve problems."
กรรมการแทนที่จะเป็นตัวแทนจากกระทรวงต่างๆ กลับเป็นตัวแทนคิดแทนนายทุน มาเป็นกรรมการแก้ปัญหา
Tawee Sodasong
"The Prime Minister must step in to take responsibility, cannot escape."
นายกฯต้องเข้ามารับผิดชอบ จะลอยตัวไม่ได้
Tawee Sodasong
"We must encourage the government, but if it's not done correctly, we must speak up."
เราต้องให้กำลังใจรัฐบาล แต่ถ้าทำไม่ถูกต้องก็ต้องพูด
Tawee Sodasong
"Just for energy as a public utility, the state must take care to keep prices low so people can live. Today, people must be able to live first."
เอาแค่พลังงานสาธารณูปโภค รัฐต้องเข้าไปดูแล ให้มีราคาถูกให้อยู่ได้ วันนี้ต้องให้ประชาชนอยู่ได้ก่อน

Key Entities

Person

Tawee Sodasong(ทวี สอดส่อง)
Member of Parliament (List-MP) and leader of the Prachachat Party who criticized government energy policy.
Prime Minister(นายกฯ)
The head of the Thai government criticized by Tawee Sodasong regarding energy pricing and policy.
Deputy Prime Minister Anutin(นายกฯอนุทิน)
Deputy Prime Minister urged by Tawee Sodasong to negotiate for funds related to energy pricing.

Organization

Prachachat Party(พรรคประชาชาติ)
The political party led by Tawee Sodasong, which advocates for public interest in energy policy.
Energy Policy Administration Committee(กบง.)
The committee that made resolutions regarding oil pricing, criticized for its adherence to Singaporean prices.
National Energy Policy Committee(กพช.)
The existing committee structure for energy policy that Tawee Sodasong suggested should have been utilized instead of a new committee.
Emergency Situation Administration Committee(ศบก.)
A new committee established during a crisis, questioned by Tawee Sodasong for its composition and leadership.