Bangkok: In the final stretch before the election, General Rangsi Kitiyanasap, the prime ministerial candidate and leader of the Economic Party, laid out his comprehensive agenda to tackle Thailand's pressing issues, including economic transformation, agricultural reform, anti-corruption measures, and national security.
According to Thai News Agency, General Rangsi emphasized his strategy for economic rejuvenation through mega-projects like the high-speed rail and the Ocean Link. These initiatives aim to elevate Thailand's per capita income from 200,000 baht to 600,000 baht annually, positioning the nation as a developed country under UN standards. The Ocean Link project, designed to connect the Indian Ocean with the Gulf of Thailand, promises to establish a significant new shipping route, potentially reducing travel time by up to four days compared to the current route through the Strait of Malacca. Cooperation with China is central to these plans, with a memorandum of understanding anticipated within a month of the government's formation, focusing on a profit-sharing model free from corruption.
General Rangsi outlined agricultural reforms aimed at modernizing farming practices and providing direct support to farmers. The creation of a modern agricultural park will offer drone and equipment rentals to reduce operational costs. Additionally, farmers will receive support to directly export their produce, a first in Thailand's history, with negotiations underway for futures market contracts with China. Land reforms will allow farmers to lease state-owned land at affordable rates.
Addressing corruption and judicial reform, General Rangsi proposed severe penalties, including the death penalty for corruption, to deter bribery and malfeasance. He advocates for reforming the police by separating investigative powers and establishing a Central Forensic Department to ensure transparency. The Department of Corrections will also undergo changes to address sentence reductions and VIP treatment issues in prisons.
Economic measures include proposals to reduce electricity costs by merging electricity agencies and altering policies to prioritize national interests. The cancellation of MOU 43 with Cambodia is planned, citing boundary violations, with a call for Cambodia to join UNCLOS for maritime boundary solutions. Measures to combat scams involve freezing suspect funds and seizing unexplained assets.
General Rangsi also proposed utilizing Thailand's natural resources, specifically processing quartz into silicon for solar panels and semiconductors, to generate revenue and reduce the national debt, currently at 55 trillion baht. He reiterated that the Economic Party's policies reject populism and instead focus on structural reforms for sustainable recovery. Despite his ranking on the party list, General Rangsi remains committed to implementing these policies as a prime ministerial candidate.