Policy Announcement*

Mr. President,
Distinguished Members,  

Persuant to His Majesty the King's gracious appointment of myself as Prime Minister, per Royal Command dated 9 December 1990, and the subsequent appointment of the Council of Ministers, per Royal Command dated 14 December 1990. The Council of Ministers has now formulated the policies for the state administration, as to present to the distinguished members, which shall be used to administer the state affairs, during the last 19 months of this government, in order to establish the national economic, social and political prosperities, and uphold the well-being of the Thai people.

The key word, which I shall intend to enshrine, to the success in the administration of this government, in accordance with the policies presented to this Parliament, is simply honesty, based upon the national benefits and Thai people, which the government shall respect, to the utmost, and maintain, as to prevent partialities, as for any individual group or party, and implement the prevention and suppression of the corruption and malfeasance, as of the sole responsibility to the nation and Thai people. In addition, the government would like to vow that we shall direct the state affairs, as best as we can, in order to furnish the national peace and security, following these steps:

1. Political Policy

The government shall intend to respect and protect the institutions of Nation, Religion, King and democratic government, with King as Head of State, and implement, by all means, the uphold of the economic, social and political prosperities to the Thai people. In this respect, the government shall promote and support the development of the role of political parties and the Parliament, in accordance with the democratic government, with King as Head of State, and encourage the public understanding and confidence in democracy, by protecting and extending the freedom, as guaranteed by the laws, as well as, generate the national awareness of the duties and responsibilities of the citizen and encourage the participation in national and local politics.

In addition, the government shall implement the revision of elections, be it the General Election or others, as to remain cleaner, fairer, and clearer. Meanwhile, the government shall support and improve the distribution of the administration to the provinces, especially to the municipal councils, by means of greater liberties in finance, monetary, acquisition, employment, and policy planning, which shall be granted, in accordance with the developments in each area, requiring or not the support from the central administration, in favour of the national unity in administration, which shall be inseparable. In addition, the government shall implement efficient measures on the revision of outdated laws, which hinder the national economic and social developments, and convert the announcements of the Coups d'Etat, as well as, the orders of the Reform Council of State Administration, into codes of laws, as of the democratic government.

2. Policy on the State Administration

The government is determined to change the role of the state administration, from operations to supervisions and supports to the private sector, by turning government agencies to be more open to the voices of the nation, changing the idea of the state administration, from controls to developments. Moreover, the government shall intend to facilitate the state administration and services, by reducing the government procedures and decentralizing the personnel and budget administrations to the operational units and provinces. In this respect, the government shall administer the budget to the provinces, as to resolve the social problems, alongside the improvements of the standard of living and work environment of civil servants, as to stimulate good and able men to remain in the services. Meanwhile, the government has formulated the policy to use the merit system, as for rewards and promotions, in order to enhance the morale and will of qualified officials.

The government shall focus on the revision of ministerial structures, in accordance with the current situation, as to correspond to the national economic and social developments, by detaching departments from old ministries, in order to establish new ones, e.g., Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Foreign Commerce, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Communication and Transports, Ministry of Police, etc.

3. Economic Policy

This government has envisaged the goal of the implementation of economic policies to constant economic growths, by extending the manufacturing and commercial bases to international markets and establishing Thailand as the economic "frontline" of the region, be it manufacturing, processing, exports, finance, and transportation. In this respect, the government needs to revise the national economic policies, conforming to the flexibility and versatility, in international trade, financial and monetary administration, and infrastructure, which require the reduction of monopolistic acts and the participation of the private sector in the extension of basic telecommunication, transportation, energy, development and technology services. Meanwhile, the government shall preserve the national economic and financial stabilities, as to reduce the inflations and balance deficits, and secure the quality of life of the people and the confidence of foreign investors. In addition, the government shall focus on the income distribution and the generation of economic developments to the provinces, supporting the role of the private sector in the resolution of local economic problems, as to increase the income of poor and small agriculturists, agricultural laborers in the provinces, small entrepreneurs in the cities, and low-income laborers and employees.

3.1 Finance and Monetary

The government shall prevent and strengthen the national economic stability and financial status, and implement efficient financial policies, under the strict discipline framework, alongside with the facilitation of the economic and social developments, as for the total efficiency and justice, improve the structure of the taxation system, as to reduce the redundancy and establish the neutrality of the taxation system, as to facilitate the investment and national developments. Meanwhile, the government shall implement financial measures, as to provide the assistance to weak economic sectors, especially agriculture. As for the operations of state enterprises, the government shall reduce their dependencies on state supports, by means of the mobilization of capitals and the joint-investment with the private sector in the development of the network and quality of infrastructural services, as for the support of the national economic growths. As for the financial policy, the government shall improve and strengthen the financial system, institutions, and capital markets, as for the efficiency in the mobilization of short and long-term savings, reduce the control of the financial institutions, as to support the national investment, and support the establishment of Thailand as the regional financial hub. In addition, the government shall implement attractive financial policies and measures, as for the resolution of environmental problems, the energy preservation, the suppression of pollutions, and the preservation of natural resources.

3.2 Agriculture

The government is determined to provide assitances to agriculturists, especially to small-scale and poor ones, as for the productivity and income stability. In this respect, the government shall implement the land reform, improve the distribution system of land ownerships in the degraded forest areas, and facilitate the documentation procedures. In addition, the government shall improve the quality of affected soils, as well as, prevent the dissolution of soils, near the water sources, and revive the coastal areas.

The government shall provide the flexible short and long-term loans to poor agriculturists, by reducing the procedures, as to allow the change from the conventional plantation system to new economic crops and required pasture. As for the manufacturing factors, the government shall support the free trade in fertilizers, as to reduce the monopoly in manufacturing and trade, and pioneer the national fertilizer industry, as to reduce the imports.

The government shall promote new agricultural manufacturing plans, through science and technology, e.g., the utilization of organic fertilizer, the bacteria-based pest control, the livestock breeding, the issue transplantation, etc., as to support the national agricultural manufacturing structures. In addition, the government shall enhance the negotiation power of agriculturists, by encouraging the participation of agricultural institutions and the private sector in the manufacturing, marketing, industry, and processing. As for the preservation and revival of natural resources, the government shall improve the water source for agriculture, by developing the canals, swamps, and ponds, as for the cultivation in the dry season, and increasing the numbers of protected forests, from 20 to 25 per cent of the total forest area, and encourage the participation of the private sector and agricultural institutions in the establishment of economic and communal forest gardens. Moreover, the government shall preserve and revive the coastal resources, in Thai water confines, as for the permanent fish nursery.

3.3 Industry

The government shall support the national industry, as to enhance the competitiveness, in terms of quality and manufacturing cost, in foreign markets, by means of the reduced tax on the imports of machines, spare parts, and raw materials, as well as, encourage the private participation in the testing and certifying of the quality of Thai industrial products. Meanwhile, the government shall provide industrial opportunities to the provinces and the "New Economic Zones" e.g., the Eastern Sea Board, Southern Sea Board, Industrial Estates, and Industrial Export Zones, distributing the industry to the required zones, as for the efficient control of environmental problems. In addition, the government shall heed special attentions to prevent, control, and suppress the environmental problems, be it air, water, and noise pollutions, garbage, and toxic waste, as a result from factories, especially in high-density zones in the Greater Bangkok area, major cities, and major river systems. In this respect, the government shall support the private participation in the investment of the water treatment and garbage recycling systems.

3.4 Commerce and Service

The government shall implement commercial policies to establish the "free" trades, both domestic and international, as to provide the sufficient ground for the GATT's multilateral trade negotiations, enhance the efficiency of the commercial competitiveness, as to establish Thailand as the regional commercial hub, with the focus on the Indochinese and Asia-Pacific markets, revise the procedures for the import of raw materials, implement protected measures as to prevent the foreign monopolization, institute unity in international trade negotiations, and implement efficient measures for the European market in 1992. As for the national commerce, the government shall heed special attentions to stabilize the price of agricultural products, by developing the central market, in terms of auction and advance markets, and distribute the economic developments on warehouses, silos, and cold storage units, to the provinces, in order that agriculturists can decelerate the vending of products, which shall, in turn, increase the price. As for the service, the government shall develop the maintenance service, both for land, water, and air transportors, apart from the developments in the tourism industry.

Moreover, the government shall promote the exports, by reducing government procedures, revising the Measurement Act and Public Company Act, in accordance with the current commercial system, and develop the Stock Exchange, as to provide the financial protection and reduce the public risks.

3.5 Transportation

The government shall expand the telecommunication networks, as to provide good services to meet the increasing national requirements. As for the mass transit, the government shall aspire to implement the elevated mass transit system, upgrade the national railways, improve the freight and transportation systems, as for the enhanced efficiency, as well as, harmonize the land, water and air transportations, both domestic and international. In addition, the government shall support the construction of the new airport, as to promote the industry and tourism, subsidize the highways construction, according to the concession acts, and improve the overall infrastructure network, in particular, the Eastern Sea Board Industrial Estate. The government shall, also, implement the outer ring road projects, consider the construction of the cross-river tunnel and road bypass, as to reduce the numbers of vehicles passing through the inner city, at the north to east and west points, expand the roads and traffic lanes, facilitate the traffic, by means of the demolition of road restraints, as to resolve the traffic problems in the growing cities.

4. Policy on the Science, Technology, Energy and Environment

The government shall recruit qualified scientists, engineers, and technicians, as to enhance the national reputation, lecturers and researchers, as to meet the requirements from the industrial, agricultural, and service sectors, rural developments, and technological transfers from foreign countries, develop the Information Technology, as to encourage the private participation in technological imports, at reasonable price and conditions, implement the efficient provision of the national energy, develop the basic infrastructure network, and the administration systems on science and technology, by revising the structure of the national research centers, as to retain the qualified researchers, as well as, improving the research networks of the government agencies, state and private academic institutions. As for the environmental problems, affected by pollutions, the government shall heed special attentions to resolve air-borne pollution, acid rain, water pollution from factories and toxic wastes, reduce sulphurdioxide, carbonmonoxide, nitrogendioxide, and lead in the petrol, to the health-friendly level, improve the utilization process of lignite coals, in the electricity generation process, as to prevent the acid rain, enforce the ralated acts, as for the pollution control, especially the elimination of toxic wastes in all types of vehicles, in order to efficiently administer and manage environmental issues. In addition, the government has formulated the policy to establish the tripact, i.e., community, business, and government, as for the supervision and control of the environmental status, according to the national standards, especially in the inner cities, industrial estates, and tourist attractions, with consumers of natural resources to be responsible for the preservation and revival of environmental issues, as well as, the contruction of the parks in the cities.

5. Policy on Security

The government shall improve, upgrade, and support the armed force, as for the greater efficiency and promptness, improve the reserve force system, and the military mobilization system, as to preserve the national independence and benefits, as well as, implement the national force, military, paramilitary, and people alike, as to minimize internal and external threats, and protect the natural resources. In addition, the government shall improve the self-reliance capacity for the national security, by supporting and promoting the military researches and developments, as well as, the manufacturing of national weapons, through the collaborations of government agencies, private sector, and friendly nations. Meanwhile, the government shall support and promote the role of the army in the national development, security development, social assistance, and alleviation of national disasters, improve the military morale, welfare, and standard of living, as well as, the veteran welfare, as for the decency and pride.

6. Foreign Policy

The government shall run the foreign affairs freely, in accordance with the world current situation, improve Thailand's reputation and roles, with the focus on the national benefits, promote the economic prosperity, through the diplomatic relations and cooperations, harmonize the public and private agencies, as for the greater efficiency and unity, respect the international obligations, follow the United Nations' Charter and the Universal Declation of Human Rights, encourage the international development and environment preservation, promote the international economic relations and cooperations, with the focus on the expansion of commercial and investment network, establish the good understandings with the neighbour countries, as to achieve the regional stability and peace, cherish the people-to-people relations, through the intercultural, information, and academic cooperations, foster the unity and integrity of the member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations, enhance the economic relations with the superpowers and major trade partners, especially in Asia-Pacific, Indian Ocean, Middle East, and Mekong Sub-Region, propagate the better understand of Thailand, through the public relations and the diffusion of the national identity and culture, and protect the benefits of Thai citizens abroad.

7. Social Policy

The government shall achieve the national security and enhance the standard of living of Thai citizens, be it education, public health, morals, and national identity, following these steps:

7.1 Interior

The government shall prevent and suppress all types of crimes and delinquences, especially homicide, robbery, weapon smuggling, and local mafia, as well as, encourage the participation of the community in the prevention and suppress of local crimes and delinquences. In addition, the government shall annihilate the narcotics, through the collaborations of neighbor countries and affected countries, as in the destruction of narcotic sources. Meanwhile, the government shall encourage the youth awareness in the bad effects of the narcotics, both in and out the institutions, as well as, establish the national curricula of the subject. Also, the government shall implement the legal reforms, establish the national equality, as for the legal justice, facilitate the court and detention procedures, by means of the advanced technology, establish the Youth and Family Court and Administrative Court, and provide the safety for the court frequenters and civil servants. Moreover, the government shall suppress the controversy, through the arbitratory measures, as to support the economic and investment growths and reduce the court trials.

7.2 Education

The government shall provide the educational opportunities, especially in the secondary schools, extend the compulsory education, from six to nine years, improve the academic curricula, as to meet the regional requirements, and support the self-learning method, through the mass media.

In addition, the government shall emphasize on the mathematical and scientific education, as to support the manufacturing and utilization of the advance technology, recruit the skilled personnel in the affected fields of study, as to meet the requirements from the labor markets, encourage the participation of the educational institutions in the physical development and exercise, as to enhance the health and efficiency in national and international sports competitions, and implement the mental development, with the focus on appropriate activities and social benefits, rather than personal ones. In addition, the government shall enhance the welfare and morale of teachers, both in the central and regional areas, as for the professional security. Meanwhile, the government shall loosen rigid educational regulations, so as to let the private sector involve in the academic management, especially secondary, vocational, and universitarial educations, support the mobilization of resources and cooperations, as from national and international sources, in the development of educational institutions. As for the universitarial education, the government shall support and provide the universitarial education to the provinces, with the focus on the provision of educational factors, as to develop the quality of life of the people and national profession, enhance the efficiency of universities, as to generate the qualified graduates, academic researches, and services, and preserve the national arts and culture, through the efficiency enhancement of the human resource administration, and promote the international study.

Moreover, the government shall recruit and improve the new personnel in the specialized and vocational education, as to meet the increasing needs from the labour market, in terms of quantity and quality, support the academic researches and advancements, as for the national developments, and render the national technological self-reliance.

The government shall encourage the private participation in university management, support the academic cooperation between public and private universities, and furnish the economic collaborations between universities and private enterprises, which shall grant the reliance to the former.

7.3 Public Health

The government is determined to prevent and suppress the AIDS outbreak, which is of high priority, by implementing efficient measures, as for the ralated agencies and private sector.

The government shall provide the public health care, basic medical education, and first aid treatment, enhance the rural health standard and urban sanitation.

Meanwhile, the government shall improve the provincial health care centers, by providing sufficient medical officers and tools, and enhance the efficiency of regional hospitals, as to facilitate the public service and reduce the patient interlink to Bangkok.

The government shall encourage the public and private participation in the improvement of the national health care, resolve the dental problems, improve the hygienic education, through the mass media, formal, and non-formal educations, as to generate the good attitude towards the health behavior, and enhance the efficiency of health-related and environment-conscious laws.

The government shall support the researches and developments in the revival of the traditional Thai medicine and herbal use, as to meet the provincial requirements, support the national medicine industry, as to achieve the greater self-reliance, safety, efficiency, at reasonable price and distributing channels, and promote the food and medicine exports.

In addition, the government has formulated the policy, as to improve the Social Security system, in accordance with the Act of Social Welfare, provide the social welfare to the underprivileged, and provide the food and medicine protection.

7.4 Social Welfare

The government has already formulated the policy on the Social Security, hence, shall, in due course, establish the social welfare institutions, and facilitate the legal procedures. Meanwhile, the government shall provide the special treatment to the underprivileged, by strengthening the family institution, community, and private sector, as for the enhanced operations, revise the related laws, as to enforce the punishment for those luring child, youth, and woman prostitution, harmonise the collaborations of administrative officers and police force in the suppression of the said problem, and implement the provincial infrastructures, especially electricity and water works.

Moreover, the government shall establish the life and property stability and security, by means of the better disaster alarm system, and provide the emergency treatment education.

8. Policy on the Income Distribution

The government is determined to narrow the income gap and suppress the poverty, especially for small-scale rural agriculturists, poor rural agricultural employees, small-scale urban entrepreneurs, and low-income laborers and employees, following these steps:

The government shall maintain the price of rice and major agricultural products, by sanctioning the markets and constructing the new silos, granaries, and rice lawns, promote the exports, preserve the security systems for the agricultural products and livestocks, linking them with the credit system for the manufacturing of agricultural products, in order to reduce the financial risks.

Apart from this, the government shall establish the special fund, as to provide the financial assistance to poor small agriculturists, and supervise the laboral welfare, especially for the work safety and skilled practice.

Meanwhile, the government shall heed special attentions to the provision of the education and practice to the underprivileged, i.e., children, youths, and ladies, in poor areas, as well as, physical deformed, and mental retarded, especially those economically abused.

As for small-scale urban entrepreneurs, laborers, and employees, the government shall provide educational opportunity, as well as, professional practice, in order to achieve new height of skill, income, wage, environment, justice, and welfare, facilitate the workspace for hawkers, establish the industrial safety and welfare, as for construction workers in construction sites and factories, and improve the standard of living, in accordance with the Minimum Wage Act and Work Safety Act, enhance the quality of life of those living in slum areas, per systematic measures and accommodation welfare for the low-income.

The government is determined to strengthen the public organizations, as in village and municipality level, encourage the participation in community plans and developments, by revising the taxation and revenue distribution systems, and support the private participation in the community developments, both in rural and urban areas.

Mr. President,
Distinguished Members,

In accordance with the aforementioned, I would like to vow that the government shall respect and follow all the policies strictly, as to bring about the national prosperity and well-being. The government shall achieve the objectives, through the collaborations of the distinguished members.

Thank you.

*Parliament Assembly Meeting of 1/1991(Special) 9 January 1990, page 19-38

Unofficial Translation