Well said. Spot-on about graduate unemployment. Not a national problem, not even a regional problem, but (at least in my humble opinion) the number one problem facing developed and developing economies across the world.
How long they can continue to sucker kids into massive debt. Whilst knowing that the qualifications they’re peddling are effectively worthless will I think start impacting politically in the very near future. The governmental response thus far has been massive global credit expansion. That this has patently failed leaves the “Guaranteed Basic Income” as the only viable long term solution. That, that this ‘hippy’ notion (of not too long ago) has gained mainstream political traction points I think to very real elite concerns about the the collapse of aggregate demand and the consequences for social instability that this will inevitably entail.
How one’s heart drops when one reads that leaden phrase.
All I would add is that Malaysia, in-common with most of it’s S.E. Asian counterparts isn’t going forward on it’s ‘journey’ towards democracy, but peddling furiously in the opposite direction. I’m quite sure that for the author and his (tiny) cohort of super-remunerated, neo-liberal cheerleaders sincerely thinks things are looking just rosy, but I can tell him that as one of the ‘great-unwashed’ life isn’t so bloody great in these parts. Meaning that the statistics trotted out by his and my government should be treated with at best mild contempt.
The author does a good line in reasoned boosterism, but sadly for him and his ilk, reality has a really nasty habit of happening.
I saw 2007/8 coming twenty years before it arrived, not least because I’m one of the victims of the ‘Age of Globalism’ and not one of it’s myopic cheerleaders/winners. The socio-economic tsunami facing S.E. Asia is real, and it’s coming right down the line, and no amount of McKinsey/WB/IMF/ASEAN/Goldman Sacks, Alice in Wonderland chicanery is going to stop it.
The only difference between Singapore and the rest is that the rest are generally too cack-handed to keep a lid on their various corruption can-of-worms. In this case, as so many others, being a super-centralized, mono-ethnic (where it counts) city-state has it’s advantages.
The ruling elite know full well that the entire economic super-structure of the gerrymandered state requires Trappist-like silent obedience. That’s because the economy isn’t based on trade, education or any of the other clap-trap the ruling party trot-out, but graft.
Singapore has been supremely successful because offers a unique service in these (unstable and unpredictable) parts, namely that of banker to the Asia (and Middle Eastern) hyper-rich. No names, no pack-drill, low interest rates, but safe, secure and always discreet ‘banking’, err., money laundering and tax evasion.
Anyway, the absence of visible signs of scandal are (at least in the case of Singapore) in no way indicative of the absence of an underlying systemic problem.
The only difference between Singapore and the rest is that the rest are generally too cack-handed to keep a lid on their various corruption can-of-worms. In this case, as so many others, being a super-centralized, mono-ethnic (where it counts) city-state has it’s advantages.
The ruling elite know full well that the entire economic super-structure of the gerrymandered state requires Trappist-like silent obedience. That’s because the economy isn’t based on trade, education or any of the other clap-trap the ruling party trot-out, but graft.
Singapore has been supremely successful because offers a unique service in these (unstable and unpredictable) parts, namely that of banker to the Asia (and Middle Eastern) hyper-rich. No names, no pack-drill, low interest rates, but safe, secure and always discreet ‘banking’, err., money laundering and tax evasion.
Anyway, the absence of visible signs of scandal are (at least in the case of Singapore) in no way indicative of the absence of an underlying systemic problem.
Very interesting article on gossip among the rich and powerful of Bangkok. As for the “naked skydiving”, I’m not so sure that I can take that seriously. I’m going to put it in my “believe it when I see the pictures file”
Christine Gray – have you got any photographic, conclusive proof of
this skydive – especially of the ” naked” consort ? If NOT, you – and others – may have fallen into a
well-laid trap.
The narrative of the Malaysian economy is driven by the evidence: Massive theft by PM Najib and UMNO and the need to borrow money from the Saudis. We also see the economic collusion between North Korea and Malaysia since Mahathir. That is the reality of the Malaysian economy, one that is inextricably tied to massive corruption.
Pointing out Malaysia’s horrendous corruption, abysmal race relations and the completely self-serving attitude of UMNO (and PAS and part of the opposition) is not fear mongering; rather it is Malaysian timidity in the face of political and social abuse that allows bad people to get away with bad things. Most nations do not have prime ministers tied to murder, not even most corrupt nations.
Yes, it was incorrect. Baru Bian (PKR) retained his seat which is proof enough. Obviously PKR did win 3 seats, while UMNO’s bribe wasn’t enough this time. DAP is popular because Iban and other indigenous people, as well as Sino-Malaysians, are sick and tired of UMNO; they have had enough of UMNO trying to Islamize Sarawak (and Sabah), a direct violation of the Malaysia Agreement of 1963.
One English-Language newspaper in Thailand certainly referred to an alleged ímproper (but unstated) relationship with Thaksin. The Nation if memory serves me, horrible rag that it is.
A local rag in Thailand (not the Nation as I recall), speculated today that Vajiralongkorn appears to be doing his best to ensure the monarchy in Thailand has a very limited future, certainly, if he becomes King at coronation and that doesn’t happen until lats this year, then I think there is every chance of the old Monks prophecy of there being no 10th king in the Chakri dynasty will prove to be true. I may laugh at Thais (in fact I do laugh at Thais), but they are not completely witless and V does not enjoy good esteem among what appears to be a majority of his people.
If indeed he has chosen his bed-fellows to be Prem, Prayuth and Prawit, then he appears to have very poor judgment and I’m surprised he hasn’t noticed the international reaction to them. If he cares.
Personally I rather hope he jumps from aeroplanes as often as possible, and that he makes sure all his parachutes are packed by Thais. Either malice or incompetence are highly likely to bring about a definitive conclusion to the problem he represents, though hopefully not just yet. We need to give widespread distaste and embarrassment every opportunity to turn into universal hatred and loathing, a course he seems already to have charted for himself.
Indeed, many would doubtless agree that the USA finally has a fit symbol representing what it has become. Many folk think that Trump represents the US of A very well, I certainly think that Vajiralongkorn very closely resembles the essence of ‘Thainess’.
Populations get the governments they deserve, so perhaps the same applies to their kings. And Presidents.
Is this what Thai Studies expends its intellectual capital on?
Zero impact, outside of pure titillation, is what recounting unsubstantiated rumours of royal private life achieves.
Instead of, for instance, bolstering the study of public health, education or law and society issues in Thailand, all of which remains in its infancy.
As a day to day journalist, I find that essential background information in these areas is not available to inform the public.
But who cares!
Cultural anthropology will follow in the footsteps of viral social media.
String the intellectuals along with titillating tidbits and plot, as if we were in the Roman Coliseum.
And now the PhD gossip columnist has become a Pali scholar?
“In Buddhaghosa’s The Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga), gossip or “tale-bearing” falls under the category of “belittling.” It is also identified with extortion.”
Hi there could you please tell me a little bit about tiger matches from Myanmar. I would like to know about it. Which town or city was it made and when was it made? I have one and it’s never been used. I want to know if it’s worth anything?
To do justice to MB, I took the trouble to read his article on the Sarawak elections last year and was shocked to see this line:
“Significantly, though, the DAP was the only party in the Pakatan Harapan that managed to win seats in Sarawak – ten, to be sure, after contesting in 31.”
This was so incorrect! In fact, the DAP contested 31 state seats and won only 7, down from 12 from the 2011 state elections. The other opposition party that won seats was the PKR, at 3.
In other words, it was not the DAP alone that won 10 seats, but the opposition pact made up of the DAP and PKR.
If MB cannot even get the basic statistics right, how credible can his ‘analyses’ be? Just thinking.
Forget not, the elections were held on 7 May 2016 and his article came out more than two weeks thereafter. Was he daydreaming or what?
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Playing Malaysia’s number game
Well said. Spot-on about graduate unemployment. Not a national problem, not even a regional problem, but (at least in my humble opinion) the number one problem facing developed and developing economies across the world.
How long they can continue to sucker kids into massive debt. Whilst knowing that the qualifications they’re peddling are effectively worthless will I think start impacting politically in the very near future. The governmental response thus far has been massive global credit expansion. That this has patently failed leaves the “Guaranteed Basic Income” as the only viable long term solution. That, that this ‘hippy’ notion (of not too long ago) has gained mainstream political traction points I think to very real elite concerns about the the collapse of aggregate demand and the consequences for social instability that this will inevitably entail.
Playing Malaysia’s number game
“As a long-time Southeast Asia watcher…..”
How one’s heart drops when one reads that leaden phrase.
All I would add is that Malaysia, in-common with most of it’s S.E. Asian counterparts isn’t going forward on it’s ‘journey’ towards democracy, but peddling furiously in the opposite direction. I’m quite sure that for the author and his (tiny) cohort of super-remunerated, neo-liberal cheerleaders sincerely thinks things are looking just rosy, but I can tell him that as one of the ‘great-unwashed’ life isn’t so bloody great in these parts. Meaning that the statistics trotted out by his and my government should be treated with at best mild contempt.
The author does a good line in reasoned boosterism, but sadly for him and his ilk, reality has a really nasty habit of happening.
I saw 2007/8 coming twenty years before it arrived, not least because I’m one of the victims of the ‘Age of Globalism’ and not one of it’s myopic cheerleaders/winners. The socio-economic tsunami facing S.E. Asia is real, and it’s coming right down the line, and no amount of McKinsey/WB/IMF/ASEAN/Goldman Sacks, Alice in Wonderland chicanery is going to stop it.
Playing Malaysia’s number game
Oh please. That old chestnut again.
The only difference between Singapore and the rest is that the rest are generally too cack-handed to keep a lid on their various corruption can-of-worms. In this case, as so many others, being a super-centralized, mono-ethnic (where it counts) city-state has it’s advantages.
The ruling elite know full well that the entire economic super-structure of the gerrymandered state requires Trappist-like silent obedience. That’s because the economy isn’t based on trade, education or any of the other clap-trap the ruling party trot-out, but graft.
Singapore has been supremely successful because offers a unique service in these (unstable and unpredictable) parts, namely that of banker to the Asia (and Middle Eastern) hyper-rich. No names, no pack-drill, low interest rates, but safe, secure and always discreet ‘banking’, err., money laundering and tax evasion.
Anyway, the absence of visible signs of scandal are (at least in the case of Singapore) in no way indicative of the absence of an underlying systemic problem.
Playing Malaysia’s number game
Oh please. That old chestnut again.
The only difference between Singapore and the rest is that the rest are generally too cack-handed to keep a lid on their various corruption can-of-worms. In this case, as so many others, being a super-centralized, mono-ethnic (where it counts) city-state has it’s advantages.
The ruling elite know full well that the entire economic super-structure of the gerrymandered state requires Trappist-like silent obedience. That’s because the economy isn’t based on trade, education or any of the other clap-trap the ruling party trot-out, but graft.
Singapore has been supremely successful because offers a unique service in these (unstable and unpredictable) parts, namely that of banker to the Asia (and Middle Eastern) hyper-rich. No names, no pack-drill, low interest rates, but safe, secure and always discreet ‘banking’, err., money laundering and tax evasion.
Anyway, the absence of visible signs of scandal are (at least in the case of Singapore) in no way indicative of the absence of an underlying systemic problem.
Risk, gossip and retribution in Thailand
You are the first Thai person I have ever seen defend Vajiralongkorn in a online comment, in person, or anywhere else.
Risk, gossip and retribution in Thailand
Very interesting article on gossip among the rich and powerful of Bangkok. As for the “naked skydiving”, I’m not so sure that I can take that seriously. I’m going to put it in my “believe it when I see the pictures file”
Risk, gossip and retribution in Thailand
Without evidence (photos) this story doesn’t really fly. Or perhaps the entourage, wisely, all left their mobile phones at home on this day.
Risk, gossip and retribution in Thailand
Christine Gray – have you got any photographic, conclusive proof of
this skydive – especially of the ” naked” consort ? If NOT, you – and others – may have fallen into a
well-laid trap.
Playing Malaysia’s number game
The narrative of the Malaysian economy is driven by the evidence: Massive theft by PM Najib and UMNO and the need to borrow money from the Saudis. We also see the economic collusion between North Korea and Malaysia since Mahathir. That is the reality of the Malaysian economy, one that is inextricably tied to massive corruption.
Playing Malaysia’s number game
Pointing out Malaysia’s horrendous corruption, abysmal race relations and the completely self-serving attitude of UMNO (and PAS and part of the opposition) is not fear mongering; rather it is Malaysian timidity in the face of political and social abuse that allows bad people to get away with bad things. Most nations do not have prime ministers tied to murder, not even most corrupt nations.
Malaysia’s criminal state of mind
Yes, it was incorrect. Baru Bian (PKR) retained his seat which is proof enough. Obviously PKR did win 3 seats, while UMNO’s bribe wasn’t enough this time. DAP is popular because Iban and other indigenous people, as well as Sino-Malaysians, are sick and tired of UMNO; they have had enough of UMNO trying to Islamize Sarawak (and Sabah), a direct violation of the Malaysia Agreement of 1963.
Risk, gossip and retribution in Thailand
Hopefully. A major change is well overdue in the Land of Scams.
Risk, gossip and retribution in Thailand
One English-Language newspaper in Thailand certainly referred to an alleged ímproper (but unstated) relationship with Thaksin. The Nation if memory serves me, horrible rag that it is.
A local rag in Thailand (not the Nation as I recall), speculated today that Vajiralongkorn appears to be doing his best to ensure the monarchy in Thailand has a very limited future, certainly, if he becomes King at coronation and that doesn’t happen until lats this year, then I think there is every chance of the old Monks prophecy of there being no 10th king in the Chakri dynasty will prove to be true. I may laugh at Thais (in fact I do laugh at Thais), but they are not completely witless and V does not enjoy good esteem among what appears to be a majority of his people.
If indeed he has chosen his bed-fellows to be Prem, Prayuth and Prawit, then he appears to have very poor judgment and I’m surprised he hasn’t noticed the international reaction to them. If he cares.
Personally I rather hope he jumps from aeroplanes as often as possible, and that he makes sure all his parachutes are packed by Thais. Either malice or incompetence are highly likely to bring about a definitive conclusion to the problem he represents, though hopefully not just yet. We need to give widespread distaste and embarrassment every opportunity to turn into universal hatred and loathing, a course he seems already to have charted for himself.
Risk, gossip and retribution in Thailand
Indeed, many would doubtless agree that the USA finally has a fit symbol representing what it has become. Many folk think that Trump represents the US of A very well, I certainly think that Vajiralongkorn very closely resembles the essence of ‘Thainess’.
Populations get the governments they deserve, so perhaps the same applies to their kings. And Presidents.
Royal Thai Embassay clarifies Wat Dhammakaya case
Ron – the Ambassador has as much right as anyone else to express his opinion. You should give him the respect he deserves.
Risk, gossip and retribution in Thailand
Is this what Thai Studies expends its intellectual capital on?
Zero impact, outside of pure titillation, is what recounting unsubstantiated rumours of royal private life achieves.
Instead of, for instance, bolstering the study of public health, education or law and society issues in Thailand, all of which remains in its infancy.
As a day to day journalist, I find that essential background information in these areas is not available to inform the public.
But who cares!
Cultural anthropology will follow in the footsteps of viral social media.
String the intellectuals along with titillating tidbits and plot, as if we were in the Roman Coliseum.
And now the PhD gossip columnist has become a Pali scholar?
“In Buddhaghosa’s The Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga), gossip or “tale-bearing” falls under the category of “belittling.” It is also identified with extortion.”
Risk, gossip and retribution in Thailand
Nonetheless – a coup is
coming. It may be hours away. It may be days away. I doubt it is months.
Colonial Burma, history and phillumeny
Hi there could you please tell me a little bit about tiger matches from Myanmar. I would like to know about it. Which town or city was it made and when was it made? I have one and it’s never been used. I want to know if it’s worth anything?
Risk, gossip and retribution in Thailand
Since when did illegal activities necessitate a fall from grace (in Thailand)?
Malaysia’s criminal state of mind
To do justice to MB, I took the trouble to read his article on the Sarawak elections last year and was shocked to see this line:
“Significantly, though, the DAP was the only party in the Pakatan Harapan that managed to win seats in Sarawak – ten, to be sure, after contesting in 31.”
This was so incorrect! In fact, the DAP contested 31 state seats and won only 7, down from 12 from the 2011 state elections. The other opposition party that won seats was the PKR, at 3.
In other words, it was not the DAP alone that won 10 seats, but the opposition pact made up of the DAP and PKR.
If MB cannot even get the basic statistics right, how credible can his ‘analyses’ be? Just thinking.
Forget not, the elections were held on 7 May 2016 and his article came out more than two weeks thereafter. Was he daydreaming or what?
http://www.newmandala.org/pakatan-harapan-electrocutes-itself/