Bangkok: Thanaporn suggests urgently overhauling communications to cope with the oil crisis and political instability. Thanaporn pointed out that the Prime Minister cannot handle the situation alone and advised all agencies to urgently deploy personnel to the affected areas and overhaul communication systems to cope with the oil crisis and political pressure.
According to Thai News Agency, Associate Professor Thanaporn Sriyakul, Director of the Institute for Political and Policy Analysis, commented on the energy situation amidst the Middle East crisis, stating that the government is currently in a defensive position, despite having a large amount of information at hand. The main problem is not a lack of information, but rather the insufficient and inadequate implementation of practical measures.
Associate Professor Thanaporn stated that the Prime Minister has done his part, which includes issuing policies to control oil prices, regulating businesses, forming special task forces to arrest hoarding gangs, ordering oil retailers to urgently release reserves, and controlling commodity prices. All of these were issued as orders, like giving people a sword to execute. However, expecting the Prime Minister to personally inspect stores would be excessive. His primary role should be overseeing overall policy, while the agencies with direct responsibility must take more rigorous and comprehensive action.
‘Inspecting only about 2,000 shops nationwide, averaged across 77 provinces, amounts to only about 30 shops per province. This is far too few and may not reflect the true situation on the ground. Furthermore, the limited reporting format, relying solely on documents, is insufficient to effectively address public panic. More needs to be done. Field visits are crucial, and anyone found violating the law must be arrested. This needs to be taken seriously, demonstrating to the public that the government is not neglecting the issue and allowing people to be exploited. This is not the time for superficial measures or handicap efforts,’ Associate Professor Thanaporn stated.
Associate Professor Thanaporn also suggested that when the government has energy data, such as daily fuel receipts and consumption figures from gas stations, it should disclose such data to the public. This would allow the public to accurately assess the situation, reduce panic, and boost confidence.
Associate Professor Thanaporn also believes that the government needs a complete overhaul, focusing on transparency, clarity, and greater public participation. Currently, political parties, especially the opposition, have begun using digital tools to allow citizens to report situations in their areas, making it necessary for the government to adapt proactively.
Furthermore, Assoc. Prof. Thanaporn stated that all sectors within the government and supporting political parties should play a collaborative role, especially by utilizing the network of MPs in the area to report the actual situation and continuously communicate energy information to the public.
“The Prime Minister cannot handle the situation alone. Every component must work together. If the work is concentrated in the hands of a single leader, allowing the leader to act as a buffer while others remain comfortable, they risk finding themselves in a difficult situation,” Associate Professor Thanaporn said.