OPINION

Scrap bridge plan

Re: "Setting a short-term target", (Business, Sept 15) & "Govt's ambitious land bridge project puts residents at risk", (BP, Aug 29). The Kra Canal or Land Bridge project is in the spotlight once again. No matter what critics and proponents of the project may say, the fact of the matter is that the project is neither appealing to businesses nor financially feasible.

Considering the potential ecological harm and disruption to community wellbeing, one may start to wonder why the project hasn't been shelved yet.

That said, we can at least breathe a sigh of relief as the government has not included the project in its four-month priority list.

Shift the focus

Re: "Setting a short-term agenda", (Business, Sept 15) & "PM preps 120-day policy agenda", (BP, Sept 14).

PM Anutin Charnvirakul can turn the popular "Khon La Khrueng" co-payment scheme into a game-changer that delivers clear, measurable, widespread benefits by tweaking it to focus on productive purchases -- not just consumption.

Farmers form about 30% of our labour force, yet they only account for 8-9% of our GDP. Say we capped the Khon La Khrueng to 10,000 baht per person, but allowed them to combine payouts for a joint purchase.

How could farmers see substantial results in four months (in time for elections) and four years (for the entire tenure of the next elected government)?

First, subsidising high-quality seeds of staple crops like rice can immediately boost yields and help farmers transition to certified, improved seeds that are more resistant to crop failure, improving long-term sector resiliency.

Second, subsidising the purchase of small power tillers, seeders, or harvesters can immediately reduce labour costs and boost efficiency for small landholders -- which include most Thai farmers.

Combining purchases will encourage individuals to buy larger, more efficient equipment and share their usage.

This will alleviate labour shortages and reduce labour costs, making agriculture more attractive to younger generations and allowing for sustained productivity gains.

The government isn't in power long, but it could make Khon La Khrueng a game-changer.

Time to listen

Re: "Act now as Suu Kyi is gravely ill", (Opinion, Sept 10).

The terrible civil war in Myanmar continues with little media coverage.

Following the coup in February 2021, the incarcerated Aung San Suu Kyi has received little attention in this newspaper and anywhere else -- despite being the primary actor able to unite this troubled country.

Press coverage of the Rohingya, by contrast, has been extensive.

There was no way Ms Suu Kyi could have meaningfully opposed the military even if she had wanted to, despite what some say.

One could almost say the military went into Arakan state to diminish her international support. She did tell off the (mostly Western) press at one point regarding the Rohingya, saying, "We are not a single issue country."

Myanmar has many minorities, most of whom are suffering. The world and Asean have done nothing to secure her release, because no one is listening to the people of Myanmar.