An important duty of government is to manage the satisfaction of the people. What matter will be the “starter” for people to be dissatisfied? The government must hurry to prevent the problem from escalating. “Mae Luk Chan” points out that the latest example is the government’s announcement to freeze the retail price of diesel fuel to no more than 30 baht per liter in order to reduce people’s expenses. But the problem that the government didn’t expect was that the price of oil on the world market was bouncing higher and higher. It is beyond the power of the government to fix the price of diesel fuel at no more than 30 baht per liter anymore because of money from the Oil Fund. (Borrowing 100 billion baht) was used to hold up the price of diesel fuel until it was completely wiped out. Plus, the measure to reduce the excise tax on diesel fuel by 1 baht per liter caused the government’s income to disappear by more than 2,000 million baht per month. This is the reason why the Prime Minister’s government is sad. Sattha Thaweesin therefore had to allow the price of retail diesel to exceed 30 baht since last month. This issue is about to become a “precursor” that will cause people to be dissatisfied with the government, causing the Prime Minister to be depressed. You must quickly step on the brakes to prevent further spread. Escalating, “Mae Luk Chan” concluded that at the Cabinet meeting the day before yesterday, they had approved measures to freeze the prices of all 3 energy products for another 3 months in order to alleviate the suffering of the people. 1. The government will freeze the price of diesel fuel not to exceed 33 baht per liter. Until the end of July, we would like to move from no more than 30 baht per liter to 33 baht per liter in order to prevent the government from having to cut loose in the middle of the road. It is expected that the government will have to spend an injection budget of no less than 6,000 million baht for sure. 2. The government will freeze The price of cooking gas (LPG) will not exceed 423 baht per tank (15 kg.) until the end of June to prevent vendors from taking the opportunity to increase food prices accordingly. The government will have to go out of its pocket to support the price of cooking gas by another 500 million baht in another two months. 3. The government will reduce home electricity bills by another 19 satang per unit to help vulnerable people who use no more than 300 units of electricity per month until the end. In August, the government agreed to spend another 1,800 million baht from the central budget to subsidize electricity costs for another 4 months, including a new round of energy price fixing measures. The government will need to inject another 8,300 million baht, approximately. “Mae Luk Chan” is of the opinion that since the Settha government has taken measures to freeze the price of diesel from the beginning, the government should continue to keep the promises it made to the people. The government will reduce the electricity bill by 19 satang per unit for vulnerable groups who use no more than 300 units of electricity per month. “Mae Luk Chan” sees it as a bit of a teasing. Too much because it reduces the electricity bill by only 57 baht per month. Anyhow, you can reduce the electricity bill all the time…can’t you reduce it more than that?? “Mae Luk Chan” click to read the column. “Green Head News Agency” more
