OPINION

Another mountain

Re: "Chinese-made elephant pants face import ban", (BP, Feb 6).

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was absolutely right when he opined that fundamental problems, such as copyright protection, needed to be prioritised. But he will need to make the way intellectual property in Thailand should be implemented and modernised.

Some months ago, the Federation of Thai Industries published its eight ways to strengthen Thai Industries. Item 8 (Laws) stated regulatory reform should be a national agenda item, and outdated and unnecessary laws should be abandoned.

I wrote to them and suggested that the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), a division of the Ministry of Commerce, as it is clearly a leader in business prevention, should be dramatically reformed. I gave them my example: My Thai trademark lawyers made five trademark applications with distinctive names and logos marks in 2021 and are still arguing distinctiveness and descriptive issues with the DIP today. Whereas, in the Philippines, my trademark lawyers made the same five applications in February 2023 and all five registrations were completed by August 2023, with proper disclaimers as used widely. The PM has another mountain to climb but has the support of Thai lawyers ... and me.

Just a little poem

Re: "PM Srettha 'disagrees' with central bank's policy rate decision", (BP, Feb 8).

Pressure has kept on increasingSteam being leaked to the world pressDoubts on economic progressThe process has been in shamblesClashes of policymakersStakeholders are all Thai peopleRidding of pressure is simpleTo tackle dirty politicsA rogue minister was dismissedHe was pissed off the rank in conflictsThe coup d'etat did not need tricksIt's a mix of might and Feng Shui!

Sheer double talk

Re: "The NACC does not have power", (InQuote, Feb 8).

Niwatchai Kasemmongkol, secretary-general of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), said that the office has no power to prevent the pursuit of the government in the digital wallet scheme, but it has the right to warn. Meaning? Don't you ever dare to implement the scheme! If you do not heed the warning, we will pounce on you! Clear? What double talk!

Why the costly bills?

Re: "Srettha welcomes German president", (BP, Jan 24).

It was interesting to read that the President of the Federal Republic of Germany visited the Hydro-floating Solar Hybrid Project at the Sirindhorn Dam on his visit to Thailand at the end of January, a project that started its commercial operation in October 2021. He was also briefed by Egat about the 45 MW Hydro-floating Solar Hybrid Project using Siemens' control system technology. It's said to be the largest hydro-floating solar hybrid project in the world, and Egat's stated aim in developing this Energy Management System is to make power generation efficient, prolong the generation duration, enhance the country's security, and contribute to achieving the goal of Carbon Neutrality.

All good stuff. One can only applaud the drive for more renewable energy systems. At the same time, one has to ask why the cost of electricity in Thailand is so incredibly high compared with -- well, almost anywhere!