OPINION

Risky business

Re: Disaster zone label will hurt tourism", (BP, March 19).

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's admission that he decided not to declare Chiang Mai a disaster zone because it might hurt the province's tourism industry demonstrates monumental and shameful duplicity.

Chiang Mai currently has dangerous levels of air pollution, some of the highest in the world. But PM Srettha prefers to risk the health of tourists so Thailand can continue to collect their tourist dollars.

How does he think those tourists are going to react when they have to breathe filthy air and fall ill with respiratory diseases? Not to worry, says PM Srettha, because we have not declared Chiang Mai a disaster zone, the tourists' insurance policies will not be affected!

It is frightening that this is the thinking of the man in charge of the country.

Broker bad

Re: "SEC urges trading probe", (Business, Nov 27, 2023) & "Regulator to ban Thais from trading NVDRs", (Business, Nov 24, 2023).

Authorities just do not seem to realise that most rational individual retail investors in the SET seek out quality growth companies with low valuations which are likely expanding, hence the very ones that may issue new warrants, a key financial tool. Not this trading galore around overvalued speculative stocks, often based only on rumours or punting, which invariably leads to a losing retail investor experience. And once burned, they won't return. Perhaps they will even badmouth the SET for life, even though their losses are a result of a speculative strategy so often encouraged by inept brokers.

This is a contentious issue well-known and often frowned upon in the United States, which has almost a century of experience in such ill over-trading, with serious fines meted out to brokers who break the rules.

What is sad is that there are many solid or reputable companies here worthy of responsible investing. But alas they are mostly ignored due to the poor but well-disguised practices of brokers, left unchecked by management and regulatory agencies.

Pita power

Re: "Pita says Move Forward preparing to battle Election Commission", (BP, March 17).

Pita Limjaroenrat, former leader and current chief adviser of the Move Forward Party, said his party was unfazed by the Election Commission's push for its dissolution. He said the MFP is ready to defend itself against any allegations. I have some observations:

Firstly, it is possible the court will allow the MFP a chance to defend itself before giving the verdict.

If that is the case, the ball will be in the MFP's court to offer new evidence to cancel out the accusations or give convincing assurances that such an alleged criminal act will not occur again.

Secondly, Mr Pita has never given any indication that he regrets the fact that he had led his party executives and members -- 43 of them besides Mr Pita -- to co-sign with him the MFP's proposal to amend Section 112 in parliament. And if found guilty, all of these party members will face a political ban for life.

It looks like Mr Pita has a lot of explaining to do to satisfy the Thai public.