This may be well off topic but given that I am living in Bangkok, doing business here and dealing with all the crud that one has to deal with here - I find these topics pretty interesting. Maybe some of you will as well. The umbrella for this discussion is this book I am reading, Asian Godfathers: Money and Power in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Absolutely fascinating and gives a very intriguing window into politics, how big money works and how HK/Sing are every bit as messed up as Thailand but tend not to get the focus since their economies are bigger and supposedly freer. I suggest checking out this book if u at all wonder what makes big money tick in Asia. I have yet to get to the Thaskin chapter but there is a history chapter that mentions Thaskin as not quite the rags to riches story that he claims but is a case in similar asian tycoonery. One who spends there entire life learning how to use family/government/royal relationships to make money and play politics.
The book delves into Indonesia and the Philippines as well. It was funny because the book discusses how the different tycoons see each other and all the backroom antics that go on when tycoons both partner together and when they try to tear each other down. There is a very short mention that almost all the Asian Tycoons have many women on the side and see the sheer number of women they have as another measurement of success. From the things I hear about Thaskin and given he is Thai - I assume he ranks right up there with the best of them.
Reading the Financial Times today during a nice foot massage, can’t read the paper during a nut sack rub, I noticed a mention of the action over in Burma. Seems the slow blacklisting of some business guys connected with the evil Junta is having a nice unintended effect. The ones getting blacklisted are turning in other business guys who are not on the list because they want them to suffer equally. Seems like this well help move things along nicely. Many of the families of the Junta in Burma live quite the life partying it up in places like Singapore. I hope they get what is coming to them. The Tycoon book mentions how these guys turn on each other anytime they see a chance to hurt another tycoon or to get ahead in some way.
Lastly we must end on a Thai political note. Another Crispin piece over a the Asia Times is an interview with Samak Sundaravej, the new head of the People’s Power Party. Essentially Thai Rak Thai reborn. What I find so fascinating is how nothing these politicians discuss has anything to do with the real issues Thailand faces but is all about posturing, big money games and staying in power. Great stuff. Hopefully at one point things will move a long and Thailand will get jostled out of its current funk.
yup.. “class” everyone of them.
View all comments by MSB
Let’s see.
English Premiership
or
Thai politics
Which do I care about less?
Good question.
View all comments by Jack Dawson
Chaps: Hopefully, this fascinating tome was not part of your deep tissue research for Big Mango digs.
It has been said by many wiser than I (most of you) that getting into the glue with “influential types” is one way to make things stick to the wall around here.
Seems to be a form of taxation as far as I can determine. This revenue stream keeps the real “powers that be” in the driver’s seat.
One does not ignore this “fact” when doing business in Asia.
I’ve not heard tell of too many alternates.
Even the large corps seem to have their blue blood “consigliares” to get them through the labyrinthine vicissitudes of this enchantingly perplexing jurisdiction.
Thanks. I’ll just add this one to the Booth and Seagrave section of my modest library.
View all comments by Thongsuk
jd - I was shocked that u would not be the first to comment non this thread. u let me down playing second fiddle.
ts- this is just stuff I like to follow. I am still waiting for Thaksin to return my phone calls and offer us some prime real estate for mango 2. will keep u all posted.
View all comments by smitty
I had that book. Too many pages and long words.
I gave it away.
View all comments by Day walker
“This may be well off topic….”
Is it possible to be off topic in your own blog???
View all comments by werewolf
“I am still waiting for Thaksin to return my phone calls and offer us some prime real estate for mango 2. will keep u all posted.”
Please hurry with the Mango 2….
I miss everyone
Is Robin o.k? You left a big ‘void’ in our lives!
View all comments by Day walker
I’ve read a few extended extracts from the book and found them very interesting. The Economist had a lengthy article, and so did the very excellent Asia Sentinel…
http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=654&Itemid=31
View all comments by Combover
ww - I just try to prepare the Jack Dawson’s of the world near the top of the post out of politeness.
dw - we are working it. Even pmmp is getting out of bed before noon these days.
View all comments by smitty
The Crispin piece is unlikely to turn up in the Post, isn’t it?
Samak came as close to saying flatly that the palace sponsored the coup as I’ve ever seen a Thai politician come in any forum. Of course, since the purpose of the palace sponsoring the coup was to kill the only civil government Thailand has ever had that was elected by a majority of the population and to harass all of its members out of politics for the foreseeable future (since it was obvious they would just get elected again), the day is going to have to come when politicians either fight back in some form or simply cede to the palace the power to run the country for its own benefit.
Boy, that will be fun to watch……..
View all comments by Old Asia Hand
pmmp up before noon? Don’t be silly.
View all comments by Day walker