Two vice presidents of the most influential association of Thai industrialists, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), have put themselves forward as candidates for the post of president, while offering different opinions on how the head of the FTI should react to political crises.

Kiatipong Noichaiboon and Santi Vilassakanont, both FTI vice presidents, were the only two candidates running in the campaign to replace Prapat Potiworakul, the outgoing FTI president who will step down on March 30.

Both candidates have different views on how the FTI should react to the political situation while the business association faces public pressure to make a statement on political issues.

Kiatipong said that he offered himself because he wanted to make the FTI an agency to drive the country's economy. "The president should be vocal, dare to speak out when the country is facing the political and social problems that will affect the country's economy. At present, the Thai government sees politics as the leading force in the economy. In reality, the economy is driving politics. The government should play a role to support the private sector."

He added that he believed that members should support his candidacy because of his intention to make the FTI more responsive to political situations.

Santi however has a different opinion. He said the FTI's regulations didn't allow the group to be involved in politics. "If I am elected as FTI president, there should be an interpretation on whether the FTI can express opinions politically and to what extent it can do so without violating FTI regulations."

He added that the FTI should be neutral politically and be willing to support any government, regardless of which party it comes from, "because the public and private sectors must get along".

He added that he ran for the campaign because he wanted to strengthen industrial members in the provinces.

"I want to support more than 70 provincial FTIs nationwide to enable them to provide useful information for members," he said.

Earlier, the FTI, along with the other two business associations the Thai Bankers Association and the Board of Trade, had planned to issue a political statement on March 14.

However, the three associations later cancelled the plan because the members had differing views on whether they should issue a political statement.

Some members thought business associations should be more active in responding to the political situation but some conservative members urged the association to isolate itself from any political conflict.

 Academics said the views from the three influential business groups would be crucial for the future of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government. A number of groups have expressed their views on how to solve the current political impasse, but nothing has been heard from the big three associations so far.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation