I read your front-page headline with considerable disquiet, as it shows things are heating up concerning the future of this deal. It is clear that the "professional and proper" deal, as it was described by Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong less than a week ago, is now suddenly not so proper and a scramble is on to salvage it.

The manner in which Shin Corp was sold is doubtless severely flawed, but this is not the critical issue that must be investigated. The "plundering of the country" as the Shin sell-off was described by Wuthipong Priabjariyawat, director of the Millennium Institute, must surely be the main area for investigation. Shin Corp made profits of Bt85.6 billion between 2001 and 2004 - a jump of 226 per cent from the period 1998-2001.

Indeed the Financial Times of London reported: "During Mr Thaksin's tenure in office, Shin Corp has benefited from various favourable government decisions. These include: the reduction of the crushing licence fee burden of iTV, the group's TV channel; Board of Investment tax breaks for Shin Satellite's IPStar satellite project; and delays in creating a National Telecom Commission, which was supposed to create a level playing field in the skewed mobile industry.

"Shin Corp has also diversified into new ventures, including aviation with Thai AirAsia, a joint venture with Malaysian budget airline AirAsia. The venture was swiftly granted a range of government breaks, including a 50-per-cent discount on docking fees by the Airports Authority, and income tax breaks."

As can be seen, there is much more to be investigated and established concerning policy corruption than just the relationships of Cedar Holdings, Aspen, Kularb Kaew, various Thai banks, Ample Rich, and the Shinawatra children, and whether tax was due.

If a quick "deal" is done by the new government then it will have failed at the first hurdle and betrayed the Thai people.

John De Laurent

Bangkok

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Follow Ammar's advice on cutting foreign shareholding

 Leading economist Ammar Siamwalla has proposed that the government allow companies using nominees to evade the Alien Business Act a period of time like three years to reduce their ownership to the legal maximum of 49 per cent. This would also apply to Temasek, which owns approximately 96 per cent of Shin Corp acquired mainly from Thaksin Shinawatra and family.

I think that would be a good gesture to the Singaporean government even though Temasek possibly stands to lose billions. The Thai government could also waive a penalty and interest, but it may set out a minimum percentage of shareholding to be reduced each year.

Temasek has dug itself into a deep hole with its unjustifiable reliance on Thaksin and his wife. Thaksin himself has used "nominees" throughout his business and political life.

To Madam Ho Ching, CEO of Temasek, Thaksin at one point probably appeared a supreme CEO who was invincible, more like a paramount ruler than an elected prime minister. It was Thaksin who changed the law limiting foreign ownership in telecom business from 25 per cent to 49 per cent on a Friday in order to close the sale of Shin Corp the following Monday. At that point, Thaksin seemed as powerful as Lee Kuan Yew.

Netirat Intira

Bangkok

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Will Thaksin be allowed to sit safely in London?

 Thaksin not only lied to and cheated the people of Thailand, he also sold his greed and corruption to Singapore. I would trust a used-car salesman more than I would him.

Let's see if the Singapore government lets everything go and does nothing.

Your paper reported that the deal has already cost Temasek much: it bought the shares at Bt49.25 and they are trading at Bt28.25.

So, is Thaksin going to be allowed to sit in the UK and laugh at Thailand and Singapore?

Tom

Bangkok

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When did Shin sale become a concern of Singapore's govt?

 Re: "Singapore urges talks to save Shin buyout", News, October 12.

I am somewhat mystified as to why top-level Singaporean government officials, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, have decided to intervene at this point in the Shin-Temasek affair. After all, according to the statement issued by the Singaporean Embassy in March, Temasek and the Singaporean government have nothing to do with each other.

According to your report on March 10 ("PAD launches national boycott"), the Singaporean Embassy declared that the "Temasek board and management make their own investment decisions," that the Shin-Temasek deal was "a private sector deal" and the Singaporean government had nothing to do with it.

So, if the above is true, then why is the Singaporean government intervening on behalf of a "private" company? Could it be possible that we have caught the Singaporean government in a naughty little lie?

Apisake Monthienvichienchai

London

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Open letter to potential TRT leader Chuturon Chaisang

 Khun Chaturon, as the only decent, honest and clean politician that the Thai Rak Thai Party has had, please think twice before sacrificing your good self and your impeccable reputation for the benefit of such a disreputable organisation. Don't become a stooge for Thaksin's bunch of crooks. Don't waste your talents trying to salvage the careers of those who have committed mass fraud and daylight robbery of the Thai nation.

You have demonstrated that you are a good politician who consults and listens and cares, and who prefers peaceful solutions rather than the violent and ruthless approaches of your ex boss. So if you do become Thai Rak Thai's leader you should do so on your owns terms and demand complete control of policy and ethical standards - your colleagues cannot be trusted. Do not become a vehicle for others whose moral standing pales before your own.

Good luck, Khun Chaturon. You have been one of the few shining lights during the dark ages of the Thai Rak Thai era. I hope your future continues to be bright.

R Davidson

Bangkok

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Where can foreigners send donations for flood victims?

 I visited Thailand for three weeks in September and had a wonderful time meeting so many nice people and seeing your fascinating country.

I was very lucky that I was not affected by the floods while I was there. I am sad that so many people now have their lives thrown into turmoil. I would like to help with a monetary donation. Is there a good place to send money? I tried the Thai Red Cross website but their donation system does not seem to be operating properly.

Glenn Auve

Arlington, Virginia, US

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Time for the over-80s to show what they can do

 What's all this whingeing and moaning about the new Cabinet being too old? All the problems in the world have been caused by pimple-faced young whippersnappers under the age of 80. You don't see any super-seniors testing nuclear bombs, or threatening to wipe Israel off the map, or invading Iraq, or committing genocide in Darfur, or engaging in slimy business deals with the Singaporeans. All these sins are committed by the under-80 crowd, who for all practical purposes can be classified as pre-human.

The sub-80s have had their chance and blown it. Now it's time for them to get off the pot and give us old geezers and geezerettes a chance to strut our stuff upon the stage.

We expect the new government to raise the voting age to 40, establish a mandatory nap time every day from noon to 4pm, subsidise old-age homes and issue free colostomy bags to all. We want a Geezer Government with a Codger Cabinet, a Superannuated Senate, and a Paleolithic Parliament. Age is awesome, elderly is excellent, and senility is soopa-doopa. Paleo Power!

Constance Beasley (Mrs.)

Bangkok

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Harping on ministers' ages is not a helpful approach

 Re: "Ministers' ages should be the last thing on people's minds" Letters, October 12.

I wholeheartedly agree with "We are not amused" about describing the interim government as "a Cabinet of old men". The fact is, you can't put an old head on young shoulders. That is to say, knowledge and foresight only come from years of experience.

The problem seems to be that editors and journalists of The Nation have, for the last few years become so accustomed to criticising the government and looking for mud to sling that it has become an addiction. Because of this obsession, like it or not, The Nation is fast sliding towards becoming a third-rate rag.

Considering that you claim to be one of Thailand's top print media outlets, I find it disgraceful that such an underhanded, uncalled for sarcastic remark was aimed at members of the interim Cabinet.

Clean up your act, help support and encourage these good people to deal with the gruelling and almost impossible task of piecing your nation and society together again, in such a limited timeframe.

JD

Australia