• 
• 

Published on October 16, 2007

Matchima Thippatai yesterday held an annual meeting to discuss changes in its regulations in preparation for Prachai to take over as the new leader.

Some 10,000 supporters attended the convention, held at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec).

Prachai, along with party secretary-general Anongwan Thepsuthin and 53 party executives, took the floor and before the speeches began, a film on the party leader's achievements was shown.

Prachai said he chose to join Matchima because its policies suited him perfectly and that he was ready to make Thais happy by teaching them about sufficiency economics.

"If you want to be rich and want to have a better life, you must vote for us," he said, before reading the party's 42 policies to the audience.

"Clap your hands if agree with our policies," he told the audience, and sure enough, there was plenty of clapping and waving of the party's flag. Some supporters, though, chose to nap.

After reading the policies, Prachai once again reminded the audience about his party's promise to make all voters rich. He also reminded everyone that his party was ready to form a government, before introducing the 135 candidates for the elections.

Party supporter Prasert Praechinwong, 50, from Sara Buri, said he liked Matchima's policies and believed that Prachai will solve the country's problems.

"Prachai knows how to run a business, and I believe the Matchima Thippatai will be a party for the middle-class," he said.

Noopad Chanphen, 64, another audience member from Pathum Thani, said she would vote for Matchima Thippatai because it really was a reincarnation of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai. "The community leader and other [Pathum Thani residents] have told me that this party is the former Thai Rak Thai. So we have to elect them."

However, she admitted that she doesn't know much about Prachai and the other politicians in the Matchima Thippatai party.

Meanwhile, the Motherland Party yesterday held an executive board meeting and promoted Surakiart Sathirathai as chief advisor to oversee the party's strategies and policies, party spokesman Watchiamom Kunakasemthana-wat said.

He said the party's annual convention would be held on Thursday to select new party executives. Party leader Suwit Khunkitti will announce the policies and address the supporters.

Sucheera Pinijparakarn 

 The Nation