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Published on November 20, 2007

But it's hard to satisfy everyone, and dissatisfaction leads to problems - like what is happening now to life insurer AIA.

Yesterday, members of the Gay Political Group of Thailand submitted a petition to the Commerce Ministry following the alleged denial of the life insurer to sell a policy to the group's president Natee Teerarojjanapongs.

The group mocked the full name of AIA's parent company, AIG. From the American International Group it became Anti-International Gay, because the gay organisation claims the company has a similar policy worldwide to drive away gays.

True or false, this new name may soon be circulated in countries where gays have been denied an AIA policy.

No matter large or small, companies now know it is so hard to please all.

Routes right

Given the delay of two years, it's natural to be sceptical about whether the new urban electric-train routes will really ever materialise. Fears are running high that the new government will introduce changes either to the planned routes or the bidding schedules.

These fears were highlighted at a seminar last week on future mass-transit development.

Maitree Srinarawat, director-general of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, easily erased the first fear. Showing a map, he insisted it was not easy to change the course of the six lines, given that they were all laid along main roads. His message was that shifting routes to the left or the right would mean massive expropriation of new properties.

Although admitting he was not capable of making assurances about the bidding schedules, Maitree said he was confident the six new lines would come into being, due to skyrocketing oil prices.

But then, Maitree came up with a metaphor:

"Everyone can stumble on something. When you take an exam, 80 per cent depends on your ability and preparation, but 20 per cent upon sheer luck. In that 20 per cent, you could have an accident on your way to the exam. Or find that the exam questions concentrate on those parts of the books you paid no attention to. In that case, no matter how good you are, you have no way of passing the exam."

That thinking must have kept him optimistic. Without optimism, he would be worn out after years of slaving at the office to come up with so many changes to the mass-transit development framework.

He must be praying the next government prepares itself well. Otherwise, bad luck could strike, with new changes introduced, yet again, to the framework.

achara_d@nationgroup.com

The Nation