Criticism has flared over the government's plan to amend
a law to
allow foreign investors to lease state land for up
to 99 years.
The government earlier said the amendment of
the commercial
and industrial leases in the immovable property act, which
will
extend the maximum lease term for state land from
50 to 99 years, would help
entice foreign investors.
The Pheu Thai Party has insisted the issue should be
put up
for a referendum.
Chavalit Wichayasut, acting deputy
secretary-general of
Pheu Thai, said the amendment will directly affect people
and the matter needs thorough consideration. It is important
that people's
opinions should be gauged through a referendum,
he said, adding it is not
suitable for the current government to
proceed with it.
"The study must be meticulous since this
will affect Thai
people's rights," Mr Chavalit said,
adding if an idea hasto be proposed to bolster foreign investment, it should be
done by a democratic government, which would have a better
relationship with the international community.
United Front for Democracy against
Dictatorship chairman
Jatuporn Prompan said the issue is delicate and the best
way
is to put it up for a referendum to allow people to decide.
He said the
Office of the Ombudsman has stated foreigners
are using Thai nominees to occupy
land in the country and
the office must take this matter up with the
government.
Political science scholar Pramote Nakornthab
posted a
message on his Facebook page against the move.
He said he supported
Arthit Ourairat, rector of Rangsit University
and former house speaker, who
said the move is tantamount to
stealing the country's treasures.
Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said
the
administration supported the amendment because a 50-year land
lease is
unattractive to major investors, who require a long time
to break even, which
makes domestic and foreign investors
hold back from expanding here.
Trade and investment competition will become
more intense,
particularly as the Asean Community has just been launched,
he
said.
The country's incentives must be improved to
be better or on
par with other countries, he said.Land in Malaysia and
Singapore can be leased for up to 99 years, in Vietnam for
up to 70 years and
in the Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar
for up to 50 years, he said.
He
insisted the 99-year land leases will be limited to
business investments, and
the lease contracts can be terminated
if the lessees breach the law.
The amendment was initiated by state
agencies handling
economic affairs, which believe the law needs to be changed
to measure up to international standards and comply with
the government's
policy of strengthening the economy, the
spokesman said.
He
said the government wants all parties to be open-minded,
insisting the idea
would help the country in the long run and
is not tantamount to handing the
country's territory over to
foreigners as some have suggested.
Athip Peechanont, chairman of the Thai
Chamber of
Commerce's construction and property business group,
supported the
idea which he said would help boost the
country's competitiveness to be on par
with neighbouring
countries.
It would also solve the problem of
foreigners hiring nominees
to lease land for them, while the government could
raise
more tax. However, he insisted 99-year leases must not be
permitted for
farmland.
News,Politics,Bangkok Post,28 January 2016.
This is very sensitive case,although the
neighborhood land
such as Malaysia and Singapore can be leased
for up to
99 years. It does not mean that we should
provide rent
long as 99 years too.
The analysis of the benefit and revenue gain
to the
state should do carefully so that we will
not lose
opportunity of the country in the long run.
Sincerely Yours.
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