The Transport Ministry insisted on Thursday there was no plan to privatise the debt-ridden Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), saying its current bus purchase programme would proceed as planned. In the protesters' crosshairs were the BMTA's bus fleet rehabilitation plan, which would see private firms contracted to provide bus services, and the possible scrapping of the agency's planned bus purchases. Speaking after the meeting, Mr Suchart insisted the Transport Ministry would not force the bus agency to halt its operations to make way for private operators to take over. Union chairman, Boonma Pongma, yesterday said workers was opposed to Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob's demand for a review of the BMTA's rehabilitation plan. According to Mr Boonma, the union would ask the opposition to examine the BMTA rehabilitation plan as the opposition is considering targeting Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob in a no-confidence motion.

Source: Bangkok Post November 21, 2019 23:26 UTC