I agree with Sawarin Suwichakornpong that M. L. Pin Malakul is an overlooked figure in modern Thai letters and public service. Moreover, the connections between education and socio-political power in Thailand highlighted by this man’s life are largely unstudied by historians. As Sawarin points out, M. L. Pin’s father, M. R. Pia Malakul, was the author of Sombat khong phudi [Attributes of a Phudi], the guide to proper conduct that soon became required reading in the schools in a subject known as public manners or behaviour. A phudi is a refined as well as a virtuous person, and this textbook of behaviour introduced generations of Thai school children to principles that were as Buddhist as they were bourgeois.
In its list of rules of etiquette and social behavior, Sombat khong phudi owes a lot to the Vinaya, the book of monastic discipline. The theme of personal discipline and self-discipline was subsequently taken up in the popular writings of Luang Wichit which were also very influential for generations of literate Thais. Does the disciplinary regime prescribed in this kind of literature foster conformity and unquestioning obedience to authority? A good answer to this question would have to take into account the circumstances at any particular historical moment. Jit Poumisak, the Thai Marxist historian who was a student at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Arts in the 1950s, complained bitterly in his The Real Face of Thai Feudalism Today (1957) that the ‘feudalist’ Thai education system taught people to acquiesce and believe uncritically.
The four terms that M. L. Pin served as Minister of Education (1957-1969) occurred during the military rule of Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat and his successors, an interesting conjunction. The term for government official in Thailand is still kharatchakan, which carries the meaning of serving the royal will. As has been the case with many able people who have worked with military governments, M. L. Pin was someone who knew how to serve power. Imaginative people can do this creatively and remain in office.
By all means, move over Luang Wichit, but don’t get up from the table. Others will be joining you.
Handley’s is an interesting book – Thailand would be a better place if it were not banned.
Because that would make it easier to expose this book’s many weaknesses : it’s obviously jaundiced from the start with its’ title, and there’s far too much reliance on gossip :
this book – if properly edited – would be half it’s very long length.
I also totally disagree with Handley’s interpretation of HMK’s role in May ’92.
And also Handley’s basic quest – that he, Handley, can penetrate the inner, opaque workings of the Thai court. Handley has failed here.
Evans review / criticism is almost spot on : a very prejudiced book.
He has his blog, New Mandala is yours. If he wants to pontificate by all means allow him to post the link and say something like, I have blogged about this here……
Let him use his blog to bully his own followers and leave the rest of us alone.
‘Pin was a man of all seasons who lived through five reigns: the breadth and depth of his copious enterprises made this unexamined man one of the most influential figures in modern Thai history. His records and influences, in public office and in Thai cultural life, are no match to other Thai educators (move over Luang Wichitwatakarn!)’
Serious serious stuff….. Ok my take on this blog-
1. Hailsham school is an allegory of Thai schools and universities.
2. M L Pin Malakul is a Thai propagandist who implanted state ideology into the minds of Thai teachers and university lecturers, who, in turn, passed it on to the students they taught.
3. Thais are no different from cloned pupils….. Thailand is a cloned land?
I’ll be thankful if Sawarin Suwichakornpong, the writer of this blog, can respond to some of my curiosity.
I have found myself lately checking your site not for new posts, but to see what idiotic things StanG has said and what clever put-downs he’s received. Thank you for helping me overcome my unhealthy addiction.
StanG – I’ve often appreciated your comments here as a valuable,
optimistic corrective. But will you please grow up ?
NM has delayed many of my comments – subject to moderation. You’re not the only one.
But I’m not complaining : that’s their prerogative – rules of the blogging game.
And unlike you, I don’t have even an web-site, such as yours – to endlessly post your huge, inflated opinions.
There are news reports of the United Wa Army/other groups providing logistic help to Assamese insurgents located in Yingjiang and Ruili. Am not sure how these weapons will be shipped to India, but is such arms shopping/shipping routine in those areas? Looks like even some PLA irregulars are involved in some sort of grey arms marketing as well.
I was under the impression the Wa/other ethnic groups’ armies were under ceasefire with Burma. Or is it just an uneasy truce?
StanG is probably the worst single commenter on any Thai related blog with his naive acceptance of anything yellow.
However New Mandala made their own bed with the selective censorship policy. Face facts: you either censor or you don’t. New Mandala censors. That is a fact.
NM’s strangely flexible policy of favoring people who who their real names (or make up real sounding names), stops many of us in Thailand from commenting because using real names would get us in real trouble.
Of course we are clever enough to know that we can post using the name John Smith, but if we use Observer, we can’t.
I can’t help but see this as a moron collision. Stupid policy meets stupid commenter.
[…] have been translated and disseminated by the blog New Mandala (see Aladdin, 20 January 2010, “On the Judgment of Da Torpedo” and Elizabeth Fitzgerald, 29 January 2010, “The Evidence of […]
I saw this biopic the first day it came out before I saw the movie “Confucius.” I’ll be honest, I just didn’t get the point of it. Why screen this before movie audiences – it seems like it would just get them upset. Moreover, the ad delayed the start of the movie. I bought tickets for “Confucius” for the 3:40 showing, thinking it would begin around 3:50 at the latest. Well, after all of the infomercials about the king, it didn’t begin until 4:15!
[…] there were the fire-bombings of places of worship (mostly Christian) after the “Allah” court ruling which shattered Malaysia’s facade as a peaceful nation where people of different […]
Some people feel free to dump on StanG for his minority views on this blog the way commenters at a FoxNews blog would dump on an Obama-supporting commenter. Do we readers want NM to devolve into such a narrow-minded, epithet-hurling forum as that?
The montage of StanG’s avatar, whilst clever, could be seen as an attempt to humiliate and doesn’t help NM’s efforts to maintain a civil atmosphere for the exchange of ideas.
Oh yeah, and what Talen said.
(This comes from someone who has never nodded in agreement to StanG’s views.)
Argh, New Mandala has succumbed to the tyranny of the Zawgyi1 font. I’m not presently viewing this post on my own computer, so I can’t be sure. But usually a given Myanmar/Burmese font dominates and so a given computer will only correctly view one font, even if others are installed. I’ve been using Myanmar Padauk Unicode font on the advice of a friend because it allows for text searching and the free configuration of the keyboard (so that one doesn’t need to learn to Burmese keyboard in order to type), but it prevents me from correctly viewing the non-Unicode Zawgyi1 font. Likewise Zawgyi1 users (I admit they’re in the majority) can’t usually correctly view the Padauk font online. Or maybe there’s some why to get around this issue. Any suggestions?
Nich & Andrew, I thoroughly support your stand re. Stan G (formerly ‘Trep’, he has admitted on Prachatai English). I think the concept of Free Speech includes making space for others to have their say, after you’ve had yours, rather than repeating the same thing ad infinitum in response to those who have different views.
The value of NM, when it’s really firing, is that one gets a broad range of opinion from grass-roots to expat to bureaucratic to politically- involved-at-all-levels to academic. As such, it can be excellent discussion – often stimulating, sometimes informed, & occasionally illuminating. A bit of moderation is definitely called for, if it’s to avoid the sort of tedium we can see on a few other sites (one wonders where some of these one-track hijacking bores find the time!).
I like the recent changes: more guest posts; more Malaysia; more book reviews. Tom Hoy has been good value. (More stuff like that, which I assume is aimed at getting input for a work in progress, please) I look forward to more Cambodia & Laos. And more Nick Nostitz (the Brief Chronicler of Our Times)!
Most prostitution in Singapore (as in Thailand) in terms of volume is between Asian men and women from various Asian countries, not between Western men and women from various Asian countries.
In the relatively “down-market” Geyleng prostitution district, the vast majority of the male clients are Singapore Chinese, Indian and Bangladeshi and other men from Asia, the Middle East and Africa. There are very few Western male clients in that particular “market”.
The Geylang District has several different levels of prostitution, one of which is the “legal” level of the “registered” brothels and “registered” prostitutes, some of whom are Singaporean and some from other Asian countries.
Another level is comprised of women working in “non-registered brothels/short-time hotels/walk-ups” and also on the street not from Singapore but from various Asian countries, for instance, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, Laos.
Some of these women are on “30 day social visit” visas, some other types of visas. Some are relatively free to come and go and are sort of what might be called “freelancers” in a similar manner to most of the women working at Orchard Towers.
However, others are under “contract” and working off some form of “indentured debt” while under “supervision” 24/7 with their passports, mobile phones, money and movements under the control of their “supervisors/controllers”.
Of this last group, some have a “daily quota” to meet with no option to “refuse” any “client” and are also under duress to remain in Singapore a certain number of days in order to “work off” their “contract”. While they may have traveled to Singapore “voluntarily”, they do not have the right to leave Singapore of their own volition.
Whether this is called “trafficking” and whether they are what might be called “trafficked women” is probably less relevant than the facts of their actual situation.
Five or so clients a day using them for an hour or so each, doing whatever they please, with the money going directly to the “supervisors” who control all of their movements 24/7 for the length of the “contract” and with no freedom to walk away.
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Education of the clone
I agree with Sawarin Suwichakornpong that M. L. Pin Malakul is an overlooked figure in modern Thai letters and public service. Moreover, the connections between education and socio-political power in Thailand highlighted by this man’s life are largely unstudied by historians. As Sawarin points out, M. L. Pin’s father, M. R. Pia Malakul, was the author of Sombat khong phudi [Attributes of a Phudi], the guide to proper conduct that soon became required reading in the schools in a subject known as public manners or behaviour. A phudi is a refined as well as a virtuous person, and this textbook of behaviour introduced generations of Thai school children to principles that were as Buddhist as they were bourgeois.
In its list of rules of etiquette and social behavior, Sombat khong phudi owes a lot to the Vinaya, the book of monastic discipline. The theme of personal discipline and self-discipline was subsequently taken up in the popular writings of Luang Wichit which were also very influential for generations of literate Thais. Does the disciplinary regime prescribed in this kind of literature foster conformity and unquestioning obedience to authority? A good answer to this question would have to take into account the circumstances at any particular historical moment. Jit Poumisak, the Thai Marxist historian who was a student at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Arts in the 1950s, complained bitterly in his The Real Face of Thai Feudalism Today (1957) that the ‘feudalist’ Thai education system taught people to acquiesce and believe uncritically.
The four terms that M. L. Pin served as Minister of Education (1957-1969) occurred during the military rule of Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat and his successors, an interesting conjunction. The term for government official in Thailand is still kharatchakan, which carries the meaning of serving the royal will. As has been the case with many able people who have worked with military governments, M. L. Pin was someone who knew how to serve power. Imaginative people can do this creatively and remain in office.
By all means, move over Luang Wichit, but don’t get up from the table. Others will be joining you.
The Devil’s Discus – in Thai
I am also looking a book called (not sure) ” A physician in the court of Siam” by (something) Smith.
Anyone knows of this book? please let me know, I’d like to own one.
Also, where can I get hold of ‘The Devil’s Discus” in Queensland, Australia?
Thanks.
Concern and anxiety in Thailand
There’s an incredible lack of regional consciousness or class consciousness analysis among academics discussing Thailand’s current predicament.
The King Never Smiles?
Handley’s is an interesting book – Thailand would be a better place if it were not banned.
Because that would make it easier to expose this book’s many weaknesses : it’s obviously jaundiced from the start with its’ title, and there’s far too much reliance on gossip :
this book – if properly edited – would be half it’s very long length.
I also totally disagree with Handley’s interpretation of HMK’s role in May ’92.
And also Handley’s basic quest – that he, Handley, can penetrate the inner, opaque workings of the Thai court. Handley has failed here.
Evans review / criticism is almost spot on : a very prejudiced book.
What you see on New Mandala
He has his blog, New Mandala is yours. If he wants to pontificate by all means allow him to post the link and say something like, I have blogged about this here……
Let him use his blog to bully his own followers and leave the rest of us alone.
Education of the clone
‘Pin was a man of all seasons who lived through five reigns: the breadth and depth of his copious enterprises made this unexamined man one of the most influential figures in modern Thai history. His records and influences, in public office and in Thai cultural life, are no match to other Thai educators (move over Luang Wichitwatakarn!)’
Serious serious stuff….. Ok my take on this blog-
1. Hailsham school is an allegory of Thai schools and universities.
2. M L Pin Malakul is a Thai propagandist who implanted state ideology into the minds of Thai teachers and university lecturers, who, in turn, passed it on to the students they taught.
3. Thais are no different from cloned pupils….. Thailand is a cloned land?
I’ll be thankful if Sawarin Suwichakornpong, the writer of this blog, can respond to some of my curiosity.
What you see on New Mandala
I have found myself lately checking your site not for new posts, but to see what idiotic things StanG has said and what clever put-downs he’s received. Thank you for helping me overcome my unhealthy addiction.
What you see on New Mandala
StanG – I’ve often appreciated your comments here as a valuable,
optimistic corrective. But will you please grow up ?
NM has delayed many of my comments – subject to moderation. You’re not the only one.
But I’m not complaining : that’s their prerogative – rules of the blogging game.
And unlike you, I don’t have even an web-site, such as yours – to endlessly post your huge, inflated opinions.
China and the Wa
There are news reports of the United Wa Army/other groups providing logistic help to Assamese insurgents located in Yingjiang and Ruili. Am not sure how these weapons will be shipped to India, but is such arms shopping/shipping routine in those areas? Looks like even some PLA irregulars are involved in some sort of grey arms marketing as well.
I was under the impression the Wa/other ethnic groups’ armies were under ceasefire with Burma. Or is it just an uneasy truce?
What you see on New Mandala
StanG is probably the worst single commenter on any Thai related blog with his naive acceptance of anything yellow.
However New Mandala made their own bed with the selective censorship policy. Face facts: you either censor or you don’t. New Mandala censors. That is a fact.
NM’s strangely flexible policy of favoring people who who their real names (or make up real sounding names), stops many of us in Thailand from commenting because using real names would get us in real trouble.
Of course we are clever enough to know that we can post using the name John Smith, but if we use Observer, we can’t.
I can’t help but see this as a moron collision. Stupid policy meets stupid commenter.
Som nam na !!!
On the judgment against Da Torpedo
[…] have been translated and disseminated by the blog New Mandala (see Aladdin, 20 January 2010, “On the Judgment of Da Torpedo” and Elizabeth Fitzgerald, 29 January 2010, “The Evidence of […]
Thailand’s “creative king”
I saw this biopic the first day it came out before I saw the movie “Confucius.” I’ll be honest, I just didn’t get the point of it. Why screen this before movie audiences – it seems like it would just get them upset. Moreover, the ad delayed the start of the movie. I bought tickets for “Confucius” for the 3:40 showing, thinking it would begin around 3:50 at the latest. Well, after all of the infomercials about the king, it didn’t begin until 4:15!
Is Najib on his way out?
[…] article first appeared in The New Mandala Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Is Najib on his way out Part 1& 2?Greatest […]
The Allah dilemma in Malaysia
[…] there were the fire-bombings of places of worship (mostly Christian) after the “Allah” court ruling which shattered Malaysia’s facade as a peaceful nation where people of different […]
“Red in the land”
for Nick’s accurate description of relationship between Redshirts and the “dinosaurs”, today’s Bangkok Post article got the point:
Chalerm will lead the censure debate only if Phuea Thai will list him as candidate for Prime Minister if the censure motion succeeds…
What you see on New Mandala
Some people feel free to dump on StanG for his minority views on this blog the way commenters at a FoxNews blog would dump on an Obama-supporting commenter. Do we readers want NM to devolve into such a narrow-minded, epithet-hurling forum as that?
The montage of StanG’s avatar, whilst clever, could be seen as an attempt to humiliate and doesn’t help NM’s efforts to maintain a civil atmosphere for the exchange of ideas.
Oh yeah, and what Talen said.
(This comes from someone who has never nodded in agreement to StanG’s views.)
Is Najib On His Way Out? Part II
[…] article first appeared in The New Mandala Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Why Najib’s 1Malaysia will fail – Part 1Is […]
Burmese serials at the NLA
Argh, New Mandala has succumbed to the tyranny of the Zawgyi1 font. I’m not presently viewing this post on my own computer, so I can’t be sure. But usually a given Myanmar/Burmese font dominates and so a given computer will only correctly view one font, even if others are installed. I’ve been using Myanmar Padauk Unicode font on the advice of a friend because it allows for text searching and the free configuration of the keyboard (so that one doesn’t need to learn to Burmese keyboard in order to type), but it prevents me from correctly viewing the non-Unicode Zawgyi1 font. Likewise Zawgyi1 users (I admit they’re in the majority) can’t usually correctly view the Padauk font online. Or maybe there’s some why to get around this issue. Any suggestions?
What you see on New Mandala
Nich & Andrew, I thoroughly support your stand re. Stan G (formerly ‘Trep’, he has admitted on Prachatai English). I think the concept of Free Speech includes making space for others to have their say, after you’ve had yours, rather than repeating the same thing ad infinitum in response to those who have different views.
The value of NM, when it’s really firing, is that one gets a broad range of opinion from grass-roots to expat to bureaucratic to politically- involved-at-all-levels to academic. As such, it can be excellent discussion – often stimulating, sometimes informed, & occasionally illuminating. A bit of moderation is definitely called for, if it’s to avoid the sort of tedium we can see on a few other sites (one wonders where some of these one-track hijacking bores find the time!).
I like the recent changes: more guest posts; more Malaysia; more book reviews. Tom Hoy has been good value. (More stuff like that, which I assume is aimed at getting input for a work in progress, please) I look forward to more Cambodia & Laos. And more Nick Nostitz (the Brief Chronicler of Our Times)!
Sex trafficking in Singapore
re: Takeo
Most prostitution in Singapore (as in Thailand) in terms of volume is between Asian men and women from various Asian countries, not between Western men and women from various Asian countries.
In the relatively “down-market” Geyleng prostitution district, the vast majority of the male clients are Singapore Chinese, Indian and Bangladeshi and other men from Asia, the Middle East and Africa. There are very few Western male clients in that particular “market”.
The Geylang District has several different levels of prostitution, one of which is the “legal” level of the “registered” brothels and “registered” prostitutes, some of whom are Singaporean and some from other Asian countries.
Another level is comprised of women working in “non-registered brothels/short-time hotels/walk-ups” and also on the street not from Singapore but from various Asian countries, for instance, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, Laos.
Some of these women are on “30 day social visit” visas, some other types of visas. Some are relatively free to come and go and are sort of what might be called “freelancers” in a similar manner to most of the women working at Orchard Towers.
However, others are under “contract” and working off some form of “indentured debt” while under “supervision” 24/7 with their passports, mobile phones, money and movements under the control of their “supervisors/controllers”.
Of this last group, some have a “daily quota” to meet with no option to “refuse” any “client” and are also under duress to remain in Singapore a certain number of days in order to “work off” their “contract”. While they may have traveled to Singapore “voluntarily”, they do not have the right to leave Singapore of their own volition.
Whether this is called “trafficking” and whether they are what might be called “trafficked women” is probably less relevant than the facts of their actual situation.
Five or so clients a day using them for an hour or so each, doing whatever they please, with the money going directly to the “supervisors” who control all of their movements 24/7 for the length of the “contract” and with no freedom to walk away.