Things about Yingluck include a Phuket Connection

PHUKET: A story in yesterday’s Nation, entitled “There’s something about Yingluck”, presents some interesting facts about Thailand’s attractive new prime minister.

Among them is a Phuket connection, albeit tenuous and, most likely, coincidental.

Yingluck Shinawatra and Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha went to the same schools – and studied the same things. But although they are fellow alumni of those two universities, they are unlikely to have met at either. Our governor is 58 and our prime minister, 44.

That they both attended Chiangmai university and graduated with bachelor degrees from the Faculty of Political Science is not particularly striking. But their graduations from Kentucky State University in the United States, both with masters degrees in Public Administration, could be considered unusual for two Thais so many thousands of miles away from home.

And good on them for bringing great honor and fame to a university which is not necessarily iconic internationally, but which will now be gaining considerable stature in Thailand.

Here are some additional facts that have caught eyes at the Phuket Gazette:

• Yingluck goes to a hairstylist and makeup artist only on special occasions;
• She does not have a regular hairdresser;
• She is fashion-savvy and prefers off-the-rack designer brands to tailor-made outfits;
• She likes low-fat Starbucks coffee floats, though while on the campaign trail she discovered that Thai coffee brands sold in gas stations were of comparable quality;
• She is known to be terrified of geckos;
• Despite her busy schedule, Yingluck accompanies her nine-year-old son to his piano lessons and football training on weekends;
• She shops at the Crystal Park shopping mall in Bangkok, not far from her home;
• A source close to her has said she can be bossy and demanding at work, something at variance from the sweet image portrayed in public;
• Though officially she is still a “Miss”, Yingluck has been married since 1995 to Anusorn Amornchat, a business executive from the Charoen Phokphand Group who later joined M Link Asia Corporation, which is owned by Yingluck’s sister Yaowapa;
• Her only son was born seven years after her marriage;
• Yingluck quickly climbed the executive ladder in her family business even though she does not have an academic background in business.
• She began her career by selling advertising for Yellow Pages published by Shinawatra Directories, became managing director of Advanced Info Service in 2002, and later became managing director of SC Asset.

Who would argue that there is not something faintly beguiling about Yingluck? Is it a charisma that might, for some, dampen harsh political issues? At least during her first few weeks in office? We hope so.

But after the honeymoon, observers in Phuket and most of southern Thailand are likely to become considerably more demanding as they focus on her ability to kindle growth and development – and to put out the fires.

— Phuket Gazette / The Nation