The 6-baht-per-liter fuel price increase has caused widespread hardship, severely impacting the economy and causing distress among the public. Recently, Jack Green from Thairath Entertainment invited drama producer Kong Piya Sewatpikul to discuss how he has been affected by this, and to share his thoughts on the case where Mr. Patima Jiraphet a senator, suggested that people grow vegetables and raise chickens amid thecurrent energy crisis,which has sparked heavy criticism.
How are you coping with the economy these days?
“It's really bad (drawn out). The fuel situation—sigh (exhales)—is very bad because, when I hold fairs in other provinces, the shops come to fill up fuel. I don't know what’s happening with the fuel. I just know people say there is fuel, but in reality, there's none. It disappears for a while, which I don't understand. At that time, the news was confusing: the government said there was fuel, but the gas stations said it was empty. That caused confusion about what was really going on.”
But now the fuel price has gone up by 6 baht?
“It’s up 6 baht, but I don’t know if there’s still fuel to fill up. I want to know if the price can rise and fuel is still available, but I’m not sure. This is something we have to help each other with. I think it’s aglobal crisis.We shouldn’t just keep blaming each other. Blaming won’t help. We have to help ourselves as best as we can, help our country first, support each other so our nation can survive and our economy can improve. That’s it.”
Can we manage since we’ve been holding on since COVID?
“We have to keep fighting. As long as we’re breathing, we must continue. We can’t give up. I have employees, so I have to keep going and take care of everyone. It’s not just me—others who run companies have to support too. It’s tough, so we shouldn’t waste time blaming. We should help each other, find ways to save, and make the economy better.”
The government says to save money?
“I’m already saving. If I didn’t, there’d be nothing to eat.”
Will you raise chickens like the senator suggested?
“Oh, I probably won’t raise chickens because I live in a townhouse. If I did, the neighbors would complain about the noise. You can’t raise chickens here. I can only keep goldfish. Can goldfish lay eggs to eat? (laughs) The idea to raise chickens—how would I do that living in a townhouse? If you raise chickens, neighbors will say they can’t sleep because the roosters crow early. So what can I raise? Townhouses are too small; I can only keep goldfish or betta fish. Or maybe breed betta fish to sell—that might be good (smiles).”
Is there anything you want the government to help with?
“Right now, I hope they find ways to keep the economy circulating and prevent fuel shortages. They need to help. It’s important—not just for me but for everyone in Thailand. I hope the government continues to provide support. Although the news may be a bit confusing now, we keep fighting. My generation fights on. When I go to see my boyfriend, I’ve cut back on how often I visit—from once or twice a week to just once a month—to save money for other things (laughs).”. . .. . .
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