Pheu Thai Party de facto leader Thaksin Shinawatra has promised to issue credit cards to taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers if the opposition party wins the next general election.
Thaksin said taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers could use the cards for revolving funds to pay for petrol and expenses.However, he did not want to go into details over concerns the Democrat-led government would copy the policies.
The ousted former prime minister was speaking during a phone address to over 1,000 taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers from across Bangkok at a forum held by Pheu Thai to outline the party's campaign policies. Speakers included Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Vichaidit, deputy leader Khanawat Vasinsangvorn, head of the Bangkok election team Wicharn Minchaiyanant and party MP for Bangkok Anudit Nakorntap.
Taxi driver representatives raised their concerns about high vehicle rental fees of between 550-700 baht a day.
They also highlighted difficulties in finding guarantors for car purchases.
In response, Thaksin outlined a Pheu Thai policy to introduce tax deductions for those buying their first car.
If the policy was implemented, car prices would be reduced to 600,000 baht from 900,000 baht, he said.
A motorcycle taxi driver representative said he wanted the next government to get rid of mafia figures and corrupt government officials extorting money from hard working people.
Thaksin urged people to exercise their rights in the election and vote the party back into power.
Meanwhile, Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit urged all parties to jointly declare they would allow the party which wins the most seats in the election to form the next government.
