(Associated Press via NewsEdge) Thailand's military-backed government will conduct a public opinion poll determine the level of support for buying back a telecom company that was sold to a Singapore investment group by the family of the ousted Thai prime minister, an official said.
If less than 50% of the survey respondents support the idea, the government will drop immediate plans to take back the company that operates all the country's communications satellites, said the Minister of Information and Communications Technology Sittichai Pokaiudom.
He said the survey would be carried out by the National Statistics Bureau about one month from now.
Temasek Holdings, controlled by the Singaporean government, early last year purchased the controlling stake in telecoms conglomerate Shin, whose subsidiaries include Shin Satellite, Thailand's sole private satellite operator. Shin Satellite owns five satellites, including iPStar, the world's largest commercial satellite.
The $1.9 billion, tax-free sale caused public distress about handing over strategic telecommunications assets to another country, and led to protests that helped trigger a successful coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last September.
Recently, senior Thai military officers have said that their communications security is jeopardized by having the satellites under the control of Singapore.
Sittichai had said earlier that it would take about 10 billion baht ($300 million) to buy back Shin Satellite.
Sittichai also said the investigation into whether the satellite operator is a foreign-owned company will continue. If it is determined to be a foreign-owned company, its operating concession could be revoked.
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