Sitthichai Pokai-udom
Encyclopedia
Sitthichai Pokai-udom was appointed Information and Communications Technology Minister of Thailand
in 2006 by a military junta. He founded the Mahanakorn University of Technology
in 1990, and was Rector
of that institute. From 1990 to 1998, he was Visiting Professor at the University of London
's Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
. From 1984 to 1986, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Communications Authority of Thailand (now CAT Telecom). He is married to Pornpan Mahattananon Pookaiyaudom and has 1 son and 2 daughters. He is the son of a wealthy Shanghainese general, C.L. Shin, who fought for Chiang Kai-shek and left China for Thailand in 1948. He changed his name at the age of 10.
scholarship and studied at the University of New South Wales
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in 1972. He graduated with a PhD in Solid State Electronics from the University of New South Wales in 1975.
During his time at KMITL, Sitthichai developed a rice moisture monitor based on electrical capacitance. At the time, General Surayud Chulanont was in charge of the Army's rice promotion project, and the two men met. General Surayud had Sitthichai's device mass produced and rice mills and markets were forced to buy it. Surayud's Minister of Science and Technology, Yongyuth Yutthawong, later noted that "[the device] never worked. It was like the taxis and hats. Ever taxi driver was ordered to buy a hat, but they never wore it. The government forced everyone to buy these machines and they lay unused at the rice mills because nobody educated them about the system."
in 1990 and became its first Rector.
on 19 September 2006. Surayud appointed Sitthichai, who he had previously known while working for the Army's rice project, as Minister of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
ICT Minister Sitthichai became a vocal critic of open source software. In an interview, he noted, "With open source, there is no intellectual property. Anyone can use it and all your ideas become public domain. If nobody can make money from it, there will be no development and open source software quickly becomes outdated... As a programmer, if I can write good code, why should I give it away? Thailand can do good source code without open source."
shopping center, he said that it was wrong of Thai people to admire modern technology which was not developed by Thai people. "It is a fake development because the country is now getting worse as almost everything at the exhibition here is imported and nothing is made by Thais," he said.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
in 2006 by a military junta. He founded the Mahanakorn University of Technology
Mahanakorn University of Technology
Mahanakorn University of Technology is a university in Thailand. The university was established on February 27, 1990 at Nong Chok District, Bangkok. as Mahanakorn College by Prof. Dr. Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom, former Dean of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang...
in 1990, and was Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of that institute. From 1990 to 1998, he was Visiting Professor at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
's Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
. From 1984 to 1986, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Communications Authority of Thailand (now CAT Telecom). He is married to Pornpan Mahattananon Pookaiyaudom and has 1 son and 2 daughters. He is the son of a wealthy Shanghainese general, C.L. Shin, who fought for Chiang Kai-shek and left China for Thailand in 1948. He changed his name at the age of 10.
Education
Sitthichai finished highschool from Saint John's School in Bangkok. Sitthichai received the Colombo PlanColombo Plan
The Colombo Plan is a regional organization that embodies the concept of collective inter-governmental effort to strengthen economic and social development of member countries in the Asia-Pacific Region...
scholarship and studied at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in 1972. He graduated with a PhD in Solid State Electronics from the University of New South Wales in 1975.
King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang
From 1976 to 1990, Sitthichai taught at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL). He was the head of the Electronics Engineering Department from 1978 to 1982, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering from 1982 to 1984, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering from 1984 to 1988, and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Study from 1988 to 1990.During his time at KMITL, Sitthichai developed a rice moisture monitor based on electrical capacitance. At the time, General Surayud Chulanont was in charge of the Army's rice promotion project, and the two men met. General Surayud had Sitthichai's device mass produced and rice mills and markets were forced to buy it. Surayud's Minister of Science and Technology, Yongyuth Yutthawong, later noted that "[the device] never worked. It was like the taxis and hats. Ever taxi driver was ordered to buy a hat, but they never wore it. The government forced everyone to buy these machines and they lay unused at the rice mills because nobody educated them about the system."
Mahanakorn University of Technology
Sitthichai founded the Mahanakorn University of TechnologyMahanakorn University of Technology
Mahanakorn University of Technology is a university in Thailand. The university was established on February 27, 1990 at Nong Chok District, Bangkok. as Mahanakorn College by Prof. Dr. Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom, former Dean of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang...
in 1990 and became its first Rector.
Open source software
A military junta headed by Generals Sonthi Boonratkalin and Surayud Chulanont overthrew the elected government of Thaksin ShinawatraThaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....
on 19 September 2006. Surayud appointed Sitthichai, who he had previously known while working for the Army's rice project, as Minister of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
ICT Minister Sitthichai became a vocal critic of open source software. In an interview, he noted, "With open source, there is no intellectual property. Anyone can use it and all your ideas become public domain. If nobody can make money from it, there will be no development and open source software quickly becomes outdated... As a programmer, if I can write good code, why should I give it away? Thailand can do good source code without open source."
Foreign technology
Sitthichai was a vocal opponent of foreign technology. In a speech at the Comworld 2007 fair at Siam ParagonSiam Paragon
Siam Paragon is a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. It is one of the biggest shopping centers in Asia. Opened on December 9, 2005, it includes a wide range of specialty stores and restaurants as well as a multiplex movie theater and the Siam Ocean World...
shopping center, he said that it was wrong of Thai people to admire modern technology which was not developed by Thai people. "It is a fake development because the country is now getting worse as almost everything at the exhibition here is imported and nothing is made by Thais," he said.
Inventions
Sitthichai invented the meter used in Bangkok taxis. Also has developed, a euthanasia device that pumps carbon monoxide into a room.Censorship
Sitthichai ordered the Thailand wide internet ban of popular video sharing site YouTube.com on Apr 4, 2007. The reason for the ban was stated to be a distasteful video of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.Hobbies
Sitthichai is an avid collector of firearms. He regularly carries a .45 caliber pistol whenever he goes outside.See also
- 2006 Thailand coup
- Thailand 2006 interim civilian government
- Surayud ChulanontSurayud ChulanontGeneral Surayud Chulanont is a Thai political figure. He was the Prime Minister of Thailand and head of Thailand's Interim Government between 2006 and 2008...