Junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has come up with the bright idea of displaying monthly salary and occupation on citizens’ ID cards.
To prepare the nation for the upcoming ASEAN economy, PM Prayuth said during his televised address on Saturday morning that national ID cards should provide this information so the government can update labor statistics of the country.
“Our problem is how we organize the information. In 2017, we should succeed at having ID cards that show the cardholder’s profession and salary,” Prayuth said in his “Returning Happiness to the People” show, which was moved from Friday night to Saturday morning last week.
“Don’t be embarrassed, whether you have low or high salary, we’re all Thais. I just want to know how the government should spend the budget because our revenue is not high.”
That’s reassuring. And what happened to simple microchip technology where officials can store information on a card without actually printing it?
Pol. Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnert, government spokesman, reassured people yesterday that the show-me-your-salary idea was not intended to violate citizen’s human rights, but would support government projects helping low-income people, like the free bus and train project, reported Daily News.
Prayuth’s speech unsurprisingly sparked controversy among Twitter users, who went all out to mock the idea.
The hashtags #NewIDcard and #DetailsThatShouldBeonID have been trending on Twitter since the weekend as many suggested the government should improve the microchip on the card instead.
“It should be the same, but make the ID a real ‘smart card.’ I’m tired of photocopying it and signing it. It’s almost 2016.” — @nuchhz
Others created sarcastic comics, like this hipster bear’s ID card.
“Occupation: Hipster. ATM password: 1234. Sexual preference: Various. Status: Dumped by ex-lover.”
“#DetailsThatShouldBeonID medical conditions, food allergies, words that offend the holder, percentage of body fat, personal idol, favorite color, political view.” — @moomanoww
“#DetailsThatShouldBeonID the person you’re fangirling over.” — @Pparis_pie
