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BANGKOK POST - BUSINESS - MONDAY JUNE 29, 1998 |
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PROFILE : SRISAKDI CHARMONMAN
Logging on to new opportunities at 60
The 'father of the Thai Internet' prepares to devote all his energy to helping people take advantage of the online world
SUPHAPHAN PLENGMANEEPUN
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Srisakdi Charmonman knows all
about big families, being the 25th
of his father's 32 children. Today
he heads a huge family of his own,
in his role as the Father of the Thai
Internet with more than 500,000
members.
The chairman of the KSC Group,
the country's largest Internet service
provider, says his real extended
family now numbers at least 300, and they
still get together at least once a year.
He has led a charmed life inside
and outside academic circles. He was
awarded the title of professor, an
unusual distinction since it took place
before he had delivered a single
lecture in Thailand (though he had been
a professor in the United States
where he took his PhD).
But now as he approaches 60, he
believes his life is just beginning as
he maps out a plan to devote all his
time to his own business.
As a man who did not have to start
from zero, Mr Srisakdi said he had
been the object of some envy, but his
family background helped him to deal
with such problems.
Growing up, the 32 children of
Phraya Nitisatrabhaisal (Won
Charmonman), Mr Srisakdi's father, lived
in a big house on Khao San Road, now
better known as a hub of cheap
tourist guesthouses. In a family so
large, members had to learn to deal
with interpersonal problems, he said.
"My father was a solicitor, so
whenever his children had a fight, he caned
each one three times, as a verdict.
Therefore, we tried to settle problems
before the 'case' reached my father.
That was a lesson to prevent
problems from growing," he recalled.
He studied at Thep Sirin School
and Triam Udom Suksa School before
enrolling in the Facullty of Engineer-
ing at Chulalongkorn University.
"When I was a small child, I
dreamed of being a likay hero. My
home was near Sanam Luang where
there were many entertainment
events during festivals. Although my
father closed the gate, I climbed the
fence to see likay (traditional song
and dance drama) at Sanam Luang. I
wanted to be a likay hero because
these performers were followed by
lots of femal fans."
But the stage had to wait. He
became a civil engineer and earned a
doctorate in computer science from
Georgia Institute of Technology in the
United States. At 36 he was a professor
of computer science at
the State University of New
York.
"I had no idea of going
back to Thailand at the
time. However, on one visit
home my step-brother,
Malai Huwananth, a former
deputy interior minister,
took me to meet Field
Marshal Prapas Charusathiara,
who was planning to establish
a computer centre for
storing Interior Ministry
data."
Mr Srisakdi said he was
persuaded to work as the
director of the centre. He
did not want to come back
to Thailand but it was
difficult to refuse Field Marshal
Prapas, one of the two most
powerful men in the country
at the time. He asked
for the title of professor as a
condition.
"I hoped that this condition
would be a reasonable
excuse for me not to work in
Thailand because it was
against the regulations of
the Civil Service Commission
for a new civil servant
to be entitled 'professor'
without any working experience."
However, Field Marshal
Prapas was so powerful
that he could do anything
to get what he wanted. On
his recommendation, Field
Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn,
the prime minister,
amended the civil service
rules and Mr Srisakdi was
given his title.
"I had no choice but to fly
back to Thailand," Mr
Srisakdi recalled.
As it turned out, Mr
Srisakdi did not become the
director of the Interior Ministry's
computer centre. Ten days before
he was due to start work, the student
uprising of October 14, 1973
took place.
After the bloody suppression of the
protest, the "three tyrants" ---
Thanom, Prapas and Col Narong
Kittikachorn --- had to flee the country.
That also marked the end of the
national computer centre.
Mr Srisakdi, armed with his
professor's title, was recruited to work as
a professor-lecturer at the National
Institute of Development Administration
(Nida). He was also approached
to work as a part-time adviser to
Siam Commercial Bank.
After three years at Nida, he was
voted dean but resigned because it
was against regulations for the dean
of Nida to be a private-sector adviser.
Leaving Nida, he became general
manager of the Royal Turf Club,
which operates the Nang Lerng horse
race course. In his first year there he
succeeded in reversing years of losses
and turning a profit.
"I believe that if one has the right
intention, no kind of work is too hard
to complete. However, if one does a
task with good intentions and fails,
one can always start again. Don't be
serious about failure.
"With this philosophy, I don't restrict
myself to one thing. I can do
many things, such as running computers
in many places."
While working at Royal
Turf Club, he was invited
to become the honorary
vice-president for planning
and development of Assumption
University, a position he still holds.
After three years at the
racing club, Mr Srisakdi
was approached by Chatri
Sophonpanich, executive
chairman of Bangkok Bank,
to be an adviser on the
construction of the bank's Silom
headquarters building.
When construction was
completed, he moved on to
become a professor at King
Mongkut's Institute of
Technology at Lat Krabang,
where he was worked
to this day.
"I will retire in October
when I will devote myself
fully to doing business. It
may not be wrong to say
that my business career
will start permanently at
the age of 60."
The Internet will be the
focus of the business. Internet
Knowlede Service Centre Co (Internet KSC)
was founded in 1994 with
capital co-invested by Mr
Srisakdi and his favourite
student, Kanokwan Wongwatanasin.
Dr Adisai Bodharamik, the major
shareholder of Jasmine International
Group, later signed
on and now holds 25% in
the company. Mr Srisakdi
hold 30% and Ms Kanokwan 45%.
Thailand has about
500,000 Internet users, with
200,000 of them subscribing
to the KSC network.
As the local Internet pioneer,
KSC appears to have a
secure future in a business that
is growing rapidly. And while the company has
had to slow its investments during the
slump, KSC is determined to become an
international telephone operator once
the market is liberalised, he said.
As a major figure in the computer
field, Mr Srisakdi was approached by
the Commerce Ministry to help draft
laws related to electronic commerce.
In the near future, he believes, the Internet
will be the major factor in internationnal trade,
given the efficiency and
cost savings. But before Thailand can
take full advantage of electronic commerce,
it must have proper laws to protect
all parties to online transactions.
The process has not been easy. An
early draft of the Internet Promotion
Act, was criticised by users who believed
it contained excessive controls
on freedom of expression. Others
questioned the amount of power that
would be given to a proposed Internet
Promotion Committee.
Mr Srisakdi, one of the draft;s main
authors, has said that future versions
would concentrate more on promotion,
not control.
In addition to working on the new
law, he chairs several other groups
such as the National Computer Committee
under the Office of the Prime
Minister, and the Istitutional Research
Committee under the Ministry
of University Affairs.
"I have seven secretaries to help
me. I can never remember what I
have to do on what day."
He is also aware that his high profile
and many positions cause envy.
"I know that many people dislike
me because I seem like a man who
has been walking on the clouds since
my return to Thailand and being given
the title of 'professor'.
"I am the chairman of many committees.
I know all the time who dislikes
me but I don't care because I believe
that no one can hurt me as long
as I do the right things."
These days he rarely has any free
time. He cannot swim or jog as he
would like, but he does do some exercise every day.
"I do aerobics for 30 minutes by following
the step on video. This exercise
is convenient and doesn't take a
long time and helps me to keep in
good health.
"Besides exercise, I am selective
about my diet and drink fresh orange
juice every morning. I don't take
starchy food but I prefer fruits and
vegetables because I don't want to be
fat. For 30 years I have worn the
same size of clothes.
"If I have a little free time, I relax
by taking an 'adventure' through the
Internet, seeking some knowledge.
Sometimes I write a poem which is
my favourite hobby."
Asked if writing poems meant he
was a romantic, Dr Srisakdi laughed
but gave no answer, leaving
questioners to decide for themselves.
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