Barkar Nash

Most Thais are dissatisfied with the performance of the government and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, according to an opinion poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) late last month.

It found that 34.58% of the respondents were fairly dissatisfied with the work of the government and 20.00% were not at all satisfied. On the other side, 32.60% said they were quite satisfied and 12.82% said they were highly satisfied.

Asked about the performance of the prime minister, 13.36% said they were highly satisfied with her performance, 31.76% said they were fairly satisfied, 32.60% said they were fairly dissatisfied and 22.28% said they were completely dissatisfied.

Regarding their confidence in the government’s capabilities to solve national problems, 36.41% said they had lilttle confidence, 26.26% said they had no confidence at all, 25.04% said they were quite confident and 12.29% said they were highly confident.

The institute also asked respondents about the performances of individual ministries and most of them said they were not happy with their work.

The survey sampled 1,310 respondents nationwide from Feb 24 to 26.

One day enough, says MP Wisut

The Pheu Thai Party insists one day is more than enough for the opposition’s requested no-confidence debate, which targets Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. However, the main opposition People’s Party (PP) argues that one day is insufficient.

Since the prime minister is the only government figure the opposition intends to question in the censure debate, the one-day debate — set for March 24 — should be sufficient to complete proceedings and conduct a vote afterwards, said Pheu Thai list-MP Wisut Chainarun, who also serves as chief government whip, on Saturday.

“One day is enough. Cut to the chase. Don’t beat about the bush,” he said.

However, the government, opposition, and Senate whips will meet again on Monday to reach a final agreement on the exact duration of the debate, Mr Wisut added.

The government will reaffirm its stance that only one day will be allocated for the debate. Whether the opposition agrees or not is their concern, not the government’s, he said.

He dismissed claims that Pheu Thai is limiting the debate to shield the prime minister from scrutiny, arguing that Ms Paetongtarn has no issue responding to questions raised against her.

“In fact, the prime minister is not required to answer all questions herself, as the law allows her to delegate responses to cabinet ministers,” Mr Wisut said.

For example, if the debate involves transport policies, the prime minister may assign the transport minister to respond on her behalf.

Regarding Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto leader of Pheu Thai, Mr Wisut said the party will not prevent the opposition from mentioning his name.

However, objections will be raised if accusations arise, such as claims that Thaksin is manipulating the government, as he will not have the opportunity to defend himself in the chamber.

“A daughter listening to advice from her father, who has served as prime minister twice, does not constitute manipulation,” he said, referring to Ms Paetongtarn and Thaksin.

Meanwhile, Phattharaphong Leelaphat, a PP MP for Chiang Mai and the party’s spokesman, said Thais are asking whether the prime minister will personally respond to questions in the debate.

He said Pheu Thai was scared the opposition will back Ms Paetongtarn into a corner with questions about her father’s role in the government, which is why they are restricting the debate to just one day.

One day enough, says MP Wisut

The Pheu Thai Party insists one day is more than enough for the opposition’s requested no-confidence debate, which targets Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. However, the main opposition People’s Party (PP) argues that one day is insufficient.

Since the prime minister is the only government figure the opposition intends to question in the censure debate, the one-day debate — set for March 24 — should be sufficient to complete proceedings and conduct a vote afterwards, said Pheu Thai list-MP Wisut Chainarun, who also serves as chief government whip, on Saturday.

“One day is enough. Cut to the chase. Don’t beat about the bush,” he said.

However, the government, opposition, and Senate whips will meet again on Monday to reach a final agreement on the exact duration of the debate, Mr Wisut added.

The government will reaffirm its stance that only one day will be allocated for the debate. Whether the opposition agrees or not is their concern, not the government’s, he said.

He dismissed claims that Pheu Thai is limiting the debate to shield the prime minister from scrutiny, arguing that Ms Paetongtarn has no issue responding to questions raised against her.

“In fact, the prime minister is not required to answer all questions herself, as the law allows her to delegate responses to cabinet ministers,” Mr Wisut said.

For example, if the debate involves transport policies, the prime minister may assign the transport minister to respond on her behalf.

Regarding Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto leader of Pheu Thai, Mr Wisut said the party will not prevent the opposition from mentioning his name.

However, objections will be raised if accusations arise, such as claims that Thaksin is manipulating the government, as he will not have the opportunity to defend himself in the chamber.

“A daughter listening to advice from her father, who has served as prime minister twice, does not constitute manipulation,” he said, referring to Ms Paetongtarn and Thaksin.

Meanwhile, Phattharaphong Leelaphat, a PP MP for Chiang Mai and the party’s spokesman, said Thais are asking whether the prime minister will personally respond to questions in the debate.

He said Pheu Thai was scared the opposition will back Ms Paetongtarn into a corner with questions about her father’s role in the government, which is why they are restricting the debate to just one day.

Phuket, in association with international consulates, is ramping up its immigration screenings and crackdowns on illegal activities following a surge in the number of drug-related crimes and foreigners working on the island illegally.

Last year, 194 foreigners in Phuket had their visas rescinded, and 998 faced deportation for criminal activities, mostly drug-related and working without a proper visa, said Pol Col Kriangkrai Ariyaying, chief of Phuket’s immigration police.

The province’s immigration office now meets international consular officials once every two months, he said. Arrivals must not have any outstanding arrest warrants or be on any blacklists, and they are responsible for proving they have sufficient money with them and a clear itinerary, Pol Col Kriangkrai said. And when they are in Phuket, more measures are now being employed to verify their places of stay and crack down on any attempts to work illegally.

Many foreigners have been caught working illegally as tour guides in Phuket. “If caught breaking the law, they will be arrested and deported,” Pol Col Kriangkrai said. “Tourists must abide by the law, or they may be arrested and banned from re-entering Thailand for good.”

The public is also being encouraged to help police watch out for signs of criminal activities linked to foreigners in Phuket and report any suspicious incidents to authorities, he said. In January alone, about 800,000 foreign tourists arrived on the island, while the number of foreigners staying there on year-long visas is put at 36,000. Most are operating a business, studying or in retirement.

While Muang district is the most popular location for long-stay visitors, most of whom are Russians, other districts also have their fair share of expats. In January, four foreigners were detained in Phuket after police found they had fled to Thailand despite having arrest warrants from elsewhere, said Pol Col Kriangkrai. The number of tourist visas that were revoked that month due to people breaking the law amounted to 34, he added.

Visitors are advised to download the Thailand tourist police mobile application, which is available in six languages, said Pol Col Phisit Sawatthawon, chief of Sub-division 2 of Tourist Police Division 3. With this app, any tourists who need help can be located and reached instantly, he said.

Phuket provincial police have also set up a centre to offer help to tourists, Pol Col Phisit said, adding most cases involve road accidents.

Kriangkrai: Meeting consular officials

The Thai Canal Association for Study and Development wants a national committee to study the feasibility of connecting the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea via the proposed 9A Canal Route. The project, if approved, could create up to a million new jobs, its advocates say.

Led by its president, Gen Pongthep Thetprateep, the association submitted a petition to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during the government’s mobile meeting at the Thale Noi Non-Hunting Area in Khuan Khanun district, Phatthalung, on Feb 17.

Narong Soomthong, chairman of the 9A Canal Route Feasibility Study Committee, said the national study committee was proposed to the House after the canal’s feasibility study passed the Senate. However, due to an insufficient House quorum, discussions on forming the 49-member committee were postponed.

“The Thai Canal Association decided to submit the petition because of its confidence in the government’s ability to manage the project,” Mr Narong said. The petition calls for the creation of a national committee to further study the feasibility of the 9A Canal Route.

Experts from various fields, including environmental and biodiversity specialists, as well as cultural impact analysts, will be included. The 9A Canal Route, also known as the Thai Canal project, would be 300–400 metres wide and 15–18 metres deep.

The 135-kilometre canal would extend from Ao Luk Port in Krabi’s Ao Luk district on the Andaman Sea, passing through Trang, Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and ending in Songkhla’s Ranot district at Ban Tha Bon on the Gulf of Thailand.

Mr Narong said the canal would help Thailand navigate economic challenges, particularly for the financially vulnerable, by ensuring the broad distribution of its benefits.

If completed, the canal could handle at least 300 billion tonnes of logistics vessels annually and create between 500,000 and one million new jobs, he said.

“It will also provide lifelong compensation to locals in the five provinces affected by its construction,” Mr Narong added.

The Thai Canal Association for Study and Development wants a national committee to study the feasibility of connecting the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea via the proposed 9A Canal Route. The project, if approved, could create up to a million new jobs, its advocates say.

Led by its president, Gen Pongthep Thetprateep, the association submitted a petition to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during the government’s mobile meeting at the Thale Noi Non-Hunting Area in Khuan Khanun district, Phatthalung, on Feb 17.

Narong Soomthong, chairman of the 9A Canal Route Feasibility Study Committee, said the national study committee was proposed to the House after the canal’s feasibility study passed the Senate. However, due to an insufficient House quorum, discussions on forming the 49-member committee were postponed.

“The Thai Canal Association decided to submit the petition because of its confidence in the government’s ability to manage the project,” Mr Narong said. The petition calls for the creation of a national committee to further study the feasibility of the 9A Canal Route.

Experts from various fields, including environmental and biodiversity specialists, as well as cultural impact analysts, will be included. The 9A Canal Route, also known as the Thai Canal project, would be 300–400 metres wide and 15–18 metres deep.

The 135-kilometre canal would extend from Ao Luk Port in Krabi’s Ao Luk district on the Andaman Sea, passing through Trang, Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and ending in Songkhla’s Ranot district at Ban Tha Bon on the Gulf of Thailand.

Mr Narong said the canal would help Thailand navigate economic challenges, particularly for the financially vulnerable, by ensuring the broad distribution of its benefits.

If completed, the canal could handle at least 300 billion tonnes of logistics vessels annually and create between 500,000 and one million new jobs, he said.

“It will also provide lifelong compensation to locals in the five provinces affected by its construction,” Mr Narong added.

Nakhon Si Thammarat: Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Saturday urged supporters to be patient, assuring them the Pheu Thai-led government under his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is working to solve economic problems.

Speaking after a merit-making ceremony in Sichon district, the hometown of Ms Paetongtarn’s adviser Nattawut Saikua, Thaksin expressed confidence the country would recover from years of economic downturn.

Comparing the economy to a house, Thaksin said that during the Tom Yum Kung crisis, the problem was like a damaged roof — something relatively easy to repair.

However, the current economic situation is far more severe, involving damage to the foundation and structural pillars.

“These issues are more difficult to fix, but they can be repaired. It just takes time,” he said.

Thaksin said government policies have yet to yield results because large amounts of state funds have not yet been disbursed.

Once released, these funds will help stimulate the economy without requiring the government to borrow.

He added Ms Paetongtarn would ensure these funds are distributed as quickly as possible to accelerate economic recovery.

Accompanied by senior Pheu Thai MPs, party members, and Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, Thaksin also thanked supporters for their warm welcome, saying the merit-making ceremony marked a fresh start.