Barkar Nash (Page 1,059)

Two military parties tied to Prayut, Prawit included in alliance

Pheu Thai and 10 other parties, two linked to the military, on Monday afternoon announced a coalition with 314 votes in the House and Pheu Thai’s Srettha Thavisin as their candidate for prime minister.

Pheu Thai, which came second in the May 14 general election with 141 elected MPs, is the biggest component of the 11-party alliance.

Three other allies are Bhumjaithai with 71 seats, Palang Pracharath (PPRP) with 40 seats and United Thai Nation (UTN) with 36 seats. They came third, fourth and fifth in the election.

The seven other partners are Chartthaipattana (10 MPs), Prachachat (9), Pue Thai Rumphlang (2) Chartpattanakla (2), Seri Ruam Thai (1), Plung Sungkom Mai (1) and Thai Counties (1).

Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew told a press conference at the parliament about 1.30pm that Pheu Thai would have eight ministers and nine deputy ministers, including the PM’s Office ministry.

Bhumjaithai will have four ministers and four deputy ministers; PPRP two ministers and two deputies; UTN two ministers and two deputies; Chartthaipattana one minister and Prachachat one minister.

PPRP has caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon as its leader, while UTN earlier had caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as its prime ministerial candidate.

The coalition parties agreed to treat Pheu Thai’s policies as important polices for the new government. They include the digital wallet policy, 600-baht minimum daily wage and higher farm prices, the Pheu Thai leader said.

They would have a constitution-drafting assembly set up to amend the constitution to make it “more democratic”, he said.

Section 112 of the Criminal Code (the lese majeste law) and other chapters concerning the royal institution would remain intact, Dr Cholnan said.

The Pheu Thai leader said he acknowledged the heavy criticism of Pheu Thai for teaming up with parties in the caretaker government. “But we will join forces to work efficiently”, he said, in apparent reference to PPRP and UTN.

At the beginning of the press conference, Dr Cholnan stated clearly that the coalition would not include the Move Forward Party.

MFP won the general election with 151 House seats. Pheu Thai withdrew from the MFP-led coalition alliance early this month.

About 190 senators would vote in support of Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai Party as prime minister, senator Wanchai Sornsiri said on Monday.

He said Mr Srettha would be comfortably endorsed as prime minister, with support from a majority of the Senate.

Mr Wanchai said he based his projection on conversations with fellow senators over the weekend. A majority, about 190 in total, would vote for Mr Srettha when he is nominated for parliamentary approval on Tuesday.

“They want the country to move forward. Nobody will pose an obstacle to tomorrow’s voting. Some of them may hold different opinons, but that is the way democracy goes,” he said.

On a suggestion that some senators still had doubts about Mr Srettha’s qualifications, Mr Wanchai said this was normal, citing the case of Move Forward Party’s prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat, who had both proponents and opponents.

He said some senators and MPs would speak against Mr Srettha on Tuesday, but most senators would certainly vote for him.

The selection of the prime minister is a matter for all 750 members of parliament to decide, not just individuals, Mr Wanchai added.

Asked why he was so certain as many as 190 senators would vote for Mr Srettha, Mr Wanchai said that with the Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation parties being included in the coalition there was no reason for senators not to vote for him.

The Pheu Thai Party is expected to announce a 14-party alliance at the parliament on Monday afternoon.

Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chanthararuangthong said on Monday morning the party would announce its proposed coalition government lineup at a press conference on Monday afternoon. Representatives of about 12 political parties were expected to be there, he said.

He did not know if the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) would participate or not.

Sources said there would be 14 parties in the coalition.

Most of the coalition allies would be represented by their leaders and secretaries-general. PPRP leader Prawit Wongsuwon, who is a caretaker deputy prime minister, would not be present but PPRP secretary-general Thamanat Prompow might attend on his behalf, sources said.

Srettha Thavisin, a prime ministerial candidate of Pheu Thai, would not be present but would attend a meeting of Pheu Thai MPs, together with Paetongtarn Shinawatra, another prime ministerial candidate of Pheu Thai, at the party headquarters at 3pm, sources said.

The expected 14-party coalition alliance would have 317 votes in the House and would comprise Pheu Thai with 141 House seats, Bhumjaithai (71), PPRP (40), United Thai Nation (36), Chartthaipattana (10), Prachachat (9), Pue Thai Rumphlang (2), Chartpattanakla (2), Seri Ruam Thai (1), Plung Sungkom Mai (1), Thai Counties (1), New Democracy (1), New (1) and Thai Teachers for the People (1).

It would need 58 more votes in the parliament to ensure a simple majority at Tuesday’s expected joint sitting of the 500-member elected House of Representatives and the 249-member appointed Senate, when Pheu Thai will propose a candidate for prime minister. 

Pheu Thai came second in the May 14 general election. It withdrew from its alliance with the election winning  Move Forward Party, which has 151 House seats, on Aug 2.

Inclusion of PPRP, UTN parties in alliance is ‘main reason’

Red-shirt co-leader Nattawut Saikuar, secretary-general of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), has declared an end to his role as director of the Pheu Thai Family, citing the inclusion of Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation parties in the coalition government proposed by the Pheu Thai Party as the main reason.

“For me, the decision to end my role as director of the Pheu Thai Family is an injury in my heart. This is my home. I was born here, grew up here and have been fighting here. All the people in this house are my brothers. But when the time comes, I have to make a decision,” he said.

Mr Nattawut was speaking during an online news programme on YouTube hosted by TV presenter Sorayuth Suthassanachinda on Monday morning.

He said he had informed senior figures in the Pheu Thai Party of his decision. They included Paetongtarn Shinawatra, head of the Pheu Thai Family, Srettha Thavisin, the party’s prime ministerial candidate, and former prime ministers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra.

Asked whether his decision was a result of Pheu Thai having included the Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation parties in the coalition it is forming, Mr Nattawut replied, “That is the main reason.”

He said he was confident Mr Srettha would finally get parliamentary endorsement as prime minister.

Mr Nattawut reassured red-shirt members of the UDD who remain staunch supporters of Pheu Thai that his decision would not cause any damage to the party.

He said he had waited before announcing his decision, until he was sure the party had managed to garner sufficient votes for Mr Srettha to be elected prime minister.

Mr Nattawut said he would also ask Move Forward, with 151 MPs, to support the push for amendment of the constitution and legal action against those responsible for dispersing past UDD protests, resulting in deaths and injuries.

Srettha Thavisin, Pheu Thai’s main prime ministerial candidate, on Sunday defended his business track record and expressed hope that his nomination would be endorsed by parliament during a vote on Tuesday.

The property developer-turned-politician was recently accused by whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit of unethical business dealings, including land deals, while working with real estate developer Sansiri, raising the question of whether Mr Srettha can be trusted running the country.

In response, Mr Srettha said that as a political figure, he is open to criticism.

However, he is confident that he and Sansiri never engaged in any shady land purchases, noting he had adhered to good corporate governance for over three decades. He denies Mr Chuvit’s claims.

Mr Srettha resigned from all positions at Sansiri in April ahead of the May 14 general election to pursue his political ambition with the Pheu Thai Party.

He said he had clarified the matter raised by Mr Chuvit and believed MPs and senators would use discretion when voting. He said he had complete trust in the Pheu Thai Party, which was negotiating with prospective coalition partners.

He added that key policies of every potential partner would be incorporated into government policies and Pheu Thai’s controversial digital wallet programme would be accepted and implemented by its allies.

He declined to disclose information on the allocation of cabinet seats, an issue being discussed on social media. “Don’t be hasty. Let’s take it step-by-step. But I’m confident that Pheu Thai and its partners will propose qualified people,” he said.

Pheu Thai list-MP Sutin Klungsang said on Sunday the party has met all conditions raised by MPs and senators, and that he sees no reason why Mr Srettha will not be elected on Tuesday.

He said Mr Srettha’s qualifications were examined before he was named as candidate. The party also looked into the allegations made by Mr Chuvit and found them to be untrue, he added.

In other news, the Democrat Party, with 25 MPs, will hold a meeting today to decide how to vote in the PM selection, a source said.

One group of MPs who opposed joining the Pheu Thai-led bloc might ask the Democrat Party to abstain from voting or allow a free vote on the matter, the source said.

Other reports say that as many as 21 Democrat MPs want to support a Pheu Thai candidate so the party is invited to join the government.

A source from the Pheu Thai Party said there is lobbying for the defence portfolio to be set aside for the Palang Pracharath Party, which has yet to join the Pheu Thai-led alliance but has shown support.

Senators want to hear him at meet

Senators now expect Pheu Thai Party’s prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin to respond in parliament to questions about his ethical standards following various accusations made against him.

They want to hear from him before they decide whether to support him in tomorrow’s prime ministerial vote. Mr Sretta has previously expressed some reluctance to show, as he is not an elected member of the House or Senate.

Pheu Thai needs about 60 votes from the 249-member Senate for its prime ministerial candidate to win the parliamentary vote and become Thailand’s next prime minister.

In the case the candidate nominated for Tuesday’s vote fails to muster enough support from the Senate, that candidate cannot be re-nominated, in line with the precedent set on July 19, when the nomination of Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat for a second vote was rejected.

Senator Somchai Sawangkarn on Sunday said he wanted a clear answer from Pheu Thai as to which of its three prime ministerial candidates will actually be nominated.

He was responding to rumours that the party was considering swapping Mr Srettha with either Paetongtarn Shinawatra or Chaikasem Nitisiri, after accusations by whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit against Mr Srettha raised questions over his business dealings.

If Pheu Thai wants to switch to a new candidate, the Senate should be informed in advance so it will have enough time to prepare to scrutinise the candidate’s qualification before the vote takes place, said Mr Somchai.

“If senators are left with insufficient time to examine the new candidate’s qualification, they might not vote for him or her,” he said.

“If Pheu Thai insists on nominating Mr Srettha, he should come to Tuesday’s joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate to deliver a statement demonstrating his vision as a would-be prime minister, and respond to questions which may be asked before the vote,” Mr Somchai said.

Mr Srettha’s response to Mr Chuvit’s accusations was not enough to address the questions the public may have about the alleged misconduct, said Mr Somchai.

He added that many senators who had already promised to throw their weight behind the party are now doubting their position because of the accusations made by Mr Chuvit.

He was referring to alleged tax evasion carried out by Sansiri Plc, the property development company for which Mr Srettha had served as CEO prior to throwing his hat in the political ring.

“The chances [of Mr Srettha winning the support of the senators] stand at fifty-fifty.

“It will largely depend on how the party handles the situation in the days to come,” he said.

Sen Seree Suwanpanont said if Mr Srettha doesn’t show up to answer questions in person, the senators will have to base their decision only what Mr Srettha’s representative has to say.

In addition to questions surrounding Mr Srettha’s ethics, a number of senators are eager to ask the Pheu Thai’s candidate about the party’s plan to implement its 10,000-baht digital wallet policy, to ensure the policy won’t hurt the country’s finances, he said.

Meanwhile, Sen Direkrit Jenklongtham said he believed most MPs and senators will base their decision on two factors — the candidate’s qualifications and whether or not the candidate’s party has the support of the lower House.

Aside from these two factors, the Senate will also take into consideration the candidate’s ethical and moral standards, along with his or her vision on how to implement the government’s core policies, said Mr Direkrit.

With regards to Mr Srettha’s vow to rewrite the constitution immediately after the government takes office, the senator said he will have to explain why the charter needs to be rewritten in such a rush, and what benefits the amendment would bring the public.

He encouraged Mr Srettha to attend Tuesday’s meeting, calling it a good opportunity for him to convince MPs and senators that he is suited to be the next prime minister.

Meanwhile, Ms Paetongtarn said Pheu Thai still hopes to see Mr Srettha win the forthcoming vote.

Allowance ‘not meant for’ House custodians

Deputy House Speaker Padipat Suntiphada has come under fire after spending his parliamentarian allowance on treating 370 caretakers for an all-you-can-eat buffet on Friday evening.

Each custodian received a voucher bearing Mr Padipat’s signature, which was used to dine at a moo krata (barbecue and hotpot) restaurant in the Bang Pho area near parliament. Each meal costs 269 baht, or about 99,530 baht for a total of 370 people.

Mr Padipat, a Move Forward Party member, said it was a sort of meeting to listen to the opinions of those who worked in parliament. He said his allowance for being a representative was about 2 million baht a year, and he would not spend all of it.

“I use the allowance because the 370 caretakers are my guests,” he said, adding that instead of holding a formal meeting, dining together is a type of informal meeting where their voices can be heard.

“We must not forget the people who work for us,” he said. “They keep parliament clean. We should thank them and hear their problems as well.”

However, not everyone agreed.

Ex-election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn on Facebook said on Sunday that it is clearly stipulated in state regulations that the budget must be used for state affairs.

The State Audit Office should investigate Mr Padipat’s action, he said, adding Mr Padipat should return the state budget he spent on the “party” to avoid more problems in the future.

Political activist Srisuwan Janya said he will file a petition against Mr Padipat’s action with the National-Anti Corruption Commission on Monday, accusing him of an ethics violation under 2017 constitution.

“Do not use the state budget to promote yourself,” he said. “This is your party’s policy, don’t you remember?”

“The allowance for being a representative that you have is from taxpayers’ money,” he added. “Don’t use it to publicise yourself.”

A source said ex-House speaker Chuan Leekpai gave lunch boxes to janitors and service staff in parliament in December 2020 as New year gifts.

Siripa Intavichein, acting deputy spokeswoman for the Democrat Party, said Mr Chuan gave New Year gifts to janitors every year using his own money.

Former Democrat MP Issara Sereewatthanawut said Mr Chuan received 500 empty food boxes from a donation so he distributed them to staff.

The moo krata drama followed another where Mr Padipat posted a video of himself drinking beer brewed in his home province of Phitsanulok online on Monday.

Critics questioned whether his action breached the ethics of political office-holders and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which curbs alcohol promotions.

The number of people infected with seasonal influenza has surpassed 970,000 so far this year, three times more than for the same period last year, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) says.

Among those infected, one has died — a 39-year-old man with a history of alcoholism and liver disease, said Dr Sopon Iamsirithaworn, deputy director-general of the DDC.

While people in the at-risk group, including those over 65 years old and anyone living with chronic disease, are advised to get the influenza vaccine as soon as possible, everyone else is encouraged to isolate and wear a face mask if infected, he said.

People in an at-risk group can seek a flu shot at the closest state-run healthcare facility, he said.

Frequent hand washing is also recommended as an infection prevention measure, he said.

Despite the triple rise in new influenza cases, the H1N1 strain, which has infected people in Thailand for about 14 years, is still dominant, he said, adding the virus isn’t normally virulent.

While more people are contracting influenza, rumours are going around that people who have recovered from Covid-19 or have been vaccinated may develop severe influenza symptoms upon infection, he said.

This is unlikely to be true because there have been no credible reports on the matter, he said.

Seasonal influenza symptoms include fever, coughing, headaches, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise, sore throat and runny nose, according to the World Health Organization.

The cough can be severe and last two or more weeks, Dr Sopon said. Most people recover in a week without requiring medical attention, he said.

However, influenza can cause severe illness or death, especially among people in at-risk groups, he said.

NARATHIWAT: Some Muno villagers whose houses were destroyed by a fireworks warehouse explosion in Sungai Kolok district’s tambon Muno on July 29 will file a civil lawsuit against the building’s owners.

The blast killed 12 people and injured 389, destroying three schools and damaging 682 homes.

Soldiers, local volunteers, administrative officials and authorities from various related agencies were sent to provide help to the victims and repair houses that were at least 50% damaged.

So far, about 302 houses have been repaired, said the Narathiwat Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office. About 95 houses are yet to be rebuilt after they were destroyed by the explosion, it said.

However, a group of 25 people whose houses were destroyed is planning to file a civil lawsuit against warehouse owners Sompong Nakul, 42, and his wife Piyanuch Puengwirawat, 42.

They were arrested on Aug 6 and charged with negligence causing deaths, importing and/or selling fireworks without a permit and violating the Emergency Decree for the Southern region.

Nifairus Samankunwong, one of the house owners, yesterday told reporters that he never thought such an incident would happen.

He said he insured the house after the area was flooded three years ago, but when the explosion happened, his insurance company refused to cover the damages in full.

“My house is worth 4.5 million baht but the maximum I will receive from the insurance company is 2.9 million baht, while the government offers maximum compensation at 230,000 baht per house,” he said.

“But I may get less compensation from the government because they want to allocate some money to those who do not have house insurance,” he added. “I did not cause the damage and what happened to me is not fair.”

According to a source, the overall compensation being provided to Muno villagers affected by the incident is less than 30% of their property values.

Villagers whose houses have not yet been repaired must rent temporary rooms for shelter.

The provincial Social Development Department provides 3,000 baht per month to 85 families to help them pay for rent. It estimates that it will take about a year to rebuild the houses in the area.