Barkar Nash (Page 1,065)

Popular island in Chon Buri needs more infrastructure and waste management upgrades

CHON BURI: The director of the Crown Property Bureau has visited Koh Sichang to follow up on progress of development projects including a 3.1-hectare solar farm and groundwater facilities.

ACM Satitpong Sukvimol was joined by Interior Ministry permanent secretary Suttipong Juljarern and Chatuporn Burutpa, the permanent secretary of the National Resources and Environment Ministry and other senior officials.

Mr Suttipong said the visit on Thursday focused on land management by the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning and the water system layout by the Provincial Waterworks Authority.

The island is part of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) city plan that will be introduced in the next eight months, said Pongrat Piromrat, director-general of the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning.

He said the department aims to upgrade land utility, infrastructure development and tourism on Koh Sichang. Other priorities include the transport system, improved water and electricity facilities and the conservation of landmarks.

The Department of Groundwater Resources had found two wells that can provide drinking water for islanders during the dry season. The wells were dug as a result of a drinking water shortage that affected over 2,200 households on Koh Sichang in the summer, said Mr Pongrat.

He said a 3.1-hectare solar farm is being constructed to supply electricity for 1,600 households on the island. It will be the island’s first source of renewable energy under the Smart City scheme.

Waste management is becoming a challenge for the island as well, said Kajorn Srichawanothai, head of the Department of Local Administration. The amount of garbage collected on Koh Sichang is about 10-15 tonnes per day while the incinerator can only burn six tonnes.

Mr Suttipong said garbage on the island should be sent to the mainland for processing. Chon Buri governor Thawatchai Srithong said private-sector investment in incinerators could solve the poor waste management problem on the island.

Senior officials including ACM Satitpong Sukvimol, director of the Crown Property Bureau, review a progress update during a visit to Koh Sichang on Thursday.

Five hours allocated for parliamentary debate on Tuesday with final result expected by 5.30pm

Prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin will not be asked to deliver a vision statement ahead of a parliamentary vote on Tuesday, a meeting to review procedures for the session has concluded.

The rules were agreed on by whips from the Senate and representatives of political parties who met on Friday with parliament president Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.

Mr Wan said the joint sitting of the House and Senate on Tuesday would start at 10am, with five hours allocated for lawmakers to debate — 2 hours for senators and 3 hours for MPs. The vote is expected to start at 3pm and finish by 5.30pm.

Barring any last-minute surprises, the Pheu Thai Party as the head of the coalition is expected to nominate Mr Srettha, the former chief executive of the property developer Sansiri Plc.

Some backers of Mr Srettha were hoping he would have a chance to outline his views in the chamber, if only to win over some sceptical senators.

The Pheu Thai-led coalition is expected to have the support of 314 MPs, meaning it will need another 61 votes from senators to reach a simple majority of 375 out of the 749 members participating.

Mr Srettha did not seek office in the May 14 election as a constituency or party-list MP. There are no rules specifically barring a non-MP from addressing a parliamentary meeting, Mr Wan said.

However, those who attended Friday’s meeting did not believe it was necessary for anyone nominated for prime minister to give a vision statement because the constitution and parliamentary regulations did not stipulate any such requirement, he added.

When regulations regarding this issue were drafted in parliament, only 47 voted in favour of hearing from the candidate while 370 voted against, said Mr Wan.

The whips also discussed a motion raised by Move Forward Party list-MP Rangsiman Rome in a previous parliament session and agreed it could be debated on Tuesday, said the parliament president.

However, they argued that as parliament had earlier voted on the issue in line with parliamentary regulation No 151, the resolution could not be reviewed.

Mr Rangsiman said earlier on Friday that he would urge parliament to reconsider its decision on July 19 to reject the renomination of Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister.

That decision was challenged in the Constitutional Court, which declined to hear the case. It said that only the person directly affected by such a decision, in this case Mr Pita, had the right to file such a petition.

Pheu Thai Party’s prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin says he wants to tackle poverty and inequality, as he fends off corruption allegations ahead of a confirmation vote next week.

Parliament will meet on Tuesday to vote on whether to approve the wealthy property mogul as prime minister and end three months of rumbling political deadlock since the May 14 general election.

The 61-year-old’s Pheu Thai Party heads a multi-party coalition formed after the reformist Move Forward Party (MFP) — which won the most seats — saw its leader denied the PM spot by conservative, pro-military forces.

“I would like to reiterate that my enemy is poverty and inequality. My goal is to make every Thai person’s life better,” Mr Srettha said in a video message on Facebook on Friday.

Mr Srettha, the former head of Thai property giant Sansiri, rejected allegations of improper dealings made in recent weeks by Chuvit Kamolvisit, a colourful former massage parlour tycoon turned anti-graft whistleblower.

“We are transparent in our work. I come here today to show my innocence to the general public that my activities were done according to the law,” he said.

“I would like to refute all claims that Chuvit has made against me.”

Mr Chuvit this week asked police to investigate two land purchases by Sansiri, which is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).

House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha confirmed the vote for prime minister would be on Tuesday, starting no later than 3pm.

To become premier, Mr Srettha needs a majority across both the lower house of 500 elected MPs, and the 250-member Senate which was handpicked by the kingdom’s last junta.

Opposition from the Senate to the MFP’s plans to amend Section 112, also known as the lese majeste law, and tackle business monopolies sank its leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s ambitions.

And so despite winning most seats, the MFP will go into opposition while two parties from the outgoing army-backed government will have a share in power.

On Thursday it was confirmed the new coalition would include the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) of outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha — a former army chief who deposed an elected Pheu Thai government to seize power in 2014.

And the coalition also includes Bhumjaithai — another party from the outgoing government — leading some to question how different the new administration will be from the old one.

Former massage parlour tycoon-turned-whistle-blower Chuvit Kamolvisit reveals his latest allegation against Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin at the Davis Hotel, which he owns, in Bangkok, on Tuesday. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)

Move Forward Party (MFP) list-MP Rangsiman Rome stands firm that he will urge parliament to reconsider its decision to reject the renomination of MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister.

Mr Rangsiman said on Friday that he will proceed with his motion for a new parliamentary review of the resolution passed on July 19. 

The 31-year-old MP said he would present the proposal during a meeting of the Senate whip and representatives of political parties, convened by Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, on Friday. The objective is to establish a timeline for debating the motion in the upcoming parliamentary session scheduled for Aug 22.

The MFP member said it was not necessary for the debate to be lengthy as it would provide parliament an opportunity to reflect upon potential errors made.

“Regarding the vote on this motion, we hope we’ll win, but the final decision does not rest with us,” said Mr Rangsiman. “Frankly speaking, compromising our principles in this matter would establish a precedent with far-reaching implications.” 

“Using the parliamentary mechanism for nominations carries implications beyond the prime ministerial post, as it also extends to other roles. We must take extra caution when employing this issue (parliament’s resolution to reject Mr Pita’s renomination) as a precedent.”

During a joint session of the House and Senate on July 13th, the MFP leader failed to secure the majority required for the prime ministerial post. On July 19th, parliament voted against allowing Mr Pita to be renominated.

On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court dismissed the Ombudsman’s petition related to the rejected renomination of Mr Pita. The court based its decision on the grounds that the three petitioners, Pornchai Theppanya and Boonsong Chalaythorn, who both voted for the MFP in the May 14 general election, and Move Forward MP Panyarut Nuntapusitanon, were not directly affected by the parliamentary decision.

Upon learning of the ruling, Mr Pita said he would not file a fresh petition with the court because he believed the issue should be settled by parliament rather than the court.

When asked whether Move Forward is ready to be the opposition again, Mr Rangsiman said the party would assume the role of opposition once a government is formed. He reaffirms his party’s position of not supporting the Pheu Thai Party’s nominee for prime minister.

On Tuesday, the election-winning MFP announced that it would not back Pheu Thai candidate Srettha Thavisin for prime minister as the formation of the government now is not reflective of the people’s voice.

Despite its divergence from Move Forward, second-placed Pheu Thai has been actively seeking its former ally’s backing for real estate tycoon Srettha to become the next prime minister.

City Hall has ordered the suspension of work on an overpass at Bang Kapi intersection after a 10-metre-long sheet of metal crashed to the ground as it was being lifted by a crane, killing one worker and injuring two others.

Siam Ruam Jai Rescue Foundation (Pu In) was notified about the accident at 1.50am on Thursday.

Rescue worker Chaiwat Boonprasom said workers were removing the metal sheets which support the overpass deck when the accident happened.

Several workers were tying wire cables to the edges of the metal sheet so it could be lifted off the overpass by a crane when the unsecured ends suddenly crashed onto Seri Thai Road.

Pol Col Thanapan Padungkarn, superintendent of Lat Phrao Police Station, said investigators have summoned the construction site engineer for questioning. The engineer said he had no idea what caused the accident, as he wasn’t at the site when it happened, he said.

Police will summon more witnesses for questioning to determine if negligence played a part in the accident, said Pol Col Thanapan.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesman Aekvarunyoo Amarapala said the BMA has temporarily suspended work on the site until safety can be assured. The BMA has also launched a probe into the accident, he said.

After the incident, Suchatchavee Suwansawas, head of the Democrat Party’s policy committee and former president of the Thailand Council of Engineers, reposted a video of the overpass he had posted in April.

“I said in April that the flyover construction did not meet safety standards. Now someone has died because of it. This is a major issue in Thai society,” he wrote.

A group of Buddhist artists is urging a hotel in Bangkok to remove a controversial sculpture from its premises, saying its unsightly appearance disturbs passers-by.

The group, which calls itself the “Council of Artists Promoting Buddhism”, is planning to gather at the Bazaar Hotel on Ratchadaphisek Road on Friday to urge the hotel’s management to remove the statue of Khru Kai Kaeo from its site, which they claim promotes “devil worship”.

The council, which is accredited by the Religious Affairs Department, said it was highly inappropriate for the hotel to install the 4-metre-tall gargoyle-like sculpture on its grounds.

Khru Kai Kaeo, also known as Khru Ba Kai Kaeo, is said to be the revered mentor teacher of Jayavarman VII, a former king of the Khmer Empire. However, some historians have said they have never heard of this so-called deity before.

Citing a large number of complaints received by the council against the scary-looking sculpture, the council said it has to take action against the statue on behalf of the public.

As the sculpture is clearly visible from the busy Ratchadaphisek Road, its unusual appearance might frighten passers-by and commuters, said the group.

National Thai People Council (NTPC), another civic group, yesterday petitioned Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt to relocate the sculpture to a less conspicuous site, saying it “poses a threat to Thai culture and beliefs”.

Phonphakhun Setthayabodi, a representative of the NTPC, said it was highly inappropriate for the hotel to install an evil-looking sculpture for people to worship as if it were a Buddha image.

It is tantamount to supporting a devil-worshipping cult, he said.

The Khru Kai Kaeo sculpture made headlines when it was taken on the back of a truck from a studio in Ratchaburi to the Huai Khwang shrine on the morning of Aug 9.

The truck was stuck at a pedestrian bridge, paralysing traffic on Ratchadaphisek Road for about two hours.

The sculpture’s unusual appearance sparked debate about what it represented.

It was reported some worshippers sought to buy cats, dogs and rabbits to sacrifice for the deity.

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‘Platform’ to help manage food waste

PHUKET: The island province aims to achieve the status of a low-carbon destination to promote eco-tourism.

Phuket governor Narong Woonciew said on Thursday the province has held discussions with state agencies and a sustainable development foundation, where they focused on managing food waste, which creates a negative impact on the environment.

Relevant agencies agreed to produce a coordinated and systematic food waste management plan. The state agencies, as well as private and civil society sectors, must integrate their efforts for maximum sustainability, Mr Narong said.

Wattanapong Suksai, director of the Phuket Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, said the office has been supported by an environmental fund to lower greenhouse gas emissions and execute action plans to cope with climate change.

A working team chaired by the local government has also been formed to carry out the task on the ground.

Phuket is working with five sectors — energy, transport, waste management, agriculture, forestry and industry — to proceed with curbing greenhouse gasses.

Citing data from 2019, Phuket emitted 3.1 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide. The rate has been forecast to rise to around 4.6 million tonnes by 2030.

However, successfully cutting back carbon emissions would lower Phuket’s greenhouse gas output to 440,000 tonnes per year by 2030, Mr Wattanapong said.

According to the Environmental and Pollution Control Office 15, the problem has to do with Phuket’s inability to sort rubbish, 50% of which is food waste. Such separation would be a cost-effective and climate-friendly way of disposing of the garbage.

To deal with food waste, the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation will work more closely with Phuket municipality. The PAO runs a composting facility and is looking to establish a knowledge centre for local residents to handle their garbage using the correct methods.

A platform will be developed for residents and businesses, which will enable them to learn how much excess food is discarded by hotels, retail shops or department stores and how it can otherwise be donated to vulnerable groups. It will also help to calculate the amounts of food waste, which is useful for mapping out effective disposal plans.

The office is expected to seek a budget to promote Phuket as a role model province in dealing with food waste in a bid to achieve the status of a low-carbon destination, Mr Wattanapong said.

Thiwat Seedokbuab, vice chair of the Phuket PAO, said it is operating a composting facility in tambon Rassada and welcomes residents’ cooperation in managing food waste and spreading the word about it.

The PAO is in the middle of drafting the terms of reference to procure electric buses, he added.

The Social Development and Human Security Ministry has vowed to protect welfare benefits for the elderly following the introduction of a new regulation that has restricted access for many ageing citizens.

The new regulation was signed by Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda and published in the Royal Gazette on Friday and became effective on Saturday.

Under the new regulation, only elderly people with no income or insufficient income to cover the cost of living are entitled to a monthly allowance from the state.

However, a provisional clause in the new regulation states that the new criterion for payment of the elderly allowance does not apply to people who registered for the allowance with local bodies before Aug 12, 2023, meaning those currently receiving the allowance are not affected.

The old regulation was for local administration organisations to pay universal monthly allowances of 600-1,000 baht to all elderly people, with 600 baht for people aged 60-69, 700 baht for people aged 70-79, 800 baht for people aged 80-89, and 1,000 baht for people aged 90 years and older.

About 100 group members advocating for welfare benefits gathered outside the ministry on Thursday to demand that the old universal payment system be restored. Critics said the new rules restrict seniors’ access to universal welfare payments.

The ministry’s permanent secretary, Anukul Peedkaew, said the National Committee for the Elderly needs to draw up further criteria for who will receive welfare benefits for the elderly.

He told the group that the ministry has stood by the elderly and will protect their benefits. He insisted the elderly, who currently receive a monthly allowance, will not be affected and that a new national committee on the elderly set up by a new government will work out the details of the requirements for payments.

He went on to say that currently, about 11 million people aged 60 and over receive monthly allowances, which require a budget of 87 billion baht each year.

Next year will see more than 14 million seniors receiving the allowances, which will require a budget of 110 billion baht, he said.