EC could take week to rule on electricity subsidy

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

The Election Commission (EC) is expected to spend a week considering an 11-billion-baht subsidy on household electricity bills proposed by the government, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said.

Approved by the cabinet on April 25, the proposal was rejected by the poll regulator on April 28, according to a source.

After reviewing the government’s proposal, the source said the EC could not approve it as the Secretariat of the Cabinet failed to inform the EC of a cabinet resolution that approved the allocation of around 11 billion baht in subsidies under Section 169 of the constitution.

The section stipulates that any budget allocation for emergencies approved by an outgoing cabinet after a House dissolution must be endorsed by the poll agency first.

So the documents have been sent back to the government. The EC has not received a complete set of documents from the Secretariat of the Cabinet yet, said the source.

Mr Wissanu said on Monday that the cabinet initially believed that it should seek approval from the EC first before proceeding with the proposed subsidy.

But since the EC insisted that the cabinet must also send its resolution on the matter to the EC, the cabinet then resubmitted the cabinet resolution, along with a justification for its proposal, Mr Wissanu said, adding that the EC is expected to spend about a week considering the proposal.

Under the plan, the power subsidy would be extended for another four months from this month until August.

It would only apply to households that consume less than 300 units per month.

Those that consume 1-150 units a month would get a reduction of 92.04 satang per unit while those using 151-300 units would be given a reduction of 67.04 satang per unit.

About 7.6 billion baht would be drawn from the 2023 budget for emergency purposes to finance the plan. It is estimated that 18.36 million households would benefit.

Another measure to help people with costly power bills is a proposed reduction of 150 baht before VAT to households using no more than 500 units per month, valid for May’s billing only.

Continue Reading

EC could take week to rule on bill subsidy

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

According to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, the Election Commission( EC ) is anticipated to spend a week deliberating an 11 billion baht subsidy on household electricity bills proposed by the government.

According to a supplier, the proposal was approved by the government on April 25 but rejected by polling officials on that day.

The source claimed that after reviewing the president’s proposal, the EC was unable to review it because the Secretariat of the Cabinet had forgotten to remind them of a cupboard resolution that had approved the distribution of approximately 11 billion baht in subsidies in accordance with Section 169.

According to the chapter, any emergency budget allocation approved by an cheerful cabinet following a House disintegration may first receive the polling organization’s approval.

The public has received the documents as a result. According to the source, the Secretariat of the Cabinet has not yet provided the EC with a comprehensive set of files.

Mr. Wissanu stated on Monday that the government initially thought it should first get the EC’s approval before moving forward with the suggested subsidy.

The cabinet resubmitted the cupboard resolution and a justification for its proposal, according to Mr. Wissanu, adding that the EC is anticipated to pay about one week debating the proposal after the latter insisted that it must also take its resolution.

The power payment may be extended from this fortnight through August under the plan for an additional four months.

Just households that consume less than 300 elements per month may be affected.

Those who use 151 to 300 units per month may receive a decrease of 67.04 satang per item, while those who only use 1 to 150 models may be given the same reduction.

To finance the method, about 7.6 billion baht may be taken out of the 2023 finances for emergency purposes. 18.36 million residents are thought to advantage.

A proposed 150 ringgit before VAT reduction to households using no more than 500 models per month, true for May’s billing just, is another step to assist people with expensive energy bills.

Continue Reading

Vaccine researchers team up with US

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia
Taxi drivers line up for a tuberculosis check in a Suvarnabhumi airport car park in 2017. The examination, part of the ‘Healthy Lung’ campaign of the Disease Control Department, aims to prevent the disease among cabbies. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)
In 2017, taxi drivers assemble in a Suvarnabhumi airport parking lot to get checked for disease. The test, which is a component of the Disease Control Department’s” Healthy Lung” system, aims to spread the illness among cab drivers. ( Image: Somchai Poomlard)

For tuberculosis vaccines, including Messenger RNA ( mRNA ) technology, Thailand’s National Vaccine Institute( NVI ) has teamed up with the US Immune Research Centre( VRC ).

Senior representatives from the Public Health Ministry, led by Pongkasem Kaimook, the agency’s assistant continuous minister, visited the VRC in the United States on April 20, the government announced on Monday.

The VRC has created 15 different vaccine types for illnesses like disease, flu, Covid-19, Ebola, and Zika illness. It is the top organization in the world for immunization research. & nbsp,

Richard Koup, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ assistant director of the VRC, greeted the team, according to Dr. Pongkasem.

The Department of Medical Sciences in Thailand and NVI have declared their intention to work with the US VRC to create a novel disease vaccination. & nbsp,

According to the public, Thailand intends to conduct research on four different mRNA and disease vaccines.

The affiliated agencies of the Public Health Ministry work to ensure vaccine protection in the nation by creating mRNA vaccines that have been directly researched. & nbsp,

According to Dr. Pongkasem, the VRC has higher offered Thai researchers the opportunity to subscribe worldwide tuberculosis control and research networks in order to aid in international efforts to combat the disease.

Dr. Pongkasem stated that 17 organizations have collaborated on the Genomics Thailand Strategy Roadmap ( 2022 – 2025 ) to develop genomic medicine using data from the Department of Medical Sciences.

He claimed that the Cancer Genetics Clinic had also been founded and that genetic data for more than 50,000 patients with rare diseases or tumours had been gathered over the years.

According to Dr. Pongkasem, the ministry has also included genomic medicine in the common health plan.

For health genetics and bioinformatics, we really need medical personnel and researchers. By 2024, there should be 725 health professionals working in these fields, according to Dr. Pongkasem.

He added that the genetic medicine research system may be created by the Public Health Ministry to gather genomic data for genetic analysis and treatment improvement. & nbsp,

To include training for genetic code evaluation, the National Human Genome Research Institute of the United States is anticipated to participate in the Genetics Society of Thailand’s International Conference. & nbsp,

Additionally, the NHGRI has provided funding to Thailand for the development of genomics, Dr. Pongkasem added.

Continue Reading

Mother of alleged 15th victim of ‘Aem Cyanide’ meets investigators

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia
Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, known as
Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, known as “Aem Cyanide” (Screen capture)

The mother of a woman who died in Bangkok seven years ago and is suspected to be the 15th cyanide-poisoning victim of Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, dubbed “Aem Cyanide”, met Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police investigators on Monday, a police source said.

Ms Ladda, 64, from Kamphaeng Phet province, reported to a team of investigators under deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn at the Police Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit road in response to a letter from police.

The woman gave the police information about her daughter Montathip, alias Sai, 37, who died in Bangkok seven years ago. She reportedly told police she personally thought it was Ms Sararat who caused the death of her daughter, although she had no evidence to substantiate the belief.

She said she was glad Pol Gen Surachate had accepted her daughter’s case for investigation, believing that Montathip would be given due justice.

Pol Col Anek Taosuparp, the CSD deputy commander, said a meeting was held on Monday to follow up the cases involving Ms Sararat. He said the investigation was about 80% complete.

In the case of Siriporn Khanwong, 33, who was said to be one of the victims, Pol Col Anek said no evidence had been found to implicate people other than Ms Sararat. He said the statements from five witnesses in the case were useful for further investigation.

So far there had been no evidence to suspect a senior police officer, who was Ms Sararat’s former husband, of any involvement.

Rapee Chamnanrua, a man who was asked by Siriporn’s relatives to help them investigate her suspicious death, also reported to the team of police investigators at the Police Club on Monday.

Mr Rapee said he would go to Kanchanaburi province to take an important piece of evidence regarding a bank account of one of the alleged victims. Although the owner had died, the account was still active with hundreds of thousand of baht in circulation. He said he would bring the account documentation for the police investigators to examine.

Continue Reading

Thaksin says he’ll be back soon after Paetongtarn gives birth

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia
Red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship supporters hold a birthday party for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawtra in Bangkok on July 26, 2016, when he turned 67 years old. (File photo)
Red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship supporters hold a birthday party for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawtra in Bangkok on July 26, 2016, when he turned 67 years old. (File photo)

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra wrote on social media that now his seventh and youngest grandchild has been born, he will be back soon because at 73 years old, he wants to care of his grandchildren.

Thaksin on Monday morning wrote on Twitter that he was delighted with the news that his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra had just borne his seventh grandchild.

He added that all seven were born after he had to leave the country.

“I’d like to ask for permission to return to take care of the grandchildren because I will be 74 years old this July. See you soon,” Thaksin wrote.

Ms Paetongtarn, a prime ministerial candidate from the Pheu Thai Party, wrote on Instagram that her son was named Phruethasin Suksawat and his nickname was Thasin.

She thanked everyone for giving her moral support and said she would meet the press soon when she had recovered from labour.

On Oct 21, 2008, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced Thaksin to two years in jail, convicting him of violating the National Counter Corruption Act in the Ratchadaphisek land purchase case.

He was charged with abusing his authority while being prime minister when he gave consent to his then-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra to participate in the auction of 33 rai of land on Thiam Ruam Mit Road in the Ratchadaphisek area put on the block by the Bank of Thailand’s Financial Institutions Development Fund.

He fled the country in 2008, just before the court handed down the sentence. 

He jumped bail after attending the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games with his then-wife in Beijing in August 2008. The couple later divorced and she returned to Thailand.

Thaksin was stripped of his police lieutenant colonel rank in September 2015. The board of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School alumni also resolved to withdraw his alumnus achievement awards.

In 2019, His Majesty the King recalled the royal decorations bestowed on him.

In 2010 he told red-shirt protesters who supported him that he would return to join them when “the first bullet is fired” at them. Bullets were then fired.

Continue Reading

Station master praised for saving elderly woman’s life

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia
Security camera footage showed an elderly woman was crossing a rail track at Ban Song railway station in Surat Thani's Wiang Sa district on Sunday while a train was arriving at the station. Her life was saved by the station master. (Screenshot from footage of the State Railway of Thailand)
On Sunday, a train was arriving at the Ban Song rail station in Surat Thani’s Wiang Sa territory when security camera footage showed an old lady crossing the line. The post master saved her life. ( Screenshot taken from video of the Thai State Railway )

SURAT THANI: A 75-year-old women with impaired hearing was about to be struck by a station on Sunday when members of the public praised the station master of Ban Song rail station in the Wiang Sa territory for saving her life.

The woman was seen crossing a rail track at around 9.50 am on Sunday as express train No. 85( Bangkok – Nakhon Si Thammarat ) was approaching the station, according to security camera footage. The women had no idea that she was in danger at all.

Before the person would have been hit by the practice, place control Thitipong Piripol ran out of his work and pushed her off the road watch.

Later, it was discovered that the person was blind.

Governor of the State Railway of Thailand Nirut Maneephan was ecstatic about Mr. Thitipong’s valiant title.

Before walking, riding, or driving across a bridge line, he urged everyone to exercise caution and make sure it is safe.

Continue Reading

Car saleswoman raped, brutally murdered

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia
A suspected rapist and murderer, left, is seen in surveillance camera footage sitting with his victim at a coffee shop in San Sai district, Chiang Mai, on Saturday. (Screenshot from MCOT TV)
On Saturday, a suspected murderer and perpetrator, left, is seen in surveillance camera images sitting with his victim in Chiang Mai’s San Sai district. ( MCOT TV screenshot )

CHIANG MAI: A used car salesperson was seduced by a rumored replicate murderer who pretended to be an interested party before brutally killing her at the motel.

One day after the murder, at around 3.30 p.m. on Sunday, Nathapol Panpadungsap, a 40-year-old believe, was detained by police and locals in Muang city.

According to police, on Saturday at around 3 p.m., the soldier lured the 35-year-old victim to a coffee shop close to her used car industry in the San Sai area, claiming he had even driven past the car owner’s property. The defendant purchased coffee at the coffee shop while dressed in a polo shirt and pants, and she also handed him the car quote form.

Later, he ordered the person to get on his delivery vehicle. According to the suspect, who was cited by police, he killed her after raped her at a nearby guesthouse.

He then checked into another campground in the Muang city after loading the body onto the pickup truck. He called his girlfriend to come pick him up from the place after leaving the body there.

Later, he went back to the room by himself and made a longer reservation — apparently to buy himself some time to get away.

Officers discovered the woman’s body in the room, face up on the bed, with evidence of murder. She appeared to have been strangled by a rope around her neck, her hands were tied, and the back of her head had been smashed with nail.

On his arms and head, the arrested believe had nail wounds.

According to the officers, the suspect was previously detained for raping two women in Bangkok, Doi Saket city, and Muang district car theft.

Continue Reading

80 Indian gamblers arrested in Pattaya hotel raid

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia
Police raided a room at Asia Pattaya Hotel in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, and rounded up 80 gamblers who were Indian nationals in the small hours on Monday. (Photo: Chaiyot Pupattanapong)
In the early hours of Monday, authorities raided a place at the Asia Pattaya Hotel in the Bang Lamung city, Chon Buri, and apprehended 80 casinos who were Indian citizens. ( Chaiyot Pupattanapong in the photo )

CHON BURI: On Monday night, police in Pattaya raided a posh resort and apprehended 80 American casinos.

According to Chon Buri police chief Pol Maj Gen Kampol Leelaprapaporn, the attack on the Asia Pattaya Hotel in Soi Phra Tamnak 4 in tambon Nong Prue, Bang Lamung area, took place after police learned that several American citizens had reserved places there from April 27 to May 1 and rented a meeting place called Sampao for play.

When the officers arrived, they discovered a sizable crowd of casinos in the Sampao place playing baccara and gambling. They attempted to flee after spotting the officers, but to no cost. 83 Indians, six Thai, and four Myanmar citizens were among the 93 men the officers apprehended.

80 of the 93 people detained were American gamblers, while people and game organisers were also present.

Eight closed-circuit television cameras, 92 mobile phones, three laptop computers, one iPad, and three cards buyer machines were all taken into custody by the authorities. They also seized four baccarat tables, 3 gambling sets, 25 sets of cards, 209, 215, 000 chips, 160, 000 Indian rupees.

Additionally seized was a diary that contained gambling credits and showed that there were roughly 1, 000 million rupees worth of credits in use.

For serving baraku, there were four additional locations.

The American tourists were each charged 50, 000 ringgit, according to Sitranan Kaewlor, 32, who claimed to be in charge of the hotel and gambling establishment. The betting space cost 120, 000 baht to rent. From 1 pm to 6 am, it was empty. The hotel people was never permitted to enter the space.

According to Ms. Sitranan, a Thai man by the name of Pakin was hired to handle the food and cleaning needs. She continued,” All gambling equipment, including the card dealers, was brought from India.”

The 80 American gamblers and other items found in the bridge were among the 93 people who were detained, and they were all turned over to Pattaya police investigators for legal action on charges related to illegal gambling.

Continue Reading

Voters urged to help map national development

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

SONGKHLA: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday called on voters in this southern province, especially the young generation, to join him in mapping the direction of national development.

In a campaign speech in Muang district, Gen Prayut, the United Thai Nation Party’s No 1 prime ministerial candidate, told supporters that the May 14 general election is possibly the nation’s most important election.

He said Thailand must change for the better and asked young voters to help him shape development. He also thanked people in Songkhla for their support.

Gen Prayut also introduced UTN leader Pirapan Salirathavi­bhaga, who is the party’s No 2 prime ministerial candidate, and UTN candidate Jua Ratchasi to supporters.

After the speech, Gen Prayut toured several markets in Muang to solicit support for the UTN’s MP candidates in the district.

On Saturday evening, thousands of people turned up for the UTN’s first rally in Phatthalung, which was held in the province’s Muang district.

There, he told party supporters that every policy proposal could be implemented if the UTN wins the election, gains control of the House and leads the next government.

He touted support for a double-track rail system for every region, a new motorway project to connect the Andaman coast with the Gulf of Thailand and amendments to outdated laws.

He also said several development schemes under his government could not be completed due to insufficient funds, a problem made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. “These policies we want to push can’t proceed if the party has too few seats,” he said. “There are several issues that I have to finish, and I’m here asking for your votes and support for the UTN.”

Gen Prayut spent the weekend campaigning in Trang, Phatthalung and Songkhla provinces, known to be traditional strongholds of the Democrat Party, and wrapped up his tour with a rally in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district yesterday.

There are 60 constituency seats up for grabs in the South, compared with 50 in the previous election in 2019. The UTN aims to capture 20 seats in the region, which was split among the Democrats, the Palang Pracharath Party, the Bhumjaithai Party, the Prachachart Party and the Action Coalition for Thailand Party in the last polls.

Continue Reading

Consensus on need to support farmers

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

An 11-party conference on agriculture and food protection was reportedly agreed upon, and there is widespread political commitment on the significance of sustainable farming, food safety and security, as well as the need to combat poverty among farmers.

Several policies were put forth at the party, including support for organic gardening, technological development, modernizing the business to meet international standards, and addressing land ownership disparity.

The National Farmers Council, Biodiversity, Sustainable Agriculture, and Food Sovereignty Action Thailand( the BioThai Foundation ), Chulalongkorn University’s Social Research Institute, as well as their companions, organized it.

The government’s subsidy programs should be revised, according to Decharut Sukkumnoed, director of the Move Forward Party ( MFP ) Think Forward Centre, as they haven’t been successful in enhancing farmers’ standard of living.

To replace aging farmers and improve agricultural product manufacturing, the plantation sector needs to be restructured and a new workforce of small farmers, he said.

In four years, the MFP has pledged to distribute Sor Por Kor land to impoverished farmers and may raise the property rights bank from 300 million ringgit to 10 billion.

In the meantime, the Bhumjaithai Party would increase organic farming areas by 20 % over the course of four years while halving the use of chemical fertilizer.

According to Supachai Jaisamut, the secretary of Bhumjaithai, taxation measures on hazardous chemicals may be taken into consideration to prevent their use as well as a moratorium on and commercialization of chemical-laden goods.

According to him, the club also intends to boost nutrition security standards, promote clean markets across the country, and give the organic farming industry financial support.

Alongkorn Ponlaboot, a deputy president in the Democratic Party, stated that the group’s 26-point agricultural policy has been developed to boost farmers’ incomes and support Thailand, which has the ability to dominate food exports.

According to him, the occasion intends to advance sustainable farming by expanding inorganic farming areas and preserving wildlife.

According to the Chartthaipattana Party, its agricultural strategy is based on the New-Theory Agriculture theory, and it will set aside more money to support business development.

According to club manager Nikorn Chamnong, the nation has placed an excessive amount of emphasis on the transportation sector, harming the agricultural sector.

The Chartpattanakla Party’s deputy president, Atavit Suwanpakdee, floated a plan to create an international cheese nutrition company called Fonterra that is owned by 10,500 farmers in New Zealand and their families.

The party, according to him, will also encourage the use of modern management to assist farmers in managing their farms more effectively.

The Palang Pracharath Party will work to lower costs, increase productivity, and encourage exports while Pheu Thai plans to issue property deeds totaling 50 million ray to persuade grain farmers to switch to wheat and soy beans.

While the Prachachart Party may push for a law to restrict investor property rights, the Thai Sang Thai Party wants to set off 150 billion ringgit for research and development.

Continue Reading