Barkar Nash (Page 16)

Corruption, failures to be focus of debate

The opposition looks set to file a motion seeking a censure debate against the coalition government by February, while the debate is expected to come between late February and early March, said Pakornwut Udompipatskul, a People’s Party (PP) list MP and the head opposition whip.

“The debate should never be any later than the second week of March,” Mr Pakornwut said yesterday.

Among the main debate topics will be the government’s alleged failures in leading public administration, corruption, unfair acts in favour of certain conglomerates and distortion of the country’s judicial system for the benefit of an individual, he said.

These are problems the opposition has delved into and told the public about before, while there will also be some new problems that have not been revealed before, he said.

The PP is continuing to verify information about these issues to ensure the information about them, which the party currently already has in hand, is entirely correct, he said.

And if that is the case, he said, the PP believes these new issues could become a “final punch” and will convince some coalition parties to vote against the cabinet ministers allegedly involved in these issues. However, even if that does not happen and these cabinet ministers still win the no-confidence vote, at the very least, the public will be well informed about all these alleged mistakes and acts of misconduct and corruption in the coalition, he said.

“Almost all coalition parties will be grilled in the coming debate … And of course, the 14th-floor issue will be among the key debate topics,” he said, referring to the Pheu Thai Party-led coalition’s alleged interference in the Ministry of Justice’s handling of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s detention in the premium ward on the 14th floor of the Police General Hospital.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong said he would treat the planned censure debate as a good opportunity to tell his side of the story about the ministry’s alleged interference in correctional procedures.

Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri also said she, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit and the other deputy minister, Surapong Piyachote, are ready for the debate. She said all transport mega projects approved in the past two years under their care are accountable and in line with the government’s transport policies.

The prime targets in this censure debate will be Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai, said Sirikanya Tansakun, a list MP and deputy PP leader.

Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra will not be able to be detained outside of captivity if she comes back to the country because she has not yet met the new requirements for the soon-to-be-adopt alternative prison detention program, according to Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong on Tuesday.

Yingluck received a five-year prison sentence in August 2017, but only those who have served time in jail for more than four years may be eligible for the new confinement program, according to Pol Col Tawee, who refutes a past claim made by DoC director-general Sahakarn Phetnarin.

Yingluck, 57, was given a five-year prison sentence in absentia in 2017 after being found criminal by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Case Division for Holders of Political Positions for failing to stop fraud in her administration’s rice-pledging system, which cost the state about 500 billion ringgit in costs.

Since then, she has resided worldwide.

Nonetheless, the minister declined to comment when asked if Yingluck may be entitled should her sentence be voided as a result of a plea.

The minister cited the need for Thailand to adhere to international corrections guidelines as justification for pursuing the plan, noting that 50 of the country’s prisons are currently in really poor condition and that the majority of them are on average 90 years old.

Due to limited finances, just one innovative prison may be built each month, leaving the recent facilities overcrowded, he said.

” Many other countries have adopted similar programs”, he said.

According to a recent study conducted in Thailand, captives who have been permitted to remain detained outside of jail have a significantly lower level of incarceration than those who have received their whole sentences, he said.

The minister strongly refuted growing rumors that this incarceration solution was created specifically to help Yingluck’s returning to Thailand, saying that” the new choice wasn’t tailor-made for any particular person but for all who are eligible for it.”

There are some issues that need to be resolved before the new confinement program may be unveiled, according to the minister, even though it appears to have received the majority of public hearings.

Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong stated on Tuesday that former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra will not be able to be detained outside of captivity if she reapprehends as prime minister because she has not yet met the new requirements for the soon-to-be-adopt alternative prison detention program.

Although Yingluck received a five-year prison sentence in August 2017, only those who have served time in prison that are not more than four years old may be eligible for the new confinement program, according to Pol Col Tawee, who refutes a past claim made by DoC director-general Sahakarn Phetnarin.

Yingluck, 57, was given a five-year prison sentence in absentia in 2017 after being found criminal by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Case Division for Holders of Political Positions for failing to stop fraud in her administration’s rice-pledging system, which cost the state about 500 billion ringgit in costs.

She has since moved worldwide.

The minister, however, declined to comment when asked if Yingluck may be eligible for a reduced statement following a petition.

The secretary cited the need for Thailand to adhere to international corrections guidelines as justification for pursuing the plan, noting that 50 of the country’s prisons are currently in really poor condition and that the majority of them are on average 90 years old.

Due to limited finances, just one innovative prison may be built each month, leaving the recent facilities overcrowded, he said.

” Some other countries have adopted similar programs”, he said.

According to a recent study conducted in Thailand, captives who have been permitted to remain detained outside of jail have a significantly lower level of incarceration than those who have received their whole sentences, he said.

The minister strongly refuted growing rumors that this incarceration solution was created to help Yingluck’s returning to Thailand, saying that” the new choice wasn’t tailor-made for any particular person but for all who are eligible for it.”

There are some issues that need to be resolved before the new detention program may be unveiled, according to the minister, even though it appears to have received most people sessions.

After receiving a negative response from the people since its release in November, the Finance Ministry is considering the future of the N3 jackpot.

The three-digit lottery ( N3 ), which was introduced in a bid to defeat illegal lotteries and expensive six-digit lottery tickets ( L6), did not perform as expected during its trial phase, according to deputy finance minister Julapun Amornvivat on Tuesday.

Launched on Nov 1 as part of a six-month” platform” program, the N3 jackpot offers cards priced at 20 ringgit each through 800 authorised retailers globally. The initiative sought to entice buyers by offering a legal alternative and to reduce annual underground lottery purchases by 10 % to 20 %.

But, sales have fallen short of projections, with just 1.17 million tickets sold last quarter compared to the five million cards available per pick.

Critics claim that N3 has neglected to solve important issues like the systemic problems in the raffle distribution system and the supremacy of middlemen in the L6 market.

After the platform period is over, Mr. Julapun stated that the impact of the N3 lottery would be carefully examined. If the results remain below anticipation, the state may withdraw the effort, he said.

Siam University will face legal action from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation ( MHESI) if it does not cooperate with a Chinese executive who is accused of carrying out a contentious volunteer police training program for Chinese citizens without the university’s permission.

MinisterSupamas Isarabhakdisaid on Tuesday that the university has already affirmed that it had no involvement in, or knowledge of, the programme and did not collect any fees, but the course was promoted using the university’s logo, which is a violation of the Private Higher Education Institutions Act BE 2546 (2003).

Last year, a Chinese executive made the revelation that he had planned the training program and had charged Chinese individuals 38, 000 baht each. The training was attended by more than 20 individuals. The school denied presence and asserted that it was a person’s deed.

The secretary emphasized that if the school didn’t report a problem, the government would move in and bring expenses against it.

Because there is no need to wait, the school may move the process as quickly as possible or within one to two weeks. We are all waiting for an answer”, she said.

She explained to the government that the school had informed the government that it was a one-time program, and that a disciplinary council should be established to investigate the Taiwanese executive. Its results might lead to a warning, pay calculation, or even a contract termination.

However, Siam University President Pornchai Mongkhonvanit claimed that the institution was the victim and did not participate in the program.

He claimed that the organization formed a fact-finding commission on January 3 after receiving the report on the contentious program held from December 25 through December 27. According to its findings, the voluntary police training program was run by an outsider with knowledge of various parties, including Metropolitan Police Bureau 3 police officers.

Li Zhang, Assistant to the President for International Activities of Siam University, was the planner. The job was never approved by the school, he said.

He said Mr Li even signed the letter presumably from the school, which, if true, should have been signed by the president or an assigned people. The training program did not provide any financial support to the school.

A 95-billion-baht project to improve the lower northeast Chao Phraya River water system, including Ayutthaya and Phathum Thani, to avoid floods has been approved by the National Water Resources Committee.

The council on Monday agreed with the Department of Royal Irrigation’s big project to improve water flowing along the lower Chao Phraya River in order to avoid storms in the area and the money, especially during the rainy season, according to Prasert Jantararuangtong, the deputy prime minister who presided over the regional water resources commission.

The job will increase the water river network of 22 rivers, with a full length of 462.80 km, quite as Khlong Raphiphat, Khlong Prawet Buri Rom and Khlong Dan.

He claimed that the project would involve improving the canals ‘ drainage and installing irrigation systems and pumping stations to better control the river’s flow before entering the Gulf of Thailand. The project will increase the river flow rate from the present 210 cubic meters per second ( m3/s ) to 400 m3/s, which will help to prevent and lessen flooding issues on 298, 250 acres of land in the lower Chao Phraya, crucial economic and community areas.

In addition, the 22 canals will have more capacity to store water during the dry season, increasing by 17 million cubic metres per year, he said.

He claimed that the Royal Irrigation Department and the Community Organization Development Institute ( Codi ) have collaborated on a plan to get rid of 4, 940 homes along the targeted canals.

The project will need 95 billion baht in investment, of which 76.5 billion baht will be a loan, and the rest will be allocated through the government budget.

The project is anticipated to begin the following year and be finished in 2031. It is a component of a strategy to lessen the social and economic repercussions of severe floods, which are anticipated to worsen.

A proposed visit by opposition People’s Party ( PP ) representatives to see four Thai trawler crew members being held in Myanmar will cause more harm than good, according to the Foreign Ministry.

On Tuesday, Vice Minister Russ Jalichandra stated that the government would not be able to stop PP party-listing MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, the president of the House’s Military Affairs Committee, from visiting the four. He further stated that he would have to ask for permission through political programmes.

He warns that the decision may cause misunderstandings because the Myanmar authorities might interpret it as putting stress and interfering, making it harder for the crew to be released. So, he asked Mr Wiroj to consider carefully and consider the consequences.

” Do not make women’s lives a democratic issue”, he said.

Prior to the incident in which a Thai fishing vessel was struck by a Myanmar ship off the Ranong beach on November 30, Mr. Wiroj stated he would inquire House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha to review his travel to the investigation of the facts of the case. The four Thai fishermen were taken into custody during the event. On January 4, Myanmar’s Independent Day, the authorities had anticipated that the four team members would be pardoned and released, but they were not.

According to Mr. Russ, the state acknowledged that their launch was still being pursued and that it anticipated their release on January 13.

Rangsiman Rome, a second PP record MP, said his committee will discuss the matter with the Royal Thai Navy and the Foreign Ministry on Thursday in his capacity as chairman of the House Committee on National Security, Border Affairs, National Strategy, and National Reform.

He argued that the government should employ every means to compel the Myanmar government to grant permission for the four Thai team members to return to their country.

The Thai government has made a number of mistakes in this case, including no protesting when the ship and its crew were taken, and citing the lack of clarity of the moderate.

This demonstrates that the government does not view the incident involving the Thai vehicle and its team as a serious problem.

He claimed that the government did not assist them with their legitimate situation.

Wants PM2.5 degrees lower than last year

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has instructed the government to address PM2.5 fine particulates and reduce the pollution levels this year from those of last year.

Following the weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Ms. Paetongtarn held a press conference at Government House to discuss the PM2.5 sand problem, as satellite images now show an increase in temperature areas and rising sand amounts in some regions.

The elite then urged sugar farmers and relevant ministries to put in place precise steps and to follow the instructions.

Last year, 70 % of dust pollution came from burning, but this year, the figure has dropped to 30–35 %, thanks to farmer cooperation efforts led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to reduce burning, she said.

The Transport Ministry has been instructed to track big cars that emit increased exhaust fumes and put strict controls on them, while the government has been instructed to concentrate on limiting fuel pollution.

The Ministry of Interior was given the task of instructing the provincial rulers, local administrative bodies, and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation ( DDPM) to make the best efforts possible in dealing with issues.

The primary minister assured that the government is working effectively across all industries as a result of the latest high public exposure.

Ms. Paetongtarn continued, citing the success of numerous organizations ‘ efforts and their belief in a significant reduction in pollution levels this year compared to last year.

The worst air pollution levels were detected in Bangkok on Tuesday night, with fine sand formation at “red” hazardous-to-health amounts in the money and opposite provinces.

At 10 a.m., the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency ( Gistda ) discovered particulates measuring 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter ( PM2.5 ) at an average of 88.6 microgrammes per cubic meters of air over the previous 24 hours in Bangkok. The government-set secure level is 37.5µg/m³. PM2.5 was at dark degrees in all 50 regions of the money. The worst, 96.7µg/m³, was in Bang Kho Laem city. Local regions of Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon and Pathum Thani even faced dark ranges of PM2.5- at 83.6, 80.9, 79.5 and 79.1µg/m ³ both. According to the Pollution Control Department, PM2.5 levels in Greater Bangkok will increase from Wednesday through Friday.