Barkar Nash (Page 441)

Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn on Sunday pledged to explore measures to prevent a potential collapse of the Social Security Fund (SSF) a decade from now as a result of insufficient funding.

According to the Thailand Development Research Institute and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the SSF currently has 2.6 trillion baht and is expected to grow to at least 4 trillion baht by 2034.

However, the fund’s growth does not mean it is sustainable because Thailand is facing a shrinking workforce of people who can contribute to the fund and an ageing population problem, he said.

In 30 years, the SSF could potentially be running out of money, he said.

Mr Phiphat said this spelt the need for relevant agencies to explore ways to strengthen the fund’s finances.

The proposed measures included increasing contributions to the fund, extending the retirement age from 55 to 60 and 65, and urging the healthy elderly to rejoin the workforce as part-time employees.

Mr Phiphat said another approach would be attracting more migrant workers from neighbouring countries to replace the shrinking workforce and encouraging them to join the social security system.

Mr Phiphat also suggested boosting social security investment returns, saying returns should be expanded to be about 7–8% per year by 2026 or 2027, an increase from 2.5–2.6% last year.

Currently, about 75% of the investments are in low-risk assets, despite the social security law allowing up to 40% of investments to be made in high-risk assets, he said.

According to the labour minister, the SSF management may need to change its investment strategy next year to invest more in high-risk assets as allowed by the law.

He also suggested the possibility of raising investments in high-risk assets to 50%.

“This will have to be discussed with the board of the Social Security Office [SSO] to determine if it’s possible to invest more in high-risk assets to potentially achieve higher returns,” he said.

He said the SSO held a brainstorming session in May to find solutions to boost the fund’s sustainability and the next session – with representatives of Singapore state investor Temasek and ILO invited to provide insights – is scheduled from Oct 24–25.

“I give priority to the SSF and we must look ahead and seek ways to prevent the problems. We now know what the situation will be like in 10 years and we must act,” he said.

The SSF covers various expenditures, such as accidents, illness, unemployment and retirement payments for qualifying members aged 55 and older with at least 15 years of membership.

LOP BURI – An 18-year-old man was mauled to death by three American Bully dogs owned by his brother at their family home in Muang Lop Buri of this central province.

The incident took place on Friday night when Adisak Chansakulnee entered a room on the second floor of the house where the three dogs, aged two, were kept. Abhisit, 23, the deceased’s older brother, had brought the dogs from Bangkok about a week previously, said Pol Maj Nattapong Wongwang, a police investigator at Tha Hin police station.

Footage from a security camera in the room showed Adisak went in to play with the American Bully dogs shortly before they began to attack and bite him. Adisak fled to a room on the first floor but failed to close the door in time. The dogs followed him into the room and bit him to death.

Police found bite marks on Adisak’s head and limbs. His skull had been opened up and both ears were missing. Pol Maj Nattapong said Adisak was alone when the attack occurred. He had been dead for more than 12 hours before his mother and brother, who tried to phone him, returned home to find his body with the three dogs in the same room.

Mr Abhisit told police that his pet dogs had never been this aggressive before and his brother had played with them previously.

“Perhaps the dogs were did not know my brother well and he may not have known how to play with them. Or they wanted to protect their sleeping area,” Mr Abhisit said.

After the incident, the dogs were kept in their room for further inspection by experts. 

Election Commission (EC) chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong said he has not seen any anonymous request for the dissolution of the coalition-core Pheu Thai Party as earlier reported.

Mr Ittiporn made the clarification during his visit to Ratchaburi province on Sunday. He said that he had not seen such a request as earlier reported and the Office of the EC had not informed him there was such a request.

When the EC receives a complaint, it will consider if there is a case. If there is, the EC will form a probe committee to handle the investigation, Mr Ittiporn said.

The investigation can happen even if a petitioner is anonymous, the EC chairman said.

Last week Wisuth Chainarun, head of Pheu Thai Party MPs, said he was aware that a petition was lodged with the EC seeking the party’s dissolution by the Constitutional Court.

The complainant, who reportedly asked for anonymity when making the complaint on Aug 19, alleged the main coalition party had allowed itself to remain under the influence of Thaksin, an ex-convict who is no longer a party member.

The complaint referred to the organic law governing political parties under which it is illegal for a person who is not a member to control, dominate or instruct party activities in a way that causes the party or its members to be directly or indirectly influenced.

Election Commission chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong

Election Commission (EC) chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong said he has not yet seen any anonymous request for the dissolution of the coalition-core Pheu Thai Party as earlier reported.

Mr Ittiporn made the clarification during his visit to Ratchaburi province on Sunday. He said that he had not yet seen such a request as earlier reported and the Office of the EC had not informed him there was such a request.

When the EC receives a complaint, it will consider if there is a case. If there is, the EC will form a probe committee to handle the investigation, Mr Ittiporn said.

The investigation can happen even if a petitioner is anonymous, the EC chairman said.

Last week Wisuth Chainarun, head of Pheu Thai Party MPs, said he was aware that a petition was lodged with the EC seeking the party’s dissolution by the Constitutional Court.

The complainant, who reportedly asked for anonymity when making the complaint on Aug 19, alleged the main coalition party had allowed itself to remain under the influence of Thaksin, an ex-convict who is no longer a party member.

The complaint referred to the organic law governing political parties under which it is illegal for a person who is not a member to control, dominate or instruct party activities in a way that causes the party or its members to be directly or indirectly influenced.

Election Commission chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong

PHUKET – Local authorities are warning people to be careful on Patong beach after dozens of venomous bluebottle jellyfish washed up on the shoreline.

The Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center (Upper Andaman Sea) said it received a report of venomous jellyfish off Patong beach on Saturday evening. DMCR officials and lifeguards from Patong Surf Life Saving descended on the popular beach and found 40 bluebottles in the shallow water, pushed towards the shore by strong winds. However, there had yet to be reports of stings. 

The DMCR distributed warning leaflets to the public, local entrepreneurs and tourists, urging swimmers to take extra precautions to avoid being stung by the bluebottles. Lifeguards were ready to provide first aid for jellyfish stings and would keep a close eye on the presence of jellyfish in the water.

A bluebottle jellyfish sting can cause intense pain, whip-like lines and sores on areas of skin touched by the jellyfish tentacles. For first aid, experts suggest washing the sting site with seawater and immersing the affected area in hot water (as in a hot shower) for 20 minutes, or covering it with a dry cold pack for pain relief. Vinegar should not be used, they say. 

Flooding continued to afflict three northern provinces and a northeastern province in Thailand on Sunday.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation on Sunday reported flooding in Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok and Sukhothai provinces in the North and Nong Khai province in the Northeast.

According to Chaiwat Chuntirapong, director-general of the department, the floodwater resulted from persistent rain and affected 3,979 families in 223 villages in the four provinces.

By provinces, flooding continued in:

• Chiang Rai: in Khun Tan, Phaya Mengrai, Thoeng and Wiang Kaen districts
• Nong Khai: Muang, Ratana Wapi, Sangkhom, Sri Chiang Mai and Tha Bo districts
• Phitsanulok: Bang Rakam and Phrom Phiram districts
• Sukhothai: Kong Krailat, Muang, Sawankhalok, Sri Nakhon, Sri Samrong and Sri Satchanalai districts
• Flood levels were declining in Chiang Rai, Sukhothai and Nong Khai but rising in Phitsanulok.

Meanwhile, a Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation branch in the northern province of Chiang Mai reported run-off from Doi Moncham mountain hit seven villages in Mae Rim district on Saturday night. Residents and visitors were briefly evacuated from their accomodation. The deluges flowed into the Ping River.

Since Aug 16 flooding and run-off has affected 23 provinces, killed 22 people and injured 19 others.

Dept takes back 5 rai in Phuket

The Royal Forest Department (RFD) on Saturday seized about 5 rai of land at the top of Nak Koet hill in Phuket’s Muang district believed to be linked to the Aug 23 landslides that killed 13 people.

Sorasak Rananan, director of Phuket’s Royal Forest Centre, said the land, located in the Wat Phra Yai temple ground, was part of a reserve forest.

An initial investigation found a car park was built in the monastery area without permission.

Mr Sorasak said the RFD has filed the complaint with the Karon police station and the land seizure has been declared.

A land encroachment charge had been pressed against the Phra Ming Mongkul Satthra 45 Foundation, the operator of the hilltop temple, he said.

Karon police chief Pol Col Khundet na Nongkhai said an investigation has been conducted to find out whether the temple was responsible for the incident.

The landslides following heavy rains in the early hours of Aug 23 resulted in 13 deaths and more than 50 damaged properties.

The incident prompted local forest authorities to formally lodge a complaint against those responsible.

Suphon Wanitchakun, the president of the Phra Ming Mongkul Satthra 45 Foundation, has been summoned for a police inquiry on Thursday, said Pol Col Khundet.

Bannarak Soemthong, deputy director-general of the RFD, said that, in 2020, the temple formally requested permission to build a gigantic Buddha statue on a 15-rai plot of land. The permission is still pending the cabinet’s consideration, he said.

Normally, when such a request to make use of a forest area is received, the cabinet has to ask all state agencies concerned for their opinions before deciding whether to approve it, he said.

The land other than the plot pending permission needed to be confiscated, and those who encroached on it must face legal action, Mr Bannarak said.

As for those who want to visit the hilltop monastery, they are advised to avoid visiting the site for now.