Barkar Nash (Page 893)

Manager suspended pending investigation into complaint by bereaved employee

The InterContinental Khao Yai Resort has offered its condolences to a former employee who was reportedly treated unfairly by her manager and threatened when she requested time off to care for her dying mother.

“One of our colleagues has recently lost her mother and we want to express our profound sympathy and support for her and her grieving family,” the resort wrote in a statement it released in response to the widespread criticism it received online.

The statement said resort management were investigating the manager’s conduct and reassured the employee her job was safe.

On Aug 16, Kodchakorn Tongbangprong posted screenshots of her Line chat history with her manager, showing her request to take business leave to nurse her dying mother, and later to organise the funeral.

However, the manager replied that Ms Kodchakorn should send in her resignation letter once her business leave was over. The post sparked debate on social media platforms, with many questioning how the manager could treat one of her subordinates so callously.

In the statement on its official Facebook page, the InterContinental Khao Yai said it had suspended a member of staff while continuing its investigation into the manager’s conduct.

On the same day, Ms Kodchakorn told the media that she had informed her manager days before her mother fell gravely ill that she might have to take leave.

She said she had texted the manager earlier, saying she would like to take one more day off to stay with her mother. However, the manager rejected Ms Kodchakorn’s request because she could not find a replacement for her.

Ms Kodchakorn’s mother passed away that same day at around 6pm when Ms Kodchakorn got back to the resort in Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima.

Upgrades part of plan to double annual flight handling capacity to 2 million by 2037

The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai) has set a budget of 4.2 billion baht for the fiscal years 2024-27 to develop an aviation traffic system across 39 airports.

Aerothai aims to upgrade the capacity of airports to be able to handle more flights, ultimately doubling the number to 2 million flights per year by 2037, president Nopasit Chakpitak said on Friday.

The budget will be invested in two major projects. One involves a data backup system costing about 3 billion baht including hardware. The cabinet has approved the project and Aerothai expects to start it in fiscal 2024, which begins on Oct 1. The project is expected to be completed in 2027, he said.

The other project involves an air traffic control tower at U-tapao airport in Rayong, costing 1.2 billion baht. The tower is scheduled to be completed in 2027. The airport will be able to accommodate up to 2 million passengers in 2027, with further development planned to increase annual capacity to 50 million passengers by 2037.

Mr Nopasit said Aerothai is also in talks with the governments of Laos and China to increase flight frequencies. It aims to double the number of flights from China to around 600,000 a year.

If the talks are successful, Aerothai will be able to also double increase its annual revenue from flight services to 6 billion baht in the future.

He said Aerothai will also hold talks with the Royal Thai Navy, the owner of U-tapao, about security and future investments in the airport such as radar and safety systems.

In addition, Aerothai is working on a new metroplex air traffic control plan to accommodate growing air traffic and improve the efficiency and safety at key airports.

The first phase involves restructuring the routes and airspace management of three major airports: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-tapao, he said.

Aerothai also plans to restructure routes and develop airspace management to enhance air traffic management at three international airports in the South: Phuket, Krabi and a new facility to be opened in Phangnga.

The company also plans to implement the metroplex air traffic plan in the North, at Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Lampang airports, he said.

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.