Barkar Nash (Page 907)

Police have warned about a new scam where call centre gangs trick students into sending fake abduction video clips of themselves, which are then used to get money from their parents.

Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang, special adviser to the Royal Thai Police (RTP), yesterday gave details about this new type of scam where call centre gangs target university students living alone in apartments.

A gang would make a phone call via voice over internet protocol (VoIP), mostly beginning with the numbers +697 and +698 and randomly call victims, Pol Lt Gen Sompong said.

They use the same technique of telling their victims that they were involved in an illegal activity. During the call, if they find the receiver is a university student, who lives alone and does not have money, the gang will suggest to the victim a way out, he said.

Pol Lt Gen Sompong said they told each victim to buy a new mobile phone SIM card and record a clip of the victim being tied by a rope or duct tape and send the clip to the gang.

The gang then contacts the victim’s parents and sends them the video clip with a demand for money.

The parents cannot contact their child, so they transfer money to either a mule account or their child’s account, which is later transferred to the scammer gang, he said.

Pol Lt Gen Sompong urged people to be more prudent and not fall for such scams.

He also suggested people download the “Who’s Call” mobile application to help verify mobile phone numbers and inform the police at 191 or call centre of Police Cyber Task Force centre at 1441 or 081-866-3000 about suspected scam calls.

Parliament president Wan Muhamad Noor Matha yesterday promised to help address the concerns of Thai students in Indonesia over complaints they cannot apply for a job in the public sector with the degrees they have earned there.

He was speaking after a meeting with a group of Thai students in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, where he led a delegation of parliamentarians to attend the 44th Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

Mr Wan said the students urged parliament and the government to help resolve issues concerning their education degrees earned from abroad.

Some courses or fields of study are not recognised by the education ministry, and they are required to seek a certificate equivalent to a degree or study more if they want to apply for a job in the public sector, said Mr Wan.

He said the students’ concerns would be brought to the attention of the House of Representatives so they would be properly addressed, but he also advised the students to submit the issue to the House.

“An issue like this has been handled before,” he said. “There is a case of a medical graduate from abroad whose degree wasn’t recognised. He is currently required to work at a designated hospital for one or two years, take the required exams, and get a licence.”

Mr Wan said more than 1,000 Thai students are studying in Indonesia, but only 10 are enrolled at universities in Jakarta, while the others are studying in cities where living costs are lower.

Nura-ayanee Samoh, who studies at Muhammadiyah in Jakarta, said she hoped all Thai graduates from overseas, regardless of their field of study, could apply for jobs in the public sector without having to get a certificate equivalent to a degree or study more.

Sulfar Mani, who studies at UIN Jakarta, said he asked Mr Wan to see what he could do to help students deal with the high cost of living and to coordinate with them on visa renewals.

The Public Health Ministry has sent 20 million baht in funding to Umphang Hospital in Tak province to assist in the medical emergency along the Thai-Myanmar border after the hospital was reported to be facing a financial crisis and had lost 40 million baht of its liquidity.

Dr Opas Kankawinpong, the health ministry’s permanent secretary, said the political turmoil in Myanmar had caused an influx of ethnic people across the Thai border. Many have turned to Umphang Hospital for help causing a spike in its operating costs.

He said the Public Health Ministry sent the 20 million baht in funding in July to ease the situation temporarily.

Dr Opas noted the lack of liquidity stemmed from the political unrest in ethnic states in Myanmar, which resulted in a large number of migrants seeking refuge in Thailand and requesting medical help.

“I have assigned officials to investigate whether local hospitals along the Thai-Myanmar border are facing the same situation as Umphang Hospital and for them to draw up solutions,” said Dr Opas.

He added that Umphang Hospital is listed under the “One Province One Hospital” scheme, where hospitals in each health district share medical staff, budgets and resources to support one another.

On Aug 9, Dr Worawit Tantiwattanasap, director of Umphang Hospital, said the 2023 fiscal year marks the first time in three decades that the hospital has over 40 million baht in deficit, largely resulting from its treatment of immigrant patients.

Some 25% of migrant inpatients and half of migrant outpatients reportedly cannot afford their medical bills.

Many patients were hospitalised due to the outbreak of fighting in the Kawkareik border town of Myanmar’s Karen State as well as an ongoing malaria flare-up, said Dr Worawit.

Besides, he added that more migrants have come to Tak province to have their babies delivered.

Umphang Hospital has settled a community isolation programme in Myanmar to slow down migration to Thailand. However, the operating cost of the programme cannot be reimbursed from the Public Health Ministry, resulting in a deficit of the hospital’s budget.

Umphang Hospital gets B20m lifeline as more people flee conflict in Myanmar

The Ministry of Public Health has sent 20 million baht to Umphang Hospital in Tak province to help it cover the increased costs of treating the rising number of migrants fleeing the conflict in neighbouring Myanmar.

The hospital has been facing an increase in operating costs, putting a strain on liquidity and resulting in a deficit of 40 million baht, said Dr Opas Kankawinpong, the ministry’s permanent secretary.

“I have assigned officials to investigate if other local hospitals along the Thai-Myanmar border are facing the same situation as Umphang Hospital and for them to draw up solutions,” he said on Friday.

Umphang Hospital is listed under the “One Province One Hospital” scheme, under which hospitals in each health district share medical staff, budgets and resources to support one another.

Dr Worawit Tantiwattanasap, the director of Umphang Hospital, said on Thursday that this was the first year in three decades that the hospital has faced such a large deficit resulting from treatment for migrant patients from Myanmar.

One-quarter of migrant inpatients and half of migrant outpatients cannot afford medical bills, he added.

Many patients have been admitted to hospital because of the conflict in the border town of Kawkareik in Karen state and the ongoing malaria outbreak, said Dr Worawit.

As well, he said, more migrants have been crossing the border to give birth to their children as conditions at hospitals in Myanmar have deteriorated since the military coup two years ago.

Umphang Hospital has set up a community isolation programme in Myanmar in an effort to slow down migration to Thailand. However, the operating cost of the programme cannot be reimbursed from the public health ministry, resulting in a deficit in the hospital’s budget.

Total of B107 million now available to help rebuild damaged community in Narathiwat

The prime minister has approved an additional allocation of 64 million baht to help victims of the fireworks warehouse explosion last month in Narathiwat, a spokesman said on Friday.

The latest grant brings the total awarded to the victims of the July 29 incident to 107 million baht, said Anucha Nakhasai, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office who chaired a meeting of disaster relief fund board.

The funds will be spent on rebuilding or repairing victims’ houses as well as on providing other necessary aid, he said.

Caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha last week visited the stricken community in Sungai Kolok district of Narathiwat and assured residents that financial support was being expedited. He also asked his office to consider whether to grant additional funds.

The blast killed 12 people and injured 389, while three schools were destroyed and 682 houses damaged.

Sompong Nakul, 42, and his wife Piyanuch Puengwirawat, 42, the owners of the illegal warehouse, surrendered to police after returning from Malaysia last Saturday.

The couple were initially charged with negligence causing deaths, importing and/or selling fireworks without a permit and violating the Emergency Decree in the southern region.

Party sees 10,000-baht handout for millions as a key to economic upturn

The Pheu Thai Party intends to reintroduce its 10,000-baht digital wallet programme once the government it is forming takes office, says deputy secretary-general Paopoom Rojanasakul.

The party shelved the policy after finishing second in the May 14 election, as the social welfare policies of the election-winning Move Forward Party were given priority when the latter was attempting to put together a coalition government.

“Now the situation has changed and Pheu Thai is now the core (of a new coalition),” Mr Paopoom said on Friday. “Today, the party would like to officially declare that it will move ahead with the digital wallet policy, using blockchain technology.

The policy involves a 10,000-baht digital handout to every Thai aged 16 and over, delivered to a smartphone. The digital money can only be spent within a four-kilometre radius of recipients’ homes and is valid for six months.

“There would be no problems for those without access to this application as they could use their national ID card to get a personal code instead,” Mr Paopoom said.

Thailand would be among the very first countries to introduce this form of digital payment, he said.

Responding to criticism from some economists who believe the policy would cause inflation, Mr Paopoom said the Pheu Thai economic team had carefully evaluated the programme and believed there would be no negative effects on the country’s financial security. It would instead spur major economic growth, he said.

In parallel with the digital handout, a capital market and securities exchange commission for digital assets would be set up, he added.

“That is to say, we will go ahead with the digital wallet scheme and make it fully operational for the benefit of the country,” he said.

Srettha Thavisin, who is expected to be nominated as the party’s prime ministerial candidate, declared during the election campaign that the 10,000-baht handout would unleash an “economic tsunami” of consumption, delivering benefits to many sectors of the economy.

He defended the cost of the policy, which the party has put at 560 billion baht, saying it was on par with the promises of other parties that were pledging to raise social welfare payments by other means.

The Thai Chamber of Commerce has predicted a GDP boost of 2.5% or more from the fund infusion. It suggested that the digital wallet rollout should start with low-income earners. It could then be expanded to entrepreneurs and small business operators on condition that they are registered in the tax system.

KANCHANABURI: Khao Laem National Park in Sangkhla Buri district is gearing up for an influx of tourists during this three-day holiday, as entry fees for national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across the country will be waived for Thais on Mother’s Day on Aug 12, the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother.

Abhisit Sombatmat, head of the 1,500-square-kilometre national park, said on Friday that more than 30 park officials are prepared to ensure convenience and safety for visitors from Saturday to Monday.

Khao Laem National Park is expected to welcome at least 1,000 visitors a day during the holiday period, he said.

Popular destinations, such as as Kroeng Krawia and Dai Chong Tong waterfalls and Phom Pee viewpoint, are still magnets for tourists. These attractions are located along Highway 323 (Thong Pha Phum – Sangkhla Buri route).

Other well-known attractions along this route include Saphan Mon, the country’s largest wooden bridge spanning the Song Kalia River, Wat Wangwiwekaram, also known as the underwater temple, and the Three Pagodas Pass at the border with Myanmar, Mr Abhisit said.

On Mother’s Day, Thais will have free access to national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and non-hunting areas nationwide.

Kroeng Krawia Waterfall inside Khao Laem National Park in Kanchanaburi province. (Photo: Piyarat Chongcharoen)

Kroeng Krawia Waterfall is one of the popular attractions at Khao Laem National Park. (Photo: Piyarat Chongcharoen)

Wat Wangwiwekaram is a well-known tourist destination in Kanchanaburi’s Sangkhla Buri district. (Photo: Piyarat Chongcharoen)

Myanmar workers cross the Three Pagods Pass. (Photo: Commerce Ministry)

Politicians, military and police top brass as well as close associates extended their best wishes to caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon who celebrated his 78th birthday on Friday.

The event took place at the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Bangkok. 

Caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and caretaker Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda were among the well-wishers.

Gen Prayut and Gen Anupong had breakfast with Gen Prawit and presented him with a wind-up miniature carousel of eight blue horses. The trio are known as the “Three Por” generals.

Gen Anupong told reporters that the carousel horses symbolise everlasting happiness.

Senate Speaker Pornpetch Wichitcholchai also joined them for breakfast.

Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul and his deputy Chada Thaiseth arrived at 10am, followed by Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) secretary-general Thamanat Prompow and all PPRP MPs at 11pm.

Gen Prawit’s close associates from various circles and other politicians were also present to mark the occasion.

Caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsowon and Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda at the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation for Gen Prawit’s 78th birthday. Below, a set of miniature carousel horses presented to Gen Prawit as a birthday gift by Gen Prayut and Gen Anupong. (Photos: Wassana Nanuam)

The caretaker government should maintain the traditional code of ethics and strictly comply with the constitution by not transferring any of the high-level officials, particularly permanent secretaries for various ministries, while a new government is in the process of taking over the country’s administration, Pheu Thai Party deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai said in his statement issued on Friday.

He reminds the caretaker government under Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha that it is duty-bound to follow the constitution, which prohibits it from approving any project that could create a tie-over responsibility for the new government as well as from transferring or appointing high-level officials. Doing so may affect the new government’s efforts to implement its policies, he said.

It would not be reasonable to claim that they are near to mandatory retirements, as it is not yet the end of the fiscal year, he added.

Mr Phumtham said it is necessary for the new government to implement its policies which have been presented to the people, starting from the first day of it taking office. Government officials, he said, are important mechanisms to steer the policies into actual practice, especially the country’s economic problems involving all business groups that must be quickly dealt with.

The permanent secretaries for all ministries, in particular, are most important mechanisms for the new government’s administration, he said.

To all permanent secretaries, Mr Phumtham said: “In order for the new government to quickly achieve its objectives, it is necessary that you delay appointments of high-level officials during this time and wait for the new government to come with new policies.”

Pheu Thai is currently acting as the core for the formation of a new government, after the May 14 general election winner Move Forward Party’s nomination of Pita Limjaroenrat for the post of prime minister failed to get parliamentary endorsement.