Barkar Nash (Page 994)

More high-speed lines in provinces, cheap day passes to spur BTS use in Bangkok

The Democrat Party says it will push for inter-provincial railways and high-speed rail line expansion if it joins a coalition government after the election.

Samart Ratchapolsitte, a deputy party leader, told a press conference on Wednesday that Thailand’s logistics costs were about 14% of gross domestic product (GDP), while those of countries that have advanced railway systems are only 8-9% of GDP.

He said Thai transport still relied heavily on cars and trucks while railways offer a cheaper mode of transport.

The Democrat Party plans to support the State Railway of Thailand’s bid to expand double-track railway construction to cover 61 provinces, up from 47, he said.

By 2027, he said, there will be seven double-track railway lines stretching for 4,722 kilometres, cutting logistics costs to 12% of GDP.

If the Democrat Party gets to oversee the Transport Ministry in the next government, both large and medium-sized contractors will have chances to bid for megaprojects, said Mr Samart.

The Transport Ministry in the outgoing administration was overseen by the Bhumjaithai Party.

Mr Samart also said his party would push for the completion of the high-speed rail line from Nong Khai to Nakhon Ratchasima within six years.

The project could bring as many as 2 million Chinese travellers per year into the country via the high-speed rail line that already runs through Laos, he said.

The party also plans to develop areas next to high-speed train stations as smart and low-carbon cities.

Mr Samart said improved transport in regional cities would eventually lead to more revenue for local people and businesses.

In Bangkok, he said that the number of BTS passengers is only about 1.2 million per day while it should be around 2-3 million.

The Democrat Party is considering endorsing a 50-baht one-day pass on the BTS to attract more passengers.

Pisit Lee-ahtam, a former deputy finance minister and the president of the Democrats’ economic policy team, said the party also aims to make Hat Yai in Songkhla a new financial hub in the region.

He said Hat Yai should be connected to Singapore by a high-speed train as the city has the potential to grow bigger as a financial hub.

“The Democrat Party wins most constituency seats in the South, therefore, we have to push this policy as much as we can,” Mr Pisit said. “However, there must also be a revision of the tax law and the development of a data centre.”

Samart Ratchapolsitte, a deputy Democrat Party leader, says a 50-baht one-day pass could get many more people to ride the BTS system in Bangkok. (Photo: Democrat Party Facebook)

Pheu Thai’s face is prepared for the decisive push, armed with the” secret power” of motherhood.

On Wednesday, Paetongtarn Shinawatra praised her young son as her” key power” and declared that she was eager to rejoin the Pheu Thai Party’s election system.

She told reporters at Praram 9 Hospital in Bangkok, where she gave birth to a boy on Monday, that she was” very ready to return to the system.” In the May 14 vote, she said,” We need to make the landslide happen for Pheu Thai.”

In studies of voters’ preferred choice of chief minister, Thaksin Shinawatra’s 36-year-old sister has placed first or second, and Pheu Thai, the most recent iteration of the organization started by her uncle, is in the lead in most opinion surveys.

This is a gift for my family because, in her words to the media,” I believe that good things come with infants.”

” My kids are my hidden potential to work and live life.”

Ms. Paetongtarn, who was severely female, was a near-constant position at campaign rallies in the sweltering heat up until just one month before giving birth.

The initial introduction is for Ms. Paetongtarn and her father Pitaka Suksawat, a commercial aircraft, and is given the name” Thasin” in honor of her father. The few had a child when they got married in March 2019.

She talked about how she felt when she delivered him securely after his heart price dropped while he was in labor.

” Once I heard his cries, I started crying.” I was relieved that he was secure. I’m glad he’s stable, she said.

The campaign news was less positive, though, as the most recent National Institute of Development Administration ( Nida ) poll revealed Ms. Paetongtarn trailing Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat among the front-runners for prime minister for the first time.

Pita was the choice of 35.4 % of determined voters, compared to 29.2 % for Pheu Thai’s first prime ministerial candidate, according to a nationwide survey of 2,500 people.

Pheu Thai still leads Move Forward in party preferences by 38 % to 34 %, but the gap is closing.

When asked about a Move Forward ally, Ms. Paetongtarn responded that Pheu Thai did meet” with events that support our guidelines” and reiterated that she would not support rivals with military support.

Pheu Thai won the majority of votes in the most recent election in 2019, but to retain power, coup leader Prayut Chan-o-Cha put together a coalition with the backing of 249 senators who had been appointed by the war.

Thaksin, who left Thailand in 2008 before receiving a sentence for corruption charges he claims are politically motivated, may now return to the country, according to rumors raised by the Shinawatra family’s most recent component.

According to Ms. Paetongtarn, her 73-year-old parents wants to go back to Thailand but avoids elections once more.

He frequently expresses a desire to raise his children at home. She claimed that he never expressed a desire to go back home and become prime minister.

Other former provincial officials get lesser sentences

Former Yala governor Teera Mintrasak has been sentenced to eight years in prison for malfeasance in the purchase of bogus GT200 bomb detectors from 2007-2009.

He was found guilty and sentenced by the Region 9 Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases.

Teera was one of 12 defendants in the case. The 11 others, all former officials in the province, were given prison terms ranging from nine months to four years and nine months.

Kosolwat Intuchanyong, deputy spokesman of the Office of the Attorney General, said the court announced its judgement in the case on Tuesday.

The case was filed with the court in 2021. Prosecutors charged the 12 defendants with malfeasance under Section 157 of the Criminal Code in purchases of GT200 bomb detectors under two contracts.

The court found them guilty as charged and sentenced Mr Teera, the 1st defendant, to eight years, the 2nd-4th defendants to four years, the 5th defendant to nine months, the 6th-7th defendants to four years and nine months and the 8th-12th defendants to four years in jail without suspension.

The court also ordered them to pay compensation for the damages incurred.

The matter is not yet final. The defendants can each appeal the ruling, Mr Kosolwat said.

The case against the Yala officials was one of many involving state agencies’ procurement of GT200 bomb detectors during 2007-2009.

In September 2018, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) wrapped up its investigations into the 16 cases and forwarded reports and recommendations to prosecutors.

According to the DSI, the distributors of the bomb detectors persuaded several government agencies to buy them. The department found evidence of fraud and deception in these cases.

The damaged parties included the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS), Royal Thai Army Ordnance Department, Customs Department, Provincial Administration Department, Royal Thai Aide-De-Camp Department, Provincial Police of Sing Buri and Chai Nat, Songkhla Provincial Administration, Royal Thai Navy Security Centre and five provincial administrations – Phitsanulok, Phetchaburi, Phuket, Yala and Sukhothai.

Court rulings have been made on some of these cases.

On March 10 this year, the National Anti-Corruption Commission passed a resolution to file a lawsuit against former top forensic official Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan and other CFIS officials in connection with the fake bomb detector procurements.

Khunying Porntip was CIFS director during the procurement of GT200 bomb detectors from 2007-2009.

Suspicions about the devices arose when the National Science and Technology Development Agency tested the devices and found they did not contain any electronic components, leading to the investigations into the purchases of GT200s by state agencies. It became a major national scandal. 

At-risk populations are urged to receive both virus shots and Covid booster shots.

In order to immunize susceptible organizations, the National Health Security Office is getting ready to purchase an extra 860, 000 flu vaccine doses, bringing the reserve to 5.26 million.

The NHSO is asking for a funding of 105.2 million baht for the 860,000 quantities in order to increase public access to the vaccine, according to secretary-general Jadet Thammathat-aree on Wednesday.

In response to the rise in Covid – 19 cases following the Songkran event and the general public’s awareness of influenza immunization, he stated that the demand for influenza vaccines among the” 608″ at-risk team is higher than other sets. He was referring to people over 60 and those with 8 underlying medical conditions.

Flu shots did cost 20 baht per woman as a service charge.

In addition to the virus vaccine, the NHSO is getting ready to give seniors and people with underlying illnesses Covid-19 photos.

The monthly Covid – 19 burden is increasing as the nation transitions to the rainy season, which is also the influenza season. This is according to caretaker minister of public health Anutin Charnvirakul.

To avoid serious symptoms, the Ministry of Public Health announced on April 20 that everyone should receive the Covid-19 boost shot and the virus vaccine, particularly those in the 608 organizations and pregnant women.

Mr. Anutin added that the government was making every effort to reduce the immunization budget in order to obtain more flu vaccine doses.

Free Covid – 19 booster shots are being offered by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration at the ICS Lifestyle Complex across from the Iconsiam looking center.

Thavida Kamolvech, the deputy governor of Bangkok, stated on Wednesday that the assets has recently experienced an average of 1, 000 Covid infections per day, which is 10 years the monthly total seen in late March.

There is a chance that Covid – 19 cases will increase as the latest school period begins around mid-month, according to Ms. Thavida.

The newly developed Moderna bivalent booster shots are available to perfectly immunized individuals at the ICS immunization service, which opened on May 1 and can support 400 to 500 individuals per day.

To get a vaccine, Thais over the age of 12 must present an ID card and immigrants their card or other supporting documentation. Thai members are exempt from the shot, while foreigners are charged 1, 380 ringgit per person.