Asia (Page 20)

new strategies to meet growing desire

After seeing an increase in passenger numbers of more than 14 % during the new year, the Transport Ministry has mandated that the Department of Airports ( DoA ) take more steps to support travelers.

According to Deputy Minister Manaporn Charoensri, the DoA reported on Tuesday that there were 319, 275 passengers traveling between December 27 and January 2, an increase of 14.12 % from the same period last year.

The DoA oversees 26 flights, which generally operate private planes to Krabi, Khon Kaen and Lampang flights. Airports of Thailand ( AoT ) manage six significant international gateways, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket airports.

Ms. Manaporn described how smoothly the transportation of public transportation from the flights to the cities or tourist attractions was done. People were satisfied with the companies, including the” Residing Airports” project including improving service, having designated areas for selling local materials and integrating local traditions into the airport culture, she added.

The government so mandated that the DoA implement more measures to help travellers and ensure their safety.

Ms. Manaporn stated that the DoA will make it easier to install an explosives detection system ( EDS ), a machine that checks checked baggage for explosives, in all airports under the DoA.

She claimed that 22 airports have already used the program. The DoA may also utilize an automated check-in system to make checking-in faster. To increase demand, the department may increase the number of daily flights.

Danai Raungsorn, DoA director-general, said Krabi Airport handled the most passengers during the New Year with 72, 620, followed by Udon Thani Airport ( 41, 785 ), Khon Kaen Airport ( 33, 562 ), Ubon Ratchathani Airport ( 31, 048 ), and Surat Thani Airport ( 29, 779 ).

With 477 commercial flights, Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport recorded the most commercial flights, followed by Udon Thani Airport ( 268 ), Ubon Ratchathani and Khon Kaen airports ( 202 ), Surat Thani Airport ( 22 ), and Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport ( 188 ).

new strategies to meet growing desire

After the New Year’s Eve increase of more than 14 %, the Transport Ministry has mandated that the Department of Airports ( DoA ) take more steps to support travelers.

According to Deputy Minister Manaporn Charoensri, the DoA reported on Tuesday that there were 319, 275 passengers traveling between December 27 and January 2, an increase of 14.12 % over the same time last year.

The DoA oversees 26 flights, which generally operate private planes to Krabi, Khon Kaen and Lampang flights. Airports of Thailand ( AoT ) manage six of the world’s busiest airports, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket.

Ms. Manaporn described the smooth operation of the public transportation system between the terminals and tourist destinations. People were satisfied with the companies, including the” Residing Airports” project including improving service, having designated areas for selling local materials and integrating local traditions into the airport culture, she added.

The government thus mandated that the DoA implement more measures to help travellers and ensure their safety.

Ms. Manaporn stated that the DoA will make it easier to install an explosives detection system ( EDS ), a machine that checks checked baggage for explosives, in all airports under the DoA.

She claimed that 22 flights have now rolled out the system. The DoA may also employ an involuntary check-in system to make checking-in faster. To help with higher desire, the department may increase the number of daily flights.

Danai Raungsorn, DoA director-general, said Krabi Airport handled the most passengers during the New Year with 72, 620, followed by Udon Thani Airport ( 41, 785 ), Khon Kaen Airport ( 33, 562 ), Ubon Ratchathani Airport ( 31, 048 ), and Surat Thani Airport ( 29, 779 ).

With 477 commercial flights, Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport recorded the most commercial flights, followed by Udon Thani Airport ( 268 ), Ubon Ratchathani and Khon Kaen airports ( 202 ), Surat Thani Airport ( 22 ), and Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport ( 188 ).

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.