South-East Asia – Page 1010

Provincial election to gauge Thaksin”s popularity

On: June 30, 2024

PUBLISHED: 30 Jun 2024 at 14: 40

PATHUM THANI: On Sunday, the Pathum Thani provincial administrative organization ( PAO ) elected its president, and observers were expecting the results to show how popular former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the ruling Pheu Thai Party are.

Two of the main prospects are past Pathum Thani PAO leader Chan Puangpetch&nbsp, and his son Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit Toopkrajang.

Prior to 2020, Mr. Chan served as Pathum Thani PAO leader three times before being defeated by Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit, a past Bangkok police commissioner who at the moment had received help from Pheu Thai.

At Watpangiw School in Sam Khok area on Sunday night, Mr. Chan, who is now receiving support from Thaksin and the Pheu Thai Party led by Thaksin’s child Paetongtarn, cast his vote. He arrived together with his three sons.

In a public garden in the Thanyaburi area, Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit exercised his election rights in the same way.

In Pathum Thani, there are 949, 415 ready voters, and the results were anticipated on Sunday nights.

Prior to the PAO vote, political figures noted that Thaksin and Pheu Thai leaders had made appearances in Pathum Thani as part of the Pheu Thai plan. The descendant of Thaksin’s Thai Rak Thai party lost most House seats in the province to the Move Forward Party ( MFP ) in the May 14, 2023 general election.

MFP won the election, but the junta-appointed Senate prevented the MFP from assuming leadership, creating a coalition government under the leadership of Pheu Thai and factions affiliated with the defense. &nbsp,

But, polls indicate that more people now back the MFP and its key candidate for prime minister’s office than they did at the previous election. In addition, Pheu Thai’s reputation and its candidates for prime minister have been greatly diminished.

Police flat bombing kills 1, injures 3 in Yala

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 30, 2024

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 30 Jun 2024 at 12: 11

YALA: On Sunday morning, a bomb detonated in front of a police building in the Bannang Sata region of this southern frontier province killing at least one person and injuring three others.

Around 10:30 am, the blast occurred in front of the Bannang Sata authorities station’s apartment. The location is close to the Bannang Sata city company and a business, which are both in the city of Bannang Sata.

Glass windows and ceiling tiles in the apartment and near homes were impacted by the explosion. Authorities feared that more bombings might occur at the fire site.

Testimony thought it was a vehicle weapon. One car exploded in flames, and two other vehicles were damaged.

PM Srettha”s popularity continues to slide as Move Forward dominates: poll

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 30, 2024

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 30 Jun 2024 at 11: 34

According to a poll conducted by a Nida surveys, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has struggled to win over most voters as he continues to make regional and national visits to fix problems and encourage Thailand.

The poll released on Sunday&nbsp, showed only 12.85 % of voters supported the prime minister, a drop from 17.75 % in the previous survey. The daughter of convicted former prime minister Thaksin, who is on parole, saw her popularity decrease to 4.85 % from 6 %.

Every quarter, the National Institute of Development Administration conducts a review of the electorate’s favorite political figures. The next survey was released at the end of March.

In the study, the prime minister’s followers claimed that Mr. Srettha was a steadfast decision-maker who was determined to solve their issues. Ms Paetongtarn was praised for her vision, authority, knowledge and understanding of issues in the country.

This weekend, the prime minister will be in the north to address people ‘ issues. Only a few weeks after his same-week-long visit to northern counties, the journey was made.

In response to criticism, he has reduced his outside travels, but he claimed some were required to promote Thailand to investors and traders.

With 45.50 % of the vote, which is a little increase from the previous quarter poll, Pita Limjaroenrat, the party’s general advisor, still held the position of being the party’s leader over all candidates for prime minister.

The United Thai National Party leader, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, saw his popularity almost double to 6.85 % from 3.5 %, which was the big winner.

The sampled citizens said they admired Mr. Pita’s social philosophy and that they thought he had broadened his knowledge base. They supported Mr Pirapan for his legitimacy, saying he was fresh and fair.

Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of the Thai Sang Thai Party and Bhumjaithai head Anutin Chanvirakul were other possible candidates for excellent minister. However, some ‘ recognition was behind them.

The voter survey found that 20 % of the voters still did not believe any candidate was qualified to lead the state, which is the same proportion as the previous review.

Move Forward had the highest turnout among its members, 49.20 %, a slight increase from three months prior, while Pheu Thai dropped by five percentage points to 16.85 % from 22.10 %, which is higher than that.

2, 000 incomprehensible voters were surveyed by the poll’s Sunday survey between June 14 and June 18

Floods, rain affect flights in Phuket

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 30, 2024

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 30 Jun 2024 at 11: 24

PHUKET: From 7 am, continual rain caused flooding in the Phuket airport and caused flooding in the province’s holiday island.

Because planes had no idea of the airport, Phuket airport producer Monchai Tanod reported, about 10 outbound flights were diverted to the terminals in Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi, as well as Krabi, Langkawi, Penang, and Surat Thani.

Due to the delayed inbound flights ‘ delays, four outgoing domestic flights were unable to depart from Phuket Airport during the same time.

Diverted to Krabi were airlines QR842, EY430, TR658, G9687 and FD3029.

Another diverted planes included FD3001 to Surat Thani, WY833 to Langkawi, C8771 to Don Mueang, SU274 and VZ314 to Suvarnabhumi, and AI378 to Penang.

Airlines resumed at Thai airport at 10.04am due to improved accessibility, Mr Monchai said. He added that there was no flooding at the airports.

Sophon Thongsai, Phuket’s hazard reduction captain, said that flood happened throughout Phuket and heavy rainwater was reported in the northern part of the island, Thalang area.

Conditions forecasters&nbsp, predicted rains would support 60 % of Phuket on Sunday and drop on Monday.

Ulu Pandan park connector fully reopens after Clementi landslide reconstruction works

By: Marcus Ching

On: June 30, 2024

In: South-East Asia

Rapidly REOPENED

Implementing measures to reduce” slope failing” and flood risk was the first of three phases of restoration work. That quarter, it was finished. &nbsp,

Steel strip piling plays were carried out in the next step to stabilize the hill. In November 2022, this was finished. &nbsp,

The final phase of the project had begun, according to HDB in an update released in December 2022, which involved completely reconstructing the waterway, reinstating the damaged portion of the park connector, and reconstructing the slope and downtown structures within the development.

After HDB removed the soil from the affected section of the Sungei Ulu Pandan canal and restored the canal to its original depth and capacity, the Ulu Pandan ( North Bank ) park connector reopened in March 2023. &nbsp,

Since next, HDB has stated that it has worked on” carefully strengthening various parts of the hill” as well as reworking and reconstructing the hill within the Clementi NorthArc growth. &nbsp,

Additionally, it repaired the Ulu Pandan ( South Bank ) park connector’s damaged section between Commonwealth Avenue West and Clementi Avenue 6. &nbsp,

These included steps to further stabilize and strengthen the hill and improve the layout of the downtown facilities for increased safety.

More soil-retaining buildings and anchors, for as long piles and rebars, were added to the hill to increase it. More aircraft grout mounds were also injected beneath. &nbsp,

In addition to expanding hill strengthening steps to a wider bend, HDB also stated that it took the opportunity to examine the layout of the corridor facilities planned in the area for an “added cache of health.” &nbsp,

Some ladders and staircases, for instance, were repositioned to disperse the load more equally across the hill. &nbsp,

Following this, the remaining downtown facilities in the area were constructed. This included the multi- purpose court, hardcourt, downtown pavilion, drop- of porch, viewing deck and a protected linkway which connects the personal blocks to the corridor pavilion.

From a small container at a Hougang temple, this lawyer and her team bring legal access to the vulnerable

By: Marcus Ching

On: June 29, 2024

In: South-East Asia

While her team ca n’t recommend individual private practitioners, they take the time to explain which practice areas the client’s issue comes under, and hand these clients to the Law Society’s directory of lawyers. From there, users you narrow down which lawyer speaks their chosen language, which workplaces are wheelchair visible, and which doctors do home appointments, for instance. &nbsp,

Most of these customers are happy to pay for a private attorney. They simply did n’t know how to access one, Cai realised. ” You ca n’t assume that just because people have money, they will know how to resolve the problem”.

HELPING Some TO HELP People

Cai’s view on the part of a group lawyer has likewise changed over the years. She once described the client-lawyer marriage as being black and white: lawyers were there to assist consumers while clients were the ones who needed assistance. But meeting more people taught her that every home also has advantages, in addition to their difficulties. &nbsp,

” You must be able to ( recognise ) their resilience … all the efforts that they’ve made to make ( their ) lives better and to provide for their families, to become self- sufficient, and even to be of service to other people in the community”, she said. &nbsp,

” Community lawyering has changed how I view who can assist others.”

Therefore, when offered her present position in technique and effect evaluation, she decided to accept the challenge. The part, which is less operations- focused than heading up society lawyering, did help her to look at Pro Bono SG’s bigger growth strategy.

This involves utilizing their existing data to determine which heartlands to establish new centers based on input from social workers on community gaps, from volunteer lawyers ‘ observations of clients, and from client feedback. &nbsp,

EC clarifies “offence” in Senate race

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 29, 2024

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 30 Jun 2024 at 06: 01

According to the Election Commission (EC ), registering with the wrong professional organizations may not constitute an offense unless the candidate had the intent to deceive the public and the authorities during the Senate election.

The explanation was made by EC secretary- public Sawaeng Boonmee&nbsp, on Twitter on Saturday.

After the last, national-round of the Senate contest ended on Wednesday in Bangkok, the EC has been under extreme pressure. Allegations were abound of vote- hacking and illegal and matched election registrations, prompting the EC to support an inspection.

Mr. Sawaeng stated on Saturday that submitting an application for the Sor Wor 3 form, which may include false information about the candidate, is a distinct from the right to participate in a Senate election. He was citing a Supreme Court law.

The prospect faces criminal charges for supplying fake data, for instance, if the Sor Wor 3 type mentions the prospect farms salt as a profession only to have his name investigated after a after investigation revealed that he has lied about it.

According to the EC secretary-general, that does not prevent him from running for the Senate.

48, 226 individuals have been accused of providing false information about themselves in the registration document submitted to the EC, and the payment is looking through issues.

According to Mr. Sawaeng, the individuals will face charges for breaking the Senate election law if the issues have basis.

The EC was also responding to issues that some individuals had their votes diverted to certain other candidates who had been supported by social groups while being hired to run for the Senate.

However, Clean Politics group secretary-general Jaturun Boonbenjarat announced he would get an immediate order from the Supreme Administrative Court to block Tuesday’s scheduled news of the results of the Senate election.

If granted, the judge may continue to hear his complaint about alleged abnormalities in Senate elections.

He claimed that he was making social sense of his position as a candidate for the Senate election to prevent political parties from dominating the lower chamber.

” This ( Senate poll ) could well go down in history as another chapter in dirty politics”, he said.

Mr. Jaturun claimed that political parties had the power to influence the vote, and that some individuals had registered with organizations for which they were not qualified.

He urged the EC to investigate whether some individuals had relationships between some candidates and political events, and to find out why some of them had registered with the wrong professional organizations.

The EC may appear through the bank accounts, he said, because it might show strange financing deals during the Senate vote.

He claimed that some Senate candidates had too little professional experience and maturity to be effective lawmakers.

According to the proverb, the Senate’s capability to monitor legislation to keep accountability would be in serious danger if parties could wrap their little finger around it.

Election Commission clarifies “offence” in Senate race

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 29, 2024

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 30 Jun 2024 at 06: 01

The explanation was made by EC secretary- public Sawaeng Boonmee&nbsp, on Twitter on Saturday.

After the last, regional round of the Senate contest wrapped off on Wednesday in Bangkok, the EC has come under extreme stress. Allegations were abound of vote- hacking and illegal and matched election registrations, prompting the EC to support an inspection.

The prospect faces criminal charges for supplying fake data, for instance, if the Sor Wor 3 type mentions the prospect farms water as a profession only to have his name later discovered by a probe that he has lied about it.

According to the EC secretary-general, that does not prevent him from running for the Senate.

48, 226 applicants have been accused of providing false information about themselves in the registration document submitted to the EC, and the fee is looking through issues.

According to Mr. Sawaeng, the individuals will face charges for breaking the Senate election law if the problems have premises.

The EC was also responding to concerns that some candidates had their votes diverted to certain social party-backed candidates who had been hired to run for president.

However, Clean Politics group secretary-general Jaturun Boonbenjarat said he will request an immediate order from the Supreme Administrative Court to stop the scheduled news of the Senate election results on Tuesday.

If granted, the injunction would remain in effect while the court considers his plea to act on alleged irregularities in Senate elections.

He claimed that he was making social sense of his position as a candidate for the Senate election to prevent political parties from dominating the lower chamber.

” This ( Senate poll ) could well go down in history as another chapter in dirty politics”, he said.

Mr. Jaturun claimed that democratic parties had the power to influence the outcome, and that some individuals had allegedly registered with organizations for which they were not qualified.

He urged the EC to investigate whether some individuals had connections between some candidates and political parties, and to find out why some of them had registered with the wrong professional organizations.

” For starters, the EC may look through the banks accounts that may expose strange banking transactions during the Senate vote,” he said.

He claimed that some Senate candidates had too little professional knowledge and sophistication to be effective lawmakers.

According to the proverb, the Senate’s capability to monitor legislation to keep accountability would be in serious danger if parties were able to wrap the Senate around their little hand, he continued.

Old guard likely to dominate new Senate

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 29, 2024

In: South-East Asia

According to political pundits, the new Senate wo n’t as much fresh air into Thai politics as many people might anticipate because the majority of the new chamber’s members are believed to have close ties to the old guard.

The fresh Senate, which was created by the 250 junta-appointed lawmakers whose term ended on May 10, has 200 members from 20 different industries. They were never formally chosen by the electorate.

New senators wo n’t be able to choose a PM alongside their predecessors, unlike they did when they did before. They may participate in the passage of laws and constitutional amendments.

They will also be in charge of ensuring that the executive branch is kept in check and that people of separate organizations, Constitutional Court judges, and the Attorney-General are appointed.

Observers noted that the decision Pheu Thai Party’s force to amend the constitution and to record der majeste on the list of crimes that would be pardoned under the new social asylum bill may also encounter obstacles from the fresh Senate.

Under the law, any plan to alter the charter requires the assistance of one- second of the innovative 200 lawmakers, or at least 67 senators. Without their assistance, contract modifications are not allowed.

Under the law, if the Senate disagrees with a expenses, it can transfer the bill to the House of Representatives for revision, but the Upper room has no power to reject it.

According to observers, the majority of the new Senate people are alleged to be affiliated with the BJT Party.

Anutin Charnvirakul, a president of the Bhumjaithai and interior minister, recently claimed that the lese majeste clause of the Criminal Code should be ignored.

Bhumjaithai before argued that a charter-drafting assembly should be established to create a new constitution, but he insisted that Chapters 1 and 2 should be left alone.

Thailand is described in Chapter 1 as a second, unbroken, democratic-governed nation with the King as head of state. Section 2 contains parts pertaining to the aristocratic privilege.

Connections with old protect

Stithorn Thananithichot, director of the Office of Innovation for Republic at King Prajadhipok’s Institute, told the Bangkok Post that more than half of the recently elected legislators are affiliated with Bhumjaithai.

” In other words, the ancient energy group also maintain impact over the fresh Senate”, he said.

He asserted that the newly created Senate would not be unlike the junta-appointed room.

” Those who continue to exert control over the majority of the new Senate have ties to the earlier Prayut Chan-o-cha state.

” They have been part of the old energy team for a long time, “he said, referring to Bhumjaithai.

Additionally, Mr. Stithorn noted that some individuals have connections to Pheu Thai, including former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and ex-president Thaksin Shinawatra’s brother-in-law, who is commonly believed to be Pheu Thai’s de facto leader. But Mr Somchai did not find elected.

” Thaksin’s profit did not help,” the statement read. He does have lost his beauty,” Ms Stithorn said.

Additionally, Mr. Stithorn stated that the new Senate did support candidates for independent organizations and that the majority of Bhumjaithai-affiliated senators will play a significant role in supporting them.

Important role in contract change

As for any law amendment, the assistance of at least one- second, or 67 lawmakers is required.

It will depend on which section of the constitution is changed. There should be no concern if a contract change is acceptable]to Bhumjaithai].

” But if the Move Forward Party]MFP] seeks to amend]Chapters 1 and 2], those lawmakers are expected to stop them”, Mr Stithorn said.

He added that Bhumjaithai’s benefit from the current Senate election system is likely to be sustained as long as it continues to do so.

He said that it will be difficult for those who want to change the Senate vote method because they also need to update the constitution’s rules governing the Senate election.

” That will not be easy because most of the senators ]affiliated with Bhumjaithai] will stand in their way”, Mr Stithorn said.

After the unofficial results of the Senate election revealed that Buri Ram, the group’s social redoubt, has the largest share of seats, 14 candidates won in the last election on June 26 and BJT is at the center of attention, the focus turned to the illegal results of the election.

Other candidates viewed as having ties to Bhumjaithai even won in different regions, according to observers.

Stithorn: More than half linked to Bhumjaithai

Up to 130 senators-elect could have affiliations with the Bhumjaithai Party, according to Thanaporn Sriyakul, director of the Political and Public Policy Analysis Institute, and the rest with the Move Forward Party ( MFP ) and the Pheu Thai Party.

” This will then raise Bhumjaithai’s bargaining power in elections, and the group is expected to rise as a major social rival]to Pheu Thai and the MFP] in the future”, he said.

” The weather will now be blowing wherever those who want to sit in separate organizations are.” They are expected to mind to Buri Rum to get facilitates”, Mr Thanaporn said.

Given the majority of the new lawmakers ‘ associations with Bhumjaithai, he agreed that any efforts to alter Chapters 1 and 2 of the law and to pardon der guess offenders under the proposed asylum costs are unlikely to succeed.

According to Mr. Thanaporn,” Bhumajaithai is now perceived as an emerging liberal party and it is expected to gain support from other conventional establishment leaders.”

He claimed that he did not believe that fraud allegations may invalidate the Senate results. The Supreme Court will decide whether or not those complaints are justified by compelling information. The Senate election system will continue to be used, according to Mr. Thanaporn. ” Those who benefit from it will keep it in place”, he said.

Anutin, the president of Bhumajaithai, has denied playing a part in the Senate election despite says that many of the 200 senators-elect appeared to be affiliated with his party.

As the group leader, Mr. Anutin vehemently instructed party people not to tamper with the Senate race, and that events were not permitted to participate in the election.

Thanaporn: Sleep linked to MFP, Pheu Thai

Lack of independence

Former election inspector Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, a member who lost in the Senate race, claimed that some new lawmakers who have political connections are unable to sustain freedom. ” When it comes to amending the constitution, these legislators may get influenced by officials to whom they are linked”, he said.

Mr. Somchai added that some events that are currently in power may object to a proposal to amend the contract to create a charter-drafting assembly to create a new law if the new contract negatives those parties in upcoming elections.

He added that members of independent organizations will be members of political parties with whom the new senators will have a strong influence.

” Those parties do n’t want independent organisations to pose a threat to them”, he said.

Independent organisations include the National Anti- Corruption Commission, the Ombudsman, the State Audit Commission and the Election Commission. According to Mr. Somchai, it is unlikely that the parties that profit from the Senate election system will attempt to resurrect it with a new one.

Somchai: Hard to maintain independence

BMA to boost safety in Yaowarat

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 29, 2024

In: South-East Asia

Spo featured in the music video for the” Rockstar” song was popular with viewers.

PUBLISHED: 30 Jun 2024 at 05: 38

After a flurry of visitors to Chinatown, as it is known, in response to Lisa’s Rockstar audio videos, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Hospitality and Sports Ministry are implementing safety procedures in Yaowarat.

The audio video of Thai K- music legend Lalisa” Lisa” Manobal, filmed in Bangkok’s Chinatown is attracting customers of all ages and cultures.

Near the Chaloem Buri crossroads, music videos were shot.

The music video, which was posted on YouTube on Friday at 7 a.m. native time, has received 38 million views as of media period. It features some aspects of Thai society, including the wai.

On Saturday evening, Bangkok government Chadchart Sittipunt traveled to Yaowarat to check on the town’s readiness to welcome more visitors.

He claimed that BMA officials regularly visit Chinatown, particularly in recent years, when the number of tourists has increased.

Mr. Chadchart claimed that the range of barriers along Yaowarat Road will become extended to accommodate the arrival of more people and that traffic barriers along the route will be properly installed to effectively separate pedestrians from the traffic.

He also emphasized the significance of Yaowarat’s waste control.

He claimed that the Samphanthawong District Office has been given the task of increasing the number of waste bins in Chinatown and that BMA constantly employs street cleaners to keep the area clean.

He further stated that he has requested that prospects authorities crack down on tuk-tuk motorists who park their cars in the area waiting for passengers, which leads to prospects congestion, as well as cab drivers who charge unnecessarily higher fares.

Additionally, Mr. Chadchart made several of the BMA’s strategies for Yaowarat people, including road closures to create a walking road, more pedestrian crossing signs, and assistance with local businesses and entrepreneurs to provide customers with public restrooms.

” I’d like to congratulate Lisa for choosing Yaowarat as a filming place for the film, making the site popular worldwide”, said the Bangkok government.

However, Tourism and Sports Minister Sermsak Pongpanich and another higher- level ministry officials just inspected businesses, restaurants, check- in spots and hotels in the Yaowarat area.

He emphasized the need for cooperation between the private and public sectors to install more CCTV cameras, toilets, and signs as well as improve the city’s footpaths to make them more accessible for everyone.

A vendor from a Thai Long Jie shop said that many businesses in Chinatown are optimistic that the area will be boosted by an increase in tourists.

Other small vendors also share this optimism, hoping that the popular culture created by Lisa’s music video will entice more visitors to Yaowarat.

On Saturday, government spokesman Chai Wacharonke posted a message on his X page, saying that Lisa’s popularity will help to boost tourism in the nation.

She makes all Thai people proud, he said.

South-East Asia (Page 1,010)

Rapidly REOPENED