SINGAPORE: Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums closed mostly lower in the latest bidding exercise on Wednesday (Feb 21), with the Open Category COE price at its lowest since May 2022. Open category COEs, which can be used for any vehicle type but end up being used mainly for large cars,Continue Reading
The government wants to ban recreational use of cannabis by the end of this year, Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said on Wednesday, threatening to put thousands of marijuana shops and farms that have sprung up around the country since a decriminalisation drive two years ago out of business.
Thailand will seek to get a new cannabis bill — which will explicitly outlaw recreational use of cannabis — approved by lawmakers in the lower house by the end of October, before parliament goes into recess, Dr Cholnan told Bloomberg in an interview in Bangkok. That will follow a review by the cabinet next month, he said.
Liberal use of cannabis became a hot-button political issue heading into last year’s national elections, which took place a year after Thailand became the first nation in Asia to decriminalise cannabis. But a parallel effort to establish regulations around the marijuana industry failed, leaving a vacuum that many politicians said was fuelling drug addiction.
“It’s an issue of great concern to us, because the legal gap has led to free use of cannabis and there aren’t enough regulations to prevent misuse,” Dr Cholnan said, defining “misuse” as anything not related to medical and health needs. “This bill will control cannabis, especially its buds, just as strictly as we would a drug.”
That move would pose an existential threat for growers, dispensaries and a vast number of firms that have cropped up across Thailand to meet a burgeoning demand for marijuana. From backpacker hangouts in Bangkok to popular resort islands like Phuket, operators of cannabis dispensaries say they are helping to fuel a recovery in the country’s tourism sector, a key driver of economic growth.
Thailand had 5.2 million tourist arrivals this year through Feb 18, including almost 1 million from China, generating a net 254.7 billion baht (US$7.1 billion).
In addition to marijuana for smoking, extracts have become big business. Companies now sell everything from cannabis buds to oil extracts, weed-infused candy and baked goods that, under current law, must contain no more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol — the psychoactive compound known as THC that provides a “high” sensation. That limit does not apply to cannabis sold for smoking.
While lighting up in public is currently banned, under the proposed bill, people who smoke or use cannabis in any location for recreation — including inside their homes — would face a fine of as much as 60,000 baht. Those selling cannabis or its extracts for recreational purposes would face up to one year in jail or 100,000 baht in fines, or both.
Thousands of cannabis dispensaries will not necessarily need to close down immediately after the bill passes, but they will need to quickly fall in line with the new rules or risk hefty penalties, Dr Cholnan said. Dispensaries will be allowed to keep operating until their existing licenses expire, but they won’t be provided any grace period under the new bill.
The draft legislation calls for tighter licensing rules on cannabis planting, sales, exports and imports, with current growers, suppliers or related businesses required to have or obtain new licenses or permits.
‘Like a bang’
“It will kick in like a bang,” said Dr Cholnan. “You can’t brazenly use it recreationally anymore. You can’t put the buds in jars and sell them for recreation, to be used for fun at parties, anymore. That will be illegal, and we’ll arrest you.”
Such an outright ban will risk pushing the nascent industry underground again and will bring devastating economic impacts, said Rattapon Sanrak, founder of the cannabis advocacy group Highland Network. An estimated investment of at least 7 billion baht by about 7,000 dispensaries all over Thailand and at least 14,000 jobs they created are at stake, according to Mr Rattapon.
Under the current system, the cannabis industry was expected to be worth $1.2 billion by 2025, according to a 2022 report by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
“The cannabis industry has fully come above ground and is thriving,” Mr Rattapon said. “The ban will have far-reaching impacts, especially for small businesses and farms. It will force us to close down and eventually die out.”
Mr Rattapon also said the proposed penalties against users and sellers of recreational cannabis were disproportionately harsh compared to more serious narcotics.
Under Thai law, methamphetamine users are penalised by one year in jail or 20,000 baht in fines, or both. The penalties may be forgiven altogether if they agree to enter government rehabilitation programs.
No middle ground
But Dr Cholnan played down those concerns, saying cannabis’ standing as an economic crop won’t be affected. Growers and producers will just have to abide by stricter rules that demand higher standards for medical uses, which will in turn add value to their products, he said. There are about 15,000 cannabis-related businesses officially registered with the government, including dispensaries and medical clinics, according to Dr Cholnan.
“It’s true that we’re trying to drive the economy. But we don’t support any economic activity that could be dangerous for public health,” he said.
There is no better option, Dr Cholnan said, adding that the government could have taken a harsher approach.
“We can do it this way, or we can make cannabis a narcotic again, and everyone will be prosecuted,” he said. “This bill is already a compromise.”
The government wants to ban recreational use of cannabis by the end of this year, Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said on Wednesday, threatening to put thousands of marijuana shops and farms that have sprung up around the country since a decriminalisation drive two years ago out of business.
Thailand will seek to get a new cannabis bill — which will explicitly outlaw recreational use of cannabis — approved by lawmakers in the lower house by the end of October, before parliament goes into recess, Dr Cholnan told Bloomberg in an interview in Bangkok. That will follow a review by the cabinet next month, he said.
Liberal use of cannabis became a hot-button political issue heading into last year’s national elections, which took place a year after Thailand became the first nation in Asia to decriminalise cannabis. But a parallel effort to establish regulations around the marijuana industry failed, leaving a vacuum that many politicians said was fuelling drug addiction.
“It’s an issue of great concern to us, because the legal gap has led to free use of cannabis and there aren’t enough regulations to prevent misuse,” Dr Cholnan said, defining “misuse” as anything not related to medical and health needs. “This bill will control cannabis, especially its buds, just as strictly as we would a drug.”
That move would pose an existential threat for growers, dispensaries and a vast number of firms that have cropped up across Thailand to meet a burgeoning demand for marijuana. From backpacker hangouts in Bangkok to popular resort islands like Phuket, operators of cannabis dispensaries say they are helping to fuel a recovery in the country’s tourism sector, a key driver of economic growth.
Thailand had 5.2 million tourist arrivals this year through Feb 18, including almost 1 million from China, generating a net 254.7 billion baht (US$7.1 billion).
In addition to marijuana for smoking, extracts have become big business. Companies now sell everything from cannabis buds to oil extracts, weed-infused candy and baked goods that, under current law, must contain no more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol — the psychoactive compound known as THC that provides a “high” sensation. That limit does not apply to cannabis sold for smoking.
While lighting up in public is currently banned, under the proposed bill, people who smoke or use cannabis in any location for recreation — including inside their homes — would face a fine of as much as 60,000 baht. Those selling cannabis or its extracts for recreational purposes would face up to one year in jail or 100,000 baht in fines, or both.
Thousands of cannabis dispensaries will not necessarily need to close down immediately after the bill passes, but they will need to quickly fall in line with the new rules or risk hefty penalties, Dr Cholnan said. Dispensaries will be allowed to keep operating until their existing licenses expire, but they won’t be provided any grace period under the new bill.
The draft legislation calls for tighter licensing rules on cannabis planting, sales, exports and imports, with current growers, suppliers or related businesses required to have or obtain new licenses or permits.
‘Like a bang’
“It will kick in like a bang,” said Dr Cholnan. “You can’t brazenly use it recreationally anymore. You can’t put the buds in jars and sell them for recreation, to be used for fun at parties, anymore. That will be illegal, and we’ll arrest you.”
Such an outright ban will risk pushing the nascent industry underground again and will bring devastating economic impacts, said Rattapon Sanrak, founder of the cannabis advocacy group Highland Network. An estimated investment of at least 7 billion baht by about 7,000 dispensaries all over Thailand and at least 14,000 jobs they created are at stake, according to Mr Rattapon.
Under the current system, the cannabis industry was expected to be worth $1.2 billion by 2025, according to a 2022 report by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
“The cannabis industry has fully come above ground and is thriving,” Mr Rattapon said. “The ban will have far-reaching impacts, especially for small businesses and farms. It will force us to close down and eventually die out.”
Mr Rattapon also said the proposed penalties against users and sellers of recreational cannabis were disproportionately harsh compared to more serious narcotics.
Under Thai law, methamphetamine users are penalised by one year in jail or 20,000 baht in fines, or both. The penalties may be forgiven altogether if they agree to enter government rehabilitation programs.
No middle ground
But Dr Cholnan played down those concerns, saying cannabis’ standing as an economic crop won’t be affected. Growers and producers will just have to abide by stricter rules that demand higher standards for medical uses, which will in turn add value to their products, he said. There are about 15,000 cannabis-related businesses officially registered with the government, including dispensaries and medical clinics, according to Dr Cholnan.
“It’s true that we’re trying to drive the economy. But we don’t support any economic activity that could be dangerous for public health,” he said.
There is no better option, Dr Cholnan said, adding that the government could have taken a harsher approach.
“We can do it this way, or we can make cannabis a narcotic again, and everyone will be prosecuted,” he said. “This bill is already a compromise.”
The government wants to ban recreational use of cannabis by the end of this year, Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said on Wednesday, threatening to put thousands of marijuana shops and farms that have sprung up around the country since a decriminalisation drive two years ago out of business.
Thailand will seek to get a new cannabis bill — which will explicitly outlaw recreational use of cannabis — approved by lawmakers in the lower house by the end of October, before parliament goes into recess, Dr Cholnan told Bloomberg in an interview in Bangkok. That will follow a review by the cabinet next month, he said.
Liberal use of cannabis became a hot-button political issue heading into last year’s national elections, which took place a year after Thailand became the first nation in Asia to decriminalise cannabis. But a parallel effort to establish regulations around the marijuana industry failed, leaving a vacuum that many politicians said was fuelling drug addiction.
“It’s an issue of great concern to us, because the legal gap has led to free use of cannabis and there aren’t enough regulations to prevent misuse,” Dr Cholnan said, defining “misuse” as anything not related to medical and health needs. “This bill will control cannabis, especially its buds, just as strictly as we would a drug.”
That move would pose an existential threat for growers, dispensaries and a vast number of firms that have cropped up across Thailand to meet a burgeoning demand for marijuana. From backpacker hangouts in Bangkok to popular resort islands like Phuket, operators of cannabis dispensaries say they are helping to fuel a recovery in the country’s tourism sector, a key driver of economic growth.
Thailand had 5.2 million tourist arrivals this year through Feb 18, including almost 1 million from China, generating a net 254.7 billion baht (US$7.1 billion).
In addition to marijuana for smoking, extracts have become big business. Companies now sell everything from cannabis buds to oil extracts, weed-infused candy and baked goods that, under current law, must contain no more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol — the psychoactive compound known as THC that provides a “high” sensation. That limit does not apply to cannabis sold for smoking.
While lighting up in public is currently banned, under the proposed bill, people who smoke or use cannabis in any location for recreation — including inside their homes — would face a fine of as much as 60,000 baht. Those selling cannabis or its extracts for recreational purposes would face up to one year in jail or 100,000 baht in fines, or both.
Thousands of cannabis dispensaries will not necessarily need to close down immediately after the bill passes, but they will need to quickly fall in line with the new rules or risk hefty penalties, Dr Cholnan said. Dispensaries will be allowed to keep operating until their existing licenses expire, but they won’t be provided any grace period under the new bill.
The draft legislation calls for tighter licensing rules on cannabis planting, sales, exports and imports, with current growers, suppliers or related businesses required to have or obtain new licenses or permits.
‘Like a bang’
“It will kick in like a bang,” said Dr Cholnan. “You can’t brazenly use it recreationally anymore. You can’t put the buds in jars and sell them for recreation, to be used for fun at parties, anymore. That will be illegal, and we’ll arrest you.”
Such an outright ban will risk pushing the nascent industry underground again and will bring devastating economic impacts, said Rattapon Sanrak, founder of the cannabis advocacy group Highland Network. An estimated investment of at least 7 billion baht by about 7,000 dispensaries all over Thailand and at least 14,000 jobs they created are at stake, according to Mr Rattapon.
Under the current system, the cannabis industry was expected to be worth $1.2 billion by 2025, according to a 2022 report by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
“The cannabis industry has fully come above ground and is thriving,” Mr Rattapon said. “The ban will have far-reaching impacts, especially for small businesses and farms. It will force us to close down and eventually die out.”
Mr Rattapon also said the proposed penalties against users and sellers of recreational cannabis were disproportionately harsh compared to more serious narcotics.
Under Thai law, methamphetamine users are penalised by one year in jail or 20,000 baht in fines, or both. The penalties may be forgiven altogether if they agree to enter government rehabilitation programs.
No middle ground
But Dr Cholnan played down those concerns, saying cannabis’ standing as an economic crop won’t be affected. Growers and producers will just have to abide by stricter rules that demand higher standards for medical uses, which will in turn add value to their products, he said. There are about 15,000 cannabis-related businesses officially registered with the government, including dispensaries and medical clinics, according to Dr Cholnan.
“It’s true that we’re trying to drive the economy. But we don’t support any economic activity that could be dangerous for public health,” he said.
There is no better option, Dr Cholnan said, adding that the government could have taken a harsher approach.
“We can do it this way, or we can make cannabis a narcotic again, and everyone will be prosecuted,” he said. “This bill is already a compromise.”
PUBLISHED : 21 Feb 2024 at 14:50
A 33-year-old man accused of killing his wife and burning her body after they celebrated his birthday together was taken for a reenactment of the crime on Wednesday.
Sirichai Rakthong is charged with the murder of Chonlada Muthuwong, aged 27 years, in Nonthaburi province and then attempting to cover up the crime by cremating her body in a rubber plantation in Prachin Buri.
Durng the reenactment he allegedly confessed to assaulting his wife at their house in the Luk Golf housing estate in Muang Thong Thani in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi and also at two locations on Chaeng Wattana Road in Nonthaburi. The vicious assaults on Chaeng Wattana Road were caught by surveillance cameras and the recordings have been shown extensively on television news.
Police said he couple celebrated his birthday together on Saturday, and the beatings began around 3am on Sunday.
The victim’s burnt skeleton and a burnt suitcase were spotted in a rubber plantation in Ban Map Hiang village of tambon Nong Prong in Sri Mahaphote district of Prachin Buri on Tuesday night, about 700 metres from Highway 359.
Pol Maj Gen Pumin Singhasut, chief of Prachin Buri police, said Chonlada’s bracelet and gold ring were found with the burnt remains. Her mobile phone’s signal had also been detected in the area.
Police arrested Mr Sirichai at his home on Tuesday night and he allegedly confessed to the crime after two hours of interrogation.
According to police, Mr Sirichai said he and his wife were both drunk at his birthday party, and she made reference to his ex-girlfriend. He assaulted his wife twice on Chaeng Wattana Road and again at their house.
Pol Col Sompol Wongsrisunthorn, deputy chief of Nonthaburi police, said the woman most likely died at the house after being hit on the head with a hard object and falling unconscious.
Later on Sunday morning, Feb 18, Mr Sirichai realised his wife was dead. He stuffed the body in a suitcase which he placed in their white BMW car. He stopped at a petrol station near their home to buy petrol, which he used to burn the body in the suitcase when he reached the plantation in Prachin Buri, according to police.
Accused wife killer Sirichai Rakthong inside a police vehicle before being taken for a reenactment of the crime on Wednesday. (Photo supplied/ Wassayos Ngamkham)
The Singapore Film Commission (SFC)’s 25th anniversary documentary will delve into the journey of Singaporean cinema over the past 25 years and showcase its impact on Asian cinema.
The 45-minute documentary, titled Singapore Films: To The World And Back, will feature exclusive interviews with Singapore’s best-known industry veterans, including Jack Neo, Anthony Chen, Eric Khoo, Nicole Midori Woodford, Teh Su Ching, Raihan Halim, Janice Chua and Tan Si En.
Produced by an all-woman team of Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) SG Digital scholars and led by BAFTA-winning filmmaker Low Ser En, the documentary will also show how Singaporean filmmakers collaborated with film industries and talent across Southeast Asia.
“In Singapore Films: To The World And Back, we wanted to tell a human story of Singapore filmmakers, whose passion and tenacity triumph (over) various challenges, including the pandemic, in the film industry,” said local filmmaker Low Ser En.
In 2022, Singapore announced that it will be investing S$150 million (US$111 million) to help firms research and develop the country’s space capabilities.
EnterpriseSG is also seeing increasing private sector interest and funding into the space tech industry.
Local space tech start-up Equatorial Space Systems, which was founded in 2017, has managed to raise some US$2.6 million in funding to develop hybrid rockets that are non-explosive.
“We have witnessed a resilient interest in space tech, far more resilient than to more fluctuating industries,” said Equatorial Space founder Simon Gwozdz.
“I think more investors, including commercial investors, who have never previously looked seriously at space technologies are seeing that (the space scene) is here to stay and it’s here to grow relentlessly.”
However, the company has been sending the rockets elsewhere for testing, due to space constraints in Singapore.
“Singapore is spatially compact, and it’s difficult to find places for testing of our systems. So for that reason, we have to maintain presence in a couple of different countries internationally, where we can quite literally find more space,” said Mr Gwozdz.
“However, we have seen strong support from the government (and) there is an interest in what we are working on.
“And commercial space is booming in general in Singapore, so we find ourselves in a very fertile ground to scale and grow.”
SINGAPORE: The Housing and Development Board (HDB) launched 4,126 Build-to-Order (BTO) flats for sale on Wednesday (Feb 21) under its February BTO exercise.
The flats are being offered across seven new projects in different estates, HDB said in a news release. This is the first of three BTO launches for 2024, with 19,600 new flats to be launched in total this year.
In addition to the BTO flats, 1,588 Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) units are available under the concurrent February SBF exercise, with a total of 5,714 flats available across the two exercises. The SBF units are located across various towns and estates.
HDB will be holding three instead of four BTO sales exercises this year, with the other two to take place in June and October.
“Having three BTO launches instead of four means that home buyers can look forward to a bigger housing supply, and a wider range of flats and locations, at each of the BTO sales launches,” HDB said.
“Applicants will thus have a higher chance of success in finding a flat that meets their budget and needs.”
A wider gap between sales launches will also provide applicants with greater certainty as it reduces the extent of overlaps between flat selection exercises, it added.
The Housing Board said it will extend the seven-day application window for sales exercises to eight days with effect from this exercise “to allow more time for applicants to make an informed choice”.
The seven BTO projects offered in the latest exercise are located in Bedok, Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Punggol, Queenstown and Woodlands.
Five of these projects will have a waiting time of less than three-and-a-half years. Flat buyers looking to move into their flats sooner can consider applying for flats in Bedok, Hougang, Punggol and Woodlands.
“A wide selection of flats, ranging from two-room to five-room flats, is offered to meet diverse housing needs and budgets,” HDB said.
All new flats are priced with “significant market discounts” to ensure affordability, and as a result, selling prices are “considerably lower” than the transacted prices of comparable resale flats, it added.
Eligible first-timer families can benefit from the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) of up to S$80,000 (US$59,600).
With the grant, flat buyers will be able to buy a three-room flat at S$127,000 or a four-room flat at $240,000 in the non-mature estate of Choa Chu Kang, and service their monthly mortgage payments using their CPF monthly contributions without cash payments, HDB said.
Buyers looking to get a four-room flat in the mature estate of Bedok, meanwhile, can expect prices to start at S$406,000 after grants.
PUBLISHED : 21 Feb 2024 at 12:40
Cambodia’s Supreme Privy Council President Hun Sen visited his long-time friend Thaksin Shinawatra at the former prime minister’s Bangkok residence on Wednesday morning, amid tight security.
The former Cambodian prime minister on Wednesday posted a message with two photos of himself on a plane on his Samdech Hun Sen of Cambodia Facebook page, saying he was on his way to Bangkok to visit former prime minister Thaksin Shinwatra.
Hun Sen arrived at Don Mueang airport on Wednesday morning and then travelled in a Mercedes Benz to see Thaksin at his Ban Chan Song La residence in Bang Phlat district.
Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s youngest daughter, also arrived at the house. The already tight security was beefed up during Hun Sen’s visit.
Reporters gathered in front of the residence, but were not allowed inside.
Thaksin, 74, and Hun Sen, 71, developed a strong friendship during their many years in power. The Cambodian strongman reportedly decided to visit Thaksin at his home out of a personal concern for his health.
Thaksin was released from prison on parole on Sunday, after serving half of a one-year prison sentence, reduced from eight years by royal clemency, for conflict of interest and abuse of power while in office prior to 2006. He spent the entire six months in the Police Hospital in Bangkok.
PUBLISHED : 21 Feb 2024 at 11:58
CHON BURI: A motorcyclist accused of trying to rape a Chinese woman on an isolated roadside near Pattaya before fleeing with her money has been arrested.
Police detained the suspect, identified only as Thip, 41, at a house in Huai Pong of Rayong province about 9pm on Tuesday, after viewing surveillance camera recordings along the assailant’s escape route.
He was held in police custody after the victim saw photos sent by the arresting officers and identified him as the man who tried to rape her.
About 11.30pm, police applied for and received an arrest warrant for the suspect from Pattaya Provincial Court on charges of lewd behaviour, attempted rape and theft. He was taken to Nong Preu police station.
During questioning, the suspect allegedly admitted to all charges. According to police, he said he wanted to apologise for his actions. However, he denied setting fire to the grass alongside the road in an attempt to kill the victim. He claimed he set her free.
The arrest followed a complaint from a 29-year-old Chinese woman. She and her young brother, 19, had been waiting for public transport on Highway 331, the Sattahip-Nakhon Ratchasima route, about 10 kilometres from the attempted rape scene. They intended to go to Pattaya.
Two men on motorcycles offered them a ride. The two tourists accepted, travelling on separate motorcycles.
The woman said her motorcyclist took her on a different route, arriving in a forested area where he allegedly tried unsuccessfully to rape her. He then tied her hands and feet before setting fire to the grass and fleeing with 15,000 baht cash and 1,500 yuan he stole from her, according to the victim.