South-East Asia (Page 1,555)

Over 800,000 Social Security Fund (SSF) members are expected to cast their vote in the first-ever election of Social Security Board members on Sunday.

Social Security Office (SSO) secretary-general Boonsong Thapchaiyuth said on Friday that about 850,000 members have registered to vote.

However, the number is quite low compared to the total number of 12 million SSF members nationwide.

The SSO set aside a budget of 207 million baht for the election. By law, the board consists of related ministries — such as labour, finance, interior, and public health — the Budget Bureau, and employers and employees.

The election is for SSF members to select seven representatives and for employers to also select seven to work on managing a 2.4-trillion-baht fund.

Mr Boonsong said that this election applies the “one man, one vote” method, similar to a general election.

Ten teams consisting of 288 people applied to be representatives of employees. Each voter can choose up to seven candidates from any team, he said.

For the employer side, there are 66 candidates. The SSO prepares 934 polling stations for eligible voters nationwide.

Prof Worawet Suwanrada, a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University and an employee candidate, said he is one of those driving the pension scheme for the elderly. He also wanted to use his knowledge to stabilise the fund and bring more benefits to it.

“In the future, the SSF will face a new challenge because the new generation prefers to work outside the system — such as being self-employed or working as freelancers. The SSF should also extend its benefits to cover those groups of people,” he said.

In addition, he also wants members of the SSO to have the same benefits as members of the universal health care scheme of the Public Health Ministry.

Asst Prof Sustarum Thammaboosadee from Thammasat University — who applied to be a candidate of the Progressive Social Security team that is supported by the Move Forward Party — urged people to vote and consider all candidates from his team, which is comprised of different groups of people including activists from disabled groups and labour unions.

However, one voter expresses concern over the cost of travelling to the voting station. He said he would skip the election because the nearest voting station is still far from where he lives.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will soon ask the cabinet to approve extending the opening time for pubs and bars located outside designated zones to 4am if everyone complies with the rules.

The extension was first implemented from Dec 15 in Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Bangkok and Surat Thani (only on Koh Samui), as part of a government policy to spur the economy.

The policy change also applies to hotels nationwide.

However, there were also many requests submitted to the ministry, asking for opening extensions in bars in other areas.

Among them, Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, a United Thai Nation (UTN) Party list-MP, also proposed the ministry extend the opening hours of nighttime entertainment venues to 4am in Hat Yai district of Songkhla in a bid to attract more Malaysian tourists.

In response, Mr Anutin on Friday said that the matter has a lot of procedures which must be adhered to, such as a proposal being submitted by provincial governors following a public hearing. Also, such a move requires the cooperation of business operators, tourists and law enforcers, he said.

“For now, we need to monitor how the situation is managed in designated zones first. If everyone abides by the laws, I am ready to propose the matter to the cabinet for consideration soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the extension of opening hours will help extend the operating time of vendors by around three to four hours.

Research by Phuket Rajabhat University, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University and the National Institute of Development Administration all agreed that tourist spending peaks around midnight to 3am.

The House’s approval of all four bills seeking to amend the Civil and Commercial Code to allow same-sex marriages in the country during their first reading has received positive responses from members of society, according to government spokesman Chai Watcharonke.

The bills aim to amend 68 provisions under the Civil and Commercial Code to redefine terms to ensure gender equality and diversity. All four bills received 369 of 380 votes of approval, with one abstention, on Friday. The bills are expected to still be read for a second time.

Mr Chai said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that one of the bills’ principles is to certify the marriage registration of people based on their gender identification.

The government previously promised to help support gender equality under the law but also during pro-LGBT events, such as Pride.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin met the CEO of InterPride, organisers of Pride parades, in November to seek an opportunity to host World Pride Event 2028 in Bangkok, Mr Chai said.

Pheu Thai MP for Kanchanaburi Akkaranan Kankittinan, also a member of the ad hoc committee for the government’s version of the bill, said a first committee is set to be created within 60 days. However, its first meeting has not been agreed upon.

Parit Wacharasindhu, Move Forward Party list-MP, said the bills’ approval is a prime example of how to coordinate gender issues between the opposition and the government.

As the bills allow equal rights to marriage, they are crucial for all citizens, not just specific genders, he said.

“Approving the four bills during the first reading is a sign that… people can rely on everyone in the House,” Mr Parit said.

However, experts said that there are conditions that must still be explained in the bills.

Nada Chaiyajit, lecturer at Mae Fah Luang University’s Faculty of Law, said when compared with a similar bill proposed by the MFP earlier, some conditions in the government’s version, such as legal terms, may differ.

She said that the Interior Ministry, as written in the MFP’s version, should be the one to enforce the law instead of the Justice Ministry.

Kittinun Daramadhaj, President of the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, said the final version of the legislation should be fair to all.

Thailand can be a model country for gender equality in the region as many of its neighbours still face challenges in terms of accepting LGBT rights, Mr Kittinun said.

Controversy grows over detention rule

Convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been allowed by the Department of Corrections (DoC) to stay on at the Police General Hospital as he marked 120 days on Friday of receiving medical treatment there.

The move by the DoC comes amid criticism that a new regulation issued by the DoC that allows for the detention of qualified inmates outside of prison has been designed to benefit him.

Pol Col Sirikul Srisanga, spokeswoman of the Police General Hospital, said that the hospital had informed the DoC in writing about Thaksin’s medical conditions.

“Regarding Thaksin’s illnesses and medical treatment, the hospital has already informed the DoC about the matter. Thaksin will continue to receive medical treatment here at the hospital,” she said.

According to a DoC regulation regarding the medical treatment of inmates outside prison, doctors must inform the DoC of the result of the treatment of a patient so the DoC will consider whether the patient will be allowed to continue receiving treatment outside of prison.

Pol Col Sirikul said that the 14th floor of the hospital building where Thaksin is staying is designated as a detention area for the convicted inmate as ordered by the court.

It is also a security area under the supervision of the DoC as stipulated by the Corrections Act, she said, adding that the hospital is only responsible for providing medical treatment for a patient.

Pol Col Sirikul added that the National Health Act further stipulates that information regarding a person’s health must be kept confidential, and no one is allowed to disclose it in a way that could cause damage to that person, except with his or her consent.

She also warned the media not to report stories about Thaksin in a way that would infringe on his rights or the rights of other patients in the hospital.

On Dec 6, the DoC issued the new rule in line with the Corrections Act BE 2560 (2017).

Under the regulation, prisoners allowed to be detained outside of prison must meet certain requirements stipulated by the DoC and be categorised by a screening panel set up by the department.

The venues for detaining them may include houses or buildings with registered addresses.

Thaksin, 74, returned to Thailand on Aug 22 after 15 years of self-imposed exile and was sentenced to eight years in three cases.

However, he was sent from Bangkok Remand Prison to the Police General Hospital that night for health reasons and has remained there since.

All eyes are on whether the new rule will benefit Thaksin.

Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin on Friday defended the rule.

“Thaksin will not be allowed to receive medical treatment outside of prison forever. It depends on a recommendation from doctors,” Mr Somsak said.

“Not everyone has the right to visit an inmate who receives medical treatment outside prison. This is not about concealing information, but it is about a regulation. The inmate will decide who will be allowed to visit.”

Mr Somsak also warned that members of the House committee on police affairs who plan to inspect the 14th floor of the Police General Hospital may be sued by Thaksin or his family unless they receive permission.

Writing on Facebook on Friday, Thaksin’s lawyer, Winyat Chartmontree, also warned against netizens on social media who demand the release of information regarding Thaksin’s medical conditions without his consent or those who accuse Thaksin of pretending to be sick or alleged that Thaksin is not staying at the Police General Hospital.

“This action may be deemed to be an infringement on the patient’s rights and a violation of human rights,” the lawyer said.

Previously, Pichit Chaimongkol, leader of the Network of Students and People Reforming Thailand, lodged a petition with the Royal Thai Police, calling for an update on Thaksin’s health conditions and a list of medical specialists treating him.

He said the public wants to know if Thaksin is really ill and in need of special medical treatment and that he is not being given preferential treatment.

Mr Pichit has also accused the DoC of issuing the new regulation to benefit Thaksin.

The activist noted that Thaksin appeared physically fit when he arrived at Don Mueang airport on Aug 22.

When Thaksin’s condition quickly deteriorated, as reported, Mr Pichit and his group questioned whether the former PM was really ill and required treatment outside the facility.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit clarified on Friday a proposal to raise the excise tax on petrol in Greater Bangkok to encourage motorists to shift towards public transport was just an idea, saying he had no plan to implement it.

Mr Suriya apologised for the miscommunication and went on to say that the proposal was in fact an example he picked up from other countries and it was intended as a case study.

He insisted there was no plan to implement it.

The minister said that reducing the cost of living was the ministry’s priority and its plan to cap the fares of electric trains at 20 baht per trip would take effect within two years, without tax hikes on petrol.

On Wednesday, Mr Suriya said an increase of 0.50 baht per litre of petrol would motivate car drivers to use electric trains and the money would be used to subsidise the electric train system.

The proposal was raised at the meeting of senior transport officials to evaluate the ministry’s 20-baht fare policy, which is implemented by the State Railway of Thailand’s (SRT) Red Line and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority’s (MRT) Purple Line.

The tax income would be used to set up a fund to cover the losses which may be incurred by concession holders if the fares are capped to 20 baht per trip.

But the idea drew ire from Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, who said the tax hike would increase the living cost burden on people, which is actually the problem the government is trying to solve.

According to the energy minister, there were alternatives which the government should consider to find money to fund the government’s bid to keep train fares affordable.