South-East Asia (Page 1,993)

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s heir apparent insisted yesterday on the legitimacy of elections his party won against no meaningful opposition, defying international criticism that the polls were neither free nor fair.

Hun Sen has presided over Cambodia for nearly 40 years — stifling all real opposition, freedom of speech and democratic reform — but has indicated recently that he will soon hand power to his eldest son Hun Manet.

The United States yesterday condemned the polls, in which the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) was predicted to win all but five of 125 parliamentary seats in the Lower House.

But Hun Manet posted a triumphant message across multiple social media platforms hailing his party’s victory.

“The Cambodian people have clearly expressed their wills through votes,” he wrote.

“An overwhelming number have expressed support for the Cambodian People’s Party.”

People wait onshore for ferries after voting in the general election in Arey Ksat city of Kandal in Cambodia yesterday. afp

He thanked Cambodians “for choosing to vote, and especially for all the love and confidence in the CPP”.

Official results will not be available for weeks, although the CPP claimed late on Sunday to have won a “landslide” victory.

The small government-aligned royalist FUNCINPEC party, headed by Prince Norodom Chakravuth, is expected to take five seats — giving the new parliament at least a patina of diversity after the CPP won every seat in the last election. The disqualification of the only viable opposition force, the Candlelight Party, on a technicality meant there was no realistic outcome other than a big CPP win.

The United States said the elections were “neither free nor fair”, pointing to “a pattern of threats and harassment against the political opposition, media, and civil society”.

“These actions denied the Cambodian people a voice and a choice in determining the future of their country,” US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement yesterday. He said Washington was preparing to impose visa restrictions on some individuals. AFP

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has agreed to a request by Siriraj Hospital to pay a lump sum rather than make yearly payments for renting its land.

Siriraj Hospital is planning to rent SRT land, which is currently the location of Thon Buri railway station.

The 4.67 rai, or 7,456-square-metre plot, is where Siriraj Hospital has proposed building a new medical complex and where two SRT-operated stations on the future Light Red and Orange lines will be located.

Back in August 2020, the SRT resolved that Siriraj Hospital pay rent to the tune of 50 million baht per year for 30 years. However, the hospital asked that the rent be paid in one lump sum totalling 161 million baht.

SRT’s asset management director Monthakarn Sriwilas announced yesterday that SRT executives agreed on July 20 to approve Siriraj Hospital’s proposal to pay the lump sum.

“[The SRT] will notify the hospital of the SRT board’s decision. The hospital is expected to go ahead in putting together the necessary paperwork while the SRT believes the rental contract signing may take place in September,” said Ms Monthakarn.

She added that Siriraj Hospital will include the 30-year rent in its proposal for the 2025 fiscal year’s budget.

Siriraj Hospital’s medical complex project was given a state budget by the cabinet in September last year worth 3.8 billion baht. Of that total, 2.3 billion baht will cover the construction costs, 1.4 billion baht for procuring medical equipment and 113 million baht for hiring human resources.

The medical complex will be 15 storeys high with three underground floors. Of the 51,853 sqm of usable space, 47,537 sqm will be occupied by the medical complex, while 3,410 sqm will be set aside for the Light Red Line station and 906 sqm for the Orange Line station.

Construction is estimated to take four years. The complex will become Thailand’s first hospital connected to electric train stations on two lines.

The number of Covid-19 cases is continuing to drop across the country, but individuals considered at high risk of contracting the disease should ensure their vaccinations are up to date to prevent hospitalisation and/or death, said permanent secretary for public health, Opas Karnkawinpong, yesterday.

Dr Opas said between July 16-22, 556 people were admitted to hospital for Covid-19 treatment — 178 of whom had developed serious symptoms.

Meanwhile, eight people died from Covid-19 last week, all of whom were either senior citizens over 60, had an underlying medical condition which aggravated the infection, were unvaccinated or had their last booster shot over three months ago, he said.

Out of the 749 deaths from Covid-19 reported this year, the majority lived in crowded communities and/or multi-family dwellings.

He said 116 of those deaths were reported in Bangkok.

Dr Opas said urged the public to get a booster shot, as the Department of Disease Control (DDC) has estimated that the number of Covid-19 infections will rise again at the beginning of the cool season at the end of the year.

The warning is based on the fact that over the past six months, the number of new infections has steadily fallen as the number of booster doses administered increased, he said.

He also said that the DDC had contacted its affiliated clinics in Bangkok and other provinces to promote Covid-19 preventive measures such as mask-wearing or social distancing, especially among people in high-risk groups.

The Move Forward Party has stressed that it will not form a government with the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party as its coalition partners.

The stance was agreed upon at a meeting of MFP MPs yesterday. It was formally announced through the party’s official Line channel after PPRP and UTN representatives separately met with key Pheu Thai figures, which will now be leading the effort to form the next government.

Both the PPRP and UTN told Pheu Thai at the meeting that they could not be a part of a government line-up with any party which is seeking to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law.

In MFP’s announcement, the party ruled out partnering up with the PPRP and UTN, calling them “remnants of a dictatorship”.

The PPRP is led by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, while the UTN is the party of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is also its prime ministerial candidate. Both men were key figures in the last coup d’etat on May 22, 2014.

Voters showed at the May 14 general election that they wanted different people in government, and the MFP, as the election winner, is determined to form the next government and ensure it remains in power, the announcement said.

Any attempt to form a government that goes against the people’s wishes would erode their faith in democracy, it added.

Meanwhile, outspoken MFP MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn said on Facebook yesterday that his party’s push to amend the lese majeste law is being used as an excuse for its political rivals to block its rise to power.

However, he said, the MFP is prepared to listen to senators’ concerns about amending Section 112.

As such, senators should clearly spell out why they cannot back the push to amend the controversial clause.

Mr Wiroj said if the reasons do not fundamentally clash with the MFP’s stance, the party is willing to be more flexible on the matter.

He insisted the MFP has been flexible over the issue, reminding the public that the MFP had actually agreed to leave the issue out of the memorandum of understanding signed by the MFP and seven other parties.

The MoU contains policies the parties plan to pursue when they form the next government. Mr Wiroj said the policies are not set in stone.

Trade between Thailand and Malaysia is expected to grow by at least 1.02 trillion baht by 2025, according to deputy government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek.

The government also expected to hold Joint Trade Committee (JTC) discussions with Malaysian authorities at the end of this year to strengthen trade cooperation between the two nations further, she said yesterday.

Malaysia is considered Thailand’s number one trading partner among Asean countries, Ms Rachada said.

There was 336 billion baht in trade between the two nations last year, mainly in cars and car parts, oil, and computers and their parts, she said.

Ms Rachada said earlier on July 14 that representatives of the Department of Trade Negotiations of the Commerce Ministry went to Malaysia to visit Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof, secretary-general of Malaysia’s Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living.

Both agencies discussed franchise businesses, fair domestic trading, and border trading recovery measures during those talks.

Plans were also drawn up to attend each other’s sale expos for wider trading partner establishments.

Ms Rachada said there are six major Thai-based food brands with franchises in Malaysia, while the same number of Malaysian franchise brands are in the kingdom.

She said that many Thai businesses are looking into opportunities in Malaysia, such as those involved in agricultural products, construction, and restaurants.

To support market and partner expansion, the government has held many activities that promote the growing partnership with Malaysia, such as a halal food fair in Malaysia under the name “I Love Thailand Fair.”

“The prime minister expressed his appreciation regarding the growth of trade between both countries,” Ms Rachada added.

Farmers urged to utilise rainwater

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has come up with a plan to protect the nation’s water reserves in anticipation of a long dry spell brought on by the El Niño weather phenomenon.

RID director-general Praphit Chanma said the plan, which will be carried out under the supervision of the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), will see a public awareness campaign launched to raise awareness among the public about the importance of saving water resources.

El Nino is causing less rain to fall in the region, raising fears of a severe drought when the monsoon ends in November. Experts fear this year’s El Nino could have an impact on the region’s average rainfall well into 2025, Mr Praphit said.

According to a report by RID’s Smart Water Operation Centre (SWOC) released on July 14, if the current rainfall trend continues, then by the end of the rainy season on Nov 1, the nation’s 35 major reservoirs would only contain 44.166 billion cubic metres of water — about 62% of their total capacity.

As of this week, the four major reservoirs along the Chao Phraya River Basin, namely Bhumibol Dam in Tak, Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit, Kwai Noi Bamrung Daen Dam in Phitsanulok, and Pasak Jolasid Dam in Lop Buri, contain 14.194 billion m³ of water, or about 57% of their total capacity, he said.

More assessment is needed ahead of the end of the rainy season, so the RID has ordered all sectors to improve their overall water resource management, he said.

The RID is urging farmers to increase their utilisation of rainwater runoff to irrigate their plots ahead of the planting season to ensure there is enough water to irrigate their plots when the dry season begins.

When asked to comment on the possibility of crop failures due to the dry conditions, Mr Praphit said the RID would assist farms which are affected by a prolonged drought, especially those that grow perennial plants like durian and rubber, which are more expensive to cultivate.

The RID will ask the local administrative office and the Joint Management Committee (JMC) to pump water from the four major dams to drought-hit areas, and expedite the construction of water management projects, said Mr Praphit.

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has come up with a plan to protect the nation’s water reserves in anticipation of a long dry spell brought on by the El-Nino weather phenomenon.

RID director-general, Praphit Chanma, said the plan, which will be carried out under the supervision of the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), will see a public awareness campaign launched to raise awareness among the public about the importance of saving water resources.

El-Nino is causing less rain to fall in the region, raising fears of a severe drought when the monsoon ends in November. Experts fear this year’s El-Nino could have an impact on the region’s average rainfall well into 2025, Mr Praphit said. 

According to a report by RID’s Smart Water Operation Centre (SWOC) released on July 14, if the current rainfall trend continues, then by the end of the rainy season on Nov 1, the nation’s 35 major reservoirs would only contain 44.166 billion cubic metres of water — about 62% of their total capacity.

As of this week, the four major reservoirs along the Chao Phraya river basin, namely Bhumibol Dam in Tak, Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit, Kwai Noi Bamrung Daen Dam in Phitsanulok, and Pasak Jolasid Dam in Lop Buri, contain 14.194 billion m³ of water, or about 57% of their total capacity, he said.

More assessment is needed ahead of the end of the rainy season, so the RID has ordered all sectors to improve their overall water resource management, he said.

The RID is urging farmers to increase their utilisation of rainwater runoffs to irrigate their plots ahead of the planting season, to ensure there is enough water to irrigate their plots when the dry season begins.

When asked to comment on the possibility of crop failures due to the dry conditions, Mr Praphit said the RID will assist farms which are affected by a prolonged drought, especially those that grow perennial plants like durian and rubber, which are more expensive to maintain.

The RID will ask local administrative office and the Joint Management Committee (JMC) to pump water from the four major dams to drought-hit areas, and expedite the construction of water management projects, said Mr Praphit.