SINGAPORE: Automated lanes at Woodlands Checkpoint’s bus halls have increased the number of people who can clear immigration per hour by 20 per cent during peak departure periods. Compared with 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) now clears about 1,000 more bus travellers per hourContinue Reading
A lawyer representing alleged serial killer Sararat “Aem” Rangsiwuthaporn has denied charges of assisting her client in destroying or concealing evidence of her crimes.
Thannicha Aeksuwannawat, Ms Sararat’s lawyer, arrived at the Crime Suppression Division’s head office on Friday to report to CSD commander Pol Col Anek Taosuparp after a summons warrant was issued for her to meet investigators on May 29 or May 30.
The lawyer reported to the police ahead of schedule to face charges of aiding another person in evading punishment or receiving a reduced penalty by destroying or concealing evidence of crimes, in violation of Section 184. She was accompanied by her fellow lawyer Chaiya Khum-am.
Following two hours of questioning, Ms Thannicha told reporters that she met the investigators to acknowledge the charges after a suspect in the case accused her of orchestrating the concealment of evidence. Although she did not name the suspect, it was apparently that she referred to her client’s former husband, Pol Lt Col Withoon Rangsiwuthaporn.
Ms Sararat, 36, dubbed “Aem Cyanide”, was arrested on April 25 at Chaeng Watthana Government Complex in Bangkok while being four months pregnant. Her arrest was prompted by a complaint filed by the mother and elder sister of Siriporn “Koy” Khanwong, 32, of Kanchanaburi.
Siriporn had collapsed and died beside the Mae Klong River in Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi, where she had accompanied Ms Sararat to release fish as part of a merit-making activity on April 14. Cyanide was found in Siriporn’s body, and the list of alleged victims has continued to grow.
Sararat: Linked to about 14 deaths (Screen capture)
Pol Lt Col Withoon, 39, the deputy superintendent of the Suan Phueng station in Ratchaburi, was fired from the force. He was subsequently arrested on charges of receiving stolen property, jointly forging official ducuments and using forged official documents. The Nakhon Pathom Provincial Court granted him bail.
Ms Thannicha denied sending Siriporn’s bag to a woman identified as Kaew, as claimed. She raised questions over why her accuser, referring to Ms Sararat’s former police husband, sought to implicate her.
The lawyer said she would file defamation suits against certain police officers and media outlets. She expressed no concerns about the possibility of deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn providing lawyers to help individuals facing her planned defamation suits.
Pol Col Anek said police have gathered evidence to prosecute her.
Last week, Pol Gen Surachate said an analysis of 78 million baht, which had passed through bank accounts belonging to Ms Sararat, suggested that she had a gambling habit that allegedly drove her to commit 14 murders using cyanide.
Hello Globe readers,
It’s good to be back with another edition of Sightlines. If we had to choose a theme, our week in Southeast Asia was marked by elections.
While Timor-Leste voted in favour of the opposition party this week in its latest parliamentary ballot, Cambodia banned the main opposition Candlelight Party from running in the upcoming general elections – sparking widespread concerns over a shrinking democratic space. In Thailand, in the aftermath of last week’s election, the state is wrestling with the eligibility for prime minister of Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat after a military-backed senator alleged the opposition chief had failed to declare his shares in a media company.
In the meantime, Southeast Asia Globe spoke with newly elected Move Forward MP Chonthicha “Lookkate” Jangrew, a long-time democracy activist, about her political journey. In the recent elections, Chonthicha won a constituency seat for the opposition after spending almost a decade fighting several speech-related criminal charges for her human rights advocacy.
Away from elections, Vietnam is probing TikTok after the single-party government threatened to ban the app. The state investigation of the video-sharing platform began earlier this month in Ho Chi Minh City.
Environmentally speaking, the region is also looking for new solutions to long-running problems. With the help of satellite data from the U.S. space agency NASA, regional organisations are taking a new approach to cross-border management of the Mekong River. Effective data-sharing between the Mekong basin countries has been elusive in the past. The new satellite initiative will prioritise information about hydropower development and climate change, two of the most pressing concerns along the river.
Last but not least, Laos, once known as the “Land of a Million Elephants,” now faces the harsh reality of losing its iconic species due to deforestation and other habitat loss. The country’s captive elephant business, which provides entertainment to tourists, has been reopened after three years of Covid-19 restrictions, and animal welfare experts fear the increasing commercial pressure may affect the survival of the wild herds. Read more at the link below.
That’s all for this week, may you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the features!
Panel would aim to curb abuse of law
The Lawyer’s Association of Thailand has put forward the suggestion of forming a panel to screen complaints related to the lese majeste law in a bid to prevent the law from being exploited.
The association’s chairman, Narinpong Jinapuck, said on Friday the key problem with Section 112, also known as the lese majeste law, relates to its enforcement as everyone can file a related complaint, and it can be used as a political tool.
To solve the matter, Mr Narinpong said a working panel should be formed to screen each complaint to see whether it falls under Section 112 before it is submitted to a court.
The court must remain neutral and respond to a suspect’s bail request fairly, he said, adding the Bureau of the Royal Household should not be dragged into such affairs.
Mr Narinpong discussed how some political parties want to change Section 112. He said Thailand needs specific laws protecting the three pillars of Thai society — nation, religions and monarchy.
He said each of these three pillars has a law, with Section 116 covering national security offences and Section 206 covering religion-related offences, each being backed with a maximum sentence of 7 years in jail. Section 112 protects the monarchy, with prison terms ranging from three to 15 years.
Mr Narinpong said a proposition by some parties to scrap Section 112 is, therefore, irrational.
Another proposal to reduce the prison term to one year is equally nonsensical, he said, as sentencing serves the same function as Section 116 and 206.
Controversial issues relating to Section 112 were not included in a memorandum of understanding signed on Monday by the Move Forward Party (MFP) and its coalition partners, as they are divided on the matter. But the MoU did state that all parties have agreed not to affect Thailand’s position as a state, as a democracy under a constitutional monarchy, or the status of the monarchy.
MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat said the matter would be dealt with in parliament later. The MFP wants to reduce prison terms and stipulate that only the Bureau of the Royal Household can lodge a complaint.
Pheu Thai strategist Prommin Lertsuridej also backed changes to Section 112 on plaintiffs and enforcement.
According to Education Minister and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing, responding to a question in Parliament on May 10, there are more than 1,200 companies here that meet the shareholders’ equity requirement.
It takes a courageous man or woman with a deep sense of public duty to step in the ring and face national scrutiny over his fitness to attain the highest office of the land. I know of at least one person prepared to do so and I hope there are more likewise.
Why is it important?
The elected president plays a unique role in Singapore which sets it apart from the government. Though he (or she) does not have executive powers, he can be an effective check in the two important areas he has powers over, in safeguarding the reserves and in key appointments.
There is a reason why the Constitution states that he should not be a member of any political party, to preserve his independence and autonomy.
All past presidents had links to the ruling party. All have served Singapore well but their political association have politicised the office, even if they have acted with the utmost integrity and ability.
It might not have been a problem in the past when the PAP was unchallenged electorally and able to count close to 70 per cent of the popular votes in general elections (GEs).
But there is much more contestation today and support for the ruling party has fallen to the low 60s.
In the last GE in 2020, the opposition Workers’ Party garnered more votes than the PAP in the wards contested by both parties.
When there is such a divide, a president with close association to a political party will find it difficult to win the support of a significant segment of the population.
The problem is compounded when there is no contest and Singaporeans are deprived of their legitimate right to vote their choice.
This was most evident in the last election in 2017 which was reserved for Malay candidates, a new requirement introduced by the government to ensure minority representation at the highest level.
The reserved presidency was already a controversial move. A no-contest because Madam Halimah was the only candidate to qualify made it even more contentious.
There were two other Malay candidates from the private sector who were interested and had applied to the Presidential Elections Committee to be qualified to take part. Alas, they failed to meet the criteria.
Carrying a heavy school bag every day can cause spinal problems among children and worsen scoliosis, medical experts said, as they recommend limiting such bags to no more than 10% of a kid’s weight.
The warning came after one netizen raised concern about the weight of the bag that their Prathom 2 child had to carry daily, which is said to have totalled 4.5 kilogrammes.
According to the Department of Medical Services, Thai students have to carry bags weighing at least 4-6kg to school every day, considerably higher than the suggested limit that bags should only weigh 10–20% of their body weight.
Dr Nutthapong Wongwiwat, deputy director-general of the Department of Medical Services, said overly heavy bags can threaten the development of children’s spines, thus impeding their growth.
He said heavy carry-on bags can unbalance their spines since they have to tilt over to the heavier side, causing muscles to also be overworked.
Dr Adisak Ngamkajornvivat, director of Lerdsin Hospital, said overweight bags can lead to back problems and poor posture.
Regarding the spinal issues, Dr Adisak suggested parents send their child to see a doctor if they notice poor postural problems.
Parents can check their children by making them bend backwards with their feet close together, he said. They should be sent to the doctor if anything looks out of place.
To prevent such back problems, Dr Adisak suggested parents give their offspring wheeled bags to use or limit the weight to within the safe range.
Dr Tinnakorn Pleumvitayaporn from Lerdsin’s Orthopaedics Institute said that even though heavy bags are not considered a direct cause of scoliosis in kids, they can affect their tendons and muscle, which could worsen the disease.
Dr Tinnakorn said a physician can prescribe patients suffering from scoliosis with various advice and treatments to deal with the ailment.
MANG CHENG XIANG CURRY RICE, S$2.80
This cai png stall, located within Our Tampines Hub, serves a Chicken Drumstick Curry Rice set at S$2.80. What you get: A good-sized drumstick as seen by this photo snapped by netizen Ben Lim, a potato and a sunny side up egg. He posted on Facebook foodie group Hawkers United – Dabao 2020: “At S$2.80, it’s such a steal! [sic]” and “back here again for cheap n good lunch [sic]”.
Comments on his post from other members of the group included: “Honest stall, food served is same like in poster [sic]” and “Love it. The curry is super nice too. My must-order dish when I’m there”. However, there was also a less flattering remark: “After multiple tries, all I’d say is that the chicken, curry and all tastes every bit S$2.80. Life is fair, do not expect too much”.
Spike expected in respiratory illnesses
Covid-19 infections are expected to peak between June and August and again next January and February, with those who have hitherto escaped the virus likely to contract it, according to a virologist at Chulalongkorn University.
Dr Yong Poovorawan, director of the Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, wrote on his Facebook page on Friday that a surge in Covid-19 cases is expected.
Thailand will see a spike in seasonal respiratory illnesses after the opening of schools and the arrival of the rainy season, and such cases will peak between June and August, he said.
They will then drop and peak again between January and February, by which point most of the population will have had Covid-19, he said, adding the virus can re-infect a person but in most cases, symptoms will be less severe.
A jump in Covid-19 infections is expected because all of the curbs have now been dropped and full activities have resumed, according to Dr Yong.
“Those who are ‘Novid’, or have never been infected during the pandemic, have a high chance of contracting the disease. The number of people who have never had Covid-19 will be smaller,” he wrote.
Dr Yong said the public should help prevent transmission otherwise the public health system could be overwhelmed. Vulnerable groups who are infected need anti-viral medicines, he added.
Dr Supakij Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, said on Friday that getting a booster shot remains everyone’s best defence despite the virus having mutated. He said unvaccinated people are at greater risk of developing severe symptoms and more than 40% of Covid-19 patients who died had not received any jabs.
Dr Thira Woratanarat, a public health expert and lecturer at the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, on Friday shared the findings from a study on long Covid symptoms on his Facebook page.
The findings of the study funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) showed that about 10% of Covid-19 patients suffer from long-term symptoms for more than six months, including fatigue, brain fog and dizziness.
Dr Thira said there are subtypes of post-infection and long Covid symptoms associated with Omicron.
Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) and Bangchak Corporation Plc on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on technical and professional knowledge sharing concerning Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) utilisation.
Taviroj Songkumpol, THAI’s chief of corporate strategy, said the national carrier, for more than 63 years, strived to balance economic considerations for the good of society and the environment through good governance in operating its business.
Meanwhile, Thamarat Paryoonsuk, senior executive vice president for Bangchak’s Refinery Business Group, said Bangchak is committed to pursuing its ongoing vision of “Crafting a Sustainable World with Evolving Greenovation”.
The company is also developing and expanding its core businesses, accelerating investments in green and sustainable businesses to prepare for future technological advancements and progress and the challenges of climate change, he said.
In 2022, Bangchak established Thailand’s first and only company to produce SAF from used cooking oil to convert the Bangchak refinery into a biorefinery to produce biofuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. SAF not only adds value to used cooking oil but also helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the aviation industry, added the senior vice president.
Local liquor and beer producers on Friday called on the Move Forward Party (MFP) to push ahead with its progressive policy to liberalise liquor making and allow more small producers to enter the market.
Representatives from the Thai Domestic Liquor Association and the Thai Craft Beer Association said the MFP’s policy would break up the duopoly of the industry with a market value of 470 billion baht and pave the way for small operators nationwide.
“No government and no party has had this policy before, and we hope the Senate will support the MFP’s efforts to form the coalition government and create job opportunities for us,” said Somboon Kaewkiangkrai, chairman of the Thai Domestic Liquor Association.
MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat thanked the groups for sharing the party’s vision of turning farm produce into value-added products and conserving local wisdom.
He said the new liquor policy could be implemented in the first 100 days of the MFP-led government, and it was part of the MFP’s economic policy to generate income and distribute wealth evenly.
He said legal amendments were required to support business operators and ensure that neither the public’s health nor the environment would be affected.
All ministries and coalition partners would be roped in to materialise the policy, he added.
According to Mr Pita, the MFP-led government would also consider promoting distilleries and breweries as tourist destinations to help generate income for producers.
The MFP leader insisted the policy does not seek to increase domestic alcohol consumption but to add value to existing products.
He said that’s why the party uses the term “progressive” when asked why it does not support the liberalisation of cannabis.
In the memorandum of understanding recently signed with seven prospective coalition partners, the MFP-led bloc pledges to put cannabis back on the narcotic drug list.
“We want to give tourists more choices … some geographically-specific products to add flavour to their experiences,” he said.
“We also want to export these products. We can also serve these products when hosting international conferences instead of foreign wines.”
Supapong Pruenglamphu, a representative from the Thai Craft Beer Association, said small operators are upbeat about the policy and are looking forward to owning a small brewery in their community.
Mr Supapong said he hopes the Senate and the MPs will support the MFP’s bid set up the government so the new liquor policy can take shape.
The MFP’s “progressive liquor” bill was shot down in its second and third readings at the House of Representatives late last year, shortly after the cabinet approved a new ministerial announcement on alcohol production control.
The party lambasted the new rules for posing stiffer barriers to small makers of alcoholic beverages and attempting to protect the interests of large alcohol makers.