Conflict or coup possible, warns academic

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Coalition ‘must secure 66+ senators’

Conflict and another coup could occur if the Move Forward Party (MFP) fails to form a coalition government, an academic has warned.

Phichai: Pita, MFP have legitimacy

The military has, however, given assurances that it will do its best to maintain order and ruled out the possibility of another coup.

Writing on Facebook on Saturday, Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, programme director for politics and development strategy at the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), presented possible scenarios for what would happen if the MFP is able to form a government and what would happen if the party fails to do so.

The MFP-led coalition, which now has a combined 313 MPs, will form the new government if it can secure the support of at least 66 senators, he said.

He said the MFP has the legitimacy to form a government and that its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, stands out among the other prime ministerial candidates as he has the backing of voters and has gained international recognition.

“With the MFP leading the government, politics will stabilise while democracy will thrive and the economy will go ahead. Thailand will be held in high esteem by other countries,” he said.

But if the MFP fails to form a coalition government because the senators refuse to vote for Mr Pita to be prime minister, the country will lack stability as it will be rocked by division and conflict, leading to an economic downturn and a bad image in the eyes of other countries, Mr Phichai said.

If the Pheu Thai Party becomes the leader in forming a government and nominates its prime ministerial candidate, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, for a PM vote in parliament, there is no guarantee the senators will vote for her, he said.

Moreover, Pheu Thai may not be able to bring the Palang Pracharath and Bhumjaithai parties into its coalition, because it will face resistance from red-shirt groups, he said.

Division and conflict could trigger a coup, allowing the military to step in and assume power, sending the country into a downward spiral, he said.

Yutthaporn Issarachai, a political science lecturer at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said the MFP’s supporters, particularly those on social media, wield a great deal of influence on the party’s decision making.

“The MFP has to bow to the demands of its own fandom. On the issue relating to Section 112 [the lese majeste law], if the MFP insists on revising the law, it must confront the senators and parties that oppose the bid.

“But if the party backs down from the move, it will confront its own fandom instead online,” Mr Yutthaporn said.

Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party — part of the MFP-led coalition bloc — on Saturday said that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) drafted by the MFP imposes too many obligations on coalition partners.

The coalition is working out an MoU which will map out guidelines for its collaboration and address national, political, economic and social crises. Details of the MoU will be revealed tomorrow.

“There are too many details regarding matters such as military reform. It seems the MFP is trying to obligate coalition partners to agree on issues raised by the MFP,” Pol Gen Sereepisuth said.

“But the issue related to Section 112 is not included in the MoU,” he added.

Meanwhile, an army source said that another coup is unlikely even if the MFP is thwarted in its desire to form a government — which could spark street protests from its supporters.

“In the past, a coup could take place under such circumstances. But right now, a coup is unlikely. However, it remains to be seen how the miltary will maintain order without having to stage a coup,” the source said.

Army chief Gen Narongpan Jittkaewtae previously provided assurances that no coups will take place while he is in charge, saying the chance of a coup is zero. He said the word “coup” should not exist in anyone’s vocabulary.

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The rise of Charles & Keith: From a humble shoe store in Ang Mo Kio to a firm K-celebrity favourite

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We’ve taken some baby steps, launching several eco-friendly capsules such as our Purpose Collection crafted from recycled polyester and nylon, and incorporating more and more recycled materials into our core product line.

By 2025, at least one million units of Charles & Keith products sold will be made of recycled materials. We are targeting that 25 per cent of our overall production will utilise biobased materials by this time.

Additionally, we launched an e-commerce impact programme last year, working with CSR partner Plastic Bank, to actively reduce plastic waste from entering the world’s oceans. Tied to every purchase made on our e-store, to date, we have prevented more than 3.5 million plastic bottles from polluting the ocean and impacted 16 communities across Indonesia and the Philippines, supporting women by providing access to life- improving benefits such as groceries, cooking fuel and insurance.

WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE FOR CHARLES & KEITH?

We’ll be rolling out new flagships in the region including our very first store designed in collaboration with David Chipperfield Architects, a renowned international architecture firm, which will be a beautiful testament of the brand’s evolving elevation. We are also looking to pilot a re-sale programme in the US. 

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Commentary: It’s time to cool down the heat as Singapore hits record-high temperature

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HEAT AND THE CITY

Singapore has heated up notably since the mid-1970s when rapid urbanisation took place. According to the Meteorological Service Singapore, the island is warming up twice as fast as the rest of the world, at 0.25 degrees Celsius per decade.

As a city, Singapore faces the twin effects of enhanced global warming and the urban heat island effect.

In the specific case of Ang Mo Kio last week – where the 37 degrees Celsius temperature matched the 40-year record set in Tengah on Apr 17, 1983 – a factor contributing to the high temperature could be the additional energy released from vehicles and construction, which alters the urban environment by directly increasing the air temperature or indirectly influencing other parameters like surface temperature.

Where trees are cut and the ground is exposed to solar radiation, the cooling effect provided by Bishan-Ang Mo Kio park would reduce.

Additionally, more buildings and increased urbanisation efforts such as construction have caused more heat to be generated and retained in the city, ultimately leading to a surface energy imbalance, which means that more heat is stored than what can be dissipated naturally.

Coupled with slower traffic increasing exhaust heat contributions due to fewer vehicle lanes or makeshift roadside barricades, it was not entirely surprising that the estate experienced the sweltering temperatures.

As Singapore continues with its urbanisation plans, it is important to note that this can have more of an impact on warming than climate change.

Projections based off 2015 conditions from a recent local study show that already developed urban areas like Tai Seng would face less of a temperature increase than rapidly urbanising estates like Khatib (almost 0.8 degrees Celsius) or Ang Mo Kio (just below 0.5 degrees Celsius).

With both current conditions and future projections indicating a rise in temperatures across Singapore, there is no time to waste to implement solutions to mitigate urban heat.

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How the Singapore Mint makes commemorative coins

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MAKING THE MOULD

The design is used to create a plaster mould the size of a dinner plate. This is the canvas that the craftsmen of the Singapore Mint begin to work on.

With years of experience, the master craftsmen’s skill lies in adding intricate elements that technology cannot achieve – like facial expressions, for example.

While a machine can engrave the general likeness of a face, nuances that bring a design to life, such as a sparkle in the eye, fur on an animal, or a laugh line, are ones that can only be achieved by the human touch. It is this element of workmanship and artistry that the Singapore Mint prides itself on.

Armed with their arsenal of tools, it can often take the mint’s craftsmen several weeks to sculpt the fine details on the plaster mould.

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Are cooling measures working? How HDB resale prices have changed in every Singapore town

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HAVE COOLING MEASURES WORKED?

The government said in April that the property cooling measures in 2021 and 2022 have had a “moderating effect”. 

Analysing sales volume and prices in the two quarters before and after cooling measures were imposed, Prof Qian found that HDB quarterly resale transactions fell by 6.3 per cent after the cooling measures in 2021, but prices rose by 2.6 per cent over the same period.

After cooling measures in September 2022, the average quarterly resale volume of HDB flats fell by 3.6 per cent, but prices rose by 1.6 per cent. 

Prof Qian said those two rounds of cooling measures in December 2021 and September 2022 have reduced market transaction volume and slowed the growth of prices in the private and HDB resale market, although price levels continue to rise.

Analysts also pointed out that there were other factors affecting the HDB resale market, including the rise in loan interest rates and increasing supply.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, interest rates stayed low. Floating interest rates – most of which are pegged to the Singapore Overnight Rate Average – mostly stayed below 1 per cent.

But as the economy reopened, interest rates shot up, with floating rates in recent months above 4 per cent.

Construction delays during the COVID-19 pandemic also saw more people turning from Build-to-Order (BTO) flats to resale flats, pushing up demand.

Prices may start to moderate as supply catches up. The government is “committed to launch” about 23,000 BTO flats in 2023.

Analysts also pointed to an increase in CPF Housing Grant amounts for eligible resale flat buyers as potentially pushing up demand. Ms Christine Sun of OrangeTee & Tie called this a “confounding factor”.

The increase in housing grants for first-timers may have spurred demand and price growth for some types of flats, said Ms Sun, the senior vice president of research and analytics.

“Such a policy change done within six months of property curb may mask the true effectiveness of the cooling measures,” she added.

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Conflict or coup, warns academic

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In: South-East Asia

Coalition ‘must secure 66+ senators’

Conflict and another coup could occur if the Move Forward Party (MFP) fails to form a coalition government, an academic has warned.

Phichai: Pita, MFP have legitimacy

The military has, however, given assurances that it will do its best to maintain order and ruled out the possibility of another coup.

Writing on Facebook yesterday, Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, programme director for politics and development strategy at the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), presented possible scenarios for what would happen if the MFP is able to form a government and what would happen if the party fails to do so.

The MFP-led coalition, which now has a combined 313 MPs, will form the new government if it can secure the support of at least 66 senators, he said.

He said the MFP has the legitimacy to form a government and that its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, stands out among the other prime ministerial candidates as he has the backing of voters and has gained international recognition.

“With the MFP leading the government, politics will stabilise while democracy will thrive and the economy will go ahead. Thailand will be held in high esteem by other countries,” he said.

But if the MFP fails to form a coalition government because the senators refuse to vote for Mr Pita to be prime minister, the country will lack stability as it will be rocked by division and conflict, leading to an economic downturn and a bad image in the eyes of other countries, Mr Phichai said.

If the Pheu Thai Party becomes the leader in forming a government and nominates its prime ministerial candidate, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, for a PM vote in parliament, there is no guarantee the senators will vote for her, he said.

Moreover, Pheu Thai may not be able to bring the Palang Pracharath and Bhumjaithai parties into its coalition, because it will face resistance from red-shirt groups, he said.

Division and conflict could trigger a coup, allowing the military to step in and assume power, sending the country into a downward spiral, he said.

Yutthaporn Issarachai, a political science lecturer at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said the MFP’s supporters, particularly those on social media, wield a great deal of influence on the party’s decision making.

“The MFP has to bow to the demands of its own fandom. On the issue relating to Section 112 [the lese majeste law], if the MFP insists on revising the law, it must confront the senators and parties that oppose the bid.

“But if the party backs down from the move, it will confront its own fandom instead online,” Mr Yutthaporn said.

Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party — part of the MFP-led coalition bloc — yesterday said that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) drafted by the MFP imposes too many obligations on coalition partners.

The coalition is working out an MoU which will map out guidelines for its collaboration and address national, political, economic and social crises. Details of the MoU will be revealed tomorrow.

“There are too many details regarding matters such as military reform. It seems the MFP is trying to obligate coalition partners to agree on issues raised by the MFP,” Pol Gen Sereepisuth said.

“But the issue related to Section 112 is not included in the MoU,” he added.

Meanwhile, an army source said that another coup is unlikely even if the MFP is thwarted in its desire to form a government — which could spark street protests from its supporters.

“In the past, a coup could take place under such circumstances. But right now, a coup is unlikely. However, it remains to be seen how the miltary will maintain order without having to stage a coup,” the source said.

Army chief Gen Narongpan Jittkaewtae previously provided assurances that no coups will take place while he is in charge, saying the chance of a coup is zero. He said the word “coup” should not exist in anyone’s vocabulary.

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Move Forward supporters nix plan for Korn to join

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The Move Forward Party (MFP) yesterday ditched the New and Chartpattanakla parties from its proposed coalition line-up, following a backlash from its supporters.

MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon announced yesterday the party will focus on lobbying for Senate support for its leader to be premier.

MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat posted a tweet on Friday night, about the approaches: “I would like to apologise. I will keep reminding myself that a party is bigger than an individual. The people are bigger than a party.”

Bowing to mounting pressure from its supporters, the MFP posted a message on its Facebook page on Friday night, acknowledging that it had heard the voices of the people, many of whom opposed the inclusion of Chartpattanakla in its alliance.

The move came after the MFP held talks with Chartpattanakla on Friday regarding their support for Mr Pita’s bid to become prime minister and the formation of a coalition government, with MFP deputy leader Phicharn Chaowapatanawong confirming the alliance that evening.

The negotiations drew widespread criticism from the public, party staff, provincial-level panels and party members. Most shared the view that they could not accept the inclusion of the Chartpattanakla Party led by Korn Chatikavanij.

As the hash tag “Mee Korn Mai Mee Ku”, meaning “if you have Korn, you can’t have me”, trended on Thai language Twitter that evening, a meeting of prospective Move Forward MPs also expressed the same stance.

Opposition to Chartpattanakla stemmed from its leader Mr Korn, who participated in the seven-month-long Bangkok Shutdown and anti-Yingluck Shinawatra protests that led to the military coup that toppled her administration in May 22, 2014. Mr Korn, a former deputy leader of the Democrat Party, also voted in favour of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the coup leader at the time, as prime minister.

The MFP, after winning the most House seats in the election, said the party would focus on convincing enough senators to back Mr Pita as PM, allowing it to form a government as soon as possible.

On Friday, the one-member New Party accepted the invitation to join the alliance, setting it on course to becoming the ninth party to do so. However, the party was also dropped from the proposed coalition line-up, following the online backlash, according to party leader Kritditas Saengthanayothin.

Chartpattanakla chairman Suwat Liptapanlop yesterday insisted the party had been approached to join the proposed MFP-led coalition bloc and not the other way around. The MFP said it was running short of MP support to form a government.

“We didn’t ask to be part of the coalition bloc,” Mr Suwat said.

The party merely wanted to see a post-election politics with a semblance of stability and for the country to be ruled by a government with majority support in parliament, he added.

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Exports of rice surge to 2.8m tonnes

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Demand grows despite prices

Rice exports topped 2.79 million tonnes from January to April with the volume for the entire year forecast to exceed 8 million tonnes, the government said.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was upbeat about the figure, valued at US$1.5 billion (51.2 billion baht), up 23% from the same period last year, said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.

The prime minister has instructed state agencies to work proactively to improve rice exports further and increase crop production while pushing to keep rice prices high in overseas markets, Mr Anucha said.

He added exports of Thai rice are expected to keep rising on the back of growing demand in many countries.

Currently, Thailand is the world’s second-largest rice exporter after India.

In April, the hike in rice prices was attributed to the stable baht which has kept the commodity competitive in foreign markets.

As a result, the prices of most types of rice have risen beyond the government’s price guarantee.

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has now predicted rice exports will surpass the yearly target.

The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) forecasts exports will reach 8 million tonnes, up from 7.69 million tonnes in 2022.

As of May 10, rice exports stood at 3.05 million tonnes, according to Mr Anucha, adding orders for Thai rice from overseas keep on climbing.

Major markets for Thai rice include Iraq, Indonesia, the US, South Africa, Senegal, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Cameroon and Mozambique. Thailand mostly exports white rice the most, followed by jasmine rice.

Mr Anucha said the prime minister thanked state agencies and the private sector for their efforts in marketing and developing the quality of rice for export to meet demand. However, Gen Prayut has cautioned against fraudulent exports, which could damage the reputation of Thai rice internationally.

Udom Srisomsong, deputy director-general of the DIT, said global demand for Thai rice remains strong, which has sustained prices and made them competitive.

The high export prices have offset the need for the government to step in and use its price guarantee measure to assist farmers.

The Thai Rice Exporters Association, meanwhile, said it fails to see any clarity in measures dealing with crop prices from the Move Forward Party or Pheu Thai, the two main parties that will form the new government. They are thrashing out a memorandum of understanding covering key policy areas as part of the deal.

Charoen Laothamthat, the association president, said a change of government should not stall or bring abrupt changes to policies that hinder the development of key crops.

Companies fear Thailand may be losing its competitiveness in exporting rice to Vietnam.

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Chiang Saen police arrest four bribery suspects

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CHIANG RAI: Officers in Chiang Saen district yesterday arrested a group of suspects involved in offering a bribe to secure the release of four Chinese nationals nabbed previously for illegally entering the kingdom.

The arrest, led by Chiang Saen Immigration Checkpoint Commissioner Pol Col Chinnakorn Assawapoom, was the result of cooperation between checkpoint officers and police from Chiang Saen station.

Pol Col Chinnakorn said four suspects — identified as Ratthaphong, 50; Sunchai, 34; Peerapol, 34; and Thanthida, 54 (surnames withheld) — were arrested on Friday night at Chiang Saen station after offering a bribe. They sought the release of four Chinese nationals who were arrested on May 18, after they illegally immigrated with their tour guide.

Mr Ratthaphong, who claimed to be the secretary to a deputy of the national police chief, called investigators, offering 800,000 baht in cash in exchange for releasing the Chinese. The officers decided to make the exchange at Chiang Saen station, to secure solid evidence against Mr Rattaphong and his company. The suspects were nabbed as they handed over the money.

The officers looked for Mr Rattaphong’s name in the police database, without success, suggesting he was not involved with any deputy national police chief whatsoever, according to Pol Col Chinnakorn. All suspects were charged with bribery under Section 144 of the Criminal Code. Mr Rattaphong was also charged with falsely claiming to be an officer, as per section 145, and having unauthorised radio equipment.

Meanwhile, the Counter Corruption Division (CCD) commander, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankew, said the division will expand its probe into those involved in the case of Nakhon Sawan’s Mae Wong district chief Prasit Phattanasitthicheewin, charged for allegedly demanding bribes from a cockfighting operator.

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10m foreign tourists since January: govt

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Number of flights from China rising

Thailand has welcomed almost 10 million foreign tourists since January, generating about 391 billion baht in revenue. The government expects the number of Chinese tourists to reach seven million this year.

Traisulee Taisaranakul, deputy government spokeswoman, said yesterday that 9.47 million foreign tourists visited Thailand from January to May 15, mainly from East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia.

The government has ordered affiliated agencies to enhance support for incoming tourists, particularly Chinese visitors, to boost tourism growth.

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand expects to see over 5.3 million Chinese tourists visiting the country. The figure might even reach seven million if supported by other tourism incentives, Ms Traisulee added.

Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai) also said there were 12,805 flights from China to Thailand during October 2022 to April, 2023, an increase of 98% compared to the same period the former year.

Chinese tourist numbers rose after China’s announcement on Feb 6 that it would allow international travel via travel agencies.

Aerothai anticipates an increase in the number of flights from China until September this year. It estimates 5,330 flights in May, 6,090 flights in June, 7,150 flights in July, 7,460 flights in August and 7,340 flights in September.

The total estimated number of Chinese flights coming to Thailand during the 2023 fiscal year, from October last year to September this year, is 46,175, said Ms Traisulee.

Meanwhile, the Economics Tourism and Sports Division of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports said there were 415,309 foreign tourists visiting Thailand during May 8-14, or almost 59,329 people per day.

Most are from Southeast Asia, East Asia and South Asia. The top-five international tourists arriving in Thailand by nationality are Malaysians, Chinese, Indians, Lao and South Koreans, making up to 47.5% of all international tourists.

The division said that even though Thailand is entering its low season and the number of tourists is expected to fall gradually, there are many incentives to attract foreign tourists.

Nonetheless, Thailand’s tourism also is affected by external factors including the world economy, which is facing negative pressure from the US debt ceiling talks, high inflation and the Russian-Ukrainian War, said the division.

Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), said Thailand’s tourism will slow down in the latter half of the year.

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