South-East Asia (Page 380)

Delayed bill set for extra House scrutiny

The Democrat Party says it is ready to scrutinise the government’s 2024 expenditure budget bill during the first reading debate on Jan 3–5.

Chanin Rungsaeng, a new deputy leader of the Democrat Party, yesterday told the media that leader Chalermchai Sri-on had instructed all party MPs to do their best in the debate as the opposition party is eager to regain public confidence.

He said Narit Khamnurak, another new deputy leader, will lead the debate team, which also consists of Nakhon Si Thammarat MP Chaichana Dechdecho and heavyweight party MPs, such as Chuan Leekpai, Banyat Bantadtan and Jurin Laksanawisit.

The government’s budget bill for the 2024 fiscal year is seeking a total of 3.48 trillion baht. The bill, which is supposed to take effect on Oct 1 every year, has been delayed because the new coalition government first needed to find its feet.

Saran Timsuwan, Pheu Thai MP and a government whip, said the government is ready for the debate. He said he is confident the 2024 budget bill will be passed and will take effect in April.

Asked about concerns over the delay, Mr Saran said it could lead to problems in the future as the government now has less time to spend its budget before the next fiscal year. The budget bill was approved by the Budget Bureau last week and will be submitted to the cabinet tomorrow before it is sent to parliament, he said.

Sirikanya Tansakul, deputy leader of the opposition Move Forward Party, said the MFP has also prepped its MPs for the debate next week, even though the party will only have seven days to review the bill. She said the budget bill by the Srettha Thavisin government is little different than those under the previous Prayut Chan-o-cha government as most of the money will be spent paying off public debts.

Ms Sirikanya also said if the government fails to secure a loan for 500 billion baht to finance its digital wallet handout scheme, she will propose the government cut unnecessary spending to add to the central budget used for economic stimulation instead.

“If the government really wants to spur the economy, there should be more projects in addition to its digital wallet pledge and they must be put in the bill,” she said. “If not, it shows they do not [know] how much the economic recovery effort would cost.”

Vendors selling food and drinks containing kratom will now be required to display a sign at their point-of-sale, warning individuals under the age of 18, pregnant or breastfeeding women against purchasing the psychoactive product.

The new Ministry of Public Health rule came into effect on Saturday, a day after it was announced in the Royal Gazette.

It is a part of the amended Kratom Act 2022. The rule also applies to online kratom vendors.

All vendors are now required to display a warning with a reasonable size to ensure it is visible to everyone who visits the point-of-sale, whether it is a brick-and-mortar venue or an online shop.

Separately, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) said it has submitted a bill to regulate the sales of alcoholic beverages, along with a bill that would detail further restrictions on advertising and promotion of such drinks. The bill is awaiting the approval of the public health minister, who will then forward it to the cabinet.

Once approved by the cabinet, will be submitted to the House of Representatives for further deliberation, along with other versions of the bill submitted by businesses and temperance groups, said Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, director-general of the DDC.

Despite growing calls for an extension to alcohol-selling hours to enhance the government’s decision to allow bars and clubs to open until 4am, the DDC will not back the easing of the restrictions, as it is duty-bound to protect public health, he said.

Both the Transport Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand are being urged to keep airfares at reasonable prices, after consumers cried foul over expensive airfares during the weekends and long holidays.

Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, a list-MP of the United Thai Nation Party, said yesterday both should consider interventions to make air travel affordable which in return will benefit the government’s tourism promotion policy.

His remarks follow complaints on social media about skyrocketing air tickets from Bangkok to Krabi, a popular tourist destination, during weekends and long holidays. The price from some airlines exceeds 10,000 baht.

The MP said expensive airfares during long holidays are now the norm and urged state agencies to regularly examine the prices to ensure customers are not being exploited.

He said authorities should also inform the public about the airfare structure and price regulations, adding the prices of last-minute bookings tend to surge, so people should make travel plans and book tickets in advance to avoid expensive airfares.

He said expensive airfares add to travellers’ burdens as they return to their home provinces.

“State agencies should take action to make airlines adjust their prices. They may consider adding flights, aircraft or airlines to make the market more competitive,” he said.

Pink Line accident prompts sharp reply

The government is warning the operator of the Pink Line monorail against further mishaps after a section of the conductor rail came off from its beam and fell onto a street in Nonthaburi province yesterday morning.

The mishap, in which three cars and one motorcycle were damaged with no reports of injuries, prompted immediate suspension of the train operations for a thorough safety investigation.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has ordered the Department of Rail Transport to probe the matter and threatened action against the line’s operator should there be any recurrence or similar incidents.

The portion of the conductor rail, which is about 10 centimetres wide and five centimetres thick, came off its beam at 4.45am near the intersection between Cholaprathan Market and Khae Rai on a stretch covering a distance of 3.8km before the line had begun its operating hours.

The dislocated conductor rail damaged three cars parked under the track and snagged on a power pole, leaving it standing at an angle.

Witnesses said they heard unusual sounds coming from Khae Rai just before the conductor rail detached.

“How fortunate it didn’t happen when the train was operating. What if the train had come off the beam? The safety standards for a project like this should have been more robust,” said one witness.

Train services for the entire line were suspended at noon yesterday as Mr Suriya made an inspection along with Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) governor Pakapong Sirikantaramas.

Citing an initial report, he said that a foreign object could have come into contact with an inspection car during an inspection routine and this could have led to a sequence of events that resulted in the conductor rail becoming loose.

The routine inspection is made at 4 am before the service hours.

“I’ve ordered the Department of Rail Transport to investigate and assess safety before the system resumes services. If any other mishaps take place, penalties will be imposed,” he said.

Mr Pakapong said the dislocated rail would be reinstalled at night over the course of a week. He said compensation would be paid to those affected by the incident.

Nonthaburi governor Suthi Thongyaem yesterday clarified that it was not the track itself that had collapsed, as some early reports suggested, but the conductor rail which supplies electric power for the operation of the train.

“The part that came off was the conductor rail which is mounted alongside, not the rail track. The cause of the incident is being investigated,” he said.

Due to the repair work and need for further safety inspections, the seven stations from Nonthaburi Civic Centre (PK01) to Pak Kret Bypass Station (PK07) will stay closed today while the rest of the line, from Chaeng Watthana–Pak Kret station (PK08) to Min Buri (PK30), is open as usual.

The 34.5-kilometre-long Pink Line, which connects Nonthaburi’s Kae Rai area to Bangkok’s Min Buri district, is the country’s second monorail after the Yellow Line. Northern Bangkok Monorail (NBM) was granted the concession to operate the line.

The Pink Line, which is currently available free of charge before it opens officially on Jan 3, saw the number of passengers reaching a new high of 107,203 on Dec 22, breaking the previous day’s new record of 99,882.

The incident came after the conductor rail at Lak Si Station experienced a problem, causing a 17-minute service delay on Dec 18. The Yellow Line reportedly faced issues with the conductor rail during its trial run as well.

In another development, the MRTA has ordered the contractor of the Purple Line to suspend the use of cranes at a construction site after a steel rod fell and struck the head of a 23-year-old worker at the site in Thon Buri district yesterday morning.

He was rushed to Taksin Hospital but later succumbed to injuries.

Cherdsak Saenkhuen, a 56-year-old crane operator, was detained for questioning and initially charged with recklessness causing death.

The MRTA said the contractor would suspend use of the cranes while it reviews and improves safety measures on the site.

Public hospitals across the country have been told to ensure they are able to handle a forecast spike in respiratory problems, as the concentration of airborne pollutants is expected to rise in the next few weeks.

The Ministry of Public Health order came as several areas in the capital saw unhealthy levels of ultra-fine pollutants in the air, with Lat Krabang, Thon Buri, Bang Na, Nong Khaem, Yannawa, Ratchathewi, Bangkok Noi and Prawet districts all reporting PM2.5 concentrations above 37.5 microgrammes per cubic metres (µg/m³) yesterday.

The permanent secretary for public health, Opas Karnkawinpong, said levels of ultra-fine PM2.5 particles will rise in the coming weeks, as a high-pressure system moving in from China will cause airborne pollutants to linger over Greater Bangkok, the Central Plains, the North and the Northeast.

The provinces which stand to be affected include Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phrae, Nan, Phayao, Lampang, Lamphun and Mae Hong Son, which fall under the 1st Health Area office; Tak, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit and Sukhothai, under the 2nd Health Area office; Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, Chai Nat and Uthai Thani under the 3rd Health Area office; and Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Loei, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lam Phu and Bueng Kan under the 8th Health Area office.

As such, Dr Opas said hospitals under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Health must be ready to handle an expected spike in patient admissions.

Hospitals run by the ministry have been asked to speed up their roll-out of telemedicine services, to aid vulnerable individuals, which include children, pregnant women, senior citizens, people with chronic health conditions, and those who work outdoors.

Air pollution can lead to respiratory diseases, heart and vascular problems, conjunctivitis and skin issues.

The ministry has also opened Public Health Emergency Operations Centres in Phitsanulok, Nonthaburi, Sing Buri and Samut Sakhon to improve access to healthcare services, he said.

Voters to be told what good work the party is doing, with MPs told to get the message out, writes Aekarach Sattaburuth

The Pheu Thai Party must improve its communication strategies to ensure the people know about its achievements, says its secretary-general Sorawong Thienthong.

Mr Sorawong, a 48-year-old MP from Sa Kaeo and a son of political kingmaker Sanoh Thienthong, said Pheu Thai remains strong and proactive, understanding the needs of each community.

However, it must connect more effectively with voters especially those who work outside their constituencies and might not be aware of the party’s efforts in addressing their communities’ problems.

“We must ensure people are informed about contributions to communities and achievements. While the government works to deliver on its promises, the MPs must reach out to explain their successes to voters,” he said.

Mr Sorawong is confident that if the Pheu Thai-led government realises its policies and campaign promises while maintaining its focus on keeping clear of corruption and minimising political conflicts, it can complete the four-year term and the party will come back stronger in the next elections.

For the first time in several years, Pheu Thai lost to the Move Forward Party (MFP), finishing second in the May 14 elections.

The party managed to form a coalition government after MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat failed to secure enough support to become the prime minister.

Dr Cholnan Srikaew then stepped down as the party leader for breaking a promise to not work with the Palang Pracharath Party and the United Thai Nation Party, which joined the coalition despite being linked to military leaders involved in the 2014 coup.

At a party assembly to elect a new leader and executive board in late October, Paetongtarn Shinawatra was elected to take the helm of Pheu Thai as widely speculated.

Mr Sorawong was chosen as the party’s secretary-general to succeed veteran Prasert Chantharuangthong.

Mr Sorawong spoke with the Bangkok Post about his perspectives as the new secretary-general of Pheu Thai.

Mr Sorawong joined the now-dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party under the helm of convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, father of Ms Paetongtarn, in 2001 and served on then-foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai’s advisory team for four years before making a debut in the 2005 polls.

He has been with the party since, except for a brief period during which Mr Sanoh left the party to form his own political outfit, the Pracharaj Party.

He believes he is entrusted with the role of secretary-general because the party has seen his devotion to the party.

“I’ve worked for the party for a long time. They must have seen my dedication and supported me for the post,” he said.

Like other long-established organisations, Pheu Thai has both old-timers and newcomers and faces a generation gap. He sees himself as well-suited to connect between the old and new generations.

Mr Sorawong said that because Ms Paetongtarn is not an MP, the responsibility for the party’s work in parliament must be distributed among six deputies who will coordinate with him.

“There’s not much going on at this point and the real challenge and intense work usually occur during an election period or when there are issues being debated in parliament,” he said.

In terms of internal party affairs, he said he will focus on initiating a digital transformation to make the party better organised as suggested by Ms Paetongtarn upon being elected as the party leader.

Another priority is to strengthen the Pheu Thai Family so it can improve communication with the public and connect better with the people, he added.

Asked about Ms Paetongtarn’s potential to become the prime minister, he said the Pheu Thai leader is ready to take up the challenge but noted the party will not change horses mid-stream.

The secretary-general was referring to speculation that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin could be asked to step aside for Ms Paetongtarn, who was also a party prime minister candidate, before his term ends.

Mr Sretta himself has occasionally referred to her as the “second prime minister” though seems happy enough in his job.

Mr Sorawong said the Pheu Thai leader fully backs Mr Srettha as leader while noting it is too soon to say if she will vie for the prime minister post in the next polls.

“In the next elections, the party will come up with three prime ministerial candidates as usual. We may nominate her for the prime minister vote or back Mr Srettha for another term.

“That depends on the situation, but Ms Paetongtarn stands ready,” he said.

Pita Limjaroenrat, former leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), was most favoured for the post of prime minister and his party the most popular, according to a survey carried out by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.

The poll was carried out by telephone on Dec 13-18 with 2,000 respondents aged 18 and over of various levels of education, occupation and income nationwide. Asked who they would support for the post of prime minister, 39% opted for Mr Pita, citing his vision and familiarity with the younger generation.

The current prime minister Srettha Thavisin was next most favoured, with 22% of interviewees admiring his straightforwardness or declaring they were supporters of Pheu Thai themselves. Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra earned a 6% share, while United Thai Nation Party (UTN) leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul and Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, who leads Thai Sang Thai, each earned close to a 2% share among those asked to pick their choice for prime minister.

Gen Prawit Wongsuwon (Palang Pracharath Party), Chaithawat Tulathon (MFP), Abhisit Vejjajiva (former leader of the Democrat Party), Varawut Silpa-archa (Chartthaipattana Party), Chuan Leekpai (Democrat Party), Chalermchai Sri-on (Democrat Party), Tewan Liptapallop (Chartpattanakla Party), Wan Muhamad Noor Matha (Prachachart Party), Pol Col Thawee Sodsong (Prachachart Party), Chalerm Yubamrung (Pheu Thai Party), Mongkolkit Suksintharanont (Thai Civilized Party) and Supachai Panitchpakdi earned just 4% of nods between them. Nearly 19%% said nobody at all was currently suitable for the post.

The MFP (44%) led Pheu Thai (24%) as most popular party ahead of the Democrats (4%), the UTN (3%), the Bhumjaithai Party (2%) and the Palang Pracharath Party (1.5%).