South-East Asia (Page 990)

A fact-finding panel has been ordered to be formed to look into a bribery case allegedly involving a former mayor of a municipality in Uthai Thani — a son son-in-law of Deputy Interior Minister Chada Thaised — and a number of local officials.

Thap Than district chief Siriwan Kokasetsap said a probe into the matter is expected to wrap up within 60 days.

Weerachart Rasamee, 45, the son-in-law, resigned from his post as mayor of Talukdoo municipality in Thap Than district on Tuesday night after he was released on bail.

He had been arrested on Tuesday morning along with four others for allegedly demanding a 600,000-baht bribe from a tap water contractor.

While Mr Weerachart and the others are facing investigation, a new acting mayor would have to be appointed to ensure day-to-day work continued running, said Ms Siriwan.

Despite his resignation, the investigation launched into his alleged misconduct is still valid and could continue until the end, said Uthai Thani governor Thiraphat Khatchamat.

In his resignation letter, Mr Weerachart denied any wrongdoing, saying he had to resign for political reasons, not as a way of admitting to the alleged crime.

Mr Chada said previously it was he who told the son-in-law to resign and pave the way for the investigation to be conducted into his alleged misconduct.

The case has attracted public attention because Mr Weerachart is a son-in-law of Mr Chada, who is leading the government’s attempt to suppress mafia-like influential people, some of whom are believed to be local leaders involved in unlawful businesses and activities.

Asked if Mr Weerachart should be included on a list of mafia-like influential figures, Mr Thiraphat said he had never received any complaint about Mr Weerachart acting as such before.

The province had never heard about Mr Weerachart’s alleged misconduct until he was arrested, said the governor.

Wallet scheme faces delay amid scrutiny

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has set up a committee to study the government’s 10,000-baht digital currency handout scheme as the agency steps up its scrutiny of the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s key policy.

A source at the NACC said the move followed a recommendation by the anti-graft agency’s corruption monitoring and appraisal panel.

The committee is chaired by Supa Piyajitti, an NACC member, and comprises representatives of various government agencies. It is tasked with gathering, studying and analysing information regarding the 10,000-baht digital handout scheme and coming up with measures to prevent any potential policy-oriented corruption stemming from the scheme.

The committee will also work with other relevant agencies and persons to support its study and gather opinions and suggestions on how to prevent potential policy corruption involving the scheme from other sectors.

However, Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said on Thursday that the digital money handout may face a delay and a reduction in scope as it will only cover the poor.

Following a meeting of a sub-committee overseeing the project implementation on Wednesday, Mr Julapun said that the sub-committee recommended limiting the handout to 15–16 million people who have state welfare cards or individuals meeting specific wealth criteria based on income or savings.

If limited to the 15–16 million welfare cardholders, the scheme will cost the state 150–160 billion baht. The sub-committee also suggested extending eligibility to those meeting specific salary or savings criteria.

Mr Julapun said if the handout excludes people earning more than 25,000 baht monthly or having at least 100,000 baht in deposits, the scheme will cover about 43 million people, costing about 430 billion baht.

Another optional proposal by the sub-committee excluded individuals earning over 50,000 baht monthly or having savings exceeding 500,000 baht. In this scenario, the handout would cover 49 million recipients, costing the state 490 billion baht.

The government initially planned to distribute 10,000 baht worth of digital money to each Thai aged 16 years and over. But with 54.8 million people meeting the original condition, concerns arose about the significant burden of over 500 billion baht affecting the country’s financial stability.

The sub-committee concluded that the handout scheme should be funded mainly by the national budget, about 100 billion baht annually, starting from the 2024 fiscal year.

Under this condition, the scheme would be delayed until April or May next year, pending approval of the 2024 national budget, Mr Julapun said. Previously, the government intended to hand out the digital money on Feb 1 next year.

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Thursday he had received the proposals from the sub-committee. He said he will discuss these proposals with relevant authorities, including the secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council.

“At this stage, I have not yet concluded whether or how the handout scheme would be downsized,” said Mr Srettha. “To avoid confusion, I would like all the details of the project to be finalised before making an official announcement.”

Nakhon Ratchasima: Authorities recorded 535 cases of monkeypox (Mpox) nationwide between May 2022 and October 2023, according to Dr Taweechai Wisanuyothin, director of the Nakhon Ratchasima-based Region 9 Disease Control Office, citing figures released by the Department of Disease Control (DDC).

The cases were detected in 481 Thai nationals, 50 foreigners and four others whose nationalities were not reported. One among them died.

The majority, or 313 cases, were found in Bangkok, followed by 57 in Chon Buri, 30 in Nonthaburi and 26 in Phuket.

Since August, 16 new cases have been reported.

Hanoi: Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara yesterday discussed the possibility of reviving mobile meetings aimed at increasing the amount of investments between Thailand and Vietnam.

He met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh yesterday at the end of his two-day trip to the neighbouring country.

The Vietnam trip, which kicked off on Oct 25, was Mr Parnpree’s first official trip after becoming deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister earlier this year.

It is also regarded as the Thai government’s first official trip to commemorate 10 years of strategic cooperative partnership with Vietnam.

Mr Parnpree’s discussion was aimed at improving the diplomatic relationship and cooperation in economics, trading and tourism.

Regional cooperation, especially in the Asean region and Greater Mekong Subregion, was also discussed.

Diplomatic relations between Thailand and Vietnam can be traced back many years, and the value of investments between them can be expected to reach US$25 billion by 2025, according to Mr Parnpree.

Mr Parnpree also discussed reviving mobile meetings, which may start next year.

Many topics are expected to be discussed in these meetings, including international policies under the New Momentum idea proposed by the Communist Party of Vietnam and geopolitics, as both countries are considered Asean’s strategic areas.

Mr Parnpree said he would submit the idea to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. He also discussed with Mr Pham suggestions from Thai investors on investing in Vietnam, which were received while visiting the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam in Hanoi a day earlier.

Mr Parnpree also paid a visit to ThaiCham at the Royal Thai Embassy in Hanoi to distribute the government’s policy agenda.

Two more Thai workers were confirmed killed in Israel on Wednesday, bringing the total number of Thais who have lost their lives in the conflict, which began on Oct 7, to 33, Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said.

He said that 18 Thai workers had been injured as of yesterday, while 18 others had been taken as hostages by the fighters from the militant group Hamas — not 19, as previously reported.

That said, an update released by the Israeli government on Wednesday and cited by Reuters showed out of the 220 people taken hostage by Hamas, 54 were Thais.

Citing information released by Israeli authorities, Mr Parnpree said the identities of 24 out of the 33 Thais killed in the conflict have been confirmed.

The government will strive to repatriate Thai workers who have registered to come back, the minister said, adding a team of negotiators has been dispatched to help secure the release of the hostages.

According to the ministry’s data, a total of 547 Thais arrived back in Thailand from Israel yesterday.

It said 268 arrived on El Al flight LY085 and landed at Suvarnabhumi airport at 10.20am yesterday; 145 on a Royal Thai Air Force aircraft landed at Don Mueang airport at 11.50am; and 134 on Thai Lion Air flight SL7005, landed at Don Mueang airport at 2.50pm.

Meanwhile, the bodies of seven Thai workers killed in the conflict also arrived on El Al flight LY083, which landed at Suvarnabhumi airport at 10.35am yesterday.

Pairoj Chotikasathien, the Labour Ministry’s permanent secretary, said so far 4,531 Thais have been repatriated from Israel on 27 flights.

Addressing the House of Representatives yesterday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin responded to inquiries about the government’s plan to help Thais stuck in Israel.

He said that out of about 8,000 Thais who have registered for repatriation, more than half have been brought home.

Mr Srettha acknowledged the challenges faced by evacuation teams over the past four to five days, as many Israeli employers have begun to offer higher salaries as an incentive for Thai workers to remain in the country.

The prime minister urged the workers not to worry about their wages, as the government will find ways to help clear their debts.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will attend the opening ceremony of “Naga Fire: Miracle of Faith 2023” in Phon Phisai district of Nong Khai on Oct 29, government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said yesterday.

He added that the premier will stay overnight in Udon Thani before departing for Laos a day later. This will be Mr Srettha’s first official trip to the country since he was appointed premier.

A collaboration between the government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), “Naga Fire: Miracle of Faith 2023” will be held on that day in Nong Khai, which coincides with the end of this year’s Buddhist Lent.

Nong Khai governor Rachan Chunhua and San Sunthornthanakul, the mayor of Tambon Phon Phisai Municipality, affirmed their readiness to welcome visitors. They are expecting at least 200,000 tourists to show up this year.

This annual festival brings in billions of baht of income to the province. Moreover, the event is expected to help promote the province’s tourism while providing visitors, both Thai and from overseas, with a warm welcome, said Mr Rachan.

Events are also being held simultaneously in six of the province’s districts near the Mekong River — namely, Muang Nong Khai, Phon Phisai, Ratana Wapi, Sangkhom, Sri Chiang Mai, and Tha Bo.

These first got underway on Oct 21 and will wrap up on Nov 6.

According to Mr Chai, 80.2% of visitors to last year’s “Naga Fire” festival responded that they were satisfied with the event. Of those, 59.6% said they had attended it more than once, while 40.4% were visiting for the first time.

According to the statistics gathered by Nong Khai’s Office of Provincial Administration, 260 fireballs were shot in total: 20 in Phon Phisai district and 240 in Ratana Wapi district.

MFP-sponsored bid fails in parliament

The Move Forward Party (MFP)-sponsored motion aimed at a charter rewrite failed to get approval from the House of Representatives because critics feared it would create a biased charter amendment, according to Nikorn Jamnong, head of a sub-panel on gathering public opinions on a referendum for a constitutional amendment.

The main opposition MFP had put forth a motion aimed at asking the cabinet to hold a public referendum for a charter rewrite. The party wanted a referendum that, if approved, would lead to unrestricted access to a charter amendment and an elected assembly of drafters.

The party had faced concerns from many quarters that the changes it advocated would go too far by touching chapters containing “non-negotiable” contents in the constitution regarding the country’s indivisibility and its royal prerogatives.

On Wednesday, the lower House 262:162 against the MFP’s motion, with six abstentions.

Yesterday, Mr Nikorn said he believes the rejection had to do with a lack of clarity in the motion on how the charter redrafting assembly would be established.

Another concern is that the motion could introduce “revised contentions of the constitution, which are biased”. He is understood to be referring to bias towards the MFP’s controversial stances, particularly those related to the monarchy.

Mr Nikorn said that even though a charter amendment is an urgent policy for the government, people’s input must be gauged to ensure that the entire referendum’s design and charter reworking processes are inclusive and participatory.

Mr Nikorn said he expects the sub-committee will wrap up its work by the middle of December before its findings are presented to the main committee studying the referendum design and proposals for a constitutional amendment, led by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.

After that, the findings are expected to be forwarded to the cabinet before the year is out. At this point, there will be definitive answers to questions about how many referendums will need to be held and what they are about.

Mr Nikorn added that a timeline also dictates that a referendum will likely take shape in the first quarter of next year.

Between Oct 30 and Nov 14, the sub-panel will be collecting input on a charter amendment referendum from MPs, senators and members of various House committees, students, members of the public, civic groups, the media and the business sector, Mr Nikorn said.

The sub-panel also plans to visit the MFP to seek its cooperation in designing the referendum, Mr Nikorn said.