Parties wait for Pheu Thai invite
PPRP signals interest in joining new bloc
The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and Chartthaipattana Party have hinted that they are ready to join a Pheu Thai-led political alliance if formally invited.
Commenting on the prospects of the PPRP joining the alliance after the Bhumjaithai Party on Monday agreed to team up with Pheu Thai, PPRP secretary-general Capt Thamanat Prompow said on Tuesday that Pheu Thai had not yet approached the PPPR since their previous talks at Pheu Thai’s headquarters on July 23.
“We have not been contacted yet. It is up to Pheu Thai to decide whether to invite us. We only have to keep silent in line with political etiquette,” Capt Thamanat said.
“I believe Pheu Thai is also currently approaching other parties,” he added.
Asked about Pheu Thai’s stance that the Pheu Thai-led coalition will exclude the “uncle” parties and whether some PPRP MPs will act as renegades, leaving the party and joining the coalition, Capt Thamanat said that party members must act in line with a party resolution.
Capt Thamanat said the dispute over whether such parties should be included in the new coalition is of secondary importance.
“What matters most is to form a new government so it can solve problems facing the country,” Capt Thamanat said.
The so-called “uncle” parties are those linked with the military leaders of the 2014 coup. The “uncles” refer to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the former United Thai Nation Party chief adviser and prime ministerial candidate, and Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, the PPRP leader and its prime ministerial candidate.
Asked if it is acceptable to the PPRP if Pheu Thai demands Gen Prawit step down as its leader in exchange for the PPRP joining the bloc, Capt Thamanat insisted that Gen Prawit remains the party leader.
Before attending a cabinet meeting yesterday, Gen Prawit said there had been no approach from Pheu Thai so far. Chartthaipattana leader Varawut Silpa-archa said Pheu Thai has to approach his party about joining the coalition.
The two parties were previously in talks on July 23, and they must meet for talks again ahead of the next prime ministerial vote, said Mr Varawut, who serves as Natural Resources and Environment Minister.
“We are waiting for Pheu Thai to send an invitation,” he said.
He reiterated the party’s stance that keeping Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law, intact is a precondition for joining a coalition government.
Mr Varawut said it should be left to Pheu Thai to nominate a prime ministerial candidate who it deems fit for the next vote in parliament.
Originally scheduled for Aug 4, the vote to select a new prime minister was cancelled after the Constitutional Court postponed to Aug 16 its decision on whether to accept a petition seeking its ruling on whether parliament’s decision on July 19 to reject the renomination of Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister was constitutional.
Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charn- virakul on Tuesday said the Pheu Thai-led alliance now has the support of more than 250 MPs, or more than half of the total of 500 MPs to form a government.
“Don’t worry. A minority government will not happen,” he said, adding that efforts are being made to gather additional support from other parties and senators for a PM candidate nominated by the bloc.
Under the constitution, a PM candidate needs the support of at least half of the 750 members of both the lower and upper chambers of parliament or 376 votes in total.
Time to buckle up for taxi passengers
PUBLISHED : 9 Aug 2023 at 05:45
Passengers will need to buckle up while riding in a taxi or other public transport vehicles starting from Nov 6, according to the Royal Thai Police.
The announcement, published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday and signed by national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas, cited Section 123/3 of the Land Transportation Act and focused on the requirement for taxi drivers to ensure all passengers wear seatbelts.
The warning may be made verbally, by a sign or signs present and visible inside the vehicle, through an audio recording played inside the vehicle or via other means.
The driver must also inform passengers they must sit in designated seats, as well as never allow more than the legally permitted number of passengers into the vehicle on each trip.
No supplementary seating installed without official permission may be offered to passengers to sit on, either.
No passengers may stand inside a moving vehicle unless there is a designated area for standing.
Also, passengers may not stick any part of their body out of a moving public transport vehicle.
The announcement will take effect 90 days from its publication in the Royal Gazette or on Nov 6.
Race is on to clean up large oil spill
PUBLISHED : 9 Aug 2023 at 05:15
Phuket: At least three tonnes of oil from a slick suspected to have come from a ship, have been removed from Sirinan National Park and Koh Racha Yai after being washed ashore.
Pornsri Suthanaruk, deputy director-general of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, on Tuesday met with maritime and coastal ecosystem experts, the director of Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre, Upper Andaman Sea branch, and Phuket deputy governor Amnuay Pinsuwan to discuss clean-up measures.
The spill is believed to have originated from neighbouring Phangnga province last Wednesday before reaching Koh Racha Yai in Phuket on Sunday.
Ms Pornsri said about two tonnes of oil have been collected at Sirinat National Park and one tonne at Koh Racha Yai in Phuket.
The environmental impact was also being assessed as the slick posed a threat to 4,000 rai of undersea coral extending from Phangnga to Phuket.
Ms Pornsri said officials were examining sea areas as well as marine creatures affected by the slick.
She added authorities were removing as much oil as they could and as quickly as possible to prevent it from seeping into the sand and creating a long-term hazard to shellfish.
The department revealed that four sea turtles had died as a result of the slick. Oil found in their stomachs suggested it had come from a tanker or cargo ship.
The department also warned tourists against swimming and venturing on contaminated beaches. They were asked to alert the authorities to any oil they come across.
To establish the slick’s source, the department has conducted a simulation of sea currents and wind speed over the past 10 days. The test results showed the spill might have occurred about 90 nautical miles east of Phuket.
Ms Pornsri said the Phuket provincial office had information that might prove useful in identifying the vessel responsible for the spill using ship movement data compiled by the Marine Department.
Commentary: How will unfulfilled graduates in Malaysia shape the upcoming state elections?
BREAD AND BUTTER CONCERNS
The Malaysian job landscape presents a dual-sided coin with its own complexities.
Despite being an upper middle-income economy, Malaysia has grappled with persistently modest average graduate pay scales.
According to the Socso survey, 28.7 per cent of graduates’ placements in 2022 started below RM1,999 (US$440) a month.
The average household in Malaysia spent RM5,150 per month in 2022, according to the Household Income and Household Expenditure Survey released last month.
Employers often cite education-job mismatches as a reason for stagnant wages, alongside what they perceive as lacklustre work attitudes from graduate employees. Conversely, many graduates may be hesitant to work for employers who offer what they consider inadequate or subpar wages.
In the Socso graduate job survey, data showed that close to 65 per cent – nearly two-thirds – of those underemployed went into “sales and services”.
It can be argued that these underemployed graduates may prefer the often commission-based remuneration schemes associated with such roles, which they may feel are more commensurate with their job contribution. Others within this category might take up essentially franchised independent-contractor positions, such as e-hailing, which gives them greater flexibility over their schedules.
In the realm of “sales and services”, these graduates, while perhaps still mildly perturbed at being underemployed, are likely to be more preoccupied with practical concerns such as meeting sales targets and fulfilling financial commitments.
Politically, they would be more likely to prefer parties they perceive as effective in managing the economy and rolling out socioeconomic policies with promises of tangible improvements to their livelihoods, irrespective of whether their employment status aligns with their educational qualifications.
Malaysia state polls: Anwarâs economic policies under fire but unlikely to be affected by election results, say analysts
SELANGOR: A keen follower of the political scene in Malaysia, 38-year-old voter Ahmad Farizul tries to attend as many political rallies as possible during the campaign period for the state polls to get a sense of what is going on. The Kuang resident in the state of Selangor considers himselfContinue Reading
THAI, Turkish Airlines sign pact to boost tourism
PUBLISHED : 9 Aug 2023 at 05:05
Thai Airways (THAI) and Turkish Airlines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to move towards a joint-venture operations agreement in order to boost tourism between the two countries.
Chai Eamsiri, THAI’s CEO, said the cooperation would enhance THAI and Turkish Airlines’ connectivity and route networks.
“Our customers will be able to conveniently travel between Thailand and Turkiye as well as on to Europe and other points in Asia, making full use of the extensive networks offered by THAI and Turkish Airlines.”
Istanbul is strategically situated to act as a hub between Asia, Europe and Africa. THAI will introduce a daily service to Istanbul from its Bangkok hub in December, where it will strengthen the position of THAI as the gateway carrier to Thailand, the Asia-Pacific region and Australia.
This partnership will also promote tourism between Thailand and Turkiye, he said.
Bilal Eksi, CEO of Turkish Airlines, said the collaboration will enhance connectivity between the two regions, provide seamless travel experiences, and offer passengers a wider range of destinations and services through both airlines’ networks.
Established in 1933 with five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines now has a fleet of 425 aircraft flying to 344 destinations in 129 countries. THAI, the national carrier founded in 1960 and one of the founding members of Star Alliance, operates flights to 57 destinations in 19 countries with a fleet of 67 aircraft.
National Day Awards: Former chairs of HDB, National Healthcare Group among top recipients
SINGAPORE: More than 6,000 people are on the National Day Awards list this year, with four individuals getting the Distinguished Service Order (Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang). The full list was announced on the Prime Minister’s Office’s website on Wednesday (Aug 9). The four recipients of the Distinguished Service Order areContinue Reading
Choosing Singapore: Three people share why they gave up citizenship elsewhere to be Singaporean
On National Day, she still makes an effort to wear red and white, and listen to old National Day songs on YouTube.
“I got to a point where I was like, actually this is who I am,” said Mrs Teo. “I am Singaporean and it would feel weird to me to say I’m not, or I’m no longer.”
“MY FAMILY, HOUSE AND JOB ARE HERE”
When Ms Jessica Zhuang, 36, had to give up her Chinese citizenship, she did not struggle emotionally.
“The only thing was, when I brought my Chinese passport to the embassy, I thought I might get scolded for renouncing my citizenship. Maybe it was a bit of a guilty conscience, but they didn’t scold me,” she said with a laugh.
Ms Zhuang, who became a citizen in August last year, felt she had completely assimilated into life in Singapore, where she has lived for most of her adult life.
“I’m used to life here,” she said, speaking to CNA in a mix of Mandarin and English. “Some Singaporeans have become my true friends – people I can turn to when I have problems.
“My family, house and job are all in Singapore. I don’t plan to leave. Becoming a citizen was a very natural thing,” said Ms Zhuang, who works as a research fellow at the National University of Singapore. She got married in Singapore and has an eight-year-old daughter.
Suchart opts to back free PM vote for UTN MPs
PUBLISHED : 9 Aug 2023 at 05:00
United Thai Nation (UTN) deputy leader, Suchart Chomklin, has indicated it might benefit the country more if the party’s MPs did not vote for a new prime minister by adhering to party wishes.
Mr Suchart said yesterday there are steps to be followed prior to the vote.
First, it must be established if the UTN will be included in the new coalition government. The party said it had not been invited by Pheu Thai, which is leading current efforts.
“Let’s take one step at a time,” he said. “To be honest, I want to see the country move forward.”
Mr Suchart, also the labour minister, said the stock market rallied when the news broke of Bhumjaithai, the third-largest party, accepting Pheu Thai’s invitation to join the government on Monday.
That development has boosted investor confidence, he added.
Mr Suchart was asked whether the UTN’s 36 MPs would vote for a new prime minister in compliance with a party resolution or whether they could cast their votes freely.
“If obeying the party line was damaging to the country, would you do it?
“As MPs, we need to consider the course of action we take. If it’s bound to provoke conflict and cause a stalemate in the country, we must talk this out in the party,” he said.
Mr Suchart said party MPs should think carefully about whether exercising their privilege in voting for a prime ministerial candidate will benefit the country.
In the next prime ministerial selection round in parliament, Pheu Thai is poised to nominate Srettha Thavisin.
Mr Suchart, who leads a 5-9 MP faction in the UTN, said he was staying put in the UTN despite growing speculation he might defect in the wake of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s decision to step away from the party.
Gen Prayut has quit as a UTN member and its chief adviser, a move apparently aimed at enabling the party to ease its way into a Pheu Thai-led government if it was offered a place.
Pheu Thai appears reluctant to include “uncles’ parties” in the new line-up, referring to the UTN formerly linked to Gen Prayut and the Palang Pracharath Party led by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
Pheu Thai declared during the election campaign it would not form a government with either party, a result of the 2014 coup that toppled the Pheu Thai-led administration.
Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, another UTN deputy leader, said Gen Prayut had washed his hands of the party. “There isn’t an uncle in the UTN anymore,” he added.
The issue of Gen Prayut running the show openly or from behind the scenes should be laid to rest, he said, adding it should not be cited as a precondition when forming a government.
He said all parties should be open to talks.
B34bn Koh Samui bridge project starts public hearings
PUBLISHED : 9 Aug 2023 at 05:00
The Express Authority of Thailand (Exat) held the first public hearing for its plan to build a 20-kilometre bridge linking the mainland to Koh Samui, with construction due to start in 2028.
According to Exat governor Surachet Laophulsuk, the orientation hearing will be held in three areas that are expected to be impacted by the project: Nakhon Si Thammarat (yesterday), Surat Thani (today) and Koh Samui (tomorrow).
They were selected as the project will link Koh Samui to either Surat Thani’s Don Sak district or Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Khanom district.
The hearings focus on the suitability of the project in various dimensions, including engineering, the financial impact, and environmental impact.
A bridge connecting the resort island with the mainland in Don Sak district would provide an overland transportation option in addition to air and ferry links, which are currently the only modes of travel to and from the island.
The bridge is also expected to reduce the time needed to attend to public health emergencies on the island, Mr Surachet said.
The project changed hands from the Rural Roads Department to Exat by the order of the Transport Ministry in July, he added, as the ministry required a sector that had more availability of technology resources and funds.
It is expected to cost around 33.9 billion baht. Some 31.4 billion baht will be invested in construction, with the rest for acquiring land.
An impact study will take 24 months, from this April to October 2025, he said.