Push on for rail ‘missing link’

Green, Yellow line connect ‘aids travel’

A Yellow Line train is tested.
A Yellow Line train is tested.

Pressure is mounting on the operators of Bangkok’s Green and Yellow lines to construct a 2.6-kilometre missing link between the two electric train systems to make it easier for commuters to change lines at Ratchayothin and Lat Phrao stations.

The Yellow Line monorail, which will provide a mass-transit link for commuters in Bangkok’s north and eastern suburbs, is slated to begin operations later this year.

Without the missing link, commuters wishing to switch from the Green Line to the Yellow will have to re-route their journey through the Blue Line, which will add to the cost of their travel.

A source familiar with the matter said a proposal to construct the missing link between the two lines had already passed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) six years ago.

The missing link, which will run along Ratchadaphisek Road, will have two stations, connecting Lat Phrao Station along the Yellow Line with Phahonyothin 24 and Ratchayothin stations on the Green Line, according to the proposal.

The extension will pass through a number of important locations, including the Criminal Court and Chandrakasem Rajabhat University, the source said.

The source noted that the project hasn’t progressed anywhere as the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), the operator of the Blue Line, is opposed to the project.

According to a feasibility study on the missing link, the Blue Line stands to lose 4,800 passengers per day in the first year of the extension opening. This is roughly equal to about 2.7 billion baht throughout the 30-year concession, said the source.

The MRTA is still pondering whether to approve the proposal to build this missing link, said the source.

The MRTA couldn’t be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Deputy Democrat Party leader Samart Ratchapolsitte on Tuesday called all stakeholders to conclude the negotiations on the link before the Yellow Line commences services for the sake of passengers.

The exact same problem occurred when the Purple Line opened its Bang Yai-Tao Poon route without connecting to the Blue Line, he said.

At that time, passengers had to take a bus to connect between the Purple Line and the Blue Line until the link was built.

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RTP agrees on Interpol centre initiative

The Royal Thai Police (RTP) will work with Interpol to establish a coordinating centre to tackle human trafficking gangs in Southeast Asia.

A source said that deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, director of the Child Woman Protection and Anti-human Trafficking Centre and Fishery Sector, met FBI officials to discuss human trafficking prevention at the Interpol Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore on Monday.

The source said the deputy chief of RTP’s Foreign Affairs Division and Immigration chief in Songkhla were also at the meeting with the FBI officials who were from its international operation unit against child violence.

At the meeting, the RTP reportedly discussed collaboration of anti-human trafficking and sexual abuse of minors in online crimes that have targeted Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines.

The ongoing conflict in Myanmar has made it difficult to assist human trafficking victims there while the number of gangs there keeps growing, the meeting was told. However, Interpol can still assist victims by coordinating with international police based in Thailand and RTP, the source said.

So far, Thai police and Interpol have wrapped up 12 human trafficking-related cases in Myanmar and helped 88 victims of various nationalities. Police are working on nine other cases.

To better tackle human trafficking, Interpol wants to conduct an operational plan and establish a coordinating centre in Thailand, said Pol Gen Surachate, according to the source. The source said the deputy national police chief has agreed with the move.

Pol Gen Surachate said illicit drug gangs are likely associated with human trafficking and illegal fisheries. To tackle it effectively, he reportedly said, requires cooperation from all sides to enforce international laws.

In previous meetings with Myanmar authorities, the RTP obtained details about cases of sexual abuse against minors from the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Interpol.

The RTP have instructed police to intensify their search for trafficking victims and asked Interpol to supply more information through the International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database, said Pol Gen Surachate. The RTP’s Thailand Internet Crimes Against Children (TICAC) taskforce will lead the operation and keep Interpol updated on the progress.

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Deal to allow alien workers to stay, work

Contracts valid until next govt sworn in

The cabinet has approved the extension of employment contracts that allow more than 200,000 migrant workers to keep their jobs at least until the new government takes office, according to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.

The cabinet has given the green light to extend the employment of workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

The cabinet earlier rejected the Labour Ministry’s request for the extension, fearing it would create a burden of responsibility for the new government, which should be left to decide on the matter, Mr Wissanu said.

However, the cabinet has changed its mind and approved the extension as the lingering uncertainty over the government’s formation threatens to leave a huge labour vacuum.

Mr Wissanu said if the extension did not materialise, the migrant workers would have to return home and wait until the government took power before they could come back to resume their jobs here.

He insisted, however, that the contract extension would only last for as long as the current government remains in its caretaking capacity. The measure is subject to review once the government is replaced.

“If the employment [of migrant workers] is not renewed, the police will be conducting the crackdown and business owners will be afraid to hire the migrant workers,” the deputy prime minister said.

He clarified that the employment extension does not require endorsement from the Election Commission (EC) as it does not involve the spending of state money.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said yesterday the cabinet’s green light was intended to reinforce economic security.

The extension applies to migrant workers who came under the labour-related memorandum of understanding (MoU) the government has signed with their respective native countries.

The employment period lasts up to four years, and it varies from worker to worker. The extension approved by the cabinet yesterday will expire on July 31.

Meanwhile, Mr Wissanu said if the current government stays on in a caretaker role beyond Oct 1, the constitution permits it to use the state funds allocated to various ministries until the new government takes over and the new central budget kicks in.

Oct 1 marks the beginning of the new fiscal year.

Mr Wissanu said the spending of state funds amounting to less than 100 million baht is permissible without obtaining prior approval from the EC. Any long-term financial obligation is tied over to the next government.

He added that a caretaker cabinet may endorse the appointment of officials from the rank of deputy director-general downward.

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Chalermchai to quit key Democrat post

Chalermchai: Coy on Pheu Thai link
Chalermchai: Coy on Pheu Thai link

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on said yesterday he has decided to step down as Democrat secretary-general when the party selects its new leader and executives on July 13.

Whether or not the party will select a young person to become its new leader, he said that would be for a party committee to decide at the planned general assembly.

Jurin Laksanawisit announced he was quitting as leader following the unofficial results of the May 14 election, in which the country’s oldest party won far fewer House seats than expected.

And when asked how plausible it would be for the party to form a political alliance with Pheu Thai in the event that the Move Forward Party fails to garner enough support from members of parliament to form a new coalition, Mr Chalermchai simply said that such a deal would have to be backed by a formal party resolution.

As for himself, Mr Chalermchai said he will become a general member when he quits as secretary-general.

He also denied rumours that the Democrats have held talks with Pheu Thai and agreed to join the latter’s alleged bid to form the new government, saying: “No, don’t believe them [rumours].”

Deputy Interior Minister Naris Khamnurak, a former Democrat MP for Phatthalung, also dismissed rumours of a secret deal, saying the Democrats make all important decisions through a formal party resolution. No such proposal has been made or discussed, he said. He also said the party must wait until the Election Commission has certified all 25 of its elected MPs, as they make up 70% of its new board members.

As for a future overhaul, he said the party will have to examine the reasons it won so few House seats before deciding upon the extent to which younger members would be promoted into executive or even leadership roles.

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Senate chief denies PM vote meddling

Pornpetch: In no position to instruct
Pornpetch: In no position to instruct

Senate Speaker Pornpetch Wichitcholchai has denied having instructed senators on who to vote for in the prime ministerial poll, adding that the Move Forward Party (MFP) has not approached him to support its leader Pita Limjaroenrat becoming premier yet.

Mr Pornpetch on Tuesday downplayed reports of MFP supporters pressuring senators into backing Mr Pita’s prime ministerial bid, saying the pressure only came from social media. He said he had never instructed senators on how they should vote in the poll and that the MFP had not sent anyone to ask him to persuade senators to vote for Mr Pita.

Mr Pornpetch said he only serves as the deputy parliament president, so he is in no position to give any instructions to senators.

The House Speaker assumes the role of ex-officio parliament president, while the Senate Speaker serves as the ex-officio deputy.

He added that he has not even discussed the PM vote with other senators, saying he believed the senators were mature enough to make their own decisions and had the country’s best interests at heart.

“The senators are independent and have their own opinions. But being independent does not mean they will do anything at will.

“They must take into account the country’s best interests. I believe they will put the country first,” Mr Pornpetch said.

He also said that he is ready to work with a new prime minister and that the new premier should have what it takes to lead the country.

Asked about a plan by MFP supporters to hold a rally outside parliament to pressure senators into voting for Mr Pita, Mr Pornpetch said the senators still have two months or so to make a decision. First, the Election Commission will have to officially endorse winning election candidates before the House of Representatives convenes to select a new prime minister.

Under the constitution, the 250 senators appointed by the now-defunct coup-engineer, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), are allowed to join MPs in electing a prime minister in parliament. It will be the last time these senators will co-elect a prime minister. After the 2019 election, they joined MPs in voting for Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to return as prime minister.

The constitution stipulates the Senate would serve a five-year transitional term following the 2019 election. It ends next year.

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MFP’s Pita prepares for power

Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, centre left, and Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew make a heart-shaped gesture at a press conference to affirm a commitment by the eight-party coalition group to form a government together despite the unsettled issue of which party will have final say over the appointment of the new House Speaker. (Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, centre left, and Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew make a heart-shaped gesture at a press conference to affirm a commitment by the eight-party coalition group to form a government together despite the unsettled issue of which party will have final say over the appointment of the new House Speaker. (Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

The eight-party alliance led by the Move Forward Party (MFP) has formed a committee to prepare for a transition of power in a move labelled by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as “inappropriate”.

MFP leader and prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat on Tuesday announced the establishment of a “transitional coordination committee” following a meeting of the prospective coalition at the Prachachart Party’s headquarters.

The leaders of all eight parties agreed to establish the committee with Mr Pita as chairman.

In addition to the transitional coordination committee, seven working panels were also set up to deal with electricity, diesel, and energy prices; drought and El Nino issues; problems in the three southernmost border provinces; constitutional amendments; environmental concerns and PM2.5 pollution; the grassroots economy and SMEs; and drug-related problems.

Each panel consists of representatives from the eight parties, and will hold regular meetings to provide updates on their progress to the transitional coordination committee.

“This collaborative approach aims to foster a consensus among all, enabling the formulation of comprehensive policies to address the country’s challenges and consolidate them into joint policies,” he said.

The finalised policies will be announced in parliament and implemented by both the executive and legislative branches, Mr Pita said.

“Our work is proceeding smoothly, and we are committed to working together to solve the problems of the people to the best of our abilities.

“Furthermore, the allocation of positions within the executive branch will always prioritise the people’s interests,” Mr Pita said.

Gen Prayut, however, when asked by reporters about the MFP’s transitional plans, criticised the move and warned against the scheduling of any meetings with representatives of government agencies.

Even though the MFP won the election, it’s not in government yet.

“That is inappropriate,” Gen Prayut said. “Government organisations are still under the present government. They will prepare information for the transition in the future.”

Asked if Mr Pita was acting like another prime minister by meeting key figures from the business community and other groups, Gen Prayut said he did not have such a perception.

“I’m not looking at it. I’m not starting any conflict with anyone. As I have told you, we should adhere to democratic rules,” he said.

The prime minister said that the MFP could meet representatives from the private sector, but it was inappropriate to meet with government organisations for the time being.

Asked about foreign investors’ reactions after the election, Gen Prayut said that they have been waiting for the new government to take shape.

“Several politicians said they would do many things [if they become the new government], and they are expected to revise [the current government’s projects], which makes me worry because several of the projects are already proceeding nicely,” Gen Prayut said.

The current government has been trying to attract foreign investors as part of efforts to boost the economy and GDP, Gen Prayut continued, adding that the new government should attach similar importance to encouraging investment from abroad.

“If any damage arises, there is nothing I can do because I will have left office by that time,” Gen Prayut said.

Asked about the intention to replace military conscription with voluntary recruitment under the MoU signed last week by the MFP-led coalition, Gen Prayut, who concurrently serves as the Defence Minister, would only say: “It is up to them.”

The MFP and its partners recently signed an MoU agreeing on a joint policy platform.

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North Korea launches rocket after satellite warning

Breaking News image

North Korea has launched a rocket shortly after announcing it planned to send up its first space satellite, sources in Japan and South Korea say.

Japan issued a warning to residents in the southern prefecture of Okinawa but later reported there was no danger of the rocket hitting its territory.

North Korea said earlier it planned to launch a satellite by 11 June to monitor US military activities.

Japan said it was ready to shoot down anything that threatened its territory.

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Fixed rates for home loans are down and likely to fall further, experts say

SINGAPORE: Interest rates on home loans have been declining since the start of the year and observers expect the trend to continue.

Fixed-rate home loans – which have interest rates that remain unchanged throughout a lock-in period – shot up past 4 per cent last year in Singapore, as the US Federal Reserve went on a rate-hike race to quell surging inflation. 

With the Fed poised to pause or even reverse policy tightening, banks have been cutting their rates on these loans, industry experts said.

DBS, Singapore’s largest lender, is offering fixed-rate packages at 3.75 per cent a year with lock-in periods of two to five years, a check of its website on Tuesday (May 30) showed. 

This is 0.5 percentage points lower than the 4.25 per cent offered by the bank in January.

At OCBC, two- and three-year fixed-rate mortgages are priced at a “promotional” 3.8 per cent. These loans were previously set at 4.25 per cent and 3.9 per cent respectively in January.

The rate for the bank’s one-year loan remains unchanged at 4.3 per cent.

UOB did not provide its rates when approached by CNA, but property portals listed its two- and three-year loans at 4 per cent per annum, down from last year’s peak of 4.5 per cent.

Among foreign lenders, HSBC has lowered its two-year fixed-rate mortgage to 3.6 per cent, while the three-year equivalent is set at 3.5 per cent.

Both packages were previously offered at 4.25 per cent in January.

Mortgage advisory firm Mortgage Master said loan rates are going as low as 3.38 per cent, although it declined to say which bank was offering the rate, citing privileged information.

“With inflation and employment data in the US softening, the US Federal Reserve has indicated a less hawkish stance,” said Mr Paul Wee, vice-president of PropertyGuru’s finance division. “Hence, it is likely that fixed rates will soften further.”

NO CHANGE IN FLOATING LOAN RATES

Fixed-rate mortgages tend to see bigger adjustments as banks weigh their hedging costs, experts said.

Hedging costs depend on market expectations for interest rates, with the cost going up as rates rise and vice versa, said Mr Wee.

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CNA Explains: Drier, warmer weather and possibly haze – What exactly is El Nino?

What is the impact of El Nino on the weather in Singapore?

During an El Nino event, Singapore can expect its rainfall to be affected significantly.

“El Nino events tend to have the biggest influence on Singapore’s rainfall during the southwest monsoon season from June to September, with rainfall up to 45 per cent below average,” the Met Service said.

“During the last strong El Nino event in 2015/2016, Singapore’s total rainfall from June to September 2015 was about 35 per cent below the long-term average.”

Temperatures will also rise during such an event.

“El Nino events also bring warmer temperatures to Singapore, with the warmest temperatures often occurring when El Nino events weaken typically in March to April the year following the start of the event,” the Met Service said.

“During the 2015/2016 El Nino event, Singapore’s average temperature over the June to September 2015 period was 28.8 degrees Celsius or 0.6 degree Celsius above its long-term average for that period.

“For the period from March to April 2016, Singapore’s average temperature was 29.2 degrees Celsius or 1.2 degrees Celsius above its long-term average for that period.”

The Met Service added that 2016 was one of Singapore’s hottest years on record, along with 2019.

Should Singapore expect transboundary haze?

The southwest monsoon period between June and September is typically the dry season for Singapore and the surrounding region.

An El Nino event and a positive IOD event could raise the intensity of this dry season and extend it into October, increasing the risk that haze will impact Singapore.

“Drier and warmer conditions are conducive to the development of peatland and vegetation fires,” the Met Service said.

“Therefore, hotspots could escalate from June 2023 under extended periods of drier weather, particularly in fire-prone areas.

“This will increase the risk of transboundary haze affecting Singapore if fires develop in close proximity and prevailing south-easterly to south-westerly winds blow smoke haze from the fires towards Singapore.”

On Monday, the meteorological centre of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also flagged a higher risk of escalated hotspot activity and transboundary haze in the southern ASEAN region from June to October.

The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) made this announcement as it issued Alert Level 1, indicating the start of the dry season associated with the Southwest Monsoon in the southern ASEAN region.

Hotspot activity in the southern ASEAN region is presently still subdued, however, with 14 and 13 hotspots detected in the southern ASEAN region on May 27 and May 28 respectively, ASMC said.

A few localised smoke plumes were detected in parts of the region on some days in May, but no transboundary smoke haze occurrence has been observed so far.

NEA has convened the Inter-Agency Haze Task Force to review and prepare Singapore’s responses in case of transboundary haze, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

“As a precaution, Singaporeans may wish to make preparations to protect your loved ones, such as by ensuring that you have an adequate supply of N95 face masks and your air purifiers are in good working condition.”

Is climate change affecting El Nino?

According to the Royal Meteorological Society, it is unclear what effect climate change is having on ENSO.

“Because of the large event-to-event variations of El Nino, we don’t have enough past years of observations to show a clear impact of climate change on its properties,” the society said on its website.

“However, there is now some evidence that the effects of El Nino on rainfall may increase in the future and that we may even see more extreme ENSO events, but these remain active research questions.”

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