Dept to push for Pattaya cruise port
The Marine Department will ask the new cabinet to approve its plan to build a port near Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya, which will be able to accommodate two large-sized cruise liners.
If the plan is approved, construction of the 7.4-billion-baht port will commence in 2026 and wrap up in 2029, said Wanchai Butthongdi, director of the department’s engineering division.
Once completed, the port will be the first in Thailand that is designed specifically to serve large cruise ships, he said.
At present, cruise ships dock in Bangkok and Laem Chabang ports, which are actually container terminals, so they lack the convenience of a proper cruise terminal, he said.
Similar projects are being considered in Koh Samui and Krabi, said Mr Wanchai.
As the demand for cruise tourism is rising globally, Asia and Thailand have emerged as the top destinations for cruise travellers, he said.
The port will be constructed under a public-private partnership model, under which the government will be responsible for the physical construction of the port, as well as a one-kilometre jetty that could serve two cruise ships at the same time, he said.
The private partner, meanwhile, will be given a 30-year concession to operate and manage the port, which would cost 7.41 billion baht to construct. With a 20% annual return on investment, the concessionaire is expected to break even in 10 years.
Several cruise line operators and related businesses in Hong Kong and Singapore have expressed their interest in the project, Mr Wanchai said.
The new port will be able to handle up to 1,500 cruise passengers per hour when it is used as a home port or up to 3,500-4,000 passengers per hour when it serves as a port of call, he said.
The port will also be connected to tourist destinations around Pattaya and in Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Samut Prakan, he said, adding it will also serve nearby islands through speedboat and ferry services.
Forex pair nabbed over B24m losses
A couple who provided online foreign currency exchange courses have been arrested in the northern province of Chiang Rai for allegedly duping people into investing about 24 million baht in a fraudulent forex investment scheme.
A combined team of officers from the Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (IDMP) and the Police Cyber Taskforce (PCT) arrested Mr Kanok, 36, and his wife Ms Thanyachanok, 37, outside a house in tambon Tha Sai of Chiang Rai’s Muang district on Wednesday, Pol Maj Gen Teeradet Thammasuthee, the IDMB commander, said yesterday.
The suspects’ surnames were withheld.
Pol Maj Gen Teeradet said the arrests followed numerous complaints by victims that Mr Kanok and his wife had posted video clips on social media offering instruction on forex investment and speculation.
The couple provided online courses under the name “K1FX Trader Club”, with the husband serving as a key instructor. Many individuals applied to learn from them.
In August 2019, the club advertised on Line and Facebook, claiming it had set up a fund company, guaranteeing a minimum monthly return of 5% on the principal with 100% capital protection. This attracted numerous victims to invest, resulting in over 24 million baht being poured into the scheme before the firm was shut down, Pol Maj Gen Teeradet said.
Police launched an investigation that led to the arrest of the two Chiang Rai natives.
Ms Thanyachanok was also wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the Nakhon Pathom Provincial Court on Aug 26 last year for colluding in public fraud, putting false information into a computer system and fraudulent borrowing.
Mr Kanok was wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the same court on March 17 this year on the same charges, said Pol Maj Gen Teeradet.
The woman denied all charges, while her husband confessed, police said.
Troops on border raise malaria fears
KANCHANABURI: Malaria concerns are growing among soldiers patrolling along the Myanmar border in Sangkhla Buri district, according to the army.
Army spokeswoman Maj Gen Sirichan Ngathong said soldiers patrolling the border in tambon Lai Wo were educated on how to protect against rampant malaria infections, but concerns remained.
Troops attached to the Surasee Task Force were replaced with members of the Ratchamanu fast-deployment unit under the Naresuan Task Force on April 1 due to fears about malaria, she said.
Eleven soldiers from the unit took over after the Suranaree Task Force was stationed in the border area for 24 days to perform the Suriya Rivers Operation (SRO) in tambon Lai Wo, 300 metres away from Myanmar, she said.
The troops were replaced because the Naresuan Task Force, although located in neighbouring Tak, was closer to Lai Wo than the headquarters of the Suranaree Task Force in Kanchanaburi, she said.
The SRO, established in 2000, covers border areas in Kanchanaburi and Tak. On the Myanmar side, clashes between ethnic rebels and the military had occurred in the past.
The army spokeswoman said the army’s Medical Department was taking care of the health of SRO personnel in the wake of malaria infections.
The soldiers are offered access to medical assistance from the Baan Le Tong Khu clinic and Umphang Hospital in Tak, she said.
Maj Gen Kasem Phinyochon, deputy chief of the army’s Medical Department, toured the SRO base along with a medical team who took soldiers’ blood samples for malaria testing.
The team also presented medical kits to the SRO.
Maj Gen Kasem said malaria was rampant along the border with Myanmar in Tak and Sangkhla Buri and with Cambodia in Trat province.
A malaria watch has been set in place as the disease has developed resistance to drugs, he said.
Soldiers are also given information on how to shield themselves from malaria, including how to sleep within mosquito nets and apply repellent before going on patrol, he said.
If soldiers come down with malaria, they can be transported to the nearest hospital quickly either via land vehicle or helicopter, he said.
Walkway safety alert at airport
Airports of Thailand (AoT) has ordered a safety check on every moving walkway at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport, following an incident in which a woman lost a part of her left leg after falling on one of the airport’s travellators on Thursday.
The order was issued by AoT president Kerati Kijmanawat after the incident took place at the South Corridor in the airport’s domestic terminal at 8.40am yesterday.
It was reported that the victim — whose identity has not been revealed — was about to board a flight bound for Nakhon Si Thammarat when she fell on the walkway between Gate 4 and Gate 5.
Authorities believe the force of the fall exposed the walkway’s safety cover, causing the victim to be drawn into the travellator’s internal mechanism.
Mr Kerati said the victim was initially rushed to Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital for further treatment, as her leg had to be amputated above the left knee by a medical team at the airport.
She was later transferred to Bumrungrad International Hospital for further treatment.
The AoT would like to convey its apologies for the incident and will cover all medical costs and compensate the victim for her injuries, he said.
Authorities will also launch a probe to determine whether the incident was caused by a malfunction or negligence.
Karant Thanakuljeerapat, the airport’s director, said all moving walkways across the airport were immediately turned off for a safety check following the incident.
The travellator in question, he said, had just been inspected as part of a routine maintenance process on June 21 before adding that checks are carried out every three months.
The walkway was made by Hitachi in Japan and has been in use since 1996.
Mr Karant said that the company had been informed about the incident.
AoT had been planning to upgrade all moving walkways inside the airport by 2025, but the plan will be moved up to the next fiscal year in light of the accident, he said.
EC deadline looms for Pita probe
MFP leader under scrutiny for poll bid
An Election Commission (EC) fact-finding committee is expected to wrap up its inquiry into an alleged violation of the organic law on the election of MPs by Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat within its set deadline.
The panel had 20 days to examine claims that Mr Pita violated Section 151 of the organic law, which penalises people who run in an election while knowing they are unqualified to do so.
EC secretary-general Sawang Boonmee said the probe is close to being completed, and the inquiry committee so far does not see the need to seek to extend the July 3 deadline. The deadline could be extended for up to 15 days if a formal request is made.
Mr Sawang said the committee is authorised to summon Mr Pita as the allegation against the MFP leader is a criminal offence, and the commission will have the burden of proof if it decides to go to court.
Under Section 151, those who apply to run in an election knowing they are not qualified to or prohibited from doing so are liable to a prison term of one to 20 years and a fine of 20,000-200,000 baht. They are also banned from running in an election for 20 years.
The allegation is related to the media share-holding rule. Mr Pita held 42,000 shares in iTV when he registered his candidacy in the May 14 general election.
Mr Sawang said the EC does not have to set up a new panel to consider if it will ask the Constitutional Court to rule under Section 82 of the constitution on Mr Pita’s MP status considering his iTV shareholding.
The election commissioners can decide based on the panel’s findings looking into his alleged violation of Section 151, he noted.
“The EC will review facts and evidence and make a decision. The process has nothing to do with an (upcoming vote in parliament) to elect a prime minister,” he said when asked if the decision will be reached before the prime minister selection is expected mid-next month.
Mr Sawang said his office is reviewing if the MFP has committed other offences related to its policy by seeking to amend the lese majeste law.
The MFP’s policy on Section 112 of the Criminal Code, better known as the lese majeste law, is seen by critics as an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy and, therefore, a breach of Section 49 of the Constitution.
Theerayut Suwankesorn, a lawyer, recently submitted a petition to the Office of the Attorney-General, and the Constitutional Court is seeking legal action against the party for trying to forward the Section 112 amendment policy.
‘Torito’ exhibition shows local culture
Peru has launched an art exhibition in Bangkok featuring sacred bull sculptures to promote diplomacy and tourism.
The exhibition, titled “Torito de Pucará: the Ambassador of the Peruvian Highlands”, is co-hosted by the Peruvian embassy and the Siam Piwat Company.
Peruvian ambassador Cecilia Galarreta said on Thursday that “Torito” meant “Little Bull” and “Torito de Pucará” meant “Little Bull of Pucará”, referring to a small town in the south of the country where the sculptures originated.
The town is well-known for clay work and pottery, she said.
She said the Torito is a symbol of prosperity, happiness, fertility and protection. Toritos usually come in pairs because of the Andean belief in duality — positive and negative energy that comes together and blends, she said.
The exhibition is being held worldwide by the Peruvian Foreign Ministry and authorities of Puno to promote Peruvian culture, she said. An exhibition featuring 20 bulls painted by local Peruvian organisations had been displayed in Japan and Singapore, she said. After Bangkok, the exhibition will open in Jakarta, Indonesia, she said.
“Each of the 20 Toritos represents experienced Peruvian pottery and art by individuals in Peruvian associations,” she said.
Furthermore, two Thai artists have joined forces to exhibit their Toritos under the theme of “Into the Rainbow: The Colour of Quechua” by illustrator Spun Inthawong and “The Guardians: The Combination of Peruvian and Thai Culture” by Sukumarl Sarakasetrin, a lecturer from the Fine Arts Faculty Creative Art Department of Chulalongkorn University. The exhibition runs until July 23 on the 5th floor of Siam Discovery. On July 22, a Torito painting session for the public will be held on the 4th floor of the shopping mall.
Toritos created by Thai artists Sukumarl Sarakasetrin, left, and Spun Inthawong, right, show a combination of Peruvian and Thai artwork. (Photo: Poramet Tangsathaporn)
Speaker to be named July 4
Agenda set for first House session
The selection of the new House speaker will take place on July 4 as the Move Forward Party (MFP) and Pheu Thai Party remain deadlocked over who gets the position.
The Secretariat of the House of Representatives on Thursday issued a letter asking all MPs to attend the first House session on the date.
According to its official website, the selection of a speaker and two deputies will be on the agenda of the first session.
Pornpit Petchcharoen, secretary-general of the House of Representatives, also sent invitations to all MPs and senators yesterday asking them to attend the state opening of parliament on July 3. Their Majesties the King and Queen will preside over it.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the new House speaker and two deputies must be chosen within 10 days from the opening of parliament or by July 13.
He said the selection of a new speaker should not be dragged out as it only requires the support of a majority in the Lower House, whereas the new prime minister will need the support of both MPs and senators.
The MFP and Pheu Thai were originally scheduled to thrash out who would take the House speaker role on Wednesday, but the MFP postponed the meeting after Pheu Thai suggested it would not budge.
Wissanu: Choose within 10 days
Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said on Thursday that both parties will meet again on Sunday to discuss the matter, and a meeting of the eight coalition parties will be held on the same day.
“We are the runner-up party [in the May 14 vote], and we respect the first-placed party,” Dr Cholnan said, referring to the MFP.
The MFP finished first in last month’s poll with 151 seats, 10 more than Pheu Thai. The two parties and six others have formed a 313-member prospective coalition that hopes to be the next government.
“We have put forward our proposal for consideration by the first-placed party. This is not a battle for the [speaker] position. We are not pressuring [the MFP]. We’re only asking for it … We have not received any answer yet,” Dr Cholnan said.
“But if the MFP refuses to give it to us, we have to consider what we should do next. But we insist that this is the principle of a democratic government,” he said.
Asked if Pheu Thai would consider pulling out of the MFP-led coalition, Dr Cholnan said the party is bound by the mandate of the 25 million people who voted for both parties. He said it was important to hold talks to iron out any differences.
Asked if the coalition should nominate only one candidate for House speaker instead of two or three, Dr Cholnan said that would be discussed by the eight parties shortly, and they must all abide by the conclusion reached.
Meanwhile, Deputy Pheu Thai leader Phumtham Wechayachai on Thursday dismissed a report regarding a new power-sharing proposal.
Under the proposal, the Pheu Thai Party would give up one cabinet seat in exchange for the House speakership, meaning that it would take 13 cabinet positions and the House speaker role, while the MFP would receive 15 cabinet seats and the prime minister’s position.
Mr Phumtham said Pheu Thai still insists on its original proposal in which the two parties would be allocated 14 cabinet seats each, with the MFP entitled to the prime minister’s position and Pheu Thai taking the House speaker role.
MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon said party MPs are ready to attend the House meeting on July 4 to select the new speaker.
He said he believed the selection would go smoothly and the MFP and Pheu Thai would be able to end their stalemate before that meeting and proceed with the formation of a coalition government.
Cholnan: ‘We respect the MFP’
Commentary: Can China help bring peace to Myanmar?
With more high-level engagement likely soon, the question of how China can encourage positive outcomes for Myanmar requires a focus on its core interests. While Myanmar’s economic growth until the coup was advantageous, the fact that the coup leaders are almost friendless – and despised even in ASEAN – offers a different upside.
CHINA’S COURSE OF ACTION
For now, China can harness the Myanmar military’s appetite for attack aircraft, heavy weapons and constant resupply of ammunition and technical equipment to bolster its role as the patron-in-chief. Russia has traditionally taken a similar approach. For Beijing and Moscow, Myanmar is part of a convenient global constellation of countries pushed to the outer edge of the international system.
Whatever its short-term strategy, it would help China’s standing in ASEAN, and even in countries like Australia, if it showed a creative instinct to use its wealth and influence to broker better outcomes for the people of Myanmar.
The fear is that China will instead continue to manipulate Myanmar’s impoverished and downtrodden status while fuelling, through its lucrative weapons exports, some of the most atrocious violence seen in Southeast Asia for generations.
When the dust finally settles in Myanmar, its people will rightly ask who sustained the reviled military regime. Right now, the answer is that Beijing offered “friendship” to the coup-makers, an irony for a Communist Party so committed to regime and institutional stability.
Yet with the right attention to China’s role and self-interests, it is still possible to imagine shifting positions, where Chinese institutions eventually work out how to negotiate a more peaceful settlement. At a time when China talks regularly about peace in European, Middle Eastern and African conflict zones, a positive contribution in Myanmar would be welcomed by all.
Nicholas Farrelly is Professor and Head of Social Sciences at the University of Tasmania. This commentary first appeared on East Asia Forum.
Digital name cards grow more popular as companies try to reduce carbon footprint and costs
ONE STEP IN A “BROADER” SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY
By eliminating the production, distribution and disposal of physical name cards, companies can significantly reduce their paper consumption, energy usage and waste generation, said Singapore Environment Council executive director Jen Teo.
However, she pointed out that this is “just one step in a broader journey toward sustainability”.
Some other measures that firms can take to further reduce their carbon footprint include adopting energy-efficient technology, implementing effective waste management systems such as recycling and composting programmes, and promoting the use of reusable products among employees, said Ms Teo.
“Ultimately, it is crucial to understand that sustainability is a whole organisation effort that encompasses social, economic and environmental considerations,” she added.
Nevertheless, two printing companies said they have been receiving more orders for physical business cards in recent months. One has been getting more orders than before the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020.
A spokesperson from Gogoprint said its orders declined 75 per cent in March 2020. Orders picked up again last year when borders reopened and are now at 30 per cent more than pre-COVID levels, she added.
The company has launched NFC cards due to demand from customers requesting “innovative solutions” for business cards, she said.
“During COVID, there was an increasing importance of networking and a growing need for contactless solutions. (NFC cards) are eco-friendly and reduce paper wastage. They also offer a convenient and hassle-free way of exchanging contact information,” the Gogoprint spokesperson said.
Ms Fatin Aris, sales coordinator at Print Market, said demand for printed cards has risen since the pandemic “ended”. The printing firm mainly received orders for stickers during that period due to the rise in home-based businesses.
“I hope it continues to stay this way,” she added.
Commentary: Can customers be trusted to pay for their plastic bags at Singapore supermarkets?
Looking beyond the immediate future, we should be able to discern how our individual efforts contribute to the global fight against single-use plastics. Talks are underway to develop a United Nations treaty on plastic pollution by 2024.
The number of countries taking bolder and more comprehensive actions in this realm is expanding, with citizens becoming increasingly engaged and championing ambitious grassroots initiatives. By recognising the progress made by other countries and their people, the Singapore public can be inspired to rise to the challenge and make bolder contributions.
Implementing a charge for plastic bags is a small step toward fostering a sustainable society in Singapore, and the honour system of paying for them resides in the faith that we will embrace this responsibility.
But it is important to recognise that more than an honour system is needed. The successes of initiatives like community fridges and book exchange corners, which rely on an honour system, demonstrate the potential for positive change when people genuinely care about a cause.
Ultimately, a society that genuinely cares about sustainability will take concrete action. Caring for the environment will not be just another obligation but a shared value that guides our everyday behaviour.
Samuel Chng is an applied social psychologist and heads the Urban Psychology Lab at the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities at the Singapore University of Technology and Design. Harvey Neo is Senior Fellow and leads the Programme on Urban Environmental Sustainability in the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, Singapore University of Technology and Design.