The Transport Ministry is currently exploring the notion of creating an infrastructure fund dedicated to repurchasing mass rapid transit projects from private enterprises. This bold move could pave the way for a flat fare of 20 baht per ride, revolutionizing public transportation in Thailand. On Saturday, Caretaker Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit revealed that the ministry is keen on advancing a proposal put forth by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra during his riveting “Vision for Thailand” event on Friday. Mr. Thaksin’s ingenious suggestion involves the government buying back private electric train projects and setting an affordable ticket price of 20 baht per trip. He also recommended introducing congestion charges for car users to subsidize public transport, alongside expanding local airports to bolster tourism. Responding to these proposals, Mr. Suriya said that the ministry is aligned with the idea and is setting plans in motion to establish an infrastructure fund specifically for this…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Imagine the scene: Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, flanked by a cadre of high-profile Pheu Thai Party members, heroically trudging through knee-deep floodwaters on a mission of mercy. Their destination? The inundated province of Nan. The objective? To deliver much-needed relief supplies to beleaguered residents. The Pheu Thai Party even snapped a few pics to immortalize the moment! It’s one of those heartwarming political moments that doubles as a photo op. The scope of the disaster was daunting. More than 20,000 households across seven provinces found themselves at the mercy of unyielding floodwaters. The bodies of three individuals who had gone missing in Nan were recently discovered on a somber Saturday, adding a tragic backdrop to an already dire situation. According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, a whopping 21,971 households felt the sting of the flooding. However, there’s a silver lining—those ever-persistent waters are finally starting to recede.…
Thaksin Shinawatra clasped the hand of his daughter Paetongtarn during the royal endorsement of her prime ministerial post at the Pheu Thai Party headquarters in Bangkok on August 18. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb) Observers are already buzzing with concerns that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her new government might hit stormy waters if they allow former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to pull the strings. Jade Donavanik, a legal scholar and president of the College of Asian Scholars, told the Bangkok Post that Thaksin’s penchant for micromanagement could spell trouble for both Paetongtarn and her leadership. “The more he speaks publicly and behaves like he’s managing from behind the scenes, the more resistance he will face from his opponents. If Paetongtarn and her Pheu Thai Party allow themselves to be visibly influenced by him, they could be in a heap of trouble,” Mr. Jade pointed out. This cautionary note follows Thaksin’s appearance…
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s first public address in Thailand on Thursday evening has stirred a whirlwind of controversy, slicing through the heart of the nation with sharp, impassioned criticism from his relentless detractors. Thaksin, who made his dramatic return last August after 17 long years in self-imposed exile, faces accusations of wielding power as if the entire country was his to command, according to Jatuporn Prompan, a former leader of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and an influential political figure allied with the ruling Pheu Thai Party. This grand reentry into the spotlight saw the ex-premier addressing an audience teeming with politicians and business magnates at a forum dubiously titled “Vision for Thailand 2024”, held in the pulsating heart of Bangkok on that fateful Thursday night. In a fiery rebuke, Mr. Jatuporn continued, decrying Thaksin as someone the public should steer clear of, highlighting that…
Picture this: The vibrant ambiance of the Pattaya Floating Market, where tourists from around the globe glide through tranquil waters in traditional wooden boats. These markets, with their bustling stalls brimming with exotic fruits, handcrafted souvenirs, and tantalizing street food, are a magnet for adventure seekers and culture enthusiasts alike. (Photo: Pattaya Floating Market Facebook) What you wouldn’t expect amidst this picturesque setting is a covert operation by the local tourist police. In an unexpected twist, law enforcement swooped into action, resulting in the arrest of a 41-year-old Chinese national named Wang Hao. The scenic market located in the Bang Lamung district of this enchanting resort city became the backdrop to this drama last Thursday. Wang Hao, who had been reveling in the local culture and perhaps even making a decent living for himself, found his clandestine activities coming to an abrupt halt. The Pattaya tourist police, having kept a…
On a quiet Friday night in Sa Bot district, Lop Buri, a disturbing event unfolded that has left the community in shock. A 14-year-old boy was apprehended by police for the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old, driven by a whirlwind of jealousy over online interactions. The tragic incident took place at the Nong Krathum intersection, shaking the otherwise serene neighborhood. Pol Lt Col Chayan Seekiang, an officer at the Sa Bot police station, recounted the harrowing details of the night. Emergency responders arrived swiftly, but the scene they encountered was heart-wrenching. They found the victim, identified as Suphakit, lying lifeless on the pavement, a fatal gunshot wound piercing his chest. Despite their efforts, Suphakit succumbed to his injuries before they could get him to the hospital. An eyewitness, a friend of Suphakit, provided a vivid account of the attack. He explained that they were simply on a routine motorbike ride…
Early Saturday morning, Thitiphong Thongsuk, 39, found himself in a precarious position, pointing out his motorcycle after being arrested on an attempted rape charge. (Photo: Warin Chamrap Banhao, Ubon Ratchathani Facebook) In the heart of Muang district, Ubon Ratchathani, a disturbing incident unfolded. Thitiphong Thongsuk, mounted on his motorcycle, was apprehended by police after being accused of trying to rape a young German teacher who had booked his service through a ride-hailing app. Pol Col Khanongrit Darat, chief of the Muang police station, confirmed that Thitiphong was arrested on a road in tambon Kham Yai at around 1am on Saturday. The chain of events that led to this dramatic arrest began when a 22-year-old German woman, employed as a language teacher at a public school in Muang district, lodged a harrowing complaint. On Friday evening, around 7pm, she had called for a motorcycle via a ride-hailing application to take her…
Under the watchful eyes of both police and soldiers, two handcuffed suspects helplessly observed as authorities unloaded sack after sack of fertilizer bags filled with an astonishing 14 million speed pills from their pickup truck in Chiang Dao district of Chiang Mai this past Friday night. The scarcely-believable cache of illegal drugs was discovered through the collective efforts of a sharp-eyed team of law enforcers. The turn of events unfolded when a combined police and military squad identified not one, but two suspicious vehicles traveling south at the Muang Ngai intersection in Chiang Dao. The convoy consisted of a seemingly unassuming pickup truck accompanied by a car, each bearing the camouflage of mere civilian presence. But behind the façade lurked a high-stakes criminal endeavor that was about to be unraveled. Acting on their gut instincts, the officers intercepted the vehicles behind the Kadmuang Piangdao market in tambon Mae Na. It…
Tedy Teow is the first suspect in an economic crime that Thailand has turned over to China since an extradition treaty between the two countries took effect 25 years ago. (Photo: CCTV) A Malaysian businessman accused of masterminding a sprawling fraud syndicate has been extradited from Thailand to China in a landmark case involving a mind-boggling 100 billion yuan (US$14 billion). Teow, better known as Tedy Teow Wooi Huat, founder of the business conglomerate MBI Group, becomes the first suspect in an economic crime that Bangkok has handed over to Beijing since the extradition treaty between the two nations came into effect in 1999, according to the Chinese public security ministry. “The successful extradition … is of landmark significance to the consolidation and deepening of law enforcement and judicial cooperation between China and Thailand,” the ministry declared, hailing the move as a “major achievement.” The ministry revealed that the suspect…
This week, authorities made a significant breakthrough when they intercepted a shipment of crystal methamphetamine cleverly concealed within decorative cement ware destined for Taiwan. According to Panthong Loykulnan, the spokesman for the Customs Department, officers from the Seaport Interdiction Task Force (SITF) were carrying out a routine inspection at Bangkok Port in the Klong Toey district on Wednesday. It was during this thorough check that they stumbled upon two boxes containing some rather unusual cargo. These boxes, Mr. Panthong explained, were filled with cement-crafted animal stucco dolls in the shapes of cats, giraffes, deer, and goats, alongside some intricately designed decorative fountains. At first glance, these whimsical items seemed innocuous enough, ready to bring a touch of charm to any garden or living space. But upon closer examination, the officers discovered they were hiding a far darker secret. Buried within the hollow confines of these decorative items was a staggering…