Political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana says he will ask the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday to investigate Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s ethical conduct over her shares in Alpine Golf and Sports Club. The company bought a controversial monastic plot in Pathum Thani, now home to the prestigious Alpine Golf Club and a residential complex. Mr. Ruangkrai announced on Monday his intent to request that the EC scrutinize whether Ms. Paetongtarn violated Section 160 (4) of the constitution, which mandates that cabinet ministers must be manifestly honest, and the ethical guidelines outlined in Section 8. The crux of his concern lies in Ms. Paetongtarn’s recent transfer of shares. According to Mr. Ruangkrai, Ms. Paetongtarn transferred her shares in the company to her mother, Khunying Potjaman Damapong, on September 3. He presented copies of documents from the Department of Business Development, revealing that the company held a shareholders’ meeting on April 30. During…
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Former Pheu Thai Party spokesman, Prompong Nopparit, has officially requested that the Immigration Bureau release Prawit Wongsuwon’s travel records to substantiate the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader’s assertion that his frequent absences from House sessions were due to international trips. With the intention of upholding the transparency mandated by the Official Information Act, Mr. Prompong pressed for the public disclosure of these records. This call to action followed Gen Prawit’s claims that his inability to attend numerous House meetings was a result of his official duties abroad. According to the House of Representatives secretariat, Gen Prawit missed an astonishing 84 out of 95 House meetings from July 3rd last year to the present month, attributing his absences to either overseas duties or illness. Mr. Prompong emphasized the necessity of providing documentary evidence to support Gen Prawit’s explanations. “Which airlines did he use? Were the regulations regarding travel expense disbursement followed?”…
The Thai Sang Thai (TST) Party has raised a significant stir by recommending that a controversial study suggesting amnesty for lese majeste offenders be pulled from the House debate agenda set for this Thursday. Chawalit Wichayasut, a deputy leader of the modestly-sized six-MP TST, insists that the government should safeguard the monarchy rather than paving the way for amnesty to those convicted of defiling it. In Thailand, Section 6 of the constitution is crystal clear: the monarch embodies reverence and is beyond reproach. No individual can smear or initiate legal action against the ruler. Mr. Chawalit emphasized that the government has an entrenched constitutional duty to shield the monarch, pointing out that many nations have laws to protect their heads of state and leaders. According to Mr. Chawalit, the study in question, commissioned by a special House committee, is far from perfect and should be struck out from Thursday’s parliamentary…
In a poignant snapshot from September 3, 2023, the image of CNS ‘Chang Cheng’—a submarine integral to Thai-Chinese military exercises in Chon Buri province—encapsulates a significant chapter in maritime defense collaboration. This formidable vessel, captured in a file photo courtesy of the Royal Thai Navy, signifies more than just technological prowess; it highlights a strategic partnership with profound implications for regional security. Recently appointed navy chief, Adm Jirapol Wongwit, is resolute in advancing Thailand’s submarine procurement project with China. Fresh from the ceremonial handover of command, Adm Jirapol expressed his determination to meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, to elucidate the strategic necessity of this initiative. The admiral emphasized that the submarine program is not merely an acquisition but a cornerstone of the navy’s long-term capability-building agenda. He is committed to tackling any apprehensions the defence minister might harbor. “The navy is also ready to vigorously…
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has emphatically decreed that all future electric train network plans outside Bangkok must safeguard the sanctity of historical sites within inner-city areas. This directive comes in the wake of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand’s (MRTA) ambitious proposal to develop electric rail networks across major cities like Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket, and Phitsanulok, with an estimated combined budget of 77 billion baht. The primary objective of these projects, according to the MRTA, is to offer residents a modern public transport option aimed at alleviating chronic congestion in urban centers while enhancing access to tourism hotspots located on the outskirts. However, the proposed 30-billion-baht electric train route in Chiang Mai has stirred considerable debate, with many critics voicing concerns over the potential threat to historical sites in the Muang district. Responding to these apprehensions, Minister Suriya has suggested a balanced approach:…
The vigilance of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) bore fruit in the 2024 fiscal year as they seized an astounding amount of drugs, including crystal meth ingeniously hidden within furniture cushions. This carefully orchestrated crackdown led by the NSB set a new record, capturing over 380 million methamphetamine, locally known as ya ba, pills. That’s a whopping increase of 137 million pills from the previous fiscal year, a 56% spike that accounted for 41% of all meth pills confiscated by the Royal Thai Police over the same period. Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Khirisak Tantinvachai was quite vocal about the efforts that went into these operations. His team meticulously planned and executed sting operations targeting over 100 drug networks, resulting in the arrest of 729 suspects—an increase of 518 from the 2023 fiscal year. To add to the success, the NSB also managed to seize assets worth more than 4 billion…
The authorities have issued a fresh warning for more wet weather sweeping in from Tuesday to Thursday, signaling yet another bout of heavy rains for the already flood-weary upper North. Residents in areas that have been reeling from the deluge over the past few weeks are advised to brace themselves. According to the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) secretary-general, Surasee Kittimonthon, parts of the North, the Central Plains, the East, and even Bangkok and its surrounding provinces are forecast to experience heavy downpours and gusty winds. This weather havoc is attributed to a high-pressure trough making its presence felt in the region. Adding to the tension, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has echoed similar sentiments. Residents, especially those in the upper northern provinces of Chiang Rai, Phayao, and Nan, as well as lower northern provinces like Phetchabun and Sukhothai, should brace for potential repeat downpours on Monday. Somkwan…
The ruling Pheu Thai Party is gearing up for a pivotal meeting with its coalition partners to advocate for a new constitution. This move comes in response to the recent Senate vote on Monday, which saw the retention of the double majority requirement needed to pass a referendum on a new supreme law. The Upper House voted 164-21, with nine abstentions, to maintain this stringent threshold. The Senate committee vetting the charter referendum bill also backed the decision. Prime Minister’s Office Minister Chousak Sirinil announced that a joint committee is likely to be formed to resolve the differing opinions between the Lower and Upper Houses regarding the requisite majority size for passing a referendum on the government’s proposed rewrite of the 2017 constitution. However, this development might stretch the timeline for a national referendum, tentatively scheduled for February 2 next year, coinciding with the elections for provincial administrative organization members.…
The world needs to shift its focus toward measuring what truly matters, setting ambitious climate goals, and aligning private finances to foster a green transition. These were the core messages delivered by Niamh Collier-Smith, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand, during her keynote address at the “ESG Symposium 2024: Driving Inclusive Green Transition.” The forum, hosted by Siam Cement Group at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, was a key segment of the Sustainability Expo 2024 and centered on advancing towards net zero carbon emissions through the lenses of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. In her compelling speech, Ms. Collier-Smith challenged conventional metrics of progress, advocating for the transformation from “a society that values what it measures to one that measures what it values.” She reminisced about the 1990s, a time when gross domestic product (GDP) was the prime indicator of progress, a metric…
Niamh Collier-Smith, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand, emphasized the necessity of refocusing global priorities to measure what truly matters. Speaking at the “ESG Symposium 2024: Driving Inclusive Green Transition” held by the Siam Cement Group at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, she highlighted the crucial need for ambitious climate goals and the alignment of private finances to facilitate the green transition. This symposium was a significant part of the Sustainability Expo 2024, and its primary focus was the transition to net-zero carbon emissions through the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework. Collier-Smith’s speech resonated deeply with the audience as she urged a paradigm shift from “a society that values what it measures to a society that measures what it values.” Reflecting on the 1990s, Collier-Smith noted that back then, global progress was largely measured by gross domestic product (GDP)—a method she described…