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The next political challenge for Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is next month when a censure motion is put to the lower house by opposition MPs. The debate is scheduled for July 18 – 22 and there is no certainty how the votes will eventually fall at this time. Renegade MPs, new political factions, the PM’s falling popularity, and a looming general election will all play a factor in the final result for Prayut and the ruling Palang Pracharat Party. Moving Forward Party MPs will be leading the charge, attacking the performance of the prime minister and 10 of his other leading ministers. This is the fourth such censure debate against the PM and government since the 2019 general election. They’ve so far survived all votes on the lower house floor, along purely party lines. The ruling Palang Pracharat coalition has a tenuous majority and relies on the 17 coalition partners to push through any legislation. The largest rumps of support come from the Democrats and Bhumjaithai, the … [Read more...] about Thailand News Today | “The Last Supper of the Prime Minister”

Thailand is open for business. The whole country is now a ‘green’ zone, allowing a full-scale resumption of business and activities with even the Thailand Pass being dropped next Friday. It’s about as ‘back to normal’ as it can be at this time. Decisions made by the CCSA on June 17 were put into effect yesterday after being published in the Royal Gazette, including the re-establishment of old closing times for nightlife and the removal of mask requirements (in open spaces). Face masks will still be required in government buildings and public transport, including the BTS, MRT lines and buses. Private shops or offices may also require the wearing of a mask, at their discretion, at this time. It is still a requirement at Thai airports and on domestic flights, for now. But, otherwise, wearing a face mask will be a voluntary situation. Then from next Friday the Thailand Pass will no longer be required for anyone entering Thailand from overseas. That also spells the end of the … [Read more...] about Thailand is open NOW – masks off, bars open until 2am

After years of devastation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Thailand looks hopefully toward a resurgence of tourism with the further easing of restrictions starting yesterday. The required Thailand Pass for entry into the country is no longer needed as the restriction was lifted yesterday, with tourism authorities predicting an influx of travellers entering the country as a result. Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has hopefully predicted 1.5 million travellers entering Thailand per month during the high season, with 900,000 minimum predicted each month from here on out. When the cumbersome Test & Go programme was discontinued in May, Thailand saw an increase to 400,000 foreign visitors, so the further relaxing of restrictions is hoped to jump-start a post-Covid-19 age of tourism. The chairman of the Phuket Tourism Council shares in this optimism, saying the end of the Thailand Pass is welcome news for Phuket as well as the rest of the country. He points … [Read more...] about Thailand tourism looking up, predictions of 1.5 million per month

As Thailand Pass prepares to meet its end come July 1, it looks as if Malaysia is in line to replace the kingdom’s current tourist king, India. Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said yesterday that once Thailand Pass is no more, a larger number of Malaysian tourists than Indians is expected to make their way to the ‘Land of Smiles.’ Indians have so far made up Thailand’s biggest tourist group this year, with 100,884 arriving between January 1 and May 24. But earlier this month, Malaysians flooded into Phuket . Daily AirAsia flights from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket were fully booked. Other hotspots for Malaysian travellers were Bangkok, Krabi, Koh Samui, Phattalung, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Dannok, Had Yai, Betong, and Sungai Golok – the final three on or near the northern Malaysian border. The Tourism Authority of Thailand says 78,523 Malaysian visitors entered the kingdom in the first 5 months of the year. But the Minister failed to take into … [Read more...] about Malaysia set to replace India as tourist king of Thailand

The Royal Thai Army has lifted a boycott of the e-commerce platform Lazada. The company, owned by the Alibaba Group, was banned from delivering parcels to military premises all over the country for 42 days because of an offensive advert that insulted the Thai Royal Family, and disabled people. Last month Lazada goods were banned from entering Royal Thai Army premises because its TikTok adverts were considered offensive to disabled people, and the Thai Royal Family. As a consequence, the Thai military warned soldiers of penalties if they ordered goods from Lazada. The two so-called offensive videos were launched on the TikTok account of a 23 year old influencer named Aniwat “Nara” Prathumthin. The first video features the 2 influencers in a mother-daughter scenario. Nara plays the daughter role while another influencer, 28 year old Thidaporn “Noo Rat” Chaokuwiang, took the disabled mother role in a wheelchair. The first video caused outrage on social media with netizens … [Read more...] about Thai Army lifts ban on Lazada to help country boost economy

- A + A PORT KLANG (June 29): The implementation of the chicken buffer stock initiative by the Farmers’ Organisation Authority (LPP) is expected to be able to cover 20% of the domestic supply through the importation of 4,536 tonnes of the protein source from Thailand in stages until the end of July. LPP director-general Datuk Azulita Salim said the buffer stock could also be used to offset price fluctuations if there were areas in the country facing a shortage of chicken supply. She said an allocation of RM50 million had been approved by the Cabinet for the implementation of the programme. “All the chickens that enter the country through this programme are halal-certified and have obtained approval from the Department of Veterinary Services,” she said after inspecting the cold room facility of the Selangor State Farmers’ Organisation (PPN) on Wednesday (June 29). She said for a start, six containers — each containing 20 to 21 tonnes of chicken — would be imported … [Read more...] about LPP importing 4,536 tonnes of chicken from Thailand to be used as buffer stock

Following the June 9 announcement about Thailand’s decriminalisation of cannabis products, other Asian countries have warned Thais and foreigners not to bring Thai weed into their countries. Japan and Indonesia have already made direct announcements to their respective Royal Thai embassies. Now Thai embassies in South Korea and Singapore have joined the list to warn travellers from Thailand not to carry marijuana, other cannabis-based products or cannabis extracts through their borders. In some Asian countries they would face a jail term, or even the death penalty. The Royal Thai embassy in Seoul has posted a notice on its social media. “Thai travellers must not carry cannabis, hemp or products containing these plants into South Korea.” “Possession or use of the substances carries a jail term of up to five years, while smuggling cannabis or hemp is liable to a jail term from five years to life imprisonment.” “Violators will be deported from South Korea and barred from … [Read more...] about Singapore and South Korea warn Thais not to enter their countries with cannabis products

The League of Islamic Council of Southern Thailand does not support the Cannabis and Hemp Bill. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard) The League of Islamic Council of Southern Thailand has issued a statement opposing the Cannabis and Hemp Bill, the Progressive Liquor Bill and the Civil Partnership Bill, as they are not in line with the Islamic principles. Representatives of the council in the southern border provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla, Satun and Pattani met on Thursday to clarify their position on the three bills, which have already passed their first readings in parliament. During the first reading, the Prachachat Party — which counts most of its members as Muslims living in the deep South — opposed the three bills as well as the Marriage Equality Bill, proposed by the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP). Sugarno Matha, a Prachachat MP for Yala, said his party had already informed other political parties that practicing Muslims should not have to follow any laws contrary to … [Read more...] about Islamic council opposes cannabis, liquor, civil partnership bills

Thai police say they are supporting a new approach to drug abuse, following an anti-drug campaign event in Phuket yesterday. The deputy inspector general of Royal Thai Police said the campaign in Phuket’s town of Karon follows a nationwide shift in the country to get drug users treatment instead of jail time. Karon’s police chief said at the event that every police station in Thailand is to have a “sustainable community action project” to solve drug issues. Royal Thai Police Deputy Inspector Panurat Lakboon said that this year, programmes are being introduced in 1,483 communities across Thailand. Karon Police will focus on a particular area of the town for its community anti-drug campaign. Officers will visit every household in Baan Khok Chang to prepare to draft a Memorandum of Understanding on drug testing, according to Karon Police Chief Theerawat Liamsuwan. Theerawat said… “If there are no addicts in the community, there will be no suppliers. This will make the community … [Read more...] about Thai police say they support new approach to drug abuse in Phuket and beyond

UPDATE Stall sellers and the owners of the Ratchawong Rungrueng packaging shop building, which caught fire in Bangkok’s Chinatown on Saturday, say they are going to sue the Metropolitan Electricity Authority for negligence after a broken transformer caused the blaze that killed 2 people. The faulty transformer caught fire and quickly ripped through the 3-story building on Ratchawong Road in the Sumphanthawong district of Bangkok, also affecting 4 nearby buildings and stalls, causing the death of 2 people and millions of baht worth of damage. The inspector of police from the Chakkrawat Police Station, Ponlawat Promsorn, yesterday spoke to the building owners, and stall sellers, and they estimated the damage caused by the fire is about 10 million baht. They revealed they are suing the MEA and other relevant departments for their recklessness. The building owner revealed to the police and media that they asked the MEA to repair the transformer many times, but they allegedly did … [Read more...] about UPDATE: Owner of fire building in Bangkok Chinatown to sue electric authority