Thailand morning news for December 11

Thailand morning news for December 11
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Thailand morning newsParties call for constitution to be ripped up
Representatives from political parties slammed the coup-sponsored 2017 charter on Monday, branded “Section 44” of being another form of coup and suggested the constitution should be amended after the House of Representatives is in place.
— Bangkok Post

Court to hear AlAraibi extradition case
The Criminal Court has scheduled an extradition hearing on Tuesday for a former member of the Bahrain national football team, now wanted political crimes.
— Bangkok Post

EC warned new ballots could lead to possibility of election being nullified
As resentments among political parties and politicians grow against the new poll ballot design, a former election commissioner has warned the Election Commission that the forthcoming election could end up being declared null and void.
— Thai PBS World

Thailand World’s Most Unequal Nation? Govt Says Not
A government spokesman on Friday hit back at a Swiss bank report claiming Thailand has the world’s most unequal distribution of wealth.
— Khaosod English

Salary increases rebound for first time in four years
Salary increases in Asia-Pacific recorded a modest rebound this year for the first time since 2014, according to Willis Towers Watson, a global risk management, brokerage and advisory company.
— Bangkok Post

Thirayuth: Regime has ‘plot to cling to power’
The rich and the powerful will continue to rule Thailand and Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha will be the next prime minister, as the regime plans, but will come under pressure, social critic Thirayuth Boonmee forewarned on Monday.
— Bangkok Post

Ballot format to be decided next week
The Election Commission (EC) is expected to decide next week on the format of the ballot paper for the upcoming general election.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand officially initiates WTO dispute with Turkey over safeguard rebalancing duty
Thailand on Monday requested World Trade Organization dispute consultations with Turkey to address a rebalancing duty Ankara imposed on Thai air conditioner imports last year — a case with significance for the U.S., which is also facing safeguard rebalancing tariffs imposed several countries.
— World Trade Online (paywall)

Post-poll Prayut govt will lack legitimacy, says academic
FORMER student activist and renowned scholar Thirayuth Boonmee has predicted that though junta leader General Prayut Chan-o-cha will be able to form the next government, it will lack legitimacy and this will only lead to instability.
— The Nation

Thailand’s roads still among most deadly, although ranking improves: WHO
Thailand’s roads remain among the deadliest in the world, but the Kingdom has dropped from its previous No-2 position to eighth, behind a collection of smaller African states and other undeveloped countries.
— The Nation (annoying pop-ups)

Biochemical hubs unfold
The Industry Ministry will make a proposal to the mobile cabinet today to acknowledge and approve a biochemical hub for Udon Thani province, part of efforts to raise crop prices.
— Bangkok Post

Revenue Department explains “Shop for the Nation” campaign
The Revenue Department claims that only purchases of certain products are tax deductible under the “Shop for the Nation” campaign.
— NBT World (video)

Experts peg GDP growth at 4% in 2019
THAILAND’S gross domestic product (GDP) will grow by 4 per cent and above next year, according to economic experts from Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) and Kasikornbank.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Experts forecast car sales at 1m units this year and next
Thailand’s car market in 2019 will exceed 1 million units sold but with much lower growth than in 2018, say auto experts who view market sentiment as sustainable and healthy.
— Bangkok Post

Japanese tourist lured by travel freebies into smuggling meth
An Iranian man has been arrested after using travel freebies to lure an unsuspecting Japanese tourist into smuggling a bag of clothes laced with crystal meth, Thai police said Monday (Dec 10).
— Channel NewsAsia

King Leads Bike Un Ai Rak 2018
HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn has graciously presided over the opening ceremony of the Bike Un Ai Rak event in Bangkok on Sunday.
— NBT World (video)

PM’s remarks raise doubts of curbs on campaigning
WE CAN NOW start counting down – with more confidence – to the national elections after the junta confirmed on Friday that the poll will definitely be held on February 24. The new law on MP elections also comes into effect today.
— The Nation

Non-dairy creamer maker plots expansion
Preserved Food Specialty Co, the maker of Coffee Dreamy non-dairy creamer, plans to ask the Board of Investment for promotional privileges to expand production capacity at PFS’s factory in Samut Sakhon.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s Pheu Thai confident despite electoral hurdles, says key leader
Thailand’s biggest political party, hit by defections ahead of an election that will allow the kingdom to emerge from military rule, remains confident of its chances even as a new polling system threatens to confuse longtime supporters.
— The Straits Times

More rain to fall in the South
Parts of Nakhon Si Thammarat and areas in other southern provinces have been inundated after heavy rains that are forecast to continue this week.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s house prices rising strongly again
Nationwide house prices rose by 5.13% during the year to Q3 2018, in contrast to a y-o-y decline of 0.62% in the previous year. House prices increased 1.09% q-o-q in Q3 2018.
— Global Property Guide

Government to launch measures to help digital TV
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has acknowledged a plan to rehabilitate digital TV operators. Proceeds of an auction of 700 MHz frequency will be spent on compensating MUX operators.
— NBT World (video)

Deputy PM Prawit’s wristwatch probe to be concluded this month
Investigation into the luxurious wristwatches worn by Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan is expected to be concluded by the end of this month.
— NNT

Hitting pay dirt with payments
While Thailand is one of the most enthusiastic users of technology, especially social media, much of its most-used software is foreign-made.
— Bangkok Post

Maejo University hosting 9-day agricultural fair
Maejo University is celebrating its 85th anniversary by hosting one of Thailand’s biggest agricultural fairs featuring exhibitions and recreational activities.
— NBT World (video)

Don’t deport Pakistani asylum seekers from Thailand
The Thai government should ensure that recently arrested Pakistani asylum seekers are not returned to face persecution, torture, or other serious abuse in Pakistan, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha on 5 November 2018.
— Aliran

Painfully-thin elephant forced to perform cruel circus tricks to empty Thai arena
A severely underweight elephant has been filmed performing tricks inside a virtually empty zoo.
— Mirror (video)

Going green for green
Udon Thani province has been urging farmers to grow chemical-free, organic crops to help grow their businesses.
— Bangkok Post
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1591514/going-green-for-green

Donations to political party now tax deductible
The government has announced that donations to political parties are now tax deductible to encourage people to support the role of political parties.
— NNT

Danish company ISS to close in Thailand, 12 other countries
A leading facility services company says it will shut down operations in Thailand and 12 other countries as it tries to boost growth and simplify its business.
— Bangkok Post

Public Health Ministry unveils first floating clinic
Thailand’s first floating clinic has made its public debut in Kanchanaburi province, lifting the country’s capacity to deal with marine accidents and water related disasters
— NBT World (video)

Danish company ISS to close in Thailand, 12 other countries
A leading facility services company says it will shut down operations in Thailand and 12 other countries as it tries to boost growth and simplify its business.
— Bangkok Post

Getting a piece of the e-commerce pie
A recent report revealed that the government of Thailand has passed a bill that it hopes will ensure more effective tax collection, especially from e-commerce businesses.
— The Asean Post

Government to launch measures to help digital TV
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has acknowledged a plan to rehabilitate digital TV operators.
— NBT World (video)

Langham’s Splash Beach Resort Phuket hosts largest Indian wedding in Thailand
Hong Kong entrepreneur Kishore Samtani hosted a reception banquet and five-day destination wedding celebration for more than 1,300 guests at his son’s wedding at Splash Beach Resort, Mai Khao Phuket last week.
— The Phuket News

DIP: Over 10,000 SMEs targeted for online operations in 2019
The Department of Industrial Promotion (DIP) wants over 10,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups to operate their businesses online in 2019.
— NNT

Bahrain’s Dragon City in Thai-themed project lease deal
Dragon City, the largest wholesale and retail trading centre in Bahrain, said it has signed a corporate agreement with Vega Intertrade and Exhibitions, one of the most sought-after exhibition and event organizers specialized in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, to lease and operate ThaiMart, a Thai-themed retail development in the master-planned project.
— Trade Arabia

Seven Chinese charged over using fake passports in test-taking scam
=Thai police have arrested seven Chinese who were allegedly hired to take ACT (American College Testing) exams on behalf of other test-takers who wanted good results in order to apply to study in the United States, Immigration Police Bureau chief Pol Lt-Gen Surachate Hakparn told a press conference on Monday.
— The Nation

Thai water sports company wants to take back its historical emissions
A paddleboard and windsurfer manufacturer is on a mission to reclaim its emissions by adopting circular economy principles and reforesting a nature reserve in Myanmar.
— Eco-Business

Thailand mutual fund assets rebound in November
Thailand’s mutual fund industry assets rebounded 3.63% in November, erasing the prior month’s loss, partly due to the recovery of equity and infrastructure funds, according to latest data from the Association of Investment Management Companies (AIMC).
— Asia Asset Management

New app in Blue Flag stores; DIT lauds economic stimulation
The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has lauded the government’s welfare card scheme as not only beneficial to low-income earners but to retailers and the economy in general.
— NNT

BAAC awarded top rating for on-time loan repayments
The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) has won AAA (THA) rating for its high capability of managing on-time loan repayments.
— NNT

Toxic fumes in engine room of boat restaurant kill 2
Two workers died while three became seriously ill after allegedly inhaling toxic fumes as they cleaned a boat restaurant’s engine room on Sunday.
— The Nation

17 Thais wanted for security-related offences hiding in Malaysia, says source
Seventeen of the 129 criminals from the southern Thailand province of Narathiwat reportedly hiding in Malaysia are wanted by the Thai authorities for security-related offences, according to a high-ranking Thai source.
— New Straits Times

NLA confirms its adherence to rule of law
The head of the Thai National Legislative Assembly (NLA), Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, has assured the public of the legislature’s commitment to following the rule of law.
— NNT

IEAT opens SMEs-ITC in Lamphun
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) has opened its SMEs Industry Transformation Center (SMEs-ITC) at the Northern Region Industrial Estate in Lamphun.
— NNT

Southern region prepares for potential flooding Dec 9-12
The Governor of Songkhla has instructed related agencies to monitor potential flooding from December 9th to 12th.
— NNT

Ministry puts 18 firms under the hammer
The Finance Ministry plans to put the first 18 privately owned companies in which it owns less than a 50% stake on sale later this month.
— Bangkok Post
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1591522/ministry-puts-18-firms-under-the-hammer

Showa Denko completes construction of aluminum can facility in Thailand
Showa Denko, along with its consolidated subsidiary Showa Aluminum Can (SAP), and Carabao Group (CBG), has completed the construction of new aluminum can factory in Thailand.
— Compelo

How to expand your Thai business to other Asian countries
Asia is one of the most important markets in the world and expanding a business here is without a doubt a great idea, no matter where you come from.
— The Phuket News

 

 

 

Feature photo John Le Fevre

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges Thailand Constitution Day, December 10.

 

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Thailand morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Thailand news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

 

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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.

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