Experts pick post-poll strife will erupt
More signs of political unrest have emerged in the run-up to the Feb 24 general election, with pundits now anticipating further political disruptions after the poll.
— Bangkok Post
Drunk driving and speeding top road toll of 2,761 accidents in five days
The 2,761 road accidents nationwide over the first five days of the New Year holidays have claimed 314 lives and maimed 2,848 others, Public Health Ministry deputy permanent secretary Dr Prapon Tangsrikertikul said on Tuesday.
— The Nation
Guilty in the eyes of the public, Prawit now faces a painful penalty
As expected, the public is furious at the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s clearing of Prawit Wongsuwan over the watches scandal. I think they have lost track of the case.
— The Nation
Abhisit rejects Pheu Thai coalition offer
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has rejected Pheu Thai’s offer to make a pact with the Democrats to form a government of national unity after the Feb 24 general election.
— Bangkok Post
Different populist schemes on offer
THE AGE of neo-populism has emerged in Thailand, with at least four political parties vying on state-welfare-cum-populist platforms in the next general election scheduled for February 24.
— The Nation
Coronation of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn to be held May 4-6: palace
An elaborate three-day coronation ceremony for HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn will be held May 4 to 6, the palace announced Tuesday, nearly two and half years after the passing of his revered father King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
— The Nation
Why Are Thailand’s English-Language Skills The Lowest in South East Asia? Blame The Education System
Since I moved to Thailand a decade ago, I’ve read report after report stating Thailand has the lowest standard of English skills in south east Asia and, in years, little improvement has been seen.
— tastythailand.com
Seven drunk drivers fitted with Electronic Monitoring devices
Seven out of the 66 drunk drivers stopped over the New Year Holiday were fitted with the Probation Department’s Electronic Monitoring (EM) devices in front of reporters on January 1, as part of the punishment ordered by the courts over traffic violations.
— The Nation
A pernicious New Year gift to long-term expats
Just before Christmas, it was announced that the government intends to enrich the Thai health insurance industry at the expense of long-term expat residents. Amendments to the Immigration Act are being drafted by a group that includes the Office of Insurance Commission, the Thai General Insurance Association and the Thai Life Assurance Association, which will force us to take out health cover.
— The Nation
Activists demand cheaper, public-focused power plan
An advocacy group is planning to ask the Energy Ministry to revise its Power Development Plan draft, which it says has failed to raise people’s awareness on energy saving and may ultimately burden consumers with high electricity charges.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand to promote single-window clearance system for border trade
IN a push for digital transformation within the Asean region, member countries will join forces to implement the Asean Single Window (ASW) for all 10 nations in the trade bloc by the end of next year .
— The Nation
Survey finds low income earners more frugal than last year
Thailand’s Economic Research Center at the Government Savings Bank has revealed that low-income earners are tending towards frugal behavior, as overall spending dropped compared to last year.
— Pattaya Mail
Will Thailand’s legal medical marijuana seed a new black market?
Thailand’s decision to legalise marijuana for medical purposes has raised concerns over deliberate exploitation of the new law and warnings to the public not to forget that general use of the drug is still very much illegal.
— South China Morning Post
Telecoms offer digital hand to improve business performance
The digital transformation in Thailand is expected to attain macroeconomic scale and impact in 2019 and beyond as organisations accelerate their transformation to become a “Digital Native Enterprise”, says Phanchanok Vanichsangsopon, associate market analyst from IDC Research (Thailand).
— The Nation
Cost of firing staff cited as a ‘burden’
The high cost of severance pay given to employees is a financial burden on the business sector, according to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDB).
— Bangkok Post
Supreme Court president promises no delayed justice
The Supreme Court president has promised that all cases referred to the Supreme Court will be wrapped up and verdicts handed down within a year.
— Thai PBS World
A simple way for junta to pass anti-corruption credibility test
Like Caesar’s wife, Deputy PM and Defence Minister Prawit must be above suspicion as to where he got the 22 ultra-luxury watches allegedly worth Bt36.9 million. NACC chairman Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit announced that his former direct boss, General Prawit, didn’t make a false asset declaration – but the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand and many others aren’t convinced.
— The Nation
Market vendors see lower sales in New Year holiday this year
Vendors at Huay Khwang Market in Bangkok have reported more customers since 25th December despite recent lower sales.
— NBT World
Thailand Welcomes 2019 in Photos
Vibrant New Year’s celebrations kicked off at venues around the city. Buddhists crossed into 2019 chanting prayers at the Temple of the Golden Mount, while thousands cheered impressive fireworks erupting at major shopping malls CentralWorld and Iconsiam.
— KhaosodEnglish
Thai man kills six family members after New Year’s party: police
A Thai man shot and killed six family members, including his two young children, before killing himself after a New Year’s party, the police said on Tuesday.
— Reuters
Chiang Mai soldier caught in gun road rage
Footage from a dash cam shows a soldier advancing on a family of three, threatening to shoot them with a gun in Chiang Mai. The incident is related to a preceding road rage incident in the Mae Rim district.
— The Thaiger
Princess boosts morale of wounded soldiers with New Year’s Day visit to Phramongkutklao Hospital
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously granted gifts on New Year’s Day to soldiers who are currently being treated at Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok.
— The Nation
Phuket’s MICE market revenue doubles in 2018
Phuket’s increasingly prolific MICE market nearly doubled in terms of year-on-year growth in 2017, a global hospitality consultancy firm said recently.
— The Nation
Supreme Court gives 2-year suspended sentence on charge of defaming Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
On 27 Dec 2018, Thanyaburi Provincial Court read the verdict of the Supreme Court in the case of Anan (family name withheld), aged 70, charged with lèse majesté under Article 112 and defamation under Article 326 of the Criminal Code for comments about Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Princess Soamsawali.
— Prachatai English
Helping Koh Samui fight the garbage glut
On Samui the collected trash was designed for recycling and disposal at the municipal incinerator plant, but the incinerator has not been operational for some years and trash is simply being stockpiled at dumps on the island.
— The Thaiger
Feature photo John Le Ferve
This week’s morning news photo focuses on the death, pain, and loss that typically occurs at this time of year on Asean roads due to drunk driving, speeding, and a failure to wear protective helmets when travelling on motorbikes.
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.
Thailand morning news for January 2 added by John Le Fevre on
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John Le Fevre
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.
Latest posts by John Le Fevre (see all)
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 26 — 16 mln case barrier breached, Vietnam records community transmission – July 26, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 25 — new high for daily infections, 16 mln infection barrier to break today – July 25, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 24 — Asean tops 230,000 cases, nudges 90,000 active – July 24, 2020
- Thailand morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020