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PM mulling whether to cancel country’s New Year celebrations (nationthailand.com)

PM mulling whether to cancel country’s New Year celebrations

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday said he would need another seven days to assess the Covid-19 situation before deciding whether New Year countdown events around the country could go ahead.

Speaking after a Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) subcommittee meeting on the weekend’s explosion of virus cases, Prayut said health officials and border police have tightened security but there were still gaps in the 2,500-kilometre border with Myanmar.

More than 800 new infections over the weekend have been traced to a shrimp market in Samut Sakhon province’s Muang district where the majority of workers are migrants.

The PM admitted that some migrant workers had left Thailand and then been smuggled back via illegal channels to avoid quarantine rules. He said Thai employers must be jointly responsible for following up on these workers.

He added that the public should cooperate on preventing the virus from spreading so Thailand could avoid the lockdowns seen in other countries.

The Public Health Ministry said the Samut Sakhon outbreak was still controllable.

Prayut confirmed Samut Sakhon had been locked down and thousands of locals were being tested.

“As a result, the number of infections will rise. Don’t panic, the situation will be resolved,” he added.

He asked for public cooperation in catching those who smuggled migrant workers into the country, but said people should provide solid information, not just rumours.

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Private cars to soon be allowed to join taxi fleets run by cab applications (nationthailand.com)

Private cars to soon be allowed to join taxi fleets run by cab applications

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

The Department of Land Transport (DLT) plans to allow private cars to be registered as alternative taxis via smart phone applications to meet current demands.

Tanee Suebrerk, deputy director-general of DLT, chaired a meeting recently to hear opinions from government agencies, r academics, taxi operators, taxi-service providers and members of the public sector.

DLT explained that private car owners are being allowed to provide taxi services in a bid to meet a rise in demand as many people now prefer booking taxis via smart applications. Tanee pointed out that many taxi apps already allow private cars to provide taxi services, but under the new regulation, all private cars used for taxi services will have to be registered with the DLT to ensure safety of passengers.

According to the new regulation, private cars can carry no more than seven passengers, and only one car can be registered to a person. Owners have to provide details of their vehicle size and proof of employment by a taxi service provider. Every vehicle will be required to have communication equipment and clearly display a logo of the service. Drivers are required to dress properly and prices of services rendered need to be agreed upon and clearly displayed in the application. Only private vehicles certified by DLT can be used for this service.

At the meeting, however, taxi drivers said they found this regulation to be unfair, though service providers welcomed it saying it is compatible with people’s lifestyles as it offers greater convenience and safety.

Academics and government representatives also agree with the idea of alternative taxis, but said the law should set up a criteria for qualifications, responsibility and penalties for the service provider.

DLT has said it will collect all these comments and suggestions to revise the regulations before presenting it to the Transport Ministry for consideration.

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Twelve women voted in as PAO chiefs (nationthailand.com)

Twelve women voted in as PAO chiefs

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

Twelve female candidates were voted in as provincial administration organisation (PAO) chiefs in Sunday’s local elections. Thais went to the polls to elect a total of 76 PAO chiefs on Sunday.

Prominent among the successful female candidates was former singer Nantida Kaewbuasai, who was named chief of Samut Prakan’s PAO, and Kanokpon Dechdecho who was elected in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

Bhumjaithai Party candidates Somsong Punchareonworakul and Supphanee Phosu were elected in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and Nakhon Phanom respectively.

Other Bhumjaithai winners included Orapin Jiraphanvanich from Lopburi, Waen-Fa Thongsri from Bueng Kan, Khomkhai Udonpim from Maha Sarakham, Yonlada Wangsupakitkosol from Nakhon Ratchasima and Wanpen Tangsakul from Amnat Charoen.

The Pheu Thai Party fielded two successful candidates – Athitathon Wanchaithanawong in Chiang Rai and Tuangrat Loh-Sunthorn in Lampang.

Kwanruen Thienthong, the mother of two Palang Pracharat Party MPs, won the election in Sakao province as expected.

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Agency comes up with 3-pronged plan to expand investment in capital market (nationthailand.com)

Agency comes up with 3-pronged plan to expand investment in capital market

NationalDec 21. 2020

By THE NATION

The Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations (FETCO) has announced a three-pronged plan to boost the country’s capital market next year, namely expanding investor base, increasing long-term investment and helping small and medium-sized businesses.

FETCO chairman Paiboon Nalinthrangkurn said his organisation has discussed this plan with the finance minister and will meet the minister again once the plan takes concrete shape.

He said FETCO aims to boost the number of investors spending in the capital market from around 3 million to 10 million in the near future. It will also review conditions and details of funds to draw more investment.

FETCO also plans to offer short-term investors tax incentives for converting their investments into long-term assets. Paiboon said this model is being used in China, where investors are offered greater tax breaks the longer they invest.

The chairman also said FETCO plans to help SMEs by setting up a closed-end fund. This fund will be raised by getting people to invest in debentures issued by SMEs with a credible history, he said.

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Campfires keep burning to warm villagers as temperatures drop in Si Sa Ket (nationthailand.com)

Campfires keep burning to warm villagers as temperatures drop in Si Sa Ket

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

Poor villagers in Si Sa Ket province are having to burn fires to keep themselves warm now that temperatures are dropping.

Residents of Ban Tum village in Si Rattana district are suffering the most because they are too poor to afford warm clothes.

One villager said on Monday that temperatures have been dropping over the past three days and they have been doing their best to keep fires burning all day.

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Road accident victim helps keep four people alive (nationthailand.com)

Road accident victim helps keep four people alive

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

A dying 48-year-old man’s wishes have helped keep four other patients alive in Phetchabun province.

Wichai Thongsukdee said he donated his late brother Wai Thongsukdee’s organs to the Thai Red Cross Society in line with his wishes.

Wai was declared brain dead after a road accident on December 18.

Duangdao Sriyakul, deputy director of Phetchabun Hospital, said the man’s eyeballs and kidneys were used to save four people.

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Pathum Thani chooses ex-Bangkok top cop as PAO chief (nationthailand.com)

Pathum Thani chooses ex-Bangkok top cop as PAO chief

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

Former Bangkok police chief Lt-General Kamronwit Toopkrajang has won the top job at Pathum Thani’s provincial administration organisation (PAO) with 252,499 votes.

He beat former chairman Chan Puangpetch, who came in a close second with 222,211 votes.

Pathum Thani residents chose Kamronwit because he has promised to solve traffic problems and help develop the province’s infrastructure.

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GHB branch in Samut Sakhon’s Muang district closed for 14 days (nationthailand.com)

GHB branch in Samut Sakhon’s Muang district closed for 14 days

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

The Government Housing Bank (GHB) has closed its branch on Setthakitj 1 Road in Samut Sakhon’s Muang district from Monday to January 4 in a bid to ensure people’s safety following the recent outbreak of Covid-19 infections.

Customers can still conduct financial transactions via its online channel and mobile banking application, the bank said in a press release on Monday.

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Thailand Post implements strict measures to curb infections (nationthailand.com)

Thailand Post implements strict measures to curb infections

NationalDec 21. 2020

By The Nation

Thailand Post has announced that its branches nationwide have been reminded to strictly adhere to public health guidelines in preventing Covid-19 infections following the latest outbreak in Samut Sakhon province.

All surfaces at post offices are sanitised every 20 minutes, especially areas frequently touched such as door knobs, seats and service counters.

The parcel distribution centres also spray parcels with disinfectant, especially those coming from high-risk areas.

Postmen working in high-risk areas are also required to wear face masks and keep their hands sanitised.

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Migrant workers not allowed to move out of high-risk areas (nationthailand.com)

Migrant workers not allowed to move out of high-risk areas

NationalDec 21. 2020

By THE NATION

The Labour Ministry has issued orders prohibiting migrant workers from leaving high-risk areas as of Sunday in a bid to control the second wave of Covid-19 infections.

Those who violate this order will be charged for violating the Communicable Disease Act and emergency decree.

The ministry has also ordered employers to screen all migrant workers and ensure all protection measures like social distancing, temperature checking and provision of hand sanitising gel are observed.

Employers are also required to inform public health personnel immediately in case any employee shows symptoms of the virus.