The entire Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, which covers the three Chiang Mai districts of Muang, Mae Rim and Hangdong, will be closed until April 30 to prevent forest fires, which have led to air pollution in the North, park chief Suthin Phromplad announced on Thursday.
“Forest fires are prone to occur in park areas during the dry season,” he pointed out.
“Among the causes of forest fires are villagers burning down the bush to hunt wild animals or farmers burning their leftover crops after harvesting and being unable to control the fire, causing it to spread into forest areas,” he said.
During the closure, those who need to enter the park must obtain permission from the park chief, which will be granted on a case-by-case basis.
“Those who enter the park without permission will be fined up to Bt100,000,” Suthin warned, adding that “those who burn their crops near the park and consequentially cause a forest fire will be fined from Bt400,000 to Bt2 million, or imprisoned from four to 20 years, or both”.
Statistics from air quality inspection centres in 14 Northern provinces have shown that particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in the region currently stands at 32-80 micrograms per cubic metre. The country’s safe standard prescribed by the Pollution Control Department (PCD) is 50 micrograms per cubic metre.
The air quality in the North is classified by the PCD as “moderate quality, but starting to affect people’s health”.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has updated the timelines of three Covid-19 patients who were reportedly unwilling on Wednesday to provide personal information, raising eyebrows and anger among the public.
According to earlier information from the capital’s 647th patient, a male singer and actor, he took a birthday cake to a friend at a condominium in Lat Phrao district on January 8 and joined a party at Banyan Tree Hotel that night.
New, added information made clear that he was at home on January 12 when he started to develop a fever. He also had a cough, a sore throat, phlegm and mucus. On January 13, his sense of smell disappeared. A test on January 20 showed he was infected, and he was admitted to hospital.
Bangkok’s 657th patient, a male PR manager, originally stated that he went to a friend’s birthday party on January 16 and returned home, where he stayed from January 17-21.
The new, detailed timeline says that on the afternoon of January 9, he visited The Commons shopping complex in Wattana district. On January 10 he went to the Sa-Ti Handcraft coffee shop in Phaya Thai district. On January 11 and 12 he stayed and worked from home. On the evening of January 12 he visited Tops market at Central Rama 9. On January 14-15, he worked from home. On January 16, he attended a friend’s birthday party at the Renaissance Ratchaprasong Hotel and returned home around midnight. From January 17-19, he worked at home. On January 20 he visited the Laze BKK Café in Phaya Thai district. On January 21 he dined at MK restaurant, Central Rama 9, and on January 22 he went for a check and was found to be infected. He was subsequently hospitalised.
The 658th patient, a male government official, originally said he attended a friend’s birthday party at Banyan Tree Hotel. He did not provide any details about where he stayed or which places he visited from January 10-12 and January 14-21.
The new information provides more details: on January 15 he stayed home in Ratchathewi district and was found to have food poisoning at midnight. On January 16, a friend [who was later confirmed to be infected] came to check up on him. On January 17, he went to Chatuchak Weekend Market at around 5pm. He dined at the Factory Moo-katha [Thai-style BBQ] restaurant in Bang Pho from 6.30pm to 8pm that day. On January 18 he worked at a government office in Pathumwan area, and ate som tam at Nong Ree Joy Ratchayothin from 7.30pm-9pm. On January 19 he again worked at the government office, then went to a hospital to get medicine for a friend. He also had a doctor’s appointment at noon that day, then ate som tam at a street stall from 7pm-7.30pm before heading back to his accommodation. On January 21 he stayed home in Ratchathewi and received news that his friend was infected with Covid-19. He went for a test and was admitted to hospital on January 22 after the results showed he too was infected.
The Royal Thai Police’s Crime Suppression Division will summon Sakulthorn Juangroongruangkit, the younger brother of Progressive Movement leader Thanathorn, to notify him that he has been charged in a corruption case in which a Crown Property Bureau official was reportedly found guilty of accepting Bt20 million in bribes.
Sakulthorn is the chief executive officer of Real Asset Development Ltd. The company allegedly issued a check to the Crown Property Bureau official, who had allowed the firm to rent land without going through the bidding process.
Sakulthorn has been charged with violation of Section 144 of the Criminal Code.
Section 144 stipulates that “whoever gives, offers or agrees to give the property or any other benefit to an official, member of any State Legislative Assembly, member of any Provincial Assembly or member of any Municipal Assembly so as to induce such a person to carry out or not carry out any act, or to delay the doing of any act contrary to one’s own duty, shall be imprisoned for not more than five years or fined not over Bt10,000, or both”.
Crime Suppression Division deputy chief Pol Colonel Nawat Kesarak said that although only Sakulthorn’s signature appeared on the check, the division is considering filing charges against Somporn Juangroongruangkit, his mother, who is reportedly the company’s authorised director.
“This case involves not only a person who issued the check but also the action of the juristic person, or the company,” Nawat said.
Sakulthorn had previously stated that he was deceived by the official, which made him a victim in the case, to which Nawat responded: “A businessman should already know the procedure in renting land.”
The baht opened at 30.01 to the US dollar on Thursday, barely weakening from Wednesday’s close of 29.98.
The Thai currency is likely to move between 29.95 and 30.10 and in line with the dollar, Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.
On Wednesday night, financial markets fluctuated due to several factors – the Covid-19 situation and registered corporation turnovers, which were worse than market expectations, he said.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes decreased by around 2.6 per cent amid investor disappointment over turnover results announced by Facebook and Tesla.
In the EU, the Stoxx 50 index dropped by 1.6 per cent from concern about the dire virus situation in numerous countries, which have clamped lockdowns.
With the market in a risk-off state, the US Ten-Year Treasury yield decreased by 3 basis points to 1 per cent, while the dollar strengthened. Meanwhile, the euro weakened to 1 per 1.2 dollars.
Poon noted the market would continue monitoring US economic data, with observers expecting to see growth in the last quarter.
He also mentioned that the dollar tended to strengthen amid a demand for safe-haven assets and market fluctuations.
Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will allow government agencies, private companies, farmers and the public to apply to grow hemp from January 29 after the Public Health Ministry removed the plant species from the category V narcotics list in November.
According to ministerial regulations, the import of hemp seeds for growing will be allowed within five years after being removed from the narcotics list.
“People can apply to grow hemp for any purpose – commercial, medical, educational, research or for traditional use,” said FDA vice secretary-general Supattra Boonserm.
“Hemp fibre and its oil extract are also allowed for use as material or ingredients in the textile, food and beverage, food supplementary, and cosmetics industries,” she said.
Supattra said candidates must apply in the area in which they wish to grow hemp. Bangkok residents can apply at the FDA’s head office, while residents in other provinces must apply at their provincial public health offices.
“On February 2, the FDA will run an online training course via Facebook Live @FDAThai on how to apply for growing hemp and how to register health-related products made from hemp. For more information, contact tel 02-590-7771-3,” she added.
Online insurance platform gettgo gets Bt200 million in funding from Muang Thai Group
NationalJan 28. 2021Tanat Jakrawatana, managing director of Muang Thai Broker Co Ltd
By The Nation
The board of directors of Muang Thai Group Holding Co Ltd have approved Bt200 million in funding for Muang Thai Broker Co Ltd, the subsidiary operating as an insurance broker under the name of gettgo, Muang Thai Group President and Chief Executive Officer Sara Lamsam said.
The broker aims to reach Bt1 billion in premiums in the next three years.
Explaining the purpose of this funding, Tanat Jakrawatana, managing director of Muang Thai Broker Co Ltd, said the objective was platform development for utmost popularity. This extended beyond purchases as it included sales and learning of financial products such as insurance. gettgo was also developed to be another distribution channel for online insurance products under Muang Thai Group Holding.
In terms of its progress and performance in 2020, gettgo launched a customisable online comparison platform for health and life insurance products, responding to the need of simplicity in the age when being “personalised” is everything. This online insurance platform is a game changer in the health industry, allowing comparison of health insurance for individual purposes. Those interested can try it out at http://gettgo.com/health-insurance.
Tanat also revealed their three-year plan to achieve the target of Bt1 billion premiums.
They include:
1. Add new products and a number of insurance partners on the health and life insurance platform to become the one with product diversity and the most extensive selection in the market. Currently, gettgo has seven partners — Muang Thai Life Assurance, Muang Thai Insurance, Generali Thailand, Cigna Insurance, Falcon Insurance, Manulife Insurance, and Aetna. In 2021, gettgo also aims to seek leading partners in life and health insurance.
2. Initiate development for a smarter health and life insurance platform through the use of aggregator data for product recommendations that are suitable for customers with different needs and profiles. Also, gettgo aims to be the first platform with data of customers’ interests from the entire market, which will result in a smarter search engine for health insurance products and a search journey that is easy, quick, and simply the best.
3. Launch another online insurance platform for insurance brokers in order to provide a tool and crucial reinforcement that can assist and stay by every broker’s side during the shift from offline insurance sales to the online one and for the basis of stable income further.
Tanat said that over the past three years, “gettgo has rapidly grown in every aspect, achieving success as targeted. The number of website users has increased from ten thousand in the beginning to millions in no time. As a result, we are still committed to our ideology of incessant development of the online insurance comparison platform that is simple and convenient for insurance purchases and sales for Thais”.
“Over the past year, we saw that Thai people did not just become more conscious of their health but also paid attention to mitigation of health risks through purchase of health insurance,” Sara said, adding: “When people become health conscious, along with ceaseless growth of the online world, it is most suitable to invest in the development of the health and life insurance comparison platform. Therefore, gettgo is considered an excellent tool that is ready to answer needs in the age when everyone wants to compare for what is best for them”.
gettgo is an online insurance comparison website founded in 2018 under Muang Thai Broker Co Ltd, with the mission to create a platform to accommodate consumer behaviours in the digital age, with the need to compare products by themselves before deciding to purchase them online. gettgo aims to create the experience of comparison and online insurance purchases that are convenient and quick, with simple language and filtered and essential data, without forcing unnecessary coverage on users.
gettgo offers a selection of online insurance, including motor insurance, travel insurance, home insurance, and Covid insurance. Most recently, in the last quarter of 2020, gettgo added health and life insurance products to respond to the increasing trends of health over the past few years.
Kaeng Krachan National Park officials in Phetchaburi have closed the park to the public until February 11 after a confirmed Covid-19 patient was found to have previously spent a few nights there.
“The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration revealed on Tuesday that its 369th confirmed patient is a female who visited the park and camped out there with her friends from January 13 to 15,” park chief Mana Permpool said on Wednesday.
“To ensure the safety of its staff and tourists, the park is closed for 16 days, from January 27 until February 11, following orders from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration,” he said.
“During the closure, the park’s staff will clean and disinfect offices, shops, camping areas, toilets and the tourist service centre,” he added. “All staff working in the park will undergo thermal screening and must strictly follow Covid-19 preventive measures.”
The CCSA classified Phetchaburi province as one of the “highest controlled” areas as it is only 88 kilometres from Samut Sakhon, the hotspot of the new wave of Covid-19.
As of Wednesday, Phetchaburi reported 32 confirmed cases since the new wave was reported in December, with three persons presently undergoing treatment and 29 being cured.
Surat Thani immigration police descended on the “360 Three Sixty Bar” in Koh Pha-ngan district on Tuesday night and promptly arrested the owner and 109 customers – 89 foreigners and 20 Thais – for reportedly violating Covid-19 lockdown measures.
Police swung into action after receiving a tip-off that the bar was holding a party in violation of lockdown rules.
On arriving at the scene, officers found that a party to celebrate the bar’s 5th anniversary was in full swing, with customers happily dancing away and drinking in a crowded space. Each had reportedly paid an entry fee of Bt100.
Police arrested Phongdaran Limocha, aged 40, owner and manager of the bar, and Somsakul Kiatnarong, 47, who worked as server. They also arrested 109 customers.
The owner and server were charged with organising a public gathering in a crowded space that could increase the risk of Covid-19 spreading in a controlled area, opening an entertainment venue and selling alcoholic beverages in violation of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations.
The customers were each charged with participating in a public gathering in a crowded space that could increase the risk of Covid-19 spreading.
Cool-to-cold weather and strong winds are likely over upper Thailand, with a 2-4°C drop in temperature in the North and the Northeast and 1-3°C drop in the Central region, the East, Bangkok and its vicinity as a moderate high pressure system from China and Vietnam extends to cover upper Thailand by Thursday night, the Meteorological Department said.
Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon prevailing over the Gulf and the South is strengthening, resulting in more rain in the South, it added.
Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Cool-to-cold weather with fog in the morning and thick fog in some areas; temperature lows of 14-21 degrees and highs of 32-36 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 4-13 degrees.
Northeast: Cool-to-cold weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 15-21 degrees and highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 9-15 degrees.
Central: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees, highs of 34-36 degrees Celsius.
East: Fog in the morning and isolated rain in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 31-35 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.
South (east coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 32-35 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Fog in the morning with light rain in some areas; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius.
Public anger erupted on Wednesday after it was revealed that three people who caught Covid-19 linked to a celebrity DJ’s birthday party concealed their timelines from authorities. The party held by DJ Matoom (aka Techin Ploypetch) on the January 9 has been dubbed a super-spreader event after it spawned two-dozen infections.
On Wednesday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) revealed three people – identified as cases 647, 657 and 658 – had failed to divulge information on their timings and locations after news broke of infections at the party, held at Banyan Tree Hotel on Sathorn Road. One of those partygoers was identified as a government official.
Case 647 was identified as a singer and actor, who failed to give information on his movements between January 14 and 20 after attending the January 9 party.
Case 657 was identified as a public relations manager, who failed to give information for January 17-21.
Case 658 was identified as a male government official who neglected to give information for January 10-12 and January 14-21. He is thought to have caught Covid-19 at a January 16 party linked with DJ Matoom’s birthday bash. However, he only came forward after he began coughing and took a Covid-19 test.
A fourth new case also concealed information from authorities, said the BMA.
Case 645, a restaurant chef, failed to provide information from January 17-19, but later said he stayed home on those days. His timeline shows he worked at Iconsiam’s CP-Hilai Harbour restaurant on January 5-8 and shopped at Tesco Lotus in the Phasi Charoen area.
Netizens responded to the news with anger on Wednesday, many urging the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to punish people who knowingly conceal their at-risk status.
Tanat Jakrawatana, managing director of Muang Thai Broker Co Ltd
