Royal Thai Navy gets custody of ‘HTMS Chang’, its new China-made warship
THURSDAY, JANUARY 05, 2023
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) on Wednesday organised a ceremony to take custody of its new landing platform dock, “HTMS Chang”, from China.
Navy chief of staff Admiral Thaloengsak Sirisawat ceremony presided over the function at Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding in Shanghai.
Thailand’s third HTMS Chang replaces its second landing platform dock of the same name. The name of the warship is derived from an island in Trat province. The order was placed in September 2019.
The second HTMS Chang, also known as USS Lincoln County, was decommissioned in 2005, 43 years after the United States Navy transferred the ship to the Thai government on August 31, 1962.
The Thai Navy sank the second HTMS Chang at Hin Luk Bat diving site in Trat on November 28, 2012, under a project to recover marine resources there.
This move is also in line with the Navy’s 20-year strategy (2017-2036) to procure four landing platform docks to be used in operations, such as amphibious warfare, marine rescue and disaster relief.
“The Royal Thai Navy has to procure more landing platform docks in order to maximise operational efficiency,” it said.
The third HTMS Chang, 213 metres long and 28 metres at the beam, has maximum displacement of 20,003 tonnes and a speed of 25 knots. The ship can tolerate choppy seas and can accommodate 600 officers. Built at a cost of 6.1 billion baht, the ship will be commissioned at Royal Thai Fleet in Chonburi province.
Phuket officials tell PM they are ready to host expo in 2028
THURSDAY, JANUARY 05, 2023
Executives and members of 19 local administrative organisations from Phuket on Thursday gathered at the province’s city hall in Muang district to submit a letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirming the island province is ready to host the 2028 Specialised Expo.
The gathering was a response to a recent comment by Interior Ministry permanent secretary Suttipong Juljarern who said Phuket was not ready to host the international event and suggested the province withdraw its candidacy.
The letter was accepted by deputy governors Amnuay Pinsuwan and Anuphab Rodkwan, who promised to forward it to Prayut.
Rewat Areerob, president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation, said local officials and communities had been working together over the past several months to prepare for hosting the international expo.
“We submitted the letter because we wanted those in high positions to understand our dedication and readiness to host the 2028 Specialised Expo,” he said.
Phuket residents were sad to hear the disheartening comment from a fellow Thai, especially one who is a senior official, Rewat said.
Thailand launched its bid for Phuket to host the 2028 Specialised Expo in Paris in June last year, highlighting the southern island’s suitability to host the event under the theme “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity”.
Specialised Expos are meant to respond to a specific challenge facing humanity and usually take place between World Expos.
The Bureau of International Exposition will announce the country that will host the 2028 Specialised Expo in June. There are five candidates: the US, Argentina, Serbia, Spain, and Thailand.
In January of last year, the Cabinet approved a budget of 4.18 billion baht for hosting the 2028 Specialised Expo.
More assets of alleged drug kingpin under scrutiny of narcotics control board
THURSDAY, JANUARY 05, 2023
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) plans to confiscate more assets of a drug-dealing network operated by alleged kingpin Chaiyanat “Tuhao” Kornchayanant.
Chaiyanat is a Chinese businessman who was granted Thai citizenship after marrying a senior police officer and is believed to be behind a Chinese triad dealing in drugs and other criminal activities.
After he surrendered on November 23, police raided many sites in Bangkok and other provinces believed to be the bases of Chaiyanat’s alleged network.
ONCB secretary-general Wichai Chaimongkhon said on Thursday that the office had confiscated assets worth 1.2 billion baht from the network so far, thanks to clues provided by the Justice Ministry and former massage parlour tycoon and politician Chuwit Kamolvisit.
He said the ONCB recently found that the network owned more assets worth in excess of 2 billion baht, including real estate in Bangkok and its vicinity.
“The ONCB will investigate such assets while allowing asset owners to clarify the issue,” he said.
He said clues from Chuvit helped facilitate officials’ operation, adding that the ONCB will investigate one of the network’s venues soon.
Chuvit had earlier released a new video clip on his Facebook page, showing network members giving first aid to a Chinese man who suffered from drug overdose at Bangkok’s Jinling nightclub.
He said the video clip was taken from a CCTV camera inside the nightclub, adding that the Chinese man was taken out of the room after he recovered.
He plans to address a press conference on Thursday to introduce the main witness who had seen cash transfers of 20 million to 30 million baht per transaction from China to Thailand.
Chuwit also said the witnesses preferred to meet him, as they did not trust the police.
Curb the craving: Thailand to up tax on sweet drinks, food from April 1
FRIDAY, JANUARY 06, 2023
Sweet, sugary food and beverages will become more expensive from April 1, as the Excise Department will be pushing up the tax again.
Ekniti Nitithanprapas, the department’s director-general, said on Friday that the hike was initially meant to be put in place on October 1 last year, but was postponed by the Cabinet to March 31 this year.
“The Excise Department will launch the third phase of the tax hike in fiscal 2023 in line with the law,” he said.
The first phase of the tax hike ran from September 16, 2017 to September 30, 2019, and the second phase from October 1, 2019 to October 1, 2022.
Under the third phase, from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2025, tax will be levied as follows:
• 0.3 baht/litre for 6-8 grams of sugar
• 1 baht/litre for 8-10g of sugar
• 3 baht/litre for 10-14g
• 5 baht/litre for more than 14g
Thailand began levying heavy taxes on sugary food and beverages in a bid to promote good health and to meet the World Health Organisation’s recommendation to prevent and contain non-communicable diseases.
Average headline inflation in 2022 was the highest in 24 years
THURSDAY, JANUARY 05, 2023
Thailand’s average headline inflation in 2022 hit 6.08 per cent, the highest in 24 years, the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) said on Wednesday.
The inflation rate is still within the 5.5% to 6.5% range forecast by the Commerce Ministry, TPSO director Poonpong Naiyanapakorn said, adding that the last time Thailand’s headline inflation was this high was in 1998 when it rose to 8.1%.
Based on the consumer price index (CPI), headline inflation in December was 5.89% — 0.06% higher than the previous month — due to global energy prices that continued to soar since August, said Poonpong.
Core inflation in December remained the same as in the previous month at 3.23%, while the whole-year average was 2.51%.
The TPSO also reported consumer confidence index (CCI) in December at 50.4%, rising for the first time in 43 months, thanks to the continuing recovery of the domestic economy.
The TPSO forecast headline inflation in 2023 at 2-3% as it expects energy prices to stabilise amid the stagnating global economy. Also contributing to this number is the result of the government’s measures to reduce people’s cost of living.
The National Economic and Social Development Council, however, has predicted inflation in 2023 at 2.5-3.5%, the Bank of Thailand has predicted 3%, the Fiscal Policy Office 2.9%, and Krungsri Research 2.5%.
Invitation for bidding of basic tools under Thailand HCFC Phase-out Management Project Stage II: HPMP
THURSDAY, JANUARY 05, 2023
The Hazardous Substance Management Division of the Department of Industrial Works would like to purchase basic tools as an incentive for each participating service technician under Thailand HCFC Phase-out Management Project Stage II: HPMP, with Reference No.: DIW – HPMP – C2 – G5.
The bidding which will use the procurement budget received from the Multilateral Fund under the Montreal Protocol and disbursement from HPMP Stage II will be procured through the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) Method for 4,560 sets of 4 basic tool items as follows:
1,140 sets of flaring tool and pipe cutter
1,140 sets of manifold gauge
1,140 sets of torque wrench
1,140 sets of vacuum pump
Submission of technical proposals and quotations opens until Monday, January 16th, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Ozone Protection Unit, The Hazardous Substance Management Division, the 5th floor, Room 512, Department of Industrial Works 75/6 Rama VI Road, Thung Phaya Thai Sub-district, Ratchathewi District, Bangkok 10400. The opening of bid envelope will take place on Monday, January 16th, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. onwards.
For further information, please contact 0 2430 6308 ext. 1716 on official days and ozone.thai@diw.mail.go.th or download documents from: https://shorturl.asia/KDstH or scan QR CODE below:
Companies analyze employee sleep quality in efforts to improve productivity
THURSDAY, JANUARY 05, 2023
An increasing number of companies are using sleep-related technologies to improve employees’ sleep quality by making the most of information technology.
Various companies in the IT and other industries have been increasing their promotion of employees’ healthcare, an indicator of corporate value. The issue of sleep length is attracting attention as a problem that can affect productivity inside companies.
Visualizing sleep data
Until December, Rakuten Group Inc. used Suimin Rally (sleep rally), a sleep improvement program provided by Tokyo-based startup NeuroSpace Co. The program aims to use sleep pattern data provided by a smartphone application to improve a person’s sleep quality. In October, Rakuten held a seminar on sleep improvement, which saw 600 employees participate remotely.
NeuroSpace was founded in 2013. Since then, the company has helped to improve sleep for over 20,000 people working at more than 100 companies, including major food companies and a major airline company. Participants in the NeuroSpace program apparently saw better concentration and time management skills, which led to improvements in their productivity.
“Employees’ sleep is a problem that needs to be worked on at companies and in society,” said Takanori Kobayashi, the president of the company.
The use of “Nen ni Ichidono Suimin Shindan Undo” (Once-a-year sleep check movement) is also increasing in various industries. This program is run by several companies, including Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare Co. and T&D Holdings Inc., the parent company of Daido Life Insurance Co. The program also uses a smartphone application to analyze employees’ sleep quality.
Bottom of the table
A growing number of companies are working to improve employees’ sleep quality because they regard it as essential for improving productivity.
According to a survey in 2021 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the average sleeping time in member countries was about eight hours and 30 minutes, whereas Japan was at the bottom of the table with an average of seven hours and 22 minutes. A US research institute has estimated that sleep deprivation causes an annual economic loss of ¥15 trillion.
Other research has shown that companies with higher profit margins have employees that sleep longer. Isamu Yamamoto, a Keio University professor specializing in labour economics, has conducted a survey on about 10,000 company employees and found that there was a difference of between 1.8 and 2.0 percentage points between the profit rate of companies in the top 20% for better sleep time, and that of companies in the bottom 20%.
Various industries involved
Companies from various industries are also joining forces to provide sleep technology.
In November last year, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corp. started selling a sensor developed by Brain Sleep, a startup in Tokyo, to company employees and others. The device, the size of a ¥10 coin which can be worn on the elastic band of pajama pants, checks on sleep levels by measuring how often the wearer rolls over or snores during sleep.
Sleep hours and methods naturally vary from person to person.
“There are problems regarding how far companies can get involved in visualizing the sleep data of an individual,” Yamamoto said. “Sleep technologies are effective as an investment for improving productivity.”
Pichet Klunchun’s new work was both immersive and site-responsive, without claiming so.
It’s already 2023 and that means we’ve been living with the pandemic for three years now. While theatre and dance performances returned last year, slowly and carefully as most took place in small studios. Large venues and commercial theatre producers didn’t want to take any risk and neither did we audiences who became more selective in our choices and careful in our spending, given the current economy.
Immersive performances, or those that claim to be so, became popular and that’s probably because we all want new experiences, especially after spending much time in front of computer screens for two years and provided that we need to risk being in close proximity to those whose health records we don’t know of.
Last month when I first came across a news release about “Take a Walk” on Pichet Klunchun Dance Company, I didn’t know what to expect. Someone even asked on its Facebook page whether the published start time—3:30pm on Fridays and 8am on Saturdays and Sundays—was a typo. It’s actually not. I was especially attracted to the fact that it’d take place at Thonburirom Park which, living 30 kilometers away, I’d heard of yet never visited. Just like the fact that many of us had (re)discovered many places in our neighborhoods, cities and country during the pandemic, my partner and I arrived in the neighborhood near King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), and not far from the company’s studio and playhouse, a few hours early on the work’s first Friday afternoon to enjoy Khao Soi lunch at a local restaurant and coffee at a local café, both randomly suggested to us by internet algorithms. In other words, for this work that takes place at a specific place and time and in our presence, our new experience that we crave for started even before the work itself.
At the meeting point, the park’s flagpole, we’re given instructions. e.g. that the whole experience would last about 90 minutes and we could take a break from and rejoin it at any time etc., and asked to sign our names on two company members’ T-shirts. Shortly afterwards, the internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer showed up and started his, and our, “Take a Walk”, literally leading us on a walk around the shady and peaceful park. At the beginning, there were three of us— audiences, participants or walking partners, if you may—but a few dozens of steps in, a young woman in black attire decided to quit for an unknown reason. Two company members could be easily spotted with their computer notebooks showing either the time lapse or the distance we’d walked. Another two were following at a distance behind us, perhaps making sure that an overweight walker wouldn’t faint.
After two rounds, or a little over two kilometers, my partner and I decided to take turn for the remaining rounds. In fact, the fifth round included a break when the artist sat down under a tree and discussed this work with us. Among others, he revealed that this park was where he, and his company members, had been coming to do their morning exercises for the past 10 years, and for them walking was better for their health than running. He noted that the start time of “Take a Walk” was in consideration of the number of people in the park and the consequent available parking space. Also, music from a public radio channel was turned on from 4 to 5pm, which added to our experience. Pichet added that this was a chance for us taxpayers to monitor how our taxes had been spent on park maintenance. Seeing us off at the parking lot and seeing my physical condition at the time, the artist recommended a nearby seafood restaurant.
Having recently lost my mother from previously undiagnosed heart failure, I’ve paid more attention to my health and after “Take a Walk” manage to maintain my step count way above that of WHO standard for a few consecutive days. The whole experience also made me think of a junior friend who’s writing his PhD dissertation in London and known to his Thai peers there not only for his thoughtfulness but also 20,000-step routine which has been benefiting both his health and perspective on the city. A conceptual work in which each participant had a different experience, interpretation and takeaway from it, “Take a Walk” was both immersive and site-responsive—in this case, the artist carefully chose the site and the time and didn’t have any control over other factors, like the weather and others who’re walking and running in the park and their conversation we overheard. It’s very different from just sitting in a comfortable seat in a playhouse while enjoying a performance and understanding messages the artist wants to convey. After all, it’s perhaps the pandemic that makes us rethink and reconsider how we do things in life.
After Bangkok, the Silpathorn Award laureate took this unique work to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Nakhon Sawan. He said that he’d also stage it overseas when and where the company performs other works.
Next Wednesday (January 11) at 7pm, Pichet will join Janaprakal “Khru Chang” Chandruang, National Artist in Performing Arts, in an English-language online forum titled “Blurring Boundaries Between Tradition and Modernity: Practices of Contemporary Thai Performing Artists”, organized by the Hong Kong national section of International Association of Theatre Critics (IATC). Free registration is open now at https://www.iatc.com.hk/doc/107017
From January 27 to 29, Pichet Klunchun Dance Company’s “Evolution” is at Thammasat Playhouse, on the Rangsit campus in Pathumthani province. Tickets are Bt 400 (Bt 200 for students) and free for Thammasat University students and staff, now available at https://www.ticketmelon.com/tutheatre/evolution.
Rich enough to ‘flex’ but not enough to pay taxes, apparently
THURSDAY, JANUARY 05, 2023
The South Korean national health insurance operator’s list of heavy defaulters – those whose overdue premiums payments exceed 10 million won ($7,833) – includes self-styled “rich” rapper Dok2. He has failed to pay 16.6 million won from 2018 to 2019, it showed.
The revelation came just a month after the National Tax Service made public the same rapper’s overdue balance of 320 million won in taxes. When this was disclosed, Dok2 posted promotional images of his upcoming album on Instagram, with no mention of his tax arrears.
The National Health Insurance Service did not reveal how the amount of Dok2’s unpaid premiums changed after 2019. But since it removes the names of those whose overdue payments fall below 10 million won, Dok2’s name on the list means he still owes at least 10 million won to the NHIS as of 2023.
While the musician himself has remained silent on the situation, the public has been vocal about the apparent irony of a man who famously bragged about his wealth in his songs and public appearances.
The case of Dok2 adds to a string of controversies surrounding celebrities and social media influencers who earned fame by showing off their riches in what is called the “flex culture.”
‘Flex’ and hip-hop
In his song “1LLIN,” Dok2 raps: “Get money, get dough/Get paper, let’s get more.”
The irony of the current situation is that Dok2 has been the poster child of a lavish spending culture among younger Koreans. In the past, he revealed on TV that he has stacks of 50,000 won bills at his home and held a performance in which he scattered 10,000 won bills to his fans during his 2019 concert.
Among Koreans, boasting one’s wealth through lavish conspicuous consumption is widely called “flexing,” a narrow application of the original US slang term that means showing off one’s physique, belongings, or anything considered valuable. Flexing is often seen as an attempt to signal that one is superior to others through such traits or belongings.
Its popularity grew in the country with frequent uses from local rappers including Giriboy and Yumdda, the former of whom released a song named “flex” in 2018.
Korean rappers have not been shy about demonstrating their spending habits. Dok2 has said on TV that he bought a Bentley and a Ferrari for his birthday, while another rapper called Yumdda posted a YouTube video of himself spending 40 million won in a single day.
Less glamorous side of flexing
The flex culture has taken off as a sociocultural phenomenon, not just here, but abroad.
Celebrities, influencers and even ordinary people gain large followings on social media by showing off designer clothes, expensive homes and luxurious overseas vacations.
But this has not been without some adverse effects.
Appearing on TV, Korean rapper Sleepy shared how he felt pressured to flex, despite his financial limitations.
A 2018 episode of the KBS show “Kim Saeng-min’s Receipt” showed unpaid bills piled up at the rapper’s rented home, whose luxury car was given by a friend and his expensive watch had stopped working. The musician revealed that he had only 70,000 won left in his bank account.
“That was when rappers had to flex. I felt pressure to post (photos of) brand new (luxury) items on social media,” he said, adding that he had changed his ways since then. He stopped buying brand-name products and worked part-time jobs to save up.
Last year, a YouTuber named Song Ji-ah with over 2 million subscribers was embroiled in a controversy after it was revealed that many of the designer-label clothes and accessories that she wore in her videos which she claimed to be authentic turned out to be fake.
Lim Myung-ho, professor of psychology and psychotherapy at Dankook University, said watching someone flex allows viewers a vicarious experience. “Many people have the desire to be rich, and (watching these videos) is a way of circumventing such desires,” he said.
A survey last year by local school uniform brand Smart of 783 middle and high school students found that nearly half — 46 % — of them have bought brand-name products, with the leading causes being that they “saw celebrities use it” and “didn’t want to be left out among friends.”
On Dok2’s tax and health insurance arrears, internet users left some scathing remarks.
“I thought this was a man who boasted about his cars and money on TV,” wrote one commenter on a news article about Dok2 being accused by the NTS of not paying taxes.
“Celebrities who don’t pay taxes (…) It’s our (the public’s) money that makes them rich. Paying taxes is the least they can do to give back to society,” wrote another.
“Fujifilm Healthcare Asia Pacific” Unveils Comprehensive Line-Up of Cutting-Edge Healthcare Solutions
THURSDAY, JANUARY 05, 2023
FUJIFILM Healthcare Asia Pacific unveiled an expanded portfolio of digital healthcare solutions empowered by advanced medical image processing and AI.
The state-of-the-art solution leverages Fujifilm’s unrivaled expertise and experience of over 80 years in the medical and healthcare business, with the aim to innovate better healthcare and improve the quality of life.
Esnu Halim, Senior Clinical Marketing Manager, said, “As a leading one-stop, total healthcare solution provider, Fujifilm marked its first steps into the medical and healthcare business in 1936 with the launch of our world-renowned X-ray film. Later in 1983, Fuji Computed Radiology (FCR), the first digital radiography system in the world, was released.
“As we move forward into the 21st century, digital medical imaging technology has become a big part of facilitating clinicians to achieve more accurate and efficient medical diagnoses. This advanced technology helps elevate the healthcare industry and enhance the quality of life for people around the world.
“From that point, Fujifilm continued its innovation journey to shape the future of healthcare. Our acquisition of Hitachi Healthcare in 2021 to set up Fujifilm Healthcare Corporation further solidifies Fujifilm’s position as a total healthcare solution provider.
Esnu Halim
“Moreover, to penetrate the healthcare business in Southeast Asia, FUJIFILM Asia Pacific’s Medical Product Business was integrated into FUJIFILM Healthcare Asia Pacific (HCAP) in October 2022.
“With the new company, Fujifilm is forging ahead to provide a more comprehensive lineup of products including digital X-ray, MRI and CT scans, ultrasound systems, endoscopy, and mammography as well as a medical IT system called “Synapse” empowered by REiLI, Fujifilm’s own AI platform.
“The upgraded portfolio of diagnostic products and services supports wide-ranging applications and enables accurate and timely diagnoses.”, Halim said.
Among Fujifilm’s innovation highlights was the portable X-ray unit “FDR Xair” that supports various outreach medical screening services. FDR Xair, which weighs about 3.5 kilograms, is easy to carry and operate.
The portable device is ideal for out-of-hospital health visits for patients in remote areas.
“FDR Xair is a lightweight, portable, yet powerful X-ray unit. It is built for operations in remote settings.
When used in combination with digital radiography FDR D-EVO II equipped with Virtual Grid image-processing technology, the system offers higher-resolution images.
Fujifilm’s REiLI Artificial Intelligence platform integrated into the device also helps optimize diagnostic workflow for the entire organization, improving outcomes for patients, even those living in rural areas.
“With the powerful FDR Xair, Fujifilm successfully conducted tuberculosis (TB) screenings among hard-to-reach populations in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Bangladesh, helping medical workers find more TB cases and ensure the patients receive timely care,” added Halim.
Another innovation created to improve diagnostic procedures is FDR Cross, a portable, digital X-ray solution that delivers high-resolution images.
Built for a wide range of settings, FDR Cross flaunts a space-saving design and weighs only 90 kilograms, compared to traditional mobile X-ray equipment’s average weight of 500 kilograms. Superior mobility is helpful when moving the equipment across different rooms and hospital units.
The dual-function FDR Cross offers both Fluoroscopy, real-time X-ray imaging, and Digital Radiography systems in one single platform. The portable X-ray cart system also comes with a smart wireless network that can quickly send images to the system.
“Already implemented in hospitals in Hong Kong, FDR Cross has been proven to efficiently ease the burden of medical staff, thanks to its 2-in-1 functionality. Designed with extra convenience with easy usage for medical workers in mind, Fujifilm’s FDR Cross is one of our latest innovations that help solve social issues,” stated Halim.
Esnu Halim
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