Motorists who register for M-Flow payment system get 20% toll fee reduction
MONDAY, JANUARY 02, 2023
The Highways Departments is offering a 20% discount on toll fees from January 5 to February 4 for motorists who register for the M-Flow payment system. The privilege is capped at 1.5 million motorists.
The move stems from a Cabinet resolution on December 20, asking government agencies to offer so-called “New Year gifts” to the tax-paying public.
High Department director-general Sarawut Songsivilai said on Monday that M-Flow registrations were still rising after the new payment system was introduced at the start of last year.
He added that the system was convenient to use and also helped reduce congestion at toll booths.
To register for the discount, visit www.mflowthai.com, the MFlowThai smartphone app or @mflowthai Line official account, or contact the department’s call centre at 1586 ext 1.
Transport Ministry to investigate SRT’s expensive signboard project
TUESDAY, JANUARY 03, 2023
The Transport Ministry is looking into the 33.16 million project to change signboards in Bangkok’s Bang Sue Station, which has sparked criticism among netizens.
Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said on Tuesday that he has instructed his ministry’s permanent secretary to look into the project.
The project first came to public notice when Unique Engineering and Construction wrote to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) on December 29 saying it has signed a contract with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) for the project.
The project includes replacing the station’s main signboard with one that reads “Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal” and putting up the SRT emblem.
Before attending the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Saksayam told the press that the permanent secretary has been told to check if the budget matches the job done.
“The station’s signboard needs to be specially made,” he said, adding that there are many signboards that need changing.
He said he expects the investigation to be completed within seven days.
“Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal”, granted by His Majesty the King in September 2022, is the official name for Bang Sue Grand Station.
The King also named SRT’s red and dark red lines “Nakhon Withi” and “Thani Ratthaya”, respectively.
The 15-billion-baht grand station opened in November 2021 and began serving passengers of SRT’s two red lines. It is the largest railway station in Southeast Asia, with 26 platforms and 274,000 square metres of usable floor space.
The station also features an underground parking lot for up to 1,700 cars as well as state-of-the-art facilities, clean toilets and fully airconditioned waiting rooms.
Khao Yai tops list of favourite getaways for nature lovers this New Year’s
TUESDAY, JANUARY 03, 2023
Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima was the most favourite getaway spot in Thailand for eco-tourists this New Year’s break.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) said in a Facebook post on Monday that national parks across the country welcomed 554,345 visitors from December 30 to January 2, generating 17.70 million baht in revenue.
“Khao Yai is still the most popular, attracting 18,132 visitors,” the post read.
The five national parks that attracted the most visitors during this New Year break were:
TCEB and THAI Form Marketing Collaboration Attracting MICE Travellers from Asia & Europe
TUESDAY, JANUARY 03, 2023
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) sign a deal on 2023 marketing collaboration through trade shows and road shows.
The target is quality meeting and incentive travellers from Asia and Europe. The two parties expect the collaboration will attract at least 500,000 travellers and generate 33 billion baht in revenue.
The collaboration between TCEB and THAI is aimed at promoting Thailand as a preferred meeting and incentive travel (MI) destination, both quantitatively and qualitatively, for corporate markets and, thus, driving the national economy along with the development of the MI sector. The two parties will involve in joint marketing to create new business opportunities and international markets.
Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), stated that “TCEB and THAI will join hands to promote MICE industry in 2023. We will focus first on the overseas market of meetings and incentive travel. This sector has been a huge market source of travellers for Thailand since the middle of this year. Our targets are both short-haul market in the Asia Pacific region and long-haul one in Europe. The particular focus is the markets where THAI and THAI Smile Airways operate flight services, for example, Europe, India, Australia, Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar. The collaboration will also entail forming partnerships to support other key MICE events. It is expected that the collaboration will create confidence and incentives and make it easier for travellers to choose Thailand”.
Korakot Chatasingha, THAI Chief Commercial Officer, stated that “THAI and TCEB are preparing next year’s plan to boost and promote Thailand as a meeting destination for corporate clients. It will build confidence and trust among MICE travellers in selecting Thailand because the services of THAI and THAI Smile Airways are covering global routes due to their Star Alliance network. This means more convenience for holding meetings in Thailand. In order that THAI and TCEB are aligned with each other in travel promotion, a collaboration deal has been signed today to promote and support MICE industry in 2023”.
In this connection, TCEB and THAI will be involved in pro-active marketing activities whether they are trade shows and road shows in key markets or other kinds of activities throughout 2023. The major global trade shows for meetings and incentive travel sector are IMEX Frankfurt 2023 in May in Germany, IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific 2023 in September in Thailand, IMEX America 2023 in October in the US and IBTM World 2023 in November in Spain.
For the road shows, the first target is the CLMV group comprising Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam. These markets, particularly Cambodia and Vietnam, show signs of a speedy recovery. In response to the assessment of the potential market conducted jointly with industry stakeholders, it is found that Australia is a high-spending market, thus, the planned road shows in Sydney and Melbourne in May.
More proactive marketing activities are in the pipeline for TCEB overseas representatives to tap into India, Singapore, Europe and UK, while plans for China are prepared for immediate action once the circumstances permit. Currently, TCEB has overseas representatives in 7 potential markets – Australia, UK and Europe, North America, India, Singapore, Japan and China. Sale calls and business networking activities are undertaken to keep the clients in these markets updated on Thailand.
TCEB and THAI are confident that the collaboration will help revive the meetings and incentive travel markets to achieve 60% growth when compared to the year 2019. Based on the projected growth figure, an estimated 500,000 travellers generating 33 billion baht in revenue is expected. In line with the prospect, TCEB and THAI are designing new campaigns for 2023 to help speed up Thai MICE industry to return to normalcy as soon as possible.
TikTok videos of nurses in hospital partying with alcohol sparks probe
TUESDAY, JANUARY 03, 2023
The Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council (TNMC) has launched an investigation after video clips of nurses partying and drinking alcohol at an unidentified hospital went viral.
The TNMC announced on Monday that it has appointed provincial officials to investigate the case urgently.
The council took action after three TikTok clips of nurses enjoying a party where alcoholic drinks were served went viral among netizens earlier on Monday. The clips show a nurse pouring out what appears to be whisky into plastic cups. Another nurse is pictured swigging beer from a bottle. Her colleagues also dance for the camera as they party in what seems to be a nurses’ break room.
At least one clip appears with the message, “We want some relaxation during our Christmas party”.
The videos were quickly deleted, but netizens had already copied and shared them.
Nong Bua Lamphu nursery to reopen on Wednesday, 3 months after attack
TUESDAY, JANUARY 03, 2023
The Nong Bua Lamphu nursery at the centre of Thailand’s worst-ever mass killing will reopen on Wednesday, three months after the atrocity.
Sacked policeman Panya Khamrab used a knife and gun to kill 36 people on October 6 before committing suicide. Most of those who perished in the attack were toddlers attending the Uthai Sawan nursery in Na Klang district of the Northeast province.
Today, nine monks will perform a religious ceremony at the nursery to make merit for the children lost in the attack. The nursery will then reopen on Wednesday, said its chief Nanthicha Punchum.
She explained that the nursery will temporarily relocate to a classroom in nearby Ban Nong Kung Srisompho School as parents do not want to send their children to the premises where the attack took place. The centre has asked the province for a budget to build a new nursery, she said.
Nanthicha said the nursery staff have prepared 68 sets of children’s clothes, gym outfits, shoes, socks, backpacks and mattresses, to be handed out free of charge to the first class of toddlers on Wednesday.
The centre will also transport the children to and from their homes in a school van to prevent any accidents or unexpected events, she added.
Two suspects in Narathiwat police residential building attack arrested
MONDAY, JANUARY 02, 2023
Two of nine suspects allegedly involved in the deadly car bomb attack on a police residential building in Narathiwat have been arrested, prompting the National Police chief to fly to the province.
During the urgent press conference at 11am on Monday, Police Commissioner Pol General Damrongsak Kittiprapas did not state when the two suspects were arrested but only revealed that the Narathiwat court had approved arrest warrants for nine suspects of whom two had been arrested.
The two arrested suspects were identified as Abdulmubin Lateh and Usman Sani.
Seven other suspects wanted for the car bomb attack on the police residential building in Narathiwat’s Muang district on November 22 were identified as Hasbuloh Sani, Abdulmathin Maha, Abdulhafish Duereh, Wari Sapadi, Isal Saleh, Saipurusman Maha, and Muhamadhafish Jehduerameh.
The attack killed one policeman, injured 25 policemen and their family members living in the building, and damaged 70 apartment rooms.
Damrongsak told the press conference that police investigators had tracked down the record of the black Isuzu pickup truck, in which the the deadly homemade bomb was hidden, and found that it had been sold and resold since 2021.
Damrongsak said it was owned by a woman, Saina, who put it up for sale on a Facebook page. She sold it to two men on November 5 in Tambon Kaluwoh in Muang district.
Damrongsak said one of the two men who came to buy the pickup was Hasbuloh, who is among the seven absconding suspects.
Damrongsak said investigators had checked security camera feeds, which revealed that the nine suspects had travelled from Tak Bai district in six vehicles. Five of the vehicles have been seized.
The feeds from security cameras had helped police arrest the two suspects. The National Police chief claimed that the two suspects had admitted to collaborating with the seven others to launch the bomb attack.
Speaking at the same press conference, Damrongsak said investigations into the second case of bomb attack – the double railway attacks in Songkhla province – had made good progress.
In the second case, Muslim insurgents planted a bomb on the railway tracks between Klong Ngeh station and Padang Besar station in Songkhla’s Sadao district. The explosion on December 3 had led to the derailment of a freight train.
Then on December 6, the same group of insurgents allegedly detonated a second bomb when railway officials were trying to salvage the derailed train and fix the damaged tracks. The explosion killed three railway workers and injured four others.
Damrongsak told the press conference that the double attacks were similar to attacks carried out by a group led by Asman Pohlor in 2021.
He said police had arrested a man, Jirasak Pengloh, with four guns in Songkhla’s Chana district on February 3 last year. Jirasak had reportedly told police that he was ordered by Asman to monitor the railways for carrying out bomb attacks, so police had obtained an arrest warrant for Asman.
Damrongsak admitted that police had been tipped off about the attacks on the railway, but the double attacks in December had still occurred.
Jirasak also told police that some 17 insurgents of his group were operating in four districts of Songkhla, but two had been arrested, four killed and the rest were absconding.
Damrongsak added a witness had told police that he had talked to Asman and two other suspects near the railway station on December 3 and about 30 minutes after the three suspects had ridden away on their motorcycles, the bomb had exploded.
Traffic slows on Bangkok-bound Mittraphap Road as rush to return begins after holidays
MONDAY, JANUARY 02, 2023
The section of Mittraphap Road passing through Nakhon Ratchasima province started to witness long lines of vehicles late on Monday morning as a lot of motorists started driving back to work in Bangkok and nearby provinces.
Monday, the last official holiday, saw a lot of motorists driving on the Bangkok-bound Mittraphap Road.
Long lines of vehicles were seen at all major intersections in Nakhon Ratchasima, including the Sida intersection in Sida district, the Ban Wat intersection in None Sung district and the Ban Pho intersection in Muang district.
Traffic was still flowing but at a slow speed.
Traffic police expected more motorists from other northeastern provinces to join the exodus back to work on Mittraphap, the main gateway to the Northeast later on Monday, so the police would monitor the traffic situation throughout the day and might turn an opposite lane into an extra Bangkok-bound lane.
Meanwhile, railway stations in northeastern provinces also reported huge numbers of passengers coming to use train services to travel back to Bangkok.
A lot of passengers were heading to Buri Ram railway station since Monday morning.
Prawit Pungsawat, chief of the Buri Ram railway station, said that train tickets from Buri Ram to Bangkok have been fully booked until Wednesday. The State Railway of Thailand is running an extra train a day to facilitate return to Bangkok for those who have not booked their tickets, he said.
Fewer Covid-19 hospitalisations, deaths during Christmas week: DDC
MONDAY, JANUARY 02, 2023
As many as 2,111 Covid-19 patients were admitted to hospital and 75 succumbed in the last week of 2022, a drop from 2,900 admitted and 89 deaths the week before.
The Department of Disease Control (DDC) said on Monday that about 302 people per day had to be hospitalised for severe symptoms in the week of December 25-31, compared to 414 daily average in the week of December 18 to 24.
The average daily death rate from Covid in the week of December 25-31 was 10, compared to 12 per day the previous week, the department added.
The total Covid-19 death toll from January 1 to December 31 last year came in at 11,971, the department said.
As for patients currently in hospital, the department said 529 are being treated for lung infection from Covid, while 352 are on ventilators.
As of December 31, 144.27 million doses of Covid vaccines have been administered in Thailand, of which 57.16 million were first doses, 53.64 million second doses and the rest third or more doses.
Thailand’s ‘7 dangerous days’ road toll rises to 218, with 66 deaths on New Year’s Day
MONDAY, JANUARY 02, 2023
Road accidents on Sunday claimed 66 lives, bringing the total death toll in the first four of the so-called “7 dangerous days” to 218, the Road Safety Centre announced on Monday.
Boontham Lertsukhikasem, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department and secretary-general of the centre, told the press that 478 road accidents had occurred on New Year’s Day on Sunday, in which 465 people were injured and 66 killed.
The centre has been monitoring road accidents since December 29 and will keep a close eye on roads until January 4, when the New Year break wraps up.
The centre has been holding a daily press conference to provide updates on road casualties to remind travellers to be more careful.
Here is what happened on Thai roads on Sunday:
Top causes of accidents
• Speeding: 37.03%
• Drunk driving: 33.26%
Vehicle type with the most accidents
• Motorcycles: 88.02%
Where most accidents took place
• Straight roads: 79.50%
Location of most accidents
• Highways: 38.49%
• Village roads: 32.22%
Time of most accidents
• 00.01-01.00: 15.69%
Age-range of most casualties
• 20-29: 23.54%
Boontham said relevant agencies have taken steps to reduce road accidents. On Sunday, a total of 55,851 officials were deployed to man 1,887 road checkpoints nationwide.
On Sunday alone, 401,164 vehicles were stopped, and legal action was taken against 59,862 motorists and motorcyclists.
Of those facing legal action, 16,696 will be charged for driving without a licence, 16,070 for riding motorbikes without a helmet and 7,109 for breaking the speed limit among others.
Songkhla had the highest number of road accidents with 27 recorded on Sunday and has the highest number of injuries at 31.
Meanwhile, Mae Hong Son, Sa Kaew, and Surat Thani had the highest number of deaths at four each on Sunday.
Boontham said the total number of road accidents in the first four days came in at 1,664, with 1,647 people injured and 218 killed.
Over the past four days, Surat Thani has had the highest number of road accidents with 56, Sakon Nakhon the highest number of injured victims at 57 and Chiang Rai the highest number of road deaths at 12.
Boontham said the centre expects thousands of people to drive back on Monday, the last day of the official holidays, so it has instructed provincial authorities to coordinate and monitor the traffic – especially on alternate routes.
He said motorists usually speed on alternative roads because the traffic is generally lighter.
The centre has also advised motorists to take a break from driving every hour or so and stop driving if they feel tired or sleepy.
Boontham added that officials will stop vehicles often to check the physical state of drivers.
The attack killed one policeman, injured 25 policemen and their family members living in the building, and damaged 70 apartment rooms.
Damrongsak said investigators had checked security camera feeds, which revealed that the nine suspects had travelled from Tak Bai district in six vehicles. Five of the vehicles have been seized.
In the second case, Muslim insurgents planted a bomb on the railway tracks between Klong Ngeh station and Padang Besar station in Songkhla’s Sadao district. The explosion on December 3 had led to the derailment of a freight train.
Prawit Pungsawat, chief of the Buri Ram railway station, said that train tickets from Buri Ram to Bangkok have been fully booked until Wednesday. The State Railway of Thailand is running an extra train a day to facilitate return to Bangkok for those who have not booked their tickets, he said.
Boontham said relevant agencies have taken steps to reduce road accidents. On Sunday, a total of 55,851 officials were deployed to man 1,887 road checkpoints nationwide.
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