#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40021933

Democrat MP calls for probe into alleged bribery in selecting House caterer

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022

Democrat MP Rangsima Rodrasamee on Thursday called on Parliament President Chuan Leekpai to order an investigation into alleged bribery against a House committee tasked with selecting the food caterer for parliamentarians on their meeting days.

Rangsima said that if the allegation was true, anyone involved with bribery must be punished because they are damaging Parliament’s image.
A member of the selection committee, Rangsima maintained that she had never been lobbied and she did not know who had been lobbied. She said the caterer should be selected based on the quality and taste of food and hygiene.
The MP was responding to an allegation by fellow-Democrat, Watchara Petthong, who had claimed that the selection of food caterer was mired in lobbying and kickbacks.
Rangsima, a representative from Samut Songkhram province, voiced her opposition to calling a new round of bidding to get a new caterer. She said that if bribery was found, catering service for parliamentarians should be completely cancelled as it was “a big waste of the state budget”.

The MP suggested that MPs should instead be given cash cards to buy their meals at the Parliament’s food court. “They can select any food they like, and no particular food shop is favoured. Also, unspent money can be returned to the state,” she said.
Rangsima noted that using catering services costs 1,000 baht for each MP, or about 500,000 baht for each of their meeting days, whether all of the MPs attend the meeting or not. On the days when House meetings were abruptly adjourned due to a lack of quorum, the prepared dinner was often given away to charity, she said.
“House meetings collapse more often now as the House of Representatives is approaching the end of its term,” the MP added.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40021931

Thailand’s oldest political party reeling from possible defections of MPs

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022

A Democrat Party deputy leader on Thursday said the party might be hit by mass defections of its MPs ahead of the general election next year.

Speaking to reporters at Parliament, Satit Pitutacha admitted that speculation about many Democrat MPs bolting the party had eroded public confidence in Thailand’s oldest political party.

He said the Democrat executive board must take urgent measures to address the speculation on mass defections.

Asked whether the executive board would hold meetings with MPs to prevent them from resigning, Satit replied: “If our people leave, the executives must ponder why.”

But Satit declined to confirm the speculation that Democrat MPs would quit to join the newly-established Ruam Thai Sang Chart (RTSC) Party, which was reportedly formed as a political vehicle for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to retain his PM’s seat after the next general election.

“The information is still not clear,” Satit said.

On Thursday, during a House meeting, Boonthida Somchai (Democrat-Ubon Ratchathani) was seen walking from seats of Democrat MPs to stand among Bhumjaithai MPs when she debated on the flood situation in Ubon Ratchathani province.

Boonthida was among MPs who, it is being speculated, will leave the party, reportedly to join the Bhumjaithai.

When she walked to stand among Bhumjaithai MPs before she debated, a parliamentary official walked after her and placed the Democrat sign in front of her. She laughed seeing the act but did not introduce herself as a Democrat MP when she started the debate.

As per the law, MPs cannot leave their parties without losing House seats, so it is expected that those who plan to switch parties would quit shortly before the election and join a new party to be eligible to run as the new party’s candidates.

The Election Commission has tentatively selected May 7 next year as the election date if the House is not dissolved earlier and it completes its term as scheduled in March.

While active MPs have not quit the Democrat, over 20 former MPs have left the party since the 2019 election. The latest resignation was of veteran Democrat member Trairong Suwannakhiri, who was reported to join the RRSC later. Trairong quit the Democrat on October 27.

RTSC leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga himself quit the Democrat in April before he was elected RTSC leader in early August.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40021928

Doctor joins forces with opposition MPs to seek court ruling against decriminalising marijuana

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022

A leading doctor and MPs from five opposition parties on Thursday filed a lawsuit with the Central Administrative Court seeking to nullify a directive of the Public Health Ministry that decriminalises marijuana.

The lawsuit filed by Smith Srisont, a member of the Medical Council and president of the Forensic Physician Association of Thailand, named Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the Narcotics Control Board (NCB) as co-defendants.

The lawsuit was co-filed by Pheu Thai party-list MP Sutin Klungsang, Tawe Sodsong, secretary-general of Prachachart Party, Move Forward party-list MP Nattawut Buaprathum, Virt Varotsirin, deputy Seri Ruam Thai Party leader, Nikhom Boonvises, leader of Palang Puangchon Chao Thai party.

The lawsuit asked the court to nullify the Public Health Ministry’s directive dated February 8, 2022 that removed marijuana from the list of Category 5 Narcotics.

The lawsuit urged the court to revoke the directive with retroactive effect and also asked the court to put marijuana back on the list of Category 5 Narcotics in accordance with the ministry’s directive dated December 8, 2020.

The February 8 directive took effect from early September and decriminalised marijuana despite criticism by doctors who feared youths would abuse the plant as a drug in the absence of any law to govern its use.

Anutin issued the directive in accordance with his party’s 2019 election manifesto that the Bhumjaithai would decriminalise marijuana so that ganja could be used for medical and economic purposes.

The lawsuit also asked the court to issue an junction suspending the enforcement of the February 8 directive pending a court ruling.

The lawsuit alleged that the public health minister and the NCB had acted with dishonesty and without prudence to remove marijuana from the narcotics list.

The lawsuit reasoned that the directive was announced without any law in place to control the use of marijuana and to protect consumers from abuse of the plant.

The suit alleged that the directive violated the government’s platforms delivered to Parliament that it would seriously address drug issues by strictly enforcing the law and cracking down on narcotics production and suppressing drug traffickers.

The plaintiffs said in the lawsuit that the directive failed to state clearly that the decriminalising of marijuana was for medical purpose so the directive was unlawful and added too much burden on the people to protect themselves.

Speaking to reporters after filing the suit, Smith said he and opposition MPs were not against the use of marijuana for medical purpose.

He said marijuana could still be used for medical purpose without the February 8 directive.

“We simply want the directive to be revoked until the Public Health Ministry and government agencies concerned have a law in place to control marijuana and protect consumers from the use of the plant,” Smith said.

“Now, the government cannot control the abuse of marijuana by children and youths and several communities have abused it openly, causing long-term issues for the Thai society.”

So far, the Public Health Ministry’s bill on hemp and marijuana has not passed the second and third readings in the House because the opposition and coalition partner Democrat Party voted to send the draft back to be reviewed by a special panel that has vetted the bill.

Related stories:

Health issues caused by marijuana on the rise in Bangkok

Thais generally against regulated use of marijuana, poll finds

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40021902

MP Thamanat: I am not connected to any Chinese involved in shady business

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022

Phayao MP Captain Thamanat Prompow insisted he has no connection with a group of Chinese investors who are believed to be behind shady businesses in Thailand, including illegal casinos and gambling dens.

In an audio clip released on Thursday, Thamanat, former deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives minister, was responding to media rumours that he has “close ties” with the Chinese investors.

“This year I turned 58. I have travelled to several countries and made acquaintances with people from various nationalities, including Westerners, Chinese, Indian and more,” said the MP from the Thai Economic Party.

“I was also engaged in different businesses before becoming a politician. However, I have never conducted any shady business with Chinese investors,” Thamanat maintained.

Thamanat said as a politician he is ready to be investigated as per the law’s requirements.

He asked the media not to associate him with shady individuals without proof, as it would only hurt his reputation. Instead, the media should focus on presenting news that benefit the public and is fair to all involved, he said.

“It’s better to present news based on verified information than to be later sued in court,” Thamanat warned, adding that he has recorded all evidence of possible defamation against him.

The news of shady Chinese investors caught media attention after a police crackdown on a drug party in Bangkok’s Sathorn area last month, with more than 200 Chinese nationals being arrested.

The so-called restaurant/karaoke joint is now being investigated for involvement in drug trafficking and money-laundering operations possibly being run by foreign gangs.

Related Stories

237 Chinese nationals arrested as police raid alleged drug party at Bangkok restaurant

Nothing illegal is happening in pubs and bars on Walking Street, say Pattaya police

Thammanat ousted from govt after ‘plot’ against PM

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40021833

‘Not yet’, says Prayut in answer to leaving PPRP

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 08, 2022

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha would not deny or confirm speculation that he is leaving the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) to join Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party.

“Not yet, not moving yet,” Prayut said when reporters asked on Tuesday if the speculation was distracting him from his work at the weekly Cabinet meeting.

On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan announced that he would not stop Prayut if he and some PPRP MPs defected to Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party.

Prawit was approached for comments following speculation that the two generals had discussed a strategy to try and retain power after the next general election by getting Prayut to lead another party and increasing the chance of winning more House seats.

Reporters on the Government House beat also asked Prayut about the supposed “dividing to fight” from other parties strategy, to which the PM said: “Nothing happened. I have no answer.”

Prayut would only confirm that he is joining Prawit this evening (November  to celebrate Loy Krathong.

Earlier, Ruam Thai Sang Chart leader Pirapan Salirathavibhanga was seen walking with Prayut to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting. Pirapan does not hold a Cabinet post but is an adviser to the PM. He has rarely been seen attending Cabinet meetings until Tuesday, which sparked speculation.

Pirapan was also quoted as saying earlier that he would welcome Prayut if he decides to join his party. However, after the Cabinet meeting, he said he does not know if the PM is interested because they have not discussed the subject yet.

After all, he said, Prayut was busy making preparations for the upcoming Apec Summit.

Though Prayut is not officially a PPRP member, he was the party’s only prime ministerial candidate for the 2019 general election.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40021775

Majority of Northerners want Thaksin’s daughter as next PM: survey

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 06, 2022

Voters in the North have joined Thais in the Northeast in picking former PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s youngest daughter as their preferred next prime minister, according to a National Institute of Development Administration (Nida Poll) survey.

The October 28-November 2 survey was conducted among 2,000 voters from various occupations, education backgrounds and income levels living across the North.

Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who leads the Pheu Thai Family Programme, topped the choices for next PM with 31.70%. That figure is slightly lower than the 36.45% of Northeasterners who favoured Paetongtarn.

Northerners were less keen on Prayut Chan-o-cha serving a third term as PM since coming to power in the 2014 coup, with only 12.5% giving him the nod.

Asked who they wanted to become the next PM, Northern respondents answered as follows:

• 31.70% said Paetongtarn Shinawatra

• 15% said Pita Limjaroenrat (Move Forward Party leader)

• 12.65% said they were undecided

• 12.50% said PM Prayut Chan-o-cha

• 6.55% said Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan (Thai Sang Thai Party leader)

• 6.20% said Sereepisuth Temeeyaves (Thai Liberal Party leader)

• 3.85% said Cholnan Srikaew (Pheu Thai Party leader)

• 2.5% said Korn Chatikavanij (Chart Pattana Kla Party leader)

• 2% said Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (Bhumjaithai Party leader)

• 1.85% gave no answer or did not care

• 1.10% said Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit (Democrat Party leader)

• 1.05% said Somkid Jatusripitak (Sang Anakhot Thai Party’s tentative PM candidate)

• 3.05% said others, including Deputy PM and Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan and Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt

Pheu Thai topped the list of parties to vote for in both the constituency and party-list ballots at the next general election with 48.7% and 48.75% respectively. Northeasteners also favoured Pheu Thai, but by even bigger margins of 54.35% and 51.40% respectively.

Asked which party they would vote for in constituency elections, Northerners answered as follows:

• 48.70% said Pheu Thai

• 16.40% said Move Forward

• 10.40% were undecided

• 8.05% said Palang Pracharath

• 5.45% said the Democrats

• 2.50% said Thai Liberal Party

• 2.20% Bhumjaithai

• 2.05% Thai Sang Thai

• 4.25% said other parties including Chart Pattana Kla, Chart Thai Pattana and Sang Anakhot Thai

Asked which party they would vote for in party-list elections:

• 48.75% said Pheu Thai

• 16.15% said Move Forward

• 11.55% were undecided

• 7.20% said Palang Pracharath

• 4.75% said the Democrats

• 2.85% said Thai Liberal

• 2.25% said Bhumjaithai

• 1.90% said Thai Sang Thai Party

• 4.60% said other parties, including Chart Pattana Kla, Chart Thai Pattana and Sang Anakhot Thai

Related stories:

• Thaksin’s daughter, Pheu Thai Party top choices for Isaan voters, poll finds
• Pheu Thai’s PM candidate vows to tap the potential of new generation
• Pheu Thai leads call for Bhumjaithai’s dissolution over liberal cannabis policy

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40021726

Thailand’s House collapses for 21st time over lack of quorum

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2022

The House of Representatives failed to form a quorum yet again after only 183 of 475 MPs showed up in Parliament on Friday.

Regulations require at least 238 participants for a House meeting to go ahead.
The meeting had been convened to deliberate the results of a study by a House committee on the land, natural resources and environment in Krabi’s famous Maya Bay, which is now closed to tourists.
Pheu Thai MP Pichet Chuamuangpan suggested that the study’s approval be put up for a vote once lawmakers had finished debating on it. However, his proposal was dismissed by fellow opposition MPs from the Move Forward Party, who said voting with a lack of quorum would waste the panel’s work.
Deputy House Speaker Suchart Tancharoen, who was chairing the meeting, agreed and called a quorum count.

MP Krumanit Sangphum from Pheu Thai put the lack of quorum down to provincial MPs flying back to their strongholds to woo their constituents for votes now that the general election is approaching.
The next general election has been tentatively set for May next year.
“It’s not that they are lazy. They just have to leave early to catch flights as they are afraid of losing the next election. Also, they don’t know when this House will be dissolved,” the opposition MP said.
He suggested that no House meetings be called on Fridays as this was the final session of the current House.
Someone in the chamber agreed, shouting “flights are full and it’s difficult to travel”.
Suchart adjourned the meeting 20 minutes later after the call for quorum revealed only 183 MPs were present.
This is the 21st meeting to collapse due to a lack of quorum since this House of Representatives convened for the first time in April 2019.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40021690

Overwhelming House backing for motion asking Cabinet to hold referendum on charter amendments

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2022

The House of Representatives on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to ask the Cabinet to hold a public referendum on whether the current Constitution, dubbed a half-baked democratic charter, should be amended.

During a meeting chaired by House Speaker Chuan Leekpai, the House took up a motion sponsored by MPs Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut (Move Forward-Bangkok) and Jullaphan Amornvivat (Pheu Thai-Chiang Mai) for reconsideration.

The motion, which proposed the referendum, was suspended from deliberations on September 15 because the House lacked quorum.

A total of 331 MPs inserted their electronic ID cards to report their presence before the vote and 323 of them voted “Yes” and none voted “No”. One MP abstained while seven others did not cast either a Yes, a No, or an abstention vote.

The motion is yet to be sent to the Senate for deliberation under the public referendum act. The act requires that any issue sent for a public referendum must be endorsed by both chambers.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40021684

Govt may drop or revise directive on land sale to foreigners: interior minister

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2022

The Cabinet may bury a draft directive on the sale of land and houses to wealthy and skillful foreigners following a public outcry, Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda told the House of Representatives on Thursday.

He said the government would attempt to address issues of concern resulting from the controversial directive.
“We will do our best to address all the people’s concerns. I will relay to the Cabinet the concerns voiced by the public and the House of Representatives,” said Anupong, who represented Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in answering an opposition query.
“Additional steps are likely to make it more difficult [for foreigners to buy land]. Also, it’s possible that this law may collapse during a Cabinet meeting if it makes everyone worried,” the interior minister said.
Anupong, who oversees the Land Department, said during a House meeting that the new ministerial regulation was aimed at attracting investment from overseas, as well as highly skilled foreigners, following the Covid-19 crisis.

He said the directive was revised from an existing ministerial regulation that was issued in 2002, with stricter requirements and a time limit of five years.
The interior minister also dismissed criticism that the government was “putting the country on sale” by allowing four groups of foreigners to buy land at no more than 1 rai (0.16 hectare) each in exchange for an investment of 40 million baht for at least three years in Thailand.
“We have no intention of selling the country. And nobody is doing so. I am confident that everyone in this Parliament, both in the government and the opposition, has no such intention,” he said.
He added that the regulation would be revised to allow no purchase of unusually large clusters of land.
Anupong was responding to a query from senior opposition MP Suthin Klungsang from the Pheu Thai Party, who pointed out that the ministerial regulation has led to widespread concern as about 80 per cent of the population is still landless.
“Whether your move is intentional or not, property capitalists will benefit. I believe you don’t really want [foreign] experts. You mean to favour real estate groups with a lot of land. It’s the people who stand to lose,” said the opposition MP, mincing no words.

The directive was approved by the Cabinet on October 25 and forwarded to the Council of State – the government’s legal advisory agency – for scrutiny before it is published in the Royal Gazette.
On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who is in charge of the government’s legal matters, said the draft directive would be improved in response to concerns and proposals from critics.
The draft specifies that a foreigner must invest at least 40 million baht to be eligible to purchase land and a house. Critics want the government to increase the amount.
Foreigners are required to maintain their investment for at least three years, but critics are calling for a longer period.
They say foreigners should be prohibited from reselling the land they hold in bits and pieces. The draft allows them to sell the 1 rai of land in parts until the entire quota is used up.
Critics also say foreigners should be prohibited from buying plots next to each other because it would put a large cluster of land under foreign ownership. The draft does not prohibit this.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40021659

Ruling coalition rallies to narrowly kill Move Forward’s liquor production bill in third reading

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2022

The ruling coalition on Wednesday killed the opposition Move Forward Party’s progressive liquor bill in a 196-194 vote in Parliament on Wednesday.

The termination of the bill proposed by the Move Forward came just a day after the Cabinet approved a ministerial regulation to ease controls on alcohol production, seen as a move to pre-empt the passage of the opposition bill.

The voting in the third reading was held at 2.45pm after three hours of deliberation of the bill in the second reading.

The vote results showed that 177 MPs voted against it while 174 voted for it and 11 abstained.

After the vote results were known, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut (Move Forward-Bangkok) asked the chairperson of the meeting, deputy House speaker Suchart Tancharoen, to hold roll-call voting.

Natthaphong reasoned that a House regulation stated that if the margin of votes was fewer than 25 votes, roll-call voting would be needed to confirm the results.

Following a brief dispute, Suchart ordered roll-call voting.

Following long disputes and the vote count, Suchart announced the roll-call voting results at 5.15pm, which found that 194 MPs had voted for the bill while 196 MPs had voted against it and 15 had abstained.

Ahead of the roll-call, Move Forward posted on its Facebook wall, urging the public to monitor the voting as it was unfolding to see who had voted against the liberal bill.

The bill, which has seven sections, sought to terminate existing regulations that are seen as major obstacles to liquor making.

Before the vote, Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat said the current requirements, such as the need to produce 30,000 litres of liquor a day and the requirement for makers to become legal entities, stand in the way of capable but low-budget liquor-makers.

On Tuesday, Move Forward MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn had accused the government of trying to derail the bill, which would have reduced barriers to allow small brewers to enter a market currently dominated by two giant companies.

Related stories:

Cabinet passes ‘half measure’ in bid to sink progressive liquor bill

Move Forward’s Pita thanks Bangkok for support, vows to work hard for votes