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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016137

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday defended the fiscal 2003 budget bill with projected expenditure of THB3.185 trillion, saying Thailand still enjoys financial and foreign reserve strengths.

In a debate televised live on Parliament Channel (10), Prayut said his government had to set a deficit budget as part of its policy of fiscal expansion to help revival of the economy.

Prayut said his government has prepared the budget with the goal of improving the people’s quality of life but it also took into account fiscal discipline and national strategies, such as security, competitiveness, development of human resources, creating opportunities in society and creating social equality.

The prime minister told the House of Representatives that the country still has financial strength but the business sector and households are struggling from rising cost of living and manufacturing cost. The struggling economy has prompted the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee to retain the policy rate at 0.50 per cent.

Prayut said the country had foreign exchange reserves of US$230 billion, about 3.15 times higher than the country’s foreign debt, which is considered a strong foreign reserves to foreign debt ratio.

The prime minister spoke for about an hour in defence of the budget.

Published : May 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016133

The Election Commission (EC) received a lot of complaints on the hotline after it did not endorse Bangkok governor-elect Chadchart Sittipunt’s election victory on Monday as expected.

Asource from the EC Office said the commission has been urged to check and see if Chadchart had broken any laws when he came up with special election posters. The EC is scheduled to meet again on Tuesday afternoon, the source said.

A source added that the EC has been receiving complaints on its 1444 hotline since Monday after the decision. Many people have called to ask questions and express their feelings. The source said that people continued to call on Tuesday.

They asked several questions related to the EC’s decision. Many of the callers asked if the EC would endorse Chadchart on Tuesday or why the EC had not held a meeting in the morning.

According to the source, most callers complained rudely but the staff tried to listen and told them to wait for a meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

The EC must announce the results within 30 days of election day if there is no evidence of irregularities. In cases where there is evidence of irregularity, the commission must announce the results or organise another election within 60 days.

Published : May 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016113

The Election Commission (EC) decided not to endorse Bangkok governor-elect Chadchart Sittipunt’s victory on Monday as expected, saying it has to look into more complaints against him.

The EC was expected to endorse Chadchart’s win on Monday, especially since the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) was ready to welcome him on Tuesday. The new governor’s name has also been put on the door of his office.

Chadchart was elected with a record-breaking 1.386 million votes on May 22.

A source from the EC Office said the commission has been urged to check and see if Chadchart broke any laws when he came up with special election posters. The EC is scheduled to meet again on Tuesday afternoon, the source said.

Meanwhile, the source added that the EC has also decided to only endorse some winners of the 50 Bangkok Council seats and the EC Office is in the process of drafting an announcement of the winners.

Election commissioner Santhad Siriananpaibool said the commission was not really scheduled to announce Chadchart’s victory on Monday.

According to the Bangkok election committee, Chadchart is facing several complaints, including two from social activist Srisuwan Janya.

The activist is accusing the governor-elect of breaking the election law by offering gifts to voters by designing election posters in such a way that they can be recycled into bags and aprons. Srisuwan is also accusing Chadchart of breaking the election law by attacking the bureaucracy in his campaign speeches.

Sources say the 1444 EC hotline received a lot of calls from Bangkokians wanting to know if Chadchart’s victory will be endorsed on Monday.

Published : May 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016108

The opposition will reject the government’s proposed THB3.18-trillion 2023 budget bill when the House of Representatives start debating the first reading from Tuesday.

News agency Thansettakij reported on Monday that opposition parties held a meeting to discuss the 2023 budget bill.

Prasert Chanthararuangthong, secretary-general of the Pheu Thai Party, said that the opposition had decided to reject the bill.

However, they will send a representative as a part of the committee for examination. The opposition also decided to submit a motion of no confidence on June 15.

The THB3.18-trillion budget bill will be discussed in the House debate from Tuesday to Thursday.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had said earlier on Sunday that he was ready to defend the budget bill.

Earlier on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan had expressed confidence that the bill would clear its first reading in the House of Representatives.

Published : May 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016103

Several different groups rallied in Bangkok in a protest against government moves to tighten restrictions on NGOs and public assembly.

Protesters gathered outside the United Nations building in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon at 6am before moving to Government House at 8.45am.

The protest groups are campaigning against a new government draft law that would force non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to disclose their sources of funding while warning they must not “pose a threat to national security and law and order”.

Almost 2,000 NGOs around the country have voiced opposition to the bill, which was endorsed by the Cabinet in January.

Protesters call it a draconian move to suppress civil society and free expression in Thailand.

Monday’s rally was led by Commoners Party leader Lertsak Khamkongsak and Somboon Khamhaeng, an activist from the South.

Other groups joining the protest included the Constitution Advocacy Alliance, the EnLaw Thai Foundation, and the Four Regions Slum Dwellers Network.

Protesters rallying under the slogan, “Eight years of National Council for Peace and Order rule must not be extended” demanded that the government drop the draft law before it reaches Parliament.

Published : May 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016101

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan on Monday expressed confidence that the fiscal 2023 budget bill would clear its first reading in the House of Representatives.

The House debate on the bill is scheduled to start on Tuesday.

“Definitely,” Prawit, the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) chief, replied when reporters asked him if he thought the bill would be approved in the first reading.

Prawit was approached for comments while he was leaving the Command Building to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting at the Santi Maitree Building inside the Government House compound.

Meanwhile, former Palang Pracharath secretary-general Thamanat Prompow, who is now an MP of the Setthakit Thai Party (Thai Economic), told reporters that his party would support budget allocations that would benefit the public.

He said the allocations that are in question would have to be discussed during the vetting of the bill.

When asked if his comment was an indication that his party would support the first reading of the bill, Thamanat replied that his party had yet to take a formal stand.

Setthakit Thai would meet at 9am on Tuesday to discuss the party’s stand on the 2023 budget bill, he added.

Published : May 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016093

The National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) has been slammed for not pushing for higher educational standards and opening doors for more people to pursue higher education.

Pol Colonel Tawee Sodsong, Prachachart Party’s secretary-general, pointed out that not a single Thai university had made it to the list of top 500 universities in the world. He pointed out that two universities in Singapore and one in Malaysia were included in the list, while only four Thai universities made it to the 501-1,000 list. The four universities are Mahidol, Mae Fah Luang, Chulalongkorn and King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang.

“This data has created uncertainty over whether the National Higher Education Science Research Innovation Policy Council is working at its fullest,” he said recently.

He said that now with an ageing population, universities will have to provide education to older people instead of children. He also advised the council to reduce inequality, so everybody has access to higher education.

He pointed out that the Equitable Education Fund allocates 6 billion baht per year for people with regular income, but those at the poverty line are forced to take student loans.

Plus, he said, the government allows the Student Loan Fund to collect up to 25 per cent in interest and penalties from borrowers, he said.

“Hence, I would like to ask the National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council what it has done so far,” he said.

Published : May 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016075

Bangkok governor-elect Chadchart Sittipunt said on Sunday he had no worries over two complaints filed about his election campaign.

The first complaint came from political activist Srisuwan Janya, who alleged that Chadchart’s campaign banners amounted to vote-buying as voters could benefit by recycling them into bags and aprons.

A separate complaint alleges that Chadchart insulted the government system by saying its complicated steps would affect his operations as Bangkok governor.

He said he would respect the Election Commission (EC)’s ruling on the complaints, adding that he had already offered clarifications regarding these issues. The EC is due to meet on Monday to consider results and complaints from last Sunday’s Bangkok governor and council elections. It has 60 days to investigate complaints and either ratify the election result or organise another election.

Chadchart also vowed action on the BTS Green Line dispute, adding it would take a month to check the documents and consider how to tackle the issue.

“We won’t use emotions but instead look at the issue based on the interests of Bangkokians,” he said.

However, he admitted he was worried about City Hall’s debt of 38 billion baht owed to concessionaire Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC) for running the Green Line extension.

Chadchart has queried the transparency of the concession deal – which was extended under Gen Prayut’s Article 44 emergency powers. He has also questioned why Bt60 billion in debt from constructing the Green Line extension was transferred from the government to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

“We have to check what happened in the past to find a solution together,” he said on Sunday.

BTSC filed a lawsuit against BMA last September, suing the city for 12 billion baht it is owed for operating the Green Line extension and another 20 billion baht owed for the train operating system. The suit was filed after the BMA failed to pay the money owed within the April deadline. The debt has ballooned above 38 billion baht thanks to interest.

Published : May 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016070

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has invited the public to monitor the 2023 budget bill debate in Parliament on Tuesday, when he will defend its Bt3.18 trillion expenditure.

The PM and his government are almost certain to fall if the bill fails to pass in Parliament, where opposition and rebel coalition MPs are threatening to vote it down.

Prayut wants people to watch him defend the budget so they gain an understanding of the government’s plan to reduce poverty sustainably, government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said on Sunday.

The public could also participate in the check-and-balance of politics by monitoring the debate, said the PM. The budget debate is televised live every year.

Prayut added that the 2023 budget is designed to take care of all Thais amid the economic downturn caused by Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Prayut also hoped opposition MPs would make constructive comments during the debate, saying the budget should be optimised in the public interest.

The budget for fiscal year 2023, which begins in October, is Bt85 billion higher than the 2022 budget. Fixed expenditures comprise 78.2 per cent while the remaining 21.8 per cent is for new investment.

A total of Bt270 billion from the budget would be allocated to 14 ministries for projects to improve economic conditions for the poor, Rachada said.

The budget to combat poverty is divided into five categories:

– Bt173 billion to be spent on living-cost subsidies for 13.4 million state welfare cardholders, 2.09 million disabled people, 2.58 million young children, and 880,000 HIV/Aids patients. The money would also go to reduce costs and boost irrigation for farmers.

– Bt18.1 billion to be spent on educating 2.62 million poor children and 660,000 children in welfare centres, among other things.

– Bt70.1 billion to provide healthcare for 13.45 million people under the national health security system and to upgrade 494 hospitals.

– Bt7.16 billion to provide farmland, housing (200,000 families) and tap water.

– Bt2.16 billion to improve government services for crime victims, illegal immigrants and anti- human trafficking, and provide welfare via community funds.

Published : May 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016069

Getting bids for waste incinerators at the solid waste disposal centres in Bangkok’s Nong Khaem and Prawet districts is one of the tasks governor-elect Chadchart Sittipunt will have to tackle.

The projects worth a total of 13.14 billion baht are currently pending at the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

In 2019, C&G Environmental Protection (Thailand) won the bid for a waste incinerator in the Nong Khaem waste disposal centre, while Newsky Energy (Bangkok) won the bid for the On Nut disposal centre in Prawet district.

However, both these projects have received many complaints, one of which was submitted to NACC by political activist Srisuwan Janya. The activist claimed the terms of reference for the two projects were biased to favour certain bidders. The subject was also part of the latest censure debate. The points in question are:

• Both C&G and Newskey Energy have the same CEO and address, while both companies hold stakes in each other.

• Three of five members of the panel considering the bidding results resigned, claiming that they have other duties to attend to and cannot deal with this issue.

• Former Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang had appointed his two deputies, Chakkaphan Piwngam and Thaweesak Lertprapan, to sign contracts for the two projects, but they resigned on July 22 and July 24, 2019, respectively.

When questioned about the projects in 2019, Aswin announced that he was ready to go to prison if it is proven that there is corruption.

Published : May 29, 2022

By : THE NATION