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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006225

Court orders NACC to be transparent over Prawit’s luxury watches

The Administrative Court ruled on Wednesday that the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) should reveal all the information it has on Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan’s collection of luxury watches to the MATTER online news agency.

The MATTER had filed a lawsuit against NACC for concealing information about the luxury watch collection by suspending the inquiry into the deputy PM’s assets on December 27, 2018.

The court ruled that NACC must release all the information it has on the case, including reports, documents and related evidence as well as Prawit’s clarifications.

“The NACC can hold back on personal information but must reveal the abovementioned information within 15 days after the case has been closed,” the court said.

The court added that revealing this information will prove that NACC is transparent and accountable under the Constitution, resulting in confidence among people under the commission’s administration.

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The NACC has 30 days to file an appeal against the ruling.

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Published : September 16, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006119

Opposition Pheu Thai Party set to axe 2 ‘cobra’ MPs, punish 5 others

Key opposition Pheu Thai Party indicated on Monday that it will expel two MPs and punish another five for voting against the party line during the recent censure debate.

Prasert Chantaruangthong, Pheu Thai’s secretary, said the party’s ethics committee will take action against the following seven MPs:

• Uttaradit MP Sarunvuth Sarunkate and Pathum Thani MP Pornpimon Thammasarn will be expelled.

• Si Sa Ket MPs Thira Traisoranakul and Chaturong Pengnorapat along with Pathum Thani MP Chaiyan Pholsuwan will be suspended, which will affect their chance of participating in the next general election.

• Ubon Ratchathani MP Chuwit Pitakpornpallop will be admonished.

• Nakhon Nayok MP Wutthichai Kittitanesuan will be punished after he has recovered from Covid-19.

“The administration committee will consider the ethics committee’s resolution to sack the two ‘cobra’ MPs,” Prasert said.

Key government ministers sailed through the four-day censure debate, which wrapped up on September 4, though Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha got the highest number of no-confidence ballots with 208 MPs voting against him.

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This was the second attempt this year by the opposition to bring down the government that has been under pressure due to its management of the pandemic and reeling economy.

Apart from Prayut, the others targeted were Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Srion, Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin and Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn. They all survived the vote.

Related stories:

• Internet minister accused of plagiarising artwork during censure debate
• Prayut, ministers sail through no confidence motion
• Opposition submits no-confidence motion against PM, 5 ministers

Published : September 14, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40006033

Majority of people believe Prayut could be on the way out as PM

Nearly one-thirds of those surveyed in an opinion poll believed that this could be General Prayut Chan-o-chas last term as prime minister.

The National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed the results of a public survey entitled “Political Possibilities of Big Three (Prawit Wongsuwan, Anupong Paochinda, and Prayut Chan-o-cha)” conducted between September 6-9.

A total of 1,310 respondents aged 18 years and above expressed their opinion across the country.

The following were the responses to key questions:

▪︎On the possibility of General Prayut Chan-o-cha serving his last term as prime minister

– 32.06 per cent said it was very likely

– 30.53 per cent said it’s quite possible

– 22.60 per cent said it’s impossible

– 10.84 per cent said it’s not very likely

– 3.97 per cent said they didn’t know.

▪︎ On the possibility of General Prawit Wongsuwan becoming prime minister after the next election

– 62.82 per cent said it was not possible

– 13.97 per cent said it was unlikely

– 13.51 per cent said it was quite possible

– 4.66 per cent said it was very likely

– 5.04 per cent did not know.

▪︎ Asked on the possibility of the big three continuing to play a role in forming a government after the next election

– 39.47 per cent said it was quite possible

– 23.28 per cent said it was impossible

– 20.69 per cent said it was very likely

– 12.21 per cent said it was unlikely

, 4.35 per cent said they did not know.

Published : September 12, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005979

Parliament restores 2-ballot voting system

A government’s charter-amendment bill to restore the two-ballot electoral system was approved by Parliament in its third and final reading on Friday.

The bill means voters in future elections will cast one vote for their constituency MP and a separate vote for their preferred party.

It also increases the number of constituency MPs from 350 to 400 while cutting party-list MPs from 150 to 100. Party-list MPs will be calculated from the percentage of preferred-party votes.

Constitutional amendments require support from more than half of Parliament, (367 votes), including at least 20 per cent of opposition MPs (43) and at least one-third of the Senate (84).

Friday’s bill passed with support from 472 parliamentarians.

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Of the total 467 MPs, 323 voted in favour, 23 against and 121 abstained.

Of the total 225 senators, 149 voted in favour, 10 against, and 66 abstained.

The bill will be forwarded for royal endorsement in 15 days. Meanwhile, MPs can file an appeal to the Constitutional Court for a decision within 30 days.

Jurin Laksanawisit, leader of the coalition’s Democrat Party, thanked government parties, opposition and senators for approving the bill.

Former deputy agriculture minister Thammanat Prompow did not attend Friday’s Parliament session. Thammanat was removed from his post on Wednesday.

Published : September 10, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005930

Thammanat ousted from govt after ‘plot’ against PM

Thammanat Prompow has been removed from his position as deputy minister of agriculture, according to an announcement in the Royal Gazette on Thursday. The announcement was published an hour after Thammanat announced he was resigning from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party.

Last week, Thammanat reportedly plotted against PM Prayut Chan-o-cha during the no-confidence debate in Parliament.

The controversial politician had risen through the ranks of the ruling party despite spending four years in an Australian jail after being convicted in a heroin-smuggling case in the 1990s.

On Thursday, Thammanat said he wants to return to work for his hometown of Phayao, adding that many political parties had invited him to join.

Deputy Minister of Labour Narumon Pinyosinwat was also removed from her position, according to the Royal Gazette announcement.

Published : September 09, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40005840

SAO elections set for Nov-Dec but no dates for Bangkok governor poll

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved elections for Subdistrict Administrative Organisations (SAOs), to run from November 28 to December 12.

Guidelines to make the SAO elections Covid-safe will be announced in October.

However, a Cabinet decision on the dates for governor elections in Bangkok and Pattaya is still pending.

The Cabinet gave the green light for the Interior Ministry to prepare a budget for the SAO elections and assigned the Election Commission to issue regulations for the polls.

Published : September 07, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005784

Internet minister accused of plagiarising artwork during censure debate

Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn has been accused of plagiarising a foreign artist’s work during the no-confidence debate in Parliament on Friday.

Chaiwut adapted a poster made by Australian artist Joey Klarenbeek, using it to illustrate his mission to protect the three pillars of nation, religion and King. The poster shows ranks of identical youths absorbed in their phone screens as hands reach down to steal their brains.

The minister claimed that the three pillars were being damaged by fake news on social media. He added that youths were being brainwashed and used as political tools to change the country.

On Friday, the Facebook page “Kidyang” accused Chaiwut of failing to credit the artist of the picture he had used. On Saturday, the page added that the artist had not given permission for Chaiwut to use his artwork, which had been plagiarised in this way before.

The Nation Thailand contacted the artist via his Facebook page, “Joey Klarenbeek Illustration”.

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No plan to reshuffle Cabinet, says Prayut

Opposition submits no-confidence motion against PM, 5 ministers

Klarenbeek said: “I was never approached to license my artwork and never received payment or artist credit.”

He added that “Unfortunately, this [abuse of copyright] has been occurring repeatedly since I made the artwork for a charity design competition years ago.”

Copyright protects the work of artists and stops others from using it without permission. These days, copyright can be easily checked via an internet search engine.

So far, the Digital Economy and Society Ministry has declined to comment on Chaiwut’s use of the artwork, though it is expected to issue a statement soon.

Positive Posters by Joey KlarenbeekTop 30 Positive Posters exhibition at Thousand Pound Bend cafeSociety 6

Published : September 06, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005699

Prayut, ministers sail through no confidence motion

Key government ministers easily sailed through the censure debate on Saturday although Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha got the most number of no confidence votes with 208 MPs voting against him.

The debate, which began on Tuesday, ended early this morning with 482 MPs present in Parliament.

It was the second attempt this year by the opposition to bring down the government that has been under pressure due to its management of the pandemic and the reeling economy. However, Prayut’s government enjoys a clear majority in Parliament.

The ministers who faced censure and the votes cast for and against them:

•Prayut Chan-o-cha, prime minister and minister of defence — 264 for, 208 against, and 3 abstentions

•Anutin Charnvirakul, deputy prime minister and minister of public health — 269 for, 196 against, 11 absentions

•Saksayam Chidchob, minister of transport — 269 for, 195 against, 10 absentions, and 1 no vote

•Chalermchai Srion, minister of agriculture and cooperatives — 270 for,199 against, 8 absentions and 1 no vote

•Suchat Chomklin, minister of labour — 263 for, 201 against, 10 absentions and 1 no vote

•Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, minister of digital economy and society — 267 for, 202 against, 9 absentions 

Related News

No plan to reshuffle Cabinet, says Prayut

MP claims THB2 billion went missing in Sinovac procurement

Supreme Court dismisses case against PAD leaders over 2008 rallies 

Published : September 04, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005654

No plan to reshuffle Cabinet, says Prayut

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday ruled out any reshuffle of the Cabinet and said that “everything will remain the same”.

He was speaking after attending a no-confidence debate against the government in Parliament, which started on August 31 and ends on Saturday.

Reacting to an accusation by Pheu Thai MP from Chiang Rai Wisan Techatheerawat that the prime minister had paid THB5 million each to Pheu Thai MPs to vote for him during the debate, Prayut laughed and said he could not do that as there were cameras everywhere in Parliament.

When asked by the media about his current relations with Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao, Prayut said he had not met Thammanat recently and that it was the duty of Phalang Pracharat leader General Prawit Wongsuwan to handle the situation.

Before the no-confidence debate, there was a rumour that Thammanat and three other Phalang Pracharat MPs had asked Prawit, who is also a Deputy PM, to replace Prayut as prime minister. They also reportedly proposed a Cabinet reshuffle after the debate so that Thammanat could be in charge of a bigger ministry. Thammanat later refuted the rumour and blamed another deputy minister for the campaign.

Published : September 03, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40005526

MP claims THB2 billion went missing in Sinovac procurement

A Pheu Thai MP on Tuesday claimed 2 billion baht has gone missing in the government’s procurement of Sinovac vaccine.

Speaking on the first morning of the no-confidence debate against the government, opposition MP Prasert Chantaruangthong alleged malfeasance in deals to buy 18.5 million doses since February.

He claimed the government had paid less than the on-paper price for Sinovac.

“The budget approved by the Cabinet was 10.846 billion baht but the actual purchase price was 8.748 billion – a difference of 2.098 billion baht. Whose money is this?” said Prasert.

He added that Sinovac was not bought under the Government Procurement and Supplies Administration Act 2017 but instead commercially purchased by the “death-dealing” Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO).

It was not a government-to-government (G-to-G) purchase and was subject to VAT of 6.8 million baht, he said.

The chiefs of the GPO, Department of Disease Control (DDC) and National Vaccine Institute (NVI) were quick to defend the procurement.

GPO chief Witoon Danwiboon said the GPO took the role of importer because Sinovac had no representative in Thailand.

Addressing the claim that Sinovac was bought at an inflated price, Witoon said the GPO had purchased the first batch of 2 million doses at the “research price” offered to Brazil and Indonesia of US$17 per dose. However, after negotiations on bulk purchase, the price was reduced to an average of $11.99, he said.

He rejected Prasert’s allegation that the real price paid for the doses was less than the price on paper, saying the GPO had purchased the vaccine with its own budget.

“Once the vaccine is obtained [by the GPO], it is sold to the Department of Disease Control, which takes charge of the budget by setting costs to transport and administer the vaccine.”

DDC director Opas Karnkawinpong said cross-vaccination with Sinovac and AstraZeneca three weeks apart had proved as effective as two AstraZeneca jabs and generated immunity more quickly to combat Thailand’s wave of Delta infections.

NVI director Nakorn Premsri added the government had not joined the Covax vaccine-sharing project because Thailand is among the countries that have to pay for Covax doses, which are limited.

However, Thailand would consider joining Covax if those conditions improve, Nakorn said.

Published : August 31, 2021