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‘Crooked’ merchants under ‘Let’s Go Halves’ campaign to be investigated for possible fraud

NationalNov 05. 2020Utthaphol (Right) 

By THE NATION

Fiscal Policy Office deputy director Utthaphol Utthaworadet asked the Economic Crime Investigation Division on Wednesday to investigate three merchants under the “Khon La Khrueng” (Let’s Go Halves) campaign for possible fraud.

The three-month economic stimulus package started on October 16 in a bid to stimulate domestic consumption. Under the scheme, 10 million people can avail of daily discounts on shopping of up to Bt150, capped at Bt3,000 at participating stores, while the government is handing the money to merchants via the Thung Ngern application.

“We have found that the [three] merchants have withdrawn money via the application but have no actual purchases made at their shops since the campaign started,” Utthaphol said.

“The office is currently gathering data from other merchants who might have been running similar ploys and will ask police to investigate them as well,” he said.

“We would like to warn merchants or customers who plan to use this campaign for purposes other than stimulating the economy to stop, as the Finance Ministry and Krung Thai Bank [which is responsible for disbursing the money] can check and verify each store’s purchase history,” Utthaphol said.

“However, the campaign will continue as planned despite fraudulent attempts, as there have been more than 400,000 merchants registered and total spending under the campaign has surpassed Bt5 billion,” he added.

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Ex-security guard arrested for allegedly raping his daughter for 2 years

NationalNov 05. 2020

By THE NATION

Sam Rae station police arrested Sorn (last name withheld) for allegedly raping his daughter, a child under 15, at his relative’s house in Samut Sakhon’s Muang district.

The police action came at 7pm on Wednesday after the Thonburi Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant.

Back in October, an aunt of the 13-year-old girl filed a police complaint stating that Sorn, 39, had been raping his own daughter for about two years, on average once or twice per week, until the girl decided to run away from her home and live with her aunt.

Police sent the girl for a physical check-up at Taksin Hospital and found that she had been sexually assaulted but had no other physical injuries. They requested an arrest warrant.

Sorn, who used to work as a security guard in Thonburi province, reportedly denied the charge and said he would only provide additional details via his lawyer.

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Cool weather forecast for upper Thailand, isolated heavy rain in South

NationalNov 05. 2020

By THE NATION

A high pressure system from China covers upper Thailand, bringing cool weather to the area, while a moderate monsoon trough across the lower South will lead to isolated heavy rain there, the Meteorological Department said on Thursday.

The department also mentioned that category 3 tropical storm Goni over the South China Sea is expected to make landfall in Vietnam tonight before downgrading into a tropical depression and an active low pressure system. Isolated rain is therefore likely in the Northeast and the East on November 6 and 7.

Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool weather with rain in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 21-23 degrees and highs of 29-33 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 9-14 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Cool weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 18-21 degrees and highs of 29-31 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 11-15 degrees Celsius.

Central region: Cool weather in the morning; temperature lows of 21-23 degrees, highs of 31-33 degrees Celsius.

East: Cool weather with rain in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-23 degrees, highs of 32-33 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metre offshore.

South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 23-24 degrees, highs of 29-33 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 2 metre during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 2 metre during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather with isolated light rain; temperature lows of 22-23 degrees, highs of 32-33 degrees Celsius.

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Thai agricultural GDP almost back at 2019 level as demand rises

NationalNov 05. 2020

By The Nation

Thailand’s third-quarter agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) recovered to drop by only 0.4 per cent year on year, the Office of Agricultural Economics said on Wednesday.

The office secretary-general Chantanon Wannakejohn said production of economic crops, such as rice, tapioca, pineapple, palm oil, mangosteen and rambutan dropped due to drought.

“The Covid-19 outbreak also caused a fall in demand for aquatic produce and wood,” he said.

“However, the demand for meat and dairy increased, especially in China and Japan.”

He expected the country’s agricultural GDP this year to drop by between 2.4 and 3.4 per cent, adding that the office would be closely monitoring the weather, outbreak of plant diseases and pests, Covid-19’s impact abroad, and conflict among countries.

The third quarter saw rising domestic and international demand push up the price of rice, maize, tapioca, pineapple, rubber, oil palm, durian, mangosteen, rambutan, pork, white-leg (vannamei) shrimp, tilapia and catfish compared to the same period last year, reported office deputy secretary-general Tatsanee Muangkaew.

“Meanwhile, the price of longan, chicken, egg and raw milk dropped due to increases in production,” she said.

She added that the export of Thai agricultural products from July to August this year totalled Bt205.01 billion, down 8.97 per cent from the same period last year.

“The export value of rice, maize, sugar, rubber, pineapple, durian, mangosteen, rambutan, shrimp and squid dropped year on year, while the export value of tapioca, palm oil, longan, pork and fish rose,” she added.

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Protesters declare opposition to reconciliation panel

NationalNov 04. 2020

By The Nation

The student-led pro-democracy movement has rejected plans to set up a national reconciliation committee, insisting instead that the government meet its three demands.

The Ratsadon protest group declared their opposition to the reconciliation panel at Sanam Luang in Bangkok on Wednesday, in an announcement made by 20 representatives including Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattarasaksa.The group said the panel was not the solution to rising political tension, adding that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha remained the biggest obstacle to Thai democracy.It said protesters would continue to demand that Prayut resign, the Constitution be made more democratic and the monarchy be made more accountable.

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Value of business investment applications falls 15% this year

NationalNov 04. 2020BOI secretary-general Duangjai Asawachintachit 

By THE NATION

The total value of business investment applications fell 15 per cent in the first three quarters of 2020 despite a slight rise in the number of firms applying, the Board of Investment (BOI) said on Wednesday.

Foreign and local applications from January-September rose to 1,098, as targeted firms in the electrical and electronic (E&E), food, automotive and medical sectors continued to expand amid the Covid-19 crisis, the BOI reported. 

However,  the total value of the applications fell 15 per cent from the year earlier, to Bt223.7 billion (US$7.2 billion), due to the smaller average size of projects amid the Covid-induced global decline in investment, the board added.

Targeted sectors accounted for 58 per cent of the total value of applications. E&E topped the ranking for domestic and foreign investment with 106 projects worth a total Bt37.6 billion, followed by agriculture and food processing (114 projects, Bt26.9 billion), and the automotive industry (63 projects, Bt20 billion).

Applications in the medical sector more than doubled to 65 projects, while their total value surged 75 per cent year-on-year to Bt14.7 billion to become the fourth ranked sector, the BOI said.

“Investment in our top targeted sectors remained strong, showing Thailand’s resilience despite the difficult global environment,” said BOI secretary-general Duangjai Asawachintachit. 

“The medical sector continued to show a strong performance as investors quickly adjusted to the Covid-19 situation and built upon Thailand’s medical and research capability.”

Of total applications, 47 per cent were new investments, while the remaining 53 per cent were to expand existing projects.

In terms of location, the three Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) provinces – Chonburi, Chachoengsao and Rayong –  attracted 313 projects worth a total Bt109.4 billion, or 49 per cent of all applications filed during the nine-month period.

The number of foreign direct investment application fell slightly to 657, compared to 665 a year earlier, with a total value of Bt118.5 billion, 29 per cent down on last year. Japan led the way with 139 projects worth bt37.5 billion, representing 32 per cent of total FDI applications value, followed by China (129 projects, Bt21.2 billion, and the Netherlands (62 projects, Bt17.5 billion). Singapore was fourth (76 projects, Bt12 billion), while Taiwan wrapped up the top five with 37 projects worth Bt9.5 billion.

FDI applications contributed 60 per cent of the total number of projects and 53 per cent of total investment value pledges during the January-September period, the BOI said.

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BOI approves new EV incentives package plus projects worth Bt35bn

NationalNov 04. 2020PM Prayut Chan-o-cha chairs the Board of Investment meeting on Wednesday. 

By THE NATION

The Board of Investment (BOI) on Wednesday approved a package of incentives for Thailand’s electric-vehicle (EV) manufacturing supply chain, with a focus on critical parts including batteries.

The board also approved EV-related projects worth Bt35.7 billion in several sectors.

After a board meeting chaired by PM Prayut Chan-ocha, BOI secretary-general Duangjai Asawachintachit said the package would accelerate the development of EV production in Thailand and allow the sector to move into higher gear.

The EV incentive measures replace the first package which expired in 2018.

They cover cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles and ships.

Cars: Corporate tax holidays of three years for plug-in hybrid (PHEV) projects and eight years for battery electric (BEV) projects with at least Bt5 billion invested – extendable for R&D investment in BEV. Projects worth less than Bt5 billion are eligible for three-year tax holidays – extendable for BEV projects that start by 2022, produce additional parts, produce at least 10,000 units within three years, or invest in R&D.

Motorcycles, three-wheelers, buses and trucks: Three-year tax holiday, extendable under certain conditions.

Electric-powered ship production projects, for vessels with less than 500 gross tonnage, are eligible for eight years of corporate income tax exemption.

The BOI also added four more components to its list of critical EV parts – high voltage harness, reduction gear, battery cooling system and regenerative braking system. Manufacturers of these components all receive eight-year corporate tax exemptions. To promote local EV battery production, the BOI approved additional incentives for the production of both battery modules and battery cells for the domestic market by granting a 90 per cent reduction of import duties for two years on raw materials not available locally.

The BOI has already approved 26 EV manufacturing projects with a combined production capacity of over 566,000 units per year. Five are for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), six for PHEVs, 13 for BEVs, and two for electric buses.

Seven have started commercial operations – Nissan, Honda and Toyota for HEVs; Mercedes Benz and BMW for PHEVs; and newcomers FOMM and Takano for BEVs.

The agency also approved 14 projects to make critical parts for EVs, including 10 battery production plants.

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Environment Board approves urgent plan to tackle PM2.5

NationalNov 04. 2020

By The Nation

The National Environment Board on Wednesday approved an urgent plan to tackle PM2.5 air pollution, which is once again rising to hazardous levels in Bangkok and other large cities.     

The plan contains 12 measures and will be submitted to Cabinet soon, said Pollution Control Department chief Atthaphon Charoenchansa. 

The board, chaired Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan, has set up a pollution information centre. It will work in the same manner as the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, with a spokesperson reporting on the pollution situation, and a subcommittee tasked with combating forest fires in 17 northern provinces through November.

The board also asked the the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) to use satellite images from December 1 to provide dust-pollution alerts three days ahead of time .

“A 3-day advance dust forecast is the most practical tool to deal with PM 2.5, by alerting people in affected areas via SMS,” said Atthaphon.

He added that the PM2.5 pollution plan also called for development of an application to regulate the seasonal burn-offs that shroud Bangkok and other cities in smog. The app would allow people to book times for burning, he said.

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Ministry discounts 13,000 household items to cut cost of living

NationalNov 04. 2020

By The Nation

The Commerce Ministry has reduced the prices of more than 13,000 household goods under the seventh round of monthly discounts to help cut the cost of living for people during the Covid-19 crisis.

The government-subsidised discounts began in April under a collaboration with manufacturers, distributors and shops nationwide.

Products in six categories are discounted: Food and beverages; frozen cooked food; sauces; daily-use products; soaps and body cleansers; and washing products.

Prices on a total 13,790 items have been cut, with maximum discounts of 70 per cent on cleaning goods such as detergent, liquid soap and hand sanitiser.

The seventh round of discounts will run through November and is expected to cut a total Bt500 million off the price of daily items.

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Police finally capture long-sought drug trafficker

NationalNov 04. 2020

By The Nation

Police finally managed to get their hands on a drug trafficker they have been hunting for over the past two years in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district.

Pairoj Petchaburi, 34, was grabbed on Wednesday as he was returning to his home in Khuan Lang sub-district. The suspect later said he was caught only because he stopped in his tracks when he recognised an officer he had encountered in a previous arrest attempt.

Police found a pack of methamphetamine in the house.

Pairoj escaped a police raid on August 21, 2018, though two of his friends were arrested.