The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration announced on Thursday that its schools will cancel classes on May 23, a day after the Bangkok governor and council elections.
Kriangkrai Jongcharoen, director of the BMA’s Education Department, said the cancellation of the classes is aimed at preventing pupils from the risk of being infected by the Covid-19 virus, because several school facilities will be used as polling stations on May 22.
Schools will cancel classes on the following day for officials to disinfect the premises and school equipment before classes resume on May 24.
The BMA schools have been told to provide compensation classes later at their convenience.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has spent more than THB14 billion on 1,333 drainage projects over the past five years but is still unable to solve the flood problem that dogs the capital every year.
For instance, heavy rains for almost 10 hours across Bangkok on Tuesday led to the usual floods in some areas.
Somsak Meeudomsak, deputy director of the BMA’s Drainage and Sewerage Department, on Wednesday promised that a number of drainage projects would be finished this month and would “ease the flood situation”.
However, many may not know that the BMA has already spent THB14.3 billion from 2017 to 2022 just to solve flood problems.
According to information on Wednesday, the BMA hired the private sector to finish at least two projects with a budget of more than THB100 million in the 2022 fiscal year.
The projects are:
A THB1.69 billion drainage tunnel from Khlong Saen Saep and Khlong Lat Phrao to Soi Lat Phrao 130
A THB159.9 million drainage system at the high-speed rail link from Rama VI road to Soi Ranong 1.
In fiscal year 2017, the BMA hired the private sector to complete 128 projects worth THB192.6 million.
The most expensive project during that fiscal year was construction of the drainage system on Song Sawat, Yaowarat, and Charoen Krung roads for THB101.5 million.
In fiscal year 2018, the BMA got the private sector to complete 242 projects for THB2.02 billion.
The most expensive project was the maintenance of Public Works Department and Department of Drainage and Sewerage buildings for THB568.2 million.
In fiscal year 2019, the BMA hired the private sector to complete 321 projects for THB594.6 million.
The most expensive project was the construction of the Khlong Lum Phai pumping station and floodgate for THB92.29 million.
In fiscal year 2020, the BMA had the private sector complete 332 projects for THB480.52 million.
The most expensive project was construction of a drainage system on Chan Road for THB166.8 million.
And in fiscal year 2021, the BMA again hired the private sector to complete 308 projects for THB9.19 billion.
The most expensive project was a drainage tunnel at Khlong Prem Prachakon from Khlong Bang Bua to the Chao Phraya River for THB8.2 billion.
The Land Transport Association of Thailand will hike transport fees by 15 to 20 per cent from Friday (May 20) despite the Cabinet’s decision on Tuesday to further reduce the diesel excise tax by THB5 per litre for two months after the current THB3 cut expires on May 20.
“The reduction of excise tax will not bring down the price of diesel at gas stations under THB32 per litre as many have hoped, as the Oil Fuel Fund is still in deficit and needs money to cover its losses, which could exceed THB100 billion soon,” association president Apichart Pairoonrueng said on Thursday.
“This will force transport operators to increase their fees to cover the increased cost.”
Apichart noted that some operators have already adjusted their fees up since May 1, when the government ended the THB30 per litre cap on diesel, allowing the price to go up according to the market.
“For every THB1 increase in the diesel price, transport operators will have to shoulder a 3 per cent cost increase,” he pointed out. “Therefore, even with the diesel price capped at THB32 per liter, operators are still suffering compared to before May 1.”
Apichart urged the government to temporarily remove biodiesel from circulation until the fuel price returns to normal.
“As the cost of biodiesel is extremely high, at up to THB70 per litre, removing it will help bring down the price of diesel by THB1.5 to THB2 per litre,” he revealed.
“The price of palm oil has risen to THB11-12 per kilogram, which is higher than the government’s guaranteed price, while the demand in global markets is still high. The government should use this opportunity to promote the export of palm oil instead of using it to make biodiesel.”
Apichart added that the association has received complaints that around 50,000 trucks have been carrying twice the load permitted by law in order to save costs, and that he has ordered all operators to coordinate with highway police to identify the culprits by submitting evidence such as video clips or photos.
The Royal Gazette website on Wednesday published a Finance Ministry announcement stipulating that no revenue tax will be collected from subsidies provided under government measures to stimulate the economy or tourism, as well as measures aimed at alleviating people’s financial burden.
The announcement, signed by Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith on May 5, said subsidies under the following schemes will be exempted from tax for tax year 2021.
The Public Health Ministry estimated that the transition of Covid-19 into an endemic could come half a month sooner than its previous estimation of July 1 thanks to the improving situation.
“We are seeing a decreasing number of daily infections, while most confirmed patients have no or mild symptoms with lower severity than even influenza,” ministry permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit said on Wednesday.
“This is due to the increasing number of vaccinations administered that are now covering a majority of the population, which means that Covid-19 could be declared endemic sooner than we thought.”
Kiattiphum said that to prepare for this, the Department of Medical Services is planning to adjust Covid-19 treatment with focus on treating all patients with medium to severe symptoms as in-patients at hospitals to reduce the chance of death. Meanwhile, those with mild or no symptoms will be treated as outpatients and allowed to go into home isolation.
Furthermore, the department will prepare a plan to treat patients with Long Covid symptoms, which could occur in 15 to 30 per cent of patients who have recovered from Covid-19. The plan will focus on integrating patient treatment history among medical institutes after patients are sent home, and monitoring of Long Covid symptoms on a weekly or monthly basis to make sure patients receive suitable treatment in time.
Long Covid could have more than 50 symptoms, the most common being fatigue, shortness of breath, headache, muscle ache, joint ache, chest pain, coughing, diarrhoea, loss of smell, and depression. In some cases, patients are reported to have trouble concentrating, while some athletes said their physical ability was not at the same level before they contracted Covid.
“Although the Covid-19 situation is steadily improving, people are still advised to stick to preventive measures including wearing face masks in crowded spaces or areas with poor ventilation and when interacting with patients, washing one’s hands regularly, and remaining in self-isolation if they have Covid-19 symptoms,” Kiattiphum made clear.
On Thursday Thailand recorded 6,305 Covid-19 cases and 43 deaths in the past 24 hours, while 7,567 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospital. Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022, stand at 2,171,480.
Ministry of Public Health reported on Thursday (May 19) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 6,305 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 2 of whom has arrived in Thailand from abroad.
Death toll increased by 42, while 7,567 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 2,171,480.
The Public Prosecutors Commission on Wednesday unanimously voted to indict a former deputy attorney-general of being careless in making the decision to drop the criminal hit-and-run charge against Red Bull scion Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhaya.
The commission, however, did not find Nate Naksuk of being corrupt or committing malfeasance in deciding to drop the charge of reckless driving causing death against Vorayuth in July 2020.
As a result, the commission decided to suspend the penalty for Nate’s “careless decision” by telling him to leave the public prosecutor’s service retroactively to the date he quit the service that year.
Nate’s decision to drop the charge against Vorayuth led to a public uproar, raising suspicions of public prosecutors trying to help a wealthy suspect escape punishment. Following the public uproar, Nate quit government service two months before he was due to retire at the end of October 2020.
The commission met at the Office of the Attorney-General on Chaeng Wattana Road. The meeting was chaired by Attorney-General Pachara Yuttithamdamrong in his capacity as the chairman of the commission.
The commission had been set up to conduct a serious disciplinary probe against Nate following the public furore. The committee submitted its findings to the attorney-general in the middle of April.
After the meeting, Pachara said 14 commissioners attended the meeting and one took leave of absence. Since six commissioners were on the disciplinary probe panel, they abstained during the vote.
Pachara said the eight remaining commissioners voted unanimously to endorse the findings that Nate had been careless in making the decision to drop the charge against Vorayuth by not comprehensively considering all facts and information in the case.
The commission found Nate of being careless in carrying out his responsibility, and thus causing severe damage to the image of public prosecutors.
Initially, the commission punished Nate by removing him as a public prosecutor but with pension, a level below the penalty of dismissal without pension.
However, the commission found that it was the first time that Nate had been disciplined and that he had not committed any wrongdoing during his 40 years of service. The commission found that Nate did more good than harm to the public prosecutors agency, so the penalty was reduced to just “being told to leave” government service and the resignation date was allowed to be effective from the date Nate quit.
Pachara said the decision of the commission marked the end of the disciplinary probe against Nate. If Nate disagreed with the decision, he can appeal to the Central Administrative Court.
Pachara added that the Office of the Attorney-General would not pursue any criminal charge against Nate either.
Pachara said another former public prosecutor, Chainarong Saengthong-aram, is facing a disciplinary probe by another committee, headed by Prapwhichtpong Sukhon, director of the administration litigation department.
Chainarong has been accused of changing the speed of the car driven by Vorayuth in the investigative report, which had prompted Nate to decide to drop the charge against the Red Bull heir.
Vorayuth was accused of crashing his black Ferrari into a policeman riding a motorcycle in Bangkok and fleeing the scene, after dragging the officer’s body for several dozen metres in 2012.
He is now a fugitive although Thailand has sought help from Interpol for his extradition.
The dropping of the charge against Vorayuth raised questions about crime and punishment for the well-connected.
Vorayuth’s grandfather, Chaleo, was listed as the third richest person in Thailand at the time of his death in 2012, at the age of 88, with an estimated net worth of $5 billion, according to Forbes magazine.
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has deployed officials to check electrical systems and backup power generation in Bangkok’s 50 districts to prepare for governor and council elections this Sunday (May 22).
“MEA technicians have been checking electrical systems at all polling stations and election administration centres in 50 districts to make sure all equipment is working optimally,” MEA director of public relations Jumphot Himajaroen said on Wednesday.
“Our goal is to provide uninterrupted power on election day until the night, when the votes will be counted to ensure a transparent and trouble-free election that everyone is hoping for,” he said.
“Furthermore, on election day the MEA will have emergency teams on standby all 24 hours in case of any power outage to provide backup power,” Jumphot said.
The MEA is urging eligible Bangkokians to exercise their rights this Sunday from 8am to 7pm. If you are not sure which polling station you need to go to, visit: https://stat.bora.dopa.go.th/Election/enqelectloc/#/
To report any electrical malfunction, damage or unsafe power lines or electrical equipment, contact MEA Call Centre 1130 or Facebook: @Metropolitan.Electricity.Authority, Twitter: @MEA_news, Line: MEA Connect, or download the MEA Smart Life mobile app, available for both Android and iOS users at http://onelink.to/measmartlife.
The Public Health Ministry will ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday to allow entertainment venues located in the green zone to open, a source said on Wednesday.
The Public Health Ministry held a meeting on Tuesday for an update on prevention measures, as the Covid-19 situation in Thailand is getting better, including changing provinces’ colour zones.
According to the source, the ministry will propose to the CCSA to add more provinces to the green zone, which will allow entertainment venues to open.
However, the ministry has not decided which provinces and how many provinces will be added to the green zone.
Meanwhile, eight associations have sent a proposal to the government to help their businesses recover and improve their competitive potential in tourism.
The eight associations are: Khaosan Road Business Association; Pattaya City’s Association for Entertainment and Tourism; Restaurant and Goods Product Association; Restaurant Business Association; Entertainment Venues, Pubs, Bars, and Karaoke Operators; Night Restaurant Business Trade Association; Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association; Thailand Bartender Association
They have asked the government to consider seven measures:
1. Declare Covid-19 an endemic on July 1 to fully open the country and cancel the Thailand Pass system;
2. Prepare for the country’s full opening by integrating legal issues efficiently;
3. Allow entertainment venues, pubs, bars, and karaoke that are certified with SHA Plus or Thai Stop COVID 2 Plus standard and have been assessed to open:
Pilot phase from June 1 for tourism area
All over the country from July 1
4. Provincial governors and related agencies must allow entertainment venues, pubs, bars, and karaoke with SHA Plus or Thai Stop COVID 2 Plus standard to open;
5. Provincial governors and related agencies must cooperate with operators and citizens’ associations in each province to campaign and inform people to know and consistently follow public health measures;
6. Review and amend alcoholic beverage control regulations that are vague and not suitable for the current situation because it can be an obstacle for recovery and development of the tourism industry, and be a burden to people and business operators
7. Increase the role of operators and integrate cooperation to share responsibilities for the safety of society and tourists.
Many land owners have decided to use their land to grow crops so they won’t have to pay property tax.
Owners of unused or abandoned land must pay tax of 0.3 per cent of the property’s value, while land used for agriculture is taxed at only 0.01 per cent.
Local administrations can determine whether a land has been abandoned in line with finance and interior ministry regulations.
Faced with having to pay increased tax this year, land owners are turning to agricultural land care businesses for relief.
One such business is Beaverteam.
Managing director Boonchoo Phromson said that apart from growing crops, the company provides a mowing service at THB3,000 per rai.
He pointed out that owners of landlocked properties are affected by the tax the most as these properties cannot be used to grow crops.
Boonchoo said many owners have contacted his company to grow crops on their land, such as Pruksa Real Estate, Thai Life Insurance and Landmark Garden Service.
Meanwhile, the Udon Thani Chamber of Commerce has submitted a letter to the provincial governor, asking the government to reduce property tax by 90 per cent for another two years.
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