#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014793

Despite opposition from its labour union, state-run bus operator Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) is going ahead with a plan to hire a private company to operate an electric-vehicle fleet of 400 buses.

BMTA chief executive Kittikan Chomdoung Charuworapolkul said on Thursday that as part of its rehabilitation plan, the agency would get a private company to procure 400 EV buses, as well as drivers and fare collectors, to serve passengers in line with the schedules set by all the eight bus terminals of the BMTA.

The budget for this plan comes from the BMTA’s revenue set aside for maintenance and petrol cost, as well as the state subsidy for public service obligation, according to the CEO.

He dismissed an allegation by the BMTA’s labour union that the executive board was spending too much on hiring a private company to operate the EV fleet — an average of over THB6,000 per bus per day.

Kittikan said the cost was the same as what the BMTA was incurring on its current fleet of normal red-and-beige buses, covering maintenance, petrol, wages for the drivers and fare collectors.

The BMTA’s rehabilitation plan, approved by its executive board recently, calls for 400 EV buses to be operated by a private concessionaire.

An auction is scheduled for May to select the concessionaire, and the winner is required to start procuring EV buses within October, which should comprise at least 30 per cent of the fleet within a year.

The loss-making state enterprise has cumulative debts totalling THB130 billion. Its average cost amounts to THB4 billion per year for maintenance, petrol and personnel.

It gets 500,000 to 600,000 passengers on weekdays and 300,000 to 400,000 on average on holidays, much lower than the 900,000 in 2019, before Covid-19 struck.

Published : April 21, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014792

The Peninsula Plaza, a high-end shopping mall known for designer product outlets, jewellery shops and luxurious gourmet restaurants, is being torn down to make way for a new high-rise hotel with an investment of over 4.6 billion baht.

Located next to the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel on Rajdamri Road for 34 years, the luxury mall was once popular among Bangkok celebrities of the 1980s.

Peninsula Plaza was a landmark once known for its beautiful Christmas tree decorated with colourful lights during the festive season around the New Year.

Its French-style multi-storey building housed over 70 small boutiques for imported elite brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Versace and Gucci, as well as local designers like Kai Boutique and Duangjai Bis.

Well-known Thai jewellers also set up shops there, including Franks Jewelry and Blue River Diamonds, which later changed its name to Sincere Jewelry.

For over three decades, Peninsula Plaza housed Le Jardin, a much-loved restaurant that served Thai and Western cuisine. Le Jardin was among the first to bring boat noodles — a street food known for its thick and aromatic broth — to a luxury mall.

Peninsula Plaza was closed down on March 1 after its land lease with Vajiravudh College expired. Dismantling of the building is expected to take about eight months.

The land plot has now been leased to LH Mall & Hotel Co Ltd, an affiliate of the Land and Houses group of companies. A new 40-storey hotel — Grand Centre Point Ratchadamri 2 — will be built there with 509 rooms.

With an investment of over THB4.6 billion, construction of the new hotel is scheduled to start early next year and be completed in four years. The new hotel is expected to be operational within the third quarter of 2026.

LH Mall & Hotel is preparing an environmental impact assessment report on the project.

The existing Grand Centre Point Ratchadamri Hotel, located just behind the Peninsula Plaza building, will see its lease with Vajiravudh College expire in 15 years.

Published : April 21, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014790

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will on Friday consider further easing Test & Go measures and reopening all land border checkpoints as well as remarking Covid zones.

The meeting of the CCSA on Friday was confirmed by National Security Council secretary-general General Supoj Malaniyom in his capacity as the director of the CCSA operation division.

Supoj was speaking to reporters before attending the meeting of his division to make preparations for the CCSA meeting.

Supoj said the CCSA would consider the prime minister’s proposal to make it more convenient for foreigners to enter the country.

As for unvaccinated people, the CCSA may reduce the number of quarantine days to make it more convenient for travellers, he said.

“For example, if they can prove they have quarantined themselves before departure, the number of quarantine days upon arrival will be reduced,” Supoj said.

He said the CCSA would also ease Test & Go measures so that foreign tourists, and Thais who return from abroad, could enter the country with much more convenience.

He added that the Covid test on foreign arrivals may change from expensive RT-PCR tests to much-cheaper rapid antigen tests as proposed by the tourism sector.

“The CCSA may even stop testing vaccinated people, but this will be considered on Friday,” Supoj added.

The CCSA operation chief said the Test & Go scheme and Thailand Plus registration system cannot be abolished for now but they may be adjusted according to the current system.

“The Thailand Pass registration may be adjusted based on the safety condition to the level that we can accept while making it the most convenient for tourists,” Supoj said.

He said that if the CCSA approves the new relaxed measures, they will take effect on May 1 unless there are untoward situations that prompt the CCSA to delay the implementation.

Supoj said the measures might be relaxed for both air and land travel.

“For land travel, we’ll try to open all border checkpoints around the country and the Interior Ministry will handle this. This plan will also be considered on Friday and all agencies concerned will discuss measures for the reopening. The measures will be similar to the air travel rules but there will be fewer of them,” Supoj said.

He added that it is expected the CCSA would adjust the Covid zoning of the country by improving the orange or Covid-control zones because the situation in the provinces has improved with cooperation from the people and businesses.

He said the CCSA would also discuss measures for allowing schools to resume onsite teaching to full capacity.

“But the CCSA will have to consider safety measures for the schools first,” Supoj said.

The operation chief said the CCSA still sees the need for people to wear masks in public areas as an effective tool for preventing the virus from spreading. He was commenting on some Bangkok governor candidates’ campaign themes that they would push for Bangkok as a pilot city where people can return to normal life without having to wear masks.

He added that officials have been trying to remind some foreign tourists, who refused to wear face masks in public places.

Published : April 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014789

A Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) police team has arrested two Americans at the request of US authorities for allegedly evading job employment taxes worth US$10 million (THB337.5 million).

The arrests were announced at a press conference jointly held by CIB commissioner Pol Lt-General Jirapop Phuridej and US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regional attaché Eric McLoughlin.

The bureau said its officers from the Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU) nabbed the two in Phuket on Tuesday.

The arrests were made at the request of the US department, which sought cooperation from the CIB after learning that the two suspects had fled to Thailand. The DHS has withheld the identities of the two.

It informed the CIB that the two suspects allegedly evaded paying tax on employment of hundreds of illegal immigrants from 2007 to 2021.

The two had a job placement firm in Florida and had placed illegal immigrants for work in hotels, bars and restaurants. The DHS estimated the job employment value at $67 million, reporting that the two had allegedly evaded taxes to the tune of $10 million.

It later obtained arrest warrants, but found both had fled to Thailand.

According to a TCIU investigation, the suspects entered Thailand as tourists and were living in a Phuket villa.

Armed with a search warrant, the TCIU swooped down on the villa and nabbed the two.

Both are expected to be sent back to the United States.

Published : April 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014788

Thailand and South Korea are discussing closer cooperation in promoting the soft power of both countries, particularly their famous foods and sports, Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Thursday.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha discussed the matter while meeting South Korea’s ambassador to Thailand, Moon Seoung-Hyun, at Government House.

Moon called on Prayut to introduce himself as his country’s new ambassador to Thailand.

During their meeting, the Thai leader praised South Korea’s success in promoting its soft power globally while mentioning Thailand’s cultural fame. The PM called for closer cooperation between the two countries in this area for mutual benefits, according to the spokesman.

Prayut suggested that Thailand and South Korea pair their famous cultures and sports with high potential for joint promotional campaigns so that they are better known globally.

The PM also expressed his pleasure that peoples of both countries have a mutual admiration for their cultures, which he viewed as a “bridge” for expanding cooperation in other areas, particularly tourism, according to the spokesman.

Both sides also agreed to work closely regarding cooperation on economy, trade and investment. The PM invited South Koreans to invest in the Eastern Economic Corridor. The South Korean ambassador offered his support and asked for the green light for more South Korean banks to operate in Thailand.

Published : April 21, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014772

Bangkok governor candidate Sakoltee Phattiyakul said on Wednesday that he is suing Wiroj Alee and Lakkhana Panwichai, two hosts of the Talking Thailand programme on Voice TV, for alleged defamation.

Sakoltee, who is running independently for the governor’s office after resigning as deputy governor, said on Facebook that the two hosts, whom he did not know personally, criticised his past actions and political ideology, using vulgar language on the programme, which was aired on March 24 and April 11.

“I understand I am a public figure and therefore a target of public criticism. I have always been open to constructive criticism from the public and journalists throughout my career,” he pointed out.

“However, talking about me, my ideology, as well as what I posted on social media using that kind of language is beyond journalistic responsibility. Therefore, I have decided to file defamation charges against these two,” he said.

Sakoltee said his lawyer would file a case with the Criminal Court on Friday.

He suggested internet users should be careful when posting on social media so that “others cannot use it against you in the future”.

He was referring to his role as one of the co-leaders of the now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee protest movement, which held street demonstrations against the Yingluck Shinawatra administration in late 2013. This culminated in the 2014 coup.

The election of a new Bangkok governor and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Council will be held on May 22.

Published : April 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014771

Cannabis lovers went on a parade in Bangkok on Wednesday to celebrate World Cannabis Day.

The parade was held by the Alliance of Citizens’ Cannabis Association for the first time in Thailand.

It commenced from Victory Monument and ended at the event site at Khao San Road.

Published : April 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014770

The severity and evolution of Covid-19 must be monitored even after it is declared endemic, top virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan advised on Thursday.

Chulalongkorn University’s Yong took to Facebook to summarise ten points:

1. Covid-19 cannot be completely eradicated and people will have to live with it forever.

2. After two years of spreading, the severity is decreasing due to mutations.

3. The incubation period is only two to five days, so the quarantine period has been only seven days and another three days to monitor symptoms in a bid to prevent Covid from spreading.

4. There is no need to record the timeline of the spread because the virus is spreading everywhere, so it is hard to record.

5. The virus can be easily spread among families so the number of patients is high, which would also bring immunity. But there is a chance Covid can spread among a large number of people or students, such as in schools, as we have seen with influenza.

6. Severe symptoms are usually found in people in vulnerable groups, elders, or people with underlying diseases.

7. It is necessary to receive booster doses to reduce the severity of the virus.

8. Antiviral drugs are being developed and they will be more efficient in reducing severity especially with patients in risk groups.

9. It is important to continue conducting research for the benefit of controlling, preventing and treating the disease.

10. Preventive measures such as washing one’s hands, wearing masks and keeping a social distance are still necessary until the disease is declared endemic or a seasonal respiratory illness, he concluded.

Published : April 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014769

The Land Transport Association of Thailand is considering hiking transport fees to cover increasing costs after the Cabinet decided to remove the 30 baht per litre cap on the price of diesel from May 1.

“Without this, we believe the price of diesel will gradually increase to match the global price of crude oil, and could eventually reach 40 baht per litre,” association president Apichart Pairoonrueng said on Wednesday.

“The association will hold a meeting soon to discuss appropriate transport fees and a suitable time frame to implement the increase,” Apichart said.

Transport companies, he said, have been holding off on raising fees since January to avoid adding burden to product manufacturers, who are likely to raise product prices if the transport cost increases.

“We have tried every possible way to convince the government to lower the diesel price, including holding a rally and strike as permitted by the law,” said Apichart.

“If the government goes ahead and stops fixing the price, truckers may have to rally again to let people know about our situation,” he warned.

Apichart said the association had proposed two measures to bring down the diesel price, namely removing all biodiesel formula and collecting diesel excise tax at the same rate as aircraft fuel tax.

“These measures could help make diesel cheaper by 4-5 baht per litre, but the Energy Ministry has never accepted these measures as they are only focusing on helping growers of oil palm, which are not the majority,” he pointed out.

“In the past, the government has twice offered a subsidy to truck operators of 3,000 baht per vehicle for three months, but we did not accept this,” he said.

“Seeing that the association has more than 400,000 members, the government would have spent billions of taxpayers’ money on truckers. We don’t want that to happen. Instead, we want to see measures that benefit the majority of people, namely bringing down fuel prices,” he added.

Published : April 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014768

The Public Health Ministry will on Friday ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to cancel the Test & Go scheme for foreign arrivals, Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told The Nation on Wednesday.

“If the number of new patients hovers around only 20,000 per day, I think we have a chance to relax the entry regulations,” Anutin said.

However, he said, all foreign visitors will still need to take an ATK test.

Anutin also confirmed that the number of vaccines is currently sufficient.

He asked people to get a fourth dose of vaccine so the country can “progress” and “everyone can live normally”.

Currently, travellers who enter the country via the Test & Go scheme must be fully vaccinated. They have to register via Thailand Pass and book an approved SHA Extra+ or Alternate Quarantine hotel for the day of arrival. They also need to have minimum insurance coverage of US$20,000 (THB675,000). Additionally, all entrants are required to take a RT-PCR test on arrival.

International travellers hoping to visit Thailand will need to monitor the key CCSA meeting on Friday for the latest requirements.

Published : April 21, 2022

By : THE NATION