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BMA to suffer a loss despite hiking Green Line fare ceiling

NationalFeb 02. 2021

By THE NATION

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will make a loss operating the Green Line extension of the BTS Skytrain despite hiking the fare ceiling from Bt65 to Bt104 effective from February 16, said Praphas Leuangsirinapha, BMA’s Traffic and Transportation Department director.

“The Green Line extension sections from Bearing to Samut Prakarn stations and from Mo Chit to Ku Kot stations had been partly opened for public use since April 3, 2018 and the whole route was opened on December 16, with no additional fees collected throughout the three years,” he said. “However, after opening the whole route, the train operator, Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc [BTSC], has requested BMA to pay the operating fee for the extension sections, forcing the BMA to increase the fare in a bid to earn cash to pay the fee and its debt to BTSC.”

BTSC on Monday issued an ultimatum to BMA to pay its Bt30-billion-plus debt within 60 days or face suspension of Green Line services. The debt includes over Bt9.6 billion in wages for operating the Green Line extension since 2018 and purchase of a train operating system worth over Bt20 billion.

“Based on the actual cost of operation, the fare ceiling of the Green Line should be Bt158,” said Praphas. “To alleviate the financial burden of commuters who have suffered from the fallout of Covid-19, the BMA decided to reduce the ceiling to Bt104, which will inflict a loss of Bt3 billion to Bt4 billion per year. It is estimated that from 2021 to 2029, the BMA will suffer accumulated losses of Bt30 billion to Bt40 billion.”

Praphas added that the fare hike on the Green Line will only be applicable to the extension sections, while the main section, from Mo Chit to On Nut stations, still has the original ceiling of Bt65.

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SET buoyed by jump in crude oil price as Saudis cut output

NationalFeb 02. 2021

By THE NATION

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index rose by 12.97 points, or 0.88 per cent, to 1,491.02 in the morning session on Tuesday.

Krungsri Securities forecast that the SET on Tuesday will move between 1,485-1,490 points, in line with other stock markets in the region, after investors relaxed their focus on the GameStop shares case in Wall Street.

The securities firm said that the stock market was supported by the increased price of crude oil, due to Saudi Arabia reducing its production.

The firm also warned investors about foreign funds continually flowing out.

Besides, it added that investors should purchase stocks whose earnings – to be announced in the near future – show a growth over the previous quarter, such as PTTGC, TOP, IVL, EPG, VNT, CBG, ROJNA, TVO, STGT, CPF, RCL, PSL, SYNEX, COM7, XO, WICE, JMT, JMART, SINGER, MTC, SAW, AD and KCE.

CBG, ICHI, OSP, SAPPE, RBF and DOD, who are benefited after the use of hemp for economic use has been allowed.

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Interior Ministry seeks quick fix for brackish tap water in Bangkok

NationalFeb 02. 2021

By THE NATION

Deputy Interior Minister Niphon Boonyamanee said that his ministry had been coordinating with the Royal Irrigation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to solve the problem of brackish water in the Bangkok metropolitan area.

“During January 28 to February 2, saltwater has intruded the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority’s water supply in Pathum Thani province, so people in Bangkok and surrounding areas will experience brackish tap water in certain times,” he said. “The ministry has urged the Irrigation Department to increase the draining rate to reduce salinity in Chao Phraya and Tha Jin rivers, which should gradually reduce the water’s brackishness.”

Niphon added that the two ministries are also making sure that the water supply will be enough for consumption in metropolitan areas which cover Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakarn provinces during the upcoming drought season.

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Gold price drops this morning

NationalFeb 02. 2021

By THE NATION

The price of gold dropped by Bt50 per baht weight in morning trade on Tuesday, the Gold Traders Association reported.

As of 9.26am, the buying price of a gold bar was Bt26,300 per baht weight and selling price Bt26,400, while gold ornaments were priced at Bt25,832.64 and Bt26,900, respectively.

Hong Kong gold price decreased by HK$80 to $17,170 (Bt66,358) per tael, the Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange Society reported.

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Three protesters arrested, 14 police injured in clashes outside Myanmar embassy

NationalFeb 02. 2021

By THE NATION

Three members of a pro-democracy group were arrested following clashes with riot police in front of the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok on Monday, which resulted in 14 officers being injured.

Protesters led by We Volunteer (WeVo) pro-democracy activists had gathered at 3.30pm to condemn the military takeover in Myanmar and call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other Myanmar government leaders.

Read More: Bangkok riot police clash with anti-coup protesters outside Myanmar Embassy

Police armed with shields and batons attempted to clear the rally on North Sathorn Road at 5pm, claiming the protesters had stayed beyond the agreed timeframe of 30 minutes. The protest site was cleared at 5.40pm, after which police closed off the route from the embassy to the Sathorn-Narathiwat intersection.

Three WeVo members — Wichaphas Srikasiphan (21), Pannaphat Chanthanangkul (20) and Kiattisak Phanrenu (20) — were reportedly arrested. Police also confiscated a pickup truck equipped with loudspeakers that the protesters had used.

The arrested protesters were brought to Yannawa Police Station and were initially charged with holding a public gathering in violation of the emergency decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations, which has been in effect since December 23, 2020 to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.

Fourteen police officers suffered injuries from the scuffles. One policeman suffered a perforated eardrum and the other had a wound on the knee, while 12 officers had only minor injuries. They are being treated at Police General Hospital.

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Upper Thailand gets warmer with morning fog, thundershowers forecast for South

NationalFeb 02. 2021

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department on Tuesday said the high-pressure system over upper Thailand was becoming weaker, resulting in a rise in temperatures by 1-3 degrees Celsius and morning fog.

Meanwhile, the moderate northeast monsoon across the Gulf and the South will bring isolated thundershowers in the lower Gulf and the South. Moderate winds will raise waves up to more than two metres high during thundershowers. All ships should proceed with caution and keep off thundershowers, the department said.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool to cold weatherwith fog in the morning; temperature lows of 14-20 degrees Celsius and highs of 31-35°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 4-10°C.

Northeast: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 16-19°C and highs of 31-34°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 9-13°C.

Central: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 20-21°C, highs of 34-36°C.

East: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 20-24°C, highs of 32-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 21-25°C, highs of 29-32°C; waves two metres high and over two metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-25°C, highs of 32-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Fog in the morning; temperature lows of 23-24°C, highs of 33-35°C.

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Skytrain operator threatens to shut Green Line unless City Hall pays Bt30bn debt

NationalFeb 02. 2021

By The Nation

Skytrain operator Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC) on Monday handed an ultimatum to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA): pay its Bt30 billion-plus debt within 60 days or face suspension of Green Line services.

The debt includes over Bt9.6 billion in wages for operating the Green Line extension since 2018 and purchase of a train operating system worth over Bt20 billion.

The government is yet to respond to the BMA’s earlier request for Green Line funding.

The extension of the BTSC’s Green Line concession for another 30 years until 2059 was delayed for more than one year because government legal advisers said the extension may violate public-private partnership rules, while the Transport Ministry said the fare ceiling was too high.

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Thai-Myanmar checkpoint reopens after coup

NationalFeb 01. 2021

By The Nation

The main border checkpoint between Chiang Rai and Myanmar reopened this afternoon after closing for four hours following a coup d’état in the neighbouring country.

Also read: Border trade screeches to a halt after Myanmar military takeover

Myanmar authorities shut the Mae Sai-Tachileik border checkpoint at the 2nd Friendship Bridge at 9am this morning, an hour after the military seized power and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi along with senior members of her ruling National League for Democracy.

A queue of around 30 trucks carrying fuel and other cargo tailed back from the border gate before it was reopened at 1.30pm.

Mae Sai District Sheriff Prasong La-On held a meeting with relevant agencies to summarise the situation. Four Thai returnees were also able to pass through the reopened checkpoint from Myanmar before being processed for quarantine by Tachileik health officials.

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Nationwide inoculation to kick off in June, Johnson & Johnson makes registration move

NationalFeb 01. 2021

By The Nation

A concrete plan for nationwide Covid-19 inoculation should be ready by mid this month, Dr Sophon Mekthon, chair of the government’s sub-committee on Covid-19 vaccine management, said on Monday.

“We have already prepared a national inoculation plan, which will officially kick off in June once Siam Bioscience starts producing the AstraZeneca vaccine,” Dr Sophon said.

Meanwhile, Johnson and Johnson has reportedly put in for vaccine registration, but the option will only be seriously considered 30 days after all documents are received.

Johnson and Johnson is currently studying the effectiveness of single-dose vaccines.

“If any vaccine company contacts us, it will go through the system immediately. AstraZeneca was expected to send its first batch of vaccines early this month, but due to restrictions placed by the European Union, we will need to extend the delivery period,” Sophon said.

National Vaccine Institute director Dr Nakorn Premsri said Thailand has not blocked opportunities for other companies, such as Johnson and Johnson or Novavax.

Separately, Sinovac has yet to send all the documentation required for approval, as it is still waiting for full approval from Chinese authorities. Thailand has put in for 2 million doses from the Chinese firm and the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently studying the effectiveness and side effects of the Sinovac vaccine before it is given the go-ahead for emergency use in the country.

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Annual Bangkok Jewellery Fair postponed, shifted online

NationalFeb 01. 2021

By The Nation

The 66th Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Fair has been moved online and postponed from February 23-27 to May.

The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), which organises the fair, said the changes were due to the new outbreak of Covid-19 in Thailand.

DITP head Somdet Susomboon said the BGJF Virtual Trade Fair will open up export opportunities for gem and jewellery dealers while also aiding domestic and international exhibitors hit by travel restrictions.

Meanwhile, the 67th Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Fair is on schedule to run from September 11-15 in a hybrid online-offline form at Challenger Hall, Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre.