Thread: Thai PM Srettha Thavisin receives royal endorsement

• Chuan explains why he voted against Srettha for PM

Former prime minister Chuan Leekpai said that he did not endorse premiers PM Srettha Thavisin’s premiership because he comes from a party which discriminated against southern people.

Speaking in parliament during the debate on the government’s police statement on Tuesday, Chuan explained that, as a long-time southern MP, he shared the grievance of the southern people when the Thai Rak Thai party, a predecessor of the Palang Prachachon and Pheu Thai parties, adopted a selective policy by which it would only develop provinces whose people voted for them.

Because of this biased policy of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai party, Chuan said that they did not win a single seat in the southern region as the people there boycotted them.

Chuan, former leader of the Democrat party, said that endorsing Srettha’s prime ministerial candidacy over a month ago would have been a betrayal of the trust of southern people and, hence, the Democrat party adopted a resolution to abstain, but he sought permission from the party to vote against the candidacy.

Chuan admitted that he does not know Srettha personally and they only became acquainted when he paid a brief visit to his office in parliament.

The former prime minister said that Srettha’s qualifications are no less than previous prime ministers adding, however, that it is too early to judge his honesty and integrity.

Chuan said, however, that he is sceptical when businessmen play politics, because he had that experience before.

While noting that businessmen entering politics is fine, as long as they do not turn politics into business for their vested interests, Chuan disclosed that he had about ten political friends who were sentenced to various prison terms, because they turned politics into business, as he advised Srettha not to make the same mistake.

Responding to Chuan’s address, the prime minister thanked him for the advice, adding that, even though he was a businessman before, as the prime minister, he will dedicate himself for the good of the people.

He said his government will try its best to restore peace and order in the restive southern provinces and will treat all Thai people, where ever they are, equally and with fairness.

• Cabinet takes steps to ease cost of living, sets dates for visa-free scheme

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin set up a committee on Tuesday to oversee the implementation of his government’s much-publicised 10,000 baht digital wallet scheme.
The committee will be chaired by the premier himself in his capacity as finance minister, Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said.

In the policy statement delivered to Parliament on September 11, the Pheu Thai-led coalition had stated that the 10,000 baht digital wallet handout would not be a burden on the country’s public debt and would adhere to stringent financial discipline.

The project will be initially funded under the budgetary framework, though details on the timeline and funding allocation for the scheme will be determined later, he added.

Srettha’s first visit to the Finance Ministry is scheduled for Thursday, where he will oversee the presentation of work policy to the chiefs of various government departments and state enterprises.

Separately, the Cabinet has also given the green light to paying civil servants twice a month from January 1 onwards. More details on this policy will be provided in due course.

The aim of this bi-monthly payment is to alleviate the financial burden on civil servants and reduce the need for loans, Srettha said.

The Cabinet also discussed measures to reduce the cost of living and stimulate the economy. Top on the agenda were measures like reducing the price of diesel to below 30 baht a litre from September 20 and granting free visas to China and Kazakhstan nationals. The visa-free policy is expected to kick in from September 25 to February 29 next year.

Srettha has also promised measures to provide debt relief to farmers and small businesses for a duration of three years.

In addition, the government has promised to reduce the cost of electricity from 4.45 baht to 4.10 baht per kilowatt-hour. The cut, though not as much as initially expected, will go into effect from the September billing cycle.

Cabinet cuts electricity and diesel prices | Thai PBS World

Deputy PM Phumtham to head efforts to amend 2017 charter

The Pheu Thai-led coalition wrapped up its Cabinet’s first meeting on Wednesday by appointing Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai to spearhead efforts to amend the current Constitution.

Making the 2017 charter more democratic was one of the many promises Pheu Thai made to voters while campaigning for the May 14 general election.

In the course of the first Cabinet meeting, Phumthum was put in charge of overseeing the constitutional amendment process. His immediate task is to set up a committee and conduct a comprehensive study on the matter.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters that his government would involve Parliament in the amendment process, which includes determining the specifics of the referendum.

Srettha said he wants every sector, including the public, to have a hand in shaping the new “democratic” framework.

The government also listed the Articles that can and cannot be revised, such as those concerning the monarchy, when declaring its policies to Parliament on Monday. This declaration drew strong criticism from the key opposition party, Move Forward.

Move Forward MP Parit Wacharasindhu argued that Pheu Thai had broken the promise it made before taking office. He said the party had declared that a charter-drafting assembly, chosen by the people, would be set up to draw up a new Constitution. However, he said, this subject was omitted in the government policies.

In response to these concerns, Phumtham said he needed to be “careful” while working on the matter as the subject is sensitive and may spark disputes in society.

However, he promised that detailed discussions on the Constitution would be held in the future.

• Energy Ministry promises to cut gasoline price "soon"

Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga has given his assurance that his ministry will work with the Commerce Ministry to reduce the marketing fee for gasoline (benzine) to two instead of three baht/litre, primarily to help cabbies and motorcycle taxi drivers.

Yesterday (Wednesday), the cabinet decided to cut the excise tax on diesel to 2.50 baht/litre, effective from September 20, and the electricity price from 4.45 to 4.10 baht per unit, starting in the September billing cycle.

Regarding the cut in the price of electricity, Pirapan explained that the cabinet has instructed the Energy Regulatory Commission of Thailand to coordinate with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to extend the debt repayment periods for both the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and Provincial Electricity Authority, backed by government’s assurance that the debts owed to EGAT will be fully repaid.

Even though the cabinet did not decide to cut the gasoline price yesterday, the energy minister offered his assurance that his ministry will press ahead with the price cut by reducing the marketing fee.

He also said that the government will liberalise the importation of finished oil products by allowing new importers, such as the transport sector, to import them if they have the storage capacity, such as oil depots.

PM: Fortnightly salary payment is optional


The fortnightly payment of civil servants' salaries will now be optional, with those who prefer to stick to their monthly salaries still able to do so,

• Advancing Thai democracy requires more political cooperation: ‘Madame Dear’

Leading Democrat figure Watanya Bunnag, known as "Madam Dear", on Thursday called for cooperation among political parties to move Thailand further towards democracy.

Referring to the Cabinet’s declaration of its policies earlier this week, Watanya said many policies promised to voters before the May 14 election were not included or were mentioned in broad terms, such as equality and the development of democracy.

The party's chief of political innovation for Bangkok – who is also the wife of Nation Group CEO Shine Bunnag – added that the Cabinet described its 10,000 baht digital wallet policy with more clarity than its other policies.

The Cabinet did not pay as much attention to other issues, such as the environment, human rights, education, labour, government decentralisation, and wealth distribution, she said, adding that this was especially true for amending the charter.

Watanya added that the digital wallet policy aims to restore confidence and popularity even though many economists have warned that it could damage Thailand's long-term financial status.

She said that many people lost hope that Thai politics would change after Pheu Thai formed a coalition with political parties linked to former Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

She said that people knew a behind-the-scenes deal was part of the coalition's formation, and that it benefited politicians instead of the national interest.

She also described the May 14 election as a battle between parties seeking change and those wanting to perpetuate the current system.

It is undeniable that poverty and inequality continue to plague Thailand, Watanya said.

She called for cooperation among political parties and respect for differences in political views in order to make Thailand more democratic.

Cooperation is necessary for maintaining government stability, Watanya said, adding that the government cannot develop and implement policies without support from members of the previous governing coalition.

This is a challenge for Democrats too, she said.

• Interior Ministry working to get rid of abusive local powers: Anutin

The Interior Ministry is considering revising its definition of “influential figures” to include local administrators who abuse their power as if they were above the law, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday.

He said the current definition covers 16 types of people involved in various criminal activities, including trade in drugs, contraband, and illegal petrol, prostitution, and fixing of bidding for government projects.

“We will see if more types of people should be added to the existing definition to better reflect the current situation,” said Anutin, who is the leader of Bhumjaithai Party, the second-largest partner in the coalition.

“The police are dealing with this matter, but the Interior Ministry also has to offer a hand in matters within the scope of our jurisdiction,” he added.

His remarks came after a controversy involving a wealthy kamnan in Nakhon Pathom province who allegedly told his guard to shoot a local senior police officer during a party held at his house. The police officer succumbed to injuries from multiple gunshots.

The 16 types of “influential figures” also include people involved in illegal lending, extortion of protection money, illegal gambling, human smuggling, and hired guns.

The interior minister said on Thursday that his ministry was going to take measures to prevent local administrators who have become influential by using their power to threaten, persecute, or even take the life of innocent people in their area of jurisdiction.

“They can’t be allowed to get away getting someone killed or assaulted simply because they don’t like those people,” Anutin said.

He also said that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had instructed relevant state agencies to seriously address the issue, as well as strictly enforce the gun law.

“The Interior Ministry will impose limits on gun possession. Firearms must only be in the hands of people who use them properly,” he said.

Anutin said that he had instructed senior ministry officials to ensure strict enforcement of the law. “Public officials are required to act properly. We can’t allow one rotten fish to bring its stench to the whole room. There are so many good village heads and kamnans. We will get rid of bad ones,” he said.

Anutin said that he had instructed provincial governors all over the country to ensure that no local administrators in their province were involved in any illegal activities or abusing their authority for personal gains.

A kamnan is the chief of tambon, a cluster of villages.

New Thai trade representative appointed

The Cabinet has formally acknowledged the appointment of Nalinee Taveesin as Thai Trade Representative and an advisor to the prime minister.

Nalinee was born on February 12, 1960, as Nalinee Suthipak. She married Pitinan Taveesin and when they divorced some years later, Nalinee kept the family name.

She previously served serve as a Thai Trade Representative under then prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra in 2011. She was later appointed as PM’s Office Minister, overseeing several government agencies, including the Royal Academy, the National Research Council of Thailand and the Office of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council.

In January 2012, she was accused of having business connections with the Zimbabwean regime. This subsequently led to the US imposing financial sanctions on Nalinee. Nonetheless, she refused to step down, insisting that she had done nothing illegal and her affiliations with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace were strictly social.

The US Treasury Department imposed the sanctions on her for her alleged involvement in financial, real estate and gem transactions on behalf of Robert Mugabe’s spouse.

Nalinee left the position in October 2012 and, about a month later, she replaced Worawi Makudi as Thai Trade Representative.

• Tourism and sports minister sets her sights high

Under the management of minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports aims to push Thailand as Asia’s new hub of entertainment, directly competing with Singapore in the organisation of sports and entertainment events.

“Events hosted in Thailand must be unique, huge, creative and continuous,” Sudawan said on Thursday. “We will harness our soft power to push the tourism industry forward and compete with Singapore for a top spot in entertainment event organisation.”

The first-time MP and minister added that she is committed to reviving Thailand’s tourism industry to contribute to the country’s economy following the policy of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

The PM announced on Wednesday that the Cabinet had approved the policy to allow tourists from China and Kazakhstan to enter Thailand without a visa for five months (September 25-Febrauary 29) in a bid to promote tourism.

The visa-free policy is expected to draw 700,000 Chinese tourists per month in the last three months of this year. Foreign arrivals from other countries are expected to increase too, she added.

The ministry also plans to hold marketing campaigns overseas to publicise the visa-free campaign as well as promote a positive image of Thailand to attract foreign tourists, she said

The ministry has set a target of 28 million foreign tourists in 2023, with total tourism revenue (from both Thai and foreign tourists) reaching 2.38 trillion baht, or about 80% of that generated in 2019.

Tourism revenue should reach 3 trillion baht or 100% of pre-Covid levels by 2024, said Sudawan.

She has also set what she calls a “challenging” target to reach revenue of 4 trillion baht as quickly as possible. Under this target, 3 trillion baht would come from foreign tourists, a rise of nearly 60% from 2019, while the revenue from domestic travellers is expected to be about 1 trillion baht per year.

• New constitution will be acceptable to all sides, Phumtham assures

Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai reassured on Thursday that a new constitution to be written under this government would be “acceptable to all sides involved”.
He said Thailand needs a new constitution that is “more democratic”, but he promised that the first two chapters in the current charter involving the kingdom’s sovereignty and the monarchy would be left intact.

“This government will keep its promise [about having a new constitution drafted]. … There must be a new constitution that is more democratic, but Chapters 1 and 2 will not be touched,” said Phumtham, who is deputy leader of the coalition’s core partner Pheu Thai Party.

There has been concern, particularly among conservatives, that the first two chapters about the kingdom’s unity and the monarchy may be rewritten to allow changes in the country’s status from an indivisible kingdom and a constitutional monarchy.

Phumtham, who doubles as the commerce minister, also said that a new constitution was expected to provide more protection to people’s rights and liberties while making it easier for the administration to run the country.

He said a new committee would be set up that consists of representatives from diverse groups of people to help determine a “balanced point” in the move to write a new constitution.

“They are going to tackle [differences] one by one to reach a point that all sides can accept. We need to start from accepting the fact that this constitution makes any amendment difficult,” Phumtham said.

The deputy PM said the new panel would include legal experts from all political parties.

He said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had instructed that the committee be set up as soon as possible to “draw participation from all sides involved”.

To write a new constitution, the current one must be amended to allow that.

Phumtham noted on Thursday that eight such amendment bills had been submitted over the four years during the previous House of Representatives, but none of them got through Parliament.

He said the Constitutional Court had ruled that voters must be asked in a national referendum to decide whether the current Constitution should be amended to allow a new charter to be written.

According to Phumtham, as many as four referendums would be required for a new constitution and holding national votes for those would cost an estimated 20 billion baht.

The 2017 Constitution, which was written under the post-coup junta, appears designed to make amendments extremely difficult. To amend a clause, support is required from all sides involved – junta-appointed senators, the ruling coalition, and political parties outside the government.

Proponents of an amendment must first get support from at least one-fifth of the lower House, or 100 MPs, to submit a motion. The proposed amendment then requires backing from more than half of both Houses of Parliament, or a minimum of 376 votes, to pass the first reading. Those votes must include at least one-third of all 250 senators, or 84 votes.

To pass the second reading, the proposed amendment requires a simple majority from both Houses (500 MPs and 250 senators), or at least 376 votes.

In the third and final reading, majority support from both Houses is required, but the supporters must include at least 84 senators and at least 20% of all MPs from political parties not represented in the Cabinet or holding the posts of House speaker or deputy speaker.

Originally Posted by S Landreth

while making it easier for the administration to run the country.

to rig "democracy" in their favour

Originally Posted by S Landreth

“They are going to tackle [differences] one by one to reach a point that all sides can accept.

all sides comprising the current parties form the Govt

Originally Posted by S Landreth

According to Phumtham, as many as four referendums would be required for a new constitution and holding national votes for those would cost an estimated 20 billion baht.

Why only 4 and 20Bn, lets make it 50Bn and as many as is required to ensure pockets are well lined and a status quo maintained.

Originally Posted by S Landreth

Those votes must include at least one-third of all 250 senators, or 84 votes.

so the real part that needs changing is going to require the vote of the military scum that need to be removed as part of the process. Just what change are they proposing that will be meaningful

• As head of government, Srettha is swift to get down to business

Formerly a top executive from the corporate world, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has his unique style of running the government.

This was reflected during the first official meeting of his Cabinet on Wednesday, which saw a swift meeting process, a clear follow-up schedule, and a long list of instructions for relevant state agencies and government ministers.

Its first formal meeting came just a day after the new Cabinet delivered its policy statement in a parliamentary meeting on Monday and Tuesday.

Srettha was president and chief executive of property giant Sansiri Plc before entering politics this year as a prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai Party, which is now the ruling coalition’s largest partner.

Political observers noted that Srettha’s style of chairing his Cabinet meeting was totally different from that of his immediate predecessor, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who held the top political job for nine consecutive years. During Prayut’s tenure, a typical Cabinet meeting often lasted longer.

Srettha’s first Cabinet meeting progressed swiftly because the PM had met representatives from relevant state agencies on the previous day to discuss the matters to be considered by the Cabinet. These included a proposal to allow visa-free entry for tourists from China and Kazakhstan. On the eve of his first Cabinet meeting, PM Srettha discussed the matter in detail with officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Tourism and Sports, as well as security agencies.

A meeting to review the 2024 state budget involving four economic agencies, which was chaired by Srettha, was completed in just half an hour, as the participants had discussed the relevant numbers at their previous meeting.

Regarding government policies that need to be finalised, the PM instructed responsible Cabinet members to look into the matter and report their progress within an exact timeframe. Government ministers were also advised to set up their working groups to coordinate with relevant agencies if needed.

For observers, this appears to be modelled after a CEO style of running a large business. It differs from the past, when the Cabinet waited for policy proposals from ministries and other agencies. It was a lengthy process for proposals to reach the Cabinet and for the prime minister to make instructions.

At his first Cabinet meeting, PM Srettha gave instructions regarding 14 matters to relevant ministers and agencies, according to government spokesman Chai Watcharong.

The Prime Minister’s Office was assigned to organise the 72nd birthday celebration of His Majesty the King on July 28 next year.

Deputy Premier Phumtham Wechayachai was assigned to appoint a committee to study how to hold a referendum on drafting a new constitution. Phumtham was also assigned to chair a committee tasked with making preparations for droughts over the next three years due to El Nino.

Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat and relevant agencies were assigned to finalise the government project to transfer 10,000 baht into the digital wallets of every Thai aged 16 and over. Julapun was also instructed to set up a working group on a debt moratorium for farmers and operators of small and medium-sized businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was assigned to set up a working group to deal with the problem of illegal firearms. Anutin was also instructed to implement the visa-free policy starting from September 25.

Deputy Premier and Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga was assigned to devise measures to reduce electricity and fuel prices as soon as possible.

Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew was instructed to set up a working group to upgrade the universal healthcare programme.

• PM Srettha might move to live in Government House

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin says he is thinking about moving into the Government House living quarters, to ease the daily traffic congestion possibly caused by his motorcade.

Srettha Thavisin told The Standard in an interview that his own residence is in the heart of Bangkok, travel to and from which in a motorcade could worsen the already heavy traffic.

Moreover, moving to Government House would reduce the cost of motorcades and save on fuel.

Chai Watcharong, the government spokesman, told the media after the cabinet meeting last week that Srettha had asked cabinet members to reduce the amount of taxpayers’ money spent on their travel and to reduce the number and size of motorcades, to limit their negative impacts.

Before taking office, the prime minister reportedly said that he wished to redecorate some rooms in the Pakdibodin building, which is in the Government House compound, and turn them into “relaxation rooms”.

His predecessor, Prayut Chan-o-cha, took Srettha on a guided tour of the Government House compound. Srettha told The Standard that he floated the idea of living in Government House, adding that Prayut supported the plan but warned that some may see such a move as grandstanding.

• Labour minister promises minimum wage hike as New Year's gift

Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn promised on Friday that the minimum daily wage would be raised by November as a “New Year's present” for Thai workers.

“The minimum daily wage would definitely be hiked within this year. The proposal would be submitted for the Cabinet's consideration on September 25 so that the new wages could be announced within November, in time to become a New Year's present for Thais,” Phiphat said.

The labour minister was speaking during his visit to the head office of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), where he was welcomed by senior FTI executives, including its chairman Kriengkrai Thiennukul.

They discussed the proposed increase in minimum wage and also the need to raise labour productivity.

Phiphat disclosed that he had discussed the wage increase with FTI, which was a representative of the business sector, because it had a good understanding about labour issues.

The labour minister said he was aware of the widespread concern in the private sector regarding the proposed increase in minimum wage.

“I will discuss with relevant agencies the proposals I received today so that the issue can be tackled precisely, with no severe impact on employers and with an outcome that is acceptable to employees,” he said.

Phiphat did not say by how much the minimum daily wage would be increased. Earlier, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had reportedly said that the amount should be raised to 400 baht per day by the year-end.

Thailand’s minimum daily wage ranges between 328 and 354 baht, depending on the province.

During their meeting with the labour minister on Friday, FTI executives pointed to Thailand’s need to improve labour productivity to boost competitiveness.

Kriengkrai said the FTI was working closely with the Labour Ministry to improve the country's labour productivity and competitiveness. “We need support from the Labour Ministry for the industrial sector to grow,” he added.

The FTI chairman also said that Thai industries needed to adapt in order to survive the digital transformation. They have to transform themselves from original equipment manufacturers to original design manufacturers or original brand manufacturers.

He said Thai manufacturers needed to adopt digital and automation technologies while replacing unskilled labour with high-skilled labour.

Meanwhile, FTI vice chairman Suchart Chantaranakaracha asked the Labour Ministry to push for improvement of labour productivity to boost Thailand’s competitiveness.

He also suggested that the government finance efforts to produce more graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to meet the high demand in the labour market.

Suchart called for government incentives to encourage businesses to hire more elderly people in order to help ease labour shortages as the country is becoming an ageing society. He also suggested upskilling and reskilling for elderly people to facilitate their return to the labour market.

He said the FTI supported the idea of “paying by skills” to increase the earnings of workers while helping their employers to cut production costs.

Phiphat said he agreed with the idea of paying a minimum wage in accordance with a worker's skills, which he described as a “fair option”.

“We will set no flat rate for the minimum daily wage. They will be paid as per the worker's skills and experience. A universal rate would be unfair to workers with skills and experience,” the labour minister said.

• Health Ministry launches swift vaccine project to prevent cervical cancer

At least 1 million doses of HPV vaccine will be administered to Thai women aged 11 to 20 within the next 100 days, Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew said.

The move is part of the ministry's “Quick Wins” project, which aims to create a set of practical accomplishments within 100 days.

In an effort to maximise cervical cancer prevention in Thailand, the country's public health ministry launched a free HPV vaccination programme for children in 2018.
The vaccine was expected to be distributed free of charge to Grade 5 students in 2019, along with cervical cancer screenings.

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the programme was temporarily suspended, leaving students who are now 13 to 15 years old without the necessary vaccination.

Chonlanan explained that the public health department will work with the Department of Disease Control to accelerate the development of vaccination guidelines, while the Provincial Public Health Office assesses the number of target groups.

He will grant the National Health Security Office the authority to expedite the procurement of additional HPV vaccines.

"The vaccination will be divided into two groups. The first group will be female students in grades 5-12 who will be immunised through a school-based programme in collaboration with the Education Ministry. Another group will consist of Thai women who have already graduated from high school. They can get the vaccine at any local hospital across the country," he said.

• PM orders working committee to tackle illegal narcotics

A working committee has been set up to tackle illegal narcotics, with the active participation of the military and the aim of reducing the problem within a year, according to Thailand’s prime minister Srettha Thavisin today (Sunday).

After witnessing the destruction of seized narcotics by the Office of Narcotics Control Board in Samut Prakan province, the prime minister said that details about the working committee and how it will tackle the problem will be disclosed in due course, including such issues as the seizure of assets from the traffickers, money laundering and the time frame for the destruction of seized narcotics.

He noted that the military will play a more active role in preventing the smuggling of narcotics into Thailand from neighbouring countries.

Smuggling of methamphetamine in particular, from Myanmar and Laos, has intensified in recent years, with up to several million pills at a time being smuggled across the porous border.

The prime minister said that all relevant state agencies, such as the Interior and Public Health ministries, will be involved in the crackdown efforts.

Regarding cannabis, which has been removed from the Category 5 drug list and is more easily available through legal channels, the prime minister said the use of cannabis is restricted to medical purposes only and is not for recreation.

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• PM tells police of stationary car to turn engine off

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has been praised after he told a police who parked his police car with engine on to turn it off during his official visit in Chiang Mai province on Saturday.

The incident happened when Srettha was visiting Mae Kuang Udom Thara dam in Chiang Mai.

The incident came to light after an X user posted a video clip, showing Srettha was walking by a police car whose engine was running when he stopped and told a police sitting inside to turn off the engine.

The twitter user who posed the clip wrote, “PM Srettha scolds the police sitting in the car to do his duties.” Srettha, using his X account, later answered, “No krub, I did not scold him, I just told him to turn off the engine.”

The police was seen getting off the vehicle and turned off the engine. The police was part of security detail of Srettha’s visit to the dam.

The video clip went viral, scores of netizens praised Srettha, a former CEO of Sansiri company, for being aware of fuel save and environment protection.

A twitter user recounted an incident when he was parking his car with engine running at a parking lot in front of Sansri company in Bangkok, a security guard came to tell him to turn on the engine.

However some others netizens criticised him of paying too much attention on the details.

• PM Srettha sets agenda for his attendance at the UNGA

Thailand's 30th prime minister, Srettha Thavisin is set to attend the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in New York from September 18 - 24, marking his first overseas mission as premier.

This event provides an opportunity for him to engage with foreign leaders, heads of international organisations and key figures.

His agenda during his participation in UNGA 78 includes:

- Attending the United Nations General Assembly 78th session, his first international mission as Prime Minister, and offers the chance to engage with foreign leaders, heads of international organisations, and key figures to strengthen international cooperation through both bilateral and multilateral frameworks.
- Activities related to the United Nations, such as delivering a statement during the session's general debate.
- Giving the welcoming remarks at the high-level event hosted by Thailand and ASEAN on “Fostering Partnership for Our Common Future: Enhancing Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to Accelerate the SDGs in ASEAN”.
- Participation in the Climate Ambition Summit, where he will discuss Thailand's role in environmental cooperation and climate change.
- Participation in the high-level meeting on the Global Development Initiative (GDI) Cooperation Outcome, where the prime minister will present Thailand’s contributions to international efforts addressing global challenges, including environmental and climate-related issues.

Additionally, the prime minister is eager to meet with prominent international corporations and has scheduled meetings with executives from the US-Asean Business Council (USABC), the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC), and various American private sector representatives. These meetings aim to enhance confidence and reaffirm Thailand's policy direction supporting trade and investment with foreign countries.

Several meetings with leaders of several countries have been confirmed, while others are still pending confirmation, including discussions regarding naval submarines with the German Chancellor.

• PM Srettha lays out visionary policies during Thairath forum

The Thai-language daily held the forum under the theme “Future Perfect and New Perspectives” on Monday at its headquarters in Bangkok.

Also present were members of Srettha’s Cabinet, including foreign, labour, digital economy and society, and culture ministers along with the deputy finance minister.

In the discussion, Srettha explained his working style, saying he needed to adapt to a larger government structure after transitioning from the private sector. He highlighted the importance of addressing people’s concerns promptly and taking action on critical issues such as reducing the price of diesel and electricity. Negotiations are underway to further reduce electricity costs for the general public.

He also spoke about the possibility of offering free visas to Indian tourists, though said complexities in visa applications and limited incoming flights from India have delayed the policy’s approval.

The government plans to engage in high-level discussions with Indian authorities by the end of the year, Srettha said, adding that Indian tourists’ high-spending habits should be encouraged. Thailand is a popular destination for Indian weddings.

The premier also discussed economic policies, with a focus on expediting actions wherever possible, such as debt repayment delays for farmers.

The government is considering long-term policies, especially those that impact the public directly, like the 10,000 baht digital wallet scheme. The government aims to take clear action on the scheme by February so it can help boost market liquidity, production and job opportunities, and ultimately improve the country’s GDP.

Srettha also said minimum wage policy adjustments are also under consideration, with details like the duration and exact increase still being finalised. The minimum wage rate is expected to be increased to 400 baht per day by year-end and should improve business and industrial market access, he said.

As for the 20-baht flat fare policy for public transportation, Srettha said that though it is challenging, it will be pursued immediately. He hopes it will be in place within three months.

Another topic on the agenda was drought management. He said his government plans to encourage the cultivation of water-efficient crops and effective water management, especially in the Northeast. He said efficient water management may require canal and reservoir dredging, which could involve collaboration with the military.

As for addressing income inequality, the PM stressed transparent resource allocation and wise use of state resources. Srettha said he knows his actions are being closely observed and is committed to avoiding favouritism. He said his aim is to work closely with civil servants and ensure all policies are implemented efficiently.

On international relations, Srettha said Thailand’s neutrality is important, especially when it comes to the US-China conflict. He said clarity of Thailand’s stand at global summits is necessary to ensure there are no negative implications.

As for US President Joe Biden not stopping off in Thailand during his recent regional tour, Srettha said there is no point in dwelling on the past. Instead, he said, his aim is to focus on the present and future international missions, including discussions with world leaders and attracting more investors to Thailand.

He highlighted Thailand’s global agricultural potential, rich culture and software abilities that can expand into international markets.

The discussion wrapped up with a focus on adapting to the changing landscape and addressing public needs and concerns.

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In other news.

• PM Srettha is visiting Beijing in early October

• Govt to finalise implementation of digital wallet scheme in 10 days

The details of the government’s 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme would be proposed for Cabinet approval within the next 10 days, Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said on Monday (September 18).

The government is currently discussing with the Finance Ministry, the Budget Bureau, the National Economic and Social Development Council and various other state agencies. They would discuss adjustment proposals, especially regarding the terms and conditions for spending the digital wallet money within a 4-kilometre radius to make it more suitable, Julapun said.

The prime minister had given them a 14-day deadline, but now they have only 10 days left, he said. He was confident that finalising the details would not pose a problem as discussions would be speeded up, with a clear framework for project funding, detailed conditions for digital spending, and various funding sources to be included in the proposal for approval at the Cabinet’s next meeting.

Paetongtarn ready to be new Pheu Thai leader, wants Thaksin treated at home

Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Tuesday she is ready to become the next leader of Pheu Thai if the party chooses her to succeed Cholnan Srikaew, who quit on August 30.
Cholnan had promised to resign as leader if the party formed a government with the Palang Pracharath or United Thai Nation parties, which it duly did.

Paetongtarn, the daughter of former premier and Pheu Thai patriarch Thaksin Shinawatra, was speaking at an event to mark the party’s 16th anniversary at Pheu Thai headquarters on Tuesday.

“I will accept [the party’s decision] if there is a more suitable candidate for leader,” she said, responding to questions from journalists who noted that some senior party members are endorsing new-generation politicians like her as potential Pheu Thai leaders.

“However, if the party chooses me as the next leader I would gladly accept the invitation,” she said, adding that she was set on achieving the party’s goals and had no doubt about her capacity to be its leader.

Paetongtarn also offered an update on the condition of Thaksin, saying that he was recovering from surgery he had last week.

Thaksin returned to the country last month to face jail time stemming from convictions of power abuse during his time as prime minister. He was moved from prison to the Police General Hospital in Bangkok on August 23 following a health scare.

“His blood pressure improves on some days but is worse on others. We still do not know when he can leave the hospital,” Paetongtarn said.

On September 1, the former prime minister’s jail time was commuted by HM the King from eight years to one year.

Paetongtarn said she was looking into the possibility of applying to suspend Thaksin’s remaining jail term in order for him to receive medical care at home, but had yet to file the application.

• Srettha flies THAI to New York for UN General Assembly

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his delegation landed at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York on Tuesday, marking his first overseas mission as Thailand's 30th premier.

The PM is scheduled to attend the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters from September 18-24.

He will first participate in the Leaders' Dialogue 6 on “Mobilising Finance and investments and the means of implementation for Sustainable Development Goals achievement”.

Earlier on Monday, Srettha and his team took TG 8832 charter flight from Suvarnabhumi Airport, which refuelled at Haneda Airport in Japan before heading to New York.

The premier, Foreign Minister Panpree Pahitanukorn and government officials sat in the aircraft's business class, contrary to some claims that they had travelled first class.

“I sat with my team in business class to stay together and save cost,” Srettha said.

He said taking Thai Airways International flight is cheaper than taking a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) jet, adding that it helped boost transparency on budget expenditure.

He said the flight was comfortable, even though he had to stretch his legs to the fullest due to his height. Srettha was seen reading the UNGA 78 agenda during the flight.

“I do not want people to think that the prime minister must choose the best option, but I instead think of how to maximise the budget," he said.

Echoing Srettha, secretariat of the Prime Minister confirmed that taking Thai Airways International flight was cheaper, adding that RTAF aircraft was currently under maintenance.

• Anutin admits to difficulties in solving the Green Line train issues

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul admitted today (Tuesday) that solving the Green Line train issue, which involves massive debt, concession contracts and legal disputes, is complicated and difficult and will take time to resolve.

This statement was made after Anutin met with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt for a discussion on the BTS issue.

The Interior Ministry is involved because its agency, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRT), invested in the infrastructure of the two extensions of the Green Line train, or BTS. One extension is from Bearing station to Keha in Samut Prakan and the other is from Mor Chit to Khu Khot in Pathum Thani.

The military junta invoked Section 44 of the Executive Decree to order the MRT to transfer the two extensions to the supervision of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The contract to operate the two extensions was awarded to BTSC, the operator of the Green Line, by Krungthep Thanakom, a subsidiary of the BMA, without consent from the City Council. The contract forced BTSC to secure a huge loan to purchase train carriages for the two extensions.

Due to a legal technicality, however, the BMA has been unable to set the fares for the two extensions, because the locations are outside the jurisdiction of City Hall. Therefore, commuters are currently not being charged fares on the two extensions.

The BMA has incurred more than 100 billion baht in debt, with more than 40 billion owed to BTSC for the operating and maintenance costs and carriage procurement and 60 billion to the MRT for infrastructure investment.

The 20-baht train fare for all electric train lines, promised by the Pheu Thai party, will not be possible as long as the Green Line problem remains unresolved.

Anutin said that all parties involved must be given fair treatment and the way to solve this problem must be in accordance with the law and regulations.

He sighed deeply when asked whether the contract to operate the two extensions will be invalidated for not having the consent of the City Council.

“That is why I said it is difficult,” said Anutin, asking, if the contract is invalidated and BTSC stops operating the train, affecting tens of thousands of commuters “What shall we do?”

• Thailand stresses achieving Sustainable Development Goals at UNGA : Srettha

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has pledged to work for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) attainment to uplift the lives and well-being of Thai people.

Srettha promised to leave no one behind and to promote and protect the human rights of all people. The pledges included pushing cooperation in support of climate action.

He was delivering the statement at the Leaders’ Dialogue 6 of the SDG Summit 2023 at the UN Headquarters, New York, being held during the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Looking forward, Srettha stressed the need for transformative approaches that will lead to a more people and planet-centric development.

He also emphasised the importance of effective multilateralism and expressed support for the UN Secretary-General’s call for reform of the international financial architecture, while underscoring the need to scale up investment in SDG acceleration projects.

According to Thai Foreign Ministry, Srettha is on his first mission abroad and will renew global confidence in Thailand, as he will represent Thailand’s new democratically elected government at the United Nations’ yearly gathering of world leaders.

His participation will assure the international community of Thailand’s stability, potential and readiness to move forward and forge dynamic relations with all countries.

He will reaffirm Thailand’s confidence in and support for global solidarity, as well as its commitment as a constructive and responsible UN member state.

Thailand calls for a balanced global agenda and the strengthening of the UN’s role in addressing current and future challenges, amidst polarisation in today’s geopolitical landscape.

Thailand also pledges to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to tackle the development crisis, inequality and climate change, as well as promote peace and well-being, a good environment and universal health coverage.

During his trip to New York, the prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, the UN Secretary-General and CEOs of prominent US companies, as well as meeting with the Thai community in New York and Team Thailand USA.

At the UN, he will also deliver Thailand’s national statements at the General Assembly and the Climate Ambition Summit.

He will deliver the opening remarks at the ASEAN event on sustainable development, hosted by Thailand, on the theme of “Fostering Partnership for Our Common Future: Enhancing Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to Accelerate the SDGs in ASEAN,” as Thailand serves as the ASEAN Coordinator in Sustainable Development Cooperation.

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• US Sees Once-in-a-Generation Chance to Reset Rocky Thai Alliance

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has been in office for less than a month, but the US already sees its best opportunity in two decades to get its alliance with Thailand back on track after ties were strained under the previous military-backed regime.

The democratically elected leader is in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly and is reportedly bringing his incoming military chief for security talks with the US. While Srettha is seeking an audience with President Joe Biden, he’s indicated that any rapprochement won’t come at the expense of China.

The new premier wants to forge closer ties with the West as he faces increasing pressure to reinvigorate an economy that has lagged the growth of its neighbors even before the pandemic. While in the US, he’ll also court investment from Microsoft Corp., Google and Tesla Inc.

Whether the Biden meeting will happen is unclear, as the US weighs how to engage a government propped up by the pro-military establishment that took power through a coup in 2014.

There’s also the question of how long Thailand’s ruling coalition, comprised of former foes, can last while the pro-democracy party that won the most votes in the general election continues to face the threat of being dissolved.

Even so, Washington sees a rare chance to significantly advance the relationship across a range of areas, from investment and trade to education exchanges and energy, according to a US official familiar with the matter. That could also extend to military equipment, including to upgrade Thailand’s existing aircraft, said the official.

Doing so could help restore ties with an ally that’s increasingly turning to China to boost its key industries just as the US seeks to reshape its regional alliances in the face of growing competition with Beijing.

“The 2014 coup was deeply damaging to Thailand’s international heft and it forced the military government to seek support from China, and since then, Thai foreign policy has been beholden to China,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. “So, with the new government there will be a qualitative change.”

Thailand is one of the US’s oldest partners in Asia and, along with the Philippines, is just one of two treaty allies it has in Southeast Asia. During the Vietnam war, it provided the US critical military access, and today stands as a staging ground for the region’s largest joint exercises. Washington also counts Thailand as a key regional law enforcement partner.

Those ties were strained by a cycle of coups and street protests over the years as military-backed governments cracked down on pro-democracy groups. In 2014, the US condemned the coup led by former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, curtailing financial assistance required by its appropriations law.

The need to improve the economy pushed the generals closer to China, which has emerged as Thailand’s top source of investment, according to the Thai Board of Investments. Chinese companies pledged some $1.7 billion in the first half of this year, mostly in electronics parts manufacturing.

“We have had good relationships with the US for 160 years. With China, we have many Chinese descendants, including me,” Srettha said on Monday after disclosing over the weekend that he’ll visit the mainland next month. “China is also key to stimulating our economy going forward. We need to maintain our neutral stance and not take sides.”

As a result, not everyone is convinced that the new government will be quick to warm to the US.

“I don’t see Thailand moving into the direction of the Philippines, where they have openly embraced the relationship more closely and essentially gone in the opposite direction,” said Joshua Kurlantzick, a senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The US needs a stronger economic policy to match its security ambitions for the region, Kurlantzick said.

Regardless, the Pentagon will explore cooperation in new domains such as space and cyberspace and in its mutual defense education programs and combined military training exercises, spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Martin Meiners, said in an email.

“We’ll continue to seek opportunities to engage with our Thai allies on a range of security issues, to include the modernization of the Thai military,” he said, without commenting on any potential deal to provide equipment to bolster its fleet of aging military jets, following reports that the US declined to sell Thailand F-35 stealth fighters.

The US could also solicit Thailand’s support over the conflict in neighboring Myanmar as nations involved in providing aid to the country seek to expand a humanitarian corridor. The US may also want to renew talks over sanctioning a state-owned oil and gas company controlled by the Myanmar junta that Thai companies have interests in.

Given the opportunity, Srettha will have to determine how far he wants to go in rebalancing ties.

Srettha’s foreign policy team is “very eager to get Thailand back on its feet,” said Thitinan, of Chulalongkorn University. “They have to be careful in balancing the US-China competition and in doing so, I think, more nuanced.”

H.E. Mr. Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister, is scheduled to attend the UNGA78 High-level Week during 18 – 24 September 2023 in New York - กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ