Thailand Morning News For April 27

60 provincial centres were found to have allegedly misuse fund for the poor
Officials of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) have uncovered irregularities in the use of fund meant for poor and destitute people in 60 centres for the protection of the destitute.
— Thai PBS

Military pledges firm backing for PM Prayut
AMID apparent efforts by the junta and its backers to ensure the return of Prayut Chan-o-cha as prime minister after the election, the military yesterday pledged its full support to the ruling junta and its leaders
— The Nation

Pace of EEC rail projects picks up
PLANNED high-speed and double-track rail projects to serve the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) are expected to begin services in 2023, with an investment value of Bt296.42 billion alone flagged for the high-speed train service, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) said.
— The Nation

Agriculture Minister orders probe into involved officials in rabies vaccine corruption
The Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, Grisada Boonrach, has ordered an investigation to identify officials involved in the rabies vaccine procurement corruption, with the result expected to be known within 90 days.
— NNT

Nationwide raids round up illegal foreigners
Police searched 118 locations nationwide, mostly international schools, early Thursday morning and arrested 99 foreigners – including Myanmar, Indian, German and Lao nationals.
— Bangkok Post

Laborer survey finds widespread debt, woes over product prices
Laborers questioned on the occasion of National Labor Day have asked the government to examine their wages as well as product prices with those making under 15,000 baht a month showing the highest rate of debt in 10 years.
— NNT

Durian Crackdown: Thailand to jail farmers who sell unripe stinky fruits
Thailand’s Department of Agriculture Extension has instructed each province to appoint inspectors to ensure that their farmers are selling ripe durians to the market, or face jail time.
— Coconuts Bangkok

Recent economic indicators show growing Thai economy
The Thai economy has continued to grow as a result of global economic recovery, according to recent economic data.
— NNT

5 firms pick up bid papers
The Mineral Fuels Department can reveal that five companies have already collected application documents for the upcoming auction of the Erawan and Bongkot gas blocks, says director-general Veerasak Pungrassamee.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand to decide on whether to allow resuming of shrimp import from India
The government of Thailand is still to decide on whether to allow the resuming of shrimp import from India (and from Malaysia).
— Business Standard

FTI says 40% of cosmetic products and food supplements in the market are counterfeits
The Federation of Thai Industries (FDI) says 40% of food supplements and cosmetic products sold in the markets were found to be fake and contaminated.
— Thai PBS

NLA changes migrant law
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday passed draft amendments to a 2017 executive decree on the management of migrant workers in an attempt to streamline the employment process.
— Bangkok Post

KNLF founder Sam Serey arrested in Thailand, Cambodia government seeks extradition
Political fugitive Sam Serey, long wanted by the Cambodian government for allegedly operating a “terrorist” group, was arrested in Bangkok on Wednesday for an immigration violation, with the Cambodian government submitting a formal request for his extradition on Thursday.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Industrial confidence index swings back to positivity as car sales bloom
The Industrial Confidence in March swung back to growth on heightened demand for both domestic and foreign goods with vehicle production reaching a 56 month high of close to 200,000 cars and pickups, bolstering expectations that car exports will reach a trillion baht in value this year.
— News Today (video)

Bangkok Post Group aims to ride recovery
Bangkok Post Group aims to bounce back this year on the back of an improving economy and the company’s focus on digital and event businesses.
— Bangkok Post

Kalasin health agencies launch drug tests on govt officials
Health agencies of the northeastern province of Kalasin have launched drug tests on administrative and security officials as part of the campaign against narcotics.
— NNT

Where Thailand still trails behind
Alibaba’s expanding presence should spur policymakers to ready the skilled troops for a digital future
— The Nation

NLA approves new draft Emergency Decree on Foreigners’ Working Management
The National Legislative Assembly has approved a new draft emergency decree on the management of foreign workers.
— NNT

MOU between China and the Thai south signed
The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) has joined forces with educational institutions for Thais with Chinese heritage in the southern border provinces, to sign an agreement with China to extend knowledge in language, culture, trade and investment.
— NNT

Thaicom banks on digital tech for new revenue
THAILAND’S satellite operator Thaicom Plc will capitalise on advanced digital technologies to create new businesses as part of its efforts to seek new revenue streams, the company’s incoming chief executive officer Anant Kaewruamvongs said yesterday.
— The Nation

Agriculture Ministry promotes marketing strategies to help farmers
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is promoting the implementation of marketing strategies to help farmers in 15 key projects that bring about economic sustainability.
— NNT

Thailand’s PTTEP Q1 profits rise, prepares for gas auctions
Thailand’s PTT Exploration and Production Pcl said on Thursday first-quarter net profit rose 21 percent as revenue increased on higher energy prices and that it was seeking growth through the acquisition of new assets.
— Reuters

Thai officials block launch of report on human rights abuses in Karen State
Thai police on Wednesday (April 25) cancelled an event to launch a new report on human rights abuses in Karen State by the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) and warning of a humanitarian crisis there, The Irrawaddy Online reported.
— Thai PBS

South Korea increases quota for Thai workers to 7,000
South Korea is recruiting 7,000 Thai nationals to work in the country this year.
— NNT

PIER says CPI has risen 26% while food prices jumped over 80%
The Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research (PIER) says it’s latest research of consumer price index during the past 10 years showed it has risen 26% while food prices jumped over 80%.
— Thai PBS

Thailand: GetLinks secures funding from SEEK, Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund
Bangkok-based startup GetLinks, which helps tech companies find and hire talent, has announced the closing of its latest funding round from SEEK Group and Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund.
— DealStreetAsia

Thailand detains Cambodian opposition leader, rights group says
Thai immigration police have detained the leader of a Cambodian opposition group based in Denmark, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday, while a Cambodian official said the government was in discussion with Thailand on the man’s extradition.
— Reuters

Tourism communities launch Lower Isan CBT Association
Tourism communities in northeasten Thailand have launched the Lower Isan CBT Association to strengthen cooperation and promote Community-Based Tourism (CBT) practices.
— NNT

Amlo seizes B213mn assets in ‘zero dollar’ tax case
The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) is seizing assets worth more than B213 million from a group of people linked to the “zero dollar” tour case, for alleged tax evasion.
— The Phuket News

Thai, US navies join in anti submarine exercise in Phuket
Thailand and the United States are engaging in the joint naval exercise ‘Guardian Sea 2018’ in Phuket province to strengthen anti-submarine warfare capacity as well as military relations.
— News Today (video)

Foundation for Consumers wants FDA to scrap online registration of products
Foundation for Consumers secretary-general Saree Aongsomwang on Thursday (April 26) called on the Food and Drug Administration to stop online registration of cosmetic products in order to ease the problem of counterfeiting or substandard cosmetics.
— Thai PBS

Medical Tourism in Thailand
Thailand has become one of Asia’s major medical tourism destinations. People are now going abroad not only to relax on vacation but also seek medical care. Clinical treatments range from organ replacement to cosmetic surgery, leading to the now booming industry in Asian countries, especially Thailand. Our NBT World correspondent has this report.
— News Today (video)

Motorists failing to give way to emergency ambulances to face severer penalties
The National Legislative Assembly will forward a call for the amendment of traffic law to the Royal Thai Police to consider hefty punishment for drivers who fail to give way to ambulance with critically injured patient on board.
— Thai PBS

Co-working, but what about co-living?
While co-working has seen rapid growth and become a major source of demand for office space in Bangkok, co-living could become a big thing in the city’s real estate.
— Thailand Property News

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Thailand morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Thailand news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Thailand Morning News For April 27 added by John Le Fevre on April 27, 2018
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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.