Thailand morning news for April 5, 2019

Financial Stability Risks Remain for Thailand, Central Bank Governor Says
Thailand’s central bank Governor Veerathai Santiprabhob said there are still financial frailties in the economy, which are being tackled through a combination of measures, including macro-prudential steps and the monetary stance.
— Bloomberg

Thailand enters 5G technology era
Thailand is leading the ASEAN community in 5G technology beginning with Chulalongkorn University and the Eastern Economic Corridor project from next year.
— NBT World (video)

‘Save what water you can,’ Phuket water chief urges as reservoirs hit record lows
The chief of the Phuket office of the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) is urging people to save whatever water they can as the island’s three main reservoirs hit dangerously low levels – the lowest levels ever recorded by water officials.
— The Phuket News

Exclusive: Thailand eyes tech leader role as ASEAN chair
Thailand sits at the crossroads of Southeast Asia and is a gateway to other burgeoning markets like China and India. The Land of Smiles is well aware of this, and is growing its transport links to drive its grand ambition: to be the region’s digital playground.
— GovInsider

Thai election body orders redo in places over irregularities
Thai election authorities have ordered a recount of votes and new elections in some polling areas after finding irregularities in last month’s elections.
— Pattaya Mail

FFP boss rejects NCPO claim
Future Forward Party (FFP) leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit denied allegations on Thursday by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) that he helped an anti-coup demonstrator evade arrest in 2015.
— Bangkok Post

Sudarat will retain role, insists party
The Pheu Thai Party dismissed media reports yesterday claiming Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan would reduce her role in the party and eventually fade away from it.
— Bangkok Post

Nok Air cash flow, debt alarms CAAT
Nok Air cash flow, debt alarms CAAT
— Bangkok Post

HM the King attends Maulid Nabi event
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn attended the Maulid Nabi Celebration A.H. 1440 at the National Islamic Affairs Administration Center Chaloem Phra Kiat on Klong Kao in Klong Sip Sub-district of Nong Chok District in the Capital on April 3.
— NBT World (video)

TAT enlists companies to provide insurance for tourists
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has signed a memorandum of understanding with three leading insurance companies to provide an insurance policy, Thai Travel Shield, for foreign tourists.
— Bangkok Post

Pattaya’s wide new beaches have been washed out to sea
The Pattaya Harbor Department admits that their plans to extend Pattaya’s eroded beaches didn’t go to plan.
— The Thaiger

Asean launches $1bn facility for green infrastructure
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and major financiers on Thursday launched a facility to spur more than US$1 billion (31.78 billion baht) in green infrastructure investments across Southeast Asia.
— Bangkok Post

Ex-charter write insists there is only one formula to calculate party-list seats
Mr. Praphan Naikowit, who took part in the discussion with legal advisors to the Election Commission today, explained that the formula was settled by the previous EC and it was proposed to the committee tasked with scrutinizing the MP election law.
— Thai PBS World

Thailand, EU hold meeting on IUU fishing
Even though the European Union (EU) has lifted the ‘yellow card’ applied as a warning to Thailand, over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the Thai government remains committed to the cause and has proposed the idea of establishing the ASEAN IUU Task Force to address the issue regionally.
— NNT

Thais pray to famed shrine to avoid military conscription
A slim young recruit wearing make-up, new fathers, nervous lovers holding hands – diverse groups of Thais flocked to a famed Bangkok shrine this week offering prayers to avoid military conscription.
— CNA (very annoying popups)

Kingdom Prepares for Coronation’s Holy Water Ritual
Rehearsals to draw and transport sacred water for the May coronation ceremony took place on Thursday across the nation.
— Khaosod English

AoT forecasts 16.2% year-on-year increase in Phuket tourist arrivals over Songkran
Airports of Thailand (AoT) have released forecasts for Phuket tourist arrivals over the Songkran period – from April 11 to 17, 2019, highlighting a significant year-on-year increase from 2018.
— The Phuket News

Surgeons, hospital facing prosecution in ‘Face-off’ case
Police will prosecute a hospital and doctors who performed fraudulent Face-off rejuvenation surgery for the service promoter Dr Xeping, who has been arrested.
— Bangkok Post

Officials say Songkran can still go ahead on Khaosan Road this year
Today the Bangkok Post did a story headlined ‘No Songkran on Khaosan Road this year’. What?! No Songkran at Thailand’s most popular water splashing location?
— The Thaiger

Thanathorn Did Not Aid Anti-Coup Protesters: Rangsiman
Future Forward Party MP candidate Rangsiman Rome refuted accusations on Thursday that party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit helped him flee from a police station following an anti-coup protest in 2015.
— Khaosod English

Nature resort to close for rehabilitation
The popular Angkhang Nature Resort will be demolished as a part to rehabilitate the ecosystem in Fang district.
— Bangkok Post

More Thais see cashless future
Local consumers largely believe that Thailand will become a cashless society in the next seven years, as shown by improved prospects for cashless payment, says Visa Thailand.
— Bangkok Post

PM Prayut: Civil servants must use state budgets transparently
The Prime Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, has instructed civil servants nationwide to spend state budgets prudently, prevent corruption and work together to regain public confidence and faith as the country is going through changes.
— NNT

Thai AirAsia connects Phuket direct to Phnom Penh
Low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia has announced direct flights between Phuket and the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.
— The Thaiger

Puea Chat becomes another political hotspot
The Puea Chat Party is small, but it will become one of the spiciest political elements. While the focus has been on what happens to the Future Forward Party, many radars may have swept past the alleged “branch party” of Pheu Thai, yet there have been growing signs that Puea Chat will play a very significant role in the immediate and long-term futures of Thai politics.
— Thai PBS World

EU’s DG MARE thanks Thailand for expanding ASEAN cooperation, solving IUU fishing
The EU delegation have shown their appreciation for Thailand’s efforts to solve the problems and in expanding cooperation among ASEAN countries.
— NNT

ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Meeting commence in Chiang Rai
At the 23rd ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Chiang Rai province today, senior officials has discussed cooperation on trade logistics and the financial status of each ASEAN member state.
— NNT

SRT speeds up door changes
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is hastening modification work on train doors so that they are compatible with both the old lower platforms and the new, higher ones being made for its new double-track rail system.
— Bangkok Post

Pro-marijuana Bhumjaithai in high demand after disputed vote
A super-wealthy construction scion who ran a pro-marijuana platform ahead of Thailand’s election has emerged as a highly courted candidate as two main parties need his allegiance — and party seats — after the disputed vote.
— Coconuts (paywall)

No, Thai Dudes Are Not Faking Trans to Dodge the Draft: Activists
Two leading LGBT activists dismissed claims today that draft-dodgers are abusing the system by pretending to be transgender to avoid military service.
— Coconuts (paywall)

Nok Air to cease flights to Nan
Nok Air will end flights between Bangkok and Nan from April 18, leaving the province scrambling to convince another airline to take up the service.
— Bangkok Post

Songkran insurance on offer
The Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) targets 1.4 million micro-insurance policies to be issued to cover accidents during the Songkran holiday.
— Bangkok Post

Phuket’s iconic ‘Po Thong’ buses get GPS upgrade
The fleet of iconic blue ‘Po Thong’ buses serving routes across the island have been upgraded with GPS location trackers linked to a mobile phone app so that passengers can track where their bus is, and have a better idea of when it will pass by so they can board it.
— The Phuket News

Police intercept 9 million methamphetamine pills near Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai police have foiled an attempt to smuggle nine million methamphetamine pills in Wiang Pa Pao district this morning.
— The Thaiger

Lao women in Isaan’s karaoke bars: “Men certainly don’t pretend we’re waitresses.”
Under the guise of waitresses in karaoke bars, Lao migrant women continue to work in the sex trade in the Northeast, despite the risk of arrest and deportation.
— Isaan Record

Visa waiver draws income
A planned three-month extension of visa-on-arrival fee waivers is expected to raise billions of baht after the incentives drew 122 billion baht worth of tourism income in the past 3½ months.
— Bangkok Post

Kong Khao festivals planned for end of Songkran
Pattaya will bring Songkran celebrations to an end with two traditional rice-piling ceremonies April 17 and 20
— Pattaya Mail

Feature photo @richardjarogers

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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. Due to The Nation‘s habit of hijacking urls and diverting them to promotion pages we no longer include it in our clippings.

Thailand morning news for April 5 added by John Le Fevre on April 5, 2019
View all posts by John Le Fevre →

Bio
Latest Posts

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.