A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand

[h=1]Poor export data dampens market sentiment[/h]The Nation September 29, 2015 3:27 pm

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[h=2]Thai shares stayed in the negative territory Tuesday while the baht has weakened near Bt36.5 per US dollar, due to the poorer-than-expected export performance in the first eight months.[/h]At 3.09pm, the Stock Exchange of Thailand index lost 3.55 points or 0.26 per cent to 1,348.58 points, extending the 1.79 per cent loss yesterday. The Thai baht was traded at Bt36.4 per US dollar, weakening by 11 per cent from the beginning of this year.

In the first 8 months of 2015, Thailand’s exports fell 4.9 per cent on year. Exacerbating the situation was the poor manufacturing in China which would dampen the purchasing power. In the first eight months of this year, 11 per cent of Thai exports was destined to China. Exports to China dropped by 7.9 per cent in 2014 and 7 per cent in the first half of this year. During January and June, Thailand witnessed an increase in shipments only in 4 markets - the US, CLMV, Australia-New Zealand, and India.

HSBC noted that the main drag on exports came from Asean-5 markets (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines) which are experiencing both currency weakness and a slowdown in domestic demand.

In a research note, Nalin Chutchotitham, its economist in Bangkok, expected the Bank of Thailand to welcome further weakness in the Thai baht in light of poor export performance. She also expects a 25-basis points rate cut in the fourth quarter of this year.

6 mill cars in Bkk, what a statistic

City proposes restrictions on vehicle sales
Traffic skyrockets as cars outstrip people

• Published: 1/10/2015 at 03:46 AM
• Newspaper section: News Bangkok Post

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra has proposed an initiative to ban new car purchases for people who don't have a place to park their vehicles, as part of a raft of new measures to combat traffic congestion.

Speaking at a forum on city traffic management Wednesday, the governor said car buyers should have to bring proof to the dealership that they have parking spots or they would not be allowed to purchase a car.

Other suggestions to tackle traffic include the introduction of fines for parking along roads and causing congestion in business districts; and higher parking fees at lots in central Bangkok to encourage drivers to leave their vehicles at home.

Bus services must also be better developed to bring commuters from outside the city centre to the last kilometre of their commute, said the governor, adding that other forms of transportation -- such as public boats on rivers and canals and bicycle lanes -- should also be improved so people can rely on them more.

Bangkok's pavements need to be levelled out as well so the elderly and people with disabilities are not at risk, MR Sukhumbhand said.
One way to improve transport infrastructure is through technology and elevated walkways in central business areas, which would draw pedestrians, according to the governor.

But the high rate of urban migration from outlying provinces ultimately needs to be counteracted by developing "satellite cities" on the outskirts of Bangkok that are self-sufficient, so people do not need to enter the capital for work, he said.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has no authority to implement this kind of large-scale development plan, but ultimately this is the cause of the traffic problems, said MR Sukhumband, urging the central government to address the issue.

"Questions must be raised as to whether the problems will be solved if authority over traffic management remains scattered among various agencies," he added.

MR Sukhumbhand warned that traffic congestion in Bangkok and its surrounding areas will only become more severe in the absence of a plan to deal with the problem. Currently, some 17 million people travel around Bangkok every day and only 40% of them use public transport, he said. As of the end of August, there were 8.9 million cars, according to the Ministry of Land Transportation.

According to the BMA, the number of registered cars in Bangkok now outnumbers the 5.8 million registered population living in the city as of 2012. By 2029, the BMA estimates the number of cars in the city will reach 10 million, and commuters will make 22 million trips per day, he said. "It will have increasingly negative consequences on people's daily commutes, their livelihoods, the economy and the environment.
"Mass public transport must be developed to serve people in their daily lives, while the public must be urged to use the public transport system more," he said.

From January to May this year, 350,000 vehicles were registered -- an average of 3,500 vehicles a day. The main traffic cure is the mass transport system, MR Sukhumbhand said, adding that in 2029 commuter rail services in the city are expected to increase five-fold, covering almost 300km.

SPECIAL REPORT

Rising discontent in the Northeast

• Published: 1/10/2015 at 09:05 AM. Bangkok Post
• Online news:

KHON KAEN - The rural heartland of deposed leader Yingluck Shinawatra and her exiled billionaire brother Thaksin is hurting as a result of the military government's economic policies, stirring discontent and the threat of protests.

The removal of generous agricultural subsidies has left rice farmers in the Northeast struggling with mounting debts, and they will get little relief when they sell their crop in coming months with rice prices near an 8-year low.

Petty crime is on the rise and retailers are struggling. The vast Platinum 168 shopping mall on the outskirts of the provincial capital of Udon Thani was built during the boom, but it is now less than a third occupied and no longer charging tenants rent.

"People are complaining about the rising costs of living, of having no money for spending," said Teerasak Teecayuphan, the mayor of the neighbouring provincial capital of Khon Kaen. "Their patience will gradually run out. Sooner or later this pot will boil over."

Thaksin's "red shirts", many of whom hail from the Isan region, have punctuated a decade of political turmoil, including protests on Bangkok's streets.

The military's campaign to disperse 10 weeks of protests in 2010 left scores dead and sparked the worst arson and rioting in Thailand's modern history.

Thaksin has reportedly told his supporters to stay calm and "play dead", but some in Thailand's poorest region say it is only a matter of time before discontent overcomes fear of the military and people again take to the streets.

"People want to protest," said Sabina Shah, a local leader of red shirt supporters in Khon Kaen.
"But we have to wait for the right trigger. If we come out now in small numbers it's suicide. We are just lying low and waiting for the opportunity - when the government argue among themselves."

The military toppled Ms Yingluck's government in the May, 2014, coup and have zealously enforced a ban on political activity.
Earlier, both Shinawatras mobilised the rural poor to deliver landslide electoral victories with a mixture of development projects, social benefits and subsidies.

Many in the Northeast think they are paying an economic price for their political allegiance.
Coup leader and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha represents a largely Bangkok-based establishment that reviles the Shinawatras' populist policies and is threatened by their rural support base.
His government has been austere in support for rural agriculture, which accounts for just under 10% of the country's economy.

"It is quite bad for farmers, we have heavy debt," said Pursudar Koyto, in Ban Kampom, a village surrounded by verdant rice paddy fields nearly ready to harvest. Gen "Prayut's government could have done more, like what they did in the Thaksin era."

While incomes improved under the Shinawatras, household incomes in Isan are still the lowest in Thailand, at just over 19,000 baht per month. That is less than half the 43,000 baht of the Bangkok region, according to government statistics for 2013, the latest data available.

MILITARY WARNS OF NATIONAL FALLOUT
The junta has made an about-turn on policy to breathe life into a moribund economy and head off rising discontent.
Gen Prayut in August appointed Somkid Jatusripitak - one of the architects of Thaksin's policies - as his economic tsar.
Mr Somkid has prioritised reviving the rural economy, which employs nearly 40% of the workforce.

"They are suffering," he told Reuters in an interview. "If these people don't have enough purchasing power it will hurt the whole system."

Southeast Asia's second-largest economy has undershot government targets. The central bank cut its GDP growth forecast to 2.7% from 3% on Sept 25, and to 3.7% from 4.1% for 2016. In 2014, growth was the slowest in three years at 0.9%.

Mr Somkid has announced a raft of measures, including soft loans through village funds, but the jury is still out on whether he can spur more growth. He said he would inject more cash into the rural economy if needed.

WORSE TO COME
The signs of economic malaise in Isan are widespread. Private investment, vehicle sales and property values have all fallen and farmers in the world's second-largest rice exporting country expect things to get worse before they get better.

Cash is already running out and many are selling cars and land to repay loans. Credit is scarce as banks tighten lending to battle rising bad debt.

"I have to borrow to pay some debt back every year," said rice farmer Khamkong Banphod, in the village of Ku Kaew near Udon Thani.
"Those facing hardship are the people who invested a lot of money and are now facing losses. They have their debt problems and are angry with the government."

The margin for millers has been razor-thin since subsidies ended, said Somsak Tungphitukkul, who owns rice mills in Khon Kaen province. Many mills cannot turn a profit and have been mothballed or closed, he said.

"It's going to be a nightmare for the rice industry if the government doesn't do something when the new crop comes in," he said.

Dig at thai junta

More long weekends in LOS for 2016

Extra holidays approved in 2016

• Published: 6/10/2015 at 03:40 PM, Bangkok Post

The cabinet on Tuesday approved two extra government holidays in mid-2016 to allow two long holiday weekends and boost domestic tourism, Tourism and Transport Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said.

Since Coronation Day of 2016 falls on May 5, which is Thursday, the cabinet approved a Tourism and Sports Ministry proposal to declare Friday, May 6, an extra holiday, to enable the people to take a four-day break from May 5 to May 8.

The cabinet also approved the ministry's proposal to declare Monday, July 18, an extra holiday. This will allow a five-day holiday from July 16 -20. July 19 is Asanha Bucha Day and July 20 the end of Buddhist Lent.

Ms Kobkarn said the ministry hopes the two extra-long holidays will help stimulate domestic tourism as statistics show that 70% of Thai people like to travel during a long holiday.

The tourism minister also said the ministry will next year additionally declare "12 cities that can't be missed" to attract both Thai and foreign tourists.

The ministry has set revenue targets from tourism at 2.3 trillion baht for 2016 and 2.5 trillion baht for 2015, she said.
Ms Kobkarn said the smoke haze over the South coming from Indonesia has not yet affected arrange


Tourism and Transport Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul believes extra public holidays to allow extra-long weekends will boost domestic tourism. (Bangkok Post file photo)

Beauty pageant, sight for sore eyes. with video:p

[video]http://www.bangkokpost.com/vdo/thailand/720096/miss-grand-international-2015[/video]

Arriving at airport

More selection :p Truth be told, seen way better lookers, with quite a no. of tanned types. Well, some like hitam manis

Drop the Kra Canal rumour?

​Rumour control: 'Forget the Kra Canal'

• Published: 7/10/2015 at 07:03 AM. Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday dismissed the latest round of rumours that the government plans to dig a canal across the Kra Isthmus.

He was responding to a report by China's state broadcaster CCTV that said China was considering a proposal from the Thai government to develop the canal from the Gulf of Thailand to the Andaman Sea.

Gen Prayut said the Chinese government had not proposed a plan for the Kra Canal and, if they did, the Thai government would need to hold discussions to evaluate the project and its benefits, particularly in terms of national security.

The prime minister said the government must evaluate whether the implementation of the canal plan, which would cut the country into two sections, was a good idea and whether it would create problems in the country's administration.

The latest wave of speculation over the project came after the CCTV documentary reported the Chinese government was considering a proposal to develop the canal.

It said China had taken the lead in studying proposals to fund and construct the canal, and that the project would begin soon. The report added the Kra Canal was part of China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative, and that it would cut short the shipping route of a journey between China and Europe or the Middle East by 1,200km, roughly three days of sailing time.

"Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei has already announced that the Chinese government has no plans over the Kra Canal," said Assoc Prof Aksornsri Phanishsarn, director of the Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Centre.
"The Thai media should be more careful because rumours had been spread previously that an agreement on the canal digging idea was signed.

But in the end the Chinese government dismissed them," she said.
"I thought that was the end of all the wild rumours over the Kra Canal digging, but then again some groups were still pushing to make it happen, which has caused both nations a great deal of damage."

Ms Aksornsri said she had checked the CCTV report and found there was some distortion of information due to TV anchors of the station inserting their own narration into the original version of the documentary that had been filmed in Thailand.

Super heroes paying up traffic fines

Superheroes pay traffic fines

http://www.bangkokpost.com/photo/photo/710056/superheroes-pay-traffic-fines

A group of six "superheroes" assemble at Taling Chan police station, Bangkok -- not to protect Earth against villains, but to pay traffic fines, on Monday morning. The six men, led by Anand Luangpradit (in a Batman costume), paid an 800-baht fine for illegally modifying their pickup truck and driving in the wrong lane. The vehicle was altered to carry the Batpod - the personal motorcycle of Batman. - Tawatchai Kemgumnerd

Dig at double pricing in LOS

ECONOMY

Consumer confidence falls for ninth month

• Bangkok Post Published: 9/10/2015 at 03:46 AM
• Newspaper section: Business

Consumer confidence fell further in September, dropping for a ninth straight month and hitting a 16-month low as people remained concerned about tepid domestic and global economic conditions.

A survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) released yesterday showed the consumer confidence index fell to 72.1 points last month from 72.3 in August. That was the lowest reading since May 2014, after which confidence began rising on hopes of an economic rebound after the military coup ended months of unrest.

"Thai consumer confidence is far from recovering," said Thanavath Phonvichai, vice-president for research.
"People remain worried about uncertainty regarding the global and Thai economic recoveries, while shipments have yet to see signs of recovery and farm prices remain low."

The Commerce Ministry on Monday reported exports fell sharply by 6.69% year-on-year in August to a value of US$17.7 billion.
That performance was the second worst this year after a 7.87% year-on-year decline in June, which was the biggest drop since an 8.15% fall in December 2011.

Shipments of agricultural and agribusiness products fell by 8% year-on-year to $2.73 billion in August, while industrial goods slipped by 3.2% to $13.9 billion.

For the first eight months of 2015, exports amounted to $143 billion, down by 4.92% year-on-year.Agricultural and agribusiness products for the period dropped by 6.5% year-on-year to $221 billion, while industrial goods fell by 3.2% to $112 billion.

Bleak export prospects recently prompted the Thai National Shippers' Council to forecast Thai shipments would slip into a full-year contraction of 5% or more, citing the slow pace of the global economic recovery and increased foreign exchange volatility.

Mr Thanavath said consumer confidence was expected to improve gradually from the fourth quarter once money from the government's new stimulus packages was injected into the economic system.

"The fourth quarter is considered a vital period," he said. "If the government rapidly injects money into the economy during this time, it will help to create momentum for domestic economic growth next year."

In a related development, the UTCC projected spending during the Vegetarian Festival from Oct 13-21 would edge up only 2.9% this year to 42.2 billion baht. Mr Thanavath said the sluggish economy was making consumers more cautious about spending.


A vendor pushes an ice-cream cart near the Kasatsuek intersection in Bangkok. The lacklustre economy resulted in even lower consumer sentiment in last month's survey by the University of the Thai Chamber...

http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket...-bouncers-brutal-beating/62108?desktopversion

Phuket night club fires bouncers after brutal beating of Aussie tourists

Phuket Gazette - October 8, 2015 | 05:34 PM

2 0 0 Google +0 7
Management from the White Room Night Club in Patong have fired the five security guards who were seen beating two Australian tourists last night. Photo: Gazette file
PHUKET: Management from the White Room Night Club in Patong today denounced the violent actions of five of their bouncers in a confrontation with six Australian tourists last night.

A video of security guards brutally beating two of the Australian tourists was shared on Facebook and quickly went viral.

“We, the management of White Room Night Club, are shocked and upset by the violent incident. We strongly reject all forms of violence and we are currently reviewing the necessary measures to ensure nothing like this will ever happen again,” management wrote in a statement to the Phuket Gazette.

“Needless to add, the culprits of this despicable act have had their employment at White Room immediately terminated.”

Meanwhile, Patong Police are on the hunt for the six Australian men, who have yet to file a complaint with police.

The five bouncers, who police have declined to name, have already been questioned by officers.

“We learned from the guards that the six tourists were from Australia and had come into the club to have a drink,” Lt Col Pongpichan Chayanonpiriya of the Patong Police told the Gazette.

The guards claimed that when the bill came, the six tourists denied having any drinks and argued with the waiter.

“The tourists ignored the waiters and danced. Some of them took off their shirts and were being disruptive. Therefore, security asked them to leave the club and pay for their drinks,” Col Pongpichan said.

The guards claim that the men started to become aggressive and hit one of them [a guard] in the face after leaving the club.

“The security guards then fought back as seen in the video,” Col Pongpichan noted.

The video - since removed from the Facebook page - showed the guards brutally beating the tourists to the ground and kicking them in their chests and heads.

Police are in the process of contacting the Australian Embassy to see if any report of the incident has been filed with there.

“At this stage, we have not pressed any charges against the security guards, as we have only heard one side of the story,” Col Pongpichan said. “We will continue to search for the six Australian tourists.”

Patong Entertainment Business Association President Weerawit Krueasombut agreed with the decision to wait.

“Right now we do not want to blame the nightlife operators or the tourists. If police can find the men, I'd prefer to see both parties negotiate so that everything will be cleared up,” Mr Weerawit said. “We will be careful and do our best to prevent this from happening again.”


— Kongleaphy Keam
- See more at: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Phuket-night-club-fires-bouncers-brutal-beating/62108?desktopversion#.dpuf

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

4G auctions set to generate B1.3tn

Move will aid creation of digital economy

• Bangkok Post Published: 13/10/2015 at 06:15 AM
• Newspaper section: Business

The imminent fourth generation (4G) spectrum auctions could stimulate direct and indirect investment valued at 1.3 trillion baht over the next five years.

The development will also transform Thailand into an internet-empowered economy and add impetus to the country becoming an Asean digital infrastructure hub by 2020, said Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

The private sector, meanwhile, believes that having faster high-speed mobile network technology will promote the country's e-commerce.
The NBTC expects to receive at least 73 billion baht from the 4G spectrum auctions of four licences in November. The revenue will pass directly to state coffers, Mr Takorn said at a seminar entitled '4G: the turning point of the country'.
The winning bidders of the 4G auctions must roll out networks worth a combined 160 billion baht in 2016.
An additional 260 billion baht will come from telecom-related businesses and employment in 2017, plus another 300 billion baht in 2018.

Based on an internal estimate, Mr Takorn said all direct and indirect investment stemming from the 4G auctions would reach 1.3 trillion bay by 2020, in line with a study by the economics faculty of Chiang Mai University.

"Thailand can no longer afford to lose this opportunity for the sake of our country and our people," he said.
There are 104 million mobile subscribers in Thailand, only 4 million of whom are 2G users.

Worawoot Aunjai, chief executive of Central Online Plc, said having a 4G infrastructure would directly benefit the local e-commerce and online trading industry. It will also encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to grab a bigger slice of the e-commerce market.

"Companies without technology will find it nearly impossible to flourish in the current business environment," he said.
Mr Worawoot said development of the 4G infrastructure was essential to accommodate the rapidly changing needs and growth of businesses.

He said Thailand's retail trade via online transactions accounted for only 1% of total retail trading value, compared with 5.8% of the average global retail market and 12% in China. Global online trading is expected to account for some 20% of total retail trade by 2020.

Mr Worawoot said online trading was expected to reach 8% of the total retail trade in Thailand by 2020.
"The growth of online trading will be in line with the quality of wireless connection and affordable mobile devices," he said, adding that 4G service will play a crucial role in driving the local e-commerce industry.

Mr Worawoot said Central Group's annual retail sales were expected to reach 260 billion baht this year, half of which will be conducted via mobile devices.

Ariya Banomyong, managing director of Line Thailand, said the quality of wireless connections and telecom infrastructure could attract foreign investment from global tech companies such as Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple.
"This will promote Thailand as a regional digital infrastructure hub," he added.

Vichai Bencharongkul, honorary president of the Telecommunications Association of Thailand, said developing an internet-based economy would essentially need a high-speed telecom infrastructure, developing knowledge workers and building organisational confidence with digital practices.

4G service is expected to ensure wireless service continuity and provide business recovery experience, thanks to the greater speed of wireless data services, said Mr Vichai.

Smacks of persecution?

POLITICS

Government targets Yingluck's assets over rice scheme
Administrative order will bypass court

• Bangkok Post Published: 13/10/2015 at 03:26 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The government plans to issue an administrative order to claim the assets of ex-premier Yingluck Shinawatra to compensate the state for losses incurred from her administration's rice-pledging scheme -- a move which will bypass court procedures.
It claims the action is to prevent the case from expiring based on the two-year statute of limitations, which will expire in February 2017.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said Monday that the planned administrative order is in compliance with the 1996 Act on Liability for Wrongful Acts of Officials.

Administrative courts are allowed to demand compensation from officials found guilty of committing gross negligence or deliberate actions that result in damage to the state, according to Section 10 of the law, he said.

The deputy prime minister said the administrative order is based on the findings by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) that pointed to gross negligence in the rice scheme, resulting in damages to the state.

"If the defendants think the order is unfair, they can appeal to the Administrative Court to have it revoked," he added.
Ms Yingluck quickly criticised the move on her Facebook page, saying that the government is trying to act like a court itself, adding the order is only intended to avoid a hefty court fee if the case is brought to a civil trial.

The full English-language text of the letter is at her Facebook account.
She also requested the government hold off on seizing her assets -- and filing the civil court case -- until the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders gives its ruling on a related criminal case against her.

• See also: Arrest warrant issued for Thaksin
  

Mr Wissanu dismissed the criticism, saying the law has been on the books for almost 20 years and more than 300 cases had been filed under it.

"Ms Yingluck will receive justice under the law," he said, adding that if the government lets the civil case expire in February 2017, it could also face prosecution for negligence.

Yingluck: ‘Mistreated’ by Prayut regime

"We have no choice. If we took the case to the civil court as originally planned, we would have to compromise by charging her with a lesser offence. Since the NACC accused her of severe dereliction of duty, it has to be this way," he said.

Ms Yingluck will still have the right to petition the Administrative Court to revoke the government's administrative order.
The government has set up two panels to determine if Ms Yingluck and 21 other people are financially liable for the losses incurred by the rice scheme.

The NACC accuses Ms Yingluck of dereliction of duty when she was prime minister by failing to stop the losses and rampant corruption in the scheme she was supposed to be overseeing.

Ms Yingluck asked Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in an open letter -- also posted on Facebook -- to halt the seizure of her assets and let the court process take its course. Her lawyer will submit the letter to Gen Prayut through the Government House's complaints centre tomorrow morning, she said in the letter.



The government said it intends to seize the assets of ex-premier Yingluck Shinawtra to pay for losses in her government's rice-purchase scheme, prompting an "open letter" to the prime minister.

"I feel worried because one of your legal advisers publicly stated that claiming damages in the civil case would cost the government enormous court fees although taking the case to court is the best way to maintain justice.
"Your legal adviser has tried to misinterpret the law and legal mechanisms to claim damages by advising you to issue an administrative order... to seize my assets just to avoid the court fees," she said in the statement.

Ms Yingluck also asked Gen Prayut to reconsider the administrative order and stop bypassing court procedures by using the order to seek civil compensation.

"By exercising the administrative order, you do not even have to consult the cabinet. It means that you are using your power as if you were a judge while the criminal case trial is still under the legal process in court," the letter stated.

She also asked that until after the Supreme Court issues its ruling on the criminal case, the government should delay filing the civil claim through the court, or it would be unfair to her if she is found guilty.

"I sincerely hope that you assigned the fact-finding committee to investigate the case under the due process of law to provide justice and adhere strictly to the [law] without unnecessarily speeding up the case to reach a verdict.
"I hope that you will ensure fair and just opportunities for the relevant persons to present evidence," she added.

Since Gen Prayut became prime minister, Ms Yingluck said she has been "mistreated" over the rice policy which had been endorsed by parliament.

"The National Legislative Assembly impeached me even though I no longer held the [prime minister] position because I had already resigned and was also disqualified from the position by the Constitutional Court," she wrote.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon insisted the move to invoke the order to seize assets from Ms Yingluck followed the law.