Thai Economy Needs a New Government To Boost Exports

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16 May 2023, 12:28

thai export2 — File photo taken on Jan. 24, 2022 shows a view of the Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi Province, Thailand. (Xinhua/Wang Teng

After the general election in which the opposition parties won, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) suggested the new government boost exports as a top priority.

Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of NESDC, said the Thai economy will grow 3.2 per cent year-on-year in 2023, supported by the boost in tourism, private consumption and investment. However, Thai exports in dollar terms declined by 1.6 per cent year-on-year. GDP growth of 2.7 per cent was recorded in the first quarter of 2023.

The risk factors for the Thai economy are 1. the slowdown in the global economy and instability in the global economy and finances 2. increasing household and corporate debt, which is still at high levels 3. the unpredictability of the climate, which could affect agricultural yields and 4. post-election political factors.

Danucha said the new government’s policies should strictly focus on monetary and fiscal disciplines as these could affect the country in the longer term. He added that Thailand is currently running an annual deficit of 600 billion baht (17.7 billion U.S. dollars). Therefore, he said, a policy of raising wages must be carefully considered as it could weigh on business costs, the country’s inflation rate and foreign investment.

He added that exports, both agricultural and industrial, should be the incoming government’s first priority. It should speed up exports to markets with promising economic prospects and open up new ones, as well as monitor the impact of global economic and financial turbulence.

The next sector should be people’s living conditions, especially energy prices. He said the public must wait and see if the new government can achieve what it proposed during the election campaign.

thai — FILE PHOTO People visit the Thailand pavilion during the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Fei)

For the 2024 budget, NESDC expected the slowest to be completed within the first quarter of 2024. Danucha stressed that it is important for the new government to find budgets to replenish investments, such as the investment budget of state-owned enterprises, which must be accelerated in September 2023 so that they have a cash flow of around 200 billion baht (5.9 billion U.S. dollars) at the end of the year.

It is also expected that SOEs will have another investment budget of 2 billion baht (59 million U.S. dollars) available for the first quarter of 2024.

GULF’s core profit rose 13% YoY in Q1/23 from energy business and share of profit from INTUCH

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Contributor

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16 May 2023, 12:21

Gulf Energy Development Plc. (GULF) reported the financial results for Q1/23 with a total revenue of THB 29,083 million, a 30% increase from THB 22,453 million in Q1/22 and a core profit of THB 3,668 million, an increase of 13% Year-over-Year (YoY) from THB 3,257 million in the same period of the previous year.

The growth was primarily driven by the full operation of IPD Group’s 2,650-MW Gulf Sriracha’s (GSRC) IPP power project, of which four units gradually commenced commercial operation in 2021-2022, while in Q1/22, GULF recognized revenue and profit from only two units from GSRC, totaling 1,325 MW. As a result, IPD Group’s core profit was THB 1,492 million, an increase of THB 550 million, or 58% YoY.

Another factor came from GMP Group’s 12 gas-fired SPPs, which recognized higher revenue and profit both from electricity sales to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and industrial users.

This was mainly attributable to the higher average electricity selling price as a result of higher natural gas prices coupled with an increase in average Ft rate for non-residential users, reflecting the higher energy costs. The average natural gas price increased from 441.56 THB/MMBtu in Q1/22 to 496.39 THB/MMBtu in Q1/23 while the average Ft rate increased from 0.0139 THB/kWh to 1.5492 THB/kWh in Q1/23.

Furthermore, Gulf Chana Green (GCG) biomass power project saw an increase in profit, which rose from THB 36 million in Q1/22 to THB 103 million in Q1/23, or a 188% YoY growth due to lower average wood cost from 1,120 THB/ton to 963 THB/ton in this quarter. Nonetheless, GJP Group’s share of core profit in Q1/23 was THB 428 million, a decrease of 31% YoY mainly from the 2 gas-fired IPPs, namely, Gulf Nong Saeng (GNS) and Gulf Uthai (GUT), which received lower Availability Payment Rates as set out in the Power Purchase Agreement.

In Q1/23, GULF also recorded share of core profit from INTUCH of THB 1,247 million, an increase of 13% YoY from THB 1,100 million in the same quarter of the previous year, primarily from the better performance of AIS. In addition, GULF recognized share of core profit of THB 150 million from the gas-fired DIPWP power project in Oman, which completed the construction of all 326 MW in January 2023.

Furthermore, GULF realized a full-quarter share of core profit from investments made in 2022, including profits from 3 wind power projects under Gulf Gunkul Corporation of THB 282 million, Thai Tank Terminal (public terminal management project for handling liquid products) of THB 73 million, and THCOM of THB 63 million.

These factors were able to offset the lower share of profit from Borkum Riffgrund 2 (BKR2) offshore wind power project in Germany, after GULF divested50.01% equity stake in BKR2 Holding, which is the holding company of BKR2 wind power project, to Keppel Group in December 2022. As a result, share of profit from BKR2 project in Q1/23 decreased in line with the decrease in shareholding.

EBITDA for Q1/23 was THB 8,143 million, an increase of 15% compared to THB 7,075 million in Q1/22. Nonetheless, EBITDA margin for Q1/23 was 28.0%, down from 31.5% in Q1/22, mainly attributable to the lower profit from BKR2 wind power project following the aforementioned sale of shares in BKR2 Holding in December 2022.

In Q1/23, net profit attributable to the parent company, which takes into account the impact of the FX rate, was THB 3,850 million, as a result of the Thai Baht’s appreciation against the US dollar from 34.73 THB/USD at the end of Q4/22 to 34.26 THB/USD at the end of Q1/23. Nonetheless, the recording of such transaction is an accounting transaction that does not have an impact on GULF’s cash flow and performance.

As of March 31, 2023, GULF had a net interest-bearing debt to equity ratio of 1.62 times, up from 1.56 times as of December 31, 2022, due to the issuance of new debentures valued THB 20,000 million in March 2023 for business expansion and partial loan repayment, and loan drawdowns from financial institutions used as working capital.

Ms. Yupapin Wangviwat, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, GULF, revealed, “In 2023, the total revenue is expected to increase by approximately 50% from the projects that are scheduled to commence commercial operation in 2023, which is progressing as planned. Gulf Pluak Daeng (GPD), an IPP power project under IPD Group, began the operation of its first unit (662.5 MW) on March 31, 2023 and the second unit (662.5 MW) will begin commercial operation on October 1, 2023.

GULF1’s solar rooftop projects are also scheduled to gradually begin commercial operation of an additional 90-100 MW this year. Furthermore, GULF has acquired a stake in the 1,200-MW gas-fired Jackson Generation power plant in the United States, where it has already begun commercial operation in May 2022. Overall, these projects will add approximately 2,900 MW to the company’s total installed power capacity portfolio in 2023.

For the business plan in 2023, GULF will prioritize investments in renewable energy businesses in order to achieve the target to increase the proportion of renewable energy to 40% by 2035 through the development of hydropower projects in Laos, domestic renewable energy projects such as solar farms, solar farms with battery energy storage system, wind farms, and investments in wind power projects overseas, particularly in Europe and the UK.”

Ms. Yupapin added, “Infrastructure projects in the pipeline are still on track. The land reclamation for the Map Ta Phut industrial port development phase 3 project is expected to be completed in 2024, with the construction of the LNG terminal to begin in the same year. Laem Chabang port phase 3’s F1 and F2 container berths are slated for commercial operation in 2026 and 2030, respectively. Lastly, the intercity motorway projects, M6 (Bang Pa-In – Nakhon Ratchasima) and M81 (Bang Yai – Kanchanaburi), are scheduled to commence operation in 2025.

For the progress of the digital asset exchange business in Thailand, in which GULF and Binance have a joint investment, the licenses are expected to be granted within June 2023 and the project is expected to start operations by the end of this year. Regarding the development of the data center business, for which GULF has partnered with Singtel and AIS, construction will begin in mid-2023, with commercial operations commencing in early 2025.”

Top Cambodian Opposition Party Denied Registration For July Elections, Will Appeal Ruling

By

Associated Press

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16 May 2023, 10:13

Cambodia Politics — Candlelight Party supporters register on the participant lists near their party's logo before their march during an election campaign for the June 5 communal elections in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saturday, May 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia’s National Election Committee refused on Monday to register the opposition Candlelight Party, the sole credible challenger to the governing Cambodian People’s Party, for July elections, saying it had failed to provide necessary documents.

The ruling leaves the party only a very slim chance of taking part in the elections by filing a successful appeal to the Constitutional Council.

Kimsour Phirith, a spokesperson for the Candlelight Party, said it will file an official complaint asking the council to judge the election commission’s ruling.

He pointed out that the party has been operating legally and participated in last year’s local elections without the issue being raised. In those polls, the Cambodian People’s Party won 74.3% of the votes and the Candlelight Party about 22.3%.

Kimsour Phirith said when the party applied to contest this year’s elections, the election commission asked for its original registration papers issued by the Interior Ministry, but they had been taken in a 2017 police raid on the headquarters of its predecessor, the Cambodia National Rescue Party.

He told The Associated Press that by law, the party has five days to file a complaint after being disqualified, and he hopes the Constitutional Council will render a judgment based on the law.

Cambodian courts are widely considered to be under the influence of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government and his Cambodian People’s Party.

AP23135473336123 — Candlelight Party supporters register on the participant lists near their party’s logo before their march during an election campaign for the June 5 communal elections in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saturday, May 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

The governing party has held an iron grip on power for decades and controls almost every lever of government. Hun Sen, 70, an authoritarian ruler in a nominally democratic state, has held his position for 38 years. His eldest son, army chief Hun Manet, is widely expected to replace his father as prime minister after the polls.

The Candlelight Party is the unofficial successor to the Cambodia National Rescue Party, which threatened to present a serious challenge to Hun Sen’s party in the 2018 elections. But it was dissolved just months ahead of the polls by a controversial court ruling that said it had plotted the illegal overthrow of the government.

The party’s disbanding enabled the governing party to win all the seats in the National Assembly. Western nations declared the election was neither free nor fair, and imposed mild economic sanctions in response.

The election committee said in a statement that 18 of the 20 parties that applied for registration in this year’s elections were approved, including the Cambodian People’s Party. The Candlelight Party and another unidentified party were both rejected for failing to provide documents supporting their applications, it said.

About 9.7 million Cambodians are registered to vote in the July 23 elections for the 125 members of the National Assembly.

If the Candlelight Party is barred. the sole competition for the governing party would be groups aligned with it, or small, obscure parties without a national presence.

Hun Sen and the Cambodian People’s Party are certain to easily top the polls, holding all the advantages of incumbency. They are dominant in terms of nationwide organizing, personnel, finances and influence with the mass media.

The opposition is low on financial resources and subject to constant harassment in the courts initiated by the governing party. Most prominent opposition members are in self-imposed exile to avoid being jailed on various charges they say are trumped up and unfair.

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SOPHENG CHEANG reported from Phnom Pehn.

Bear Attack On Angler Suspected After Human Head Found At Japan Lake

By

Kyodo News

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16 May 2023, 09:35

ASAHIKAWA, Japan – Police are searching for an angler who went missing at a lake in Japan’s Hokkaido, suspecting he may have been attacked by a bear after a human head was found in the area Monday, they said.

According to the police, a boat dropped off Toshihiro Nishikawa, 54, to fish unaccompanied at a spot on Lake Shumarinai in Horokanai early Sunday. An employee of the boat operator later saw a bear nearby with waders dangling from its mouth and attempted to call Nishikawa, but could not reach him.

The information prompted the town office to launch a bear hunt operation and a member of the group killed one on Monday afternoon, according to a town official.

A human head was also discovered during the operation. The police said they are investigating whether it is that of Nishikawa, a resident of Okoppe, also on Japan’s northernmost main island.

The lake, located in northern Hokkaido, draws anglers trying to catch Sakhalin taimen, a rarely caught fish in Japan, as well as trout and Japanese smelt.

What Lies Ahead For Thailand After Dramatic Opposition Election Win?

By

Associated Press

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16 May 2023, 02:08

Thailand Election — Pita Limjaroenrat, center, (white shirt) leader of Move Forward Party, waves to his supporters in Bangkok Monday, May 15, 2023. Fresh off a stunning election victory in which they together captured a majority of seats in the House of Representatives, Thailand's top two opposition parties began planning Monday for the next stage in their bid to replace the military-dominated government. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s opposition racked up a stunning majority of the 500 seats at stake in the race for the House of Representatives, dealing a major blow to the establishment parties and the former general who has led the Southeast Asian country since seizing power in a 2014 coup.

The results of Sunday’s general election are a strong repudiation of the country’s conservatives and reflect the disenchantment in particular of young voters who want to limit the influence of the military in politics and reform the monarchy.

But the exact shape of the new government is less clear as post-election coalition talks and behind-the-scene negotiations take center stage.

AP23135457439483 — Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of Move Forward Party, waves to his supporters in Bangkok, Monday, May 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

THE RESULTS

With almost all votes counted Monday, the Move Forward Party emerged as the big winner. It captured a projected 151 seats in the lower House by winning over 24% of the popular vote for 400 constituency seats, and more than 36% of the 100 seats allocated by proportional representation.

Tailing a close second is the main opposition Pheu Thai Party, whose combined seat total is projected at 141.

The party of incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former army general who came to power in the 2014 coup, held the fifth spot in the constituency vote and third in the party-preference tally, for a projected total of 36 seats.

Voter turnout was about 75% of the 52 million registered voters.

AP23134606369509 — Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha leaves from United Thai Nation Party headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Rapeephat Sitichailapa)

WHAT NEXT?

Who becomes the next prime minister will depend on a vote set for July that includes all the House lawmakers plus the 250-seat military-appointed Senate, whose members share the establishment’s conservative policies. The winner must attain at least 376 of their combined 750 seats.

Opposition parties have criticized the process as undemocratic. It’s a legacy of the 2014 coup and a new constitution drafted in its aftermath that was meant to ensure that the military and the state bureaucracy, the main upholders of the royal order, continue to hold sway.

Analysts have pointed out that a lot can still happen before the Election Commission even declares the results valid, a process that can take up to 75 days and will almost certainly include legal challenges.

In the past, the commission and the courts have used their authority to disqualify opposition parties.

WHAT THE OPPOSITION WANTS?

Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat tweeted that he is ready to bring about change as the country’s 30th prime minister.

“Whether you agree or disagree with me, I will be your prime minister. Whether you have voted for me or not, I will serve you,” he wrote.

Although he energized younger voters with his progressive agenda, the 42-year-old businessman has alarmed conservatives with calls for reform of the monarchy, the institution that has been traditionally treated as sacrosanct.

AP23135456186770 — Pita Limjaroenrat, center, (white shirt) leader of Move Forward Party, waves to his supporters, in Bangkok, Monday, May 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

In 2019, the Constitutional Court ousted his colleague from Parliament on charges of violating the election law and dissolved the Future Forward party, which then changed its name and leadership to become Move Forward.

It had been supporting amending the draconian law that punishes defaming the monarchy, which according to critics has been used to as a tool to quash political dissent and imprison pro-democracy student activists.

Student-led protests beginning in 2020 openly criticized the monarchy, previously a taboo subject, leading to vigorous prosecutions under the law. They were also dismayed by the dissolution of the Future Forward party, which they believed was an unfair use of state power.

THAKSIN’S SHADOW

Pheu Thai is led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 36-year-old daughter of billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was toppled in a 2006 coup.

The power struggle between Thaksin’s supporters, many of them rural poor who benefited from his populist policies, and his conservative opponents has been fought — sometimes in the street, sometimes at the ballot box — for almost two decades.

AP23132458472057 — Paetongtarn Shinawatra, right, a leading Thai politician and youngest daughter of exiled former deposed Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, and real estate mogul Srettha Thavisin, during general election final campaign rallies in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

In the 2014 coup, Prayuth unseated the government of Yingluck Shinawatra — Paetongtarn’s aunt, Thaksin’s sister — as prime minister. And Pheu Thai topped the field in the 2019 vote, only to be denied power when the army-backed Palang Pracharath Party found partners to assemble a coalition government.

Thaksin, 73, said before Sunday’s vote that he wants to return to Thailand from self-exile, even if it means facing justice, including several convictions on charges including abuse of power and corruption.

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Grant Peck reported from Bangkok, Hrvoje Hranjski reported from Zagreb, Croatia.

Srettha Asks Political Spirits to Support Pita as the 30th PM

By

Khaosod English

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16 May 2023, 01:42

Srettha Thavisin, a Pheu Thai Party candidate for prime minister, has not only demonstrated his political spirit by supporting Move Forward Party PM candidate Pita Limjaroenrat to be the next PM; he has also asked other politicians to do the same in order to be independent from senators’ decisions.

Srettha posted the message on Monday night to directly persuade the Bhumjaithai party, which came third in this election with 68 seats, and the Democrat Party, with 22 seats, to support Mr. Pita.

He said, “The most important political spirit I hope to see right now is that all political parties in Thailand are truly connected and follow the people’s voices, which will soon be nominated and chosen for Prime Minister. I also support Khun Pita of the Move Forward Party taking a position of grace and pride.

pheuthai 15may 1 — Srettha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Pheu Thai Party have accepted the election results that the Move Forward Party is the winner.

The number of MPs acquired by the Move Forward Party has increased from 81 in 2019 to 152 in 2023 (the most recent figure). It is a clear symbol of the ideology, their approach truly gained the consensus of the Thai people. It is a phenomenon that I cannot deny is causing a significant shift in Thai society.

Looking at the parties that have received MPs recently, many (Bhumjaithai, Democrat) had previously stated that they did not favour the 2017 Constitution, which handed senators the right to vote for the prime minister.

Now is the time for you to follow your stand. Vote for the Move Forward Party’s nominated Prime Minister, Khun Pita, to be the 30th Prime Minister, according to the rules of a true democratic system, without having to wait for 250 senators to vote, allowing him to fulfil his duties as a party and politician with dignity and pride.

You could be said to truly represent democracy. Make a leader ready to lead the country to rapid development, happiness, and change for all citizens.

Everything the party does will have an impact on future decisions. Neglecting these responsibilities will cost you in the future.”

Mr.Pita said earlier that the number of 310 MPs from six parties is enough to form a majority government. He believed that no one would dare to upset the consensus of the public.

However, according to Thailand’s 2017 constitution, adopted under military rule, the prime minister must to be selected by a joint vote of the 500-member House and the unelected 250-seat Senate, whose members were appointed by Prayut Chan-o-cha’s junta.

In 2019, the Senate voted as a bloc, unanimously backing Prayut. Therefore, a party that wins a clear majority of House seats still might need at least 376, or 75% plus one, of the votes in the 500-member lower house if its prime minister candidate was opposed in the Senate.

Dog Guards a Swedish Man, 65, Who Died For A Week

By

Khaosod English

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16 May 2023, 00:19

A Swedish man who frequently travelled between Sweden and Thailand died alone in his Udon Thani residence. Not far away, there is a dog guarding. It is estimated that the man had been dead for 7 days.

On May 15, investigators at Nong Han Police Station in Udon Thani Province received reports of a foreigner’s death by an unknown cause at a house in Ban Nong Bua Daeng, Nong Phai Subdistrict, Nong Han District.

They found no wrongdoing, no signs of fighting, or ransacking after an inspection with the rescuers and the doctor from Nong Han Hospital.

Mr. Johansson, 65, was eventually identified by authorities as the body. They discovered only a few cans of beer close to the bed, implying that this man died 7 days ago. A white dog in front of the door house keeps an eye on him.

According to neighbours, this Swedish man used to live with his Thai wife Banyen, but she died several years ago. The man then travelled between Thailand and Sweden. He returned to Thailand and stayed at home, this time without interacting with anyone. There is only a dog as a pet

Today, a neighbour smelled a foul odour and assumed it was from a dead dog. As a result, she went in to see and discovered that there was a person. In shock, she contacted the police.

“There’s a white dog who is always guarding the front glass door.” “I believe it realises its adoring boss is no longer alive, but it could not help anything,” a neighbour stated.

Polish Tourist Murders Ukrainian Girlfriend in Bangkok

By

Khaosod English

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15 May 2023, 22:58

A foreign woman’s body was discovered slain in a room on the 32nd floor of a condominium in Bangkok’s Bang Khlo Subdistrict, Bang Kho Laem District. A Polish tourist was later arrested.

Miss Alona, a 27-year-old Ukrainian woman, was later confirmed as dead. She was supposed to die 1-2 days ago. The police discovered a saw beside the body, a wound from the neck to the left shoulder, and a broken left wrist on her body.

According to the condominium juristic person, the Ukrainian woman had come to rent this room with a boyfriend named Mr. Filippow, a 25-year-old Polish citizen who has been a tourist in Thailand since April 29.

Until the afternoon of May 15, the man called a taxi. When the car arrived, he was uneasy and appeared to be in a hurry. The cab driver then notified the condo security guard and urged him to wait, but he instantly ordered him to drive away. As a result, the condo juristic person called the owner of the room and requested that the room be opened until the body was discovered..

The Phraya Krai Police Station and the Metropolitan Police then went to the area to seek for evidence from CCTV cameras and identified the taxi driver’s whereabouts. who compelled the suspect to depart. They learned that he had been hired for 1,500 baht to be taken to the Cambodian border. The destination is expected to be in Sa Kaeo Province.

CCTV footage from the condominium also revealed that the polish man was carrying a bag thought to contain a saw.

At 8:00 p.m., Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Thiti Saengsawang, along with the investigative team at Wat Phraya Krai Police Station, informed the investigative team in Sa Kaeo Province to arrest Mr. Filippow at the border crossing point of Ban Khlong Luek, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province, and detain him to prosecute him at Wat Phrayakrai Police Station.

Pita forms a new government of 310 seats, in which Senators Warn

By

Khaosod English

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15 May 2023, 15:48

Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party, which won the general election, confirmed the talk with Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Pheu Thai Party and the other 6 parties to form a government, including Move Forward, Pheu Thai, Thai Sang Thai, Prachachat, Sereeruamthai and Fair Party. The 6 parties have a combined 309 seats. Pita said there will be memoranda of understanding for the 100 days and the 1 year. He stressed that he is ready to take over as Defence Minister. One senator warned that this calculation might not work out.

Please note: Move Forward Party get one more seat of constituency MPs, so a combined seats of six parties is 310.

Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat confirmed a conversation with Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pheu Thai leader, at Move Forward headquarter on May 15 after the unofficial Election Commission result indicated Move Forward’s victory. He said Paetongtarn was also ready to cooperate. Pita added that he had asked the other 5 parties to form a government.

pita pm2 — Leader of Move Forward Party Pita Limjaroenrat celebrated at his party headquarter. / Khaosod PHOTO

Move Forward also called on the Thai Sang Thai, Prachachat and Sereeruamthai (Thai Liberal) to join the coalition. Later, it will call on the Fair Party to join the government as it supports the party’s work for peace in the three southern border provinces [Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat]. The Fair Party seat will also help Pita’s government reach 310 seats, enough to be a majority government.

Pita said he will discuss further details, guidelines and framework. There will be a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) so that the public can see what will happen to the country in the next 100 days and the next 1 year. He will try to implement what he promised the people – to organise the referendum for the Constituent Assembly to transfer power legally and effectively.

AP23134589367945 — Leader of Move Forward Party Pita Limjaroenrat leaves after speaking to media at Move Forward Party headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, May 14, 2023. . (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Pita also stressed the importance of reforming the army and abolishing conscription. He said that he is ready to take over as Defence Minister if the need arises. However, he is also ready to leave the job to someone who is suitable for the role.

Asked about the amendment to Section 112, Pita said the motion can be tabled in Parliament as Move Forward has 151 seats, enough to table the motion. He also said it was more important to take care of those affected by the law and allow amnesty. He said he was concerned about the relationship between the younger people and the institution. Therefore, a discussion of the issue should take place soon before it builds up further and finally explodes, which he does not want to see.

pheu thaai gov1 scaled — Pheu Thai Party

Asked if he was worried that the Senator would not vote in his favour to become Prime Minister, allowing Move Forward to gain 376 votes, he replied that he was not worried because the public had already expressed its needs and it would be a rash force against the will of the public which would not benefit either side.

Asked why he did not invite Bhumjaijhai to join the government, Pita said that it was not necessary at the moment – having more than 300 seats was enough. He believed that no one would dare to upset the consensus of the public. Pita added that Bhumjaijhai leader Anutin Charnvirakul has not called him yet.

Chalermchai Fuangkon, a Senator, spoke about the Senator’s position on the voting of the Prime Minister. If Move Forward, Pheu Thai and other former opposition parties join forces to form the government with 309 votes, there is a likelihood that other senators will not vote in favour of Move Forward.

He explained that while he would vote for any government that has more than 250 votes, other senators might not think so. He added that having only 310 votes is not enough. To be a solid government, the total number of votes must first be 376. He added that Move Forward should not leave this to the Senators as Pita must remember who forms this group of Senators.

An influential senator Wanchai Sornsiri said on Monday he and some senators will have to take other factors into consideration such as the party’s policies. Wanchai pointed out that Move Forward Party itself didn’t win a simple majority of the lower House which is 251 out of 500 but won much fewer seats at so it cannot claim otherwise.

“I’m not sure that the Number 1 party will always be able to form a government,” he said, adding that Pheu Thai won the most seats back in 2019 but unable to form a government and ends up in the opposition camp.

Another conservative senator Kittisak Rattanawaraha said the qualifications of a PM is the person must be loyal to the monarchy, religion, nation.

UOB Thailand launches new cards campaign featuring strategic partnerships with over 40 established global and regional brands in travel, dining and retail

By

Contributor

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15 May 2023, 12:52

Bangkok – May 2023 – UOB Thailand has launched a new cards campaign, “For All You Love”, featuring strategic partnerships across ASEAN with over 40 renowned domestic and global brands to offer the best deals and privileges to cardholders in Thailand and the region.

The campaign highlights the Bank’s strengthened card propositions and its dedication to offering the best privileges and deals for all that its customers love. Referencing cardholders’ spending patterns over the past year, UOB has identified travel, dining, and retail as being closest to customers’ hearts, and has boosted its offerings in the three categories through regional partnerships with many established brands.

Mrs Vira-Anong Chiranakhorn Phutrakul, Head of Retail and Brand, UOB Thailand, said, “We’re dedicated to providing exceptional customer experiences that cater to their unique needs and preferences. Our globally-informed local expertise delivers tailored banking services that can’t be matched anywhere else.”

UOB Thailand’s commitment to its customers is further evidenced by its strong growth trajectory in the credit card business, the largest segment of its retail arm. Total credit card billings grew by over 30 per cent in the first quarter this year when compared to the same period last year. Majority of the lifestyle spending is contributed by travel, dining and shopping categories.

Mr Tearavath Trirutdilokkul, Head of Card Payment & Unsecured Products, UOB Thailand, said “Our retail banking business has shown steady growth, clearly demonstrating the effectiveness of our well-planned strategies. We expect to see continued growth in the revenue of our retail banking business as we remain dedicated offering our customers an unparalleled banking experience that stands out from the rest.”

Highlights include a world-first partnership with foremost wine rating authority Robert Parker, where UOB cardholders in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam can look forward to exclusive wine pairing dinners served by MICHELIN-starred chefs as well as curated wine masterclasses for different levels of connoisseurs. This is Robert Parker’s first-ever partnership with a financial institution, with its regional reach a pioneering approach for the company as well. This partnership furthers the Bank’s customer propositions in the dining space, a perfect complement to UOB’s earlier announced partnership with The MICHELIN Guide in Thailand and Malaysia.

Following the announcement of its strategic partnership with local luxury purveyor Club 21 last year, UOB will be collaborating with Britain’s foremost designer Paul Smith to elevate its offering in the lifestyle arena. Paul Smith will be lending his signature designs to merchandise exclusive to UOB cardholders in spend-and-get campaigns. Over 5,000 limited-edition Paul Smith accessories including Apple AirPod cases and backpacks will be given to UOB cardholders in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam who spend a minimum sum on their cards within this year, while stocks last. The collaboration will culminate in a region-wide lucky draw in December 2023 where one UOB cardholder in each country will win a Mini exclusively designed by Paul Smith featuring his signature stripes.

UOB’s regional and local partnerships, which include five co-branded credit cards with key consumer brands in Thailand, are on top of the over 2,000 in-country deals specially curated to the discerning preferences of UOB’s customers, offering exclusive and customised rewards and privileges.

The new campaign demonstrates UOB’s unswerving dedication in offering an unparalleled banking experience to its customers, and reinforces its position as a leading player in the credit card space. As part of the “For All You Love” campaign, a brand new film accentuating the regional presence and global strength of UOB’s cards will be launched across online media channels and out-of-home media from 11 May 2023.

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