Category: The Bangkok Post

The trial run of new express bus services with limited stops was plagued by poor communication on Monday, with many Bangkok commuters left wondering why buses were passing them by without stopping.

They took to social media on Monday morning, sharing their experiences, with many expressing dissatisfaction with the project, launched by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) to ‘improve convenience and speed up journeys during rush hours’.

The express buses operated on 24 routes across Bangkok and in surrounding provinces, using both air-conditioned and hot-air buses.

It is aimed at shortening journey times, with buses dropping and collecting passengers only at designated major stops, instead of at every stop along the route. Normal fares apply.

Buses taking part in the trial carry signs reading ‘Express Bus’ on their front windscreen and sides, to help passengers identify them.

Passenger feedback was mixed.

Some commuters said the BMTA should have advertised it more widely in advance. Many commuters were unaware a new service was being trialled and had not checked the routes or designated stops before setting out.

Others questioned the decision to introduce selective stops using an already limited number of regular buses, saying it was unsuited to Bangkok’s public transport system.

‘City buses should serve as feeder services, providing widespread connections and distributing passengers across communities, particularly residential areas,’ Facebook user Korakot Phupaiboon commented on the BMTA’s Facebook page.

‘Many bus stops serve schools and residential neighbourhoods, where commuters already face long waiting times. Having buses pass without stopping only adds to their difficulties,’ the user said.

Under the trial schedule, morning express services depart from their starting terminals at 6am, 7am and 8am, while buses departing from the other end of the route leave at 7am, 8am and 9am.

During the evening rush, buses leave their starting terminals at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm, with return trips departing at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm.

The BMTA has also opened a website channel for passengers to submit formal feedback on the trial. However, it has not specified how long the trial will run.

Rajavithi Hospital has become the first hospital under the Ministry of Public Health to perform minimally invasive, multi-vessel coronary artery bypass surgery using robotic assistance.

The hospital, overseen by the Department of Medical Services (DMS), achieved the breakthrough through a procedure known as robotic internal mammary artery harvest with total coronary revascularisation via anterior thoracotomy.

The technique reduces patients’ pain and complications while speeding up recovery and shortening hospital stays.

DMS director-general Dr Weerawut Imsamran said Rajavithi Hospital was the department’s leading institution in robotic surgery and the first government hospital to pioneer the technology.

Robotic-assisted procedures are now used to treat various cancers and complex conditions involving multiple medical specialities, including prostate cancer, tonsil disorders, base of tongue cancer, liver and colorectal cancers, uterine fibroids, and heart diseases, he said.

The hospital has performed more than 1,600 robotic-assisted operations to date. Its latest achievement builds on its Robotic Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Project.

Hospital director Arkom Chaiwerawattana said robotic-assisted surgery offered significant advantages over conventional open-heart surgery, which typically requires a 20-25cm incision through the breastbone.

He said up to four coronary arteries can be bypassed in a single operation.

King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) has warned flood victims to check their homes for hidden electrical and structural damage, as submerged appliances could cause fires even if they appear to work normally.

The warning follows inspections by KMUTT lecturers and students, working with Singha R-SA and the King Mongkut’s Universities of Technology network, in the Rom Klao housing community after heavy rainfall and flooding in late September.

The team found faulty electrical installations and other hazards that homeowners might not have known about before the floods.

Asst Prof Atip Doolgindachbaporn of KMUTT’s electrical engineering department said many homes had power sockets installed close to the floor, leaving them vulnerable to flooding and short circuits.

Unlabelled circuit breakers also complicated repairs, forcing technicians to spend hours identifying which circuits they controlled.

Some residents had also suffered electric shocks when operating switches that had not been submerged, possibly because of accumulated moisture and deteriorating electrical components.

The team also discovered wiring installed incorrectly, with live and neutral wires switched, posing a safety risk that had existed before the flooding.

Asst Prof Atip advised homeowners in flood-prone areas to label circuit breakers clearly, separate lighting and socket circuits and raise sockets above previous flood levels where possible. Homes whose sockets, switches or electrical control panels have been inundated should not have their power restored until a qualified electrician has inspected the system.

Appliances that have been submerged should also be treated with caution, even if they have dried out and can still be switched on.

Water can damage insulation and internal components, creating a risk of short circuits or fires later.

The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is stepping up efforts to reduce waste within its organisation by encouraging employees to use reusable food and beverage containers at its cafeteria. The initiative aims to make sustainable practices a convenient part of employees’ daily routines and foster longer-term behavioural change.

Reuse and return containers

Employees and visitors ordering drinks at the central bank’s cafeteria may notice a simple question before paying: “Did you bring your own cup, or would you like to borrow one?”

Those who bring their own cups or opt to use reusable cups provided by the vendor can enjoy their drinks while helping to reduce single-use waste. The initiative forms part of the central bank’s broader efforts to minimise waste within the organisation and encourage more sustainable habits among employees.

The regulator said the initiative encourages staff to bring their own reusable containers, cups and cloth bags as the primary means of reducing resource consumption and preventing waste at the source.

To make the transition easier, the central bank also introduced reusable containers provided by EcoCrew Thailand for employees who forget or are unable to bring their own. Users pay a deposit of 10 baht per container and can return the items at designated collection points to receive an immediate refund.

EcoCrew Thailand is an environmental startup that provides a circular borrow-and-return service for reusable packaging, including food containers and cups, at events and other venues.

The company’s deposit-return system allows customers to borrow reusable items when purchasing food and drinks and return them at designated stations for an immediate refund.

According to EcoCrew Thailand’s Facebook page, the company has provided its service at more than 70 events nationwide over the past two years, helping to eliminate more than 400,000 single-use plastic items.

Cooperation from all parties

The central bank launched the borrow-and-return programme for food and beverage containers through EcoCrew on June 15. Before its implementation, preparations included designing the operating model, assessing potential impacts, evaluating suitable alternatives and gathering feedback from employees and participating vendors.

The regulator piloted the EcoCrew model during its annual Quality of Life event in 2025 to assess how effectively the system would work under real-world conditions.

“The approach was designed to ensure that waste reduction does not become an additional burden for employees, but instead becomes an easy and practical part of their daily routines,” the central bank noted.

Canteen stalls, food and beverage vendors, and the café at the central bank have played an important role in the initiative. The bank held discussions with vendors to explain the programme and help them adapt their operations to accommodate reusable containers.

Although some initial challenges arose from differences between the reusable containers and the packaging traditionally used by vendors, participating shops have provided strong cooperation and support, reflecting a shared commitment to phasing out single-use containers.

Ahead of the launch, the central bank also conducted communication and awareness campaigns to familiarise employees with the initiative. These efforts included an official opening ceremony chaired by Suwannee Jetsadasak, the central bank’s deputy governor for administration.

The programme’s early results suggest that providing convenient alternatives can help encourage longer-term behavioural change.

Between June 15 and Aug 13, central bank employees used EcoCrew’s reusable containers 8,330 times, equivalent to roughly 1,000 uses per week. The initiative is estimated to have reduced the central bank’s greenhouse gas emissions by 1,083 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide equivalent (kgCO2e).

More importantly, the central bank has observed a gradual shift in employee behaviour.

While EcoCrew containers were initially used as an alternative to single-use packaging, employees have increasingly begun bringing their own containers as they become more familiar with the programme and more conscious of waste reduction.

The regulator said this trend suggests the initiative can do more than deliver an immediate reduction in single-use waste: it can also help establish more sustainable habits over the longer term.

EcoCrew’s reusable containers remain available as an option for employees who do not have their own.

The programme forms part of the central bank’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts, improving waste management and encouraging employee participation in environmental initiatives.

Teerawan Itsarangkul Na Ayuthaya, a central bank employee, said she regularly used the borrow-and-return tableware programme, which gradually changed her behaviour and made her more mindful of waste separation.

“Beyond doing this at my workplace, I’m trying to maintain the same habit wherever I go, as much as possible,” she said.

Some of her colleagues, who often buy takeaway food to eat at home, also adopted the practice as an alternative to disposable plastic containers, said Ms Teerawan.

The central bank has introduced several other initiatives to embed environmental responsibility in employees’ everyday activities.

A waste separation programme launched in 2025 has improved the design of waste bins and signage to make sorting easier and more accurate. As a result, the number of incorrectly disposed items has fallen sharply to just seven per month, from around 9,000 previously. On a per-employee basis, the figure has declined from 3.3 items to 0.003 items.

The bank also introduced the “Order Only What You Can Eat” campaign to tackle food waste. Since its launch in 2025, daily food waste has fallen to 22-25kg from roughly 100kg previously.

Another initiative eliminated plastic carrier bags at its cafeteria, encouraging employees to use reusable cloth bags instead.

The “Sell Your Own Waste” programme, started in 2024, extends employee participation beyond the workplace by encouraging staff and their families to separate recyclable waste at home and channel it into appropriate recycling schemes. To date, around 26,000kg of recyclable waste have been collected and sold, helping to avoid an estimated 16,000 kgCO2e emissions.

In addition, the bank has operated electric vehicle charging stations since 2022 to encourage employees to switch to electric, reducing fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

An environmental culture

The regulator said the principle underpinning its waste management strategy is not an imposition of rules, but rather creating systems and environments that make sustainable behaviour easy, convenient and appealing.

The approach combines raising awareness, offering incentives and practical infrastructure, enabling employees to participate in environmental initiatives as part of their everyday routines.

“The ultimate goal is to move beyond compliance and foster a culture in which employees see themselves as active participants in environmental change rather than simply following organisational policies,” the central bank noted.

Sustained behavioural change among employees could eventually foster an organisation-wide environmental culture and establish the bank as a model for sustainable resource use and environmental management.

The approach has attracted interest from external organisations, as the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion, Chulalongkorn University and Sivatel Bangkok Hotel have visited the central bank to study its environmental management practices and explore ways to apply similar approaches within their own organisations.

The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) is building a 1.76-kilometre bridge across Lam Pao Reservoir in Kalasin to connect Sahatsakhan and Sam Chai districts, improve transport links and support agricultural trade and tourism.

DRR director-general Phichit Hunsiri said the 836-million-baht project was more than 31% complete, ahead of schedule, and expected to be finished in 2028. Work includes pile foundations and piers in the reservoir, casting bridge-deck sections and building the approach road.

Before the reservoir was built, residents of Ban Dong Noi in tambon Phu Sing, Sahatsakhan district, and Ban Non Than in tambon Samran Tai, Sam Chai district, could travel easily between the two communities. However, its construction forced residents to relocate to opposite sides, making travel across the water necessary.

Residents now rely on a small ferry that carries about four cars per trip and operates only during daylight hours. The crossing takes 15-20 minutes and costs 100 baht per vehicle.

Without the ferry, motorists must travel about 42 kilometres around the reservoir via highways 227 and 2289 to journey between the two districts.

The bridge is expected to reduce the journey between Sahatsakhan and Sam Chai by 21 kilometres, and the distance between Ban Dong Noi and Ban Non Than by about 63 kilometres.

The project aims to improve access to schools and hospitals, particularly for students and patients, while reducing the time and cost of transporting agricultural produce, including sugarcane, cassava, rice and rubber, to markets and factories.

The bridge will have two traffic lanes and a 12-metre-wide carriageway. The project also includes 1.595km of connecting roads, U-turn points beneath both ends of the bridge, drainage systems, street lighting and road safety equipment. The roads will connect the bridge to the existing local network.

The government will offer 100-baht weekday travel vouchers to boost local tourism income, deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana said on Sunday.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand and more than 170 operators are preparing the “100 Baht Travel Across Thailand” campaign for Thai tourists and foreign residents.

It pairs operator discounts with an online “Shock Deals” promotion selling 100-baht vouchers on Tuesdays from Dec 15 to Feb 9, 2027, for Monday-to-Thursday trips.

Ms Lalida said the 100-baht price applies only to Shock Deals and involves no cash handouts.

The new commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) has vowed to intensify the crackdown on illegal narcotics, expanding checkpoints nationwide and invoking special legal provisions against cross-border trafficking networks.

Since taking office on Oct 1, Pol Lt Gen Phumin Phumphanmuang, the 51-year-old officer known as “Big M”, has pledged a tougher approach to drug suppression, combining intensive enforcement, intelligence-led investigations and community involvement.

He said two suspected drug traffickers had already been shot dead in confrontations with police since his appointment.

A graduate of the 52nd class of the Royal Police Cadet Academy, Pol Lt Gen Phumin has built a reputation for investigative skills, tactical expertise and marksmanship.

He earned the nickname “M5, the powerhouse” while serving as superintendent of Division 5 of the Crime Suppression Division, where he became known for pursuing armed criminals in southern Thailand.

He is the nephew of former national police chief Pol Gen Somyot Poompanmoung.

After serving as a superintendent and confronting numerous armed criminals, Pol Lt Gen Phumin rose to become deputy commander of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division.

He was later appointed commander of the Central Investigation Bureau’s (CIB) Special Operations Division, overseeing the nationwide commando unit, before becoming deputy commissioner of the CIB.

He was later appointed commander attached to the Office of the National Police Chief. After only a year in that position, he was transferred to lead the NSB.

Pol Lt Gen Phumin said the bureau was a crucial agency because tackling narcotics was a national priority for every government.

Before taking up the post, he had analysed drug-related offences across 11 dimensions, covering production sources, imports across border areas, trafficking routes, major dealers, street-level sellers, distribution to users, exports and imports, postal delivery services and social media channels.

“My next step is to introduce interception measures across every part of the system. Tackling only one aspect of the drug problem will not solve it, because there are many contributing factors,” he said.

One key concern was precursor chemicals manufactured in Thailand and exported overseas. Such chemicals might be legal in themselves but become part of an illegal activity when used to manufacture narcotics.

He said investigators must establish how businesses intended to use these chemicals and produce clear investigative reports determining whether they were supplying the drug trade.

Where evidence justified action, authorities could use legal measures, including asset seizure under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, to target production sources.

Along border areas, the NSB would work with security agencies, military units responsible for border protection and the Border Patrol Police.

Pol Lt Gen Phumin said he had met the National Security Centre and military units the previous week to discuss interception measures.

The bureau would also use technology provided by the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the Australian Federal Police.

He said drug trafficking routes, traditionally concentrated in the North, had expanded into the Northeast, where gaps remained in interception measures.

The bureau planned to upgrade its capabilities through technologies such as X-ray scanners and artificial intelligence, allowing officers to detect drug consignments without traffickers realising they had been identified.

The bureau currently operates six permanent checkpoints nationwide.

Traffickers know where they were located, he said, so the bureau would develop plans to make interception operations less predictable and expand its coverage.

Investigators would also pursue the financial networks behind major dealers under the Narcotics Conspiracy Measures Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Reaching those at the top of the trade required investigative reports establishing the underlying offences, he said. The bureau would reopen channels for receiving information from the public through community policing.

For street-level dealers and drug users, the strategy would focus on building stronger, more sustainable communities through long-term cooperation among community leaders, government agencies and the private sector.

Authorities would identify users and small-scale dealers, organise enforcement operations and remove dealers from affected areas. Drug users would be referred for social rehabilitation measures provided by the Public Health Ministry.

The NSB would also modify the physical environment to deter crime, including by installing CCTV cameras near suspected drug dealers’ homes and setting up police posts staffed by narcotics suppression officers, he said.

The bureau would develop model communities in which residents could participate through continuous two-way communications.

Pol Lt Gen Phumin identified Klong Toey, Bang Bua in Bang Khen district and Phai Khiao in Don Muang district as communities in Bangkok where narcotics remained prevalent.

He singled out Bang Bua as particularly concerning because it was only about two kilometres from the NSB’s headquarters.

“If a drug problem persists this close to the headquarters, how can we call ourselves drug suppressors? This is a key issue,” he said.

Pol Lt Gen Phumin said the drug war would be a prolonged struggle, noting that Thailand was also a transit route for narcotics destined for third countries, including Australia, the Philippines, Japan and South Korea.

Recent intelligence indicated that traffickers were using Cambodian waters to transport drugs to the Philippines.

Pol Lt Gen Phumin said the bureau would invoke international legal provisions, noting that Thai narcotics legislation allowed Thai nationals who committed offences outside the kingdom to be arrested, prosecuted and punished in Thailand.

Although such offences often occurred in foreign waters, he believed Thai nationals were involved and could be prosecuted if operations extended into the exclusive economic zone. Investigations could then lead to asset seizures, the seizure of vessels and arrest warrants for those directing the operations.

Pol Lt Gen Phumin said enforcement would become progressively more intensive, warning that police would not hold back when armed suspects resisted arrest, in line with the national police chief’s orders.

He cautioned criminal suspects against attempting to fight officers, saying police had superior tactical capabilities.

The bureau would also use public communications to explain the penalties imposed on drug traffickers and warn people that involvement in the trade was not worth the consequences.

It would disseminate information about emerging narcotics before they could reach households.

Pheu Thai Party leader Julapun Amornvivat has firmly denied rumours of a secret political deal exchanging an amnesty for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra for votes of confidence in the upcoming censure debate.

“There is no deal, no secret deal, and no arrangement of any kind, whether behind closed doors or in the open,” he said.

The no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s government is scheduled for Dec 7-11 in parliament.

Mr Julapun, who doubles as labour minister, said that Pheu Thai and Mr Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party had agreed to govern together and were fully committed to working as coalition partners. With both parties in government, there was neither concern nor any factual basis for further negotiations, he said.

Asked about Thaksin’s application for amnesty under the Social Peace Promotion Act, Mr Julapun said anyone affected by political unrest and military coups had the legal right to submit an application.

Whether Thaksin qualified for amnesty under the law was for the relevant committee to determine, he said, adding the government had no involvement in that decision.

On government stability, he said relations between coalition partners remained close, with no discussions held about restructuring the administration.

He was confident the cabinet could address all issues during the no-confidence debate expected in early December.

Regarding reports the Klatham Party is possibly joining the coalition and possible changes at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr Julapun said decisions on coalition membership rested solely with the prime minister and should not be interfered with by other partners.

Ministers, meanwhile, had a responsibility to review their own performance, he said, noting the agriculture ministry was functioning well. Any changes to the coalition structure would require discussions and a signal from the PM, but no such talks had taken place.

The Malaysian government has approved an extension of its East Coast rail line to the Thai border in Narathiwat province.

The extension, which will run between Kota Bharu in Kelantan and the border town of Rantau Panjang, opposite Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district, was among several state projects endorsed by Kuala Lumpur, Bernama reported on Sunday, citing Kelantan Chief Minister Mohd Nassuruddin Daud.

Malaysia is currently building the East Coast Rail Link, a major new line connecting Port Klang on the west coast to Kota Bharu. The project aims to boost trade, investment and tourism along the east coast.

Kuala Lumpur intends to use the rail network to transport more Malaysian goods to China via the Asean member states Thailand and Laos.

A new terminal and fourth runway could double Suvarnabhumi airport’s annual passenger capacity to 120 million within the next seven years, according to Airports of Thailand’s (AOT) fifth development plan for the airport.

AOT president Paweena Jariyathitipong said on Monday that the airport’s existing annual capacity was about 60 million passengers in fiscal 2026, comprising 45 million at its main terminal and 15 million at the SAT-1 terminal.

Ms Paweena said AOT would soon propose the latest development plan for Suvarnabhumi airport to the cabinet, along with its East Expansion project.

The development plan includes construction of a southern terminal and the airport’s fourth runway, with both projects expected to be completed within six to seven years, she said.

For the East Expansion project, the terms of reference have been prepared, with procurement due to begin next year.

The project is expected to take four years to complete and will expand service areas, including check-in counters and baggage conveyor belts, to accommodate at least 10 million passengers annually.

Together, the projects are expected to increase the annual passenger capacity of the airport in Samut Prakan province to 120 million, Ms Paweena said.

AOT also plans to improve the airport’s duty-free area to accommodate item collection services in the arrivals area. The number of shops is expected to decrease as space is reallocated to these services, she said.

Thailand’s primary international aviation gateway has readied to introduce a premium service for very important persons (VIPs) this month to cater to businesspeople, celebrities and customers with special needs, in addition to a fast-track immigration lane.

The state enterprise has also prepared to submit a development plan for Don Mueang airport in Bangkok to the cabinet. Ms Paweena said the budget for its third-phase development plan would increase from 36 billion baht, set in fiscal 2022, to 69 billion baht. The plan is expected to raise the airport’s annual passenger capacity to 40 million.

The president said AOT’s investment plans had been designed to accommodate growing demand while minimising the need for additional borrowing, reducing the burden on public funds while maximising benefits to the country.