Category: The Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has dismissed as “nonsense” allegations arising from a leaked audio clip purportedly linking the wife of the Interior Ministry’s permanent secretary to a local government recruitment examination fraud.

He insisted investigations should be based on evidence rather than social media claims and vowed any proven corruption would be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.

Mr Anutin, who also serves as interior minister, was asked on Friday about an audio clip circulated by the Facebook page CSI LA, which claimed the ministry’s permanent secretary was connected to a scheme to rig recruitment examinations for local government officials. He described the allegations as “nonsense”, saying the clip contained unverified claims and urging journalists to distinguish between substantiated facts and speculation.

“If we do not rely on facts, what else should we rely on?” he said, adding there was no reason to give credence to baseless claims.

“My policy is clear: wherever there is corruption, a lack of transparency or unfairness towards examination candidates, all those involved must be dealt with in accordance with the law,” he said.

Mr Anutin said responsibility for the investigation rested with the police, the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Anti-Money Laundering Office and the inquiry panel appointed by the ministry’s permanent secretary. The ministry and the Department of Local Administration had already filed complaints with police.

Meanwhile, Interior Ministry permanent secretary Unsit Sampantharat denied allegations that his wife had any involvement in the examination fraud, adding that anyone could examine his family’s background.

Separately, Crime Suppression Division investigators said the case stemmed from complaints by examination candidates after irregularities were uncovered in recruitment tests for local government posts last year.

More than 400,000 people applied for about 6,000 positions. Investigators believe about 9,000 candidates paid between 300,000 and 900,000 baht each to a network promising guaranteed appointments, generating illicit proceeds estimated at more than 4 billion baht.

Police said searches uncovered premises in Nonthaburi allegedly used to alter answer sheets. Officers seized documentary evidence and questioned 10 officials found at the property, which investigators said belonged to the director of the Strategy and Budget Division at Wichian Buri Municipality in Phetchabun. The official later resigned.

Investigators believe the network has operated for more than two years and are examining financial transactions dating to 2024. The leaked audio clip remains under investigation.

Memory often endures not through grand ceremonies or historic milestones, but through small moments of everyday life — shared conversations after class, hurried meals between lectures, and the friendships formed during the uncertain first weeks of university.

For Law Class 40 at Thammasat University, those ordinary experiences carried an extraordinary dimension. Among the students beginning their studies in 1997 was Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati, then a first-year law student embarking on a journey that would unfold alongside hundreds of classmates rather than apart from them.

Nearly three decades later, many who studied with her remember not formality or distance, but an ease that allowed her to become part of the fabric of campus life.

One of the earliest memories dates back to May 11, 1997, during the traditional orientation programme at Thammasat University’s Tha Phra Chan campus. Like generations of students before them, freshmen gathered for activities designed to break down barriers through songs, games and group exercises.

Students sat on the floor together, laughed, sang and introduced themselves to strangers who would soon become friends.

In that setting, the princess participated naturally and without reservation.

For many students, the initial uncertainty centred on how they should behave around a member of the Royal Family in such an informal environment. That uncertainty quickly disappeared.

Asst Prof Taweesak Euaamornwanich, now Assistant to the Rector for Legal Affairs at Thammasat University, recalls that what stood out was how effortlessly she joined in.

“There was no sense of distance,” he recalled. “She took part in activities like everyone else.”

The same impression carried into the classroom.

During introductory sessions, lecturers often addressed an issue that made many faculty members slightly nervous: language. Because members of the Royal Family are normally referred to using royal vocabulary, some lecturers began by seeking permission to teach in plain language.

“Many students would glance towards Her Royal Highness, wondering how she would respond,” Asst Prof Taweesak said.

“But she never behaved as though special permission was required. She treated it as entirely normal, which helped lecturers feel more comfortable as well.”

While the Faculty of Law prepared a reception room for her on the fourth floor of the building, it was rarely the centre of her university life.

Assoc Prof Supreeya Kaewla-iad, now Dean of the Faculty of Law and one of her classmates, said the princess preferred spending her time in classrooms and with friends.

“She used the room occasionally, but most of the time she was with her classmates,” Assoc Prof Supreeya said.

The room would later take on a different role. Years after graduation, when the princess returned to teach Criminal Procedure Law to postgraduate students as a special lecturer, it became her working office.

The friendships formed during those university years generated countless personal memories.

One that remains particularly vivid for Asst Prof Taweesak occurred during a two-week academic study trip to France after the students’ second year. Thirteen students were selected to participate in an opportunity to spend time together outside the classroom.

During the trip, he bought a long marshmallow stick from a shop, and the princess took an interest and asked whether it was tasty. He then offered it for her to try.

After tasting it, she smiled and jokingly invoked an old Thai superstition. “It’s very sweet,” she remarked. “Don’t eat too much, or you’ll become vicious.”

Noticing the price tag of only seven francs, she suggested buying more to share with classmates.

For Asst Prof Taweesak, the exchange captured something that friends frequently observed: warmth, humour and consideration for others, even in the smallest moments.

Beyond her approachable nature, classmates were equally impressed by her discipline.

While carrying out numerous royal duties far beyond those faced by ordinary students, she maintained a consistent presence on campus. At the same time, she was also pursuing political science studies through Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.

Despite these competing responsibilities, she completed her law degree in just three and a half years and graduated with second-class honours.

For her classmates, it was an example of exceptional time management and determination.

Years later, those qualities would be reflected in her public service and legal work.

Assoc Prof Supreeya said one initiative that particularly demonstrated the princess’s commitment to using legal knowledge for the public good was her promotion of the Bangkok Rules — formally known as the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders.

Adopted by the United Nations in 2010, the rules established international standards aimed at protecting the rights and dignity of female prisoners while supporting rehabilitation and reintegration.

“The Bangkok Rules demonstrate Her Royal Highness’s concern for all groups in society and her determination to create tangible change,” Assoc Prof Supreeya said.

“Lawyers often focus on police reform, courts or judicial procedures, but issues affecting prisoners have traditionally received far less attention. Her Royal Highness recognised their importance.”

For Asst Prof Taweesak, the princess’s example offers three enduring lessons for younger generations.

The first is humility — refusing to use status or privilege for personal advantage. The second is disciplined time management. The third is a commitment to using professional knowledge to improve society, particularly for those whose voices are often overlooked.

Assoc Prof Supreeya believes that legacy extends beyond royal service.

“She was a lawyer who consistently used her knowledge for the benefit of people and society,” she said. “We honour her not because she was a princess, but because of the contributions she made to the country and its people.”

For Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law, those contributions remain closely aligned with the institution’s own ideals: that legal education should serve not only the law itself, but society as a whole, she said.

And for those who shared classrooms, study trips and ordinary student experiences with her, the memories that remain are not of ceremony, but of a fellow student whose example continues to inspire long after graduation.

The leadership of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has been plunged into legal hot water after a former Senate oversight committee member provided testimony alleging the NBTC chairman, Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, lacks the legal qualifications to hold office.

Gen Anantaporn Kanjanarat, former chairman of the Senate Committee on Information Communication Technology and Telecommunications (ICT), testified to the NBTC selection committee yesterday.

On June 19, Gen Anantaporn and eight former members of the Senate committee submitted a comprehensive fact-finding report about Dr Sarana’s qualifications to the NBTC selection committee.

BREAKING THE LAW

Gen Anantaporn’s testimony alleged Dr Sarana lacks the qualifications and meets conditions that violate the Frequency Allocation Act of 2010.

According to the report, Dr Sarana lacks qualifications under Section 7 (b)(12) and Section 20 (4) of the law. These provisions prohibit any individual who has served as a director, executive or consultant for a broadcasting or telecom entity within one year prior to their selection as NBTC commissioner from holding a seat on the commission.

A probe revealed that Ramathibodi Hospital at Mahidol University, where Dr Sarana previously held an executive post, holds an NBTC licence to operate the “Rama Channel” TV station.

Furthermore, the report alleged Dr Sarana violated Section 26, which mandates commissioners serve on a full-time basis.

Investigations determined after his appointment to the NBTC post, Dr Sarana allegedly continued to serve as an independent director for Bangkok Bank and maintained an active medical practice at both state and private hospitals.

Other allegations involve articles 8 and 18 of the law. Article 8 states commissioners must not be state officials, employees of state agencies or state enterprises, nor directors or advisors of state enterprises or state agencies.

In addition, they must not be self-employed in professions that lead to direct or indirect conflicts of interest with their duties at the NBTC.

According to Article 18, selected prospective commissioners must resign from the prohibited posts mentioned within 15 days after being selected by the Senate to serve as commissioners, which paves the way for royal appointment.

Failure to resign from the prohibited posts by the deadline means the Senate cannot confirm these candidates, according to the law.

The evidence indicates Dr Sarana remained a Mahidol University employee until April 12, 2022, one day before his royal appointment to the NBTC chairman post, noted the report.

Dr Sarana also failed to provide tangible evidence of his resignation or the cessation of his private professional practices within the legally prescribed time frame, the report stated.

To bolster its claims, the committee report cited Dr Sarana’s personal income tax filings, which showed continuous income derived from medical services, independent professional practice, and private sector contracts after taking office at the NBTC through until 2023.

The NBTC selection committee said it is determining whether to initiate a new recruitment process.

Dr Sarana sent a letter to the selection committee objecting to its authority regarding his case.

Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa says he will look into delays in financial aid for sugar cane farmers joining the government’s campaign to cut fresh cane and curb haze from burning.

Officials pledged to pay farmers 120 baht per tonne for harvested cane, rewarding those who switched from the labour-intensive traditional method.

“So far we have not received the money,” said a farmer who participated in a rally at the ministry yesterday.

Farmer groups led by the Thailand Sugarcane Planters Federation staged a protest over delayed payments and voiced concern about the Cane and Sugar Board, which has excluded farmer representatives.

“I will forward these issues to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to seek solutions,” Mr Varawut told farmers who submitted a petition letter to him.

He said the cabinet approved a budget of 477 million baht for the Industry Ministry on June 23. This budget will be allocated to farmers who have not yet received financial assistance, said Mr Varawut.

Farmers said shifting to fresh-cane cutting has reduced burning to just 3.8% of total harvests.

But with no money from the government, “many farmers feel they are being deceived,” said the farmer.

The Cane and Sugar Board previously called for thorough surveys of areas where fresh cane was cut to verify farmers’ eligibility for payments.

The Industry Ministry wants to reduce the amount of burned sugar cane to cut PM2.5 levels and avoid a negative impact on Thai sugar exports, resulting from global concerns over carbon dioxide emissions from cane burning.

PM2.5 particles, which measure less than 2.5 microns in diameter, can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause long-term health damage.

The farmer groups accused industry permanent secretary Nattapol Rangsitpol of failing to speed up a procedure to put their representatives on the Cane and Sugar Board, which consists of representatives from the government, farmers and sugar millers.

The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry has stepped up efforts to combat illegal streaming and online gambling platforms during the World Cup, forging closer cooperation with rights holder Monomax to accelerate the removal of infringing content and illicit websites.

DES deputy minister Nan Boonthida Somchai met with Navamin Prasopnet, chief executive of Mono Next Plc, to discuss measures aimed at tackling websites and digital platforms involved in unauthorised broadcasts of World Cup matches, as well as online gambling operations that exploit the tournament’s popularity.

The move reflects the government’s broader campaign against cybercrime, intellectual property (IP) violations and illegal online betting, which authorities say tend to surge during major sporting events.

According to Ms Nan, the ministry’s Illegal Website Monitoring Centre blocked 12,671 URLs linked to copyright infringement and online gambling between June 10-24.

Of the total, 4,496 URLs were blocked under court orders, while another 8,175 URLs were removed through cooperation with major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

She said discussions with Mono Next, the rights holder for the World Cup 2026 broadcasts and English Premier League content in Thailand, focused on enhancing information sharing and operational coordination to enable faster detection and takedown of illegal platforms.

Under the proposed framework, the company plans to work with the ministry’s monitoring centre by providing intelligence and evidence related to copyright violations, allowing authorities to expedite enforcement actions once illegal activities are identified.

Officials said stronger public-private collaboration will help reduce revenue losses associated with piracy, protect IP rights, and improve the effectiveness of measures against digital platforms operating outside the law.

Ms Nan said the government continues to monitor online activities around the clock and remains committed to integrating efforts with private sector stakeholders to strengthen enforcement against illegal websites.

“Closer cooperation will accelerate the takedown process and help prevent offences that affect individuals, businesses and the digital economy,” she said.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has expressed confidence that gubernatorial candidate Anucha Burapachaisri and the party can bring meaningful change to Bangkok, while warning voters not to be misled by candidates claiming to be ‘independent’ while concealing political affiliations.

Speaking on Saturday, the final day of campaigning ahead of Sunday’s governor and city council elections in the capital, Mr Abhisit said the Democrat Party’s proposed reforms and anti-corruption initiatives would help improve governance in the capital.

He said the party’s ‘Song Rat’ (scan the state) platform would enable it to identify problems and irregularities more effectively, making it easier to tackle longstanding issues. The party’s plans to overhaul licensing systems and bureaucratic procedures would also contribute to meaningful change, he added.

Earlier in the morning, Mr Abhisit, Mr Anucha and other senior party figures, including Chuan Leekpai, Korn Chatikavanij and Karndee Leopairote and other executives, gathered at Party headquarters to pay respects to Phra Mae Thorani (Earth Goddess) for good fortune ahead of polling day on Sunday.

The campaign team then launched a convoy across Bangkok, stopping at key locations such as the Or Tor Kor Market and the Saha Group Fair at Bitec Bangna. They later travelled by skytrain to major shopping centres, including EmQuartier, Central Embassy and Central Chidlom, before wrapping up the campaign at Siam Paragon with a final appeal to voters.

Mr Abhisit said the Democrats would continue campaigning until the last moment despite assessments that the party remained behind its rivals.

Incumbent Chadchart Sittipunt, elected in a landslide in 2022, is widely expected to win a second term as governor on Sunday. However, allegations that many of the key decisions in Bangkok are really made by a hidden network of influential figures might dent his support this time.

Unlocking potential

Mr Abhisit expressed confidence that the party’s policies would address the needs of Bangkok residents and unlock the city’s greater potential.

He also alleged that coordinated online attacks targeting the party’s website reflected backlash from groups whose interests had been affected by the party’s anti-corruption stance.

He said the Democrats would continue their scrutiny, stressing that Bangkok residents want not only a physically clean city but also transparency and clean governance.

The party leader acknowledged that voter awareness appeared lower than usual, with some residents still unaware of the election date, and confusion arising from mismatched candidate numbers between gubernatorial and council candidates.

However, he said many traditional supporters remain loyal, urging voters to consider whether Bangkok is already good enough or capable of more.

Discussing corruption issues highlighted during a major rally on Friday night, Mr Abhisit said change is achievable, adding that the party’s tools and reforms would make problem-solving more effective.

Who is ‘independent’?

Turning to a group of candidates running as independents in the Bangkok Council election, Mr Abhisit questioned whether they were truly independent.

He said the term ‘independent’ naturally appealed to voters because it sounded positive, but the real issue was what kind of independence was being claimed.

‘If people are asked whether they prefer to be independent or not independent, no one is likely to choose the latter.’ he said. ‘But if the question is whether it is better to work alone or as part of a team, I believe most people would say teamwork is preferable.

‘What frustrates me in this election is the lack of transparency. Under the conventional definition, an independent candidate runs alone and is not affiliated with any group. In this election we are seeing the phenomenon of ‘independent teams’.

‘If they are operating as a team, they are no longer independent – they are a political group. And if that affiliation is concealed, then it becomes a political gang,’ said the Democrat leader.

He stressed that the Democrat Party has demonstrated internal accountability. Party members were willing to scrutinise one another rather than blindly support colleagues.

He urged voters not to be deceived by claims of independence that did not reflect the reality of how candidates operated.

Mr Anucha urged Bangkok residents to give the party an opportunity in both the gubernatorial race and all 50 council seats, saying the election will determine the city’s direction for the next four years. Unlike national politics, the Bangkok administration cannot be easily dissolved.

The party’s governor candidate called on voters not to miss the opportunity, urging them to choose what is right over what is merely appealing.

The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) is expediting restoration work along Chalong Krung Road in Lat Krabang district os Bangkok after heavy rain and strong winds toppled dozens power poles, causing damage to vehicles, homes and electricity infrastructure. All traffic lanes were expected to reopen later on Saturday.

The incident occurred on Friday evening, when thunderstorms and strong gusts hit the district in eastern Bangkok, particularly along Chalong Krung Road. The powerful winds caused rows of electricity poles to break loose and topple in succession, crushing more than 30 vehicles travelling on the road or parked nearby.

Four people were reported injured, with three of them treated at hospital.

Power and communication lines were torn down and scattered across the road surface, disrupting electricity supply, telecommunications and internet service in the area. Police immediately closed the affected traffic lanes to ensure public safety.

The affected stretch of road runs from the Lam Ko Phai bridge to the traffic lights in front of Lat Krabang Industrial Estate. Separate detour routes for small vehicles and large trucks were set up, leading to some congestion on nearby roads, according to local reports.

ML Julachak Chakrabandhu, the MEA assistant governor, visited the site on Saturday to observe operations, saying that more than 80% of the fallen poles and debris had been cleared using cranes and heavy machinery.

A detailed inspection found that 32 power poles measuring 22 metres and 57 poles measuring 32 metres were damaged he said.

However, repairs and installation of replacement poles are expected to take additional time and must be carried out with extra caution because gas pipelines are located below ground, requiring careful excavation work.

Efforts were under way to clear all obstructions and restore full traffic flow on Chalong Krung Road, although some congestion may persist in sections where electrical repairs are ongoing.

ML Julachak said the authority was prepared to take responsibility for all eligible damages arising from the incident, including medical expenses for injured persons and repair costs for damaged vehicles, buildings and residential properties. Those affected could submit claims directly to the MEA, he said.

The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) is drafting a new electronic transactions law to replace the 2001 edition, aiming to strengthen trust in these interactions, facilitate their use, and improve the confidence of participants.

These improvements are expected to enhance Thailand’s competitiveness in a digital society, said the agency.

An online public hearing on the draft was held from May 12 to June 15. The new law is scheduled to come into force 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, according to the draft.

The new law does not apply to transactions that require people to show up in person in front of officials, or transactions where people have to express consent in person in front of officials, or transactions that are inappropriate as e-transactions.

Why is a new version of the law needed?

The current law on electronic transactions has been in force for more than 20 years. During that time, technology related to electronic transactions has developed rapidly, meaning portions of the statute are now outdated, noted ETDA.

Certain provisions now create limits or obstacles in enforcement, while others no longer reflect current practices in electronic transactions. This has affected public confidence in electronic transactions, said the agency.

In addition, the UN developed several new model laws to support electronic transactions in a wider range of contexts.

Khanit Phatong, an ETDA adviser, said although businesses have become familiar with e-commerce and the increasing use of electronic documents such as e-invoices, uncertainty remains over whether certain key documents can genuinely be converted into digital format.

“This is particularly the case for documents involving the transfer of ownership or rights through possession of an original document, such as bills of lading, negotiable instruments or cheques,” she said.

Ploy Charoensom, assistant executive director of ETDA, said the most important issue for businesses is confidence that the electronic documents they use have genuine legal effect and can be used as evidence of rights, to transfer rights, and can be enforced in the same way as original paper documents.

Although Thai law recognises electronic contracts, electronic signatures and digital identity verification, it may not fully cover certain types of electronic documents, said Ms Ploy.

“These include bills of lading and other transferable instruments with specific characteristics involving possession and the transfer of rights,” she said.

According to ETDA, the existing law does not sufficiently support the use of new technology by the public and businesses in conducting electronic transactions or providing related services because it requires compliance with rules set by the relevant authorities.

If those authorities have not yet issued relevant rules, or have not updated rules to cover new technologies, the law may become an obstacle to the use or provision of electronic methods, noted the agency.

Meanwhile, globalisation has led to more cross-border interactions, as large multinational companies providing electronic transaction services have effectively become standard-setters in practice.

If Thailand’s electronic transactions law is not sufficiently flexible, it may be overlooked, or such companies may choose to limit their services in Thailand, noted ETDA.

Either outcome would be harmful to Thailand’s image as an investment destination, said the agency.

How does the new law differ from the existing one?

The draft of the new law is based on consistency with international agreements and relevant model laws, though it introduces a different enforcement mechanism from the existing law.

The draft is designed to allow people to use new technologies for electronic transactions without having to wait for the relevant agencies to prescribe detailed rules first.

The draft also abolishes the licensing, registration and notification mechanisms on e-transaction service providers, replacing them with a trustmark mechanism. These providers include the issuers of certificates for PDF files, the providers of digital signature systems, and cloud providers.

The new law also sets the conditions for using each type of electronic method as a replacement for paper-based methods in transactions.

Once a person complies with those conditions, the electronic method has legal effect immediately, eliminating the need to wait for ETDA to issue detailed rules first.

The draft introduces provisions for electronic transferable records (ETRs) in line with the UN Commission on International Trade Law model law on ETRs. ETRs have certain special features that require specific legal recognition.

ETRs will play an important role in upgrading the country’s trade and financial systems by helping to reduce reliance on paper documents, speeding up transactions and supporting data connectivity between agencies and trading partner countries, said ETDA.

The development of ETRs is based on three principles. The first is singularity, which ensures the authoritative version of a document can be clearly identified and duplicate claims can be prevented.

The second is control, which makes it possible to determine who has the right to possess the instrument at any given time.

The third is integrity, which allows the history of changes, endorsements, transfers of rights or additional information to be verified.

The draft also introduces a new regulatory mechanism for electronic transaction service providers, while abolishing the licensing, registration and notification systems, instead setting conditions with which service providers must comply.

Once a provider complies with those conditions, it is regarded as an electronic transaction service provider under the law.

What is ETDA doing to ensure successful implementation of the new law?

The agency is working with many sectors to support implementation, including a plan to provide a platform where businesses, service providers and technology developers involved in ETRs can seek advice and jointly learn about the development of ETR management systems.

ETDA is also collaborating with the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s law faculty to develop a draft self-assessment checklist. The checklist is intended as a tool for service providers and system developers to assess whether their systems comply with legal requirements and international standards.

After the new law comes into force, the agency may develop or refine the checklist into a tool for system certification if there is demand from users.

Opposition MPs have criticised the government’s 10.3-billion-baht budget transfer bill, saying it would have little impact on the economy and questioning the priorities behind the spending plan.

The bill, presented by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, seeks to transfer 10.3 billion baht from selected items in the 2026 fiscal budget to the central emergency and contingency fund.

According to Mr Anutin, the funding was necessary because the original 99-billion-baht emergency reserve had been used to address economic and social hardships arising from domestic and international challenges and was insufficient to respond to future emergencies and natural disasters.

The prime minister urged parliament to approve the budget transfer bill, saying the fund would be used transparently and efficiently to meet urgent national needs.

Democrat Party MP Korn Chatikavanij on Thursday argued that the proposed transfer would have only a marginal impact on the economy and provide less assistance to the public than expected.

He said the government had previously indicated it could reallocate as much as 125 billion baht to address rising energy prices and support the public. Instead, the final bill proposed transferring only 10.3 billion baht, equivalent to about 0.2% of the 3.78-trillion-baht budget.

According to Mr Korn, the government proceeded with the budget transfer bill primarily to honour an earlier commitment to parliament and strengthen its legal position when seeking approval for a 500-billion-baht emergency loan decree.

“Transferring only 10.3 billion baht when it knew it could reallocate 125 billion baht raises the question of whether the government has done its utmost to avoid borrowing. That matter will be reviewed by the Constitutional Court,” he said.

People’s Party list MP Sirikanya Tansakun also questioned whether the government had set the right spending priorities.

While the government said the transfer was intended to prepare for future disasters, it had cut more than one billion baht from an integrated water resources management programme, she noted.

She also questioned the criteria used to select projects for budget transfers, saying the government appeared to be withdrawing funds from projects unlikely to be disbursed on time while leaving inefficient spending untouched.

Ms Sirikanya described the transfer as a short-term cash-flow measure that came at the expense of delaying expenditure by state agencies.

“If the government were a private company, it would be seen as facing severe financial trouble, unable to manage cash flow,” she said.

During the presentation of the bill, Mr Anutin outlined the sources of the budget reallocations.

He said the 10.3 billion baht would be drawn from two main areas: unspent routine expenditure across all budget categories as of June 2, 2026, and investment expenditure that had not yet proceeded to bidding, procurement or construction by the same date.

As a second instalment of the DC Universe (DCU), ‘Supergirl’ (2026) sets a different tone in James Gunn’s cinematic universe. It follows Supergirl in her quest to save her dog while becoming her best self.

The film was based on the comic ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ (2021-2022), which was in turn based on the 1968 novel ‘True Grit’, and follows the same plot line.

After her whole family was murdered, Ruthee Ruthye Marye Knoll (Matthias Schoenaerts) sets out to seek revenge on a space bandit Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts). She meets Kara Zor-El / Supergirl (Milly Alcock), whose dog, Krypto, has also been poisoned by Krem, who is also the only person with an antidote. Together, they embark on an interplanetary adventure to seek revenge and the cure.

Last year’s ‘Superman’ was a breath of fresh air. With the trend of darker, grittier superheroes – as popularised by ‘The Dark Knight’ (2009) and continued to the late DC Extended Universe (DCEU) – resting in peace, the 2025 take started the cinematic reboot of the DC Universe with a return to bright, hopeful and inspiring. The tone proved to fit well with the extremely humanistic character of Superman and managed to keep him relevant in the current time.

What shines in this continuation of the universe is the titular character herself. While Superman is a character viewers can look up to, Supergirl is a messier character in which audiences can see themselves.

Instead of being sent away to Earth as a toddler like her cousin Kal-El, Kara spent time growing up on Krypton. She had a life there and slowly saw the planet dying. This traumatised her greatly. She struggles to fit in and spends her time hopping planet to planet, drinking and partying. This differentiates ‘Supergirl’ from its predecessor, establishing that the new DC Universe is not all bright and shiny.

What audiences root for with Kara is not only for her to save her dog but for her to save herself and become the Supergirl she is meant to become.

I especially like Milly Alcock’s portrayal of the character. With her sunglasses, headset and no-care attitude, it was such a stark contrast to Clark Kent, despite sharing the same ‘Super’ symbol. What is also fun is that she basically has the same super powers, but is willing to let loose and use those powers more.

What the film falls short on is its delivery. The first two arcs set out an interesting premise and emotional backstory for Kara. It also challenges the main character with morally complex situations. However, this does not pay off in the third arc. We can somewhat understand what inspired Kara to change, but the change feels too out-of-nowhere, and the impact is not quite there. Even just thinking back to the “raise the flag scene” in Superman, I can find an example of a setpiece that was really impactful as a wake-up call for the main character.

I know I’ve compared this film to ‘Superman’ a lot, but with it being a soft continuation of that and sharing the ‘Super-‘ title, there is a lot to contrast, whether the tonal difference or the quality of the film. Nonetheless, while not living up to her cousin’s previous outing, Supergirl is still an enjoyable watch that shows what the DC Universe can be.

It’s a universe that definitely can be more. The upcoming third release in the franchise, ‘Clayface’, is set to portray a villain origin story using the body horror genre. That should, regardless of reception, surely expand the tone of this cinematic universe, assuring the audience that they will not only get the brightest of the bright but also the darkest of the dark.