Category: The Bangkok Post

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.

The Bank of Thailand is moving forward with plans to introduce a baht-pegged stablecoin as part of a push to support digital finance and innovation, says governor Vitai Ratanakorn.

Speaking at the “Capital with Purpose” conference hosted by efinanceThai, Mr Vitai said the central bank plans to hold a public hearing on the proposal by the end of the year and has outlined strict initial requirements for any stablecoin that would operate in the country.

The primary condition is the stablecoin must be fully backed on a 1:1 basis by Thai baht reserves.

In the first phase, the central bank intends to allow financial institutions to use such stablecoins for settlement purposes only, with additional use cases to be evaluated in subsequent phases.

The move reflects the bank’s desire to balance technological advancement with financial stability and regulatory oversight as global interest in digital currencies grows, Mr Vitai said.

Addressing concerns about cross-border mobile payment services, he reiterated that personal QR code payments in Thailand must be conducted exclusively in baht.

Yuan-denominated transfers via personal QR codes on platforms such as Alipay and WeChat Pay are not permitted in the Thai market.

The central bank is coordinating with the operators of those platforms to review transactions and identify any non-compliance with Thai regulations, Mr Vitai noted.

The regulator has suspended roughly 5,000 accounts used for peer-to-peer yuan transfers via Alipay and WeChat Pay between February 2025 and May 2026.

Mr Vitai warned that regulated payment service providers are required to process transactions only in baht, and breaches could result in corrective measures, fines, suspensions, or even revocation of licences.

Regarding the proliferation of businesses offering foreign exchange trading (forex) services to retail customers, he said the central bank does not have a policy to grant licences for forex operations targeting speculative trading.

Mr Vitai noted that providing money transfer services to settle such transactions, whether domestic or foreign, could be violating Thailand’s Exchange Control Act of 1942.

Violations are subject to penalties of up to 200,000 baht and up to three years in prison, or both, he said.

Individuals or entities that advertise or promote speculative foreign currency trading could face charges under the Emergency Decree on Fraudulent Borrowing of 1984. Penalties under the decree may include a prison term of 5-10 years, fines of 500,000 to 1 million baht, and daily fines of up to 10,000 baht for ongoing offences.

Mr Vitai said the regulator has a dual objective of fostering fintech innovation while maintaining control over currency flows and consumer protection as Thailand navigates the evolving digital payments landscape.

A 46-year-old Australian man was taken into custody at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Friday night after being accused of killing a 17-year-old girl, whose body was found in a suitcase dumped by a railway track in Pattaya.

The suspect reportedly confessed to the crime but claimed he was acting in self-defence.

Pol Col Anek Srathongyu, chief of the Pattaya City police station, was informed on Friday evening about the missing victim, identified only as Thanchanok, a native of Kalasin province.

According to investigators, Thanchanok was last seen walking into a condominium holding hands with a foreigner at 3.34am on Thursday. They were staying in a room on the 15th floor of the building on Jomtien Second Road in tambon Nong Prue of Bang Lamung district.

About 18 hours later, the foreigner was seen dragging a black suitcase from the premises before placing it on the back of a motorcycle.

He drove the vehicle out toward Sukhumvit Road and turned left onto Chaiyaphruek Soi 2. He then drove against the traffic flow alongside a railway before disappearing from camera coverage for about nine minutes.

He returned to the condo via the same route, but without the suitcase, Pol Col Anek said.

The suspect was later identified as Simon Peter Carman, an Australian national. He was not at the condominium when police searched his room, where signs of a struggle were found.

Police launched a manhunt and caught the suspect at the airport while he was purchasing a ticket to his home country. Arresting officers noticed scratch marks, likely caused by fingernails, on his neck and arms.

That same night, investigators and forensic police tracing the suspect’s route discovered a 26-inch black suitcase about 4.2 kilometres from the condo.

Inside the suitcase was the naked, curled-up body of a woman covered with a thin brown cloth, police said.

She had blonde hair. Severe bruises were found all over her body and face, with bloodstains around her nostrils and mouth. She was believed to have been dead for about two days.

A tattoo on the body matched that of the missing girl, police said, but a detailed autopsy would be conducted to determine the cause of death and to confirm her identity.

Mr Carman, who was initially held on a charge of taking a minor away from the care of a guardian, was transferred to the Pattaya City police station for questioning.

Reports said the suspect confessed that he had never known the victim before, claiming they had met and agreed to pay her 1,000 baht ‘for her time’.

Once inside the room, the victim reportedly told him she was menstruating, so he reduced the payment to 500 baht.

They argued, after which the suspect alleged that the girl picked up a knife to threaten him and demand more money. He claimed he then acted in self-defence, grabbing her neck and causing her death. He insisted he had no intention to kill.

The suspect consented to forensic officers examining his room and his body to establish the facts and sequence of events.

The investigation is continuing.

The Bank of Thailand is moving forward with plans to introduce a baht-pegged stablecoin as part of a push to support digital finance and innovation, says governor Vitai Ratanakorn.

Speaking at the “Capital with Purpose” conference hosted by efinanceThai, Mr Vitai said the central bank plans to hold a public hearing on the proposal by the end of the year and has outlined strict initial requirements for any stablecoin that would operate in the country.

The primary condition is the stablecoin must be fully backed on a 1:1 basis by Thai baht reserves.

In the first phase, the central bank intends to allow financial institutions to use such stablecoins for settlement purposes only, with additional use cases to be evaluated in subsequent phases.

The move reflects the bank’s desire to balance technological advancement with financial stability and regulatory oversight as global interest in digital currencies grows, Mr Vitai said.

Addressing concerns about cross-border mobile payment services, he reiterated that personal QR code payments in Thailand must be conducted exclusively in baht.

Yuan-denominated transfers via personal QR codes on platforms such as Alipay and WeChat Pay are not permitted in the Thai market.

The central bank is coordinating with the operators of those platforms to review transactions and identify any non-compliance with Thai regulations, Mr Vitai noted.

The regulator has suspended roughly 5,000 accounts used for peer-to-peer yuan transfers via Alipay and WeChat Pay between February 2025 and May 2026.

Mr Vitai warned that regulated payment service providers are required to process transactions only in baht, and breaches could result in corrective measures, fines, suspensions, or even revocation of licences.

Regarding the proliferation of businesses offering foreign exchange trading (forex) services to retail customers, he said the central bank does not have a policy to grant licences for forex operations targeting speculative trading.

Mr Vitai noted that providing money transfer services to settle such transactions, whether domestic or foreign, could be violating Thailand’s Exchange Control Act of 1942.

Violations are subject to penalties of up to 200,000 baht and up to three years in prison, or both, he said.

Individuals or entities that advertise or promote speculative foreign currency trading could face charges under the Emergency Decree on Fraudulent Borrowing of 1984. Penalties under the decree may include a prison term of 5-10 years, fines of 500,000 to 1 million baht, and daily fines of up to 10,000 baht for ongoing offences.

Mr Vitai said the regulator has a dual objective of fostering fintech innovation while maintaining control over currency flows and consumer protection as Thailand navigates the evolving digital payments landscape.

The Election Commission (EC) says it is ready for Bangkok’s gubernatorial and council elections on Sunday and expects voter turnout to top 70%.

Samphan Saengkhamlert, director of the Bangkok election office, said the EC and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) have distributed election materials to all 50 district constituencies.

Ballots were delivered and officially stamped between June 17 and 19. The remaining task includes a final inspection and delivery of equipment to 6,628 polling stations across Bangkok in the early hours of election day.

A total of 72,908 election officials have completed training and polling rehearsals. Authorities have prepared contingency plans for possible rain, instructing district offices to set up secure tents and coordinate with the Department of Drainage and Sewerage in flood-prone areas. Electrical systems and equipment at polling stations have also been inspected.

Votes will be counted at polling stations after polls close, before they are sent to district offices and processed at City Hall.

Voter lists were announced 25 days in advance and distributed to households. Voters can check their polling stations via the Thang Rath mobile app, links on the Facebook pages of the EC’s Bangkok office and the BMA’s and the Department of Provincial Administration website. Maps showing routes to polling stations have also been prepared. Some polling stations have been relocated this year following a slight reduction in their number.

Mr Samphan urged voters to bring identification cards, avoid wearing clothing displaying candidate numbers, monitor weather conditions and plan their travel.

Turnout is expected to exceed the roughly 60% recorded in the previous Bangkok gubernatorial election. This time around, the BMA expects the turnout rate to hit at least 70%, among 4.4 million eligible voters.

Police meanwhile warn that businesses and members of the public must strictly comply with the election laws.

They said that offences, including vote-buying or damaging ballots, could lead to fines, imprisonment and loss of voting rights.

As Thailand embraces the craze for ‘squishies’ – soft toys squeezed for satisfaction – consumer protection authorities have warned against some unbranded products that may contain chemical residues exceeding safety standards.

The toys, first introduced years ago as stress relievers, have been enjoying renewed popularity following viral reviews by influencers and celebrities on social media this year.

Squishies come in a variety of shapes, often resembling food or baked goods. When squeezed, they provide ‘tactile satisfaction’ before slowly returning to their original form.

In Bangkok, the trend is evident at Sampheng Market, where demand has surged. Parents, children and Gen Z teenagers have been flocking to buy the toys since the market opens at dawn.

Concerns over children’s safety have grown, however, as reports indicate that some unbranded imitations with unclear origins contain hazardous chemical residues above safety limits.

Supamas Isarabhakdi, a Prime Minister’s Office minister who oversees the Consumer Protection Board, said on Saturday she had ordered officials to monitor and issue warnings about substandard squishy toys.

The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) has been instructed to inspect and remove unsafe products from both physical and online markets.

Ms Supamas said that the main risks include squishies made from low-grade materials, which may release chemical residues that irritate the respiratory system when inhaled over time.

She also warned that squishies designed to resemble food items could mislead small children into putting them in their mouths, posing choking hazards.

Producers, exporters and sellers will be jointly responsible if any damage is caused, she said, citing the the Product Liability Act.

‘I urge parents to choose toys with Thai-language labels clearly identifying the manufacturer or importer and to look for the TISI certification mark,’ Ms Supamas said.

‘If a toy has a strong chemical odour or an unusually strong fragrance masking other smells, assume it is unsafe and avoid buying it.’

Squishies are primarily made from soft, flexible polymers, varying based on the specific type. One top brand from Japan is iBloom, known for premium squishies. Large iBloom squishies can sell for nearly 10,000 baht apiece.

Many countries restrict, seize or recall specific squishy products due to hidden safety hazards. The most common restrictions revolve around chemical toxicity and choking hazards.

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency in 2018 tested 12 squishies and found that they all released unacceptable levels of harmful substances, such as dimethylformamide, leading to their removal from the local market.

Thailand is forecast to experience increased rainfall from Sunday through Friday, the Meteorological Department said on Saturday morning.

The East and western areas in the South will be the most heavily affected, forecasters said.

A monsoon trough lying across the North and upper Northeast has coincided with southwesterly winds covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand.

Flash floods and forest runoff are possible, especially in areas near foothills and streams, the department warned.

Provinces forecast to face very heavy rain during the period are:

Sunday: Trat, Ranong and Phangnga

Monday: Tak, Kanchanaburi and Trat

Tuesday: Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong and Phangnga

Wednesday: Chanthaburi, Trat, Chumphon, Ranong and Phangnga

Thursday: Bueng Kan, Chanthaburi, Trat, Chumphon, Ranong and Phangnga

Friday: Kanchanaburi, Chanthaburi and Trat.

Widespread rain is also expected on Saturday, particularly in the western South, the East and the Central Plains, including Bangkok.

Barely a day after saying it would halt the appointment of new civil servants after a massive exam cheating scandal threw the entire process into question, the Department of Local Administration (DLA) reversed the decision, citing the threat of hobbled government operations.

Instead, it said, it would address wrongdoers on a case-by-case basis.

There are times for caution, but this is not one of them. The DLA and the entire Thai government need to act decisively and with prejudice against the affront that this discovery constitutes.

Let’s first dispense with the argument that a pause in civil service appointments – or a wider cleansing, even – would impede government services and be a detriment to the nation. The fact is that public services are already severely hampered by the presence of incompetent and unjustly placed fraudsters.

A police raid on an answer sheet tampering operation on June 24 reportedly led to the seizure of over 2,000 civil service tests that were being altered to grant entry and positions to unqualified individuals.

Not only were the people in question too inept to pass their exams, but they have revealed an indefensible readiness for dishonesty by paying up to 800,00 baht to bypass the hurdle altogether.

The tests were a requirement for some 7,000 roles serving citizens across the country. That the single operation netted more than 2,000 papers that were in the process of being doctored tells us that an overwhelmingly significant proportion of the incoming officials would have been those willing to cheat.

Based on the available numbers alone, close to a third of this class of test-takers paid to pass. To nullify the entire lot would not be a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Plague of fraudulence

Moreover, this was highly unlikely to have been the first ever instance of answer alteration and is likely only one facet of a much larger system of fraudulence plaguing public service in Thailand.

Even if just anecdotal, there are surely many stories of citizens facing ineptitude when seeking local administrative services. If these experiences are a result of a surfeit of unsuited workers, what is the real threat of holding back this next batch?

More importantly perhaps, how impaired is the civil service at present with so many bad actors gumming up the works?

An aspirant willing to manipulate a recruitment examination for personal gain is unlikely to become a model civil servant once appointed or promoted. The same willingness to abuse authority for private benefit can easily manifest itself in procurement decisions, licensing, budgeting or personnel management.

The damage is likely already occurring in insidious ways.

The greater danger lies not in temporary vacancies but in allowing compromised officials to remain in positions of trust. Every day they continue exercising authority raises further questions about the integrity of decisions affecting communities across the country.

Then there are those honest public servants, who not only submitted to the rigours required of them to gain their offices, but joined the service with a genuine desire to do good for their compatriots.

Even if there is the fear that the burden will fall to their shoulders, it must be accepted that these are the sacrifices for which they signed up.

They may end up working longer hours, absorbing additional responsibilities and enduring public frustration as agencies adjust. That is unfortunate, but is it not worthwhile if it restores the purity of the institutions they serve?

Is it possible they are already suffering daily, encumbered by dishonest peers obstructing their best efforts and adding incalculable inefficiency to an already overtaxed system?

Cleaning house is rarely comfortable. Yet postponing difficult decisions in the name of stability often produces the opposite result. Public confidence erodes further, honest employees become demoralised and corruption becomes harder to uproot.

The DLA is facing a defining choice. It can treat this scandal as an isolated embarrassment to be contained, or as an opportunity to demonstrate actual accountability.

The public is judging not only those accused of cheating, but those responsible for deciding what comes next.