Category: The Bangkok Post

The Department of Local Administration plans to recheck the answer sheets of all 480,000 people who took its nationwide examination late last year after reports about large-scale exam rigging involving billions of baht in bribes.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has already impounded the documents pending further investigation. Thanon Panpeepas, deputy director-general of the department, said on Thursday that it would seek permission from the NACC to release the documents for a fresh review.

Technology would be used to re-evaluate the answer sheets before the eyes of journalists, a process that should take about a week, he said.

Mr Thanon also said that the recruitment of candidates who were earlier confirmed to have passed the exam would continue. This would protect the rights of honest candidates, while recruitment of those found to have cheated could be revoked later on a case-by-case basis.

Pol Lt Gen Nathasak Chaonasai, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, said investigators would identify all the suspects involved in the case and conclude the charges within seven to 10 days.

The investigation followed the arrests of about 10 people, mostly civil servants, who were caught altering answer sheets from candidates who had reportedly paid between 350,000 and 800,000 baht each to ensure they would be hired as local administration officials. Earlier reports said the total amount of bribes could reach 4.5 billion baht.

The suspects were tampering with about 3,000 answer sheets collected from the exam that the Department of Local Administration had organised to recruit nearly 7,000 staff.

Between 300,000 and 500,000 candidates take the Thai civil service and local government examinations each year. The number fluctuates depending on the number of vacancies.

The civil service application procedure begins with a general aptitude test. It evaluates fundamental skills in analytical thinking and mathematics, Thai language and comprehension skills, English comprehension, and good governance and public service.

Successful candidates then move on to take a specialised, paper-based exam that tests specific skills required for the exact job they are seeking.

Civil service jobs are highly sought after for their security and generous pension and healthcare benefits. Studies have shown that the average annual health coverage expenditure for Thai civil servants is 11,000 to 14,000 baht per head. That compares with 2,100 baht per head for employees covered under Social Security, and 1,600 to 2,400 baht for those under the Universal Coverage or 30-baht scheme.

Immigration police on Tuesday arrested two French nationals wanted by authorities in France, with one of them reportedly listed on an international warrant for alleged involvement in organised crime, drug trafficking and money laundering.

Pol Lt Gen Panumas Boonyalak, commissioner of the Immigration Bureau (IB), and Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nuchanart, deputy commissioner, ordered investigators under Immigration Division 3, to track down two suspects identified as Abdulrahim, who is around 35 years old, and Mustafa, 33, both French citizens and the subject of arrest warrants issued by French authorities.

Mr Abdulrahim, sources said, is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice on charges including illegal importation and distribution of narcotics, participation in a transnational criminal organisation and money laundering.

On Tuesday, intelligence sources found the men had moved to a luxury condo in the Asok area.

Given that both were wanted abroad and deemed prohibited persons under Thai immigration law, the commander of Immigration Division 3 signed orders revoking their permission to remain in the kingdom. A special operations team led by Pol Lt Col Itthithorn Prasertsak, deputy superintendent of the IB’s Investigation Division, and Pol Lt Col Thongthai Pairoh, investigation inspector, arrested the suspects.

Thailand’s data consumption is expected to exceed the global average by 2031, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) applications, extended reality devices and video generation, says Ericsson.

The country needs to make the 3.5 gigahertz spectrum available to unlock economic growth, particularly for businesses and small enterprises as 5G is critical infrastructure, while preparing for 6G commercial globally in 2030, said Anders Rian, head of Ericsson Thailand.

Data usage skyrocketed to 34.4 gigabytes (GB) per month per smartphone in Thailand, the highest in Southeast Asia and beating the global average of 22GB in 2025.

Data consumption is expected to grow to 56.1GB per month by 2031, exceeding the projected global average of 40GB, he said.

This massive surge in data will be driven by extended reality devices, video generation and AI applications, said Mr Rian. AI consumes roughly eight times more data than standard background data, and background cloud syncing heavily drives data uploads.

Thailand has roughly 33 million 5G subscribers, accounting for 36% of all total subscriptions in 2025. By 2031, this number is projected to soar to more than 93 million subscribers, capturing 92% of the market.

While Thailand currently uses the 2.6GHz spectrum, the 3.5GHz mid-band is crucial for the next phase of 5G, said Mr Rian.

“We are at an inflection point, where the 5G system is set to unleash the next wave of innovation in the country. The 5G standalone system and AI-driven automation will serve as the foundation for enterprise digitalisation in Thailand,” he said.

“5G is considered the ‘brain’ driving Thailand’s digital transformation and national infrastructure. Research shows a 10% increase in broadband coverage directly contributes to a 0.8% increase in a country’s GDP.”

To manage growing network complexity, Ericsson is integrating AI directly into radio access network equipment using a custom silicon chip. Because the AI compute happens directly at the cell site rather than relying entirely on central data centres, the network can be optimised locally and instantly, said Mr Rian.

This AI integration can increase network capacity by up to 20% by optimising traffic purely through AI, without adding new hardware, improving the ability to pinpoint the exact location of users and connected devices.

The technology drastically lowers the network’s carbon footprint by intelligently calculating exactly when equipment should transmit power, sleep or wake up based on traffic demands.

Transition to 6G

Mr Rian said he expects 6G global trials around 2028-2029, with commercial launches in early-adopting nations such as the US, China, Japan and South Korea around 2030.

“Thailand will likely see 6G adoption roughly 2-3 years after these leading markets,” Mr Rian said.

If 5G is a “highway”, 6G will expand the physical capabilities of networks. The most notable leap is that 6G networks will have sensory capabilities. It will be able to detect the presence and movement of physical objects (like an approaching car) in the network area even if those objects are not electronically connected to the network.

Sirichai Manorot, vice-president for network solutions at Ericsson Thailand, said the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission should start mapping out a roadmap for 6G, which is expected to arrive by roughly 2030.

While current 5G bands (700, 900, 1800 and 2100MHz) can still be used, 6G will require more spectrum space. The focus is on the “centimetre wave” range between 6GHz and 15GHz.

The 7-8GHz and 14-15GHz ranges are particularly ideal because they do not heavily conflict with existing technologies, he said.

According to the Ericsson Mobility Report, global 5G mobile subscriptions passed 3 billion during the first quarter of 2026, while 162 million new 5G subscriptions were added globally during the period. This figure is expected to grow rapidly, reaching 6.4 billion by the end of 2031.

In 2031, 5G subscriptions in Southeast Asia and the Oceania region are forecast to tally 670 million, with more than 50% 5G subscription penetration.

Western Europe, North America, Northeast Asia and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are forecast to have 5G mobile subscription adoption of around 90% by the end of 2031.

Canadian PM vows to back Thailand’s OECD bid

PUBLISHED : 25 Jun 2026 at 04:10

NEWSPAPER SECTION: News

WRITER: Post Reporters

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(Photo: 123RF)

(Photo: 123RF)

The Thai and Canadian prime ministers have discussed hastening the free trade agreement (FTA) with Ottawa’s pledge to support Thailand’s bid for Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) membership, says government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul held a telephone conversation recently with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to congratulate him on assuming office and to discuss ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation across a range of sectors.

Mr Carney extended his condolences following the passing of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati. He also invited Mr Anutin to visit Canada in the near future. The Thai premier, in turn, invited Mr Carney to pay an official visit to Thailand.

Both leaders welcomed growth in Thailand-Canada diplomatic relations, which this year marks their 65th anniversary. They agreed the milestone provides an opportunity to further expand cooperation in trade, investment, economic development and people-to-people exchanges.

During their talk, the two leaders agreed to advance cooperation in several key areas, Ms Rachada said.

On economic relations, both pledged to push forward negotiations on the Asean-Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA) with the goal of concluding talks within this year. They also expressed support for exploring a future bilateral free trade agreement between Thailand and Canada.

They also agreed to strengthen security cooperation, including military collaboration and joint efforts to combat transnational crime, particularly online fraud and cyber-enabled scams.

Another major topic was Thailand’s bid to join the OECD. Mr Anutin said OECD membership remains a key government priority because it would help elevate Thailand’s legal, regulatory and public administration standards to align with international best practices.

Mr Carney commended Thailand’s commitment to the accession process and reaffirmed Canada’s full support for the country’s aspirations for OECD membership.

At the conclusion of the call, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close cooperation in all areas and expressed hope of meeting in person soon to further advance the Thailand-Canada partnership.

Officials said stronger bilateral ties would create new opportunities in economic development, security cooperation and the long-term well-being of the people of both countries.

The Transport Ministry is pushing ahead with plans to upgrade the rail transport and tourism sectors by developing a world-class luxury train service, leveraging newly enacted rail legislation to attract private-sector investment and boost local economies.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, accompanied by Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat, State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor Anan Phonimdaeng, Department of Rail Transport deputy director-general Athiphu Chit-anukroh, and Piang-or Laohavilai, director of the Rail Technology Research and Development Institute, met executives from Minor International, led by chairman William Heinecke, to discuss plans for a luxury tourist train project.

The meeting focused on creating a premium rail tourism experience aimed at generating sustainable revenue for the SRT while stimulating grassroots economic activity across the country.

Mr Phiphat said the initiative aligns with the recently enacted Rail Transport Act, which opens the sector to greater private-sector participation in rail investment and operations.

He said the project would maximise the use of Thailand’s rail infrastructure, attract high-spending international travellers, and channel tourism revenue to local communities along railway routes. The Transport Ministry also plans to coordinate with the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand to develop attractive rail tourism routes linking both major and secondary destinations, incorporating local stories and cultural experiences to enhance visitor appeal.

The Customs Department is cancelling reward money for its executives from seizures of smuggled goods and imports that violate tariffs to prevent conflicts of interest, says director-general Phantong Loykulnanta.

The Ministry of Finance has finished the draft of the amended regulations on rewards to executives. The legislation will take effect immediately after publication in the Royal Gazette.

The next step will be to revoke the century-old practice of rewards for all levels of customs officials, Mr Phantong said, ensuring enforcement adheres to governance and transparency principles, while bolstering public confidence.

The change aligns with the recommendations of the government and the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which proposed the department review the reward system of law enforcement agencies.

The government and the agency have said the rewards could lead to corruption.

Thailand’s customs bounty system has existed since 1926. Prior to 2017, payouts of up to 30% of the value of a shipment were distributed to officers and informants taking part in a seizure.

Bribes for clearance

While the incentive was aimed at making sure customs officials caught violations, in practice it slowed down procedures. Officials eager to collect rewards by spotting infractions would spend inordinate amounts of time examining shipments. This gave rise to more bribes paid by importers seeking timely clearance.

Under the amended Customs Act BE 2560 (2017), officers and informants are eligible for 10% to 20% of the proceeds from the sale of seized goods or fines, or up to 10% of additional collected duties.

Total payouts for both customs officers and informants are capped at 5 million baht per case.

The new regulations prohibit senior executives and decision-making officials – level C8/C9 and above, including the director-general – from receiving any rewards from seizures.

Cancelling the reward system completely is part of Thailand’s legal and regulatory reform mission as it seeks membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The OECD prioritises public governance and anti-corruption efforts.

Mr Phantong said the department is also adjusting the criteria to classify eligibility for rewards into three categories: officials who detect and seize smuggled goods, those who join a seizure, and those who assist an arrest.

The agency is also reviewing the amount of reward money to ensure it accurately reflects officials’ performance in seizures.

He said that while rewards are allowed by law, the department is ready to change the rules if it can affect law enforcement.

An open hearing will be held later this week for all stakeholders involved in the long-running Thap Lan land dispute, as the government presses ahead with plans to revise parts of the national park’s boundaries.

Speaking after meeting villagers within the disputed area at parliament, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin said he would travel to the area on Sunday to hear directly from residents, conservationists, human rights advocates and state agencies.

“We must establish the facts and remove any doubts,” he said.

“If the land belongs to villagers who lived there before the park was declared, they should be allowed to continue living and farming there. But if it is occupied by hotels or resorts, they will have to be demolished.”

The dispute centres around a government-backed proposal to remove more than 155,000 rai from the boundaries of Thap Lan National Park and place the land under agricultural reform management.

Supporters argue the move would resolve decades-long land conflicts affecting local communities, while opponents warn it could open the door to land speculation and benefit influential investors.

Mr Suchart met villagers who support the proposal and who insist many settlements there existed before Thap Lan was designated a national park in 1981.

They said residents had lived for decades under the threat of legal action for activities as basic as collecting forest products or cultivating land.

The minister said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had instructed him to ensure justice was served for genuine villagers while taking firm action against encroachers and business interests.

Authorities will establish a “war room” to investigate disputed areas. Land occupied by wealthy investors will not be tolerated, he said.

Mr Suchart also argued that much of the disputed land was no longer forested and had long been developed into villages and agricultural areas.

He said transferring land from national park status to agricultural reform zones would not privatise state land and that strict safeguards would prevent transfers to outsiders.

Members of the Save Thap Lan movement, which opposes the revision, were also at parliament on Wednesday and sought to submit a petition of their own.

Deputy Transport Minister Phattrapong Phattraprasit has ordered a special task force to address the growing problem of bird strikes on aircraft.

The ministry says there were 1,644 bird strike incidents last year, causing damage to engines, aircraft components, and cockpit windshields, as well as flight delays. The cost to airlines was over 530 million baht annually.

The task force will focus on scientific measures and innovative solutions to mitigate risks. Authorities said Thailand’s environment, which supports large bird populations, combined with increasing flight volumes, makes bird strikes a persistent challenge.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has formally accepted a foreign exchange (forex) investment fraud case as a special investigation, citing extensive online solicitation and evidence of widespread financial damage.

Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam, director-general of the DSI, said he signed the order accepting the case as a special investigation under the Computer Crime Act 2007, following findings the illegal forex investment trading was being promoted online and reached a large number of investors, resulting in huge losses.

The move comes as part of an expanded probe after the DSI raided 24 locations across Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon on June 16. The operation resulted in the seizure of more than 65 million baht in cash and high-value assets, including luxury vehicles, gold and diamond jewellery, branded goods, bullion, and foreign currency.

Investigators also reported digital assets such as Bitcoin and USDT were among items examined, alongside bank records, mobile phones and computers. Preliminary analysis of financial flows is said to indicate links between brokerage-related companies and more than 500 affected individuals, with estimated losses running into billions of baht.

The DSI has urged victims linked to several brokerage platforms and intermediaries, including QRS Global, HFM, GOFX and Eterwealth, as well as associated investment advisers and payment service providers, to come forward with evidence.

At this stage, individuals named in connection with financial transactions, including People’s Party (PP) list MP Pawoot Pongvitayapanu and actor Rattapoom “Film” Tokongsup, have not been formally summoned for questioning.

Separately, on Facebook on Wednesday Mr Pawoot denied any involvement in scams or forex-related schemes, insisting he was only a gold-trading client and rejecting claims linking him to investment misconduct.

He described himself as a participant in gold trading activities with QRS Global, adding photographs circulating online showing him with company executives were taken at routine trader meetings.

He also said he was not an instructor and denied promoting the platform after a video clip circulated showing him discussing QSR trading and the benefits he gained.

“The clip only showed me sharing personal trading experiences. It was not advertising or persuading anyone to join any broker,” he said.

Mr Pawoot said he traded gold with the company and received rewards, including a mobile phone and overseas travel packages.

The MP added that he is gathering supporting documents, some of which are still pending from financial institutions, and pledged to provide a full explanation directly to the DSI once all documents are ready.

Mr Pawoot’s post came after PP deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun urged him to explain allegations linking him to the forex investigation. She also confirmed the party would launch its own probe into the matter.

Thai Beverage Can Ltd (TBC), an aluminium can manufacturer, expects demand for beverage packaging to continue to grow, after reporting year-on-year sales growth of 37% in the first quarter amid global uncertainties.

Pavin Chayavivatkul, chief operating officer of TBC, said rising consumption of functional drinks, energy drinks, ready-to-drink beverages, and premium products is driving demand for beverage packaging.

PwC Thailand’s Voice of the Consumer Survey 2025 found that Thai consumers are becoming more health-conscious, while placing greater importance on food safety, product quality and wellness benefits.

Mr Pavin said Thailand’s aluminium can usage is relatively low compared with neighbouring countries, but he expects this to rise as functional drinks and premium beverages become more popular.

Roughly 75% of beverage packaging in Thailand is plastic and glass bottles, while aluminium cans account for about 70% in Cambodia and 60% in Vietnam.

More consumers are buying beverages at modern trade outlets, supermarkets and convenience stores, which is expected to drive growth in can usage, said Mr Pavin.

Aluminium cans are free from microplastics, provide full protection against heat and ultraviolet exposure, and are 100% recyclable.

The price of an aluminium can is typically five times higher than that of a plastic bottle, he noted.

Thailand’s can industry is growing by about 4% per year, said Mr Pavin.

With an annual production of 7 billion cans, the company operates three facilities across Thailand and Vietnam. The two Thai plants are strategically located in Saraburi province to leverage major logistics networks.

In the first quarter, TBC Thailand recorded a sales volume of 679 million cans, a 37% year-on-year increase, while consolidated sales reached 2 billion baht, up 32%.

Exports accounted for 18% of the total sales volume for the period, with the export volume growing more than six times year-on-year.

The company supplies aluminium cans to 40 countries including India, Bhutan, Australia, New Zealand and Norway.

“We are exploring business opportunities in Asia, including in Vietnam and India. TBC may expand the production capacity at out Vietnam facility and we want to better serve customers in India,” Mr Pavin said.

SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE

Regarding the effects of the Middle East conflict, Mr Pavin said the company is navigating a volatile global market by prioritising supply chain resilience.

He said recent geopolitical tensions have created a new reality for manufacturers. In addition to cost management, ensuring a reliable supply of materials amid increasing volatility in energy, logistics and raw materials is crucial, said Mr Pavin.

“The beverage packaging industry is sensitive to these global shifts, as metal costs are about 60% of total production expenses,” he noted.

The industry faces a nearly 50% year-on-year increase in aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange, while raw material delivery lead times have doubled from 30 to 60 days.

To counter these challenges, TBC has implemented several strategies such as pursuing long-term partnerships with both customers and suppliers to improve supply visibility and business continuity, said Mr Pavin.

“The company strengthened the supplier network and diversified sourcing channels to reduce dependency on any single source and improve supply security,” he said.

TBC also maintains an inventory cycle of roughly 107 days to ensure uninterrupted production.

In addition, the company has invested in on-site solar energy to provide a buffer against rising energy costs and reduce dependency on the national grid.