Category: The Bangkok Post

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has strongly defended the controversial TH-AI Passport project, rejecting allegations of procurement irregularities, bid-rigging and political favouritism.

Patchara Anantasilp, the ministry’s permanent secretary, on Thursday presented a detailed timeline of the project’s development, denying it had been rushed, as lawmakers intensified scrutiny of the 1.6-billion-baht initiative.

The hearing brought together MPs from two House committees: Budget Planning and Monitoring; and Legal Affairs, Justice and Human Rights. They asked questions about the project’s accelerated implementation timeline, procurement process, and potential links between the winning consortium and politically connected business interests.

Under the first phase of the project, the government plans to spend around 1.6 billion baht to procure professional and premium generative artificial intelligence models for 5 million Thais to use for free for one year.

The winning bidder was TH Consortium, which consists of Turnkey Communication Services Plc, a Thai ICT engineering solutions specialist, and Human Intelligence Co Ltd, a joint venture between Thai and Hong Kong investors building digital education infrastructure in Thailand.

Long-term AI strategy

Mr Patchara told the lawmakers that the policy objective underpinning TH-AI Passport – expanding public awareness and adoption of artificial intelligence technologies – dated back to May 2022 under the administration of former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The initiative originated from the National Artificial Intelligence Action Plan and was subsequently incorporated into multiple national digital development frameworks, he said.

In May 2025, under the administration of former prime minister Srettha Thavisin, the national AI steering committee established an ambitious target of reaching 20 million AI users or AI-aware citizens by 2027.

Mr Patchara said the objective remained unchanged even after subsequent political transitions and the establishment of a permanent national AI committee under newly enacted legislation in 2026.

‘The target of enabling 20 million people to access and understand AI was not created overnight,’ he said. ‘It has been part of Thailand’s national AI roadmap for several years.’

AI adoption and digital skills development has become one of five urgent policy pillars of the current government, with authorities instructed to accelerate implementation during the first phase, he said.

DE Fund usage

A key point of contention involves the funding source for the project. Critics have said that financing the project through extra-budgetary funds circumvented normal parliamentary budget scrutiny.

Mr Patchara rejected those claims, explaining that when the current administration assumed office on Oct 1, available allocations under the ministry’s annual budget had largely been committed.

As a result, officials turned to the Digital Economy and Society Development Fund (DE Fund), which had about 2 billion baht in available resources.

He stressed that obtaining approval from the fund was not a simple administrative exercise but required extensive review by an independent committee comprising representatives from central government agencies and external experts in information technology and digital policy.

‘The approval process involves multiple layers of scrutiny. The committee responsible for reviewing projects is not made up solely of DE Ministry officials,’ Mr Patchara said.

The committee reviewed the project proposal, examined pricing assumptions and oversaw the preparation of the terms of reference before the procurement process proceeded in accordance with government regulations.

Procurement timeline

Responding to allegations that the contract for the project had been awarded just 34 days after bids were called, Mr Patchara said the development process stretched across several stages, beginning in 2025.

The steps included policy development, feasibility assessments, market testing, budget planning, drafting of terms and procurement procedures before the contract was signed on April 14, 2026.

‘The entire process took nearly a year. The narrative that everything was completed in 34 days is inaccurate and creates a misleading impression of how the project was actually developed,’ he said.

Terms of reference

Opposition representatives focused much of their questioning on amendments made to the project’s terms of reference.

Theerachart Kotrakul, an adviser to the opposition leader, asked whether ministry executives were aware of changes made after the project was presented to the cabinet’s economic committee.

They included the reduction of the implementation period from 90 days to 30 days, and the addition of required digital advertising screens located in convenience stores.

One requirement set out in the terms was for the winning bidder to promote the project on digital screens in at least 1,500 convenience stores in Bangkok and the provinces, totalling 6,000 screens.

Mr Patchara responded that the cabinet had approved only the policy framework and overall project objectives, not the detailed terms.

He compared the process to infrastructure development, arguing that implementation schedules are often adjusted when agencies determine that objectives can be achieved more quickly.

Regarding the addition of convenience-store media screens, he said the aim was to maximise citizen participation and public awareness.

‘The project’s success depends not only on the AI platform itself but also on public engagement. If people do not participate, the initiative cannot achieve its intended outcomes,’ Mr Patchara said.

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has denied allegations circulating on social media that it failed to act against the construction of a sediment-retention structure in disputed maritime areas along the Thai-Cambodian border.

The force insisted Thai authorities have opposed the project by Cambodia through all available channels and have prevented it from proceeding as originally planned. Claims that it had neglected its duty to protect national interests were based on incomplete information and could mislead the public about the facts surrounding the case.

The structure originated from a coastal area connected to a Cambodian private-sector development and is located in a maritime zone subject to overlapping territorial claims between Thailand and Cambodia. As such, the matter must be handled through established legal frameworks, the navy said.

Thai authorities, including the RTN, have closely monitored the situation since its inception and have lodged protests and objections.

As a result of these actions, the project owner was forced to halt construction and has been unable to complete the development according to its original plan.

The navy argued that social media posts citing photographs of the unfinished structure as evidence of official inaction were inaccurate. Instead, it said the current state of the structure is evidence of Thai efforts to stop further construction rather than any failure to act.

Regarding the dissemination of what it described as potentially misleading information, the navy said it has asked the Thailand Anti-Fake News Center to investigate the matter.

The RTN also said authorities are considering action against the Facebook page “Thai Burma Railway”, which it alleges published misleading claims about the issue. The navy said such action would aim to prevent potential harm to the public, public order, and national security.

The navy urged the public to exercise caution when consuming and sharing information.

A rising Scottish boxing star has died after falling from a tuk-tuk in Phuket, prompting an outpouring of tributes from his boxing club, while the Thai driver has been arrested and charged.

Colin Cairney, a 22-year-old undefeated welterweight champion, suffered critical injuries after the incident in the Patong area of Kathu district in the early hours of June 14.

He had remained in a coma and was receiving intensive treatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, said his club, 1314 Boxing Club in Stirling, Scotland.

‘He was not just a member of the club, but family. He was an important part of Team 1314 and meant so much to many people,’ the club said in a tribute posted on its Facebook page.

According to CCTV footage and information provided by hotel security personnel, before the incident, Cairney had taken a red tuk-tuk from an entertainment venue to return to his hotel after a night of partying with friends.

However, a dispute reportedly arose over the fare, as he did not have cash to pay. It was agreed that the driver would take him to withdraw money from an ATM.

Video later showed the tuk-tuk travelling back towards Patong at 4.02am without dropping off the passenger. Cairney subsequently fell from the rear of the vehicle, striking his head on the road and sustaining severe injuries.

Cairney had travelled to Phuket for a holiday with relatives and friends from the United Kingdom, according to Pol Maj Surachart Thongyai, chief investigator at the Patong police station.

He said alcohol might have been a factor as the victim’s friends appeared intoxicated when they later arrived at the hospital. Blood samples have been collected for testing, with official results still pending.

A hotel security guard told police that Cairney had unsuccessfully attempted to exchange a card for cash at the hotel before deciding to withdraw cash to pay the fare, estimated at 300 to 400 baht.

A woman was seen leaving the hotel with him, but police investigators have not yet confirmed whether she was in the tuk-tuk at the time of the incident.

CCTV footage confirmed that Cairney fell from the vehicle alone, with no evidence of an assault despite earlier speculation. The tuk-tuk driver did not stop to render assistance after the incident. (Story continues below)

Driver questioned

Patong police have since located and questioned the driver, identified only as Kitpong, a 34-year-old native of Phatthalung province.

During questioning, the driver admitted picking up a foreign man and woman from the Bangla Road entertainment district and taking them to a hotel near Kalim Beach. Upon arrival, the tourists reportedly said they had no cash to pay the fare and asked to be taken to an ATM.

The driver said he then drove the male tourist, who appeared intoxicated, to three separate ATM locations, but all attempts to withdraw money failed. He subsequently decided to return the passenger to the original pickup point on Bangla Road.

While driving along Phra Barami Road near a hotel, Mr Kitpong said he was travelling at a normal speed when he sensed that something was not right with the vehicle. However, he did not stop to check.

After driving at about two kilometres further, he realised the passenger was no longer in the vehicle.

The driver did not report the incident to police or anyone else and only later learned that the passenger had fallen from the tuk-tuk, suffered serious injuries and died.

Police have charged the driver with negligence causing death and failing to stop and provide assistance. The suspect confessed to the charges, said Pol Maj Surachart.

Cairney had an undefeated professional record in 10 fights, including six knockouts, since he began competing in February 2023. He won the WBO International Youth Welterweight Title in 2025.

Kynoch Boxing Scotland also posted a tribute on its Facebook page on Wednesday: ‘We are devastated at the news of Colin’s passing at just 22 years of age,’ it said.

‘Colin was one of the stars of our stable. Inside the ring he brought excitement every time. Outside of the ring he was an absolute gentleman who was highly regarded by everyone.’

Nuntaporn Komonsittivate, head of commercial at Thai Lion Air, said the average load factor for June and July has fallen year-on-year, as travellers are exercising greater caution with their spending in the off-peak season after shelling out for holidays in April and early May.

Even though a brighter outlook is expected if the US and Iran sign a ceasefire on Friday, Mrs Nuntaporn said fuel prices will not immediately return to pre-war levels, unlike crude oil prices, which have fallen to nearly the same level as before the war.

Most airlines have to wait until a deal is signed and transport routes are fully restored before adjusting their plans, such as increasing flight capacity and resuming some suspended routes, she noted.

Thai Lion Air has reduced seat capacity by 15% since the war in the Gulf erupted and needs to assess how lower fuel prices could affect airfares from next month, said Mrs Nuntaporn.

La-iad Bungsrithong, a board advisor for the Thai Hotels Association, said the low season in 2026 is the weakest in years, with the average occupancy rate in Chiang Mai only 40-45%, while some locations are recording rates as low as 35%.

The situation differs from previous years as hotels across all segments, including five-star properties that usually perform strongly, are experiencing a decline in bookings, she noted.

Three- and four-star hotels are hampered by weaker domestic purchasing power in both the leisure and meetings segments, as individuals and companies are prioritising spending on essential needs rather than tourism, said Mrs La-iad.

Luxury hotels are hamstrung by fewer international visitors, particularly from Europe and the US, as soaring jet fuel prices have discouraged demand from those markets.

She said that even though a peace deal is expected on Friday, travellers are likely to adopt a wait-and-see approach until the situation is fully settled.

The first indicator that hotel operators are monitoring is bookings for July and August, which typically increase due to demand from families during school holidays, as well as long-stay guests such as pensioners and digital nomads.

“The cost-of-living relief measures, such as the co-payment scheme, are unable to extend benefits to the tourism sector. They primarily help households absorb essential daily expenses rather than leaving them with additional budgets for travel,” said Mrs La-iad.

As of May 31, the number of domestic trips rose year-on-year by 1.77% to 86.7 million, with Bangkok, Chon Buri and Kanchanaburi seeing most visits.

Authorities have postponed a plan to impose higher electricity rates on large households with heavy consumption, citing the need to revise how power bills are calculated, says Energy Minister Akanat Promphan.

The new electricity prices were proposed by the Energy Regulatory Commission last month and slated for enforcement in July. They are based on progressive power tariff rates, which increase when people use more electricity.

Small households consuming 1-200 units of electricity are charged between 2.34 and 3 baht per unit, while larger households using 201 units or more face a higher rate of 4.96-5.45 baht per unit.

“The new rates are not appropriate,” said Mr Akanat, citing negative reactions from various groups of people following a public hearing last week.

“Big families don’t rack up high electricity bills because they’re wasteful — it’s usually because there are more people living in the house and that naturally drives up power use.”

Officials are required to review the new power tariff rates, he said.

Businesses and households currently pay for electricity at an average rate of 3.95 baht per unit, applicable until August this year.

Mr Akanat said the government will continue subsidising electricity costs for households consuming no more than 200 units. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) will be asked to subsidise the power prices, he noted.

Egat already registered a loss of 36 billion baht as of April due to its past subsidy programmes.

Energy officials have proposed three ways to reduce power tariff rates for people.

First, the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and the Provincial Electricity Authority need to reduce their spending on street lights, which have been passed onto the public, according to Mr Akanat.

Next, the state electricity agencies must amend conditions for power purchase agreements with renewable power companies, which were given the right to sell electricity to the government at high tariff rates.

This spending, together with expenditure on other energy-related purposes under state policy, comprises 4% of the power tariff paid by people, according to energy officials.

Finally, electricity-hungry data centres must be charged a separate electricity rate and draw on the nation’s surplus power supply, absorbing a portion of the financial burden that would otherwise fall on households.

The government’s 1.6-billion-baht TH-AI Passport project could become a focus of a no-confidence debate, according to the People’s Party, which says other projects overseen by the Bhumjaithai Party have followed a similar pattern.

The opposition alleges irregularities in procurement, pricing and project design, but the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has insisted the scheme complies with regulations and offers value for money.

Pawoot Pongvitayapanu, a People’s Party list MP with a background in technology and online entrepreneurship, questioned the origins of the project, which aims to expand public access to artificial intelligence tools through funding from the Digital Economy and Society Development Fund.

He said the project’s scale appeared to have been determined by the amount of money remaining in the fund rather than by real public demand.

Mr Pawoot said the government first allocated the entire 1.6-billion-baht budget and then calculated a target of five million users based on estimated annual AI usage costs.

‘The target did not originate from an assessment of what people actually need,’ he said on Wednesday.

The MP also raised concerns over the project’s terms of reference, claiming specifications appeared tailored to benefit certain businesses.

Although the scheme focuses on AI services, he questioned why the terms included requirements related to advertising systems in about 1,500 convenience stores and roughly 6,000 display screens nationwide.

Mr Pawoot said companies involved in setting reference prices and participating in the bidding process had links to the retail advertising sector, raising suspicions that the procurement process may have been designed to favour specific operators.

He said a similar pattern had emerged in projects managed by ministries previously overseen by the Bhumjaithai Party, citing programmes under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Education.

The lawmaker also criticised the procurement timetable, noting that invitations for bids were announced on Dec 24 during the Christmas and year-end holiday period. He said the process moved unusually quickly, with bidding closing only weeks later.

‘The project was opened and closed in just 34 days,’ he said, suggesting potential bidders would have needed prior knowledge of the project to prepare proposals in time.

Reports have circulated online that SET-listed Plan B Media Plc developed an Android app called AI Passport, which appeared briefly in the Google Play store before being taken down in October last year.

People who had a chance to review the app said its features were very similar to the TH-AI Passport that was first proposed to the economic cabinet on Nov 8.

Plan B subsequently issued a statement clarifying that it is not involved in the government’s project, nor was it a contracting party or participant in the procurement process.

Bangkok’s condo market showed signs of resilience in the first quarter of 2026, supported by demand in both luxury and value-driven segments, despite continued price competition and a large supply overhang.

According to property consultancy Colliers Thailand, 9,480 new condo units were launched in Bangkok during the first quarter, a 42.6% year-on-year increase. The surge was primarily driven by several large projects that collectively added more than 4,500 units to the market.

Despite the uptick in new supply, market absorption remained relatively stable. The take-up rate was 67.8% in the period, up 0.42 percentage points from the previous quarter, indicating buyer demand continued to absorb a significant portion of newly launched units.

Colliers said demand remained strongest in the luxury and upper-end segments, particularly projects located in prime areas and developments offering attractive pricing relative to competing projects.

Several luxury projects recorded strong sales shortly after launch, supported by both domestic and international buyers seeking quality developments in strategic locations.

A notable trend in Bangkok’s condo market is the expansion of luxury housing beyond the central business district (CBD). While the CBD remains the core location for luxury developments, high-end projects are emerging along mass transit routes outside the city centre.

According to Colliers, these projects offer buyers easier access to rail networks while avoiding the higher land costs associated with central locations.

The eastern fringe accounted for 45% of luxury condominium supply outside the CBD, followed by the northern fringe with 38%.

The city fringe represented 16%, while suburban locations accounted for only 1%, highlighting the concentration of premium developments in areas with strong transport connectivity.

However, competition remains intense. Colliers noted that developers continue to face challenges in raising selling prices due to abundant supply and cautious buyer sentiment amid ongoing economic uncertainties.

The consultancy estimated Bangkok has a cumulative condo inventory of 209,954 units, while total sold units tally 142,325.

Based on historical absorption rates, it could take 6-7 years for existing inventory to be fully absorbed if annual new supply remains below 15,000 units per year, said Colliers.

Major listed developers continue to dominate the market, accounting for more than 85% of new supply launched in 2026, reflecting their stronger financial positions and ability to navigate a challenging market environment.

Looking ahead, Colliers expects the condo market in 2026 to remain highly competitive. Developers are likely to continue relying on pricing incentives, targeted promotions and careful product differentiation to stimulate demand.

Buyer interest is expected to remain focused on projects offering strong value propositions, particularly those located near mass transit lines, while luxury developments in strategic locations are likely to continue attracting affluent local and foreign purchasers.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reopened a section of Lat Phrao Road in Bang Kapi district on Wednesday morning after a sinkhole was covered.

Narong Ruangsri, BMA permanent-secretary, said the outbound section of Lat Phrao Road in front of a Lotus’s store in Bang Kapi district reopened to traffic at 5am after being repaired through Tuesday night.

The sinkhole, which measured three metres wide, four metres long and 1.50 metres deep, formed at 7pm on Tuesday. No one was injured.

According to Mr Narong, repairs began with water being pumped out of the hole, which was then filled with concrete mixed with sand to strengthen the foundation. Fast setting concrete was poured to seal the pit. The process finished at 1am. Officials waited for the concrete to set before reopening the road.

The BMA blamed the sinkhole on a Metropolitan Electricity Authority’s electricity cable manhole.

The reopening of the Myawaddy border checkpoint is expected to bolster trade between Thailand and Myanmar, according to the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT).

Myanmar reopened the checkpoint, located opposite the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in the Mae Sot district of Tak, on May 28, following a closure since August last year.

Arada Fuangtong, director-general of the DFT, said the reopening is a positive sign for border trade as this route is a major gateway to Myanmar’s key economic areas.

The move enables Thai businesses to revive exports of consumer products, construction materials, electrical appliances, automobiles and auto parts, and other industrial goods in high demand in Myanmar, she noted.

While the reopening is expected to improve logistics efficiency and reduce transport costs, the recovery of border trade depends largely on Myanmar’s import control measures, said Mrs Arada.

Myanmar’s import licensing system is linked to importers’ export earnings. Businesses wishing to import goods into Myanmar must have sufficient export earnings balances or be matched with parties that do in order to qualify for import approval.

As a result, the approval process has become more time-consuming, and certain products require case-by-case authorisation.

“While transport constraints have begun to ease, regulatory restrictions on imports, foreign exchange management policies, and the export earning matching system are critical factors influencing import decisions and the purchasing power of Myanmar’s private sector,” she said.

These issues will shape the direction of border trade during the second half of this year, noted Mrs Arada.

From January to April 2026, border trade between the two countries totalled 60.8 billion baht, down 14.4% year-on-year. Thai exports to Myanmar tallied 37.9 billion baht and imports were 22.9 billion baht.

Trade through the Mae Sot border checkpoint totalled 18.2 billion baht, down 39.8% year-on-year, with exports falling 42.5% to 13.4 billion baht, while imports dipped 30.4% to 4.75 billion baht.

The department is monitoring developments related to the reopening, Myanmar’s trade measures and foreign exchange policies, and the impact of border trade control measures introduced by Thailand’s Defence Ministry.

Mae Sot district was designated as a controlled area for imports and exports as part of efforts to prevent and suppress scam-related businesses, said Mrs Arada.

She said the DFT was coordinating with relevant agencies to facilitate trade, reduce export obstacles for Thai entrepreneurs, and support the sustainable recovery and growth of Thailand-Myanmar border trade.

A drug smuggler was shot dead after opening fire at patrol police in Mae Ai district Tuesday night with 2.8 million speed pills later found in his vehicle.

Mae Ai district chief Nitipakorn Saengsuwan said border patrol police acting on a tip-off gave a stoppage signal to a Honda CR-V vehicle on a public road in Ban Pong Hai village of tambon Mae Sao at 8.30pm on Tuesday.

The driver stopped the vehicle, opened its door and fired gunshots while attempting to escape. Police fired back and an exchange of gunfire ensued.

After the shootout, police saw the man in his 20s dead about 100 metres from his vehicle. Police then found 14 sacks containing a combined about 2.8 million methamphetamine pills inside the suspect’s vehicle.

Detectives said that the suspect was a member of a drug gang operating out of Ban Na Ma-uen village and was likely transporting the narcotics from the village to central areas of Chiang Rai province.