Category: The Bangkok Post

The Finance Ministry will review the eligibility criteria for the state welfare card scheme following concerns that some elderly parents have been unfairly disqualified after their children claimed tax deductions on their behalf, despite not providing any financial support.

Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said on Monday that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had instructed the ministry to re-examine the rule after receiving complaints from members of the public.

Under the current rules, parents can lose eligibility for the state welfare card scheme if their children claim a parental tax deduction, even when they do not actually provide financial support.

However, authorities acknowledged that the reality may be different in some cases.

“In today’s Thai society, there are cases where children claim tax deductions but do not genuinely take care of their parents,” said Mr Ekniti, also a deputy prime minister.

“We are concerned that this could have unintended consequences,” Mr Ekniti said.

“The prime minister has therefore instructed us to review whether this criterion is unfair to parents whose children have claimed benefits on their behalf without actually providing support.”

Mr Ekniti said the review would be considered by the Pracharat welfare committee for the grassroots economy and society, which oversees the state welfare card programme.

The scheme’s primary objective is to assist people facing genuine hardship who lack adequate support or access to other welfare mechanisms.

Authorities have received numerous complaints over the past several years that some cardholders are not truly in need, while others experiencing severe hardship have been excluded from the system, he said.

The government is currently reviewing existing beneficiaries and is opening registration for potential new recipients until June 21. The Interior Ministry has also been tasked with identifying vulnerable individuals who may have been overlooked, particularly those who are poor and have no one to care for them.

“The review would be carried out as quickly as possible,” he said. While the disputed tax-deduction criterion was based on claims made during the previous tax year, officials would consider whether adjustments are needed in future screening rounds to ensure fairness for all parties.

He reiterated that the state welfare card is intended for the most vulnerable groups and that stricter screening is necessary to ensure limited public funds are directed to those who genuinely need assistance.

Individuals removed from the programme but who do not meet the definition of severe hardship may instead qualify for support under the government’s “Thais Help Thais Plus 60/40” co-payment scheme.

Meanwhile, Finance Ministry spokes­- man Vinit Visessuvanapoom said the issue would be submitted to the relevant welfare committee for urgent consideration before the announcement of approved beneficiaries on July 17.

Mr Vinit said the review reflected the government’s commitment to balancing two objectives: reducing welfare leakage by removing recipients whose financial circumstances have improved, while also expanding access for genuinely disadvantaged people who may have been left out of previous registration rounds.

Four illegal Chinese migrants were detained after a pickup truck driver transporting them fled police, drove against traffic and fatally struck a motorcycle delivery rider in Mae Sot district, Tak province, on Tuesday. The Thai driver was arrested.

Mae Sot police said they received reports of an Isuzu D-Max pickup, registered in Tak, fleeing officers before colliding head-on with a motorcycle and killing the rider instantly. The victim was identified only as Nu, 35.

The incident began when the pickup was waiting at a red light on Asian Highway 12 (AH12), heading toward the Rim Moei Market area in tambon Tha Sai Luat. The driver reportedly spotted a police patrol vehicle, made an immediate U-turn and drove against traffic in an apparent attempt to evade inspection.

During the escape, the pickup struck the motorcycle, continued toward Mae Sot town and allegedly dropped off Chinese nationals at various locations along the route.

Police coordinated a pursuit involving patrol units and tracked the vehicle to an intersection near the Mae Sot municipality office. Officers opened fire on the pickup’s tyres, discharging about eight rounds.

The bullets punctured both the front and rear right-side tyres, while the vehicle’s bonnet was left riddled with more than eight bullet holes.

The pickup eventually lost control and stopped in a roadside area near a life-insurance office.The driver, identified only as Chai, 31, was caught along with one Chinese man found in the rear of the vehicle. Officers later tracked down and arrested three other men who had been dropped off during the chase.

Pol Col Rang Daodueng, chief of Mae Sot police station, said patrol officers became suspicious after spotting Chinese passengers inside the pickup and attempted to conduct a search. The driver panicked and fled, driving against traffic and causing the fatal crash, he said.

All four Chinese men face charges of illegal entry, while the driver has been charged with fleeing police, reckless driving causing death and assisting illegal migrants to enter the country.

Ten Chinese nationals were arrested on Monday when police raided a luxury house in Saraphi district and uncovered a call-scam – operators posing as insurance and delivery companies targeting victims in their home country.

Acting on information received, the cybercrime taskforce had obtained a search warrant from the Chiang Mai Provincial Court, Pol Maj Gen Thawatchai Phongwiwattanachai, deputy commander of Provincial Police Region 5, said on Tuesday.

Nine men and a woman, Chinese nationals, were subsequently detained at a residence in village 4, tambon Nong Phueng of Saraphi district. Arresting officers also seized 67 mobile phones, seven iPads and 13 laptop computers.

The seized devices, and the information in them, indicated the premises had been used as a scam centre targeting victims overseas, mainly in China, police said.

The group allegedly posed as employees of insurance and delivery companies to trick victims into installing software that allowed access to personal information, leading to financial fraud.

They received payment through cryptocurrency transactions, investigators said.

Some of the suspects had entered Thailand on tourist visas and had rented the property, paying about 80,000 baht per month.

Thailand’s new lead negotiator in the southern peace process has pledged cooperation with all sides in what he termed a long process in a new push to end the conflict in the violence-plagued region.

Thanut Suvarnananda told officials and civic groups in a meeting in Pattani on Sunday he would listen to recommendations and concerns from all stakeholders.

He said the government will soon renew talks with the insurgency umbrella group Barisan Revolusi Nasional in an attempt to restore peace in the southern border region.

Details of his address were posted on the Facebook page of the Civil Society Council of Southernmost Thailand, a non-governmental organisation.

Mr Thanut said the Thai negotiating team “will not walk alone” in the process. Officials would take into reconsideration advice from all groups affected by southern violence.

Representatives of the council were present at the weekend talks in Pattani, where Mr Thanut was collecting opinions ahead of the new round of peace talks set for Kuala Lumpur from Friday to Monday.

The council and 46 other non-governmental bodies proposed that Thai negotiators focus on reducing violence, seeking political solutions and respecting human rights principles in talks with the separatist group.

In an interview with Malaysian news agency Bernama, the new chief negotiator said the civic organisations hoped that their input would be part of the renewed talks.

“They hope their views and recommendations will be presented at the negotiating table in Malaysia to help bring an end to the prolonged conflict,” he was quoted as saying on Monday.

Mr Thanut, who is also the National Intelligence Agency chief, was appointed the new “chief of peace dialogue” by Prime Minister Auntin Charnvirakul last month, as Thailand looked to resume peace negotiations that have been stalled for almost two years.

The peace talks are being moderated by Malaysia, led by Mohd Rabin Basir, a former chief of the Malaysian National Security Council.

Thailand’s used car market is expected to remain sluggish in 2026, weighed down by competitive pricing in the new car segment, particularly electric vehicles (EVs).

The ongoing price war among automakers has made consumers hesitant to purchase second-hand cars, as many anticipate further reductions in brand-new vehicle prices, according to organisers of the 2026 Fast Auto Show Thailand, which features both new and used cars.

Pattanadesh Asasappakij, chairman of the Fast Auto Show Thailand, explained that geopolitical tensions, notably the Israel-US war with Iran, have also dampened consumer confidence.

“The economic impact of these conflicts is making people delay car purchases and spend more cautiously,” he said.

He added that the outlook for Thailand’s used car market between 2025 and 2026 remains weak, making it difficult to forecast total sales volumes or set clear targets for the upcoming auto show.

The Fast Auto Show Thailand is scheduled to take place from July 1-5 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec).

Bankers are also playing a role in slowing demand. Banks and car financing firms have tightened lending criteria to mitigate risks from rising household debt and non-performing loans. Stricter screening of borrowers’ repayment ability has made it harder for some consumers to access car loans.

Despite these challenges, certain segments of the used car market continue to show resilience.

Internal combustion vehicles, especially pickups, remain in high demand due to their utility in commercial activities. Hybrid electric vehicles with engine sizes between 1,200-1,500 cc are also popular, as they are easier to maintain and repair.

Vice-chairman Asadavut Asasappakij noted that used cars still appeal to buyers because they are priced 20-25% lower than new models.

“Consumers need cars at affordable prices and acceptable quality to support new families and manage financial liquidity,” he said, adding that many second-hand cars on display at the show will have low mileage.

In April, used car sales declined as buyers shifted their attention to new models showcased at the Bangkok International Motor Show.

The Ministry of Industry has ordered the strictest level of environmental monitoring following reports of unusually dark seawater and foul odours in Pradu Bay in Rayong province.

The issue gained public attention after social media users reported black-coloured seawater and a sulphur-like odour near the mouth of Chak Mak Canal and Pradu Bay.

In response, officials from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) inspected the area on Sunday. Initial water-quality tests found dissolved oxygen levels within normal standards and detected no signs of a critical threat to marine life.

According to the department, the affected area is a semi-enclosed bay with limited water circulation, and fine sediment and organic matter carried by canals flowing into the bay have accumulated on the seabed over a long time.

During periods of strong monsoon winds and rough seas, sediment can be stirred up and brought to the bay’s surface, causing the seawater to appear dark and murky. The decomposition of organic material trapped in low-oxygen sediment may also release hydrogen sulfide gas, which produces an odour similar to rotten eggs.

Despite no serious harm to local marine animals reported, the DMCR noted that short-term impacts are expected on seabed-dwelling and coastal species, including shellfish, crabs and other seabed invertebrates, as sediment and organic matter may smother their habitats and reduce oxygen levels.

Officials are also closely monitoring nearby coral reefs and seagrass beds to minimise potential ecological damage and protect local communities.

Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand’s (IEAT) Map Ta Phut Industrial Port and Environmental Monitoring and Control Center (EMCC) had been instructed to conduct a thorough investigation using scientific equipment.

He stressed his ministry had directed the IEAT to maintain 24-hour monitoring of high-risk areas and impose maximum legal penalties on any factory found illegally discharging wastewater.

Laboratory results from the EMCC showed that seawater quality remained within normal and safe levels. Tests indicated neutral pH conditions and high oxygen levels suitable for marine life.

Additional investigations found no evidence that nearby factories had released wastewater beyond legal limits.

China’s massive civil aviation fleet is ageing faster than planes are being replaced, threatening to saddle airlines with higher costs, but orders for home-grown C919 jets could help stem the tide, according to the head of north Asia for the International Air Transport Association (Iata).

Current aircraft replacements are failing to reach 2019 levels despite recent orders of Airbus and Boeing jets, Iata regional vice-president Xie Xingquan said at the industry group’s annual general meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, responding to an audience question about any lift from those orders.

Since 2020, the number of aircraft over 20 years old has outpaced new deliveries, depressing replacement rates below the threshold needed for a “stable fleet age”, Xie said in a YouTube webcast on Saturday during the Iata event. The fleet now “risks continued ageing” despite previously ranking among the world’s youngest.

A maturing fleet augurs higher operating costs for airlines, Xie noted. Older planes require more stringent mechanical oversight, higher labour outlays and increased fuel consumption, among other setbacks, the Iata has found.

Maintenance of older aircraft is particularly capital-intensive due to the need for “durable parts”, according to independent aviation analyst Li Hanming.

“This is actually counted as a depreciation of assets, but you still have to take cash flow out of your pocket,” Li said.

China’s 65 domestic airlines were operating a combined 4,574 commercial aircraft as of the end of 2025, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Deliveries of the C919, China’s first domestically produced single-aisle narrowbody aircraft, could help rejuvenate the domestic fleet, the Iata’s Xie said.

With the fleet ageing, Xie explained that the C919 could be “another option for the airlines” looking to mitigate supply-chain issues. “Definitely it could inject new vitality into the aviation industry both for China and also for the rest of the world,” he said.

China’s plane maker, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), delivered 35 C919s from December 2022 through the first quarter of this year, and major state-owned carriers have ordered roughly 300 of the jets.

Comac has positioned the C919, which took its maiden flight in 2023, as a potential rival to the similarly sized Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft families.

China Eastern Airlines said in May that it had placed a multibillion-dollar order for 101 Airbus A320neo aircraft, and US President Donald Trump said after visiting Beijing last month that China would buy at least 200 commercial planes from Boeing.

Boeing projects demand for 8,830 new commercial aircraft in China through 2043.

Grab and Line Man Wongnai are competing strongly to become market leaders in a duopolistic market amid a challenging economy, with the latter slashing fees to attract merchants.

According to the Department of Business Development, Line Man Thailand, which operates Line Man Wongnai, recorded a net profit for the first time of 542 million baht in 2025, compared with a net loss of 356 million baht in 2024.

The company’s gross revenue was 19 billion baht, up from 16.1 billion baht.

Line Man Wongnai plans to launch an initial public offering by 2027.

Meanwhile, Grab Taxi (Thailand) reported a 75% decline in net profit to 379 million baht in 2025, from 1.5 billion baht in 2024, while gross revenue continued to grow by 19% to 23.3 billion baht.

The intense competition between them was evident in the state-run Thai Chuay Thai Plus (Thais Help Thais Plus) co-payment scheme.

Line Man Wongnai has cut its gross profit (GP) fee for merchants participating in the Thai Chuay Thai Plus scheme to 10%, down from 15%, in a move to compete with Grab, which offers a GP rate of 9% under the Thai Chuay Thai scheme.

Robinhood charges a GP rate of 10.5%, while ShopeeFood charges 13%.

The average GP rate in the online food delivery market is typically up to 30%.

The Line Man Wongnai special 10% GP rate applies only to merchants who apply to join by June 10. Those who apply after that will be charged the 15% rate.

Line Man Wongnai will invest 400 million baht to help merchants in the Thai Chuay Thai scheme reduce costs and increase sales during a challenging economic period.

Government stimulus programmes have become a key driver of food delivery demand and help platform players maintain market share.

According to Singapore-based research firm Momentum Works, Thailand was the fastest-growing food delivery market in Southeast Asia last year, with gross merchandise value (GMV) rising from US$4.2 billion in 2024 to US$5.1 billion in 2025.

The market is a duopoly, with Grab holding a 47% share of GMV while Line Man Wongnai accounted for 41% in 2025.

Line Man Wongnai and Grab saw their market shares increase year-on-year by 1% each in 2025, while ShopeeFood’s share rose to 10%, from 7%.

Yod Chinsupakul, chief executive of Line Man Wongnai, said the company hopes to see the government expand cooperation under the Thai Chuay Thai Plus project towards broader budget support, aimed at reducing costs and sustainably enhancing the potential of restaurants in two main areas.

The first is reducing long-term hidden costs through green packaging. Currently, Line Man Wongnai has partnered with Gracz to provide merchants with access to eco-friendly packaging at affordable prices.

However, if the government steps in to provide additional subsidies, it would significantly ease the financial burden on restaurants and allow for a much broader impact.

The second dimension is driving digital transformation through point-of-sale (POS) systems.

If the government provides budget support for small-scale merchants to access shop management technology, such as POS systems, it will help enhance their ability to systematically manage revenue and expenses.

Microsoft has unveiled the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition and a matching wireless controller, bringing back the iconic translucent green design that pays tribute to the original hardware.

The special-edition console was revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, with a surprise presentation featuring Bill Gates and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The release commemorates the 25th anniversary of the original Xbox, which launched in 2001.

Inspired by the classic Xbox console, particularly beloved among fans for its resemblance to the Halo Special Edition, the X25 marks the return of the franchise’s signature transparent green aesthetic.

The Xbox Series X25 comes with 1TB (terabytes) of internal storage and includes several hidden details and easter eggs that Microsoft has hinted fans will discover throughout the console’s design.

The accompanying controller also embraces the retro theme. Its top bumpers reference the black-and-white buttons found on the original Duke controller, while the face buttons feature the vibrant ABXY colors of the early Xbox generation.

Collectors will be able to purchase the console and controller as a bundle, while the controller will also be available separately.

The Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition is scheduled to launch in select markets in November. Official pricing has yet to be announced.

A senator has questioned the inclusion of gender-affirming hormone therapy under Thailand’s National Health Security Scheme, citing concerns over spending priorities amid ongoing resource constraints in the public health system.

Senator Veerapun Suvannamai said that while he supports healthcare access for transgender people, the National Health Security Office (NHSO) must carefully assess new spending commitments as many healthcare facilities continue to face financial difficulties.

His remarks followed the NHSO’s rollout of the programme under the universal healthcare scheme, with medicines set to be distributed to about 50 pilot service units nationwide from June 10.

“Does the NHSO currently have enough money? Are we that wealthy?” he asked.

Sen Veerapun pointed to the closure of some community clinics, resource shortages at community hospitals, limited access to cancer drugs and waiting times for dialysis treatment.

He said healthcare rights should be available to all groups, but when resources are limited, policymakers must consider whether new spending could affect funding in other areas.

Under the programme, transgender people covered by the universal healthcare scheme will have access to hormone medication, health screenings, mental health counselling and laboratory tests under medical supervision.

The benefit package includes eight hormone-related medicines divided into four groups: female hormones in oral and topical forms, injectable male hormones, oral androgen blockers and central hormone-suppressing injections.

Recipients will also receive ongoing monitoring, including hormone level testing, liver and kidney function checks, and metabolic assessments to monitor long-term side effects.