Category: The Bangkok Post

Democrat MP Karndee Leopairote has called on the public to oppose the government’s 1.621-billion-baht TH-AI Passport project, demanding greater transparency and value for taxpayers.

Ms Karndee, also the Democrat Party’s deputy leader, promoted a public petition on Facebook on Wednesday, describing “corruption carried out within the rules” as unacceptable and encouraging people to support efforts to scrutinise the scheme.

The campaign, organised by a group of technology professionals who describe themselves as politically independent and not funded by any company or organisation, seeks to halt the project and calls for a review by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.

It contends that compliance with procurement regulations alone does not guarantee that public spending is justified or delivers measurable benefits.

The campaign website says the concern is not whether procedures were formally followed but whether the project has clear performance indicators, transparent evaluation criteria and demonstrable public value.

Organisers also question whether taxpayers should fund a project costing more than 1.6 billion baht if its benefits cannot be independently assessed.

Ms Karndee shared the campaign’s appeal, which claims she has remained the only MP persistently examining the project. The petition calls for every baht of public spending to be open to scrutiny and carries slogans including “Transparent oversight” and “Stop wasteful spending”.

The TH-AI Passport project aims to provide five million people with a year’s access to professional or premium artificial intelligence tools. The system has not yet opened for public registration and remains in the user acceptance testing (UAT) stage, with final testing scheduled for Friday.

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society is awaiting legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General on proposed amendments to the contract, including payment based on the number of active users, before deciding when the scheme can be launched.

Police have arrested a fake dentist and two others for running a dental clinic without a licence in Muang district of this northeastern province.

Local police and health officials raided the clinic in a commercial building in Buri Ram municipality on Thursday. They found a 28-year-old man identified only as Kai fitting dental braces for a 19-year-old woman.

Dr Yutthana Suriya, head of the provincial public health office, said the arrest followed public complaints about the unlicensed clinic where dental treatment and brace services were available.

The arrests took place while Mr Kai and two assistants were treating a 19-year-old woman. They also seized medicine, anaesthetic and brace equipment.

Officials found that unclean and substandard practices and equipment posed serious health risks because patients could contract blood infections, hepatitis or experience damage to mouth structures, Dr Yutthana said.

The 19-year-old patient told officials that she learned about the clinic via social media and made an appointment to get braces.

However, she said she became concerned because she did not receive an X-ray before treatment, nor did she even see an X-ray machine. She realised her mistake when the authorities showed up while she was in the dentist’s chair.

Mr Kai reportedly told police that he did not graduate in dentistry but had run the clinic for about a decade.

Best known as Viagra, the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil started off as a treatment for reduced blood flow but soon saw its value spike after its other effects became clear.

The blue pill could have more uses, according to research by scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Tel Aviv. The team found indications that it curbs cancer metastasis via a ‘newly discovered biological mechanism’ drawing upon the drug’s blood dilatation effects.

Sildenafil curbs the capacity of cancer cells to make use of cholesterol, which the team describes as ‘an essential component of cellular membranes’.

‘Cholesterol is particularly important for cancer cells seeking to break away from the primary tumour, migrate throughout the body and invade distant organs,’ the researchers point out. They say if access to cholesterol is limited, the cells in turn ‘have a harder time forming metastases’.

Viagra’s potential to limit cancer spread could be boosted by using it alongside statins, a widely taken medication that limits cholesterol production.

In a paper published in the journal Cancer Research, the team says an analysis of digital health records pointed to ‘significantly improved survival among sildenafil users, with a dose-dependent additive benefit observed when combined with statins’.

‘The combination could not only limit cancer cells’ access to existing cholesterol but also prevent them from producing new cholesterol, potentially enhancing the anti-metastatic effect,’ the Weizmann Institute says.

According to Weizmann’s Ayelet Erez, the research is a reminder that cancer ‘is shaped not only by mutations in tumour cells but also by the patient’s metabolic state and by medications they are already taking for other conditions’.

Theresa P Lazaro, secretary of foreign affairs of the Philippines and the Asean Chair’s Special Envoy on Myanmar, said she is scheduled to make a humanitarian visit to Myanmar in the fourth quarter of this year.

Her confirmation came during the 10th Asean Media Forum, the regional bloc’s annual flagship media programme, where journalists from across Southeast Asia met representatives of this year’s Asean chair, the Philippines.

Ms Lazaro said this year’s chairmanship could prove to be one of the most consequential in recent years.

Tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border, developments in the Middle East, efforts to conclude an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and the crisis in Myanmar have all unfolded against a backdrop of a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, she said.

Referring to the recent informal meeting between Asean foreign ministers and Myanmar Foreign Minister U Tin Maung Swe in Bangkok on July 12, which she also attended, Ms Lazaro said her humanitarian visit to Myanmar is scheduled for the fourth quarter.

Ms Lazaro did not say who she expects to meet in Myanmar, saying details are still being worked out with the Philippine embassy in Yangon.

However, she said the focus of the visit will be the delivery of food and medical assistance to the people of Myanmar.

“We’re now in the process of identifying priority areas for assistance, and we expect to determine the specific areas of support by August. Our embassy in Yangon is handling the coordination, while the visit is planned for the fourth quarter,” she said.

In her capacity as Asean Chair’s Special Envoy on Myanmar, she said she needed to remain cautious and avoid making demands.

However, she said an opportunity to meet detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be significant for the regional bloc.

“It would be very good for Asean because meeting her would put us back on the world map,” she said.

Thailand’s education system may be rapidly embracing artificial intelligence, with millions of students already using AI-assisted learning and almost all teachers under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) trained to integrate the technology into classrooms.

But education officials say AI adoption alone will not determine the country’s future competitiveness.

While schools are making steady progress in preparing students for an AI-driven world and future international assessments, Thailand still faces a bigger challenge: producing enough industry-ready workers to meet the demands of a changing economy.

The contrast highlights the two sides of Thailand’s human capital agenda — transforming how students learn while ensuring graduates possess the practical skills employers need.

AI washes over classrooms

Among Thailand’s 6.5 million students, AI-adaptive learning has reached 3,326,065 learners through 160,507 trained teachers, while more than 93,000 students have developed skills to build AI ecosystems suited to local needs.

“The technical baseline for Thai students heavily relies on teacher competency in AI adoption,” said Eakasit Piyasangtong, director of the Bureau of Academic Affairs and Educational Standards, noting that about 94% of Obec teachers have completed AI training.

Teachers are encouraged to help students develop their own ideas before using AI, rather than relying on it for answers. Officials warn that misuse of AI can weaken critical thinking and leave students unable to assess the accuracy of AI-generated content.

Mr Eakasit said AI literacy has become increasingly important as misinformation and AI-generated content proliferate online. New AI tools for educators therefore encourage students to question, analyse and synthesise information instead of accepting machine-generated responses at face value.

Education authorities measure AI competency across five areas: analysing and verifying information, writing effective prompts, selecting appropriate AI tools, applying theory in practice, and taking responsibility for outcomes.

Thailand is also aligning AI literacy with the OECD’s emerging innovation domains ahead of the revised Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) in 2029.

According to Mr Eakasit, future Pisa assessments will place greater emphasis on media and AI literacy, focusing on real-world analysis rather than purely academic performance because AI-generated information is increasingly shaped by online “bubble chambers” and personal bias.

Officials believe the reforms could strengthen human capital and contribute to producing an estimated 1.2 million STEM graduates for high-skilled jobs. They also stress the need to prepare students for AI-driven workplaces while addressing concerns over excessive digital consumption and children’s psychological and social well-being.

Vocational education weak

Despite progress in basic education, vocational education continues to lag behind the country’s workforce ambitions.

Under the Ministry of Education’s 2026-2030 “All for Education” framework, Thailand aims to upskill nearly 1 million workers to meet Industry 4.0 standards. Yet only about 150,000 of the country’s 1 million vocational students are considered industry-ready.

Officials cite several structural barriers. Poverty and high dropout rates prevent many students from pursuing higher qualifications, with many entering the workforce at around 18 to support their families.

Curricula have also struggled to keep pace with advances in ICT and automotive technology, leaving nearly half of graduates from public and private vocational institutions inadequately prepared for industry, particularly outside Bangkok and the Eastern Economic Corridor.

Employers also report persistent gaps in English proficiency, digital literacy and complex problem-solving.

Workforce for the future

To close the gap, the Office of the Vocational Education Commission is replacing traditional rote learning with competency-based, standards-driven education.

Reforms begin this year with the China-Thailand “210 Majors” Vocational Project, while partnerships with Japan, Germany and Finland will continue supporting curriculum development in ICT, automation and hospitality.

A new “School-in-Factory” model will combine classroom learning with extended paid apprenticeships. Private-sector support and investment in data centres are expected to expand access to advanced laboratories, AI technologies and big data facilities.

The reforms also aim to raise the attractiveness of vocational education by highlighting strong employment prospects and higher earnings for post-secondary diploma graduates. Disadvantaged students will continue receiving support through the Equitable Education Fund’s High Vocational Innovation Scholarship for careers in automation and STEM fields.

The programme will continue through 2030, including governance reforms in 2027, teacher training reforms in 2028, nationwide classroom AI deployment and preparation for Pisa 2029 before the planned nationwide expansion of Thailand’s high-skilled workforce by 2030.

Officials say Thailand’s education reforms will be judged by whether schools and vocational institutions can produce graduates with the AI literacy, practical skills and adaptability to compete in a rapidly evolving economy.

Police surrounded a house in Bang Lamung district on Wednesday in an attempt to arrest two men believed to be connected to the disappearance of two Russian siblings from Pattaya, but the suspects had already fled.

More than 200 personnel joined local officials, rescue workers and residents in a large-scale search operation in an old cemetery at Thung Luang, near the Chak Taeng intersection in tambon Huay Yai.

The search focused on the area where the black-and-grey Honda ADV150 motorcycle belonging to the young Russians was discovered dismantled and buried underground (earlier report here).

Investigators found that the motorcycle had been taken apart and buried in two separate locations. At the first site, police recovered the front and rear shock absorbers, front and rear wheels, engine and fairings. About 100 metres away, officers uncovered the frame, seat, handlebars and other body components.

Roman Nazimova, 17, and his sister Diana Nazimova, 22, left their house at the Bristol Park Pattaya housing estate in tambon Huay Yai at 4am on Sunday and have not been seen since.

Forensic officers collected evidence from both sites to determine whether the parts were linked to the disappearance investigation.

Niphon Chatsri, assistant village headman of Village Moo 9, said residents had identified a suspect known as ‘Pong’, the same man previously seen in security video released during the investigation.

Pong had been released from prison about two months ago and was feared by local residents because he was known to carry weapons. They believed he could be connected to the case, according to Mr Niphon.

Residents also told police that another man, identified only as ‘Thong’, a friend of Pong, had been seen digging in the area where the motorcycle parts were later found. He was reportedly at the site from about 5pm until 11pm on Tuesday.

The following morning, local residents said they saw both men in the area before they fled in opposite directions upon spotting authorities.

A 24-year-old local resident, identified only as Lek, told reporters he had heard multiple gunshots over the past one or two nights from an area about 500 metres from where the motorcycle was buried. However, he said he could not confirm whether the gunfire was related to the case.

At 4pm on Wednesday, Huai Yai police, tourist police and Bang Lamung district officials surrounded a house in Moo 11 of Huay Yai after receiving information that Pong and Thong were hiding there.

However, a search failed to locate either suspect.

The homeowner told police the two men had returned to the house at about 10am on Sunday, the same day the Russian siblings disappeared. Both men were covered in mud and stayed for about an hour before leaving.

Authorities continued searching for the missing siblings on Wednesday while investigators gathered further evidence and stepped up efforts to locate the two suspects for questioning as they worked to solve the case.

A father and son on holiday got an unpleasant surprise after finding their room did not come close to matching what they had booked, but a prompt response ensured their stay was not spoiled.

Representatives from the Nan office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and tourist police met the pair after learning about their problem.

The visitor identified as Mr Ko said he had planned a three-day, two-night trip to Nan – the first night in tambon Sa Pan in Bo Kluea district, the second in the town centre.

Upon arrival at their accommodation in Sa Pan, the father and son were shocked to discover a run-down room and bathroom in a state of disarray.

Anan Seedaeng, director of the local TAT office, and Pol Lt Col Nathip Kaewpradit of the tourist police met the pair on Tuesday to address the discrepancy.

Mr Anan apologised for the inconvenience and said the meeting helped clear up the misunderstanding.

As a gesture of goodwill, the TAT gave Mr Ko souvenirs and arranged a gift voucher, donated by Sa Pun Klang Na resort, for a future stay with his son. Mr Ko said he was moved by the gesture and confirmed he would return to Nan.

Mr Anan said that the incident underlined the importance of close cooperation with local operators to prevent similar mishaps and improve tourism management going forward.

Police are searching for two Russian siblings, aged 17 and 22, who have been missing from their home since Sunday.

Zarina Nazimova, 40, told police at Huay Yai station in Bang Lamung district on Tuesday that her son Roman Nazimova, 17, and daughter Diana Nazimova, 22, rode a motorcycle from their house in Bristol Park Pattaya housing estate in tambon Huay Yai at 4am on Sunday and never returned.

According to the mother, her children wore casual clothing and carried their mobile phones. She thought the children were riding the motorcycle to a convenience store.

Ms Zarina has lived in the housing estate since 2018 and her children arrived to live with her in 2021. The young Russian siblings speak Russian and English and cannot speak Thai.

Detectives found from CCTV footage that the Russian siblings left their housing estate on a black ADV160 Honda motorcycle with 4 Kor Sor 6379 licence plates registered in Chon Buri. They greeted security guards of the housing estate while passing their booth.

They rode towards the toll plaza of the Map Ta Phut-Na Jomtien motorway at 4.21am and made a U-turn. On a frontage road, they parked near another motorcyclist and had a talk.

At 4.31am on Sunday both motorcycles rode on the frontage road near Wat Bang Yai. At 4.33am the siblings’ motorcycle reached a traffic light under the Ban Sak Ngaeo motorway bridge before disappearing.

A shortage of tap water has led to rationing on Koh Samui, where a prolonged dry spell has reduced clean water production capacity to about 40% of normal levels, according to the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA).

Dry weather exacerbated by the El Niño pattern has depleted the island’s reservoirs, while piped water supply from the Surat Thani mainland is insufficient for the tourist island, the PWA said.

The underwater pipeline from the mainland supplies about 16,000 cubic metres of water per day but average demand is about 34,000 cubic metres.

The PWA said on Wednesday that tap water supply is being rotated across different zones of the island. Local residents and businesses are urged to use water sparingly, store it when it is running, and prepare for temporary interruptions.

Many hotels and larger businesses have been forced to buy supplemental water trucked in from off-island sources. Piped water availability for properties at higher elevations has also been affected, according to local reports.

The Interior Ministry on Wednesday ordered urgent measures to ease the tap water shortage, which has affected the island since Monday.

Deputy Interior Minister Jeseth Thaiseth said the PWA is hoping to increase the volume of water sent through the undersea pipeline by about 4,000 cubic metres per day. As well, it is working to repair a damaged reverse osmosis treatment system and is closely managing available raw water resources to maximise production.

The Interior Ministry is also coordinating with the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation to carry out artificial rain operations when conditions become favourable.

Mr Jeseth said he had instructed the PWA to provide daily progress reports, prepare contingency plans should the shortage continue and keep residents regularly informed about water supply schedules so they can better plan their water usage.

Beyond the immediate response, he has asked the PWA to draw up a long-term water security plan covering expanded raw water sources, upgraded production facilities, improved transmission systems and stronger water infrastructure to support the island’s future growth.

AI-driven identity fraud is emerging as a growing cyberthreat as attackers increasingly exploit synthetic identities, deepfakes and autonomous artificial intelligence agents to target digital systems, according to Ping Identity.

Jasie Fon, regional vice-president for Asia at Ping Identity, an identity management provider, told the Bangkok Post that Thailand is not immune, as the rapid digitisation of financial services, e-commerce and public platforms makes identity a primary attack surface.

“Across Southeast Asia, attackers are using AI to create synthetic identities, deepfake personas and automated agents capable of interacting with digital systems at scale,” she said.

Citing an analysis by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Ms Fon said organised crime groups are already using AI for voice cloning, deepfakes and identity fraud.

Synthetic identity fraud has increased globally by as much as 300% in recent times, as attackers combine genuine and fabricated information to bypass identity verification systems.

Deepfake impersonation is among the most concerning threats. Fraudsters can use AI-generated video or voice to imitate executives, authorise fraudulent transactions or persuade employees to disclose sensitive information.

Such attacks exploit organisations’ growing reliance on remote and digital workflows, making verification more difficult and increasing the risk of costly errors.

AI-powered phishing and scams are also becoming more sophisticated.

“Automated bots can generate highly personalised messages in Thai and other regional languages at a scale that traditional anti-phishing systems struggle to detect,” she said.

Attackers are also combining stolen data with AI-generated personas to create identities capable of opening bank accounts, e-wallets and digital service accounts. These accounts can then be used to launder money, bypass know-your-customer controls or conduct other fraudulent activities.

Another emerging threat is AI-enabled mule account creation, in which automated bots bypass verification processes to establish accounts for moving illicit funds.

Ms Fon said these attacks are becoming increasingly scalable, adaptive and automated, creating significant challenges for enterprises as digital adoption accelerates.

Fragmented systems create additional blind spots as AI expands the attack surface. She said 69% of Southeast Asian organisations reported that AI had contributed to recent cybersecurity incidents.

A shortage of expertise in managing non-human identities and autonomous systems adds to the risk, leaving many security teams unprepared to govern AI agents or respond to related incidents.

AI can help defenders detect anomalies, reduce manual workloads and automate threat containment. However, attackers use the same capabilities to launch targeted attacks at scale and adapt rapidly.

This is creating an “AI speed gap”, contributing to longer recovery times and higher breach costs across Southeast Asia.

To address the risks, Ping Identity advocates treating every AI agent as a first-class identity. Under its “Identity for AI” framework, organisations can discover, govern and monitor AI agents through a unified control system, reducing the risk of unapproved “shadow agents”.

The framework applies authentication, authorisation and least-privilege access by default.

AI agents can be managed alongside human and machine identities, with access decisions made in real time based on context rather than static permissions.

Sensitive actions can also be monitored, reviewed and linked to accountable owners, improving transparency across autonomous workflows.

Ms Fon said organisations should assign every AI agent a clearly defined identity, owner and lifecycle, while enforcing least-privilege access and continuous authorisation.

She said regulators and enterprises across Southeast Asia are increasingly strengthening electronic know-your-customer and identity assurance frameworks, reflecting wider recognition that identity security is fundamental to the safe deployment of AI.

Cyber-enabled fraud in Southeast Asia has reached billions of dollars annually, while some studies suggest breaches involving AI-related attacks can cost more than twice as much because of their complexity and scale.

Organisations also face reputational damage and declining trust in digital services, particularly in finance and e-commerce.