Category: The Bangkok Post

Bangkok City Hall is preparing to launch a new service to fill requests for adult diapers for elderly residents and patients with care needs via the Traffy Fondue reporting application.

Some requests have already begun coming in through the system, but one or two weeks are needed to refine and design the reporting form, as the information requires medical verification and precise location pinning, Bangkok deputy governor Tavida Kamolvej said on Wednesday.

She said protecting the security of personal data was a key priority, adding that the system was expected to be fully operational no later than Aug 1.

The @traffyfondue official Line account has nearly 900,000 users. Members of the public use the AI-powered chatbot to report urban issues across Thailand, with over 17,000 agencies nationwide linked to the platform.

Ms Tavida said residents who submit information may not receive nappies immediately, as the process requires on-site verification, accurate location identification, and large-scale procurement.

The BMA aims to have distribution fully under way by Oct 1, which coincides with the start of the new fiscal year, so that budget allocation could proceed in an organised and efficient manner, she said.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has already held discussions with the National Health Security Office (NHSO), which has agreed to support the project financially through its health security fund and will handle procurement and quality inspection.

Ms Tavida said the project is part of the BMA’s ‘100-day’ policy, with the goal being that by Day 100 the BMA would be able to start distributing diapers to the public immediately.

Thailand has completed the first section ?of a permanent border fence along parts of its frontier with Cambodia, the military said on Wednesday, as tensions persist between the two Southeast Asian neighbours following two rounds of ?fighting last ?year.

Chief of Defence Forces Gen Ukrit Boontanon described the 1.3-kilometre stretch of reinforced concrete panels topped with steel mesh and wire in Pong Nam Ron district as ‘stable, strong and durable’, saying it had been designed for long-term security.

‘The concrete ?wall panels here have been test-fired. We have confirmed they can protect against small-arms fire,’ Gen Ukrit told reporters during a media tour of the site.

He said the military planned to build more than ?seven kilometres of additional fencing connected to the existing section, while assessing other areas of the ?817km frontier where terrain and environmental conditions would allow similar construction.

‘Each area has different conditions,’ he said. ‘We will build ?where ?it is beneficial and where it can be done without creating future problems.’

Troops remain ?deployed on both sides of the border, where longstanding territorial disputes erupted into violent clashes with the use of air strikes and artillery in July ?and December last year, killing nearly 150 ?people and displacing 300,000.

The July outbreak was settled after five days following an intervention by US President Donald Trump and others, but clashes flared up again for days ?in December before both ?sides agreed to a bilateral ceasefire.

Democrat Party MP Kritich Ipakichanon reported to the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) on Tuesday to acknowledge charges related to alleged VAT fraud.

He was accused of using unlawfully issued tax invoices to claim VAT credits and falsify sales records. Mr Kritich, an MP for Trang, denied the allegations, was fingerprinted, and released, with a follow-up appointment set for Friday at the prosecutor’s office.

The case stems from a Revenue Department complaint initially filed at Yan Ta Khao police station in Trang and later transferred to the ECD.

Investigators have already charged three other suspects, including a partnership firm and family members, with total damages estimated at 6.67 million baht.

Mr Kritich, who was named as the fourth suspect and managing partner at the time of the alleged offence, now faces prosecution alongside them.

The residential market may have already bottomed out, but a recovery is unlikely to resemble previous cycles, with second-hand homes expected to become the primary growth engine as affordability challenges continue to reshape buyer behaviour.

Vichai Viratkapan, an independent housing and urban development analyst and manager of the Housing Finance Association, said the market has begun to stabilise, but the recovery will be gradual and led by resale housing rather than newly launched projects.

“The market has started to recover, but not every segment will recover at the same pace,” he said. “Resale homes will become the key driver of the next growth cycle.”

Second-hand homes are better aligned with current market conditions because they offer lower prices, established neighbourhoods and immediate occupancy at a time when purchasing power remains under pressure, said Mr Vichai.

Households are making more practical purchasing decisions as economic uncertainty, elevated household debt and stricter mortgage lending standards continue to limit affordability, he noted.

Affordability has overtaken speculative investment and new project launches as the dominant factor influencing purchasing decisions, prompting buyers to focus on homes that fit their financial capacity, said Mr Vichai.

The structural shift has been building for nearly two decades. Before 2007, second-hand homes accounted for 48% of residential transfers by unit, while new homes represented 52%.

The gap was even wider by transaction value, with resale homes comprising only 38% of the market compared with 62% for newly built housing.

That balance has now reversed. In the first quarter of 2026, second-hand homes represented 67% of residential transfers by unit, leaving new homes with only a 33% share.

The value gap has also narrowed significantly. Existing homes accounted for 48% of total transfer value, while new homes captured 52%, highlighting stronger demand for higher-value resale properties.

Mr Vichai said the figures indicate that the resale market is no longer limited to lower-income buyers, but has become a mainstream option across several price segments.

He attributed the trend partly to changing buyer preferences following the pandemic, with purchasers increasingly favouring completed homes that allow them to inspect actual units, neighbourhoods and facilities before committing.

“Unlike off-plan projects, completed homes eliminate construction risks and allow buyers to secure mortgage approval immediately before transfer, reducing uncertainty throughout the purchasing process,” said Mr Vichai.

Mortgage approval remains another major hurdle, although rejection rates have improved markedly, falling to around 45% in the first quarter of 2026 from a peak of about 70% at the end of 2025, as financially weaker borrowers had already exited the market.

He compared the lending process to a water filter, saying stricter underwriting has screened out high-risk applicants, leaving a larger proportion of financially disciplined buyers with genuine housing needs.

“The quality of borrowers is improving. Those who remain in the market generally have stronger financial discipline and clearer purchasing intentions,” said Mr Vichai.

Developers should adjust their strategies by aligning new supply with genuine demand instead of relying on expectations of a rapid market rebound, he noted.

Projects targeting owner-occupiers with practical unit sizes, competitive pricing and completed or near-completed homes are expected to outperform more speculative developments over the coming years, said Mr Vichai.

Demographic changes, including slower household formation and an ageing population, are further reshaping residential demand and will require developers to rethink both product design and pricing strategies, he said.

“The market is unlikely to return to the rapid growth seen in previous cycles,” Mr Vichai said. “The next phase will be driven by real demand, with second-hand housing playing a far larger role than many expected.”

The state-run Transport Co (Bor Kor Sor) will discontinue its Trat-Bangkok bus service at the end of this month, bringing 67 years of operations on the route to a close and raising concerns among residents, particularly elderly passengers and low-income commuters.

The final trip from Mor Chit Terminal is scheduled for July 31.

Nonglak Moonsan, a ticketing officer at the Trat Bus Terminal, said the company operates daily, with one ride departing from Bangkok’s Mor Chit Terminal at 7.30am and another departing from Trat for Mor Chit at 9.30am.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the late-night departure at 10.30pm was suspended and never resumed.

Ms Nonglak said the route had become financially unsustainable due to declining passenger numbers. The service currently carries around 10 passengers from Mor Chit on an average, with another four or five boarding at Saen Tung, while operating costs remain around 5,000 baht per trip.

The closure is expected to affect elderly passengers, particularly state welfare card holders, who receive discounted fares, as well as travellers with bulky luggage, who may find minibuses less convenient.

As a person who has worked at the terminal for 10 years, Ms Nonglak believes she would also be affected. The station currently has only two employees and a transfer to Bangkok or Chon Buri would make daily life considerably more difficult.

For Naressin Meesamrit, a regular passenger, the bus service remains an essential public service despite the growing popularity of faster minibus services.

He said it is particularly important for state welfare card holders, who receive a 50% fare discount.

“If the fare is 300 baht, welfare recipients pay only 150 baht. The remaining money can be used for daily living expenses,” he said, adding that the government should maintain at least one daily service even if the route operates at a loss.

Private operators, including Cherdchai Tour and affiliated minibus services, will continue serving the route.

Vietnam’s newest airline, Sun PhuQuoc Airways, is banking on closer aviation ties with Thailand as it pursues aggressive international expansion, positioning Phu Quoc Island as a new regional hub for tourism and connecting traffic.

The full-service carrier owned by Vietnamese conglomerate Sun Group views Thailand as a key partner in growing two-way tourism and attracting international transit passengers, rather than as a competitor, said La Vinh Nam, the airline’s deputy director of sales.

Speaking during a route-launching ceremony in Bangkok, he said the carrier plans to begin daily flights between Bangkok and Phu Quoc next month, marking its sixth international destination after Taipei, Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore and Chengdu.

“We see Thailand as an important partner for tourism growth,” said Mr Nam. “The opportunity is not only Thai travellers visiting Phu Quoc, but also international passengers connecting through Bangkok from markets such as India, the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia.”

Sun PhuQuoc Airways began operations late last year with its main hub at Phu Quoc airport. The airline seeks to capitalise on growing demand between Bangkok and the Vietnamese resort island, which is mainly served by low-cost carriers.

He said Phu Quoc is evolving into a higher-end tourism destination, creating room for a full-service airline offering enhanced connectivity and premium services.

The carrier’s expansion plans are closely linked to the development of Phu Quoc as a regional aviation and tourism hub. Sun Group, one of Vietnam’s largest private conglomerates, operates luxury hotels and tourism attractions on the island, including Sunset Town. The group also offers airport check-in services at selected hotels, while the island is home to a casino resort operated by other companies.

Phu Quoc is also preparing to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2027, prompting major infrastructure investments. The airport is being expanded with a long-term goal of handling up to 50 million passengers annually.

Sun PhuQuoc Airways is targeting rapid fleet growth to support its network expansion. By the end of this year, the airline expects to operate 28 narrow-body aircraft and four Airbus A330 widebody jets, which will be deployed on long-haul routes including Russia and Kazakhstan.

The carrier aims to expand its fleet to 100 aircraft by 2030 and more than 200 by 2035. The airline has also signed an agreement to purchase 40 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with deliveries expected to begin in 2031.

During the first half of 2026, the carrier operated eight domestic routes and three international routes, with plans to add 15 more overseas destinations by year-end, bringing its international network to 18 routes.

Despite geopolitical tensions and global aircraft supply shortages, Mr Nam said booking trends remain healthy and plane deliveries are expected to proceed on schedule.

“The demand for aircraft around the world is very high,” he said. “Whoever can get planes earlier has a better chance of winning.”

Listed Thai companies are urged to ramp up efforts to reinvent their supply chains as sustainability becomes essential to winning global capital.

Resilient supply chains, standardised carbon reporting and environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration are becoming decisive factors for competitiveness and long-term investment.

Listed Thai firms must transform their supply chains from cost-driven networks into resilient, sustainable structures if they are to remain competitive and attract long-term investment in an increasingly fragmented global economy, according to executives from the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (Fetco).

Speaking at the SET Sustainability Forum, SET president Asadej Kongsiri said sustainability is no longer simply a matter of regulatory compliance, but a core business strategy that will shape companies’ ability to compete, raise capital and withstand future disruptions.

“The era of competing solely on low costs or fast delivery is over,” Mr Asadej said. “Companies with resilient, transparent and sustainable supply chains will be better positioned to compete globally and adapt to future disruptions.”

He called on large listed companies to mentor suppliers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, by helping them strengthen sustainability practices and prepare for stricter environmental disclosure requirements, including greenhouse gas emissions and carbon reporting.

According to Mr Asadej, investors are increasingly evaluating companies not only on financial performance, but also on the quality, transparency and comparability of sustainability data across their value chains. Companies unable to obtain reliable environmental data from suppliers risk higher compliance costs, weaker supply chain resilience and declining competitiveness in global markets.

To support the transition, he said the SET is developing a centralised platform for sustainability data collection, reporting and innovation. The exchange is also investing in digital infrastructure alongside training initiatives to help businesses and suppliers transition to a low-carbon economy while aligning with international reporting standards.

Supply chain resilience

Fetco chairman Paiboon Nalinthrangkurn said geopolitical tensions are reshaping global investment flows, creating a new supply chain landscape in which resilience, reliability and trust are becoming more valuable than simply minimising production costs.

He said the restructuring of global manufacturing networks presents Thailand with an opportunity to attract a new wave of investment, particularly in digital industries, advanced manufacturing and innovation-driven businesses seeking diversified and resilient production bases.

According to Mr Paiboon, listed companies now face two simultaneous strategic priorities: developing supply chains for emerging industries and new technologies while upgrading supplier networks to meet higher standards for quality, sustainability and ESG performance.

“If we plan well, Thailand can continue to prosper by integrating capital markets, businesses and public policy to strengthen confidence in our supply chains,” he said.

Thailand’s public and household debt combined exceed 250% of GDP, limiting the government’s capacity to finance large infrastructure projects. As a result, the capital market will play an increasingly important role in mobilising funding for new industries and attracting global investment to support long-term economic growth, said Mr Paiboon.

Meanwhile, investor expectations have shifted as global investors now assess companies on supply chain resilience, risk management, corporate governance and ESG performance alongside traditional financial indicators.

Thailand’s geopolitical neutrality and industrial base could help attract multinationals to relocate production, provided the country continues strengthening infrastructure, enhancing supply chain capabilities and fostering close collaboration among government, businesses and the capital market, he noted.

Both the SET and Fetco advised sustainable supply chains, improving the credibility of carbon disclosures and building collaboration across value chains to grow investor confidence and position Thailand as a regional hub for sustainable investment.

The cabinet on Tuesday approved the removal of the Red-Whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) from Thailand’s protected wildlife list, said Deputy Government Spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana.

The move paves the way for commercial breeding, supports local economies, encourages captive breeding over the capture of wild birds, and preserves cultural traditions such as bird-song contests in the South.

Oversight will remain with the Department of National Parks, which will monitor wild populations and reinstate protection if numbers decline.

Public consultations earlier this year showed broad support for the change, with officials stressing a balance between economic development and sustainable conservation, according to Ms Lalida.

For many people, reaching the age of 100 is already a milestone. For grandma “Mao” Intharaksa, however, it is simply another chapter in a life that continues to be shaped by movement, determination and a willingness to try something new.

Twice a week, the centenarian heads to her Pilates sessions, proving that staying active has no age limit. Calm, graceful and full of quiet confidence, she has become an inspiring reminder that growing older does not mean giving up the activities you love.

Exercise was not always a central part of her daily life. She recalled that her routine once revolved around eating, sleeping and praying, often leaving her feeling bored. Originally from Nakhon Ratchasima, she enjoys simple home-style meals, especially nam phrik (chilli paste), fresh vegetables and fish head dishes.

Her journey into Pilates, a low-impact system of controlled movements and core-strengthening exercises developed by German-born Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, began not out of curiosity, but necessity.

After developing persistent leg pain caused by nerve compression and bones pressing against one another, she sought medical treatment. Although pain relief medication helped only to a certain extent, it was Pilates – introduced as part of a supervised rehabilitation programme that made the greatest difference.

Because of her condition, she performs the exercises under the close guidance of a physiotherapist, and Pilates lessons led by teacher Chalita “Tata” Boonsriroj, tailoring lessons specifically to her physical needs. Pilates was recommended because its low-impact movements are gentle on the joints and bones while helping to strengthen weakened muscles.

“Pilates isn’t like getting a massage,” she said with a smile. “You have to move, but afterwards you feel relieved. And it’s fun.”

Her favourite movement is one that gently rocks her legs back and forth while engaging her core and back muscles. There is one exercise she admits she does not particularly enjoy, but she laughs, it is probably the one her body needs the most.

Her physiotherapist explained that every programme begins by identifying the individual’s weakest areas. In her case, strengthening her leg muscles became the priority before progressing to more advanced movements.

For older adults interested in trying Pilates, teacher Tata recommends beginning with private or closely supervised sessions so exercises can be customised to address specific health conditions safely.

Beyond improving physical strength, Pilates has also given her something less tangible: confidence. The exercises have helped her maintain an upright posture, move with greater ease and carry herself with elegance.

Her advice to others is simple: “Keep moving,” she said. “Even walking is enough. The more you move today, the better your body will be in the future.”

Her story is not about defying age or chasing extraordinary achievements. It is about embracing the possibilities that remain, finding joy in movement and discovering that healthy ageing can be both meaningful and enjoyable.

At 100 years old, she continues to show that living well is not measured by age, but by the willingness to keep taking the next step.

Police have shut down more than 4,500 illegal gambling websites and arrested thousands of suspects in a nationwide crackdown linked to betting on the recent Fifa World Cup, authorities said on Wednesday.

The campaign led to the arrest of 617 bookmakers and 8,181 online gamblers, according to Pol Gen Thana Chuwong, deputy national police chief and director of the Technology Crime Suppression Center.

Pol Gen Thana said authorities uncovered 20.5 billion baht in betting-related transactions during what the special operation targeting World Cup football betting from June 6 to July 19.

Police also blocked nearly 558,000 gambling-related URLs.

The arrests were conducted in tandem with a stepped-up nationwide campaign against mule bank accounts, which he said are the financial backbone of online criminal syndicates involved in fraud and money laundering.

Other scams

Pol Gen Thana also reported that online shopping scams remained the most common cybercrime in July, while impersonation scams caused the highest financial losses.

Police data showed that bank transfers accounted for 65.4% of all online fraud cases and losses, confirming that criminal networks continue to rely heavily on mule accounts in commercial banks to launder money and move illicit funds.

Pol Gen Thana said authorities would intensify efforts to dismantle mule account networks at every level.

He also praised Provincial Police Region 2 for arresting suspects accused of helping Chinese nationals open bank accounts that were later used by call-centre scam gangs.

Between Oct 1, 2025, and July 19, 2026, police arrested 787 operators of illegal online platforms, and more than 3,100 suspects linked to the illegal sale of firearms.

Pol Gen Thana said the Royal Thai Police and the Bank of Thailand are preparing to establish an Anti-Online Gambling Center (AOGC) with intelligent detection systems to disrupt illegal financial networks.

Authorities will also investigate influencers and celebrities who promote online gambling, as well as those who hire them for advertising campaigns, he added.