Category: The Bangkok Post

Police have found that a Chinese man used a Thai woman and her mother as proxies to set up companies that bought luxury houses in Bangkok for Chinese occupants who reportedly annoyed neighbours.

Investigators on Tuesday searched dozens of locations, including luxury houses on Pattanakan and Krungthep Kreetha roads, according to Pol Lt Gen Nathasak Chaonasai, head of the Central Investigation Bureau.

A Chinese man identified as Hao Deng used two women – identified only as Piyanoot and her mother Sakhon – as shareholders and directors of 33 companies, Pol Lt Gen Nathasak said on Wednesday.

The companies bought 33 luxury residences worth a total of 1.3 billion baht on Pattanakan and Krungthep Kreeta roads. The money came from Mr Hao, who is still being sought by police.

Police earlier received complaints from Thai residents at an unidentified luxury housing estate that Chinese occupants of the houses behaved badly and annoyed neighbours.

Police from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) on Tuesday impounded the houses and seized 15 passports, 24 sets of documents related to suspected companies and six company stamps.

Pol Maj Gen Thatphum Jaruprat, the ECD commander, said the companies with Thai proxies were set up to avoid the law that prohibits foreigners from owning houses with land. The companies then bought luxury houses that were either sold to Chinese agencies or leased to Chinese tenants.

Police also found share transfer documents signed in advance by both the Thai suspects. They too would face charges, the ECD chief said.

The government wants Thailand to break into the top 20 in a global competitiveness ranking over the next four years, rising from 26th.

Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the administration also seeks to raise the country’s potential economic growth rate from the 2.7% estimated by the Bank of Thailand to more than 3%.

Speaking at a Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) seminar On Tuesday, Mr Ekniti said the Board of Investment’s (BoI) investment strategy is no longer focused primarily on the number or value of investment projects, but rather on the quality of investment, including technology transfers.

He noted Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers chose Thailand as their first location outside China to produce right-hand-drive EVs, while utilising the nation’s domestic supply chain.

Regarding clean energy, which plays a key role in attracting data centre investments, Mr Ekniti said the National Energy Policy Council approved measures last week to unlock direct power purchase agreements, allowing industrial users to buy electricity directly from power producers.

The measures also allow renewable energy producers to sell excess electricity back to the grid via the authorities’ transmission system under a third-party access framework.

In addition, he said the BoI launched an initial public offering initiative to encourage foreign investors in Thailand to raise capital through the Thai market instead of listing elsewhere. The goal is to bring more listings to the SET, particularly for technology companies.

“Investment capital continues to flow into Thailand because the country is able to trade with all nations,” said Mr Ekniti. “Geopolitical and economic tensions have divided the world into multiple blocs. As a result, investors are seeking safe destinations for investment.”

He compared the current situation to the 1980s, when the Japanese yen was forced to appreciate, prompting Japanese manufacturers to relocate production overseas, including to Thailand. This led to the development of Thailand’s industrial base, particularly the automotive industry and its supply chain.

Efforts to streamline investment approvals through the Thailand FastPass facilitation measure have increased investment flows into the economy, said Mr Ekniti, lifting economic growth in the fourth quarter of last year to 2.4-2.5%, compared with an earlier projection of 0.3-0.4%.

In addition, private sector investment expanded by 10% in the first quarter of this year.

“In the past, Thailand’s economy was export-led. When exports contracted, the economy suffered. Today, Thailand’s economy is investment-led,” he noted.

Thailand’s economic recovery is being driven efficiently by increased domestic investment, prompting rating agencies to revise Thailand’s outlook from negative to stable, contributing to around 60 billion baht in capital inflows into the SET over the past 2-3 weeks, said Mr Ekniti.

Global investors are not concerned about Thailand’s public debt, but rather whether the government has sufficient new investment engines to sustain economic growth, he said.

While Thailand and the Maldives remain popular destinations, hotels in Dubai and Japan have been struck by geopolitical conflicts, prompting softer performance in the second quarter, according to Centara Hotels and Resorts.

The company reported a second-quarter dip in revenue per available room (RevPar) of 10% year-on-year, down to 3,328 baht, mainly attributed to war in the Middle East.

Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai posted a 61% RevPar reduction to 2,385 baht, and the average occupancy rate decreased from 83% to 44% as a result of the conflict that started in February.

The company said the hotel remained open throughout the period and did not have any physical damage, supported by staycation demand during holidays.

Centara’s Japanese hotels recorded a 46% year-on-year reduction of RevPar to 4,185 baht, with the occupancy rate falling from 86% to 63% in the second quarter.

With the slowdown of Chinese arrivals in Japan due to tensions over Taiwan, and last year’s strong traveller base for the Osaka World Expo, Centara Grand Hotel Osaka reported a 20% year-on-year decrease in RevPar to 6,225 baht.

In addition, the company opened Centara Life Namba Hotel Osaka in April, which is still in the ramp-up period.

The RevPar for Centara’s Thai portfolio remained stable with a 3% year-on-year increase in the second quarter to 2,898 baht. However, the average room rate for Phuket hotels declined due to a shift in guest mix, affected by the Middle East war.

Some of its hotels, including Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas Hua Hin, and Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villa Krabi underwent renovations.

Likewise, the Maldives’ hotels recorded over 69% increase in RevPar year-on-year, booking a 53% occupancy rate, thanks to growth in its existing properties and a ramp-up period among new hotels.

For the first six months of the year, Centara’s RevPar was down 1% year-on-year to 4,315 baht, with a total occupancy rate of 71%.

The Maldives reported a 61% uptick in RevPar to 9,530 baht, while Dubai and Japan recorded 44% and 31% reductions to 3,467 baht and 4,448 baht respectively.

RevPar for the Thai portfolio was 3,709 baht, up 1% year-on-year.

Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat denied claims that the government had used a Department of Special Investigation (DSI) investigation to pressure People’s Party MP Pawoot Pongvitayapanu into softening his stance on the TH-AI Passport project.

Speaking at Government House on Tuesday, Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said the DSI had issued summonses to more than 20 people last week, including Mr Pawoot, a People’s Party list MP, in connection with an investigation into an alleged illegal forex investment scheme. Those summoned are expected to meet investigators next week to give statements.

The controversy arose after Mr Pawoot, who had previously been one of the project’s most vocal critics, expressed support for its revised implementation.

In a recent social media post, Mr Pawoot argued that, since the project had already been approved, the focus should shift to ensuring taxpayers received maximum value for money. He said the opposition should continue monitoring potential risks while acknowledging improvements made to the project.

His remarks drew criticism from some supporters and fellow party members, including People’s Party list MP Rukchanok Srinork, who questioned his apparent change in tone and said politicians should remain consistent in scrutinising government projects.

The minister was responding to speculation that Mr Pawoot’s softened stance on the project was linked to the ongoing DSI investigation.

“There has been no discussion and no action whatsoever,” Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said when asked whether the government had exerted pressure on the opposition MP.

Asked when the DSI might file charges, he said the timing would depend on the evidence gathered by investigators, as well as testimony from witnesses and those summoned for questioning.

People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut later rejected suggestions that Mr Pawoot’s stance was linked to the forex case. He said the party’s concerns over the TH-AI Passport project remained focused on alleged procurement irregularities, including claims that specifications had been downgraded and that conflicts of interest may exist.

Mr Natthaphong also confirmed that the party was drafting a petition seeking a National Anti-Corruption Commission investigation into the project. He said details would be announced once the petition had been finalised.

He described differences of opinion within the party as normal and stressed that the debate should remain focused on procurement and transparency rather than individual politicians.

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.”

It is time for universal design (UD) to move beyond merely meeting legal requirements and to become part of everyday life, say organisers of the upcoming UD Expo in Bangkok.

Thailand’s ageing society and growing diversity highlight the need for equal access to infrastructure and services, said Pinya Jamroonsart, deputy director-general of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.

The department, under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, is staging the expo in partnership with the Thais with Disabilities Foundation (TDF) and Thammasat University.

Thailand has about 14.16 million people aged 60 and over and 2.25 million registered persons with disabilities. According to the World Health Organization, around 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population, live with some form of disability.

‘These figures reflect the fact that equal access to infrastructure is not an issue for one particular group, but a fundamental challenge for national development,’ Ms Pinya said on Tuesday.

She said universal design should be treated as a core principle in the design of homes, transport systems, roads, pavements, buildings, products and services, rather than simply a compliance requirement.

Supachip Dithet, chairman of the TDF, said sustainable universal design must begin by listening to users and viewing accessibility as an interconnected system.

‘Design that provides equal access for everyone can help remove barriers to education, employment, travel and services, while creating economic opportunities and new markets for businesses,’ he said.

Assoc Prof Chumkhet Sawaengcharoen, head of the Centre for Universal Design and Environment at Thammasat University, said research must be translated into practical standards, design guidelines and policy recommendations that can be adopted by public agencies and businesses.

The UD Expo for Persons with Disabilities and Better Living for All will be held on July 24 and 25 at Halls 9-10 of Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre in Muang Thong Thani.

The event will feature more than 50 booths representing 80 organisations, along with over 25 panel discussions.

For anyone who has ever watched Physical: 100 and wondered what it would be like to train alongside the athletes (who honestly don’t look human), working out with Season 2 champion Amotti feels like a far-fetched dream. Turns out, it was just something I had not done ‘yet’ – until this past weekend.

Lululemon’s TRAINING GROUND made its Thailand debut over the weekend, transforming the 14th floor of EM Tower at EMSPHERE into a high-energy fitness hub where movement, community and personal growth took centre stage.

Following the successful first edition in Singapore, the two-day event marked its first stop in Bangkok. Split into zones of training, panel discussions and a retail experience, TRAINING GROUND combined sweat sessions with opportunities to explore the latest lululemon apparel.

Through the retail area, visitors were welcome to enjoy a complimentary photo booth and personalise newly purchased products through free on-site customisation.

At the event, lululemon also launched two new collections: a ‘Wunder Train’ line for women and ‘License to Train’ for men.

More than a fitness event, TRAINING GROUND was built around the campaign theme “Yet”, encouraging participants to view human potential as limitless. Whether it is running a first race, lifting a heavier weight or simply stepping into a workout class for the first time, the message was clear: every goal is achievable – you have just ‘yet’ to accomplish it.

The event invited guests to pursue those milestones together, reinforcing Lululemon’s belief that progress is stronger when driven by community.

Headlining the programme was fitness athlete and Lululemon ambassador Amotti, winner of Netflix’s Physical: 100 Season 2, alongside lululemon ambassador Nammon Tonggamnerd, as well as trainers Aoii, Jang, Kie, Mark Cleaver and Tripob Laoudom.

For Amotti, fitness has never been solely about physical performance. Speaking during a panel discussion, he said exercise should first and foremost be enjoyable, arguing that people are more likely to stay consistent when they genuinely love the process.

He believes discipline is built not through willpower alone, but by creating an environment that makes showing up easier. One example is his regular training group, where members motivate one another to stay accountable.

Amotti’s advice for anyone looking to build a lasting fitness habit is simple: establish a routine. Going to bed, waking up and exercising at consistent times each day removes much of the mental resistance that often prevents people from getting started.

Community, he added, is what makes fitness truly powerful. Regardless of nationality or background, people become united through shared effort. During a workout, differences fade as everyone experiences the same challenge, the same sweat and the same determination.

Beyond the workouts, proceeds from ticket sales were donated to the SATI Foundation, supporting programmes that improve the mental health, education and well-being of underserved children and young people across Thailand.