Category: The Bangkok Post

The filling of the massive sinkhole on Samsen Road in Bangkok’s Dusit district has been completed, paving the way for the demolition of the damaged Samsen police station, Bangkok’s governor said.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Monday at the sinkhole site that 1,700 cubic metres of crushed stone had been levelled over the sand-filled sinkhole, which now appeared stable enough for people to walk on. Nearby structures, including police flats, Vajira Hospital and nearby commercial buildings, showed no movement or additional cracking, except for the Samsen police station, he said.

The next step, the governor added, would be the demolition of the Samsen police station followed by road reconstruction. The demolition was expected to take about four days. Because the station’s floors were built using the post-tension technique, the work must be done with great care to prevent the slings from snapping, he said.

Mr Chadchart noted that no date had been set yet for the reopening of Samsen Road.

He said the project would also involve restoring subway tunnels beneath the road and reconstructing underground utilities, including water mains and sewers. All work would proceed cautiously with safety as the top priority.

The sinkhole, which appeared on Sept 24 on Samsen Road in Dusit district, formed above an underground railway station being built for the Mass Rapid Transit Authority’s (MRTA) Purple Line extension. It initially measured about 30 metres wide, 30 metres long and 20 metres deep.

The state-run MRTA attributed the incident to the area’s water-saturated, soft soil, which cracked and flowed into the tunnels and the under-construction Vajira Hospital station on the Purple Line.

Newly re-elected Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to liberal democratic principles, vowing to steer clear of political conflicts involving the monarchy and reject any exploitation of the military.

Speaking after the party elected its new executive board, Mr Abhisit thanked members for reappointing him, emphasising the Democrat Party remains the only Thai political institution with a genuinely democratic internal election system.

Mr Abhisit previously led the party from 2005 to 2019. After a dramatic setback in the last election, when the party won just 25 MP seats, veteran members rallied behind his return.

“Those elected as party leader must remember their position exists because of the collective consent of members nationwide — the true owners of the party,” he said.

He praised predecessor Chalermchai Sri-on, noting their differences but commending his dedication. “Every MP, former candidate and branch representative can attest to his devotion.”

Reflecting on his resignation nearly two years ago, he called it one of the hardest decisions of his life. “Before I left, I said I would never join another party. If I were to bleed, my blood would be blue — Democrat blue — until I die.”

A former prime minister, Mr Abhisit pledged to move the party beyond “empty rhetoric” and divisive labels. “We don’t need to debate whether we are conservative, democratic or progressive. Since 1946, our ideology has been clear: we are the original liberal democratic party of Thailand.”

He reiterated the party would not engage in political processes that drag the monarchy into partisan disputes. “The monarchy is the spiritual centre of the Thai people and must remain above politics.”

He also rejected politicising the military. “When the armed forces defend national sovereignty, politicians should not exploit it. Instead, politics must support diplomacy and proactive foreign policy.”

Mr Abhisit pledged to restore good governance. “Political responsibility must stand higher than legal responsibility. Ethics are crucial, but must not be weaponised to destroy opponents.”

He also brushed off jibes his return was “old wine in an old bottle”. “To all those tired of the politics you see today — come and join us.”

A man who parked his pickup truck behind an ambulance is accused of disrupting the emergency transfer of a critically ill patient at Plaipraya Hospital in Krabi province.

The patient later died from respiratory failure.

The hospital issued a statement on Saturday to explain the incident, which took place on Thursday, Oct 16.

At 11.10pm, staff were preparing to transfer a male patient suffering from acute myocardial infarction and respiratory failure to Krabi Hospital.

At 11.15pm, a brown Toyota pickup truck was parked closely behind the designated ambulance, blocking its rear door.

The truck was transporting a 69-year-old woman patient. The hospital said the head nurse explained the critical situation to the relatives and asked them to wait, providing a bed for their mother. However, the family complained loudly about the lack of immediate attention.

When staff were ready to load the critical patient into the ambulance, the truck was still blocking the way. Staff and the family of the critical patient pleaded with the driver to move the vehicle, but he continued to argue angrily for some time before eventually complying.

The critical patient, who was the father of the family, died later that night.

The hospital said the actions of the truck owner ‘obstructed urgent duties of the medical team’.

According to Thairath Online, a daughter of the deceased, Pattaraporn Panich, 29, said she believed a faster transfer might have saved her father.

Plaipraya Hospital director Dr Natthapong Doo-Ngam told Thairath the hospital has assigned its legal team to gather evidence and consider reporting to police on Monday.

The International Schools Association of Thailand (ISAT) says it hopes to enhance Thailand’s academic landscape in line with the national education policy, with a strong focus on improving opportunities for disadvantaged children and youth.

In partnership with state agencies, including the Equitable Education Fund (EEF), ISAT launched a scholarship programme last year to support top-performing students from low-income families.

The initiative helps students develop academic and social skills in an international learning environment by enrolling them in leading international schools across Thailand. The programme was inspired by earlier scholarship efforts that sent Thai students abroad but often saw them struggle due to language and cultural barriers. By preparing students locally first, ISAT aims to ensure that future scholars can succeed globally.

The 2022 Pisa report says more than 26,000 Thai students from the poorest 15% of households ranked among the nation’s top 20% academically. Yet despite their potential, many have lacked access to quality education and international exposure. ISAT calls this the “lost ice-time phenomenon” — a loss of opportunity, not talent.

ISAT’s initiative complements the government’s Outstanding Development Opportunity Scholarship (ODOS) programme, which supports high-achieving high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This year, 2,400 Grade 12 students have been awarded full scholarships for further education. Of these, 168 will study abroad in the UK, US, and Australia, while the rest will attend universities in Thailand, in the upcoming academic year. These 168 students will also join ISAT’s pilot programme, developed in collaboration with its member schools.

The initiative provides a two-way learning experience where scholarship recipients join classes with ISAT students, encouraging cultural exchange and confidence-building before they continue their studies overseas.

Set to begin in March next year, the pilot phase will run across 10 ISAT schools, including International School Bangkok, Bangkok Patana, New International School, Rugby International School, Bangkok Prep, Ramkhamhaeng Advent International School, St Andrew’s, and Ruamrudee International School.

The programme features a “shadow bootcamp,” where scholarship students attend regular ISAT classes, as well as English and STEM-focused training to boost academic readiness and adaptability. “Thai children are exceptionally capable, particularly in STEM fields, but many lack opportunities,” said ISAT president Usa Somboon. “More than 180 ISAT member schools have already joined this effort, and we’re also providing counselling to help students reach their full potential.”

Looking ahead, ISAT will partner with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security on the “Child Safeguarding in Thailand” initiative to strengthen student welfare systems.

Thianthong Prasanpanich, director of the ministry’s Children and Youth Protection Division, noted: “International schools have strong child protection systems, including counselling and training for students and guardians.” Through these partnerships, ISAT aims to expand reporting mechanisms, and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Bhumjaithai Party candidate Wisuda Vicheansil, 31, won Sunday’s by-election in Kanchanaburi province with 53,542 votes, comfortably defeating Shinawat Maendet, 67, of the Pheu Thai Party, who received 36,521 votes.

The by-election was organised in Constituency 4 on Sunday. It happened because Sakda Vicheansil, Ms Wisuda’s father, resigned from Pheu Thai to join the ruling Bhumjaithai Party. Mr Sakda is a deputy interior minister.

In the Sunday’s by-election, 96,058 people cast their votes and constituted 72% of eligible voters in the constituency which covers Bo Phloi, Nong Prue, Huay Krachao and Lao Khwan districts.

Late last month Bhumjaithai easily won a by-election in Si Sa Ket province.

OWNDAYS (Thailand) Co., Ltd., the leading Japanese eyewear retailer, celebrates its 10th anniversary in Thailand with a grand event titled ‘OWNDAYS THAILAND 10th ANNIVERSARY – THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.’ The celebration highlights the brand’s remarkable journey from humble beginnings to nationwide success under the concept ‘From Seed to Success – A Decade of Vision.’ This theme reflects OWNDAYS’ commitment to transforming the eyewear shopping experience in Thailand – making it simple, transparent, and stylish. Within just a decade, OWNDAYS has become a market leader and a beloved brand among the new generation.

To express gratitude for a decade of customer support, OWNDAYS unveils a special anniversary collection themed ‘Every Day is a Blessing,’ inspired by Lord Ganesha – symbolising new beginnings, wisdom, and success. The collection features six exclusive designs, accompanied by a series of customer activities from 16-19 October 2025 at Fashion Hall, 1st Floor, Siam Paragon.

A Journey of Growth: From Optical Store to Fashion Brand

OWNDAYS entered the Thai market in 2015, when the eyewear industry was still traditional customers often waited days for their glasses and faced complex pricing structures. The brand revolutionised the experience by introducing ‘glasses ready in 20 minutes,’ clear and inclusive pricing with no hidden lens fees, and modern designs to suit every lifestyle.

By positioning its stores in shopping malls and community spaces with interiors resembling fashion boutiques rather than optical clinics, OWNDAYS quickly resonated with consumers. It has since evolved into an ‘Everyday Eyewear Brand’ recognised by young customers for its fashionable, accessible, and speedy service.

Mr Evan Woo, Managing Director of OWNDAYS (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said: ‘Over the past decade, OWNDAYS has become more than just an eyewear store. It’s a brand that inspires people to ‘OWN your DAYS’ to live life in their own way. We believe success comes from continuously listening to our customers and adapting to the ever-changing market.’

Marketing and Brand Strategy for the New Generation

OWNDAYS has positioned itself as a Fashion and Lifestyle Brand, merging functionality and fashion. Its eyewear is not just for vision correction it is a form of self-expression. The brand launches new collections monthly, ranging from essentials to collaborations with well-known fashion labels and pop culture icons such as Kuromi and Toy Story.

In marketing, OWNDAYS engages consumers through digital-first storytelling on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook – creating fun, relatable, and shareable content such as how-to videos for choosing frames by face shape or humorous memes.

The appointment of Mario Maurer as brand ambassador reinforces its image as a modern, friendly, and beloved brand across generations. This partnership has expanded through viral campaigns and interactive online activities, strengthening brand awareness and connection with young audiences.

A New Decade of Growth and Expansion

Following consistent double-digit growth in 2024, OWNDAYS aims to expand to over 100 stores nationwide within the next 3-5 years. The company will enhance customer experiences through an Omnichannel Experience seamlessly linking online and offline shopping for example, selecting frames online and collecting them in-store.

Future expansion plans also include entry into neighbouring CLMV markets (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam), where consumer behaviour mirrors Thailand’s, and exploring collaborations in fashion and health-tech sectors.

Event Highlights: 16-19 October 2025 at Siam Paragon

OWNDAYS’ ‘Every Day is a Blessing’ collection – six designs inspired by Lord Ganesha – symbolises positive energy and confidence:

Gold – The Blessing of Wealth: Prosperity and fortune

Green – The Blessing of Creative Beginnings: Innovation and new ventures

Red – The Blessing of Might and Majesty: Power and the removal of obstacles

Purple – The Blessing of Great Compassion: Kindness and success

Blue – The Blessing of Fulfilled Success: Achievement of goals and ambitions

White – The Blessing of Rhetoric: Eloquence and effective communication

Mr Woo added: ‘We want this collection to symbolise new beginnings – for both our brand and our customers – reminding everyone that each day is an opportunity to see the world more clearly and move forward with confidence.’

Exclusive Activities Throughout the Celebration

Opening Showcase (16 October, 17:00-19:00): Featuring a contemporary dance performance ‘GRAIN TO GROWTH’ symbolising the power of growth, with appearances by Anntonia Porsild, Miss Universe Thailand 2023, and Mario Maurer, OWNDAYS Brand Ambassador.

Special Promotion: 10% discount on all frames with lenses or THB 1,000 off premium lenses.

Exclusive Giveaways and Activities: Free chocolates, Lucky Zen Garden Workshop, Face Analysis, Tarot Reading, and Personality Tests throughout the event.

Special Talk (19 October, 16:00-17:00): ‘Thai Beliefs in Lord Ganesha’ by Note Sarun Khungbunpot and Tor Jitraphan Hajjavanija.

This milestone marks another step forward for OWNDAYS Thailand in spreading inspiration, confidence, and heartfelt gratitude to all customers who have grown with the brand over the past decade.

After five years of operation, Line BK, a pioneering digital banking platform in Thailand, continues to post solid business momentum and remains confident in its competitiveness as virtual banks prepare their functions.

Rapid expansion

Line BK is a social banking platform collaboration between Kasikornbank (KBank) and Line Corporation, launched in October 2020 with an initial focus on digital lending under a personal loan licence.

Despite launching during the pandemic, when Thailand’s GDP contracted by 6.1%, Line BK achieved 1 million users just two months after its debut.

The company serves a broad customer base, including salaried employees, freelancers, and underbanked or underserved segments who often lack formal financial statements.

“Even during the pandemic, we continued to grow our business cautiously,” said Tana Pothikamjorn, chief executive at Kasikorn Line, which operates Line BK.

By October 2021, Line BK celebrated its first anniversary with 3.4 million users. Innovative financial products and strategic partnerships have played a crucial role in fuelling Line BK’s business growth.

During its third and fourth years of operation, in 2023 and 2024, the company expanded its user base to 6 million and 7 million, respectively.

However, this growth came amid Thailand’s economic slowdown and rising household debt, posing challenges to business operations.

“Many customers had to leave our platform due to weakened debt repayment capacity,” said Mr Tana.

“We also saw a significant increase in non-performing loans [NPLs], which required more time and effort to manage.”

Keys to success

In October 2025, as Line BK marks its fifth anniversary, the platform has grown its user base to 8 million despite ongoing economic headwinds.

The majority of users are Millennials (aged 29-44), accounting for 66% of total users, followed by Gen Z (aged 13-28) at 20%, Gen X (aged 45-60) 12%, and Baby Boomers (over 60) 2%.

For its digital loan services, he said Line BK serves 855,000 borrowers with an average monthly income of between 15,000 and 30,000 baht.

The average credit line per borrower is 43,000 baht, and this segment’s risk profile is typically higher than that of traditional bank customers, said Mr Tana.

As of the first half of 2025, Line BK’s total loans outstanding tallied 24.4 billion baht, up from 17.6 billion at the end of 2024.

The company aims to expand its loan portfolio to 30 billion baht by the end of this year while keeping NPLs below 3%, despite the sluggish economy and high household debt.

“On average, we receive around 10,000 loan applications a day, reflecting strong demand amid the economic slowdown,” he said.

“We only approve about 1,000 applications or 10% daily, in line with our small scale of operations and focus on maintaining asset quality.”

Although the company has continued to expand its business and manage bad debt effectively, Mr Tana said Line BK recognises the need to strengthen its capabilities and operations in all areas — particularly in risk management, including debt collection and NPL control — to ensure long-term business sustainability.

He said the company is planning to introduce new innovative features to enhance user convenience in 2026.

The platform offers a range of financial products and services, including loans, debit cards, insurance, payments and fund transfers. Line BK also integrates with Line and KBank, delivering a more seamless and connected financial experience to users.

Ready to face new rivals

Mr Tana said Line BK has operated as a virtual bank for five years, gaining valuable experience through both favourable and challenging periods, particularly in terms of NPL management.

The company’s operations have stabilised and are expected to continue growing next year, he said.

With support from KBank, Line BK is not required to acquire deposits in the same way as the first batch of virtual banks. As a result, the company holds a competitive advantage because the cost of deposit acquisition is relatively high.

With registered capital of 10 billion baht, Line BK is well-positioned to sustain its business operations over several years, said Mr Tana.

“We are confident in our capabilities and competitiveness when new virtual banks start operations next year, even amid intensifying competition and a weaker economy,” he said.

On June 19, the Bank of Thailand announced the three successful applicants for the country’s first batch of virtual banks.

The winners are required to commence business operations within one year from the date of the Finance Ministry’s approval, which was June 19. Each licence requires initial registered capital of 5 billion baht.

The winners are: ACM Holding Co (TrueMoney), backed by the Charoen Pokphand Group; Krungthai Bank, collaborating with Advanced Info Service Plc and PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc; and the SCB X consortium, comprising SCB X (the holding company of Siam Commercial Bank), KakaoBank (South Korea’s largest digital bank), and WeBank (a global digital bank known for its advanced technology).

The ruling Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) says it is not opposed to a member of another party chairing the parliamentary committee vetting constitutional amendment drafts, as the opposition Pheu Thai Party prepares to nominate Chusak Sirinil for the post when the panel meets later on Monday.

BJT list MP Korawee Prisananantakul, a member of the House-Senate joint committee on constitutional amendments, said on Sunday the committee will fill up key positions and set a working schedule in its first meeting on Monday.

While BJT has yet to decide whether it will nominate a candidate for committee chair, Mr Korawee said the party has no issue if an MP from another party assumes the post.

“There are several qualified candidates, such as Chusak Sirinil or Cholnan Srikaew from Pheu Thai who are well-versed in legal matters,” Mr Korawee said.

However, since the charter draft proposed by the People’s Party has been picked as the core reference for the amendment effort, he said appointing a chairman from that party would be more appropriate.

“If the BJT’s version had been selected as the main draft, we would have proposed someone from our side — such as Paradorn Prisananantakul — as chair,” he said.

“But since it’s not our draft, we don’t mind if the chair comes from another party. What’s important is maintaining a constructive atmosphere within the committee.”

On concerns that the committee might touch on chapters 1 and 2 of the constitution — which cover the state’s fundamental principles and the monarchy — Mr Korawee said the issue should be discussed by the committee.

“Our draft explicitly stated those chapters would not be amended,” he said, noting that Pheu Thai had shown no signs of disagreement on this point.

“If we want genuine progress in amending the constitution, we should avoid anything that could lead to its failure.”

Key Pheu Thai member and Nan MP, Cholnan Srikaew defended the party’s decision to nominate Mr Chusak.

“He is highly qualified and has long experience in constitutional work. However, the final decision rests with the committee,” said Dr Cholnan, a former Pheu Thai leader.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) to strengthen coordination across agencies to combat online scams and call centre fraud.

Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said the directive was issued during Isoc’s first board meeting, held on Monday at its Bangkok headquarters.

Mr Anutin called for tougher defences against scammers, improved real-time intelligence sharing, and tighter cross-border cooperation to prevent Thailand from being used as a base or transit point for cybercrime.

The meeting also endorsed four strategic plans for Isoc’s southern operations, covering counter-narcotics, anti-terrorism and scam suppression.

Army spokesman Maj Gen Thammanoon Maisonti said Mr Anutin stressed the need for proactive intelligence to detect criminal activity and integrate data from security and financial agencies to dismantle scam networks.

Meanwhile, Thai delegates at the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva urged stronger global cooperation against cybercrime.

Led by House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, the Thai team proposed an urgent motion on transnational crime during the Asia-Pacific Group meeting at the Centre International de Conférences Genève.

Rangsiman Rome, a People’s Party MP, presented the proposal, warning that online scams had become a global menace undermining economies and exploiting the vulnerable.

Co-drafted by Thailand, China and Cambodia, the proposal calls for enhanced data-sharing, coordinated law enforcement, and mutual legal assistance to track and recover assets linked to cybercriminals.

Delegates also discussed holding digital platforms accountable for enabling fraud. The Asia-Pacific Group recommended Thailand’s initiative for adoption as an emergency resolution at today’s IPU plenary session.

However, Cambodia opposed the proposal, arguing it did not align with the assembly’s main theme of maintaining humanitarian standards amid global crises.

The Social Security Office (SSO) is once again at the centre of an embarrassing controversy following a recent online public hearing on reform of the pension formula for insured workers under Sections 33 and 39 of the Social Security Act.

The public consultation, held through the government’s online platforms, was meant to gather opinions from contributors about how to ensure fairness and the long-term sustainability of the nation’s largest welfare fund.

Instead, it was marred by an apparent surge of automated “bot” responses over several days, raising suspicions that certain groups may have attempted to sway the outcome. Such interference is not merely a technical glitch; it is a disgrace.

The SSO’s pension reform is a matter of national significance, with profound consequences for the 24.6 million insured workers and the 2.65-trillion-baht funding that supports them. The reform aims to address structural weaknesses that, if left unchecked, could cause the pension system to collapse within the next three decades as Thailand’s ageing population expands and payout obligations outstrip contributions.

The proposed reform centres around adopting a new “CARE” formula to replace an outdated system that calculates pensions based on the salary in the final 60 months of work. Under the current structure, workers whose income declines before retirement, or those who shift from formal employment (covered under Section 33) to voluntary coverage (under Section 39), are unfairly penalised. The new system would instead use adjusted lifetime average earnings to calculate pensions more accurately, ensuring greater equity and alignment with real income levels.

While the CARE model may reduce benefits for a small group of contributors whose earnings rose sharply in their final working years, it will improve fairness across the system as a whole. This is a necessary step to preserve confidence in a fund that millions of Thais rely upon for their future.

Yet pension formula reform alone will not save the Social Security Fund. The root of the problem lies in governance and transparency. In recent months, questions have emerged over the SSO’s budget allocations, procurement practices and investment management. There are reports about outsiders being invited to board meetings on key investment strategies. Such issues have undermined trust among members who already hesitate to increase their contributions. The bot incident is therefore symbolic of a broader malaise: a system vulnerable to manipulation, both technical and institutional. It underscores why reforming the formula must go hand-in-hand with a root-and-branch overhaul of management within the SSO itself.

Thailand’s largest public fund cannot afford to be seen as opaque, complacent or compromised. Rebuilding public trust through genuine accountability and open governance must form the foundation of any meaningful reform. Only then can the SSO truly safeguard the financial security of workers, not just for the next 30 years but for generations to come.

The government should use this opportunity to review the broader social protection system. Pension reform must reflect a genuine social contract between the state and citizens. The SSO’s credibility will depend on its willingness to confront technical and ethical challenges transparently, showing that public welfare, not political interest, is its guiding principle.