Category: The Bangkok Post

Re: “No CO2 miracle”, (PostBag, Oct 8).

I’m at a bit of a loss to understand Michael Setter’s assumption that I don’t eat my greens, but I have to acknowledge the rest of his letter makes more sense than I usually give him credit for. It seems that my long-held conviction that photosynthesis operates at a rate determined by available moisture and sunlight, and is not related to the atmospheric concentration of CO2, is wrong.

I apologise to Anna Aarts for my somewhat haughty dismissal of her factually correct science in this regard, though I doubt she has fled the country in high dudgeon as Khun Michael fears.

In the interest of maintaining perspective however, we have to keep in mind the apparent ” greening” of the planet recorded by satellites is neither a wave of new vegetation in previously barren areas nor entirely a result of the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere.

While the science suggests existing vegetation may proliferate more quickly because there is more available CO2 in the air, some of the new “greenery” recorded from space, as in the deserts of China and India, is due to the deliberate planting of large areas of trees specifically to prevent those arid areas from spreading.

Before we get too warm and mushy about our good friend CO2, it is also worth noting that the Sahara, Kalahari, Simpson and Gobi deserts, among many others, continue to expand in area, due in part to the global warming caused by man-made carbon dioxide.

It’s a fascinating topic and much has happened since I last sat in a biology class. For those interested in the topic, or keen to follow it further, Google has a lot to offer.

Ray Ban

Living room horror

Re: “A deadly folly”, (PostBag, Oct 14) and “PM hails successful drug suppression campaign”, (BP, Oct 4).

I read Felix Qui’s comments regarding our former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and I could not disagree more, because Mr Qui is naive.

About 10 months ago (and there are formal reports with Thai authorities to verify what I am reporting is true, along with CCTV recordings), two teenagers who were strung out on some kind of narcotic drugs got into my house around 5am.

It ended okay because I used self-defence only and settled the matter with their parents.

My point to Mr Qui is: it’s nice to armchair quarterback and tell our former PM what he should have done, but even if his actions were a touch amateur, his heart was in the right place. He knew it is a very different matter once that kind of mind-bending, narcotic evil is standing in your home, so he tried to make it better. Well done to the prime minister.

Jason A Jellison

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) looks set to begin demolition of the Samsen police station building in Dusit district on Oct 22, as part of efforts to restore the surface of a section of Samsen Road, which subsided on Sept 24.

The BMA on Thursday reported progress in repairing the road subsidence in front of Vajira Hospital.

The contractor had filled around 5,330 cubic metres of sand between Tuesday and Thursday, bringing the current surface to about 2.65 metres below the original road level. Debris had also been cleared from the site.

Continuous inspections and structural assessments are being conducted on the police station, adjacent police flats and surrounding buildings to ensure maximum safety.

Bangkok deputy governor Wisanu Subsompon said after inspecting the site on Wednesday evening that the underground conditions have stabilised and that the next step was to raise the surface with coarse sand by about two more metres before proceeding with the demolition of the police station building.

Once completed, the restoration of the road surface will commence, starting with the entrance to Vajira Hospital’s parking area. This phase is expected to take several months.

The demolition of the police station may begin on Oct 22, said the deputy governor. The contractor would take around four to five days to bring the structure down, and another week to clear the debris.

Heavy rainfall in recent days has caused water to accumulate in the subsidence area, which officials view as a positive indicator, confirming that water is not leaking into the underground tunnel.

‘We are proceeding step by step. Doing everything at once would be dangerous. Safety must remain our top priority, as Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has consistently emphasised,’ said the deputy governor.

Joining the site inspection were Suriya Raviwan, director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation; Prapas Luangsirinapa, director of the Department of Public Works; Gardphajon Udomdhammabhakdi, governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA); Waranya Leelaburanapong, director of Dusit district office, and other relevant officials.

The sinkhole formed on Samsen Road in the morning of Sept 24 above an underground railway station under construction for the Purple Line extension route of the MRTA. The state enterprise blamed the subsidence on the water saturated, soft soil in the surrounding area.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Trat Office recently kicked off the tourist season across Koh Chang, Koh Kut, and Koh Mak, targeting a strong rebound amid Thai-Cambodian border tensions.

Acting Sub Lt Korakot Opas, director of the TAT Trat Office, said on Wednesday the prime season announcements came after the province’s tourism dropped as a result of the border tensions.

The clashes on the border led to a travel ban in Trat and the other provinces at the border, and the declaration of martial law in the province over a span of 4-5 months.

Both affected tourists’ enthusiasm for visiting Trat and its famous islands, especially visitors from the European market, who cancelled their trips to Koh Chang, resulting in the province losing at least 700 million baht in revenue.

The TAT Trat Office is working with the Provincial Tourism Council, the Trat Wellness Association, the Provincial Chamber of Commerce, and tourism business alliance networks to perk things up.

“TAT expects a total of 700,000 tourists will have visited Trat from last October to the end of this year, generating well over six billion baht of circulating income,” Mr Korakot said.

Meanwhile, the TAT said it would promote the “Kaew Deaw Thieaw Trat (Travel Trat in One Reusable Glass)” campaign to promote waste reduction in some tourist destinations.

The campaign, set to expand into various editions in Koh Chang, Koh Kut, and Koh Mak, encourages visitors to use reusable glasses and straws to receive special promotions from registered places.

Mr Korakot said the campaign would reduce waste on the islands while promoting quality visitors.

Koh Mak, he said, will be promoted as a low-carbon destination by offering a discount on electric golf cart rentals, allowing visitors to pay only 800 baht for one day’s use of the cars.

Koh Kut also will be promoted as a nature and wellness destination, while Koh Chang will be promoted with sport tourism with its Bikini Run on Nov 22.

The MV Doulos Hope, an international floating book fair, has docked at Chuk Samet Port in Sattahip Naval Base.

VAdm Panumas Thanapanich, Commander of Sattahip Naval Base, presided over the opening ceremony on Tuesday.

The event was attended by Captain Jonathan Birdsall, Director Nidhin Sebastian, and a multinational crew, marking the ship’s visit to Thailand.

The MV Doulos Hope carries more than 2,000 education and cultural titles across various fields, offering resources aimed at spreading knowledge, hope, and inspiration worldwide, observers say.

The vessel is staffed by volunteers from over 35 countries who share learning experiences and promote cultural exchange wherever the ship docks.

The exhibition is open to the public until Nov 2, from 10am to 5.30pm from Tuesdays to Sundays. Admission is 20 baht for adults, while children under 12 and seniors over 65 may enter for free.

Denis Puric has warned Johan Ghazali he would ‘whup his ass in Malaysia’ – but only if ONE Championship makes it worth his while.

The 40-year-old ‘Bosnian Menace’ made the comments in an interview with the Bangkok Post after being asked about Ghazali’s recent social media post in which the teenage Malaysian fighter called himself the ‘pioneer’ of his country’s combat sports scene.

‘To the entire combat sports community in Malaysia, I just want to say you’re welcome,’ Ghazali had written, adding that without his ‘genius marketing’ and ‘crazy fighting style’, Muay Thai in Malaysia ‘would be nowhere near’ where it is today.

Puric couldn’t resist laughing when told about the post.

‘This guy is delusional,’ he said from Canada, where he is preparing to face Takeru Segawa at ONE 173 in Tokyo on November 16. ‘That fight does nothing for me.

‘If I win, they’ll say, ‘You beat a kid.’ If I lose, they’ll say, ‘You got beat by a kid.’ It just doesn’t make sense for me.

‘But if they pay me a lot of money, sure – I’ll give this boy a good beating. Pay me a good amount in Malaysia and I’ll whup his ass in his hometown and shut all his people up. They’re crazy, these people.’

The back-and-forth between the pair has simmered for months, with Ghazali – also of American heritage and still in his teens – repeatedly calling for a fight with Puric.

While the young knockout artist has quickly become one of Malaysia’s biggest sports stars, Puric said he believes the attention has gone to his head.

‘He’s not a bad fighter, but he’s also not a great fighter,’ Puric said. ‘One day he might be – if he just gets out of his own head. Get your head out of your ass and be humble. You don’t have to do all this.’

Despite the sharp words, Puric insisted there was no bad blood, only business.

‘I don’t hate anybody. I love everybody,’ he said. ‘But for the money I’m getting right now, that fight doesn’t make sense in any way. If it makes dollars, it makes ‘cents’.’

Puric, who went the distance with Rodtang Jitmuangnon last year, met Ghazali last month at the 2025 IFMA Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi, where both were coaching. They were cordial to each other and posed for pictures, and Puric even offered to spar him.

‘I told him, ‘Let’s put some shin guards on and go,” he said. ‘If he got the best of me, I might give him that opportunity to fight.’

For now, Puric’s focus remains on Takeru and a potential run at the flyweight kickboxing title. But if ONE sees enough value in a Malaysia homecoming, he’s ready to turn the heat up.

‘Hey, whatever floats his boat,’ Puric said. ‘He’s famous there, they do parades for him. I’m happy for him – but if they pay me right, I’ll shut him up.’

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra remains eligible to seek a royal pardon as no prior petition has been submitted on his behalf, Deputy Prime Minister Borwornsak Uwanno said on Thursday.

His comment countered earlier views by legal experts who had ruled out Thaksin’s eligibility.

Mr Borwornsak, who oversees legal affairs, said that under Section 259 of the Criminal Code, all convicted prisoners have the legal right to seek a royal pardon. The right is limited only if a previous petition has been rejected, in which case Section 264 stipulates that a new request cannot be submitted until two years have passed.

He added that the justice minister (Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat) is responsible for forwarding such a petition through the Secretariat of the Cabinet to the Royal Household Bureau.

The Privy Council then offers its opinion before the matter is presented to His Majesty the King, whose royal discretion is final under Section 179 of the constitution.

Mr Borwornsak said there are two types of pardons – individual royal pardons and general pardons issued on special occasions. Both fall entirely under the royal prerogative and cannot be interfered with by any branch of government.

When asked whether the process in Thaksin’s case might be interrupted or blocked, Mr Borwornsak reiterated that ‘it is the legal right of every prisoner’ to seek clemency. The only limitation, he said, applies to those sentenced to death, who may submit only one petition.

At Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok, Thaksin’s ex-wife Khunying Potjaman Damapong, accompanied by Thaksin’s lawyer Winyat Chartmontree, visited him at 9am on Thursday. She briefly told reporters that Thaksin ‘looked fine, just a little unwell’ before leaving the prison compound.

Mr Winyat declined to comment on reports that the justice minister had forwarded a second petition on Thaksin’s behalf, saying the matter rests entirely under royal discretion.

Mr Borwornsak said no such petition has to date been rejected. On Aug 31, 2023, a royal command granted Thaksin a pardon, reducing his total prison term to one year.

The Supreme Court ordered the 76-year-old billionaire to serve the one-year imprisonment term handed down two years ago, after finding that his six-month stay in a luxury hospital ward did not meet the conditions of his sentence.

The court rejected Thaksin’s claims of illness that had allowed him to stay at Police General Hospital from the night of his return to Thailand in August 2023 until his parole in early 2024.

Unknown factions are trying to sabotage public hearings on a new pension formula that could benefit many insured workers nationwide, according to the The Progressive Social Security Group, attached to the opposition People’s Party.

Irregularities had been detected during the online consultation process on law.go.th, a government platform used to receive public feedback on policy proposals, said the group, led by social security board member Sustarum Thammaboosadee, along with People’s Party MPs Rukchanok Srinork and Sahassawat Kumkong.

Mr Sustarum said the proposed formula developed since 2020 and approved in principle by the Social Security Board in March 2025, would raise pensions by an average of 10% for about 570,000 current recipients out of 800,000 nationwide.

Another three million people set to retire within the next decade would see an average increase of around 7%, he added.

However, Mr Sustarum said an unusual surge in online traffic suggested possible interference designed to derail the process.

‘Throughout the consultation, the ratio of support had consistently been around 62% in favour versus 38% opposed, with roughly 10 submissions per hour,’ Mr Sustarum said.

‘But between Oct 11 and 12, we saw traffic spike to over 900 participants per hour – about 900 times higher than normal – raising concerns that bot activity or information operations (IOs) were deployed to manipulate the outcome.’

He accused unnamed political groups of trying to block the reform because they saw it as a product of the Progressive Social Security Group.

‘Regardless of which side they belong to, sabotaging a pension reform through dishonest means is an act of cruelty against 570,000 working-class Thais who depend on this system,’ he said.

Ms Rukchanok said the new pension scheme would benefit all insured workers, particularly those under Section 39 of the Social Security Act, denying claims that it would reduce benefits for Section 33 contributors.

Ms Rukchanok urged the public to participate in the online hearing before it closes on Oct 17.

‘You may dislike us, but please don’t hurt millions of insured workers just because of politics,’ she said.

‘Some retirees who should be receiving 4,000 to 5,000 baht a month are currently getting less than 2,000. This reform won’t make them rich, but it will help them breathe easier.’

Thai star Rattanon Wannasrichan will begin his title defence as the US$1 million (approx 32 million baht) Macao Open tees off today at the scenic Macau Golf and Country Club.

The defending champion is in great form after winning his third Asian Tour title just last month in Taiwan. Rattanon aims to become just the second player to defend his title in the tournament’s 22-year history, a feat only achieved by Chinese golf legend Zhang Lianwei, a fan favourite who will also play this week.

Rattanon will face a world-class field as some of the biggest names in world golf have arrived in Macao for the 22nd edition of the prestigious tournament.

“I’m very happy to return to the tournament. It was an incredible experience here last year and I have some momentum coming in, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on my performance. I’m just going to try to enjoy this tournament as much as I can,” said Rattanon.

Among the favourites competing for the coveted Macao Open 2025 title is former world No.1 Lee Westwood, whose Macao journey will come full circle this week. After winning the tournament’s second edition in 1999, Westwood has returned in 2025.

“It’s nice to be back in Asia and Macao. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. I played and won in 1999, and a lot has changed in Macao since then — and a lot has changed with me as well,” said Westwood, who is returning alongside his son Samuel Westwood, an emerging professional making his Macao Open debut this week.

Two-time PGA Tour winner Im Sung-Jae from South Korea is also excited to make his Macao Open debut: “It’s my first time in Macao and I drove over from Hong Kong. It was an incredible sight coming in to see the lights of the city. It’s so vibrant here. I feel very comfortable and hopefully that feeling will continue. I hope to play well this week,” said the Korean.

An impressive contingent of Chinese players has also gathered for the tournament. Notable among them are China’s top-ranked golfer Li Haotong and Hong Kong’s leading player and the defending 2023 Asian Games gold medallist (individual) Taichi Kho. They highlight an impressive list of established and emerging Chinese stars appearing in the event.

“I’m super excited to be here this week. It’s a stellar field, the course looks in fantastic shape, and the weather is holding up. The Macao Open is a staple event on the Asian Tour with a lot of tradition, and I’m looking forward to adding to that,” said Kho, who finished tied for sixth on his Macao Open debut in 2023.

Chinese golf legend Liang Wenchong, up-and-coming 20-year-old ace Ding Wenyi, and another Hong Kong professional and Asian Games bronze medallist (men’s team golf event) Matthew Cheung are also in the field, while emerging local talent Kelvin Si Ngai will fly the flag for Macao this week.

The tournament will also feature reigning Asian Tour 2024 Order of Merit winner John Catlin and Pavit Tangkamolprasert, the Macao Open 2016 champion.

Central Group led over 30 executives on an immersive learning trip under the Executive Development Program (EDP) Batch 6 to Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the world’s foremost centres of innovation and technology.

The executives were from Central Retail Corporation Plc, Central Pattana Plc and Central Plaza Hotel Plc.

The study programme covered multiple dimensions, ranging from retail technology and real estate innovation to robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), through visits to more than 10 leading global organisations including Huawei Technologies, DJI, Ubtech and Pudu.

The delegation also explored world-class mixed-use and retail developments including those developed by MixC, K11 Ecoast, Hongkong Land and Galaxy Group, all of which exemplify excellence in global real estate development.

Alisa Thasanon, head of executive development and compensation at Central Group, said the trip to Shenzhen and Hong Kong was not merely a study visit, but an opportunity for the executives to experience cutting-edge innovations and world-renowned business models firsthand.

The group believes the insights and inspiration gained from the experience will empower the leaders to leverage the strengths of each company within the group.

“This will help develop forward-looking strategies, deliver unique and memorable experiences for customers, reinforce the competitive edge and drive sustainable business growth,” she said.

The executives also joined a strategic workshop titled “Capturing Opportunities in the World of Twists and Turns”, designed and facilitated by Santitarn Sathirathai, a specialist in finance and economic development.

The session encouraged executives to reflect on key learnings, exchange perspectives and identify opportunities to apply new insights to the group’s businesses.

Topics included leveraging AI for personalised offerings through The 1’s robust database of over 22 million members, creating seamless online-to-offline (O2O) experiences and integrating robotics to enhance operational excellence.

All of these are aimed at elevating the customer journey and setting new standards for global retail and service experiences, Ms Alisa added.

She said Central Group is committed to investing in people development, fostering leaders who are agile, innovative and forward-thinking. This is a strategy to establish the group as an innovation-driven organisation equipped to compete on the global stage.

The government’s self-congratulation over Thailand retaining its Tier 2 ranking in the US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report is misplaced. Remaining at Tier 2 — for the fourth consecutive year — is not an achievement. It’s an alarm bell signalling that the country is standing still while crime spreads beneath its feet.

Yes, Thailand has stayed off the Tier 3 blacklist, unlike some of its neighbours. But the TIP Report makes clear that these are only partial gains. Forced labour and online scams — fuelled by deep-rooted corruption in Thai officialdom — remain a growing blind spot. Those words should sting.

Thailand continues to serve as a key transit hub for human traffickers and scam syndicates operating out of Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. These transnational crimes thrive because corruption runs deep from top to bottom.

Unlike in the past, these scamming empires are no longer run solely by criminal gangs relying on local mafiosi and warlords to traffic victims. Their masterminds have emerged from the underworld to rub shoulders with the rich and well-connected, with tentacles stretching into politics, the police, and business. They don’t just exploit people underground — they seek to expand their dark empires above ground.

In parliament last month, People’s Party MPs Rangsiman Rome and Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn warned that scam syndicates linked to networks in Cambodia have made inroads into the Thai economy — buying sizeable shares in strategic sectors and hobnobbing with local politicians and business elites. Such accusations might sound like a movie script. Sadly, the reality is far more sinister.

Last year, the US and UK imposed sanctions on Ly Yong Phat — one of Cambodia’s richest men and a leading member of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party — for his alleged involvement in forced labour, human trafficking, and online scams.

On Wednesday, the US government seized more than US$14 billion (around 454 billion baht) in bitcoin and charged the founder of a Cambodian business empire, Prince Group, with masterminding a forced-labour scam and money laundering.

Needless to say, if left unchecked, these syndicates will shape public policy and the economies of the countries in which they operate. To restore order, Thailand must strike at the roots, not the leaves. It must dismantle the networks — not just rescue the victims. A central anti-scam and anti-trafficking command centre should bring together all key agencies to share intelligence and act swiftly.

Following the money trail is essential — as is freezing assets, tracing cryptocurrency transactions, and prosecuting shell companies and front investors. Dirty money hidden behind suspicious luxury condos and so-called “foreign investments” must be exposed.

Most crucially, politicians and officials involved in these networks must be investigated. Without accountability at the top, every anti-trafficking measure is mere theatre. Internationally, to combat cybercrime and scam operations, Thailand should ratify the UN Cybercrime Convention and work closely with Interpol and other global agencies to target money laundering and financial crimes. Opening the country to dirty money and political collusion is national suicide. Thailand’s Tier 2 ranking masks a deeper systemic decay. The real test is not avoiding the blacklist — it’s proving that crime and corruption no longer run the country.