Category: The Bangkok Post

Leadership has always been about more than a title. Yet in today’s world of rapid change and constant uncertainty, the definition of leadership is being rewritten.

The people who truly move organisations forward are not those who rely on authority or seniority, but those who redefine what leadership means, day by day and decision by decision.

Lead with Agility, Not Playbooks

Markets can shift overnight, hybrid workplaces continue to reshape culture, and digital disruption has become the new normal. In this environment, the best leaders are those who adapt quickly, rally their people and find new paths forward even when the way is unclear.

Flexibility is now one of the most valuable leadership skills. It allows organisations to stay resilient when faced with unexpected challenges, and to seize opportunities before others even see them.

Quote to remember: ‘In 2025, flexibility is the new authority.’

EQ Over IQ

Technical expertise may open doors, but emotional intelligence (EQ) is what keeps teams engaged and inspired. In an age where technology can outperform humans in logic and data, what remains uniquely human is empathy. Teams want leaders who listen with intention, show respect and make people feel seen and valued.

Leaders who can manage emotions – their own and others’ – create trust. They know that difficult conversations, handled with honesty and care, strengthen relationships instead of breaking them.

Courageous Communication Builds Trust

In Thai culture, silence is often a sign of politeness. Yet in leadership, silence can lead to misunderstanding or loss of confidence. Effective leaders are those who speak openly and transparently, even when they do not have all the answers.

Saying, ‘I don’t know yet, but here is how we will figure it out together,’ demonstrates strength and humility. It invites collaboration and shows commitment to finding solutions rather than pretending to have them.

Quote to remember: ‘Courage builds credibility.’

Create Leaders, Not Followers

The ultimate measure of leadership in 2025 is not individual success, but the ability to build other leaders. Great leaders share ownership, invite participation and trust their teams to make meaningful decisions. They recognise that leadership is not about control, but about creating conditions where others can thrive.

When leaders invest in developing future successors, they secure not just today’s performance but tomorrow’s sustainability.

Quote to remember: ‘Great leaders do not grow followers. They grow more leaders.’

Leading Forward

Those who embrace adaptability, empathy, courage and empowerment will not just manage the future – they will define it. Leadership in 2025 is no longer about hierarchy; it is about humanity, connection and the ability to help others lead alongside you.

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 family in the pickup was transporting their mother, who was conscious and responsive but suffering from dizziness.

The hospital in Plai Phraya district issued a statement on Saturday to express condolences to the deceased and explain the incident, which took place on Thursday, Oct 16.

At 11.10pm, medical staff, stretcher personnel and security officers were actively providing emergency care to a male patient suffering from acute myocardial infarction and respiratory failure, which required intubation, the statement said.

The patient was prepared for transfer to Krabi Hospital, which is a referral facility with greater treatment capacity.

‘At 11.15pm, a brown Toyota pickup truck was parked closely behind the designated ambulance, blocking its rear door,’ it said. ‘The vehicle was transporting another woman patient, 69.’

The relatives wheeled her into the emergency room and encountered the head nurse, who was preparing documents and working on the transfer of the critical patient, the hospital said.

The nurse explained the situation to the relatives and asked them to wait for a moment, providing a bed for the patient and taking notes about her medical history. ‘However, they complained with loud voices about the lack of immediate attention for their mother,’ the hospital’s statement said. (Story continues below)

When the critical patient was about to board the ambulance, staff discovered the truck was still obstructing their way. They requested the driver to move the vehicle, but he did not cooperate. ‘The truck owner continued to angrily complain about the lack of service,’ the hospital said.

‘The family of the critical patient then went on their knees in tears, pleading with the driver to move the truck.’

Despite their pleas, the other party continued to argue with staff for some time before eventually moving the vehicle, allowing the transportation to Krabi Hospital, the statement said.

However, the critical patient, who was the father of the family, later passed away on the same night. For the patient transported in the pickup, doctors provided emergency care until her condition improved and prescribed medication for home use.

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, identified as Pattaraporn Panich, 29, said she believed that if the transfer had been a bit faster, her father might have survived as every minute is critical for a heart disease patient.

The family is not pursuing any legal action at this time and will decide whether to do so after the father’s funeral. Plai Phraya Hospital director Dr Natthapong Doo-Ngam shared with Thairath that the hospital has assigned its legal team to gather evidence and consider reporting to police on Monday. The details have not yet been finalised, he said.

It was found that the truck driver was an employee of Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc.

‘After reviewing the surrounding facts, the company determined that the employee’s behaviour did not align with the organisation’s values and operational principles,” the company said in a statement issued on Sunday. “Therefore, the company has decided to stop employing the individual involved.”

Thailand’s men’s team have moved up to No.96 in the Fifa world ranking this month following their two straight victories in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.

The world governing body Fifa officially announced the world rankings for men’s football teams for October 2025, with Thailand moving up to the 96th spot and becoming the No.15 team of Asia.

The War Elephants had been ranked No.101 in the month of September.

In the two AFC Asian Cup qualifying round matches against Taiwan, Thailand recorded a 2-0 home victory before running riot in Taipei and routing the same opponents 6-1.

Thailand had 1,222.2 points at the start of October and added 13.16 more points to their tally for a total of 1,235.36 points, which proved good enough to help them move up five places in the Fifa world rankings.

After this, Thailand will have a friendly game with Singapore during the next month Fifa day at Thammasat Stadium on Nov 13 before playing their fifth Asian Cup qualifying round Group D match with Sri Lanka, spotted at No.193 in the Fifa rankings, at Colombo Race Course Stadium in Sri Lanka on Nov 18.

As Thailand moves closer to a likely general election in March 2026, political currents are shifting fast.

The Pheu Thai Party — once the undisputed electoral powerhouse — now faces existential questions: Can it win without the Shinawatra family? What if its prime ministerial candidates include Chartthaipattana leader Varawut Silpa-archa? And is the party looking at a relatively disappointing third spot in the next polls?

Amid waning popularity, party defections, and the aftermath of last year’s political turbulence, Pheu Thai is struggling to redefine itself. The debate over whether to field a prime ministerial candidate from outside the Shinawatra family has resurfaced, underscoring a deeper identity crisis within the party.

Fading brand

Pheu Thai’s dominance, inherited from the Thai Rak Thai and People Power parties founded by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has long rested on the Shinawatra name.

But since Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra was removed from the premiership following a Constitutional Court ruling over her audio conversation with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen, the party’s popularity has tumbled.

Several MPs have defected to rival parties, including Bhumjaithai and Klatham, raising fears of an erosion of its grassroots network. In response, reports have emerged that Pheu Thai is exploring ways to rejuvenate its image — possibly by nominating a non-Shinawatra as its next prime ministerial candidate.

One name gaining traction is Mr Varawut, an heir to the Silpa-archa political dynasty long dominant in Suphan Buri.

Talk emerged of a merger or an even tighter alliance between Pheu Thai and Chartthaipattana, though both sides deny that any deal had been reached.

A Chartthaipattana source admitted “informal and exploratory” discussions were underway between the parties, saying smaller parties like Chartthaipattana may struggle to survive under the next electoral system, which favours larger blocs.

“If we move as a package under Pheu Thai, it could protect our MPs from being poached and help us survive better,” the source said.

However, the source said such a move would not be easy: “We’ve been together for decades. It would be a loss, but politics today is unpredictable — we must know when to bend.”

Balancing act

Stithorn Thananithichot, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, believes Pheu Thai’s next prime ministerial candidate lineup will be a balancing act between insiders and outsiders.

“They will likely float both a Shinawatra and an outsider first,” he said. “Whichever name gains stronger momentum closer to the election will be pushed forward.”

He predicts Pheu Thai will not win the election outright but could still play a pivotal role in coalition-building. “If the party chooses Mr Varawut, that will make cooperation with Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party easier, as he’s viewed as a centrist,” Mr Stithorn said.

“But if by some chance Pheu Thai finishes first, they may revert to a Shinawatra family member.”

Mr Stithorn also mentioned other possible names such as Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Pheu Thai’s election director who is also known as the party’s financier, or Natthapong Khunakornwong, husband of Pintongta Shinawatra, Thaksin’s eldest daughter, representing a “new generation” face for the party.

But in his view, “at least one Shinawatra name must appear” among the three candidates Pheu Thai traditionally registers — as a symbolic anchor to reassure its loyal base.

“Without a Shinawatra on the list, people might think the dynasty has lost its influence or legitimacy,” he said.

Middle-ground candidate

Supporters of Mr Varawut argue that his image as a pragmatic and moderate politician could help Pheu Thai regain credibility among centrist voters disillusioned by partisan polarisation. His long-standing ties with Suphan Buri province and the legacy of his late father, Banharn Silpa-archa, give him name recognition and political gravitas.

If Pheu Thai were to nominate Mr Varawut as prime minister, Mr Stithorn said it could yield strategic benefits: “He could attract moderate voters and open the door for a coalition with both sides of the aisle. Even if Pheu Thai finishes third, it would still be well-positioned to join any government.”

Still, the risks are substantial. Aligning too closely with Pheu Thai could alienate Mr Varawut’s traditional base, while the move may not fully convince sceptical voters that the party has truly changed.

Control lies with Thaksin

For some academics, however, the debate over insiders versus outsiders is little more than political theatre.

Olarn Thinbangtieo, a political scientist at Burapha University, argues the Shinawatra family will continue to dominate Pheu Thai’s inner workings regardless of who fronts the campaign.

“Pheu Thai functions more like a political corporation than a conventional party,” he said. “Its financiers and patrons act as major shareholders, while politicians operate like employees accountable to them.”

Mr Olarn contends the party’s real problem is structural: “Even if they bring in an outsider as prime ministerial candidate, it would only serve to deceive the public into thinking that Thaksin has stepped back. In reality, control remains with the same people.”

He adds the Shinawatra name remains both an asset and a burden. “The family is still a powerful brand. Many Thais still love and admire Thaksin. But that makes it difficult to reform — if they stay too close to the brand, they can’t modernise; if they move away, they lose identity.”

Mr Olarn also questions whether any credible outsider would want the job under such conditions.

“To survive in that structure, a candidate must be loyal, obedient, and ready to take orders,” he said. “The perfect candidate would be well-educated, articulate, and politically presentable — but not independent-minded. Intelligent people won’t last in such an environment.”

That dilemma underscores the paradox at the heart of Pheu Thai’s renewal project: any outsider capable of projecting reform would likely demand autonomy — something the party’s internal hierarchy may not allow.

Third place, first choice

Mr Stithorn, meanwhile, projects Pheu Thai to finish third or fourth in the upcoming poll, behind the opposition People’s Party and BJT. A newer centrist group, Klatham, could rival it for third place. Still, a tally of 60-70 seats would make Pheu Thai a decisive player in coalition negotiations.

“The advantage of being third,” Mr Stithorn said, “is flexibility — they can form a government with either side.”

In that sense, the leadership question becomes less about ideology and more about optics: which candidate helps Pheu Thai appear palatable across the spectrum? A “neutral” face like Mr Varawut, analysts suggest, might serve that function better than another Shinawatra.

At its core, Pheu Thai’s predicament is one of identity and control. The party owes its existence to the Shinawatra legacy, yet that same legacy limits its ability to reinvent itself.

While Thaksin’s populist economic policies — from universal healthcare to microcredit schemes — built its loyal base, younger voters increasingly view the brand as dated and dynastic.

Efforts to turn a new leaf under Ms Paetongtarn’s leadership were cut short by her removal as premier, leaving a vacuum of credibility and coherence. Attempts to repackage the party with new faces may help cosmetically, but without genuine decentralisation of power, analysts warn, the transformation will remain superficial.

Mr Olarn puts it bluntly: “Pheu Thai’s biggest contradiction is that it wants to look democratic but functions autocratically. It’s trapped between being a political movement and a business enterprise.”

Political DNA

Despite these challenges, few believe the Shinawatra influence will vanish soon. The family remains embedded in Thailand’s political DNA. Even after years of exile and controversy, Thaksin continues to command loyalty across several constituencies in the North and Northeast.

His return to Thailand from exile two years ago, followed by a dramatic pardon and parole of his jail sentence, reignited old emotions — both admiration and resentment.

For many voters, Pheu Thai without the Shinawatras is unthinkable. For others, it’s the only way forward, according to analysts.

Kunlavut Vitidsarn bowed out of the US$950,000 Denmark Open on Friday after losing to Viktor Axelsen in the quarter-finals.

Third seed Kunlavut went down 21-13, 12-21, 18-21 in an hour and 11 minutes as Odense native Axelsen won the first meeting since their Olympic final at Paris 2024.

Axelsen, who had back surgery in April, only made his comeback at a tournament in Hong Kong a month ago.

Kunlavut made a strong start and took a 4-0 lead but Axelsen gradually clawed his way back into the game.

However, when the Dane seemed to have things under control, Kunlavut stepped up and won 10 straight points to take the first game.

Axelsen was fast off the block in the second game. The two-time Olympic champion was ahead 11-4 and never looked back as the match went to a deciding third.

Kunlavut played some superb badminton in the third and pushed Axelsen relentlessly but the Dane often ended up winning points when he otherwise looked to be outplayed.

Both players looked exhausted towards the end, but with enormous backing from the passionate Odense crowd, Axelsen found the strength to pull through and earn his ticket to the semi-final of the Super 750 event. agencies

A Chinese man was injured after accidentally falling from the third floor of a hotel early Sunday morning.

Rescue workers were alerted to the incident at a hotel near Balihai headland around 4.40am. Upon arrival, they found a Chinese man with injuries to his leg, arm and body. He was given first aid at the scene before being taken to a local hospital.

Natthapol Khampard, 38, a hotel employee, said the Chinese man was not a guest. He appeared terrified, ran into the hotel, rushed to the third floor, climbed onto a balcony, tried to evade capture and then fell to the ground.

Hotel security guard Wichai Phuddee, 59, said the man had arrived in a white car with a Thai woman. According to her, the man had earlier been drinking with friends and there had been no argument between them.

The woman later left the hotel in the same car without checking on the injured man, the guard said. Pattaya police are investigating the incident.

More than 120,000 shops across Thailand have registered to join the government’s ‘Khon La Khrueng Plus’ co-payment scheme ahead of public registration next week, officials said on Sunday.

Deputy government spokeswoman Airin Phanrit said 123,960 retailers had signed up between Oct 15-17, including 72,000 previously registered stores and 51,000 new ones. Another 98,000 are in the process of completing registration.

The scheme allows small shops to share payment costs with the government, aiming to boost local spending. Consumer registration runs from Oct 20-26 via the Paotang mobile app, with spending permitted from Oct 29 to Dec 31.

Ms Airin warned people to beware of scam messages and fake registration links sent by fraudsters posing as government representatives.

‘The government never sends registration links via SMS or social media,’ she said, adding that citizens should only use official applications – Paotang for consumers and Thung Ngern for merchants.

Cyber police urged the public not to share personal information such as ID numbers, bank details, PINs or OTP codes, and to verify official pages. Government agencies and banks will never request such data or ask for money transfers, officials stressed.

Wittayakorn Maneenet, director-general of the Department of Internal Trade (DIT), said on Sunday more than 80,000 ‘Blue Flag’ government-affiliated shops – about 60% of the total network – had already applied to participate. The number is expected to exceed 100,000 before the scheme starts.

‘The department will inspect participating shops next week to ensure readiness. Detailed figures by province are expected on Oct 20, once Krungthai Bank completes data compilation,’ Mr Wittayakorn said.

Corrupt officials and Thai nominees are under scrutiny amid probes into foreign investors exploiting legal loopholes related to business operations and land ownership on Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, the governor says.

Residents and entrepreneurs have complained about certain Israeli tourists and business operators engaging in inappropriate behaviour and running illegal enterprises. The backlash prompted Surat Thani governor Theerut Supawiboonphol to convene an urgent meeting. He said two special task forces have made progress in their investigations.

The first unit focuses on verifying the legality of foreigners’ entry into the country, with offenders facing immediate prosecution. The second is investigating land ownership, construction, and business activities involving foreign nationals.

Mr Theerut said some foreigners enter Thailand as tourists but secretly conduct business by exploiting legal loopholes or using Thai nominees.

Such practices, he said, damage the country’s tourism image, displace local livelihoods, and cause financial leakage from the local economy.

The governor said he has instructed officials to take decisive action against both Thai nationals and state officers found to be aiding illegal foreign enterprises.

While stressing that most foreign visitors comply with the law and are welcome, Mr Theerut urged agencies to swiftly identify and take action against offenders, adding Surat Thani’s economy depends heavily on tourism.

Meanwhile, concerns have escalated after residents reported the construction of a luxury villa project comprising at least 20 buildings near a resort in Moo 3 on Koh Phangan.

Earlier inspections by the Fourth Army Region and the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 in 2016 found no violations.

However, a follow-up inspection last month revealed that at least five structures had been built within a national forest reserve. Officials are now preparing to verify the project’s boundaries.

Additionally, opposite the villa site, authorities discovered extensive land clearing and stone embankments which had been built to prevent landslides — possibly in preparation for further development.

Villagers claim that Israeli businessmen have been buying traditional farmland to develop what they describe as a potential Jewish settlement.

Flooding remained in 16 provinces on Sunday morning, mostly with unchanged levels and affecting mainly the Central Plain.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported flooding in nine central provinces:

Uthai Thani in Muang district with lower floodwater

Chai Nat in Sapphaya district with stable flood levels

Sing Buri in In Buri, Phrom Buri and Muang districts with stable flood levels

Ang Thong in Pa Mok, Wiset Chai Chan, Chai Yo and Muang districts with stable flood levels

Suphan Buri in Muang, Bang Pla Ma, Song Phi Nong, Don Chedi, Doembang Nangbuat, U Thong, Nong Yasai, Sam Chuk, Dan Chang and Sri Prachan districts with rising flood levels

Ayutthaya in the districts of Sena, Phak Hai, Bang Ban, Bang Sai, Bang Pa-in, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Maha Rat, Bang Pahan, Ban Phraek, Tha Rua, Nakhon Luang and Ban Sa-ai with stable flood levels

Pathum Thani in Sam Khok and Muang districts with stable flood levels

Nonthaburi in Muang and Pak Kret districts with stable flood levels

Nakhon Pathom in Bang Len, Sam Phran and Nakhon Chai Si districts with stable flood levels.

Ayutthaya still had the most affected households, 51,975, of any of the 16 inundated provinces nationwide.

In the North, flooding was in four provinces:

Phitsanulok in Wang Thong and Bang Rakam districts with lower floodwater

Sukhothai in Muang, Sri Samrong and Sawankhalok districts with higher flood levels

Phichit in Sam Ngam, Pho Thale, Pho Prathap Chang, Bung Narang, Bang Mun Nak, Thap Khlo, Muang, Dong Charoen, Sak Lek, Wang Sai Phun, Taphan Hin and Wachira Barami districts with stable flood levels

Nakhon Sawan in Chumsaeng, Muang, Phaisali, Phayuha Khiri, Krok Phra and Tha Tako districts with stable flood levels.

In the Northeast, flooding was reported in:

Ubon Ratchathani in Muang, Warin Chamrap, Phibun Mangsahan, Sawang Wirawong, Trakan Phuetphon and Don Mot Daeng with stable flood levels

Udon Thani in Phibun Rak, Sang Khom, Nong Han, Ban Dung, Phen, Kut Chap, Muang, Nong Wua So, Na Yoong and Kumphawapi districts with stable flood levels.

In the East, flooding affected only Chachoengsao, in Bang Nam Priao district, and the water level was lower.

The government will expand its ‘Khon La Khrueng Plus’ co-payment scheme to cover public transport services across Thailand, a move aimed at easing travel costs and stimulating the grassroots economy, Deputy Government Spokeswoman Lalida Perdwiwattana announced on Sunday.

Ms Lalida said the expansion reflects the government’s commitment to reducing people’s daily expenses while boosting small businesses through digital transactions.

‘The ‘Khon La Khrueng Plus’ scheme for public transport reaffirms the government’s commitment to caring for all groups of people equally and inclusively. It genuinely serves as a mechanism for channelling funds directly into the hands of small entrepreneurs,’ Ms Lalida said.

Under the new measure, passengers will be able to use the co-payment scheme to buy Transport Co (Bor Kor Sor) bus tickets nationwide from Oct 29 to Dec 31, 2025, with a daily spending limit of 200 baht.

The plan will also cover other modes of transport including motorcycle taxis, tuk-tuks, metered taxis, songthaews, vans, and public buses. Operators with valid licences or small juristic persons earning under 1.8 million baht a year can register to participate with the Department of Land Transport from Oct 15 to Dec 19.

‘The government is confident that this measure will effectively inject money into the grassroots economy while encouraging small entrepreneurs to become part of the system and further develop their services through digitalisation,’ the deputy spokeswoman said.