Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Former deputy Bangkok governor Samart Ratchapolsitte has criticised authorities for failing to provide a clear explanation on what caused the collapse of a section of Samsen Road, despite it being over a month since the incident.

Mr Samart on Monday posted on Facebook, asking why there has still been no official statement or technical report explaining the cause of the sinkhole in the heart of the capital since it occurred on Sept 24.

According to him, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), which oversees the underground electric train project in the area, initially suggested that the collapse might have been caused by soil and groundwater conditions that altered the soil’s structure.

Mr Samart described the explanation as vague and unsupported by engineering data or soil analysis. He warned that such general statements could lead the public to view the collapse as an “unavoidable accident”, allowing those responsible to evade accountability.

He raised three more questions for the MRTA. First, he asked whether jet grouting — a soil-strengthening and waterproofing technique — had been conducted correctly in the area. Second, he questioned whether nearby buildings have been inspected for structural risks. Third, he asked whether other underground railway stations were constructed safely.

A new agreement between the Thai government and private hospitals aims to reduce living costs by 32 billion baht by promoting transparency in drug pricing and giving consumers more options when purchasing medications.

The ‘Happy Body, Happy Wallet’ initiative aims to empower patients to purchase medicines outside hospitals, which may encourage them to utilise the services of private hospitals and ease the burden on public facilities.

More than 300 private hospitals nationwide are participating in the project. The Private Hospital Association on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding for the programme with the Department of Internal Trade at the Ministry of Commerce, the Department of Health Service Support at the Ministry of Public Health, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said the project would help patients reduce their medicine expenses by 30%.

The FDA has screened and selected participating pharmacies, with more than 3,400 of the estimated 21,000 pharmacies nationwide taking part so far.

Under the initiative, patients can take prescriptions from private hospitals and purchase medicines at registered pharmacies that display the Happy Body, Happy Wallet logo.

Patients can also purchase medicines through telepharmacy services certified by the Pharmacy Council of Thailand, where they can consult with pharmacists and inquire about medicines and prices.

‘This initiative aims to ensure that patients are buying medicines from standard pharmacies and is expected to help reduce their costs by at least 32 billion baht per year,’ said Mr Anutin.

Outpatients at private hospitals frequently complain about excessive markups on drugs , often ranging from 50% to 100% over what outside pharmacies charge. Many private hospitals also carry only a limited number of generic drug alternatives, though doctors will offer advice on generics if asked.

Chayin Chaturapornpracit, president of the Thai Pharmacies Association, said the project is expected to enhance the standards of pharmacies, allowing for more effective dispensing of prescribed medicines through an official prescription system.

Surachai Kaewhiran, director of Vichaivej International Hospital Group, estimated that initially around 5% of the hospital’s patients would choose to purchase medicine externally, with the figure rising steadily in the future.

The initiative should also encourage pharmacies to improve their service standards, he said.

Mr Surachai said drug prices are expected to decrease based on increased competition, particularly for imported drugs, which would enable better access to affordable medicines.

However, private hospitals need to maintain high standards of medical care and ensure the quality of their healthcare personnel, he said.

Four Thais have been caught illegally crossing the border into Cambodia in Aranyaprathet district, admitting they intended to work as website administrators in Poipet.

Troops from the Burapha Task Force patrolled the area around Non Patthana village in Aranyaprathet and spotted two men and two women attempting to cross the border through a sugarcane field on Tuesday.

Following their arrests, the four admitted they saw a job posting on a Facebook group called ‘Seeking Jobs in Poipet,’ which was looking for a website administrator.

According to the detainees, they travelled to the eastern border province and stayed at two hotels in Aranyaprathet. A black Toyota pickup truck picked them up and transported them to the border in tambon Phan Suek.

They said a Cambodian employer paid the 15,000-baht express fee for each of them.

The rangers took them to Khlong Nam Sai police station to face charges of illegal border crossing.

Numerous Thai nationals have recently been recruited and illegally transported across the border from Sa Kaeo to work for call-centre scammers in Cambodia. These scams frequently involve illegal border crossings and are sometimes linked to human trafficking networks.

Authorities continue to warn the public to be cautious of such schemes and to verify employment offers through legitimate channels.

Norwegian pop sensations M2M are set to make their highly anticipated return to Thailand for “M2M The Better Endings Tour 2025: Back Again In Bangkok”, taking place on Nov 22 at One Bangkok Forum, Lumphini.

After their successful reunion tour earlier this year, their first performances in more than two decades, M2M — Marit Larsen and Marion Ravn — are answering fans’ calls for more.

“Sawadee Kaa Thailand! We had so much fun last time in Bangkok that we’re coming back again! We can’t wait to see you all again!” the duo announced on social media, instantly sending Thai fans into a frenzy.

Rising to fame at the height of the Y2K pop era, M2M became one of Norway’s most beloved music exports.

Their 1999 debut album Shades of Purple introduced timeless hits such as Don’t Say You Love Me, featured in Pokémon: The First Movie, along with Mirror Mirror and The Day You Went Away.

The record sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide and earned critical acclaim for its melodic charm, heartfelt lyrics and the duo’s seamless vocal harmonies. Their follow-up album The Big Room (2002) showcased a more mature sound, proving that M2M had evolved far beyond their teen-pop beginnings.

Although they disbanded in 2002 to pursue successful solo careers, M2M’s songs never truly faded. Their heartfelt lyrics and bittersweet melodies have continued to resonate with fans across generations, making their recent reunion one of the most talked-about pop comebacks of the decade.

For their second Bangkok visit, M2M promise a night filled with emotional singalongs, sparkling pop energy and a few surprises celebrating M2M’s legacy while writing a new chapter in their story.

The Thai Bankers’ Association (TBA) says it will support the government’s new debt resolution programme, in which asset management companies (AMCs) will play the lead role.

Payong Srivanich, the association chairman, said members would cooperate with the relevant agencies to address the country’s household debt problems, working to reintegrate small debtors into the formal financial system.

Under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Thailand, the initiative targets small-scale borrowers with total debt of less than 100,000 baht each in non-performing loans (NPLs).

‘We expect the new debt resolution measure to strengthen the country’s debt management capability,’ said Mr Payong.

At its meeting on Monday, the economic cabinet approved the latest debt resolution plan aimed at helping retail borrowers.

Under the plan, the debts are to be transferred to state-owned Ari AMC and Sukhumvit Asset Management (SAM).

Roughly 3.5 million individuals have total debt of less than 100,000 baht that is classified as non-performing in 4.76 million accounts, with total outstanding debt of 122 billion baht.

In the first phase, the transfer covers 2.56 million NPL accounts from commercial banks, representing about 1.25 million borrowers and total debt of 43.6 billion baht. These debts are to be transferred to Sukhumvit Asset Management.

Another portion consists of 790,000 accounts from specialised financial institutions, representing about 700,000 borrowers and total debt of 18.8 billion baht, which will be transferred to Ari AMC.

The remaining portion, consisting of retail borrowers from non-bank institutions, is expected to be handled in the next phase.

Authorities are also encouraging financial institutions to establish joint-venture AMCs to help reduce bad debts in the banking sector. The Bank of Thailand is planning to extend the application period and is revising the conditions for JV-AMCs.

Mr Payong, who is also president of Krungthai Bank, said the state-owned bank initially plans to utilise SAM to manage its bad debts under the new government scheme. It is considering establishing a JV-AMC, but is awaiting the amended licensing conditions.

‘KTB has been studying NPL management options under this framework and is in discussions with potential partners to set up a JV-AMC,’ he said.

Three JV-AMCs are currently in operation: JK AMC, Ari AMC and Arun AMC. JK AMC is a partnership between Kasikornbank and JMT Network Services, while Arun AMC is a collaboration between KBank and Bangkok Commercial Asset Management (BAM). Ari AMC is a joint venture between BAM and the Government Savings Bank.

In total, 86 asset management companies are licensed by the central bank.

The JV-AMC framework was first introduced by the central bank during the pandemic. The previous application window expired at the end of 2024.