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An armed and violent gold shop robbery at a Big C shopping mall in Narathiwat on Sunday has shifted much-needed attention towards security and public safety issues in restive southern provinces.

The robbery at the mall in Sungai Kolok district substantiates fears that insurgent violence in the southernmost provinces might be widening to target business activities.

To meet this challenge, the government must ensure that those involved in such a brazen robbery are brought to justice, thereby restoring trust in its ability to provide security to the region’s population.

It is not the first time that gold shops and financial activities have been targeted in such a violent manner.

Over the past two decades, gold shops in the restive areas of the deep South — Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and certain districts in Songkhla — have been robbed. Commercial vans transporting cash and ATMs have also been targeted.

In the majority of cases, those behind such crimes were not apprehended. Most of these unsolved cases have been labelled as national security threats, and the robbers have been categorised as insurgents trying to instigate violence and unrest.

Indeed, in the early hours of Sept 1, several ATMs in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani were bombed, with local law enforcers yet to arrest any suspects.

The violent nature of the robbery of the gold shop on Sunday also resulted in a 27-year-old soldier who was shopping being shot and wounded by one of the 10 armed robbers.

The robbers held the gold shop staff at gunpoint before taking jewellery worth 24 million baht, and then managed to get away in two pick-up vans, which were reportedly stolen. During their escape, they scatter tyre spikes on the road to hinder any pursuers.

Yesterday, soldiers were hunting high and low to arrest the robbers, but some security personnel have said they might already have crossed the border into Malaysia.

Politically, the gold robbery is a challenge to the Anutin government, which last week approved its policies and action plans for implementation in the deep South.

Among approved plans is the appointment of Gen Somsak Roongsita, former chief of the National Security Council, to head the Thai peace talks team and resume negotiations with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN).

The government also approved a new three-year master plan to develop social and economic conditions in the restive southern provinces.

However, it is needless to say that the gold shop heist in the business district will further dent investment and business sentiment.

Currently, the army is conducting an investigation into the heist and has been quick to link the suspects to the insurgency, but they should not be doing this alone.

Investigators from the Royal Thai Police should be involved and join in any efforts involving the Malaysian government to help arrest the robbers if they are within Malaysia’s borders.

For the future of the deep South, the security situation needs to be brought under control. It can no longer be a wild territory where crimes such as trafficking and money laundering are rife.

In such an atmosphere, any of the government’s policies, including those aimed at boosting local businesses, will remain just a pipe dream.

Electrolux Group has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and its long-term ambition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its entire value chain by 2050. Speaking at the SX Sustainability Expo 2025, Southeast Asia’s largest platform for sustainable innovation, Alexis Richard, General Manager of Electrolux Thailand, underscored the company’s progress in advancing circularity as part of its ‘For the Better 2030’ framework.

He also highlighted the Group’s latest target to increase the share of recycled steel and plastic by weight to 35% by 2030 in its global manufacturing, reinforcing Electrolux’s goal of embedding sustainability throughout its product lifecycle.

The For the Better 2030 sustainability framework is built upon three core pillars – Better Company, Better Solutions, and Better Living – as well as the Group’s defined Climate Goals. Its measurable actions span enhancing operational efficiency with reduced environmental impact, strengthening supply chain responsibility, advancing consumer experiences through energy- and resource-efficient product innovations, and driving meaningful community engagement.

‘Sustainability is an integral part of our global strategy,’ said Mr Richard. ‘As the regional commercial hub for Asia, with our Rayong factory serving as one of our global manufacturing sites, Thailand plays a key role in achieving our sustainability targets – particularly by introducing sustainable products to local consumers. We offer circular solutions that enable people to prepare great-tasting food, care for their clothes so they stay new for longer, and enjoy healthier well-being at home.’

Electrolux Group achieved its first science-based climate target in 2022, three years ahead of schedule, and has since set a more ambitious goal to achieve net-zero emissions – reducing operational carbon emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 85% and product-related emissions (Scope 3) by 42% by 2030.

‘With two-thirds of global consumers considering sustainability an important criterion when purchasing home appliances, being recognised as a sustainability leader is a major advantage,’ Mr Richard added. ‘We will continue to push ourselves and the entire industry towards even bolder commitments that make sustainable living the new standard.’

The company’s leadership in sustainability has been recognised with the EcoVadis Gold rating, placing Electrolux Group among the top 5% of more than 70,000 companies globally for responsible business practices and sustainable innovation.

About Electrolux Group

Electrolux Group is a leading global appliance company that has shaped better living for more than a century. It reinvents taste, care, and well-being experiences for millions of people worldwide, continually striving to advance sustainability through its products and operations. Under its portfolio of leading brands – including Electrolux, AEG, and Frigidaire – the Group sells household products in around 120 markets each year. In 2024, Electrolux Group reported sales of SEK 136 billion and employed approximately 41,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.electroluxgroup.com or www.electrolux.co.th.

Thailand’s rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) market is facing significant structural gaps that pose challenges to consumer rights, including battery safety risks, unclear warranty conditions, and unfair after-sales service, according to a new Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) study.

Researchers, led by Manon Suklamai of King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, surveyed more than 400 EV users and compared global regulatory practices as part of the study.

It found that Thai consumers remain exposed to multiple risks and called for stronger protection measures, including the introduction of “lemon laws” to ensure accountability from manufacturers. Lemon laws, found in countries such as the US, China, and Singapore, provide consumers with legal recourse if they are sold a defective vehicle.

“A product recall should not be seen as something alarming — it is a sign of responsibility from the manufacturer,” Mr Manon said. “Thailand urgently needs clear and comprehensive consumer protection mechanisms, and a lemon law is not about forcing replacements alone, but about improving product quality from production through to post-sale service.”

The study identified three key areas of concern: safety and lack of central standards — especially for battery systems, fire prevention, home charger installation and emergency response; unclear legal and after-sales frameworks — including vague warranty terms, slow claims processing, long waits for spare parts and complicated registration for modified or converted EVs; and economic instability and loss of consumer confidence — stemming from sudden price cuts on new models that devalue secondhand cars and increase debt burdens, along with uncertainty about the long-term presence of manufacturers and importers.

Researchers also found that the release of new EV models at high prices, followed by rapid price reductions, has left early buyers feeling shortchanged and undermined trust in the market.

This volatility not only affects consumers but also disrupts the broader automotive industry and financial stability, the researchers said.

The TCC study also compared Thailand’s situation with six other regions.

It found that Europe, China and the United States have established frameworks similar to the lemon law, requiring manufacturers and dealers to take responsibility for defective vehicles or those requiring frequent repairs.

Japan, meanwhile, enforces strict penalties on violators to prevent issues from occurring at the source, it said.

Thailand, by contrast, continues to face repeated consumer complaints and lacks any formal, preventive mechanism to protect EV buyers, it noted.

The research team proposes a comprehensive policy package involving coordination among multiple agencies to ensure fairness, safety and stability in the EV market.

Mr Manon said that lawsuits should be “the last resort” and that strong preventive policies are more crucial.

“If Thailand develops solid standards for manufacturing, conversions, installation, after-sales service and insurance — along with safety measures for charging stations and buildings — recurring EV problems will decline significantly,” he said.

He added that Thailand is now at a pivotal stage, transitioning from being a global car assembly hub to an EV production base, and must therefore focus on increasing local content and technology transfer to strengthen domestic industry and competitiveness.

The report concluded that implementing these measures would enhance consumer confidence, promote fairness, reduce safety and debt risks and help Thailand achieve its goal of becoming a sustainable regional hub for EVs.

The TCC is urging all relevant government agencies to integrate their efforts and act swiftly to turn these recommendations into concrete policy outcomes.

Sunday’s 35-million-baht gold robbery in Narathiwat was the work of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist group according to the defence minister, and the looted gold is believed to have been smuggled across the border into Malaysia.

Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit on Tuesday confirmed that 600-baht-weight of gold was stolen during the armed hold up in the Big C mall in Sungai Kolok district by a gang of gunmen in black.

He rejected speculation that the heist was somehow linked to last week’s change of the 4th Army commander and his team. .

The new army commander-in-chief, Gen Pana Klaewplodthuk, was scheduled to visit the area, and he would also go there, the defence minister said.

Gen Nattaphon said he had received reports that the robbery was the work of members of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), who afterwards fled back to “a neighbouring country”.

Asked about criticism that appointing an “outsider” to lead the 4th Army had created a power vacuum, the minister rejected the idea.

‘That is not the case. Soldiers are duty-bound wherever they serve. It was not the first gold shop robbery in the deep South,’ he said.

On comments that the holdup appeared well-coordinated and probably involved insiders who provided details about the shop and escape routes, Gen Nattaphon agreed further investigation was needed. The new 4th Army commander would provide more clarity, he said.

He confirmed reports the stolen gold had been smuggled out of Thailand and said efforts to recover it and arrest the robbers would require cross-border cooperation.

Gen Nattaphon also referred to the National Security Council’s decision to appoint former NSC secretary-general Gen Somsak Rungsita the new head of the Peace Dialogue Panel for the southern border provinces.

He had already held preliminary discussions with Gen Somsak, he said. As the government had only four months left in office, he had asked the panel to set priorities and deliver tangible results within the timeframe.

According to the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4, .the armed robbery in Sungai Kolok district netted about 35.6 million baht in gold jewellery, and was carried out to fund a southern separatist network,

Investigators on Monday found two pickup trucks they believe were used by the gang, abandoned at an oil palm plantation in Waeng district.

Police now believe the heist involved 19 or 20 men in three groups. The first group stole the two pickups used in the heist, another raided the gold shop and the third placed explosive charges and scattered tyre spikes on roads around the shopping centre to prevent pursuit.

Thailand has made clear it will not attend this weekend’s round of border talks unless Cambodia submits a plan to move its citizens out of three Thai border villages by the deadline on Tuesday night.

The Royal Thai Army posted a Facebook message on Tuesday morning reiterating its intention to boycott the Regional Boundary Committee (RBC) meeting scheduled in Poipet from Friday to Sunday unless the Thai condition is met.

Cambodia’s Military Region 5 would host the meeting with leaders of the 1st Army Region, which is responsible for the border in Sa Kaeo.

The Thai regional team had demanded Cambodia present a plan to vacate structures erected on Thai soil in three villages in Sa Kaeo province no later than Tuesday. The villages are Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaeo in Khok Sung district and Ban Ta Phraya in Ta Phraya district.

The latest Thai position was posted as the deadline approached. The Cambodian side had earlier, on Sunday, rejected the Thai condition.

“The RBC meeting will not take place due to no additional agenda items to end the problems on the Thai-Cambodian border,” the 1st Army Region said.

Cambodia has dismissed the Thai call and is preparing to counter Thailand’s move to evict Cambodians from the Thai villages after the deadline passes.

Chavana, a renowned Thai jewellery brand, is celebrating the journey towards its 111th anniversary with a special exhibition ‘The Ray Of Light – Prelude To 111 Years Of Chavana’, which is running on the 4th floor of Central Embassy, Phloenchit Road, until Oct 26.

The exhibition highlights the inspiration drawn from the beauty and relationship between light and time, interpreted through fine art and the brand’s signature high jewellery craftsmanship.

It introduces the signature collection Ray Of Light alongside live craftsmanship demonstrations, in-depth showcases of design concepts, and a ‘Touch and Try Experience’ where guests can closely explore and try on jewellery.

The rich history of Chavana dates back to 1914, beginning in the heart of Ban Mor where a husband and wife opened a small jewellery shop and named it Mian Teck – meaning ‘continuous virtues’. What began as a personal offering has quietly grown, generation by generation, into what is known as Chavana.

The brand has upheld the belief that jewellery is more than adornment – it is art, imbued with the spirit of family. Each piece is a continuation of the master craftsmanship passed down through generations with patient craft, inherited knowledge and the belief that beauty carries meaning when it is made with care.

This exhibition is a tribute to both a moment of remembrance and renewal. The Ray Of Light collection embodies the brand’s enduring commitment to capturing the subtle beauty of nature, telling stories rich in meaning, value and exquisite craftsmanship, allowing the wearer’s identity to shine with grace.

Re: “MPs fail Clean Air Bill,” (Editorial, Oct 1).

Pheu Thai dismally failed its northern core base by boycotting voting on the Clean Air Bill, causing this very important bill to fail due to a lack of a quorum. Northerners suffer most from seasonal haze and PM2.5 pollution, and Pheu Thai chaired the bill’s drafting committee, yet only 27% of Pheu Thai MPs showed up to vote. This was in stark contrast to the People’s Party (90% of its MPs present) and the Bhumjaithai Party (80%).

When your party won’t even vote on a bill that it authored and that’s vital to your family’s health — it’s past time to switch.

Burin Kantabutra

False equations

Re: “In an Irish memorial, I see echoes of Palestine”, (Opinion, Oct 3).

Andy Young’s commentary, in which she equates the situation in Gaza with the Irish Famine, the famine in Sudan and Hurricane Katrina, is a litany of nonsensical equations.

For one, we have seen pictures of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing Gaza City. Do they look like emaciated famine victims? No, they do not.

And the harrowing pictures of children are manipulated Hamas photo ops. None of their parents looks in the least hungry.

We are led to believe that Jews are colonisers, completely ignoring the fact that half of Israeli Jews fled or were expelled from Muslim countries. Israel has two million Arab citizens, while most Muslim countries now have no Jews.

I could make a more poignant historical comparison: More than 80 years ago, following years of anti-Semitic propaganda, some six million Jews were murdered while nearly every country in the world, including Ireland, refused to accept Jewish refugees.

Today’s massive anti-Israel propaganda, again, justifies the murder of Jews.

Frank Scimone

Revealing remarks

Re: “Military heads summoned for empty spectacle”, (Opinion, Oct 10).

In President Donald Trump’s lacklustre speech to the 700 US generals whom he summoned to a meeting in Quantico, Virginia, from their posts all around the world, he said that there are two N words that he would never use. One stands for nuke, and the other one is n***er.

Mr Trump is explicit in boasting that the US has more nukes and they are better than and outnumber those of the Russians and the Chinese.

Mr Trump may not be aware of the consequence that, like the tariff he advocates, the use of nukes is reciprocal too. His Trump Tower in New York will vanish seconds later if he drops a nuke in St Petersburg.

Perhaps he got carried away and thought he was addressing a crowd in a town hall that cheered and believed everything he said.

Even though Mr Trump did not elaborate on the other n-word, it is difficult to convince people that he is not a racist.

There is an old Chinese saying: There are 300 taels of silver buried here, which means one is trying to prove what nobody doubts.

Yingwai Suchaovanich

A 40-year-old man has confessed to killing his uncle during a drunken argument over a karaoke microphone.

Police called to a house in tambon Pong Talong, in Pak Chong district, on Monday found a 59-year-old man identified as Thian lying dead with severe head injuries in a pool of blood.

An air rifle with a broken stock lay beside the body.

Police arrested the victim’s nephew, Arthit, 40, who allegedly confessed to killing his uncle.

According to police, Arthit told investigators they had been drinking together. His uncle had spoken rudely to him and had snatched the karaoke microphone from his hand.

He had responded, hitting Thian on the head with the gun stock before stabbing him below the ear with a knife.

Police charged Arthit with murder and he was held in custody for legal proceedings.

SET-listed Bangchak Corporation is seeking partners to conduct e-fuel research and development in a move to replace fossil-derived fuels, which are blamed for increasing carbon dioxide emissions.

E-fuel, also known as electrofuel, is a type of synthetic fuel created by using electricity from renewable sources to combine hydrogen and carbon dioxide in order to produce synthetic hydrocarbon fuel.

The new fuel could be used with internal combustion engine-powered vehicles.

“We do not want to do R and D from scratch but prefer to join hands with energy firms to speed up work in this field,” said Chaiwat Kovavisarach, chief executive and president of Bangchak.

Bangchak is planning to have its own research centre to facilitate the development of e-fuel projects.

The company will spend part of its US$30-milion budget, allocated for new businesses and innovation, to fund the construction, said Mr Chaiwat.

It also plans to ask for financial support from the Office of National Higher Education, Science Research and Innovation to help translate its research facility project into action.

Mr Chaiwat was speaking as he led a team of executives to study e-fuel projects at ENEOS Corporation in Yokohama, Japan.

ENEOS currently produces 1 barrel, or 159 litres, of e-fuel a day, at its prototype plant, supported by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation.

The company is testing the new fuel with a shuttle bus service at the Expo 2025 in Osaka.

The event, which started on April 13, will run through Oct 13.

Synthetic hydrocarbon is a promising fuel that can support campaigns aimed at achieving carbon neutrality, a balance between carbon dioxide emission and absorption.

Though vehicles using synthetic hydrocarbon emit carbon dioxide, the process of making this e-fuel requires a manufacturer to capture carbon dioxide to combine it with green hydrogen.

Green hydrogen is produced by using electricity made from renewable energy to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen.

Mr Chaiwat sees the potential of synthetic hydrocarbon but noted that the development of e-fuel is four times as costly as fossil-derived fuels.

The price of e-fuel is expected to decrease and become more competitive with conventional oil prices after 2040, he said, citing an estimate from ENEOS experts.

A good point is that it can be used with oil-powered vehicles without the need to adapt their engines.

The push for alternative fuels is part of Bangchak’s business development plan. The company is making a test run at its factory to produce sustainable aviation fuel, a biofuel for aircraft, which is also aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of continued rainfall until Oct 15, although the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) has expressed confidence that there is no risk of flooding reaching 2011 levels.

The TMD on Monday warned of widespread heavy rainfall across the country from Oct 6 to 15, with particular concern for flood-prone areas.

According to the warning, the weakened Typhoon Matmo is expected to affect Vietnam, Laos, and northern and upper northeastern provinces of Thailand.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon is intensifying over the Andaman coast and the eastern region, affecting provinces such as Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Chanthaburi and Trat. Accumulated rain could lead to flash floods and overflowing rivers.

Between Oct 9-15, the monsoon trough is forecast to shift southward, spreading rain over the lower parts of the country, especially Bangkok and surrounding provinces, where thunderstorms are expected in 60-70% of the area from Wednesday to Sunday.

The TMD stated that Thailand will transition to winter after Oct 12, with less rainfall in the North and Northeast and wind directions shifting eastwards and northeastwards, a sign that a cold air mass is approaching.

According to ONWR secretary-general Danucha Pichayanan, although rainfall has increased in the north, overall water levels remain manageable, with major dams like Bhumibol Dam and Sirikit Dam likely to increase water releases to maintain balance and prevent downstream overflow.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday emphasised, after chairing the meeting of the Committee for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, that the government places the well-being and livelihoods of the people as its top priority.

“I urge provincial governors to work closely with central authorities to ensure assistance reaches affected residents as quickly as possible,” Mr Anutin said.

Deputy PM Sophon Zarum echoed Mr Danucha’s stance, reassuring the public that water management measures are under control and that this year’s floods will not be as disastrous as those in 2011, though constant monitoring and adjustments are ongoing.