KEY ISSUES AT A GLANCE
- Banks are flushed with savings totalling 15.6 trillion Baht – Businesses holding onto cash to cope with volatility. Kasikorn Research Centre revealed that accumulated savings in 18 banks across Thailand totalled 15.62 trillion Baht in April 2022, which is a 5 percent YoY increase. Some 51 percent of the savings are from the businesses that are looking to increase their liquidity to brace for volatilities arising from rising energy price, the Russian-Ukraine war and the FED hiking up interests. Banks are also seeing signs of improvement in their loan portfolio, with mortgage seeing the highest expansion. CIMB Bank forecasted that there is currently up to 1 trillion Baht of excessive liquidity in the banking system. Source: Prachachat Turakij
- Ministry set to ask for end to mask rule. The Ministry of Public Health will ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation’s (CCSA) operations centre to drop the mask mandate in public places and lower the national Covid-19 alert to Level 2 next week. Kiattiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health, said if the operations centre agrees with the ministry’s recommendation, the final decision will rest with the CCSA’s executive board, which is chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. While no decision on the matter has been taken, Gen Prayut did not wear a face mask during media interviews on Thursday — instead, he spoke from a podium behind a plastic shield. Other ministers, meanwhile, had their masks on. Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the CCSA will also consider another proposal submitted by Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to allow the capital’s residents to ditch face masks in public places and parks. Separately, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will start to roll out the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine soon. In an announcement on its Facebook page on Thursday, the BMA said the vaccines have arrived in Thailand, with priority given to those who have yet to receive any Covid-19 jab. Source: Bangkok Post
- Pheu Thai outlines censure debate. Targets include PM, 9 cabinet ministers. The opposition will table a no-confidence motion against the government in parliament next week, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and nine cabinet ministers targeted in the planned censure debate. Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said the opposition will file the motion with the parliament president next Wednesday. Targeted in the motion along with the prime minister are cabinet ministers from the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), the Bhumjaithai Party and the Democrat Party. They will be censured for alleged mishandling of government administration and alleged violation of codes of ethics, Dr Cholnan said. Source: Bangkok Post, Thai PBS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Foreign firms still keen on Thailand. Foreign firms operating in Southeast Asia are demonstrating a high level of confidence as they look to expand their footprint in a market of some 640 million people, says HSBC. It added that Thailand is the most popular choice for companies planning expansion into new Southeast Asian markets. It was also the second market in the region behind Singapore to have the largest presence of foreign firms already operating (37 percent). Thailand is also considered a leader in ASEAN when it comes to technology, with particular strengths in biotech, edge technology, cybersecurity and digital payments. Source: Bangkok Post
- Nationwide Air Quality Sensors to Support Proactive Solutions. BANGKOK, June 9 (TNA) – The Energy Ministry and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) activated the “Sensor for All” network of air quality sensors at about 1,200 locations nationwide to check air quality in real time and support proactive solutions to air pollution.EGAT governor Boonyanit Wongrukmit said EGAT already installed air quality sensors at 500 locations nationwide and also exchanged air quality data with the Pollution Control Department via the Air4Thai app and with Chiang Mai University through the Dustboy app. The “Sensor for All” networking created a pool of air quality data from about 1,200 locations throughout the country. The collaboration results in real-time air quality reports via the sensorforall.com website, the Sensor for All application and nationwide air quality monitors. General people can use the data to plan their everyday life and organizations can base their anti-dust solutions on the data. Source: Thai News Agency
- Pheu Thai outlines censure debate. Targets include PM, 9 cabinet ministers. The opposition will table a no-confidence motion against the government in parliament next week, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and nine cabinet ministers targeted in the planned censure debate. Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said the opposition will file the motion with the parliament president next Wednesday. Targeted in the motion along with the prime minister are cabinet ministers from the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), the Bhumjaithai Party and the Democrat Party. They will be censured for alleged mishandling of government administration and alleged violation of codes of ethics, Dr Cholnan said. Source: Bangkok Post, Thai PBS
AUSTRALIA IN THE NEWS
- Commentary: Quad leaders have a problem with China and North Korea’s relationship. When Quad leaders gathered earlier this year, North Korea’s missile launches were on their minds. But their main focus, while not explicitly named, is clearly China, says this academic. North Korea at least waited until United States President Joe Biden had left Asia before launching another volley of missiles to splash into the sea. American officials had braced for a potential show of force by Pyongyang as Biden toured the region in May for meetings culminating with the “Quad” nations – India, United States, Japan and Australia. Certainly, North Korea was on the minds of the gathered leaders – in a joint statement issued after their summit in Tokyo, the four members condemned Pyongyang’s “destabilising ballistic missile launches” and called on North Korea to engage in substantive dialogue for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula in line with the United Nations Security Council resolutions. But the main focus of the Quad – while not explicitly named – is clearly China. The meeting in Tokyo saw much more ambitious steps to counter the twin security and economic challenges that China presents, including condemning the “militarisation of disputed features” in the region, launching a new initiative to enhance maritime awareness to help countries resist coercive actions, and pledging an economic framework to span 13 countries in the Indo-Pacific. Source: Channel News Asia
- Australian PM says cabinet to address KFC ‘cabbage-gate’. SYDNEY: Australia’s prime minister joked he would huddle with top officials Thursday to discuss the soaring cost of lettuce and local KFCs’ decision to replace the verdant leaf with a cabbage mix on their Zinger Burgers. Dubbing the fast-food chain’s decision “crazy”, centre-left leader Anthony Albanese quipped the situation had become a national “crisis”. Lettuce prices have soared by as much as 300% in Australian cities thanks to recent flooding and high global fuel prices. Source: Bangkok Post
COVID
- 2, 836 new cases and 24 deaths Source: Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health
- NHSO to cut back on Covid test support starting July 1. The National Health Security Office (NHSO) will not cover the public costs of coronavirus tests performed by medical service centres uninsured by universal health coverage (UHC), starting July 1 when Covid-19 is declared endemic. This was agreed upon during a meeting of the NHSO board of directors on Monday, said Dr Jadet Thammathat-aree, secretary-general of the NHSO. From July 1, people who take Covid tests at such medical centres will need to pay for it themselves. Dr Jadet said during the pandemic, medical centres under the UHC had been overworked and there was a great need for other medical service centres not under the UHC to provide assistance. Medical staff had been working tirelessly with Covid-19 screening and campaigning for health protection to avoid the coronavirus, he said. Therefore, the NHSO had drawn medical centres that are not under the UHC for active case finding in order to ease the workload. Source: Bangkok Post
- Ministry set to ask for end to mask rule. The Ministry of Public Health will ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation’s (CCSA) operations centre to drop the mask mandate in public places and lower the national Covid-19 alert to Level 2 next week. Kiattiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health, said if the operations centre agrees with the ministry’s recommendation, the final decision will rest with the CCSA’s executive board, which is chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. While no decision on the matter has been taken, Gen Prayut did not wear a face mask during media interviews on Thursday — instead, he spoke from a podium behind a plastic shield. Other ministers, meanwhile, had their masks on. Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the CCSA will also consider another proposal submitted by Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to allow the capital’s residents to ditch face masks in public places and parks. Separately, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will start to roll out the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine soon. In an announcement on its Facebook page on Thursday, the BMA said the vaccines have arrived in Thailand, with priority given to those who have yet to receive any Covid-19 jab. Source: Bangkok Post
- Covid-19 close to becoming endemic in Thailand, says virologist. Thailand should be able to declare Covid-19 endemic soon as most citizens have developed an immunity to the virus either from vaccines or infection, expert virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan said on Friday. He pointed out that most Covid-19 cases officially reported nowadays are people who test positive via RT-PCR tests. He believes most patients who have not been included in the daily case report are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Thailand recorded 2,836 infections and 24 deaths on Friday. Source: The Nation
POLITICS
- Pheu Thai outlines censure debate. Targets include PM, 9 cabinet ministers. The opposition will table a no-confidence motion against the government in parliament next week, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and nine cabinet ministers targeted in the planned censure debate. Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said the opposition will file the motion with the parliament president next Wednesday. Targeted in the motion along with the prime minister are cabinet ministers from the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), the Bhumjaithai Party and the Democrat Party. They will be censured for alleged mishandling of government administration and alleged violation of codes of ethics, Dr Cholnan said. Source: Bangkok Post, Thai PBS
- Navy holds talks with Chinese company over submarine engines. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) on Thursday began talks with a Chinese submarine builder to find a solution over the manufacturer’s failure to obtain German-made diesel engines as stipulated in the purchase contract. The Navy will stick to its demand for MTU396 engines for its Yuan Class S26T submarine worth THB13.5 billion, while representatives from China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company (CSOC) are expected to propose an alternative with comparable capacity, an informed source said. Source: The Nation
- Drugs, border security among key issues discussed at Thai-Lao meeting in Bangkok. The meeting was held at the Conrad Bangkok Hotel with Laotian Deputy Prime Minister Chansamone Chanyalath representing the neighbouring government. Before the GBC meeting started, the two deputy prime ministers discussed measures for cooperation after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is expected soon, according to Thai officials who attended the meeting. The two also discussed security issues, which were joint problems along the border of the two neighbouring countries, including the issues of drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, illegal immigrants and across-the-border call-centre gangs. Source: The Nation
ECONOMICS
- Inflation hits sentiment in Thai industry. The Thailand Industry Sentiment Index (TISI) fell to a 7-month low of 84.3 points in May amid economic uncertainties ranging from rising inflation to geopolitical conflicts, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The top concern for businesses is the higher energy price. Source: Bangkok Post
- Oil refineries face state price cap. Energy authorities are considering imposing a price cap on oil sold by Thai refineries to better control energy inflation, with ongoing measures to tackle the problem scheduled to end this month. The Energy Ministry formed a working panel to study how to narrow what is known as the oil refinery margin, which is part of the retail oil price that drivers pay at petrol stations, and is a cost added to the crude oil price during the refining process. Source: Bangkok Post
- Tourism to get B100m ‘booster shot’. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has drawn up a budget of more than 100 million Baht to revive the battered travel sector and will propose it to CESA for approval. The budget will be allocated to the “Tourism Booster Shot”, such as increasing airline seat capacity to 50 percent of the pre-pandemic level. Source: Bangkok Post
- Kingdom decriminalises ganja. More than 150,000 people registered to cultivate cannabis with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday as hemp and cannabis were officially delisted from the government’s Category 5 narcotics list yesterday. Public Health Minister Anutrin Thursday chaired the first meeting of a committee tasked with integrating the new policy at Government House. He also established 6 sub-committees to regulate the use of cannabis and hemp, as well as to oversee communication messages to the public. Source: Bangkok Post, Krungthep Turakij printed newspaper
OTHER
- Leave the guilt at home. New restaurant Guilty serves fine five-star fare. Guilty is Bangkok’s latest addition to the five-star dining scene. The 55-seater, which celebrates its official grand-opening today, takes over a courtyard-facing space at the breathtaking Parichart Court of Anantara Siam hotel. Steering the kitchen is Venezuelan chef de cuisine Carlos Rodriquez. A familiar face in the Bangkok restaurant scene since 2015, Rodriquez has worked at a number of the city’s high-profile restaurants including Gaggan, Meatlicious, Mejico and Park Hyatt Bangkok’s Penthouse Bar + Grill. His menu here showcases contemporary Latin American cuisine with worldly twist. Guests can find in the 60-item collection dishes such as snacks, salads, tacos, ceviche, meat and seafood courses as well as sushi and sashimi. All are generously portioned and ideal for sharing. Source: Bangkok Post
For further information please see the embassy’s Facebook Page ‘Australian Embassy, Thailand’ or the Ambassador’s Twitter Page https://twitter.com/AusAmbBKK
