Complaints hit northern rail projects
Bidding process stirs up controversy
published : 10 Jul 2021 at 06:00
Bidding for the two double-track railway projects worth 128 billion baht in the North and Northeast could be marred by alleged irregularities, a seminar was told.
The issue was discussed during an online seminar held by the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) on Thursday.
At the centre of the controversy are the 323-kilometre northern section from Den Chai to Chiang Rai s Chiang Kong and the 355-km northeastern section between Khon Kaen s Ban Phai and Nakhon Phanom.
The Den Chai-Chiang Khong project, valued at 72.9 billion baht, is made up of three construction contracts while the northeastern Ban Phai-Nakhon Phanom route, worth 55.4 billion baht, has been split into two contracts.
A line in the sand
9
While many leaders applaud giving the country a timeline for reopening, some question whether Thailand is equipped
published : 28 Jun 2021 at 07:05
9 Yaksa statues at Suvarnabhumi airport are adorned with face masks to remind the public to remain vigilant during the pandemic. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)
The government s recent announcement of an ambitious plan to reopen the country by mid-October and curb household debt amid a battered economy has drawn mixed views from the business world, given the challenges ahead.
RISK OR RELIEF?
The plan to reopen Thailand holds the promise of more bustling economic activity, but it carries a fear the public health system could be overwhelmed if the country is unable to control virus outbreaks, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
Divided we fall
Divided we fall
Lack of a unified state response over the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequality and drawn attention to a need to improve education and bureaucracy
published : 28 Jun 2021 at 04:30 Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
In 2019, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha stormed an election campaign rally stage with a promise to end turmoil and move the country forward. He managed to survive attacks from all sides, from an oath gaffe to anti-government protests. However, nobody imagined that the coronavirus would present a real challenge to his rule. After 18 months, the crisis has battered the country with 218,000 infections and 1,600 deaths so far.
Migrant workers must get shots too
4
published : 23 Jun 2021 at 04:00
4 Myanmar migrant workers at the central shrimp market in Samut Sakhon province where Thailand s second wave of Covid-19 began are seen in December last year. To reboot the economy, migrant workers cannot be excluded from the vaccination programme. Apichit Jinakul
On March 4, the Ministry of Labour planned to discuss with the Social Security Board about offering free Covid‐19 vaccines to migrant workers who were insured under the social security programme. Migrant workers are vital to Thai industries and the economy; therefore, they should not be left out of the vaccination programme, said the labour minister.
The hype is real after Flash Group, which provides Flash Express e-commerce logistics services, was heralded as the first Thai unicorn following its latest funding round, offering hope for others following in its footsteps.