Headlines summary as of 31 August 2021

News

• Deputy government spokesperson said that the PM has ordered relevant agencies to make sure the public health measures are strictly followed. The spokeswoman said should the restrictions have been implemented smoothly, the lockdown will be eased even further.—Krungthep Turakij

Politics

• Censure debate is kicking off on 31 August until 3 September before the vote on 4 September. There have been related reports:
  • On 30 August, Deputy Finance Minister and a main figure in the main ruling Palang Pracharat Party (PPRP) has dismissed the reports that there will be an attempt to make the PM fail the vote of no confidence as ‘fake news.—Krungthep Turakij
  • A source in the PPRP said that on 30 August, there were 30 to  40 MPs went to see Deputy PM and PPRP leader General Prawit at his Residence to voice their concerns over the PM lack of interest in caring for the PPRP MPs. General Prawit has reportedly asked the PPRP main figures on the plot to slay the PM in the vote on 4 September and he said that the PM has texted him to question on the possibility.—Krungthep Turakij
  • On 31 August, when the PM came to the Parliament, the PM nodded his head admitting that he had messaged General Prawit on the rumours but decline to comment further.—Thai Rath
  • Deputy PM, Public Health Minister and ruling Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin said that he does not concern about the result of the vote as he has been prepared. He replied to the rumour about some PPRP MPs voting against him that he has got confirmation from General Prawit who stressed the coalition unity above all else.–Matichon
  • Opposition Pheu Thai Party has issued a warning against its MPs on the upcoming vote of no confidence and threatened to expel the MP from the party membership should the MP voted for, abstrain or absent from the vote. The secretary-general said vowed that this is going to be the last censure debate in PM Prayut life.–Matichon
• Alongside the censure debate, there are extra-parliamentary movement lining up:
  • 31 AUG Ousted and self-exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra will hold a Club House session on 31 August to grill the PM and the other ministers. Thaksin also said that he is going to announce a significant political strategy.–Matichon
  • 1 AUG Ramkhamhaeng University Student Network is set to hold their censure debate against the PM in front of the Parliament.—Khao Sod
  • 2 SEP The ‘Car Mob’ organisers led by former Red Shirt protestors are going to hold its escalated gathering at CBD Asoke intersection from 4.00 to 8.00pm. The organisers said they will return to Bangkok CBD for gathering every day until 4 September where the vote is casted.—Krungthep Turakij
  • 3 SEP The United Front for Thammasat and Demonstration protest group is going to hold their protest on 3 September. The Group is yet to announce its gathering location.—Naew Na
  • 4 SEP anarchic-prone FreeYouth/ ReDem Group is going to gather at Lumphini Park in Bangkok CBD where there is the statue of King Rama VI to push for the call on monarchical reforms.–FreeYouth
• The Senate has unanimously passed the 2022 Budget Bill. The Finance Minister said that 1 September will be the start date for taxing foreign online platforms.—Krungthep Turakij

Economic:

Cabinet’s Decisions, 30 August 2021

• approved the national e-commerce development action plan phase I from 2021-2022 to drive digital trade and revive the economy from COVID-19 through 4 strategies. 
  • Among the goals are to increase e-commerce revenue to 5.35 trillion Baht in 2022 from 4.03 trillion Baht in 2019; increase e-commerce revenues of SMEs and outbound cross-border e-commerce revenue by 5 percent annually each. 
  • link e-commerce information between the government and private sectors, in addition to increasing the efficiency of Thailand’s Big Data and achieve 10,000 registration of e-commerce operators per year

• instructed Commerce Ministry to sound out the opinions of related agencies to improve e-commerce laws, facilitate tax collections and upgrade product standard regulations.

Source:  Bangkok Post  Krungthep Turakij

• approved another 44.3 billion Baht of financing relief measures for workers registered under Sections 39 and 40 of the Social Security Act in the 29 provinces dark red provinces for one month.  This adds to an earlier 33.4 billion Baht allocated to the same relief measures, which brings the total budget approved for this purpose to 77.7 billion Baht.  The measures are expected to benefit 9.3 million people

• approved another 4.7 billion baht in budget for procuring 9.9 million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for administering to 6 at-risk groups.  Sources:  Bangkok Post   Krungthep Turakij

• The Thai economy remains depressed in July despite the value of export expanding for 5 consecutive months, and international tourist number reaching the highest level in 16 months (18,056 arrivals), according to Finance Ministry.  Domestic consumption and private investment continued to decline in July 2021.  This is reflected in the -9.8 percent and -17.7 percent YoY drop in the sales of passenger cars and newly registered motorcycles, respectively.  Private investment in machinery also fell, indicated by the -12.4 percent YoY fall in the sale of commercial cars and a -12 percent drop in the sale of construction cement.  Sources:  Khao Sod  Bangkok Post
• The Bank of Thailand (BOT) is officially launching the debt consultation program, Debt Doctor, to offer complete financial advice to pandemic-hit borrowers following the program’s soft launch at the start of this year.  Debt Doctor offers financial and debt advisory services such as debt solutions as well as provides literacy on the government’s debt-aid measures.  Debt Doctor is a joint effort between BOT, Finance Ministry, Thai Credit Guarantee Cooperation, Thai Bankers Association, the Government Financial Institution Association, 7 specialised financial institutions and 8 commercial banks with a team 200 financial advisers.  BOT plans to integrate chat bot service into the program by year-end.  Sources:  Prachachart Turakij Bangkok Post
• Thailand’ Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) in July increased by 5.12 percent YoY for 5  consecutive month to 91.41 points, largely due to export growth.  Industry Ministry expects MPI to increase by 4-5 percent in 2021 due to global economic recovery, lockdown easing and the mass vaccination scheme.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• Starting from 1 September, the Revenue Department will collect VAT on 5 types of e-service providers located abroad with revenue of over 1.8 million Baht.  The providers will have to register with the Thai Revenue Department’s VAT for Electronic Service, which is expected to contribute 5 billion Baht to state revenue collection.  This e-service tax scheme took 2 years to be approved.  Source:  Prachachart Turakij

Australian Embassy Direct Aid Program for COVID-19 Relief Activities

The pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to all, but the disadvantaged and marginalised have been hit the hardest. On #WorldHumanitarianDay, Australia honours all local responders and humanitarian workers who help people in Thailand and around the world.

The Australian Embassy in Thailand is pleased to announce grants for COVID-19 relief activities under the Direct Aid Program to:
1. Bangkok Community Help Foundation – to supply care packages to vulnerable people in Khlong Toei
2. The Mirror Foundation, Chiang Rai – to provide COVID-related assistance for local communities and migrant workers
3. Baan Dek Foundation – to provide care packages to quarantined construction camp workers in Bangkok and Chiang Mai
4. Service Worker IN Group Foundation (SWING) – to assist sex workers and vulnerable groups in Bangkok and Pattaya with food and medical supplies
5. Scholars of Sustenance Foundation, Phuket – to support delivery of donated food to vulnerable communities
6. ACTED Thailand – to distribute COVID-prevention kits and train camp facilitators in camps on the Thailand-Myanmar border

#Australia is proud to collaborate with our partners in providing much-needed humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities in Thailand. We believe in the adage, “no one is safe until everyone is safe” as we look forward to a brighter post-pandemic future.

Headlines summary as of 30 August 2021

News

• The latest ease of lockdown measures by CCSA effective from 1 September has been gazetted as followed–CCSA

• Bangkok Metropolitan Administration issued its announcement on temporary closure of premises. Unlike the highly expected vaccination requirements before using the dine-in services, the BMA order did not mention the need to get fully vaccinate.—BMA Data Centre
• Thai aviation authority will allow some domestic flights to and from Dark Red areas from 1 September. Domestic fights can fly at up to 75% capacity and passengers will have to follow travel conditions at destinations such as presenting proof of full vaccinations and/or COVID-19 testing results.—CCAT order and Reuters
• The Thai Cabinet has just approved 4.7 billion THB to procure 10 more million doses of Pfizer vaccines. In total, the Kingdom has announced to secure 30 million doses.—Khao Sod
• South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong during his visit to Thailand from August 26 to 28 said that South Korea could provide vaccines to Thailand at the end of September, after fully vaccinating 70 per cent of its population.—Nation Thailand
• The government spokesperson said that the country is aiming to get 140 million doses vaccines and that the government is going to order more vaccines from the EU: 8 million doses of Astra Zeneca (2 million doses monthly from September to December) and 2.5 to 3 million doses monthly from September to December.—Prachachat Turakij

• More Sinopharm vaccines:
  • On 28 August, the Chinese Red Cross Society has donated 100,000 Sinopharm vaccines to Thai Red Cross Society in a bid to curb the spread of the pandemic.—NBT
  • On Sunday, the Secretary-general of the Chulabhorn Royal Academy posted on his social media that another 2 million doses of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine have been delivered to Thailand. The royal institution aims to procure 10 million doses of Sinopharm vaccines by the end of August, of which 9 million doses have been delivered so far. It is reported that of 10 million doses, 3.59 million doses were allocated to corporations, 5.21 million doses to local administration offices, 414,958 doses to general public and 768,216 doses were donations.—Nation Thailand

• Over the weekend, there were two polls regarding the government covid administration:
  • Suan Dusit Poll study found out that the majority of Thai citizens want the government to tackle the Covid-19 crisis more effectively. The survey asked top five demands Thai people want in the Covid-era: 84.12 per cent want effective Covid-19 vaccines and all Thais to be vaccinated; 50.47 per cent said equality in receiving treatment for Covid-19; 43.24 per cent want frontline medical staff to be prioritised; 38.51 per cent want the economy to recover; 34.12 per cent seek medicines, protection equipment and Covid-19 test kits to be provided to people.—Suan Dusit Poll and Nation Thailand
  • Nida Poll made a study on the effectiveness of lockdown and found that majority of the people 26.14 percent wishes the lockdown to be extended and for the authority to impose stricter measures. Almost 65 percent of people views towards the effectiveness of the lockdown as not so effective to not effective at all. Only 6 percent of the survey taker said, however, that the lockdown is effective.—Nida Poll

Politics

• The government is under pressure on two fronts:
  • Six ministers, including the PM, will be on grill from 31 August to 3 September and the vote will be casted on 4 September.
    • The main ruling Palang Pracharat Party (PPRP) is going to hold its party meeting today to agree on the party stance in the upcoming censure debate. It is reported, however, that some key figures in the PPRP got an audience with the Deputy PM and PPRP leader Prawit apparently to discuss on the debate.–Matichon
    • The highlight of the debate has been on how many votes Labour Minister Suchart will get as there has been intra-PPRP conflicts (more details in the analysis/opinion below).
  • There are also movements from the opposition in the extra-parliamentary actors schedule alongside the debate:
    • 31 AUG Ousted and self-exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra will hold a Club House session on 31 August to grill the PM and the other ministers. Thaksin also said that he is going to announce a significant political strategy.–Matichon
    • 2 SEP The ‘Car Mob’ organisers led by former Red Shirt protestors are going to hold its escalated gathering at CBD Asoke intersection from 4.00 to 8.00pm. The organisers said they will return to Bangkok CBD for gathering everyday until 4 September where the vote is casted.—Krungthep Turakij
    • 3 SEP The United Front for Thammasat and Demonstration protest group is going to hold their protest on 3 September. The Group is yet to announce its gathering location.—Naew Na

• In parallel with the censure debate, the  Army will move artillery for training from Bangkok to Lopburi from today until 3 September.—Krungthep Turakij
• On Saturday, former hardcore supporter of the royalist PDRC Tanat ‘Nat’ Thanakijamnuay who has adversely joined the anti-government protest and has lost his right eye from the reported police tear gas. The now anti-establishment activist has called for a campaign to list 3 to 10 million signatures calling for the draft bill to grant amnesty to all protestors who got charges from Royal Defamation Law.—Thai Rath
• The Royal Gazette has published the Election Commission Announcement setting Bangkok constituencies areasinto 51 areas for the upcoming Bangkok council members election.—Royal Gazette

Analysis/ opinion

• Media are starting to look into the tendency in the vote of no confidence as a means towards the cabinet reshuffle.–Matichon and Nation TV
  • Matichon and Nation regarded the censure debate as a stepping stone by the troika (PPRP sec-gen: Thammanat, Government whip: Virat and PPRP treasurer: Narumon) to kick three ministers (Labour: Suchart, Education: Trinuch and Digital Economy: Chaiwoot-latter two just freshly appointed) from the positions in a bid to make the slot available and claim the positions. The media read the move as intra-PPRP conflicts by using the three ministers who will likely get the least votes to be a claim pressuring the PM to push them out.
  • Separately, the three executive editors of the Nation Group made two additional complications in the upcoming censure debate. Firstly, they said that there is a minister who is believed to get the least vote from the PPRP MPs (apparently, Transport Minister Saksayam from Bhumjaithai Party) has called to make a political deal with former PM Thaksin in a bid for support from Thaksin’s opposition Pheu Thai Party. The minister and secretary-general from the second largest ruling reportedly said that he will have his party support the exiled PM in the next election. Secondly, they went further in exploring the opportunity of the PM did not pass the censure debate and have General Prawit who is deputy PM and PPRP leader as an interim caretaker Prime Minister should there is an unexpected political event which rendered the PM unable to lead.
  • It is reported that despite Education Minister is not on the list of the censure debate, the PPRP treasurer and Deputy Labour Minister Narumon is eyeing for the Education Minister portfolio.–Matichon
• A media said that Labour Minister Suchart  who is on the censure list talked to him saying that some PPRP MPs are giving the insight information and has convinced the Opposition to put the minister name on the list in a ploy to make him least favourable minister and pressuring the PM to kick him out of office.—Inside Thailand

Headlines summary as of 27 August 2021

News

• The CCSA held its meeting and has made the following lockdown easing measures effective from 1 September:

• The CCSA is embarking on the ‘Universal Prevention’ approach, implying taking the guards up while living with the virus.
• Provinces in the Dark Red Zone remains at 29 provinces. The curfew in the areas are from 9.00pm to 4.00am.
• Events allowed with participants no more than 25 people for Dark Red Zone areas.
• Restaurants in the dark red zone has been allowed to open for dine-in at 50 percent capacity in air-conditioned premises and 75 percent at outdoor premises.
• Beauty salons, barber shops, massage (foot massage-only), public parks, outdoor sport fields and outdoor sport stadiums (with exception of gym) are allowed to be reopened.
• All shops in shopping and community malls can operate as per normal with limited services.
• Facilities in schools are allowed to be used for specific purposes-such as for exams. The requests must be approved by the Education Ministry and the provincial communicable disease committee.
• Interprovincial buses and planes will be allowed from and to Dark Red Zones, but the CCSA seek people cooperation to travel when really necessary. Public transport is allowed to operate at 75% capacity. Masks should be worn at all times. Food and drink consumption is not allowed. Vans and buses should stop to allow air circulation every 2-3 hours. Workers who travel to work must follow a sealed route under the bubble and seal measure.
• What remains closed in Dark Red Zone: cram schools, movie theatres, spas, theme parks, water parks, conference centres and dining halls.
• The CCSA posted on its FB outlining the vaccine procurement plan from August until December as followed:

• The permanent-secretary of the Public Health ministry Kiattiphum Wongrajit said in a press briefing that Thailand is in talks with European countries to purchase millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines, without getting into details of which countries they are in talk with.—Reuters
• The Royal Gazette has published the order allowing Thammasat University to import vaccines or COVID-treating medicine by itself. The similar with that of the Royal Chulabhorn Academy which is importing Chinese Sinopharm vaccines.—Krungthep Turakij

Politics

• The House has decided that the censure debate will be held from 31 August until 3 September before the vote of no-confidence will be on 4 September.—Krungthep Turakij
• The main opposition Pheu Thai Party said that they will hold a parallel activity inviting people to wear black costumes or have black ribbon, in a symbolic gesture against the PM.—Thai Rath
• Talu Fah Group is going to hold the other gathering at the Democracy Monument tomorrow from 3.00pm. The other major gathering will be on Sunday by Car Mob Group in the Bangkok northern suburb. The gathering will begin at 14:00 at Kasetsart intersection. The head of the procession faces Vibhavadi Road. At the end of the path at Thep Pathum courtyard on Tad Bomrong road in Pathum Thani district.—Thai Rath

Australia

• Ambassador’s interview on the bilateral relations and the King Documentary was on ThaiPBS World has been uploaded.—ThaiPBS World

Economic

• Moody’s has maintained Thailand’s sovereign credit rating at Baa1, equivalent to BBB+, citing a ‘stable’ economic outlook due to strong public finances.  This is attributable to Thailand’s low short-term debt of only 8 percent, with a low Baht-to-foreign currency debt of less than 2 percent, which keeps inflation low.  Post COVID-19, Moody’s expects foreign investments in Thailand will continue to grow, especially in the EEC zone.  Source: The Nation  TNN Thailand
• The Board of Investment (BOI) forecasts that the value of investment application this year will reach the target of 500 billion Baht despite the COVID-19 outbreak.  Foreign investments have started returning to Thailand, especially in electronics, medical equipment and renewable energy sectors.  Investment is expected to return to its normal level of 700 billion Baht within 2 years, with the BOI’s focus being on promoting digital technology.  Currently BOI is in talks with foreign investors from 10 companies that are keen to expand their investment in electronics and semiconductors.  BOI is also developing promotion package for aerospace and satellite investment, with the goal of making Thailand a production hub of this industry.  Source:  Bangkok PostKhao SodKrungthep Turakij
• Commerce Ministry (MoC) has set sights on increasing fruit shipments this year by 30 percent to 180 billion Baht, reiterating that 2021 is a golden year for Thai fruit trade.  This is because the value of Thailand’s frozen and processed fruit exports totalled 131 billion Baht in the first 7 months of 2021, which is a 48.3 percent increase.  Commerce Minister Jurin attributed this to Thai Fruit Golden Month promotional events that were held in China in the last 7 months.  Source:  Bangkok PostThai Rath
• At the online seminar “Recharging Asia: Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development amidst Post Pandemic World” organised by the International Institute for Trade and Development, Supachai Panitchpakdi, former DG of WTO Asia warned the region to brace for a proliferation of trade disputes, slowing global economy, food and medical shortages and climate change concerns.  He anticipates there will be a fight back against globalization trend, which is weakening, as well as multilateralism.  At the upcoming WTO MC 12,discussions will focus on the impacts of Covid-19, food scarcity, overfishing, food exports, the availability of vaccines and compulsory licensing for emerging markets to produce vaccines without a monopoly.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• Industry Ministry anticipates some 149 billion Baht worth of investment for the bio industry, which is part of the BCG Economic model.  Among them are the 57-billion-Baht Asia Bio Hub project in Chachoengsao province, which has garnered the interests of investors from Netherland, USA, Canada, Germany, UK, Chian and France.  There is also a plan to attract investors to develop the medical-grade marijuana at Lopburi province’s bio-complex.  A successful investment was recently sealed between the American company NatureWorks and GKBI, a subsidiary of PTT, at Nakhon Sawan province’s bio compelx.   This is in line with Thailand’s plan to become the Bio Hub of ASEAN.  Source:  Thansettakij
• The Samui Plus model which started on July 15 under the 7+7 extension scheme linking with Phuket Sandbox has a long way to go to shore up the hotel business on Koh Samui.  As of Aug 24, Samui Plus welcomed 431 international travellers, of which 34 tourists continued their journey to Koh Phangan and 22 to Koh Tao. The number of visitors to Samui Plus has yet to reach the goal of 1,000 because of the expensive costs associated with tourists having to pay for medical fees and 3 swab tests for 15,000 baht per person.  To date, only 26 percent or 177 hotels with 8,629 rooms on the island can reopen, while the remaining 671 hotels with 25,000 rooms remain closed.  Source:  Bangkok Post