Showing 81 - 90 of 92
Navy's 'toys' indefensible
Oped, Editorial, Published on 20/02/2017
» Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, the minister for defence, has confirmed the Royal Thai Navy will spend 13.5 billion baht for one Chinese-made submarine, delivery guaranteed in 2017. Plans to spend 27 billion baht for two additional subs have been approved in principle. It is a disappointing rejection of both public and expert opinion that opposes the long drawn-out plan to equip the navy with submarines on every conceivable ground imaginable.
More needed in medicare
News, Editorial, Published on 09/02/2017
» The cabinet's decision this week to lift the ceiling on medical bills for private sector employees who suffer from vocational diseases and work-related accidents, as proposed by the Social Security Office (SSO) and the Labour Ministry, is commendable.
Spider card in BMTA's hands
News, Editorial, Published on 26/01/2017
» The spider or maeng moom card, as the common ticketing system will be called, will give Bangkok commuters who have been forced to endure over a decade of using different tickets for different modes of public transportation some much-needed relief.
Budget must be spent carefully
News, Editorial, Published on 15/01/2017
» The military-backed government's decision to set the highest budget deficit since it took office for fiscal 2018 reflects the urgent need to boost the economy after private investment over the past few years remained lower than the government's expectations. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said on Friday that the next fiscal year's budget expenditure has been set at 2.9 trillion baht, with revenue collection of 2.45 trillion baht, leaving a deficit of 450 billion baht.
Don't just rely on stimulus
News, Editorial, Published on 24/11/2016
» The cabinet decision to offer direct cash handouts to the jobless and low-income earners ahead of the New Year festive season is a one-off measure that could boost consumption and stimulate the flagging economy.
Strict guide for tour firms
News, Editorial, Published on 22/09/2016
» The government's move to regulate zero-dollar tours from mainland China is necessary, however, more long-term measures are needed to ensure fairness to all concerned.
Plan for the ageing
News, Editorial, Published on 29/06/2016
» Against much advice and common sense, the Finance Ministry is now pushing even harder to take back old-age allowances from some elderly people.
New land tax could be bolder
News, Editorial, Published on 10/06/2016
» At long last the cabinet has approved a new land and building tax that is set to come into effect next year. It is the right decision. The new tax is expected to boost state coffers by more than 64 billion baht. Of that amount, 60 billion baht will come from commercial buildings, 4 billion from residences and 50 million from agricultural land. All income will be used for local development.
It's time for CP All to set some standards
News, Editorial, Published on 21/02/2016
» The Association of Investment Management Companies (AIMC) and other local institutional investors’ decision to sanction CP All for its failure to act on the insider trading scandal is welcomed. On Thursday, AIMC agreed not to increase its stake in CP All until the operator of the 7-Eleven convenience stores punishes the CP All executives found guilty of insider trading.
Our next leader will have to fix economy
News, Editorial, Published on 17/01/2016
» Next year’s election, should it go ahead as planned, is shaping up as a good one to lose. Any incoming government will have the interesting task of navigating unchartered constitutional waters, with a senate most likely appointed by unconventional means and restrictions over who can become prime minister and how long they can serve. But while the constitutional drafting process and referendum is rightly getting much attention in political circles, there will perhaps be an even more daunting prospect facing those who seek and win office when the army yields the floor: fixing the economy.