June 8, 2021
Thai Enquirer Summary
Covid-19 News
The Public Health Ministry hailed the 1st day of the delayed mass vaccination drive against Covid-19 as a success with more than 300,000 people receiving anti-Covid vaccines although it was far short of the numbers needed to reach the 100 million doses by the end of the year.
Despite all the pomp and show, the total vaccination as of yesterday was at just over 351,000 shots but the need is to have more than 461,019 per day until the end of the year to achieve the 100 million doses that is planned.
As of 17:00 hrs on June 7, 2021.
As for Bangkok, yesterday the vaccination in Bangkok was at a mere
12,500 doses but what is needed is 84,000 per day to achieve the goals set.
The Department of Disease Control (DDC) said yesterday’s vaccination tally has brought the total of doses administered to date to more than 4.5 million.
However, hospitals in some provinces experienced an acute shortage of vaccines such as in Nakhon Pathom and Samut Prakan where several hospitals suspended vaccinations indefinitely after June 7.
Sutthawan Suban Na Ayudhya, Move Forward MP for Nakhon Pathom, said she learned from doctors in some Nakhon Pathom hospitals that their hospitals do not have enough vaccines to administer to those who booked for jabs on June 7, prompting some hospitals to suspend jabs after June 8 and June 9. Moreover, none of 14 hospitals in the province have sufficient supplies of vaccines that will last for 14 days.
DDC chief Opas Karnkawinpong defended the shortage as he explained that some areas may encounter problems with hospitals postponing vaccination appointments because the number of bookings exceeds their vaccine quota. He apologised to those who did not get the vaccination on the scheduled date.
To see list of more hospitals throughout the country that postponed vaccinations due to shortages, readers can go to https://www.thaienquirer.com/28234/list-of- hospitals-throughout-thailand-postponing-covid-19-vaccinations-due-to- shortages/
Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, opened its vaccination centre on the 1st day yesterday and expects to inoculate at least 3,000 people a day, according to INNNews.
The site which has been set up at the university’s Gymnasium 4 Building is expected to offer vaccination services to the public without any day off from June 2021 to the end of this year.
Public Health Minister – Anutin Charnvirakul, came out to say that the ministry has already started an investigation into an announcement by a hospitals that has come out with postponement.
This comes despite some hospital only getting 1 bottle of AstraZeneca which is only for about 10 doses although 1,000’s registered in Nakorn Pathom.
Anutin says that there is no delay in the vaccination plans and asked all hospitals that have postponed to retract.
. People should only listen to the Ministry of Public Health and not the doctors
To this the doctors have come out to say that if a minister does not know what he is talking about then the minister should better keep his mouth shut.
The B.1.617.2 variant or so called ‘Indian Variant’ has now been renamed ‘Delta Variant’ is become the most-deadly variant around the world and more than 200 of the cases in Bangkok yesterday was from this variant.
A total of 235 ‘Delta’ variant were found yesterday in Thailand in 10 provinces with Bangkok being the highest.
Today’s number of infection stands at 2,662 and death at 28
Yesterday Bangkok saw 6 new clusters of more than 500 cases, 16 reported between 100- 499 cases and 31 clusters have less than 100 cases.
The 6 clusters that have reported more than 500 cases include the At the Khlong Toei Market and 41 crowded communities in the district Area around Maha Nak Intersection and Maha Nak Market in Dusit Italian-Thai Development’s worker camp in Khlong Toei, Klong Thom Center and nearby areas, The Mall Bang Kapi and Bang Kapi Market, Sino-Thai’s construction site in Dusit.
Of the 47 remaining clusters, 13 were found in worker camps, 12 around markets and shopping centres, 11 in crowded communities and residential areas, nine at businesses and factories, one at care homes and one at the Pakistan Embassy.
As the government has been scrambling to source more vaccine, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday announced that his government had ordered 20 million doses of Pfizer and 5 million Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine apart from this, another 8 million doses of SinoVac are expected to be in the pipeline.
The delivery date has yet to be confirmed as the Prime Minister said he would revealed the date once negotiations with the manufacturers are complete.
The 2014 coup leader and incumbent Prime Minister Prayut has for the 1st time come out to ask for forgiveness as there are lots of people as people continue to remain unhappy with the vaccine procurement of this government.
Meanwhile, the Private Hospital Association has set the median price for vaccination with the Moderna jab at 1,900 baht per dose or 3,800 baht for the full 2-dose inoculation.
The vaccine will be purchased through the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO), with delivery expected around October. The price for the Moderna jab will be the same at all hospitals.
Economic News
The Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA)’s meeting chaired by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha approved a proactive plan to draw 4 groups of foreigners to boost investment.
The 4 groups targeted by the CESA to help the government achieve its goal of promoting investment, tourism and stimulate domestic consumption to help the government meet the target of achieving 4% economic growth for this year and next year.
The 4 targeted groups are:
1) Wealthy global citizens under the flexible plus program 2) Wealthy retirees 3) Work from Thailand professionals 4) High-skilled professionals.
The CESA has set the condition that these target groups of foreigners wanting to stay in Thailand must have at least US$100,000 in health insurance throughout a 10-year visa stay, according to a Government House source.
The CESA meeting also approved in principle other conditions on the latest investment measures including a plan to allow high-income foreigners to enjoy a long-stay visa for up to 10 years, own land and property, and pay a 17% personal income tax on local earnings are yet to be settled.
On the proposed tax reduction, it is said that the Finance Ministry has voiced opposition, particularly to the 17% tax rate on local earnings, claiming such a tax cut will affect the government’s revenue collection.
Seven international airlines are set to operate direct flights from Europe to Phuket from July 1.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said 7 international airlines have confirmed its readiness to fly direct to Phuket from July 1 onwards when the Phuket Sandbox Model is implemented. These airlines are
British Airways Cathay Pacific El Al Israel Airlines Air France Etihad Airways Qatar Airways Emirates.
The TAT estimated the island to receive 129,000 foreign visitors in the 3rd quarter of this year.
As restaurant continue to remain closed, a restaurant has come out to post on its social media that it can’t take this anymore and is selling its chairs and tables for as low as 10 baht a piece and that it was now going to close until a new government is in power.
Investor confidence in financial markets for the 3 months ahead has risen slightly due to optimism over the country’s mass vaccination programme coupled with a domestic economic recovery and foreign fund inflows.
The Thai Capital Market Organisations (Fetco) reported that its investor confidence index rose to 126.4 following a drop to 124.37 in April, when the latest, more severe outbreak emerged, citing a May survey.
Factors that dragged down investor confidence are the current outbreak situation in the 3rd wave, international conflicts and the next meeting of the Central Bank’s rate setters scheduled for June 23.
Krung Thai Bank (KTB) has come under heavy fire for exposing information of users posted on the “Pao Tang” application.
The bank was accused of disclosing and sharing personal information to outsiders including insurance companies without consent from users.
In the latest, KTB has issued a statement, explaining that the use of information involving products, financial services and partners for analysis which complies with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). It said the information is used by the Bank to analyse and develop products and services that meet the needs of users of the “Pao Tang” app.
It said users can choose to give their consent or to “not agree” without affecting the use of the app, but if all the answers are ‘No’ then the application does not allow the user to register.
The Senate yesterday voted unanimously in favour of an executive decree which amended the Civil and Commercial Code to prevent creditors from charging unfair interest rates by abusing ambiguities in the old law.
The Senate voted 201-0 in favour, with 5 abstentions, in support of the amendment of the Civil and Commercial Code on the reduction of default interest rates.
Some creditors have forced debtors who missed a repayment to pay interest on top of the principal amount owed, as the old law did not set out the default rate. The amended law sets the interest rate at 3% a year and decreases the default rate from 7.5% a year to 5% a year.
SET-listed Banpu Plc, a non-oil energy conglomerate, has acquired two utility-scale solar farms in New South Wales, Australia, in a deal worth A$97.5 million (2.33 billion baht) to further increase its clean power generation capacity. The new assets are Beryl Solar Farm (BSF) with a capacity of 110.9 megawatts (MW) and Manildra Solar Farm (MSF) with a capacity of 55.9MW.
The purchase marks another step in Banpu's move toward renewable generation in Australia where it has been operating coal mines for more than two decades. The new assets will enable Banpu to achieve a power generation capacity of 6,100MW by 2025.
Berli Jucker Plc (BJC), the trading company and the operator of Big C Supercenter, has cut back its investment to about 6-7 billion baht this year from its earlier plan to spend 7- 8 billion baht.
Rawipa Boonyu, the company's senior investor relations executive, said yesterday that half of the planned investment budget was geared towards the expansion of its retail business. The company plans to open 102 new retail stores this year. Of this total, 100 stores will be Mini Big C and 18 of them already opened in the first quarter. The remaining two stores are Big C hypermarkets.
According to Rawipa, four existing stores will also be converted to a Food Place supermarket and 10 stores will potentially be converted to Depots.
Political News
The House of Representatives is set to debate an executive decree on a new loan of up to 500 billion baht to combat the public health crisis due to the resurgence of the outbreak tomorrow.
The government, opposition and Senate whips reportedly has come to an agreement to finish deliberating the new loan decree by tomorrow.
Parliament Speaker Chuan Leekpai said if parliament runs out of time for a vote at the end of the debate, it will be taken on the next day.
Phalang Pracharat Party (PPRP) list MP Wirat Rattanaset, as the government chief whip, announced coalition MPs’ readiness for the parliament’s debate on an executive decree to borrow additional 500 billion baht.
The government chief whip said 25 government MPs have now been lined up to deliberate the executive loan decree.
Of 25 government MPs, PPRP will send 12 MPs. The government side and the opposition were allotted 9 hours each for the debate.
Wirat is confident that the decree will pass the House’s approval, citing cooperation from all the coalition parties that were told to vote in the same direction to support the decree.
The government side certainly has former Pheu Thai Party member Ruangkrai Leekijwattana on its side after he jumped ship to join the House committee vetting the fiscal year 2022 budget bill under the Phalang Pracharat Party (PPRP)’s quota.
Ruangkrai has warned Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, also sits on the budget vetting panel that he could face removal as an MP after the latter threatened to cut the fiscal 2022 budget bill to re-allocate to various state agencies such as the National Health Security Fund (NHSF), the Social Security Office (SSO) and so on.
Ruangkrai said he has petitioned Parliament Speaker Chuan Leekpai and the panel’s chairman Arkhom Termpittayapaisith to warn MPs and members of the budget vetting panels to take into careful consideration when considering the fiscal 2022 budget bill.
He warned that those who are not careful when talking about slashing the budget bill may face his petition asking the Constitutional Court to dismiss them from duties on the ground that they may violate Section 144 of the Constitution which bars MPs and senators from Section 144 which prohibits politicians from taking part in the allocation of the national budget.
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, chairman of the Progressive Movement, has come out to attack the government’s vaccination website that lacked vaccine facts and the updated outbreak situation, compared with the site of vaccine distribution plans in Detroit, Michigan, the U.S.
On his Facebook, the Progressive Movement leader praised the vaccine information on the website of the Government of Detroit as being equipped with comprehensive and useful information for the general public. Detroit which covers around 370 km2 has an estimated population of 600,000.
Thanathorn attacked the Thai government vaccination website for its lack of in- depth information about its vaccine management in terms of types of vaccines, the quantity of each type of vaccine and up-to-date information about the outbreak situation.
He called on the Thai government to reveal every detail of information about the vaccination plan to the public to show sincerity to prevent public confusion so that Thailand can achieve herd immunity in the country as soon as possible.
The “Thai Sang Thai” (Nation Building) Party’s executive board voted on June 6 to appoint Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan as the party’s chairperson.
The appointment allows Sudarat to lay out the party’s affairs and appoint members to run the party’s operations.
Pongsakorn Annanopporn, the party’s co-founder, insisted that the party is ready to field 350 constituency candidates in the next general election. The party plans to set up 2 branches this month and 6 more branches next months to have a total of 9 branches across all regions.
Ratsadon protest leader Parit “Penguine” Chiwarak received a court warning to not breach his bail conditions.
Parit’s guardians were warned by the Criminal Court yesterday that it may revoke the anti-establishment political activist’s bail if he is found to be in breach of his bail terms following a special hearing over a complaint in which Parit is accused of posting a message on his Facebook page deemed to be a breach of the terms of his release on bail, set by the court and accepted by Parit’s guardians, before his release last month. Parit’s parents and Asst. Prof. Dr. Adisorn Juntrasook were summoned as Parit’s guardians to the court yesterday.
The complaint was filed by Sonthiya Sawasdee, adviser to the House committee on law, justice and human rights.
The court told Parit’s guardians to ensure that Parit adheres to the bail terms and refrains from posting any messages on social media which may constitute a violation or the court may revoke his bail.
Political News Headlines in Thai Media
Thailand’s mass vaccination campaign kicked off on Monday with minor hiccups and stumbles but marked a new chapter in the country’s fight against Covid.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/28257/vaccine-campaign-kicks-off-around-the- country-with-minor-hiccups-and-an-apology/
Thailand is set to launch its vaccination drive with locally produced vaccines on June 7 despite reports of shortages and distribution concerns.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/28229/the-governments-2021-vaccination-plan- explained/
Photo Essay: Vaccination drive gets underway
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/28294/photo-essay-vaccination-drive-gets- underway/
A purchase order for 25 million doses of US made Johnson & Johnson vaccine for Thailand has been signed, according to Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha today (Monday).
o Link- https://www.thaipbsworld.com/25-million-doses-johnson-johnson-vaccine- ordered-for-thailand/
The parents of Ratsadon anti-establishment protest leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak and a Thammasat University lecturer were warned by the Criminal Court (Monday) that it may revoke the anti-establishment political activist’s bail if he is found to be in breach of his bail terms.
o Link- https://www.thaipbsworld.com/court-warns-protest-leader-penguins-caretakers- to-comply-strictly-with-bail-terms/
A team of military and police officers swooped down on a Thai trafficker as he tried to smuggle 11 Myanmar nationals into Thailand via Kanchanaburi’s Sai Yok district on Monday.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001756
Security patrols by air, land and sea have been increased along the southern border to prevent people crossing illegally from Malaysia, which is under full Covid-19 lockdown from June 1-14.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2128247/patrols-stepped-up-to- prevent-crossings-from-malaysia
Economic News Headlines in Thai Media
Origin Property Plc (ORI), a mid-sized residential property development firm, saw its shares surge by more than 13 per cent Monday morning after it said it would start accepting payment in cryptocurrency.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/28246/origin-property-shares-surge-to-two-year- high-after-announcing-crypto-plan/
Private hospitals will charge 3,800 baht inclusive for two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine made by US-based Moderna.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2128287/moderna-price-set-at- 3-800-baht-for-two-doses
Foreigners living in Bangkok can register for their Covid-19 jab via the http://thailandintervac.com website as of Monday afternoon.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001763
An instant noodle factory, in Ban Pong district of Thailand’s Ratchaburi province, has been ordered to close for 14 days from today (Monday), after 28 workers tested positive for COVID-19 and another 300 have been placed in quarantine in the factory’s compound.
o Link- https://www.thaipbsworld.com/ratchaburi-noodle-factory-closed-after-28- workers-found-with-covid-19/
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,612.59 on Monday, up 1.06 points or 0.07 per cent. Transactions totalled THB88.49 billion with an index high of 1,625.56 and a low of 1,611.78.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40001764
Private consumption dropped in April 2021 MoM because of the third wave of Covid-19 outbreak.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2128267/economic-indicators-in-april- worsened-from-march-forex-but-strong-export-performance-the-only-redeeming- feature
Officials in Chiang Mai have been hard at work learning from Phuket's "Tourism Sandbox" model so the northern province can also reopen to fully vaccinated tourists.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2128419/chiang-mai-seeks- aug-1-reopening
The fresh investment measures including a sweeping plan to allow rich foreigners to enjoy a long-stay visa for up to 10 years, own land and property, and pay a 17% personal income tax on local earnings are yet to be settled, as the Finance Ministry is still resisting the thorny tax reduction proposal.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2128383/measures-to-lure-wealthy- foreigners-hit-obstacle
The state-private partnership expects to start distributing Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccines to factory workers in five industrial estates and a deep-sea port in Map Ta Phut on July 9, with a target of 1,000 vaccines administered per day.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2128459/factory-workers-to-get- sinopharm
SET-listed Siam Gas and Petrochemical (SGP), Thailand's second largest liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) trader by volume, expects to see its sales grow by 15% on average to 3.73 million tonnes across markets in Asia despite stiff competition.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2128591/sgp-anticipates-15-growth-in- sales-volume
Issues to be watched out for
March 31-June 30, 2021 – The deadline extension to file personal income taxes for the 2020 tax year.
June, 2021 – Siam Bioscience to start mass production plan of Covid-19 vaccines.
June, 2021 – 6,174 private firms including around 1 million employees said they want the vaccine distribution provided by the private sector in addition to the government’s plan to inoculate factory workers.
June, 2021 – Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC)’s debt holiday is due to expire.
June, 2021 – Thai Airways expects the bankruptcy court to hold hearings to consider and approve the plan and also appoint an administrator.
June 9-11, 2011 – The 2022 budget appropriation bill is expected to be tabled for parliament deliberations.
June-September, 2021 – Thailand plans to administer 1st doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to 36 million people, according to the Public Health Ministry.
July, 2021 – TMB-Thanachart Bank (TMB-TBank) expects to complete the integration of the 2 financial entities.
July 1, 2021 – Vaccinated tourists can visit Phuket without undergoing mandatory quarantine.
July 27, 2021 – The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases scheduled for a hearing in a lawsuit filed by BTS Group Holdings against the governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) for illegally amending the bidding terms and cancelling bidding for the construction of the western extension of the Orange Line.
August, 2021 – A 3.1-trillion-baht budget spending bill for the fiscal year 2022 will be tabled for 2nd and 3rd readings.
September 1, 2021 – The government will collect value-added tax from Netflix, Youtube, Google, Facebook as well as other e-commerce services.
October, 2021 – Bangkok governor election is set to be held.
October – December, 2021 - The 2nd doses of AstraZeneca would be administered.
October 1, 2021 – The quarantine measure will be lifted in Krabi, Phang Nga, Pattaya and Chiang Mai.
Key Data
SET Index 1,612.59 +1.06
Link - https://www.set.or.th/en/company/ipo/upcoming_ipo_set.html
Global Commodities
Metal -Link http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/commodities/futures/metals/
Energy -Link - http://www.bloomberg.com/energy/
Baltic Dry Index (BDI)-Link - http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/BDIY:IND
Global Equity Market’s Movements
Link - http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/stocks/world-indexes/asia-pacific/
Asian Equity Markets Movement
Link - http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/stocks/world-indexes/
Information on June 7, 2021
Buying, Selling or Transfer of shares by Owners/Management
Stock Code Volume Value Action
AIRA 500,000 2.14 Sale ADB 500,000 2.28 Sale ASK 40,000 17 Purchase ASK 8,537 17 Purchase BCH 6 20.78 Sale K 500,000 0.81 Sale CCET 250,000 3.4 Sale
DOHOME 50,000 25.75 Purchase EPG 580,000 11.6 Sale EPG 233,600 11.43 Sale GREEN 200,000 1.7 Sale KCM 950,000 1.1 Sale KCM 100,000 1.11 Sale LPH 80,000 5.17 Purchase LPH 40,000 5.16 Purchase MJD 250,000 1.86 Purchase MJD 349,000 1.87 Purchase MJD 381,000 1.88 Purchase MJD 390,000 1.89 Purchase MJD 25,000 1.89 Purchase MJD 60,000 1.9 Purchase MJD 1,052,000 1.91 Purchase MJD 80,000 1.92 Purchase NSL 100,000 14 Purchase PAF 400,000 1.88 Sale PERM 150,000 1.14 Sale PERM 100,000 1.17 Sale PIMO 500,000 1.68 Sale PLANET 29,000,000 1.5 Purchase PLANET 3,125,000 1.5 Purchase PLANET 29,000,000 1.5 Purchase PLANET 3,125,000 1.5 Purchase PLANET 52,761 1.5 Purchase PLANET 39 2.5 Purchase PTTGC 3,000 63 Purchase QLT 3,000 4.42 Sale ROJNA 12,000,000 8.41 Sale S11 885 7.35 Purchase S11 2,069 7.35 Purchase SMIT 300,000 4.58 Purchase SELIC 100,042 3.8 Sale SELIC 29 3.78 Sale SICT 470,000 4.46 Purchase SICT 1,056,700 4.46 Purchase SICT 470,000 4.46 Sale SICT 495,200 4.46 Sale SONIC 300,000 2.6 Sale SONIC 300,000 2.56 Purchase
SST 120,000 1.16 Sale TSTE 5,000 7 Purchase UTP 50,000 21.7 Purchase UTP 150,000 21.6 Purchase KUN 200,000 2.83 Purchase KUN 150,000 2.82 Purchase WGE 500,000 2.18 Sale
XD, XE or XM or other notifications
For list of Companies that have dividend payment and AGM meeting schedules click on http://www.set.or.th/set/calendarofevents.do
Trading Breakdown on the Stock Exchange of Thailand
Daily as of 7 Jun 2021 Unit: M.Baht Investor Type Buy Sell Net Value % Value % Value % Local Institutions 5,465.53 6.18 5,530.00 6.25 -64.47 - Proprietary 7,652.34 8.65 7,483.80 8.46 168.54 - Trading Foreign Investors 32,940.42 37.23 34,154.65 38.6 -1,214.23 - Local Individuals 42,431.72 47.95 41,321.56 46.7 1,110.16 - Monthly Cumulative between 1 - 7 Jun 2021 Unit: M.Baht Investor Type Buy Sell Net Value % Value % Value % Local Institutions 26,203.47 6.35 29,800.97 7.23 -3,597.50 - Proprietary 35,471.85 8.6 34,718.02 8.42 753.83 - Trading Foreign Investors 162,054.48 39.3 159,390.45 38.66 2,664.03 - Local Individuals 188,599.40 45.74 188,419.76 45.7 179.64 - Yearly Cumulative since 1 Jan - 7 Jun 2021 Unit: M.Baht Investor Type Buy Sell Net Value % Value % Value % Local Institutions 686,503.91 7.18 726,737.77 7.6 -40,233.86 -
Proprietary 961,657.97 10.06 958,733.75 10.03 2,924.22 - Trading Foreign Investors 3,437,875.84 35.96 3,501,425.97 36.62 -63,550.13 - Local Individuals 4,474,639.18 46.8 4,373,779.41 45.75 100,859.77 -
Total Trading Value 88,490.01 Million Baht
Background Information –
The strength of each party in the Thai Parliament as of May 8, 2019 as per the report by the Election Commission of Thailand. Elections took place on March 24, 2019
https://www.ect.go.th/ect_th/news_all.php?cid=24
List of MPs - https://www.ect.go.th/ect_th/download/article/article_20190508184334.pdf
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