The government has agreed to delay its request for royal endorsement of the Budget Bill, pending the Constitutional Court’s review of a petition in connection with the bill.
PM’s Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn said yesterday that the delay meant the bill may not be enacted on October 1. Although this would not affect government personnel, it would mean a delay in government projects, he said.
While insisting that the government had not violated the Constitution, he said he hoped the court would quickly conclude the case.
Varathep said a group of MPs and senators had filed a petition to the court, alleging that the government had slashed the budgets for independent organisations. The Cabinet yesterday agreed that the government would seek royal endorsement for the Budget Bill only when the Constitutional Court reached its conclusion on the case.
Skytrain case bound for NACC
The Department of Special Investigation will forward its Skytrain-related case against the Bangkok governor and others to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, said DSI chief Tarit Pengdith.
The Attorney-General’s Office recently informed the DSI that it would not have the case prosecuted, given the involvement of government officials. It suggested that the matter was within the jurisdiction of the NACC.
Pointing out that the DSI and the office had worked on the case from the outset, Tarit said he would now forward the case to the NACC.
The DSI earlier charged the Bangkok governor and alleged accomplices over the 13-year extension of the BTS Skytrain management contract without approval from the interior minister.
Condos driving market: Pruksa
Although the economy is expected to grow only slightly in the second half, leading developer Pruksa Real Estate believes the property market will still expand by at least 7 per cent this full year.
“Condominiums will drive property-market growth,” president and CEO Thongma Vijitphongpun said yesterday.
Meanwhile, property agency Knight Frank Charter (Thailand) believes condominium projects located close to the mass-transit system – both existing lines and the 10 planned routes – would continue to grow.
From the beginning of 2009 through to the middle of this year, some 54,630 condo units had been built close to the mass-transit system. Due to the upcoming development of the 10 new routes, the condominium market will see even stronger growth than over the last five years, said managing director Phanom Karnjanathemthow.
panel to probe derailments
State Railway of Thailand governor Prapat Chongsanguan has established a committee to investigate why the rail system has already experienced well over 100 derailments this year.
Through to yesterday, the SRT had witnessed 113 derailments this year – far higher than the total of 89 for the whole of last year.
Bourse's latest SET IC opened in Surat Thani
The Stock Exchange of Thailand continues to expand the SET Investment Centre (SET IC) programme to provide financial literacy and information services to students, investors, the general public and securities professionals outside of Bangkok, enabling them to access information quickly, easily and conveniently.
The centres are run under the concept “Your Investment Centre: One You Can Reach”, offering a modern and full range of services. The latest SET IC is at Suratthani Rajabhat University in Surat Thani province.
SET president Charamporn Jotikasthira said that providing financial and investment literacy nationwide represented one of the exchange’s key missions in order to match opportunities for investors and the general public to access information on an easy, convenient and quick basis.
The main factor in achieving this mission is to have a strong university network, as shown by opening the SET IC in Suratthani Rajabhat University, he said.
The SET also expects to open two more SET ICs later this year.
JMT, Thanaban ink Bt729m NPL contract
JMT Network Services has signed an agreement on non-performing loans in the motorcycle hire-purchase sector with Thanaban in a deal worth Bt729 million.
MahaSamutr deal signed by Pace, Thai Obayashi
Pace Development and Thai Obayashi, one of the country’s leading contractors, recently signed a contract to assign the structural work for the MahaSamutr project.
Located on a 120-rai (19 hectare) plot at Hua Hin Soi 112, the project is set around Asia’s largest man-made clear-water lagoon, covering an area of 45 rai.
A ground-breaking ceremony for MahaSamutr was performed last Thursday, and sales will begin next June. The project is scheduled for completion late next year.
AirAsia spreads wings to City of Eternal Spring
AirAsia has added a new destination with daily direct flights from Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Kunming, the “City of Eternal Spring” and the centre of southwest China.
Reinforcing its status as the low-fare airline with the most complete network in China, AirAsia offers the two-and-a-half-hour flight to Kunming at a promotional fare starting from B1,690 per way, inclusive of tax and fees.
Perfect for weekend getaways, travellers to Kunming can visit its natural stone forest and pass through the auspicious dragon gate of the Western Hills.
Likely delay in Budget Bill enactment
The government has agreed to delay its request for royal endorsement of the Budget Bill, pending the Constitutional Court’s review of a petition in connection with the bill.
PM’s Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn said yesterday that the delay meant the bill may not be enacted on October 1. Although this would not affect government personnel, it would mean a delay in government projects, he said.
While insisting that the government had not violated the Constitution, he said he hoped the court would quickly conclude the case.
Varathep said a group of MPs and senators had filed a petition to the court, alleging that the government had slashed the budgets for independent organisations. The Cabinet yesterday agreed that the government would seek royal endorsement for the Budget Bill only when the Constitutional Court reached its conclusion on the case.
Skytrain case bound for NACC
The Department of Special Investigation will forward its Skytrain-related case against the Bangkok governor and others to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, said DSI chief Tarit Pengdith.
The Attorney-General’s Office recently informed the DSI that it would not have the case prosecuted, given the involvement of government officials. It suggested that the matter was within the jurisdiction of the NACC.
Pointing out that the DSI and the office had worked on the case from the outset, Tarit said he would now forward the case to the NACC.
The DSI earlier charged the Bangkok governor and alleged accomplices over the 13-year extension of the BTS Skytrain management contract without approval from the interior minister.
Condos driving market: Pruksa
Although the economy is expected to grow only slightly in the second half, leading developer Pruksa Real Estate believes the property market will still expand by at least 7 per cent this full year.
“Condominiums will drive property-market growth,” president and CEO Thongma Vijitphongpun said yesterday.
Meanwhile, property agency Knight Frank Charter (Thailand) believes condominium projects located close to the mass-transit system – both existing lines and the 10 planned routes – would continue to grow.
From the beginning of 2009 through to the middle of this year, some 54,630 condo units had been built close to the mass-transit system. Due to the upcoming development of the 10 new routes, the condominium market will see even stronger growth than over the last five years, said managing director Phanom Karnjanathemthow.
Panel to probe derailments
State Railway of Thailand governor Prapat Chongsanguan has established a committee to investigate why the rail system has already experienced well over 100 derailments this year.
Through to yesterday, the SRT had witnessed 113 derailments this year – far higher than the total of 89 for the whole of last year.
