Jim Waldron

"...everyone knows... " Then why did nothing meaningful happened until it was too late? Funny how these revelations only surface after friendships sour.

"...The agreement set out a framework for the two countries to cooperate, refrain from unilateral exploitation and jointly explore and develop natural resources, particularly petroleum, in the disputed maritime area..." What happens if, once MOU44 is cancelled, Cambodia then decides to act on its own? Without it, Cambodia could argue it is free to pursue exploration or resource development independently, or in partnership with external players (for example, Chinese or Vietnamese firms). This could raise several concerns for Thailand, such as maritime security incidents, investor uncertainty in the energy sector, and the risk of disputes escalating into legal or diplomatic battles. So while Anutin says MOU44 "... no longer delivers any benefit...", the bigger issue is whether it opens the door for Cambodia to take steps that Thailand would find far more problematic. In that sense, the move could be less about what just looks like domestic populism, and more about testing how far Cambodia is willing to go (and whether Thailand is prepared to risk that)!

The video looks innocent enough. But, transparency in vote counting is absolutely fundamental to public trust. Why were the sheets operlaped in the first place, and why wasn't this corrected from the outset given that there was ample space on the board? That alone is enough to justify calls for clearer guidelines and stricter oversight. The precautionary approach here is to insist on rechecking the tallies and ensuring that future counts are conducted in a way that leaves no room for doubt. The moral of this story is that even small lapses in procedure can erode confidence, and once trust is lost, it’s very difficult to rebuild!

I was surprised to read this as I thought that South Korea was a place where Western couples went to adopt babies. Regardless, this is a pretty pathetic was of fixing that country’s low birth rate. Treating foreign women from SE Asia as a demographic solution rather than introducing domestic policies that encourage people in South Korea to want to have more children. Imagine if a politician from a Western country suggested that!

See the dark humor in the number 44? In a country where numerology is everything, that number is quite ironic. Remember Prayut’s Section 44 of the interim constitution? That "Dictator's Tool" gave absolute power to bypass the law entirely. The very system built during that era is using an "ethical" ruling to wipe out 44 former MPs of the Move Forward Party. Literally the day after the 2026 General Election we now see that 10 of these people (who just won their seats back as part of the People’s Party) might be banned for life! Same old story, different year. Welcome to "Thai-style" democracy, where the numbers always seem to add up against the people's vote. The only number I can think of is 555!

It already appears that there are quite strong feelings about the election result amongst forum members. Regardless of who ends up forming the government, the fact that the People’s Party has emerged as a dominant, concentrated opposition force (especially in Bangkok and other urban centres) is genuinely positive for governance. Having watched Thai politics for half a century, I’d argue that the most significant outcome of this weekend is not simply who won, but the focus of the parties that campaigned for constitutional reform. The electorate must have listened too, based on the result of the referendum. The Prayut-era constitution of 2017 was explicitly designed to hamstring democratic choice and entrench military influence. With the appointed Senate gone and a newly elected House once again holding full authority, the door is now open for meaningful constitutional change. I'm not saying it will happen, just that it is now possible!

"... a real loser..."! Let's hope these words come back to haunt him.

“…the law must be applied if an offence is found, regardless of political consequences…” Ah, you’ve just gotta love the Thai legal system! We’re now being told the Election Commission (EC) is considering legal action against party leaders who endorsed candidates later ruled ineligible by the Supreme Court. But, let’s not forget that the EC’s own late announcement of disqualified candidates was directly triggered by the Supreme Court’s rulings, which came only a day before the election. The cases had been filed earlier, yet the Court delivered its decision at the eleventh hour, leaving the EC scrambling to implement it. In a twist of irony, the EC is now weighing prosecutions that could send disputes right back to the Supreme Court, the same institution whose timing created the last‑minute disruption in the first place. So while the EC can point to the Court’s schedule as the reason for its delayed move, the bigger picture is how this back‑and‑forth between institutions plays out. The Court’s late rulings forced the EC’s hand, and the EC’s response may ultimately return to the Court again. In the end, it’s less about individual candidates and more about how the separation of powers functions in Thailand. The timing of the Court's decision directly shaped the election process, and the EC’s role was reduced to carrying out orders under pressure, only to now consider actions that could restart the cycle. It's enough to make your head spin!

Well! What an unexpected outcome. I’ve been around Thailand for half a century now, and this election is a real surprise. I don’t think many would have predicted the BJT to have performed so well. Conversely, I can’t believe the People’s Party fared so poorly. I believe the result is largely due to the border dispute with Cambodia. National pride seems to have pushed Thais toward their conservative security blanket rather than taking a risk with the more progressive options. That said, no party governs alone here. So, as ever, coalitions will decide the real outcome. Even if BJT are the eventual winners, they’ll still have to compromise with others. Regardless, it looks like Anutin is in a strong position to become the next PM, but the next few weeks of bargaining will tell us where things truly land (and assuming there are no legal challenges). Even though the final result is still uncertain, I suspect the elite are quite content with how things have turned out!

Without wanting to be too critical of the Election Commission, all that can really be said is that 49 parliamentary candidates have been withdrawn ahead of today's general election. This includes 18 constituency candidates and 31 party-list candidates across several political parties. Conspiracy theories aside, the EC has emphasized two key points for voters: - Constituency ballots: If a voter selects a disqualified candidate, the ballot will be considered spoiled. - Party-list ballots: Disqualified party-list candidates do not invalidate the party itself, so voters can still select their preferred party. According to the EC, the removals were carried out under Section 52 of the Election Act, and the Commission has urged voters to carefully review updated candidate lists before casting their ballots. It's unfortunate that this comes on the nationwide vote, which will determine all 500 seats in the House of Representatives. The important thing to remember is that all the major parties—including Bhumjaithai, Pheu Thai, and the People’s Party—remain in contention for forming the next government. To those Thais reading this, happy voting today!

I've seen this before! The allegations against Suriya Juangroongruangkit regarding his Gulfstream G550 declaration present another significant test for the NACC. When viewed alongside the 2016 Somdet Chuang Mercedes scandal, several systemic issues regarding high-value asset transparency in Thailand come to light: Valuation vs. Market Reality: In the 2016 case, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) proved the 1953 Mercedes was undervalued through a tax-evasion scheme involving "knock-down" parts. Similarly, critics now question how a private jet worth nearly 900 million baht can be represented as a 30-million-baht asset. While Suriya claims fractional ownership, the discrepancy raises the same legal question: does the declared value reflect the true economic benefit to the owner? Due Diligence of the Recipient: A core defense in the Somdet Chuang case was that the monk was a passive recipient of a donation. However, the Office of the Attorney-General still pursued the case based on the illegality of the asset's origin. Suriya’s purchase from an individual linked to grey-market activities places him in a similar position; as a senior public official, the burden of due diligence is arguably higher than that of a monastic figure. Institutional Integrity: The Mercedes scandal ultimately blocked a Supreme Patriarch nomination to preserve the sanctity of the office. For the NACC, the Suriya case is about whether the "asset disclosure" system is a functional oversight tool or merely a filing exercise. If an official can declare 3% of a jet's value while enjoying 100% of its utility, it renders the anti-corruption framework ineffective. Both cases illustrate a recurring pattern where the technicalities of "ownership" are used to obscure the full scale of luxury assets.

This news item is just one of a growing number of articles in the forum that suggest tough economic times ahead for Thailand and it's citizens. But what about expats living here? I would suggest that for expats, the significance of this article isn’t really about party politics or who wins the Finance Ministry - it’s more about future stability. A sovereign credit downgrade would filter down in very practical ways to everyone's daily life in Thailand. A weaker credit rating would likely put pressure on the baht, raise government borrowing costs and reduce fiscal flexibility. That, in turn affects infrastructure spending, healthcare funding, transport projects and the wider cost of living. These are all things expats rely on whether they realise it or not. Currency volatility is probably the most immediate concern. It's likely that many expats in Thailand live on foreign income, pensions or savings. A sharply weaker baht could be good news in the short term for those bringing money in. But, prolonged instability could lead to inflation, higher prices for imports, utilities and rent. That’s when Thailand stops feeling like a cheap place to live. There’s also an insidious flow on effect on jobs and investment. Thailand’s expat ecosystem – the international schools, private healthcare, multinational employers, and regional offices, all depend on investor confidence. A downgrade or sustained negative outlook makes companies pause expansion plans, rethink regional hubs, and slow hiring. That impacts both working expats and retirees alike! This is why the Finance Minister choice matters more to expats than the politicians' predicted growth targets. Rating agencies and markets will be looking for realism, discipline and credibility, not just populist policies and wishful thinking. Big promises without a credible funding path tend to spook markets, and history shows Thailand pays a price when confidence dips. For expats, the message is simple - a steady hand at Finance, predictable policy, and respect for institutional credibility tend to translate into a calmer currency, manageable inflation and continuity in public services. In short, this appointment won’t just shape bond markets; it will also influence how comfortable, affordable and predictable expat life in Thailand feels over the next few years!

We've been seeing quite a few forum news items lately that combined must suggest a disturbing economic trend for Thailand. This news item is no exception! We are told that Thailand's industrial sector faces a narrowing gap between factory openings and closures, with the surplus of new factories declining by 42%. Most concerning is that in December 2025, closures actually exceeded openings for the first time in two years - signaling that the "gap" isn't just narrowing, it's inverting. Furthermore, the average capital of closing factories has risen to 49 million baht, proving this is no longer just an SME crisis but is hitting larger operators. A quick Web search reveals that in Vietnam and Indonesia, the opposite is happening. These nations are seeing robust net gains driven by a "China-plus-one" migration and high-tech consolidation. Apart from issues identified by the Kasikorn Research Centre and the country’s demographic challenges (reported elsewhere in the forum), a key differentiator is AI adoption and industrial strategy! Thailand’s Lack of Resilience: A low 18% AI adoption rate leaves Thai factories vulnerable to rising labor costs and inefficient "legacy" production. The Regional Lead: In contrast, Vietnam (~42%) and Indonesia (as high as 92% in enterprise surveys) are aggressively leveraging "dark factory" principles and cognitive automation. By focusing on high-tech exports and "smart" manufacturing, Vietnam and Indonesia are attracting the very investment that is currently bypassing Thailand’s aging industrial infrastructure (see SmartDev 2025 Benchmark for more details). References Boston Consulting Group (2025) Unlocking Southeast Asia’s AI Potential. [online] Available at: https://web-assets.bcg.com/2d/5a/2b923a054e2b9423e61e77f442f7/unlocking-southeast-asias-ai-potential-vf-20250407.pdf [Accessed 7 February 2026]. Kasikorn Research Centre (2025) More factory closures expected in 2025 (Current Issue No. 3557). [online] Available at: https://www.kasikornresearch.com/en/analysis/k-econ/economy/Pages/Factory-Closed-CIS3557-KR-2025-02-07.aspx [Accessed 7 February 2026]. National Statistics Office of Vietnam (2026) Index of industrial production in March of 2025 [Reporting 2025 Full Year Results]. [online] Available at: https://www.nso.gov.vn/en/data-and-statistics/2025/04/index-of-industrial-production-in-march-of-2025/ [Accessed 7 February 2026]. SmartDev (2025) The State of AI Adoption in Global Enterprises: 2025 Benchmark. [online] Available at: https://smartdev.com/ai-adoption-in-global-enterprises-2025-benchmark/ [Accessed 7 February 2026]. Thai Newsroom (2026) 700+ factories closed, 1,220 opened in 2025. [online] Available at: https://thainewsroom.com/2026/02/06/700-factories-closed-1200-opened-in-2025/ [Accessed 7 February 2026].

At first, I was prepared to dismiss this article from The Nation as little more than parochial spin. However, after looking into it more closely, I realised the article isn’t actually wrong — it’s just addressing two very different issues: selective asset investment and overall economic or tourism health. Thailand can simultaneously face sluggish growth, weak domestic demand and declining regional competitiveness, yet still attract hotel investors. While this may seem contradictory, what we’re largely seeing is value-add, counter-cyclical investment, not confidence in a booming market. A real-world example for me is Chiang Mai’s former Imperial Mae Ping, where I always stayed when visiting the city. This ageing but well-located hotel was bought by the InterContinental group, extensively renovated and repositioned as a five-star property. The result is a high-quality hotel — but priced well beyond what many long-time visitors would now pay (including me). As I discovered, this is a classic investment play based on acquiring discounted assets and targeting a narrower, higher-spending segment, not evidence of broad-based tourism recovery. The figures in the article support this interpretation. Transaction volumes forecast for 2026 remain below the 2017–18 peak, rather than signalling a new boom. Occupancy is down, while Average Daily Rates and Revenue per Available Room are up — suggesting price resilience at the top end, not volume-driven growth. Investors are focusing almost exclusively on prime locations and larger properties that can be repositioned, rather than expanding capacity across the market. This also helps explain the wider discussions elsewhere on the forum about Thailand being described as the “sick man of Asia”. While Vietnam has overtaken Thailand in Chinese tourist numbers — reflecting stronger growth momentum — Thailand is increasingly relying on premium segments to offset stagnation in mass tourism. What may work for investors, therefore, does not invalidate concerns about the wider economy. This isn’t simply parochial spin, as I first thought, but it is a very selective lens. Hotel investment optimism does not equal economic health. If anything, it often signals cautious capital buying assets cheaply and betting on long-term positioning rather than near-term recovery!

This election is singularly significant for Thailand’s democratic framework. For the first time since 2019, the selection of the PM will rest solely with the elected House, without the intervention of an appointed Senate. For me, that structural change alone addresses one of the most criticised legacies of the post-2014 Prayut political order. This article by The Independent accurately reflects Thailand’s troubled democratic history: repeated coups, court interventions, party dissolutions and constitutions drafted under military rule. Recall the events of 1992 and 2010, when the army fired on Thai citizens during political unrest. More recently, in the 2023 election, the Move Forward Party won the most seats but was ultimately prevented from forming a government, following constitutional manoeuvring that allowed the appointed military-dominated senate to block the prime ministerial vote. That process was later reinforced by legal action initiated after a complaint to the Election Commission by conservative activist lawyer and serial-complainer Theerayuth Suwankesorn. The current snap election, and the accompanying constitutional referendum, represent yet another test of whether Thailand's electoral aspirations will be allowed to translate into governing authority. Even without a Prayut-era Senate veto, entrenched elites and institutions still retain significant power to influence the final outcome, and any resulting government is still likely to be a fragile coalition of disparate minor parties. Whether this election delivers real reform or just another short-lived government will depend not only on who wins the most votes, but on how the courts and the broader elite establishment respond to the people’s choice! I'm optimistically confident rather than confidently optimistic!

Nothing says ‘free and fair elections’ like forcing everyone to be stone‑cold sober on election day. The ballot box is open, but the bar is closed! Now that’s what I call election interference.

The standout item for me in this article is: "...attempted to escape via a fire exit, only to find it blocked..." By what?

Given that the source of this article is the Daily Express, I did a web search for independent confirmation. Amnesty International has indeed published testimonies from escapees describing executions, forced public viewings, and harsh punishments for watching South Korean TV or listening to K-Pop. They also noted that wealthier citizens could sometimes avoid punishment through bribery. These reports were covered by other outlets such as The Independent, which adds weight to the claims. So, while the Daily Express article is written in its usual sensational style, the core content is consistent with Amnesty’s findings. That said, it’s important to remember that Amnesty’s evidence comes from interviews with escapees, not direct observation inside North Korea. As I’ve mentioned before, ASEAN Now posts based on Daily Express articles should be treated with caution. The “facts” may be valid, but the way they’re presented often provokes rather than informs!

I agree with dinsdale! I looked elsewhere to verify the claims made in this news article, and it seems Solovyov did indeed made multiple aggressive statements on Russian state TV. Independent reports confirm he threatened NATO leaders, including a six-word death threat to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and claimed Russia could strike “any part of Europe” without U.S. retaliation . So, while these threats are real and documented, the source of the article (Daily Express) tends to frame them in hyperbolic language (“terrifying,” “chilling,” “WW3 threat”). The rhetoric is undeniably hostile, but the Express’s style amplifies the drama beyond the factual statements. ASEAN Now should be careful not to amplify tabloid-style exaggeration without context!

Classic Trump - post something overtly racist, deny responsibility, blame a nameless staffer, then accuse everyone else of “fake outrage”. Portraying the Obamas as apes isn’t a simple meme, it’s outright racism! The fact that it takes a Republican senator to point this out says a lot about how low the bar has sunk. And the pathetic excuse? A staffer “erroneously” posted it. Funny how these so-called errors always align perfectly with Trump’s long, and well-documented history of racism and conspiracy peddling. At this point, outrage isn’t fake — accountability is! Just like the Epstein Files, we're being told there is nothing to see here, apparently. Move along until the next “mistake”!

In context, 1,005 complaints out of more than 2.4 million advance voters is statistically tiny. Any large election will generate critics and procedural hiccups. In most countries that would be waved away as statistical noise and the unavoidable friction of running a large election. However, the elephant in the room isn’t the scale — it’s the symbolism. In Thailand, with its history of elections being voided, even minor technical errors can be magnified, politicised and later used to challenge the outcome! And speaking of elephants in the room, as the US has clearly demonstrated, a single rutting one claiming a “rigged” election can do more damage than thousands of genuine votes cast!

Strengthening flood protection at Suvarnabhumi makes sense given the geography of the surrounding area. Bangkok and the airport sit on the Chao Phraya delta, just metres above sea level, with subsidence, sea-level rise and more intense rainfall already well documented risks. After the lessons of 2011, ignoring flooding would be irresponsible, especially at Don Mueang Airport. However, resilience planning needs to look beyond flood levels alone. Any embankment or barrier around Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang Airports must also be assessed for their "impact" on aircraft safety in emergency situations. The Jeju Air Flight 2216 crash at Muan in December 2024 showed how concrete barriers near the ends of runways can turn an overrun into a tragedy. Don Mueang experienced a similar event in December 1999 when QANTAS Flight QF1 overran the runway and ended up in a golf course. Luckily, there was no obstruction in its path! I think most people would agree that climate adaptation is essential for Thailand’s airports. However, these upgrades to improve resilience must not introduce new, avoidable risks to passengers and crews!

"... Swine Raisers Association of Thailand..." - S R A T! I can see why they're not the Pig Raisers Association of Thailand! Who would’ve thought? Thailand shipping pork to Malaysia (a Muslim country)! This article intrigued me, so I turned to the Web for more information about this. To my surprise, although Malaysia may be majority Muslim, around 40% of the population are non-Muslim, made up of Chinese, Indian, and indigenous groups - and pork is a staple in their diets. Also, Malaysia already has a pork industry, but demand often outstrips supply, so imports from Thailand are a win-win your booth countries. Thailand solves its growing surplus problem and this also helps to keep domestic prices stable, while Malaysia ensures a steady supply for the non-Muslim market. This deal also highlights Thailand’s hygiene and food safety standards, which passed Malaysia’s inspections. So, Thailand has too much pork, Malaysia has people who want pork, and now everyone’s happy…except the pigs!

Great to see stories like this. The Thai taxi driver sharing desserts with Australian tourists really shows the congeniality I’ve often found in Bangkok taxi drivers. Most drivers are very good - especially given the tough traffic they deal with daily. Small gestures like this can certainly leave a lasting impression on those who experience it.