How a music video reignited public anger over deadly Bangkok tower collapse

13 Sept 09:26 Key points summarised by AI

The State Audit Office (SAO) released a song, "The Auditor's Vow," composed by its Auditor-General, intended to boost morale but instead sparked widespread public derision.
The song's release came less than a year after the deadly collapse of the SAO's unfinished Bangkok headquarters, which killed over 100 people due to construction flaws, with no state officials charged despite suspected irregularities.
Critics condemned the song for ignoring the tragedy and focusing on auditors' "heroic battle," questioning the use of public resources and the lack of accountability for the disaster.
Despite the SAO's defense of in-house production, the music video garnered millions of views and a barrage of negative comments, forcing comment restrictions and highlighting continued public anger over the unaddressed building collapse.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.