Samui, Pha-ngan first targets in nominee firm crackdown

12 Sept 23:59 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Department of Business Development (DBD) and Department of Special Investigation (DSI) launched a crackdown on foreign-controlled companies using Thai nominees, initially targeting Samui and Pha-ngan islands.
The initiative stems from numerous complaints by Thai firms about unfair competition and foreign investors disrespecting local laws, prompting a prime ministerial order for enforcement.
DBD screened over 11,000 companies in Samui and Pha-ngan, with plans to expand the crackdown to other major tourist hubs like Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Krabi, and Phang-nga, where foreign investment is significant.
The DSI is proposing legislation to classify the use of Thai nominees as a money laundering offense, which would enable authorities to seize assets from convicted offenders.

WHO urges government to safeguard ThaiHealth funding, health taxes

Yesterday 18:52 Key points summarised by AI

The World Health Organization (WHO) urges the Thai government to maintain stable, long-term funding for the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and preserve the public health benefits of tobacco and alcohol taxation.
This call comes in response to a proposal to replace ThaiHealth's current earmarked tax revenue with potentially less predictable annual budget allocations.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that health taxes are vital public health measures that reduce harmful consumption while generating public revenue.
He lauded ThaiHealth as an internationally recognized model for sustained investment in health promotion and disease prevention, highlighting the significant health, social, and economic benefits of such prevention efforts.