BANGKOK: Thai lawmakers began a censure debate against Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and five cabinet ministers on Tuesday, as opponents threatened to intensify street protests fueled by frustration at his government's handling of a COVID-19 crisis.
Prayuth has weathered two previous censure motions and is widely expected to survive a no confidence vote scheduled for Saturday, owing to his coalition's clear parliamentary majority of 270 seats verses the opposition's 212.
But the motion is unlikely to temper the anger of youth-led anti-government groups, which organised major rallies late last year that led to repeated standoffs and hundreds of arrests.
Protests have returned this year with renewed support from Thais frustrated by lockdowns, record COVID-19 deaths and a troubled vaccine rollout, who have threatened nationwide demonstrations while the opposition grills Prayuth in parliament.
They accuse the former army chief and five of his cabinet ministers, including deputy prime minister and health minister Anutin Charnvirakul, of corruption, economic mismanagement and of bungling the government's coronavirus response.
"Every seven minutes a Thai person died because of the blundered management of the COVID-19 situation," opposition leader Sompong Amornwiwat of the Pheu Thai Party said in opening the debate.
"There are economic losses of 8 billion baht ($247.60 million) per day from a lack of management and lockdown measures that have failed."
Staunch royalist Prayuth took power in a 2014 military coup and remained prime minister after a 2019 election, making him the longest-serving Thai leader since the end of the Cold War.
The protests against him, which are outlawed under current coronavirus restrictions, have gathered steam in recent weeks, despite frequent, at times violent clashes with police who have responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon.
Reuters
Tue Aug 31 2021
Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha arrives before a family photo session with new cabinet ministers at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, March 30, 2021. - REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
Biden bincang dengan pemimpin Qatar, Mesir cadangan gencatan senjata Gaza
Biden mengesahkan AS bersama-sama Mesir dan Qatar akan berusaha untuk memastikan pelaksanaan penuh syarat-syaratnya.
Bursa Malaysia dibuka tinggi, teruskan kenaikan
Pada 9.05 pagi, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) naik 2.89 mata kepada 1,585.55 daripada 1,582.66 ketika ditutup pada Isnin.
Apple Pencil baharu hadir dengan sistem haptik
Apabila digunakan pada skrin iPad, pengguna boleh merasakan tindak balas haptik seakan menggunakan pensel sebenar.
[TERKINI] KPM giat laksana pelbagai inisiatif bagi reformasi pendidikan negara
KPM berkata, Laporan Bank Dunia bertajuk 'Bending Bamboo Shoots: Strengthening Foundation Skills' berkenaan sistem pendidikan negara diambil perhatian.
Tentera AS edar gambar jeti maritim Gaza siap dibina
Beberapa gambar pembinaan jeti maritim oleh tentera Amerika Syarikat (AS) di Gaza untuk menghantar bantuan kemanusiaan telah diedarkan Komando Pusat AS pada Isnin.
Pesara tentera maut dilanggar lori menggelongsor
Orang ramai yang mempunyai maklumat berhubung kejadian diminta menyalurkan maklumat berkenaan kepada pegawai penyiasat kes.
Kenaikan cukai perkhidmatan 8% beri kesan kos operasi, unjuran pendapatan Nestle Malaysia dikurangkan
Perbelanjaan operasi bagi 2024 juga diramal bertambah lagi susulan rasionalisasi bahan api yang berkemungkinan dilaksanakan.
Dua sahabat maut dilanggar bas
Mangsa maut di tempat kejadian akibat kecederaan parah di bahagian kepala.
25 terbunuh bas terjunam gaung di utara Peru
Bas antara negeri itu membawa 50 penumpang apabila insiden itu berlaku kira-kira 10.10 malam waktu tempatan.
Jepun, Uzbekistan berentap final Piala Asia B-23
Pasukan yang kalah dalam penentuan tempat ketiga itu akan menentang Guinea yang berada pada kedudukan keempat.
Right to Hire, No Right to Fire
The right to fire a Prime Minister by Members of Parliament can actually present itself via the YDP Agong, says Azalina Othman.
Bills to televise court proceedings tabled for first reading
Subsection 69 (1) of the Act was also proposed to be amended to allow receiving statements via remote communication technology.
Beware of the Fitch rating that can hurl Malaysia into a ditch
Credit rating agencies cannot be trusted, as the key navigator to steer the macro or micro economy of Malaysia, says Dr Rais.
COVID-19: RM4.5 billion fund to help small, medium enterprises and micro entrepreneurs
Prime Minister said the allocation would be channelled through five key initiatives.
Self-service laundrettes not allowed to operate
The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) said the ban is to prevent the crowd from gathering.
Kimanis Memilih: It's actually a battle between Bung Moktar and Shafie Apdal
Both of them are now seen as -two godfathers of Sabah- who are in a marathon of winning the Sabahans hearts.
Britain should break with Europe on palm oil
A fresh attitude toward palm oil, unencumbered by influential special-interest groups, could lead to even better trade terms between the U.K. and the region than it currently enjoys.
The Nintendo of Islamophobia
The late Edward Said, author of the "Orientalism-, in reaction to Gulf War I, once averred that the CNN footage of the war in Iraq amounted to a "Nintendo Game".
PM Mahathir confers lifetime achievement award at Petronas SIC-MAM Awards
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contributions and undying support towards national motorsports industry.
Malaysia propose to Singapore for both to cease from sending assets in boundary issue
Malaysia has proposed to Singapore for both countries to cease and desist from sending assets into the disputed area of Tuas, effective 0000 hours on Dec 8.