'No reason for Paetongtarn to resign and dissolve the Parliament', says Thai ruling party

FILE PHOTO: Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra speaks during a press conference about tensions following the incident in an undemarcated area on May 28, after a cabinet meeting at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, June 10, 2025. -- Photo: REUTERS
ISTANBUL (Bernama-Anadolu): Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai Party said on Saturday that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will neither resign nor dissolve parliament, rejecting opposition demands following a leaked phone conversation with Cambodia's Senate president;
"The Prime Minister has firmly affirmed to us that she will continue to fully carry out her duties in addressing the crises the country is currently facing.
"There is no reason to even dissolve the parliament," party Secretary-General Sorawong Thienthong said in a statement posted on Facebook, referring to ongoing tensions with Cambodia.
Sorawong said the administration remains focused on using the remainder of its term to advance key policies despite the political fallout from the leaked call.
The comments come after a recording of a phone call between Paetongtarn and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen was posted on the latter's Facebook page.
In the call, Paetongtarn is heard criticising Thailand's 2nd Army Region commander over the military's handling of a border dispute that left one Cambodian soldier dead on May 28.
Opposition parties and protesters have since called for her resignation and the dissolution of parliament.
Thailand's Opposition leader, Natthapong Ruengpanyawut, has demanded a snap election, citing a breach of public trust.
In a further escalation, Thai authorities filed a complaint with the Cybercrime Investigation Bureau against Hun Sen, accusing him of threatening national security and stoking bilateral tensions, Thai PBS reported. - Bernama-Anadolu

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Sinar Daily

27 minutes ago

• Sinar Daily

CAAM to take over functions of Mavcom from Aug 1 to become sole aviation industry regulatory body

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said CAAM would fully take over the economic regulatory functions previously carried out by Mavcom. 23 Jun 2025 01:41pm CAAM and Mavcom are being rationalised where all aviation industry regulatory functions including technical and economic aspects will be consolidated under one entity. - Bernama photo PUTRAJAYA - The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) will be rationalised effective August 1, bringing the aviation industry's regulatory functions under one entity, CAAM. In a press conference here today, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said CAAM would fully take over the economic regulatory functions previously carried out by Mavcom. The move was in line with international best practices where other countries are now adopting a single regulatory model in the aviation sector to ensure more effective coordination. - Bernama file photo "CAAM and Mavcom are being rationalised where all aviation industry regulatory functions including technical and economic aspects will be consolidated under one entity, CAAM. "The rationalisation of CAAM and Mavcom is part of the government's institutional reform efforts to improve the efficiency of the regulatory structure, reduce duplication of functions between agencies that have similar roles and ensure more integrated and efficient service delivery to the industry and the people,' he said. Loke said the move was in line with international best practices where other countries are now adopting a single regulatory model in the aviation sector to ensure more effective coordination. Loke said this rationalisation also lays a solid foundation for CAAM to drive the growth of Malaysia's aviation industry, in line with the country's aspiration to become a competitive and inclusive advanced economy. To implement this rationalisation, the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Dissolution) Bill 2024 [Act 856] and the Malaysian Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment) Bill 2024 [Act A1723] were tabled and passed in the Dewan Rakyat on June 26, 2024 and in the Dewan Negara on July 30, 2024. Both acts received the assent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on September 11, 2024 and were published in the Gazette on September 25, 2024. "Both acts will come into force from August 1, 2025, coinciding with the enforcement date of CAAM as a Remunerated Separated and Exempted Statutory Body (BBDSB). "With the enactment of these two acts, the transfer of functions and responsibilities from Mavcom to CAAM can be implemented in accordance with the law officially," he said. Loke stressed that all Mavcom staff will be offered suitable placements at CAAM based on their skills and experience. He said a town hall session would also be held to discuss the new salary rates for CAAM staff following its merger with Mavcom and the increase in duties. "Offer letters will be issued to all 57 Mavcom staff by the end of this month," he said. He said that through this restructuring, Malaysia is now in a stronger position to face global challenges in the aviation sector. "CAAM will be better prepared to drive the growth of the aviation industry in a more progressive and sustainable direction. "This is in line with the government's goal to make Malaysia a regional aviation hub, and support the country's agenda towards inclusive, balanced and innovation-driven economic development," he said. - BERNAMA

New Straits Times

35 minutes ago

• New Straits Times

Thailand heads into political turbulence as Cambodia row festers

THAILAND's government said on Monday it would push ahead with a cabinet reshuffle this week, facing down a backlash against its handling of a border row with Cambodia that has left Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra hanging on to power by a thread. Tensions with Thailand and Cambodia remain elevated, with the Southeast Asian neighbours announcing tit-for-tat measures that are stoking nationalist fervour on both sides and stymieing bilateral trade, including a suspension by Phnom Penh of all Thai fuel and gas imports that came into effect on Monday. In Bangkok, days after the parliamentary majority of the ruling coalition led by Paetongtarn's Pheu Thai party was threatened by the exit of a major alliance member, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai sought to project unity. "I'm 100 per cent confident that we will move ahead strongly after the cabinet reshuffle is completed this week," he told reporters. "You will see a new way of working that's different from before." Paetongtarn, a 38-year-old political novice and daughter of divisive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has come under fire after a phone call between her and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen to diffuse a long-festering border dispute became public last Wednesday. In the audio, which was released in full by Hun Sen after the initial leak of a clip, the Thai premier appears to grovel before the Cambodian politician and also denigrates a senior Thai military commander in charge of the disputed border area. Hours after the audio became public, the second-largest coalition member, the Bhumjaithai Party, quit the government, putting its parliamentary majority and Paetongtarn's premiership under threat. Pheu Thai has managed to hold the remainder of its coalition together, with the cabinet reshuffle meant to redistribute ministerial positions previously held by Bhumjaithai. The coalition's stability will be tested in parliament, which reconvenes next week, and on the streets as anti-government groups plan a major protest to call for the prime minister's resignation which will start on Saturday. Adding to the pressure, Paetongtarn also faces scrutiny from the judiciary after a group of senators seeking her removal petitioned the Constitutional Court and an anti-graft body to investigate her conduct over the leaked phone call. "The government cannot take anything for granted," said Titipol Phakdeewanich, a political science professor at Ubon Ratchathani University. "There's more instability ahead." At the root of the current crisis for Paetongtarn and Pheu Thai is a historic border dispute with Cambodia, which has previously led to violent clashes, including the death of a Cambodian soldier during a skirmish last month. Partly banking on strong ties between the Shinawatra family and Hun Sen, the government initially pushed for a diplomatic solution to the flare-up, even as Cambodia moved to petition the International Court of Justice to resolve the matter. However, the unexpected release of the audio not only brought the Thai government to the brink, it has also led to a further deterioration in relations between the neighbours. Hun Manet, Cambodia's prime minister and Hun Sen's son, said on Sunday that his administration would stop all fuel and gas imports from Thailand, following an earlier move to stall the entry of some Thai agricultural produce. "Fuel supply companies in Cambodia are able to import sufficiently from other sources to meet domestic fuel and gas demands," he said in a post on Facebook. For its part, the Thai government has handed over control of border crossings along the Cambodian frontier to its military, which has tightened entry restrictions and shut down one crossing point, citing security concerns. Cambodia was Thailand's 11th largest export market last year, with US$10.4 billion in bilateral trade between the neighbours, dominated by precious stones, jewellery and fuels, according to Thai government data. And more than half a million Cambodian workers are employed in Thailand, according to the Thai Labour Ministry. "The Cambodia situation is complex; it isn't about just a conflict between the two countries," said Titipol, "There is also a Hun-Shinawatra dimension that could still shake the government."

The Star

36 minutes ago

• The Star

Manet: Thailand must re-open borders before bilateral talks can take place

Prime Minister Hun Manet has announced that there will be no military negotiations until Thailand reopens all border crossings. - FN PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has imposed the precondition that Thailand re-open the border before any meetings at the military level (RBC) or the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) level can take place, as bilateral relations between the two countries continue to decline, strongly affecting trade ties. Speaking on Monday (June 23), Prime Minister Hun Manet confirmed that he had instructed the Ministry of National Defence not to hold meetings with Thailand regarding border reopening negotiations until Thailand — whether at the government or military level — reopens the border, which they unilaterally closed. 'If we want to negotiate with the military, the border must be reopened first. Previously, there was an intention to hold a Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting. I have issued a clear directive to the defence ministry: as long as the border remains closed, there will be no official discussions at the RBC or GBC level,' he said. The RBC is a military-level committee involving regional commanders of both countries, while the GBC is a ministerial-level committee, co-chaired by the defence ministers of both nations, discussing policy, cooperation and security issues along the border. 'To resume negotiations, the first step is to establish appropriate preconditions, meaning rebuilding mutual trust. If we lack trust regarding the border, how can we discuss military matters?' added Manet. Reiterating his stance, he emphasised that there will be no bilateral negotiations on reopening the border — Thailand closed it, so Thailand must reopen it first. He noted that while the Thai government often expresses a desire to negotiate border reopening, the Thai military continues to keep the border closed. 'The ball is in Thailand's court. It's simple to restore the situation to normal. First, reopen the border. Once the border is open, military officials can meet and discuss military matters. It's straightforward. But right now, the key is with them. If they are genuinely sincere about de-escalation, unlock the door — the key is already in their hands,' he said. Cambodia-Thailand relations are increasingly fragile, with negative developments unfolding day by day. In recent days, Thailand has tightened restrictions on cassava imports from Cambodia, following Cambodia's ban on vegetable and fruit imports from Thailand, in response to Thailand's unilateral reduction of border crossing hours by its military. Cambodia has responded with concrete measures to counter Thailand's various threats, including cutting off the use of Thai internet and electricity services and, on June 22, halting oil and gas imports from Thailand. Concurrently, both the Thai and Cambodian foreign ministries have advised their citizens to avoid traveling to the neighbouring country unless absolutely necessary. Last week, the Thai ambassador to Cambodia was recalled to Bangkok by the Thai foreign ministry for consultations. Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai Party, which leads Thailand's government in a coalition with other parties, is considering downgrading diplomatic relations between the two countries. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN