Deputy Prime Minister Peeraphan Ratchakij criticized opposition parties on August 18 at Government House for opposing every government initiative without proper justification. He called on all Thais to evaluate proposed projects based on whether they benefit the country, rather than opposing everything reflexively. Peeraphan argued that poorly researched opposition ultimately harms the very causes protesters claim to champion.

Peeraphan noted that resistance to government projects comes from both opposition parties and NGOs, observing that Thailand faces an NGO trap where nearly any government action is challenged, even past cancelled projects like the land bridge. He urged Thais to think carefully about national interest rather than simply opposing or protesting everything.

Regarding the Jao Noi industrial estate revival and the second deep-sea port project in Songkhla, Peeraphan explained these are not new initiatives but were approved by the previous Prayut Chan-o-cha administration. He questioned whether protesters understood the reasoning behind moving the port, citing that the existing Laem Chabang facility has reached capacity and cannot accommodate deeper-draft vessels.

When asked about social media calls for protests at Government House, Peeraphan said demonstrators are welcome to come. He noted that the land bridge project has been cancelled and the Southern Economic Corridor programme suspended, adding that those wishing to sit in the Bangkok sun are free to do so. He acknowledged using strong language but said it was necessary given the circumstances.

On August 18, Industry Minister Warawuth Silpa-archa said this week's cabinet meeting would not include a proposal for a new permanent secretary at the Ministry of Industry. The appointment must wait for Prime Minister Anuthine Charnveerakul and Interior Minister to return from their official visit to Australia and New Zealand before further discussions can be held.

When asked whether current Permanent Secretary Nathpol Rangsitpol, whose four-year term is expiring, will remain in his position, Warawuth explained that under civil service law, senior officials serve four-year terms before being transferred. Special cases allowing officials to stay longer require the minister to request cabinet approval, with a maximum of two one-year extensions allowed.

Regarding reports that the outgoing permanent secretary may transfer to the Energy Ministry, Warawuth said the matter requires discussion with the prime minister and other stakeholders. He noted that last week's cabinet submission encountered incomplete documentation issues, forcing postponement of the agenda item.

Asked whether he wants the current permanent secretary to continue or relocate, Warawuth praised the official's competence and knowledge in automotive and industrial matters, but said any decision requires consultation with the prime minister first. He personally believes the secretary deserves advancement after completing four years, and welcomed reports of a potential transfer to the Energy Ministry, which he described as an important portfolio.

Warawuth confirmed he has discussed the matter with the permanent secretary since taking office and sees no objection. He noted that the Energy Ministry was historically part of the Industry Ministry, so the work would remain continuous.

Asked about reports that Energy Minister Eknaht Promphan does not want and will push for an internal candidate for the new permanent secretary position, Warawuth reiterated that cabinet approval is required. He emphasized that as minister, it is his responsibility to nominate a suitable candidate to the cabinet for approval.

When asked whether the new permanent secretary will be an insider or outsider, Warawuth said the decision is still under consideration. He noted that any candidate would technically be an insider, as they would come from within the Industry Ministry. He joked that there are many capable candidates to choose from within the ministry.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt signed Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Order No. 2511/2569 on August 18, 2569 at City Hall to transfer four senior-level administrative officials, effective August 21, 2569. The transfers are authorized under Sections 44 and 52(2) of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Personnel Act, B.E. 2554, as well as other relevant civil service legislation.

The four officials transferred are: Oracha Muisema, former District Director of Bang Kho Laem, becomes Director of the Human Resources Development Institute under the Bangkok Civil Service Commission; Orasri Pholthawaen, Inspector of the Office of the Permanent Secretary, becomes District Director of Bang Kho Laem; Supharak Huaithaesong, Director of the Office of the Permanent Secretary, becomes Inspector of the Office of the Permanent Secretary; and Kamalwan Wairutchapanich, Director of the Budget Office, becomes Director of the Office of the Permanent Secretary. All transfers are effective from August 21, 2569.

At 9:40 a.m. on August 18, government spokesman Paradorn Patthanathorn said the opposition is preparing to file a no-confidence motion after the new parliamentary session opened, but it remains unclear whether they will invoke Section 151 or 152 of the constitution. He said the government needs to wait for clarity from the opposition first.

Regarding attempts to use a parliamentary standing committee dispute in the no-confidence debate, Paradorn noted that the current government took office in 2025, the previous Anuthon government in 2024, but the disputed standing committee case originated in 2023. The government therefore cannot be held responsible for it.

Concerning allegations of corruption involving local civil service recruitment examinations, Paradorn said the Interior Ministry raised these issues and they stem from repeated problems dating back to 2019, not from the current administration. When asked whether the government would prepare defenses, he said the administration would wait to study any motion formally submitted before organizing a response.

A popular Facebook page run by a doctor has faced backlash for publicly ridiculing a pregnant patient with threatened miscarriage symptoms. Following an earlier case in which the doctor's page posted mockingly about a patient from Khon Kaen province—a patient who later died—the page remains under continuous online criticism for shaming and publicly humiliating patients, leading to harassment campaigns.

The Drama-addict page recently highlighted another case involving a woman who was targeted by the doctor's page. The woman was in early pregnancy and had developed a fever, sore throat, and a bathroom accident that caused abdominal pain and chest discomfort. Fearing miscarriage, her husband took her to the hospital emergency room around 2 a.m. During the wait for examination (which occurred around 9 a.m.), the frustrated husband posted on social media complaining about the long wait. The doctor's page then screenshotted and mocked his post, suggesting it was merely a cold and sarcastically noting he didn't even read the sign indicating it was an emergency ward.

Followers of the doctor's page subsequently swarmed the comments. Some directed harassment toward the woman's family business page, while others posted threats to have the hospital sue her. The woman was later examined and found to have uterine contractions and threatened miscarriage, requiring hospitalization.

Once aware that her husband's post had been publicly mocked on Facebook, the woman attempted to contact the doctor's page multiple times to explain her actual condition—not a simple cold but threatened miscarriage—and to request the post be deleted or corrected. The page read her messages but never responded. It later quietly altered the post content, apparently to avoid liability, while dodging responsibility by claiming the woman had reported vague symptoms herself.

The woman clarified that she had fully disclosed all her symptoms to medical staff in the emergency room and never posted on Facebook about the threatened miscarriage or pain, given that she had recently lost a previous pregnancy and was still grieving. She feared that posting about miscarriage concerns would be like cursing her current pregnancy. Her husband had merely shared a simple frustration about the wait.

The harassment of both her personal Facebook account and family business page, combined with her condition as a high-risk pregnancy, caused her severe stress. Fortunately, the doctors and nurses in the obstetrics and gynecology department recognized she was being cyberbullied and under extreme stress. They offered emotional support, and hospital management called to encourage her. Her threatened miscarriage gradually improved, and her pregnancy continued normally. She has now come forward to share her experience as a warning about the dangers of online shaming.

Santitarn Sathirathai, Deputy Minister attached to the Finance Ministry, posted on Facebook on August 18 that the National Economic and Social Development Council has released second-quarter GDP data, prompting analysis of what it reveals about Thailand's economy ahead.

The second-quarter GDP expanded 1.9% year-on-year, down from 2.8% in the first quarter and contracting 0.2% seasonally from the previous quarter. Within these figures lie both mounting pressures and notable opportunities.

The pressures reflect a "triple wave" of challenges. The first wave is energy: rising energy prices not only affect cost of living but also strain Thailand's external balance. Imports surged this quarter while trade and current accounts swung back into significant deficit. The impact extends beyond fuel to transport costs, production expenses, and broader price increases.

The second wave is system-wide cost inflation. Consumer inflation jumped from minus 0.5% in the first quarter to plus 2.7%, while producer prices rose 8.3%. This is particularly worrying for small businesses, many of which struggle to pass full costs to customers as consumer purchasing power weakens.

The third wave is purchasing power. Private consumption growth slowed from 3.3% to 1.9%. Consumer confidence fell to 50.3, and auto loans contracted 7.8%, showing Thai consumers are becoming more cautious.

SMEs face special risk. With limited reserves, weak pricing power, and harder access to credit than large firms, many face liquidity crises when revenue slows while costs rise simultaneously. Sound businesses may have to cut staff, reduce investment, or close simply because cash flow cannot keep pace.

This underscores why short-term economic support measures remain necessary—protecting living costs and ensuring credit, guarantees, and debt restructuring reach viable SMEs.

Yet there are also encouraging signs. Private investment surged 13.4%, the highest in over a decade, with machinery and equipment up 16.6% including computers, software, and industrial machinery. Goods exports grew 14.1%, driven by electronics, telecommunications equipment, computer parts, and circuit boards.

This reflects Thailand's gains from new investment waves, supply chain shifts, and growth in digital and AI economies. International reports, including the World Bank's 2026 World Development Report, identify Thailand as one of five developing nations with the highest AI-related export values in 2025, showing Thailand already has an established manufacturing base in this chain.

For Santitarn, the second-quarter GDP figures show clear challenges but are not entirely bleak. The data tells us we must pursue three urgent measures in parallel: short-term economic support, transition management, and tomorrow's investment.