PHUKET: A Phuket taxi driver has won widespread praise on social media after giving three foreign tourists a free ride when they told him they had no money to pay the fare.

Nakhon Nayok transport authorities have disciplined a minibus driver after passengers reported being abandoned mid-route. The driver apologized, citing a defective clutch pump that prevented proper gear engagement.

The driver explained that he shifted into fourth gear to start the engine, then hurried to a repair shop without arranging for another vehicle to collect the stranded passengers. He said the manual transmission system only allows operation in fourth gear when the pump fails, and he panicked and forgot to contact dispatch.

Transport official Piang Jun Pond Phodhi said the incident was brought to their attention through a viral clip. She stated that when a bus breaks down, operators must arrange an alternative vehicle to complete the journey. Failure to do so results in penalties.

At 9:30 a.m., driver Burpot Ying Sap reported to the provincial transport office. Officials briefed him on legal obligations and proper procedures when vehicles malfunction. According to the Land Transport Act B.E. 2522, Section 104, drivers cannot force passengers off before their destination without valid cause. Violators face fines of 500 to 5,000 baht, license suspension, and mandatory retraining.

Burpot explained he was at Rangsit Future Park Bus Terminal when the clutch failed as he prepared to depart. He told passengers to board a following vehicle, then shifted into fourth gear and drove to the repair shop. The manual transmission, when stuck in fourth gear, allowed limited movement by repeatedly starting and stopping the engine.

Burpot identified the cause as a faulty clutch pump cylinder seal and apologized to all passengers, acknowledging his panic prevented him from coordinating proper passenger transfer.

Deputy Transport Minister Patthrapongse Pattapresoet revealed that he has been tasked by Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn to monitor the case of a Thai airline crew member arrested by Australian authorities after drugs were discovered hidden in luggage brought into the country. He has requested the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to coordinate with all relevant agencies to strengthen preventive measures and prevent recurrence.

According to preliminary information, the crew member was on duty for a flight from Thailand to Melbourne on June 25 when Australian officials conducted an inspection and discovered fabric bags brought from Thailand containing concealed narcotics. The crew member is now in custody pending trial in Australian court.

Patthrapongse stated that under international safety standards, all crew members must undergo the same screening as regular passengers. While Thai airports have expedited procedures for crew clearance, they must still pass personal and baggage inspections according to international standards. Airport security primarily focuses on detecting dangerous objects, weapons, and explosives that could threaten aircraft safety, with staff trained to international standards and subject to regular CAAT inspections.

Regarding smuggling of illegal items such as drugs, animals, plants, and prohibited goods, airports coordinate with customs and anti-narcotics agencies to share information and conduct additional inspections. The system has consistently detected violations, though they may not receive significant media attention.

Patthrapongse noted that while the crew member passed screening at the departure airport, most security checks focus on flight safety hazards. The skillful concealment of the narcotics allowed it to pass undetected, whereas Australian officials specifically screen for smuggled drugs and illegal items, enabling them to discover the contraband.

To prevent similar incidents, Patthrapongse said he has coordinated with Lt. Gen. Marnot Chuanprayoon, Director of CAAT, to convene meetings with Thai Airways, customs, and anti-narcotics agencies to establish additional measures. These include stricter crew regulations on accepting or carrying items, enhanced inter-agency information sharing, and improved intelligence coordination to detect risks efficiently, while maintaining passenger service standards without unnecessary disruption.

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Thai Life Insurance Public Company Limited, partnering with Matichon Academy, is launching the fourth year of its "Thai Life Insurance: Creating Opportunities, Building Careers" program, expanding training to 10 provinces nationwide while leveraging local raw materials to create jobs and income for communities through a Creating Shared Value (CSV) approach.

Thitima Liang Phanichai, Director of Corporate Communications and Sustainability, stated that Thai Life Insurance believes sustainable social development must start with creating opportunities and strengthening people's ability to become self-reliant. The company aims to promote vocational skills alongside financial education to help participants generate income and build long-term security for themselves and their families.

Over the past three years, the program has conducted training at 27 locations nationwide, reaching over 2,000 participants. In 2025, Thai Life Insurance will expand to an additional 10 provinces: Sisaket, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Phetchabun, Chai Nat, Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri, Chumphon, Lampang, and Bangkok. The company will continue its second-year collaboration with APCD (Asia and Pacific Centre for Disability, Rehabilitation and Development) to provide vocational skills training to people with disabilities and vulnerable groups that can directly lead to employment and income generation.

Thitima further noted that expanding training areas this year reflects Thai Life Insurance's commitment to extending career opportunities deeper into communities, especially in areas where there is demand for skills development to increase income-earning potential and improve quality of life sustainably.

The program also prioritizes developing local identity and raw materials into career-building menus to add value to agricultural products and generate local income. Examples include transforming SrisakeT and Roi Et's fragrant rice jasmine 105 into "fragrant jasmine rice tea," and turning Maha Sarakham's sugarcane and butterfly pea flowers into "sugarcane juice with fresh butterfly pea milk" beverages to create opportunities, add value to local products, promote job creation, and drive grassroots economic growth.