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The Senate yesterday voted to select three commissioners of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) but the result could not be announced because of the lack of a quorum.

The senators made the secret voting to select three out of six final candidates to sit on the NTC. They will replace the existing commissioners, who were recently vacated from the office.

However, after casting the votes and taking a 15-minute break, only 66 senators returned to the meeting room, which was not enough to make a quorum at 75 and prompted the close of the meeting.

Senate speaker Prasopsuk Boondet said the Senate would convene again on March 23 to complete the selection process.

Yesterday's agenda also included the selection of one out of two candidates to replace a former commissioner who resigned many years ago.  - The Nation

No decision on rice

The Commerce Ministry has not reached a decision on a paddy rice pledging price for the next crop, prompting it to ask the Rice Policy Committee (RPC) to finalise their decision next week.

Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai said yesterday that the committee to consider the pledging price of the second crop could not reach agreement .

Farmers have proposed Bt13,000 per tonne while academics prefer Bt10,000 to Bt12,000 and traders want Bt10,000 to Bt13,000.

In addition, the committee will also propose that the RPC consider expanding paddy rice volume from its previous approval of 2.5 million tonnes to 4 million tonnes. - The Nation

 

Mountain Lodge

U Hotels & Resorts has struck a deal to manage the Mountain Lodge Khao Yai, a new six-room property in Nakhon Ratchasima developed by KTC Media.

 Mountain Lodge will become an adjunct to the 78-room U Khao Yai, which is scheduled to open late next year. It will start taking bookings on June 1. - The Nation

Tea tax outrage

Green tea maker Oishi Group will suspend the investment of Bt1.4 billion on new plant if the finance ministry goes ahead with its plan to collect tax from coffee and tea products, company president Tan Passakornnate said yesterday.

He said the Finance Ministry's plan to levy an excise duty of up to 20 per cent on coffee and tea products would cost nearly Bt3 a bottle. The proposal would mean local companies could not compete in the global market and if it came into force Oishi would either suspend new investment or move it to Laos. - The Nation.