Phuket babies may need to carry ID cards

PHUKET: The House of Representatives yesterday passed the first reading of a Bill to require one-year-old babies nationwide to have an identification card.

The bill, proposed by the Interior Minister. would lower the requirement age for carrying an ID card from 15 to one year.

Following a debate of more than an hour, the Bill was approved, with 222 to 81 votes, with 5 MPs abstaining.

The House set up a 25-member panel to vet the Bill in seven days.

If approved, the Bill would require Thai citizens to carry ID cards from age one to 60 years.

During the debate, several MPs voiced concern that criminals might make fake ID cards using the names of young children.

Some MPs also voiced concern that the fee for making the first ID card, which was mooted in the Bill at 500 baht, could be too high.

Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat said the fee was set as the maximum rate, and noted that the Interior Minister could later issue a directive to set a lower starting rate.

While some readers may find yesterday’s action in the House bordering on the bizarre, it is to be noted that foreigners in Thailand, tourists and local residents alike, are required to carry their passports 24 hours a day. Foreigners with work permits are required to carry their little booklets as well.

Foreigners in Phuket are arrested from time to time and found in violation of either the passport or the work permit ‘with you at all times’ requirement – or both.

— Nation / Gazette Reporters