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Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
SMRT's finances hit by 2024 EWL disruption; profit after tax for trains division dips 8%
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Revenue growth was negatively impacted by a loss in income due to the East-West Line (EWL) breakdown in 2024, which affected one in six train trips daily from Sept 25 to 30 that year. SINGAPORE – The costs associated with a major six-day disruption on the East-West Line (EWL ) in September 2024 have weighed on the finances of rail operator SMRT Trains, which posted a 21 per cent decline in earnings and an 8 per cent dip in profit in the most recent financial year. SMRT said on July 31 that its trains division turned a $6.9 million profit after tax in the 12 months ending on March 31, 2025, representing a net profit margin of 0.75 per cent. This is down from $7.5 million in profit after tax during the previous financial year, which translated to a net margin of 0.85 per cent. SMRT, a wholly owned subsidiary of state investment company Temasek, said revenue from its rail operations rose 4 per cent to $918.2 million in the 2024/25 financial year, up from $886.7 million before. This came on the back of higher average fares, which were hiked in December 2024 by 6 per cent, as well as increased ridership on the four MRT lines and one LRT line that it operates. But revenue growth was negatively impacted by a loss in income due to the EWL breakdown in 2024, which affected one in six train trips daily from Sept 25 to 30 that year. For the six days of disruption, SMRT Trains provided free travel to passengers alighting at Jurong East and Buona Vista stations. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia US-Malaysia tariff deal set for Aug 1 after Trump-Anwar phone call Asia Malaysia PM Anwar says Trump to attend Asean Summit in October Multimedia 60 years, 60 items: A National Day game challenge Singapore Underground pipe leak likely reason for water supply issues during Toa Payoh fire: Town council Singapore Driver in 2024 Tampines crash that killed 2 set to plead guilty in October Singapore Jail for SCDF officer who had sexual relationship with 15-year-old girl he met as her CCA instructor Singapore 'Switching careers just as I became a dad was risky, but I had to do it for my family' The rail operator was also hit by the expenses it incurred to provide free bridging bus and shuttle services, as well as to repair extensive damage caused to 2.55km of track and trackside equipment. It was reported that the total cost borne by SMRT exceeded $10 million. This includes the $2.4 million fine that was levied by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) as a penalty for the service disruption. As a result, SMRT Trains' earnings before interest and tax slid to $4.9 million in FY24/25, down from $6.2 million before, the operator noted. Profit was boosted by higher interest income. Another silver lining was the more than $165 million in savings that SMRT was able to accrue from ground-up staff initiatives to improve productivity and safety. The company said these savings helped to ease the financial pressure. For instance, it was able to save $50 million in electricity costs through initiatives like optimising train energy use using data analytics, though this was offset by higher repair and maintenance costs, said SMRT chairman Seah Moon Ming. LTA's investigations into the 2024 EWL disruption, which involved a faulty part on a 37-year-old first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) train, found that SMRT had extended the interval between overhauls without a detailed engineering and risk assessment. However, LTA did not review the extension either, and did not require SMRT to seek its approval. SMRT, meanwhile, has cited repeated delays to the delivery of new replacement trains that would have allowed it to retire the faulty train earlier. The new trains were ordered by LTA in 2018, two years after the authority took over ownership of SMRT's rail assets under a revised financing model. They were meant to arrive from 2021 in time for the KHI trains to be decommissioned, but were delivered only from 2023 onwards. SMRT said it decided to overhaul the first-generation KHI trains as a result of these delays, but it pointed to challenges in procuring spare parts due to global supply chain disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic. These factors were why LTA lowered the fine that SMRT will pay to the Public Transport Fund as a penalty for the September 2024 incident, to $2.4 million from $3 million. This was after SMRT made its final representations on the matter. SMRT said on July 31 that the 2024 EWL breakdown has prompted 'deeper reflections' on the challenges of operating rail assets beyond their intended lifespan. Noting that MRT trains in Singapore are designed to be operated for 30 years, it called for stronger frameworks to manage an ageing fleet of trains. It suggested that LTA issue a formal certificate to train operators confirming that such trains are safe to use beyond their designed lifespans. This is already being done for new trains before they enter service. 'If there was a tighter coordination across all the stakeholders... I think the September 2024 incident could have been prevented,' said SMRT group chief executive Ngien Hoon Ping, who was a former LTA head. 'We need robust, forward-looking, lifecycle planning, clear roles and responsibilities, and much tighter cross-agency collaboration going forward. Because if you don't learn the right lesson... it could happen again,' he added. SMRT said it also plans to deepen direct engagements with equipment manufacturers, pointing to its partnership with French train maker Alstom to accelerate the testing of new EWL and North-South Line (NSL) trains being delivered. 'This proactive approach allows potential reliability and interoperability issues to be resolved ahead of full deployment. We remain on track to retire all first-generation KHI trains by end-September 2025,' the operator added. There are 13 KHI trains still operating, and they are used only during weekday peak hours. In November, SMRT will complete a project dubbed Depot 4.0 to upgrade the 39-year-old Bishan Depot, which will double the depot's train overhaul capacity from two trains to four trains per month. Two years after the first Alstom Movia R151 train (pictured) was deployed on the North-South and East-West lines (NSEWL) in 2023, 61 of the latest seventh-generation MRT trains have now entered service. PHOTO: ST FILE This joint initiative with CRRC Qingdao Sifang will tap the Chinese train manufacturer's expertise, and leverage automation and digital solutions to improve maintenance quality. CRRC Qingdao Sifang has already produced trains for the North-South and East-West lines (NSEWL) and the Thomson-East Coast Line in a joint venture with KHI, and it will supply trains for the upcoming Cross Island Line. SMRT added: 'Depot 4.0 will serve as a model for designing future depots and renewing existing ones, helping to future-proof our train depots against growing demands.' In a joint message on July 31, Mr Seah and Mr Ngien also flagged the need for SMRT to diversify into new business areas. 'MRT fares in Singapore are one of the lowest in the world, while operational costs continue to rise,' they said. In 2024, SMRT restructured its businesses into two pillars: the public transport business comprising SMRT Trains and SMRT Buses; and the 'non-fare' businesses comprising Strides, which offers engineering, digital and mobility services, and Stellar Lifestyle, which manages retail and advertising spaces. Strides has since secured a six-year contract to provide transport services to the Elections Department, and the vehicle maintenance arm of taxi operator Strides Premier has inked deals with the likes of Changi Airport Group and the Republic of Singapore Air Force to service their fleets. An entity called Strides Technologies has also been created to tap the company's engineering nous to sell 'next-generation' rail solutions to the wider industry, including internationally. One example is its Project Overwatch initiative, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor train services. With the Ministry of Transport (MOT) set to make a major push to deploy autonomous vehicles (AVs) to strengthen the public transport network, SMRT said it has actively advanced its expertise in the field and trained selected bus drivers to have the relevant operational skills. The company said its 2022 investment in self-driving technology company WeRide supports a broader strategy to implement AV shuttles in Singapore. SMRT is exploring launching shuttle services with an AV manufacturer by early 2026.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
It's Summer time, as McIntosh aims to rule World Aquatics C'ships in Singapore
Summer McIntosh of Canada celebrates as shes poses with her medal after winning the women's 200m individual medley at the Paris Olympics. SINGAPORE – Sprint events like the 50m freestyle and butterfly are usually the hottest events to watch at the World Aquatics Championships (WCH), but the spotlight in Singapore will also be focused on the distance races this time. The women's 800m freestyle is set to be the most highly anticipated showdown in the WCH Arena, with American legend Katie Ledecky to face Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh in the race for supremacy. Before 2024, Ledecky owned all the 20 fastest times in the event, including the world-leading 8min 4.12sec set in April. The 28-year-old is also the most decorated female swimmer in history with 13 Olympic medals – nine of them gold – and 21 world championship titles. But the rise of McIntosh has changed all that. The 18-year-old has decided to take Ledecky head-on in the latter's pet event at the championships, and with her coach Fred Vergnoux proclaiming she can 'go under eight minutes... no question', the stage is set for a fierce battle in the pool. In a Zoom interview with global media on July 9, McIntosh said: 'Anytime I get a race with Katie, it's lots of fun. I learnt so much about myself, and I think we bring the best out of each other, for sure.' The Canadian teenager only competes in the 800m freestyle once a year – the last time she did so was at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when she was 14 and she finished 11th in 8:25.04. She bettered that time only in 2023, when she clocked 8:20.19 at the Southern Zone meet. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict continues Multimedia Lights dim at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Business Banking and finance jobs will change but won't disappear as AI becomes the new normal: Accenture Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Asia Hottest 'ticket' in Jakarta? Young Indonesians compete for a slot at singing club Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly Then came some huge improvements – she lowered her personal best to 8:11.39 at the 2024 Southern Zone meet, handing Ledecky her first loss in a 800m freestyle final in 13 years. The youngster then lowered it to 8:09.86 in February, before posting 8:05.07 at the Canadian Trials in June. The latest result was the third-fastest time ever, giving her belief as she made the 800m free her fifth individual event for the WCH. She said 'I'm just excited to see how I manage doing five events, which I've never done before on the world level. I did four in Paris, and to add this new challenge this year really kept me motivated.' Never mind Ledecky, McIntosh is also chasing the feat of another American great – Michael Phelps. At the Canadian Trials, she set world-best times in the 400m freestyle (3:54.18), 200m individual medley (2:05.70) and 400m individual medley (4:23.65). After becoming the first swimmer since Phelps to break three individual world records at a single meet, she received a congratulatory call from the 23-gold Olympic champion, who also owns 26 championship titles. Other than the scorching 800m freestyle, she also posted the second-fastest time in the 200m butterfly (2:02.26), raising expectations that she could again match Phelps by winning five individual events at a single WCH, and break more world records along the way. McIntosh, who struck gold in both medleys and the 200m butterfly, and a silver in the 400m freestyle at the Paris Olympics, said: 'My main goal in Singapore is just to get my hand on the wall first as many times as I can... in doing so we can also come with some world records hopefully. 'I saw some photos of the Singapore pool getting set up, and it looks super cool and super fast. Anytime I get a race in a new pool, it's always a fun time and a learning experience.' While both swimmers remain respectful of each other, the rivalry has seemingly sparked new life in Ledecky, whose latest 800m freestyle world record was her first in nine years. She then beat McIntosh over the Canadian's preferred 400m in May. Suggesting that a high-octane atmosphere is key to her raising the bar again for the 800m freestyle, she told USA swimming: 'I can't stop smiling... It's been so many years in the making to do it tonight. The crowd was amazing tonight, I couldn't have done it without that.' With the WCH Arena fast pool matched by a capacity 4,800-strong crowd, other world record holders will also be pushing their limits, even if Hungary's 200m butterfly king Kristof Milak and Australia's 200m freestyle queen Ariarne Titmus are missing due to personal reasons, and the world's fastest woman, Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom, is on maternity leave. More on this topic Training sessions at World Aquatics Masters C'ships cancelled due to Sentosa's water quality issues American Gretchen Walsh was the first woman to go under 55 seconds in the 100m butterfly with a 54.60 in May, while French star Leon Marchand has recovered in time from a dislocated shoulder and cracked rib. While Marchand won Olympic gold in the 200m breaststroke and butterfly, as well as the 200m and 400m medley, he will focus on the medleys at the WCH to see what magic he can produce. After he claimed the men's individual ranking title at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Singapore in November, the 23-year-old said: 'I'm in a time when I need to launch myself to get a new motivation after the Olympics, and I think this was perfect, to meet new people, new culture, discover new places and race as fast as possible.' Swimmers at both ends of the age spectrum will also look to make an impression. China's 12-year-old prodigy Yu Zidi will race McIntosh in the medleys and 200m butterfly with an outside chance of making the podium, while 33-year-old Pole Katarzyna Wasick, who is one of only eight active female swimmers to go under 24 seconds in the 50m freestyle, will fancy her chances of being crowned champion in Sjostrom's absence. Asia will also be represented by China's 100m freestyle world record holder Pan Zhanle, while compatriot Qin Haiyang will look to repeat his historic feat in 2023, when he became the first man to win the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke events at a single championships. Qin will also be looking to get over a tumultuous 2024, when he failed to win an individual medal at the Olympics and was accused of infidelity by his fiancee. South Koreans Hwang Sun-woo and Kim Woo-min are aiming to retain their men's 200m and 400m freestyle titles respectively, while Japan's 19-year-old Tomoyuki Matsushita will try to challenge Marchand in the medley events.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Man in India arrested for running a fake embassy
Police officials suggested that Jain had been running his racket since at least 2017, when he declared himself the representative of Westarctica. NEW DELHI – There are more than 100 diplomatic missions based in India's capital, New Delhi. What does it take to set up your own? Not much, if you ask Harshvardhan Jain, aka 'Baron H.V. Jain'. Rent a bungalow, hoist some flags, park a few luxury cars on the curb, photoshop yourself into pictures with world leaders, and – voilà! – you have your own embassy. Until you are caught, that is. Indian police arrested Jain, 47, on July 22 for running a fake embassy in a rented residential building in Ghaziabad, a city just outside New Delhi. This house, police said, alternately acted as the diplomatic mission for Westarctica or the Principality of Seborga or Poulbia Lodonia – depending on the day or the need or the hour. These entities, technically, are 'micronations' – self-proclaimed sovereign states that lack a legal basis for their existence, as they are not recognised by other countries. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict continues Multimedia Lights dim at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Business Banking and finance jobs will change but won't disappear as AI becomes the new normal: Accenture Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Asia Hottest 'ticket' in Jakarta? Young Indonesians compete for a slot at singing club Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly For the better part of a decade, such legal inconveniences did little to undermine Jain's operation. Police said his building in Ghaziabad, with all its pomp and regalia, was the address for a range of criminal activities, from defrauding people of money by promising employment abroad to running a multinational hawala network – an informal system of transferring money that is illegal in India. Police officials suggested that Jain had been running his racket since at least 2017, when he declared himself the representative of Westarctica. His ambitions kept expanding from there. The micronation of Westarctica, in a statement on its website, said 'Mr Jain was an authorised representative engaging in unauthorized activities'. He had been made an 'honorary Consul to India' after he made a 'generous donation' to Westarctica, the statement said. The entity's website says it was set up in 2001 by Travis McHenry, an American citizen, while he was serving in the US Navy. He refers to himself as Grand Duke Travis. In a statement on Westarctica's Instagram page, Grand Duke Travis said 'Baron H.V. Jain' had been removed from the micronation's 'roster of diplomatic representatives'. In an e-mail to The New York Times, he added that Jain had been in possession of diplomatic number plates, passports and many other items bearing the seal of Westarctica, none of which he had been authorised to produce. For almost eight years, Jain had created for himself the 'aura' of an important man, said Mr Sushil Ghule, a senior superintendent of police involved in the investigation. 'An undiscerning layman will believe what he sees and cannot tell that it's all fraudulent,' he said. In the fake embassy, the police recovered 12 counterfeit passports representing different countries, 20 diplomatic license plates that had been obtained without authorization, stamps of government departments and agencies, forged documents and foreign currencies – all used to keep up Jain's persona of a well-connected diplomat. Police said that Jain had a master's from a university in London and that he was well-travelled, having established dubious companies in several countries before returning to India. The son of an industrialist, he was booked by police in 2012 for owning a satellite phone, which is prohibited for use in India without a licence. Mr Ghule said police were still looking into the extent of Jain's activity from the fake embassy. Have they reached out to Westarctica for help with the investigation? 'No,' Mr Ghule said. NYTIMES
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Britain condemns Hong Kong's reward offers for suspects living in Britain
Find out what's new on ST website and app. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned Hong Kong authorities for offering payment in exchange for assisting in the arrest of pro-democracy activists living in Britain. LONDON - Britain on July 25 condemned Hong Kong authorities for offering payment in exchange for assisting in the arrest of pro-democracy activists living in Britain. 'The Hong Kong Police Force's issuing of further arrest warrants and bounties on individuals living in the UK is another example of transnational repression,' Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a joint statement. Hong Kong authorities announced on July 25 that they are offering cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of 19 pro-democracy activists based abroad, accused of violating the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. The bounties range from about US$25,000 (S$32,000) to US$125,000, depending on the individual Hong Kong seeks. This is the fourth time Hong Kong authorities have made this type of appeal, which has already drawn strong criticism from Western countries, which China in turn has denounced as 'interference'. In their statement, Mr Lammy and Ms Cooper called on China to stop targeting opposition voices in Britain. Around 150,000 Hong Kong nationals migrated to the UK under a special visa scheme introduced in 2021. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict continues Multimedia Lights dim at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Business Banking and finance jobs will change but won't disappear as AI becomes the new normal: Accenture Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Asia Hottest 'ticket' in Jakarta? Young Indonesians compete for a slot at singing club Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly But a recent proposal by the British government to reform extradition rules has sparked serious concerns, with some fearing it could pave the way for a resumption of extraditions to Hong Kong, which have been suspended since the 2020 national security law was enacted. In their statement, the two British ministers said 'this Government will continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong, including those who have made the UK their home. We take the protection of their rights, freedoms, and safety very seriously'. AFP
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Behind deadly Thai-Cambodian clashes, a bitter spat between two dynastic leaders
Many had believed that the personal relationship between Mr Thaksin Shinawatra (left) and Mr Hun Sen would be the glue holding the two neighbours together. SURIN PROVINCE, Thailand – After his daughter was sidelined from political office by a damaging phone call with Cambodia's leader in July, Thai power broker Thaksin Shinawatra broke his silence to a roomful of politicians and journalists. He had a stunning message to deliver: His decades-long relationship with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen was over. 'I used to be close to him – like brothers,' Mr Thaksin said. 'But after what he did to my daughter, I was shocked. How could this even happen?' For years, many had believed that the personal relationship between Mr Thaksin, 75, and Mr Hun Sen, 72, would be the glue holding the two neighbours together despite an intractable border dispute. Both were among South-east Asia's most seasoned politicians, bound by a friendship spanning 33 years and by their shared dynastic ambitions, with children who were elevated to power within a year of each other. Now, a rift has opened up between the two men, bewildering even Mr Thaksin himself and shocking insiders. And the fallout has been severe, with Thai and Cambodian troops exchanging fire in the deadliest clashes in over a decade. Analysts say they worry that the animosities could spiral out of control. 'I was surprised how two close friends for so many years ended up practically overnight in such an escalation,' said Mr Kantathi Suphamongkhon, who was Thailand's foreign minister from 2005 to 2006 when Mr Thaksin was premier. 'This is something that I never expected – how that friendship can break apart so spectacularly.' On July 25, clashes at the border entered their second day, sending thousands fleeing from their homes and bringing the death toll to at least 16 people. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict continues Multimedia Lights dim at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Business Banking and finance jobs will change but won't disappear as AI becomes the new normal: Accenture Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Asia Hottest 'ticket' in Jakarta? Young Indonesians compete for a slot at singing club Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly Cambodian officials reported Thai strikes at seven sites, and a Cambodian military convoy was seen moving ammunition toward a contested temple, suggesting that de-escalation was not imminent. In the hours after fighting began on July 24, Mr Thaksin and Mr Hun Sen lobbed insults at each other on social media. Mr Thaksin said many countries had offered to mediate, but that he wanted to 'let the Thai military do their duty to teach Hun Sen a lesson about his cunning ways first'. Mr Hun Sen fired back at Mr Thaksin on Facebook while referring to himself in the third person: 'Now, under the pretext of taking revenge on Hun Sen, he is resorting to war, the ultimate consequence of which will be the suffering of the people.' Analysts say Mr Hun Sen has sought to exploit the turmoil within the Thai government to shore up his own legitimacy. Even opposition figures in Cambodia have taken the government's side, arguing that the disputed temples that lie along the border belong to the country. A crisis can also help solidify the nationalist credentials of Mr Hun Manet, the current prime minister and Mr Hun Sen's son, who has implied that Cambodia's one-party rule is better than the domestic chaos in Thailand because there is 'no confusion or conflicting orders'. The political standing of Mr Thaksin, a billionaire tycoon, and his ruling Pheu Thai party have both weakened since he struck a deal with the royalist-military establishment in 2022 to end 15 years of exile, alienating some of his core supporters. Despite that deal, in recent months, the Thai government has appeared increasingly at odds with the country's powerful military. And while he is still the most influential person in Thai politics, Mr Thaksin's hold on power is tenuous – he is fighting a criminal royal defamation charge that could send him to prison for as long as 15 years. For decades, Mr Thaksin and Mr Hun Sen worked to anchor their personal and political fortunes together. In 2001, they signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue the extraction of oil and gas in the Gulf of Thailand. But that plan ultimately fizzled because of resistance from Mr Thaksin's rivals. Mr Hun Sen and Mr Thaksin remained close even after Mr Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup. Mr Hun Sen appointed Mr Thaksin as an economic adviser to the Cambodian government, and allowed him and his sister, Yingluck, who was also overthrown in a coup, to seek refuge in his home in Cambodia. Mr Hun Sen later said he named the bedrooms the 'Thaksin room' and the 'Yingluck room'. In Thailand, though, this closeness with Mr Hun Sen has often been regarded with suspicion by Mr Thaksin's political opponents, particularly those in the military and conservative establishment. Mr Thaksin has never been able to shake off the view held by many that he is interested only in his personal gain. 'The aspirations and the dream of wealth of the two families have not been realised,' said Mr Kasit Piromya, another former foreign minister of Thailand. He said Mr Hun Sen probably saw this as a failure on Mr Thaksin's part. 'Hun Sen was in total control of his country, and he could carry out his end of the bargain. But Thaksin has been losing that lustre and control of the Thai society for the past 20 years.' After Mr Thaksin returned to Thailand in 2023, he increasingly positioned the country to be an economic competitor to Cambodia. He floated the idea of an entertainment complex that would rival the casinos in Cambodia, a lucrative source of revenue for Mr Hun Sen and his fellow tycoons. Analysts say Mr Hun Sen was probably feeling threatened by Thailand's warning to cut off electricity in the border area and its subsequent arrest warrants against tycoons operating casinos and online scam compounds in the area. The relationship between the two historical rivals has long been fraught because of the dispute over the undefined 500-mile-long border as well as over claims to ancient temples. In 2003, Cambodians rioted in the capital, Phnom Penh, after a Thai actor was reported to have said that Angkor Wat, the Cambodian temple, belonged to her country. Much of the fighting has centred around the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple. The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but Thailand has continued to claim the surrounding land. According to Mr Kantathi, Mr Hun Sen in 2006 invited Mr Thaksin to make a friendly visit to the Preah Vihear temple and land a helicopter near it. Mr Kantathi said he urged Mr Thaksin not to go, warning that Cambodia could use the visit to strengthen its territorial claims to the areas claimed by both Cambodia and Thailand. A visit by a Thai prince in the early 1930s, when Cambodia was a French colony, was later cited by Cambodia to bolster its argument at the International Court of Justice, he said. The Thai prince did not complain about the hoisting of the French flag during his visit, which the court said amounted to his tacit consent to French-Cambodian control. Mr Thaksin ultimately cancelled the trip. The proposed trip has not been made public, but Mr Jakrapob Penkair, a longtime associate of Mr Thaksin, confirmed that Mr Thaksin had told him about it. Mr Thaksin could not immediately be reached for comment. Mr Hun Sen's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The dispute over the temple escalated significantly in 2008 when Cambodia listed Preah Vihear as a Unesco World Heritage Site, leading to deadly military encounters in 2008 and 2011. In 2025, tensions rose again when Thai and Cambodian soldiers clashed briefly, killing a Cambodian soldier in late May. Two weeks after that, Mr Thaksin's daughter and the then prime minister of Thailand, Ms Paetongtarn Shinawatra, tried to call Mr Hun Sen to discuss the crisis. She was unable to reach him, but Mr Hun Sen later called Ms Paetongtarn's personal number, according to Mr Thaksin, who recounted his version of the events at a seminar in Bangkok. Three days later, Mr Hun Sen posted the audio recording of that call on Facebook. The Thai public heard Ms Paetongtarn calling Mr Hun Sen 'uncle' and telling him to ignore 'the opposite side', a reference to the Thai military. It led to calls for her resignation and multiple complaints. One complaint filed by 36 senators at the Constitutional Court led to her suspension in July. Mr Thaksin said: 'I was wrong to trust someone like Hun Sen.' Upon learning that 12,000 Cambodian troops had been mobilised to the border in June, he called the translator who had facilitated his daughter's call with Mr Hun Sen and told him: 'You tell your boss – our children are prime ministers of both countries. Are we going to war now?' The July 24 clashes may have been an indication of the dangerous direction the two countries are heading. Thailand said Cambodia fired rockets into civilian areas and that it responded by sending F-16 fighter jets to bomb targets in Cambodia – a rare deployment of the jets for combat in the region. Cambodian officials said Thai soldiers had opened fire on Cambodian troops first, at a temple. NYTIMES
