Bangkok: The People's Party has proposed an amendment to the zoning law for entertainment venues, aiming to shift the authority from the Minister of Interior to the Bangkok Governor. This proposal seeks to close existing loopholes that allow operators to bypass regulations by obtaining entertainment venue licenses instead of permits required for restaurants selling alcohol.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, leader of the People's Party and the opposition in the House of Representatives, along with fellow MPs, addressed the media after a shadow cabinet meeting. They expressed their condolences following the tragic fire at the Lat Phrao brewery, emphasizing that such incidents are not isolated and may result from enforcement loopholes and issues with responsible officials.

Mr. Nattapong reiterated the party's proposal to amend the current zoning law, which assigns direct authority to the Minister of Interior. He argued that granting this power to the Governor of Bangkok could result in more effective zoning and oversight.

He further pointed out that current legal loopholes might allow business owners to apply for entertainment venue licenses, thereby circumventing the stricter regulations applied to restaurant licenses that involve alcohol sales. This situation has led to repeated incidents. The People's Party plans to monitor the situation closely and conduct on-site inspections of entertainment venues to ensure stricter regulatory compliance.