BANGKOK: The Thai authorities are mulling over setting up a database on lost tourist passports to deal with security concerns arising from a disclosure that two of the passengers in the missing Flight MH370 used passports stolen in the country.
"I will propose this idea to set up the database for lost passports to the Royal Thai National Police Chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew," Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told the media on Monday.
He said the proposed database would facilitate the reporting of information relating to tourists who lost their passports in Thailand, to Interpol.
It would enable Interpol to investigate cases of missing passports which occurred in Thailand, he added.
Thailand came into the spotlight after it was discovered that the purchased tickets of two passengers in Flight MH370 which disappeared from the radar screen at 2.40am last Saturday, was bought with passports stolen in Thailand, using the Thai baht.
However, Surapong does not expect the incident involving the stolen passports to affect the country's image as a tourist haven.
He said the public should first wait for the result of the investigation before speculating whether it involved terrorism.
He said the Thai Government was ready to provide support and assistance to locate the missing aircraft. - Bernama
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