THAILAND’S Office of the Royal Society (ORST) has announced the change of the official name of Thailand’s capital, from Bangkok to Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. However, the name Bangkok is still recognized.

The new official name, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, will not come into effect until it is vetted by a committee in charge of scrutinizing all draft bills.

Government deputy spokeswoman Ratchda Dhanadirek said the Thai name Krung Thep Maha Nakhon would be used only as its official name. The name Bangkok would still be recognized in parenthesis.

On its Facebook page, the ORST also posted a message that both names could be used, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and Bangkok, after its announcement on the name change drew public criticism.

Bangkok has been in use officially since November 2001. It came from an old area of Bangkok, which is now a part of the greater metropolitan area of the capital, Bangkok Noi and Bangkok Yai districts. Historically, it has been in common use for a long time. (SD-Agencies)