Asean Morning News For June 11

Asean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Time running out on MTCO contract
Mekong Tourism Coordination Office executive director, Jens Thraenhart’s contract runs out 30 June, just days after the Mekong Tourism Forum is hosted in Nakhon Phanom, 26 to 29 June in northeast Thailand.
— TTR Weekly

Rise in India-ASEAN naval games
India is instituting a series of bilateral and multilateral naval exercises with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries as part of the increasing military-to-military cooperation.
— The Hindu

German startups find fertile ground in Asia
The German government is sending young companies to Southeast Asia to reinvent themselves for new markets.
— Handelsblatt Global

South Korean investors eye Asean tourism industry
SOUTH KOREAN investors are interested in expanding their investment in the tourism industry throughout the Asean bloc due to strong interest of international tourists in the region.
— The Nation

Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing major Grab reveals annual revenue now exceeds $1b
For the first time since its launch, Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing major Grab has officially announced its annual revenue at more than $1 billion, according to a Yicai report.
— Deal Street Asia

Ho Chi Minh City: Property paradise for ASEAN
Massive infrastructure projects and ample growth prospects have positioned ASEAN as a prime real estate investment destination globally, with properties in regional capitals typically offering higher rental yields and capital appreciation than assets in more developed areas.
— The Asean Post

Para athletes seek financial support for ASEAN buildup
As the Philippines hosts the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in 2019, the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) hopes the country’s hosting of the 10th ASEAN Para Games (APG) in 2020 won’t be overlooked.
— Rappler

Developing an ASEAN citizenry
The coming together of 10 countries into a single association bound by principles of non-interference and mutual respect is no easy feat.
— The Asean Post

G7 backs ASEAN on South China Sea dispute, Vietnam cheers
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has lauded G7 members for supporting the stance of ASEAN countries on disputes in the South China Sea, commonly known as the East Sea in Vietnam.
— VnExpress

ASEAN Terrorism Threat in Focus at 2018 Shangri-La Dialogue
As with previous years, this year’s iteration of the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), Asia’s premier security summit held in Singapore, saw no shortage of regional defense issues in the spotlight, from the South China Sea to the evolving shape of U.S. commitment to the region (See: “Trump’s Indo-Pacific Strategy Challenge in the Spotlight at 2018 Shangri-La Dialogue“).
— The Diplomat (paywall)

No Mattis miracles at Shangri-La as allies urged to keep the faith
US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis revealed much more than Washington’s intense frustration with China’s continued militarisation of the South China Sea in his speech at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue.
— East Asia Forum

Interview: Cambodian FM says Cambodia can bridge SCO and ASEAN
Cambodia can bridge the economies of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which will help Cambodia’s socio-economic development and diversify its export markets, the country’s foreign minister said in a recent interview with Chinese media.
— Xinhua Net

Where Are ASEAN’s Defense Initiatives Under Singapore’s Chairmanship?
There was no shortage of topics under discussion by delegates last weekend at the 2018 iteration of the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), Asia’s premier security summit, in Singapore.
— The Diplomat (paywall)

Visa predicts payment avenue boom by 2022
The rise of new forms of Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), empowered by big data analytics, will lead to new methods of payment, with Visa Inc predicting 30 billion ways to pay and 400 million ways to be paid by 2022.
— Bangkok Post

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Justice Minister Orders Court to Take Action against Sam Rainsy’s Insult His Majesty
Spokesman of Ministry of Justice Kim Santepheap said Sunday that Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vathana requested the Phnom Penh Municiple Court (PPMC) to take legal action against Sam Rainsy’s accusation the Royal Message a forgery, which is widely seen as an insult.
— Fresh News

No decision by EU yet to cut ties
The European Union (EU) has not announced cutting relations with Cambodia, but it will be sending a delegation of senior officials to the Kingdom later this year to monitor the situation, according to the EU ambassador to Cambodia.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia-China roundtable dialogue on new economy held in Phnom Penh
A roundtable dialogue on new economy between Cambodia and China was held here on Sunday, focusing on the development of e-commerce, media and tourism.
— Xinhua

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

$1b Loans From ADB to Support Indonesia’s Fiscal, Investment Reforms
The Asian Development Bank has approved $1 billion in policy-based loans to support Indonesia’s reforms in public expenditure, and to improve the country’s investment climate.
— Jakarta Globe

Foreign exchange reserves slide to US$122.9b
Bank Indonesia (BI) has reported that the country’s foreign exchange reserves fell to US$122.9 billion as of late May, down from $124.9 billion in the previous month.
— The Jakarta Post

Govt Deems Excise Tax of 57 Percent of Selling Price for Vape Appropriate
The government ensures the imposition of excise duty on tobacco products (HPTL) such as e-cigarette and electric cigarette liquor or vape starting July 1, 2018.
— Netral News

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Laos unable to rise above LDC status by 2020: PM
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told the National Assembly on Friday that Laos is unable to graduate from the United Nations’ Least Developed Country (LDC) list by 2020 as targeted.
— Vientiane Times

Thongloun Sisoulith’s losing battle against corruption
Despite a fierce anti-graft campaign, corruption in Laos has worsened since 2017. Transparency International released its annual corruption index. Laos slipped from 123rd place to 135th.
— The Asean Post

Teacher shortage continues as govt quota declines
Schools throughout the country have put in requests for an additional 2,979 teachers, while the government has provided a quota of just 1,850 civil servant teachers to the Ministry of Education and Sports this year.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysia’s PM Suggests Review Of Trans-Pacific Partnership
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad called for a review of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement in an interview with Japan’s Nikkei Asian Review published on June 9, arguing that the trade pact – which currently has eleven signatories including Japan, Canada and Australia – should take into consideration the level of development of various countries.
— Investvine

Najib Signed Off Hundreds Of Millions On ‘Scam’ Solar Project For Sarawak Schools
Sarawak Report has viewed copious documents indicating that in January 2017 the former Prime Minister personally pushed through an extraordinary RM1.25 billion project, which was awarded to a car rental company in Bintulu, purporting to install solar energy supplies for 369 Sarawak schools in the interior.
— Sarawak Report

In Mahathir’s Malaysia, Japan is back amid doubts over Chinese funding
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is set to woo investors and offer business deals during a trip to Japan that starts on Sunday, as he looks to cover a gaping debt hole and shift the country away from dependence on Chinese investments.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Myanmar tourist industry looks for quick turnaround
DESPITE Myanmar’s tourism business having stalled for more than a year due to religious conflicts in Rakhine State, the nation is making plans to help the industry rebound through accelerating reforms, according to Thet Lwin Toe, chairman of the Union of Myanmar Travel Association (UMTA).
— The Nation

Rohingya Upset UN Agreement Didn’t Address Citizenship
Rohingya Muslim refugees who fled attacks in Myanmar said they were disappointed that a U.N. agreement signed earlier this week did not address one of their key demands: Citizenship.
— Khaosod English

19 agreements worth over $50 million signed for national power supply project
Nineteen agreements worth over US$50 million have been signed for the national power supply project to be implemented with a World Bank loan, according to the Ministry of Electricity and Energy.
— Eleven Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

China to apply law vs. ‘violators’ at Scarborough Shoal: DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Chinese government assured the Philippines that it will “apply the law very harshly” to violators of the fishing agreement at the Bajo de Masinloc (BDM) or the Scarborough Shoal, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Sunday.
— Northbound Philippines

BIR ordered to return P50 million in excess taxes to San Miguel
THE Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has granted San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC) a partial tax refund of P50.61 million for “excessive” taxes collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
— BusinessWorld Online

Neda vows P2.69-B China-funded Chico River project to succeed
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) seeks to assure Filipinos the P2.69-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation Project funded by the Chinese government will not fail.
— Business Mirror

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

S$20m spent to host Trump-Kim summit, an endeavour in Singapore’s ‘profound interest’: PM Lee
The Republic will spend about S$20 million on logistics and security to host the high-profile meeting between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but that is a price Singapore is “willing to pay” for a “very important operation”, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
— Today Online

Singapore government to regulate eSIM technology
eSIM technology, which allows a SIM module to be permanently embedded in devices, supports over-the-air service provisioning of mobile services.
— Computer Weekly

Singapore deports South Korean journalists in trespass case
Singapore officials said Sunday that two South Korean journalists arrested on suspicion of trespassing at the residence of the North Korean ambassador have been deported.
— The Washington Post

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC): The Hard Sell Begins
For the past year no visitor to Thailand on government business has been spared the pre-sales spiel on the country’s plans to develop its eastern seaboard into a major economic corridor.
— AEC News Today (video)

DPM Wissanu says all future governments bound by 20-year national plan
The Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs noted that in order for the country to successfully move forward, the next government will also have to follow the 20-year national strategy.
— News Today (video)

Govt website aims to train 10m Thai youth for digital era
WITH THE aim of training 10 million youth in Thailand over the next three years in coding and computer science skills, a government ministry has launched the “Coding Thailand” project and its CodingThailand.org website.
— The Nation

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam protesters clash with police over new economic zones
Demonstrators clashed with police in Vietnam amid protests against plans for new economic zones that some fear will be dominated by Chinese investors.
— BBC (video)

Dragon fruit dominates Vietnam fruit exports
Dragon fruit has dominated Vietnamese fruit exports in the first four months of 2018 with total exports reaching US$427 million, a year-on-year increase of 9 percent.
— Inquirer.net

See here for more of today’s Vietnam Morning News

The Asean Morning News Roundup and its individual country morning news round-ups are the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of news reports from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. We scour hundreds of local and international news and websites to find the things that you need to know to start your working week day.

We clearly identify the source of the story, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you. It’s all then packaged up in an easy to read format enabling you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original source, or keep on reading the headlines. AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.