Asean Morning News For June 4

Asean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

South China Sea: US says China’s militarisation of islands an act of ‘intimidation and coercion’
US Defence Secretary James Mattis has raised the prospect of additional American steps against China if its “militarisation” of the South China Sea keeps apace.
— ABC News

ASEAN Manufacturing PMI continues to improve in May
The Nikkei ASEAN Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, or PMI, rose to 51.5 in May from 51.0 in April, reaching the highest level since July 2014.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines to conduct military exercise to curb militants
Indonesia will hold a land patrol training exercise to expand the existing trilateral patrol mechanism with Malaysia and the Philippines around the Sulu Sea to curb the movement of Islamist militants.
— The Jakarta Post

Climate disaster looms for SE Asia
International experts have urged governments in Southeast Asia to prioritise creating climate change resilience for their citizens, as the region faces more destructive natural disasters due to global warming.
— The Nation

Family terrorism is Southeast Asia’s newest threat, defense officials warn
Families carrying out terror acts are a worrying new trend in Southeast Asia, regional defense ministers warned this weekend.
— CNBC

#NotAPlasticoholic: This Man Will Travel Across Five Countries To Spread Message Against Plastic
Every day we get to hear about how the environment is getting polluted. Experts have estimated that annual waste generation in India will go up to 165 million tonnes b 2030.
— India Times

ASEAN, China to hold talks on South China Sea code in August
The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China are set to convene negotiations for the crafting of the code of conduct (COC) on the South China Sea in August, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano announced Friday.
— Philippine Canadian Inquirer

New Asean requirements on biological products
Countries in the region recently agreed to two sets of new Asean Common Technical Requirements on biological products.
— Inquirer.net

MRC vows to be among first paperless organizations in Laos
The Mekong River Commission Secretariat has vowed to become one of the first paperless organizations in Laos as part of its efforts to protect environment and promote regional sustainable growth.
— Xinhua Net

With ports, ships and promises, India asserts role in Southeast Asia
Almost lost in the din of the upcoming U.S-North Korea summit and fresh tension between Washington and Beijing last week, India cemented its diplomatic and security ties across Southeast Asia in a clear challenge to China.
— Reuters

Asean will not be put in position to pick between world powers: Ng Eng Hen
ASEAN will continue to maintain its centrality, and will not be put in a position to pick among the world powers, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen at the end of the Shangri-La Dialogue, during which the Indo-Pacific emerged as a buzzword.
— The Business Times

ASEAN and the EU: Like two peas in the same pod?
“The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was never an integration project but a sovereignty upholding project,” said Michael Vatikiotis, Regional Director for the Asia Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue at an ASEAN Roundtable held in Singapore last year.
— The Asean Post

Terrorism moving from Middle East to Southeast Asia, warns Chinese expert at Singapore forum
Extremists are increasingly flowing from the Middle East into Southeast Asia, making the region “the hub of world terrorism activities,” a Chinese delegate has warned the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
— Global Times

Asean’s ’11th member’ dips a toe in the bloc
ASIA-PACIFIC law firm King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has launched an international trade and investment practice with partners at its three-year-old office here on the back of an uptick of interest in South-east Asia.
— The Business Times

Indo-Pacific Region Not a Club of Limited Members: Modi
India will promote a democratic and rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific with ASEAN at its heart, that allows free access to common spaces and is not limited to a ‘club of limited members’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday.
— The Wire

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Cement factory sets sights on 5K tonnes a day
The Battambang Conch Cement Company Ltd officially inaugurated its $230 million factory in Battambang province on Thursday. It will have a total production capacity of 5,000 tonnes per day.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Illegal pork destined for capital seized
Anti-economic crime police in Banteay Meanchey province yesterday seized more than 1,000 kilos of bad pork giblets being illegally imported from Thailand along National Road 5 in Serey Sophorn city.
— Khmer Times

‘This is development’: Cambodia’s electricity push leaves the dead swimming in their graves and the living begging for land
Only 16 per cent of the country had access to electricity in 2000, but that has skyrocketed to almost 50 per cent now with much of that progress driven by dams.
— South China Morning Post

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

BCA raises deposit rate, holds loan rate
Bank Indonesia’s (BI) recent decision to raise its reference rate for the second time by 25 basis points (bps) has pushed Indonesia’s biggest private lender Bank Central Asia (BCA) to raise its deposit rate by the same amount, while maintaining its lending rate.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

Men Detained In A Raid At Riau University Over Plot To Attack Local Parliament
Indonesian anti-terrorism police Densus 88 have detained three former students in a raid on a university campus in Pekanbaru, on Saturday June 2, and seized crude bombs and other explosive materials, police said.
— Indonesia Expat

New Criminal Code Won’t Weaken KPK; Gay Sex to Remain Illegal
House of Representatives Speaker Bambang Soesatyo has expressed his commitment to finalize revisions to Indonesia’s criminal code.
— Jakarta Globe

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Lao, Thai parliament presidents hold talks on ties, cooperation
President of the Lao National Assembly, Ms Pany Yathotou, and her Thai counterpart Pornpech Wichitcholchai have said they highly value the growing ties and cooperation between the two countries, and the two parliaments in particular.
— Vientiane Times

Human resources the key for Asean economic integration: PM
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has highlighted the significance of human resource development to boost economic growth and enable Laos to better integrate with the rest of the region and the world.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysian PM Mahathir clashes with royals over choice of Attorney-General
It has taken just weeks for Malaysia’s new leader Tun Mahathir Mohamad to clash with the country’s influential royals, in an episode reminiscent of his first reign which lasted 22 years.
— The Straits Times

Malaysia: Zero-Sales Tax Paradise For Just Three Months
After effectively scrapping the unpopular six-per cent goods and services tax (GST) on June 1, Malaysia’s new government will re-introduce a refined sales and services tax (SST) in September, giving its citizens a break of just three months from such a general tax.
— Investvine

Malaysia to penalise owners who don’t replace Takata airbags
Malaysia’s transport minister said Saturday that owners of more than 71,000 affected Honda cars will be penalised if they fail to replace flawed Takata air bags, in a drastic move to curb fatalities.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Myanmar says willing to take back all Rohingya refugees
Myanmar is willing to take back all 700,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees who have fled to Bangladesh if they volunteer to return, the country’s National Security Adviser Thaung Tun said on Saturday.
— Reuters

Woodside targets first gas in 2023 as negotiations continue with govt
Australian energy firm Woodside has unveiled plans to develop gas reserves in the A-6 block by connecting the field to the Yadana project and said it is aiming to bring the field online by 2023.
— Frontier Myanmar

Yangon Government’s 2018-19 Budget Proposals Come Under Fire
The Yangon regional government came under intense criticism in Parliament this week for its proposed 2018-19 budget, with MPs expressing concerns about the planned spending of billions of kyats.
— The Irrawaddy

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Creeping invasion? De Lima seeks Senate probe on massive influx of Chinese workers in PH
Senator Leila de Lima on Sunday is calling for a Senate investigation ion the ‘influx’ of Chinese workers in the country.
— Politiko (media release)

MPT South to extend Cavitex with P23.2-billion investment
AFTER investing roughly P700 million to enhance the capacity and decongest the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (Cavitex), Metro Pacific Tollways South Corp. (MPT South) plans to further extend the thoroughfare through a P23.2-billion investment to serve more motorists in the Southern Tagalog region.
— Business Mirror

900 ‘e-trikes’ deployed in Manila
Starting this month, a total of 900 “e-Trikes” will be plying the streets of the four Metro Manila cities under a government programme to transition towards “cleaner” transport alternatives.
— Gulf News

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Digital Readiness Blueprint unveiled to prepare Singaporeans for a digitised world
From the later half of this year, seniors who find digital services and mobile applications daunting to use may approach “digital concierges” at community centres near their homes to get one-on-one help.
— Today Online

A ‘lose-lose scenario for the world’ if US, China won’t work together: Ng Eng Hen
The United States’ recent unilateral tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, based on national security grounds, and China’s moves actions on disputed territories, similarly for security reasons, have challenged the status quo and accepted rules which have benefited Asia, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Sunday (Jun 3).
— Channel NewsAsia

Singtel developing telco network planning app
Singtel’s data analytics subsidiary DataSpark is working with consulting company Analysys Mason to develop a network planning app for mobile operators.
— Telecomasia.net

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

South Korea to boost investment in Thailand
In line with its Thailand 4.0 goals, the Land of Smiles has been on an active lookout for foreign investors willing to finance projects under this initiative. South Korea, recently expressed keen interest in doing so at a recent seminar celebrating 60 years of South Korea-Thailand diplomatic relations.
— The Asean Post

TMB Analytics raises economic forecast following positive factors
TMB Analytics has raised this year’s economic forecast following a number of positive factors.
— NNT

Construction of Thai-Chinese high-speed rail to start fully next year: Thai official
The construction of a Thai-Chinese high-speed rail between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima in northeastern Thailand is expected to get fully started early next year, following biddings later this year, said Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith on Friday.
— Xinhuanet

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam’s party accuses senior officials of violations at Mobifone, BIDV
Vietnam’s current and former information ministers and several other senior officials have been accused of “very serious” violations linked to state telecoms firm Mobifone and BIDV bank, part of a widening crackdown on corruption.
— Reuters

Domestic fertiliser struggles to compete
Since 2015, amendments to the tax laws have been causing negative impacts on domestic production, particularly of fertiliser.
— Bizhub

Smoke smoking: WHO wants Vietnam to raise tobacco taxes
Vietnam’s current tobacco tax only accounts for 35 percent of retail prices, while the world average is 56 percent.
— VnExpress

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.

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