Asean Morning News For June 6

Asean Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Scholarships To Help Asean Entrepreneurs Reach Their Best
More Asean entrepreneurs now have the chance to apply for the Asean Global Leadership Program (AGLP) as the result of an agreement signed between SRW&Co and the Asean Business Advisory Council (Asean-BAC).
— AEC News Today

Southeast Asia’s plastic ‘addiction’ blights world’s oceans
On her lunch break, Bangkok office worker Chinapa Payakha emerges from a 7-Eleven store with two plastic bags.
— Reuters

Import restrictions ripple across Southeast Asia
Months after China ramped up restrictions on scrap imports, countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam are initiating similar, if less extensive, policies as officials try to get a handle on massive increases in shipments and improper use of permits.
— Resource Recycling

Chinese labour migration to Southeast Asia
Both by design and proximity, China has had an immense influence on the Southeast Asian region.
— The Asean Post

Trump’s Indo-Pacific Strategy Challenge in the Spotlight at 2018 Shangri-La Dialogue
Though there was once again no shortage of issues discussed among delegates at this year’s iteration of the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) in Singapore over the weekend, by far the most prominent one was the U.S. concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific strategy (FOIP).
— The Diplomat

ASEAN ministers vow to fight transboundary haze
ASEAN member countries of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have pledged to remain vigilant and step up preventive efforts to minimise any possible occurrence of transboundary smoke haze during periods of dry weather.
— Borneo Bulletin

Asean talks boost trade cooperation, facilitation
Asean will further reduce barriers and deepen economic linkages among member states, while lowering business costs and creating a larger market and economies of scale for regional businesses.
— Inquirer.net

SE Asia in the spotlight on World Environment Day for plastic pollution
On her lunch break, Bangkok office worker Chinapa Payakha emerges from a 7-Eleven store with two plastic bags.
— Enca.com

China, ASEAN enter into new era of bilateral ties in various fields
An official of the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China said that China and member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN), including the Philippines, have entered into a new era of mutual cooperation and deeper understanding in various fields.
— Philippine News Agency

ASEAN center attracts food tourists
Southeast Asia has become one of the top tourist destinations for people living in South Korea, and among its best attractions in the ASEAN region are its delicious and diverse cuisines.
— The Korea Times

Keppel Singmarine wins S$50m deal to build South-east Asia’s first LNG bunkering vessel
Keppel Singmarine has secured a contract worth S$50 million to build South-east Asia’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel.
— The Business Times

After buying out Uber in Southeast Asia, Grab says competition has made it stronger
Southeast Asian start-up Grab has been “battled-tested” to take on Indonesian counterpart Go-Jek as the latter expands abroad, a Grab co-founder said on Tuesday.
— CNBC

Grab drivers in southeast Asia are now mini-convenience stores, too
The ride-hailing giant that bought out Uber’s business in the region last year has found another way to make rides more profitable for drivers (and the company, of course), reports TechCrunch.
— Fast Company

The fight for basic rights
Human-rights violations in Southeast Asia remain a sad sight in the news. Among the various organisations working to improve the situation, Fortify Rights since 2013 has been hard at work with its team of human-rights specialists in Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia to bring changes to the region.
— Bangkok Post

ASEAN-Korea tourism investment seminar on June 8
THE ASEAN-Korea Tourism Investment Seminar will be taking place on June 8 in Seoul, South Korea and will provide up-to-date information on investment environment and opportunities in tourism industries of the 10 ASEAN member states and hold one-on-one business meetings.
— Borneo Bulletin

Why UK-ASEAN Trade Ties Are Thriving
It’s been 50 years since the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) came together as a group of like-minded nations to promote regional trade and the benefits it delivers to all.
— The Diplomat (paywall)

Unicorns of ASEAN: Grab
Who would have thought a startup which first began as a taxi-booking app in Kuala Lumpur would end up beating ride-sharing giants Uber at its own game?
— The Asean Post

SAARC Chamber calls for partnership with ASEAN
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Senior Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik has said that the regional organisation cannot progress in isolation and called for strengthening practical engagement with other Asian and international organisations for development in the region.
— Tribune

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

King Calls on Cambodians to Vote in the July’s Election
His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, called on all citizens to exercise their free rights by voting in the National Assembly 6th mandate election, which will be held on July 29, 2018, according to the royal letter dated on May 18, 2018.
— Fresh News

Cambodian Court Rejects Opposition Leader’s Fourth Appeal For Bail From Pre-Trial Detention
Cambodia’s Appeal Court on Tuesday refused bail to opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) President Kem Sokha, who has been held in pre-trial detention since September on charges of treason widely dismissed as politically motivated ahead of next month’s general election.
— Radio Free Asia

‘We’re going to be blind’: how Cambodia defeated its free press
Critics and human rights groups decry the end of an era of press freedom in Cambodia as the nation’s last independent newspaper is sold to the owner of a Malaysian “covert PR” firm, leaving Cambodians who once relied on a free press worrying that they’re now “going to be blind”
— Southeast Asia globe

See here for more of today’s Cambodia Morning News

Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Jakarta Spends Rp8 billion for Decoration of 2018 Asian Games
akarta head of Urban Plantation Management Unit (UPPTP) Yati Sudiharti said that part of the Rp8.1 billion procurement for the city’s plants and decorations are used for the 2018 Asian Games.
— Tempo.co

SOFTBANK LEADS $20M IN FUNDING FOR INDONESIAN CO-WORKING PROVIDER’S SE ASIA EXPANSION
Indonesia’s largest co-working operator, EV Hive, has bagged $20 million in fresh funding from a roster of investors including an affiliate of Japan’s SoftBank Group, as Southeast Asia’s flexible space race continues to heat up.
— Mingtiandi

Chinese firm expands waste to energy footprint with Indonesia acquisition
PT Jinjiang Environment Indonesia, a wholly owned subsidiary of China’s leading waste-to-energy (WTE) operator China Jinjiang Environment Holding Company, has acquired a 95% stake in PT Indo Green Power (IGP), which has secured a concession to construct, own and operate a WTE facility in Palembang, Indonesia, with a total installed waste treatment capacity of 1,000 tonnes per day.
— The Asset

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Economy Grows As Expected, Prime Minister
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told the 5th Ordinary Session of the National Assembly on Tuesday that the national economic development has advanced as expected with the first half of this year expected to witness an economic growth of 6.7% and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 152,436 billion kip.
— Lao News Agency

Plans for Laos-Vietnam highway
Plans are being drawn up in Laos for the new highway connecting its capital Vientiane with Hanoi, the capital of neighbouring Vietnam.
— World Highways

New Codeshare Partnership for Bangkok Airways and Lao Airlines
Bangkok Airways (PG) and Lao Airlines (QV) have entered into a new codeshare partnership to strengthen their respective route networks between Thailand and Lao PDR.
— Travel Trade Daily

See here for more of today’s Lao Morning News

Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

New Multi-Billion Scandal Of Former Malaysian Government Exposed
Malaysia’s new finance minister Lim Guan Eng on June 5 said he will report to the anti-graft agency upfront payments of 9.4 billion ringgit ($2.36 billion) the previous administration made to a Chinese firm for two pipeline projects that have barely begun.
— Investvine

Malaysian ex-PM’s wife in 3-hour grilling over graft claims
The wife of Malaysia’s ousted prime minister Najib Razak was on Tuesday questioned for more than three hours by the nation’s anti-corruption agency over a massive financial scandal involving a state sovereign wealth fund.
— Bangkok Post (video) (annoying popups)

Malaysia’s exports climb to RM84.2bil in April, exceed forecast
Malaysia exports rose 14% to RM84.2bil in April 2018, the second highest monthly export value after the previous month’s exports of RM84.5bil, underpinned by higher exports of electrical and electronic (E&E) products and crude petroleum.
— The Star Online

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Rohingya say Myanmar targeted the educated in genocide
Mohammed Hashim hid in the hills and watched as his brother begged for his life, his arms bound behind his back as soldiers marched the 35-year-old teacher away. It was the last time he saw him alive.
— The Independent UK

Myanmar government considers closing IDP camps
The Myanmar government is considering closure of the remaining internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the country under a strategic plan, according to Xinhua quoting state media.
— Mizzima

Myanmar enterprise tries to make trash trendy
With creative flair, the Myanmar-based social enterprise “Chu Chu” lets little go to waste as its staff turn discarded clothes and rubbish into handy accessories that get snapped up by tourists.
— Channel NewsAsia

See here for more of today’s Myanmar Morning News

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

QT Steel Could See Manila High-Rises Collapse in Big Quake Warns Engineer
A Filipino engineer has warned that many of the countries towering high-rise buildings could be severely damaged, with some possibly collapsing, due to the use of Quenched Tempered (QT) steel bars in their construction.
— AEC News Today

Quezon City gives informal settlers P1.2-million to move to Rizal
The 37-member Quezon City council has given Mayor Herbert Bautista the green light to extend P1.2 million in financial aid to informal settlers affected by road improvement projects.
— Manilastandard.net

Cebu container port project gets $173-million South Korea funding
South Korea has extended a $172.64 million loan agreement to the Philippines for the construction of the Cebu International Container Port, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).
— Philippine Star

See here for more of today’s Philippines Morning News

Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

All of Singapore’s government services will go digital by 2023, with more public servants to be trained in data analytics
By 2023, Singapore’s citizens and businesses will be able to access all Government services anytime, anywhere on an Internet-enabled device.
— South China Morning Post

Singapore Implements Artificial Intelligence Governance and Ethics Initiatives
As Singapore develops its digital economy, a trusted ecosystem is key, where industries can benefit from innovations in technology while consumer confidence and understanding can be assured.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Plastic bags targeted as Singapore marks World Environment Day
Supermarkets and other retailers may be required to report the amount of plastic bags they use, and plans to reduce their usage, by 2021.
— The Straits Times

See here for more of today’s Singapore Morning News

Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

JSCCIB maintains year’s growth forecast, highest rise expected for Q1
THE JOINT Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) will review its economic forecast in the next meeting on July 3, while expecting this year’s economic expansion to be within its estimated range of 4.0-4.5 per cent.
— The Nation

Somkid urges investors to make Thailand regional automobile hub
The government is urging auto-makers to take advantage of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) facilities to set up production bases in its effort to make Thailand the regional hub for automobile production.
— Thai PBS

Confidence dips in May as fuel prices bite consumers
Consumer confidence in May dropped on negative factors such as rising oil prices and concerns over the slow economic recovery, low commodity prices and higher living costs.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam court rejects appeal by airport bomb plotters – media
A court in Vietnam has upheld prison sentences against 15 people it said are guilty of plotting to bomb the country’s largest airport in Ho Chi Minh City last April, state media reported on Tuesday.
— Channel NewsAsia

Vietnam’s draft law on cyber security sparks concern
Vietnamese lawmakers are expected to pass a new cyber security law next week that threatens to still online dissent and further rein in Internet giants like Facebook and Google.
— The Straits Times

PetroVietnam contributes US$1.79bn to State budget
The National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) contributed VND40.8 trillion (US$1.79 billion) to the State budget in the first five months of 2018.
— Bizhub

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.