Asean morning news for April 18

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Malaysia begins inquiry into 2015 discovery of mass graves, human trafficking camps
Malaysia began a public inquiry on Wednesday into the discovery of mass graves and suspected human trafficking camps in the jungles near its border with Thailand, which prompted a regional crisis in 2015, and accusations over obstruction of justice.
— Thomson Reuters Foundation

Struggling SMEs should turn to tech
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore have been hailed as the driving force behind the island nation’s economy.
— The Asean Post

Applications for international transport operations accepted until April 23
The Department of Land Transport is inviting those who are interested in being cross-border transport operators linking Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, and Thailand and Cambodia, to submit their applications by April 23, 2019.
–NNT

First Asean Global Leadership Program at LSE Spotlights Salient Topics
For the first time, the London School of Economics and Political Science hosted the Asean Global Leadership Program on its campus in Central London, on March 25 through March 29.
— Jakarta Globe

Southeast Asians visit Taiwan in record numbers
A record number of visitors from Southeast Asia, and in particular from the 18 New Southbound Policy countries, visited Taiwan in 2018, approaching the number of tourists from China, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) said Wednesday (April 17).
— Taiwan News

Better rail links ‘more critical’
Malaysia is mulling the idea of having a high-speed rail (HSR) service from Johor Baru to Penang or even to the border with Thailand in the future.
— The Nation

STB and Traveloka look to lure visitors from five major SEA markets
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Traveloka have partnered in a bid to promote Singapore as a “preferred destination” for visitors from five major Southeast Asian markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
— Marketing Interactive

HSBC is helping ASEAN cope with climate change
ASEAN has to do more to attract private investment for key sustainable infrastructure programmes as the region makes the transition to a low carbon economy.
— The Asean Post

BRI helps countries bring governance reform
Durian is one of the main fruits that Thailand exports to China. When I was a correspondent in Thailand eight years ago, a Thai exporter told me that it took around 10 days for durians from being picked to being transported to ports on China’s southeastern coast.
— Global Times

Arrivals from Southeast Asian countries set new highs: NIA
Thanks to the government’s New Southbound Policy, arrivals from countries in Southeast Asia to Taiwan in 2018 set a new high in terms of both visitor numbers and the percentage of the total arrivals, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) said Wednesday.
— Focus Taiwan

Asean, Seameo discuss Lao education project
Two international organisations plan to form a partnership to help Laos deliver better education outcomes in its remote border areas.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

AEC Feed
The up-and-coming Jurong Lake District in Singapore will welcome a new 7ha integrated tourism development from 2026.
— The Nation

These MBA Students Are Tapping Into Southeast Asia’s Technology Boom
Grab, the Malaysian-born ride-hailing app, was recently dubbed Southeast Asia’s first ‘decacorn’—the rare marvel of a start-up worth over $10 billion.
— Business Because

ASEAN Automotive Aftermarket Is Predicted to Surpass US$ 48 Bn in Revenues by 2026 end
In Future Market Insights’ market report titled, “Automotive Aftermarket: ASEAN Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026”, poor road infrastructure and extended vehicle life have been identified as profitable factors for the growth of the automotive aftermarket in ASEAN.
— Daily Chronicle

Experian reaches the overlooked in SE Asia to power credit offer
Experian’s solution powers airtime advances which is especially relevant to Thailand with its high concentration of prepaid subscribers at up to 80 per cent.
— The Nation

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

Nearly 5 mln tourists visit tourism sites in Cambodia during traditional New Year
The number of domestic and foreign tourists visiting tourist destinations in Cambodia during the Khmer New Year holiday rose 67 percent to 4.72 million, a tourism ministry report said on Wednesday.
— Xinhua

Cambodia takes EU to Court over rice tariffs
Cambodia has filed a challenge at the European Court of Justice against the European Commission’s decision to re-impose duties on its rice exports.
— Ieg Policy (paywall)

52 die in traffic accidents over Khmer New Year
The updated National Police states that from April 13 to 16 they tallied 109 traffic accidents nationwide, with 52 fatalities and 183 injured persons.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

Indonesian President Joko Widodo Set to Win Second Term After World’s Biggest One-Day Election
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has won a second five-year term, preliminary election results showed Wednesday, in a victory for moderation over the nationalistic rhetoric of his rival, Prabowo Subianto.
— TIMES

The vote’s (not quite) in the bag: Indonesia poll, West Papua way
It was late on Tuesday afternoon, just hours before Indonesia was due to go to the polls, and the ballots had still not arrived in Mugi, a village in the central highlands of Papua, the most easterly province in the archipelago.
— AL Jazeera

Indonesia’s elections: the foreign policy challenges that await
Indonesia’s national leaders and politicians have mostly paid more attention to domestic issues for the country’s upcoming general elections compared to regional and global challenges.
— The Interpreter

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

IFC and Lao PDR’s Ministry of Energy and Mines partner to boost private sector investment
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Lao PDR’s Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen and extend the country’s energy sector by mobilizing private investment in the transmission infrastructure.
— International Water Power and Dam Construction

Cash for work project benefiting flood-hit communities
Local communities impacted by flooding are benefiting under a ‘cash for work’ project as part of the collaboration between the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the United Nations Development Programme.
— Vientiane Times

Laos aiming to end use of asbestos by 2020
The government is finalising a National Action Plan aiming to eliminate asbestos-related diseases among the population by putting an end to the import and use of the hazardous material across the country by 2020.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Retail industry to grow at faster pace of 4.5%
The Malaysian retail industry is expected to grow by 4.5% this year compared with 3.9% last year, due to the better business sentiment with China.
— The Star Online

Malaysia could see RM33 bil outflow if bonds downgraded, says Morgan Stanley
Malaysia could see outflows of almost US$8 billion (RM33.12 billion) if its bonds are downgraded by global index provider FTSE Russell, Morgan Stanley said in a research note.
— FMT

Malaysia Airports digitalises procurement to strengthen governance
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd is strengthening its procurement governance by digitalising its processes on Lapasar, an e-market place platform, to ensure transparent business processes.
— The Edge Markets

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Myanmar Air Force conducts night-time airstrikes in Rakhine State
The Myanmar Air Force (MAF) has conducted an escalated campaign of airstrikes in western Rakhine State that, for the first time in the service’s history, has involved sustained combat operations at night.
— Janes

Highway accidents kill 4, injure 42 in Myanmar during water festival
Four people including a woman were killed with 42 others injured in traffic accidents on Myanmar’s highway during the four-day long Thingyan water festival, a release from the Highway Police Force said Wednesday.
— Xinhua

Myanmar’s Wa rebels march in show of force
It has a standing army of 25,000, manufactures its own guns and conscripts at least one member of each household — meet the United Wa State Army: Communist, reclusive, China-backed rebels determined to protect their supremacy over Myanmar’s badland border zone.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Philippines records 627 mln USD BOP surplus in March 2019
The Philippines’ overall balance of payments (BOP) position posted a surplus of 627 million U.S. dollars in March 2019, a reversal of the 266 million U.S. dollars BOP deficit recorded in March 2018, the Philippine central bank said on Wednesday.
— Xinhuanet

Balikatan 2019: US-Philippine troops hone battle skills as Chinese boats swarm (video)
Life is sure to get a lot quieter at Panatag Shoal (Tagalog: Kulumpol ng Panatag) with the conclusion last Thursday (April 11) of the Balikatan (Tagalog: ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’) 2019 military exercise, the largest US-Philippine military drills conducted annually.
— AEC News Today (video)

Hot money outflow hits 30-month high at $739 million
More foreign portfolio investments or speculative funds were pulled out of the Philippines in March, resulting in a net outflow of $739 million, the biggest in 30 months or since the $807.15 million outflow was recorded in September 2016, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
— The Philippine Star

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

Singapore exports slump on worst electronics drop since 2013
Singapore’s electronics exports slumped in March by the most since 2013, an ominous sign that it will take longer for the city state to shake off a regional demand slowdown from earlier this year.
— The Edge Singapore

Digitalisation push puts Singapore banks in hiring mode
THE axe may be falling on investment banking staff across the globe, but there’re plenty of jobs still unfilled in Singapore banks – you just need to know where to look.
— The Business Times

Biggest fall in non-oil exports since 2016
Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports (Nodx) slumped 11.7 per cent last month, after a short-lived rise of 4.8 per cent in February, on the back of the biggest year-on-year drop for electronics exports since 2013.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Cabinet approves 3rd runway at Suvarnabhumi airport
The Thai cabinet today approved the construction of a third runway at Suvarnabhumi international airport as part of the country’s ambition to become the aviation hub of ASEAN.
–Thai PBS News

Future Forward’s Piyabutr denies charges
Future Forward Party secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul has denied computer crime and contempt of court charges stemming from a video clip of him reading a party statement on the Constitutional Court’s decision to dissolve the Thai Raksa Chart Party in March.
–Bangkok Post

PM not satisfied with Songkran road accidents toll
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is unhappy with the number of fatal road accidents during the Songkran holiday, even though there were fewer casualties compared to previous years.
–Thai PBS News

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

No capital shortages for prioritised sectors: central bank
The banking sector pledged to meet the capital demand for production and business, especially in five prioritised sectors, Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Dao Minh Tu said at a conference connecting enterprises and banks in Hanoi on April 16.
— VNA NET

Vietnam carries potential to be a cybersecurity powerhouse: minister
Vietnam has one of the best human resources in this world to become a cybersecurity powerhouse, says information minister.
— VnExpress

Petrol prices continue to rise
The retail prices of petrol and oil continued to increase significantly in the latest review of the ministries of Industry and Trade and Finance at 3pm on Wednesday.
— Viet Nam News

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.