Asean morning news for April 19

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Vietnam and Thailand lead drive to make Southeast Asia cashless
Governments across Southeast Asia are pushing ahead with efforts to create cashless economies, with less developed countries such as Vietnam and Thailand leapfrogging richer ones like Singapore and Malaysia in electronic payments.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Scarborough Shoal lost to China says Philippines spokesman
Filipinos finally heard last Sunday (April 14) what many have dreaded hearing for sometime. Scarborough Shoal has been lost to China.
— AEC News Today

More people are starving in Southeast Asia
In early May, Muslims across the globe will be celebrating Ramadhan. During this holy month, Muslims will abstain from a number of things from sun up to sun down, most notable of all will be any form of food or drink.
— The Asean Post

China’s goods trade with B&R countries reaches over 6 trln dollars
The goods trade volume between China and countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI) surpassed 6 trillion U.S. dollars from 2013 to 2018, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
— Xinhuanet

Can Asean weather another crisis?
With the global economy slowing and the risk of a recession looming on the horizon, the question that arises is whether countries in Asia have the resources and capacity to manage such a crisis, considering the current prolonged policy uncertainties and the lack of global leadership to forge an unified response.
— Bangkok Post

Philippine ICT project to target rural areas in the ASEAN
A project proposal made by the Philippines had made it to the list of accepted projects of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Telecommunications and Information Technology Senior Officials’ Meeting (TELSOM) and ASEAN Telecommunications Regulators Council (ATRC) Work Plan 2020.
— OpenGov

Fire battle a team effort
A massive fire engulfing vast areas of a Chiang Rai forest has intensified the smog problem in this northernmost province, adding to the country’s pollution woes.
— Bangkok Post

The Toll of Tourism: Can Southeast Asia Save Its Prized Natural Areas?
Thailand’s Maya Bay used to be a quiet cove teeming with marine life, visited by only a handful of tourists each day.
— Yale Environment 360

OCBC is Southeast Asia’s first bank to rule out funding new coal power plants
Singapore’s OCBC Bank CEO Samuel Tsien declares the bank will stop funding for new coal-fired power plants.
— Eco-Business

Asia’s e-commerce evolution
The digital future of Asia is already here. In China, millions of people enter public transport each day using their smartphones, pay for their breakfast with WeChat, and use an app to have their lunch delivered a few hours later.
— Bangkok Post

S. Korean pro football to add Southeast Asian player quota in 2020
The South Korean professional football league announced Thursday that it will add a quota for players from Southeast Asia starting next year.
— Yonhap News Agency

Petronas polymer delay boosts southeast Asian PP prices
An expected delay to Malaysian state-owned refiner Petronas’ new 900,000 t/yr polypropylene (PP) unit is likely to support southeast Asian prices in April and May.
— Argus

Logo design contest for ASEAN Year 2020 launched
A design contest for the logo of the ASEAN Year 2020 was launched in Hanoi on April 18.
— Vietnam Plus

Fully-fledged Smart Factory to be unveiled at SEMICON Southeast Asia 2019
Smart factories are fast becoming mainstream in the manufacturing industry, offering a new level of efficiency and productivity.
— MarketWatch

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

Cambodian, Chinese entrepreneurs meet to explore business opportunities
A Cambodian and Chinese entrepreneurs meeting was held here on Thursday, aiming at exploring opportunities for trade and investment, officials said.
— Xinhua

Facing No Opposition, Cambodia’s Ruling Party Expects Easy Local Election Wins
Cambodia’s ruling party is preparing for local elections to be held in May, but few Cambodians appear to be paying much attention to what has become largely a sideshow after the Cambodian People’s Party banned the main opposition two years ago and handed their jobs to loyal officials.
— VOA Cambodia

Cambodia reports an outbreak of H5N6 bird flu: OIE
Cambodia has reported an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N6 bird flu virus among poultry, the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Thursday, citing a report from Cambodia’s agriculture ministry.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

Jokowi Declares Victory with 54.5 percent of Votes
Presidential hopeful Joko Widodo declared himself as the victor in the 2019 presidential election with 54.5 percent of votes. He said this based on quick counts conducted by 12 pollsters.
— Tempo.co

Bank Indonesia to maintain status quo on rates – TDS
Mitul Kotecha, senior emerging markets strategist at TD Securities, suggests that they are expecting the Bank Indonesia to maintain its 7-day reverse repo rate at 6.00% at its policy meeting on 25 April.
— FX Street

Manufacturing less dominant in economy, but not shrinking
The government is not buying arguments that the manufacturing sector is shrinking even though its percentage contribution to the economy has declined over the past few years.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

37 Killed In Road Accidents During Pi Mai Lao Celebration
Traffic Police have reported 37 people were killed and over 532 injured during the celebration of Pi Mai Lao or Lao New Year B.E. 2562, between April 13 and 17, 2019.
— KPL

Laos, JICA extend efforts to reduce northern deforestation
The Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry along with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is extending support until 2020 for Luang Prabang and Oudomxay provinces in the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) project.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Ministry to regulate well drilling business
Drilling a well in Laos will no longer be as simple as it used to be now that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has stepped in to regulate these operations.
— Vientiane Times

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Digital dialogue focuses on growing Malaysia’s digital economy inclusively
The first forum under the Digital Native Agenda 23 (DNA23) initiative championed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim isn’t just about growing Malaysia’s digital economy, but also doing so in an inclusive manner.
— The Star Online

Putrajaya approves Penang’s 3 islands reclamation project
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today announced that the proposed three islands reclamation project south of Penang Island has been approved by federal regulators.
— FMT

Dr M: Malaysia will be able to leverage 5G within next three years
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is confident that Malaysia will be able to leverage 5G within the next three years. This, he said, is achievable with the necessary preparations in place to usher the transformational…
— Malay Mail

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Myanmar state counselor calls for genuine peace, emergence of federal union
Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has called for working strenuously for genuine peace and in building the democratic federal republic, according to the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) Thursday.
— Xinhua

Code2LAB transforms food industry via digital solutions
In response to the growing cash flow in Myanmar’s food and beverage industry, Code2LAB Pte Ltd, a local technology company, has brought two innovative solutions to the market to help digitise the nation’s restaurant industry, according to Min Zeya Phyo, the firm’s founder and chief executive.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar: Satire is Not a Crime
Myanmar authorities should drop charges against four performers for criticizing the military in a satirical thangyat performance, Human Rights Watch said today. Thangyat is a form of slam poetry traditionally performed during Myanmar’s April New Year holiday that has long been a vehicle for humorous criticism of everything from politics to social behavior.
— Human Right Watch

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Scarborough Shoal lost to China says Philippines spokesman
Filipinos finally heard last Sunday (April 14) what many have dreaded hearing for sometime. Scarborough Shoal has been lost to China.
— AEC News Today

Philippines slips further on World Press Freedom index
The Philippines has slipped further on the World Press Freedom Index of media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières, RSF).
— The Philippine Star

PH is 5th country with highest number of reported measles cases since 2018 – WHO
A World Health Organization (WHO) study revealed that the Philippines ranks 5th among countries with the highest number of reported measles cases for the past 12 months, with 19,358 people reportedly infected with the disease during that period.
— CNN Philippines

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Piseth Pov @piseth6666

Singapore’s DBS Plans to Stop Financing Coal Power After 2021
Singapore’s largest bank plans to stop financing coal-fired power plants once its existing commitments are complete in 2021.
— Bloomberg

Things looking up for CSE Global despite lack of JV projects with Serba Dinamik
When Malaysian engineering firm Serba Dinamik Holdings became the largest shareholder in systems integrator CSE Global last year, both parties talked about how they could work on projects together.
— The Edge Singapore

MOH cuts overseas medical schools approved for practise in Singapore
Starting 2020, the list of overseas medical schools whose graduates can practise in Singapore will shrink from 160 to 103.
— CNA (very annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

After Songkran, Phuket water reductions continue to stretch reserves until rains return
After 270,000 litres of water being used over the Songkran holidays, Phuket’s three main reservoirs are left with 2.82 million cubic metres (m3) of water, which the island’s Irrigation Office chief is adamant will be enough to see residents through until the annual southwest monsoon rains return
–The Phuket News

Songkran road toll down, zero deaths in 4 provinces
There were fewer road accidents, deaths and injuries during the seven-day safety campaign for this year’s Songkran holiday, which closed on Wednesday night.
–Bangkok Post

Future Forward’s Piyabutr given nine days to clarify various allegations
The Technology Crime Suppression Division has given Future Forward Party’s Secretary-General time to submit his statement against charges of contempt of the constitutional court and violation of the Computer Crimes Act, by 25th April.
–NNT

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam exports first batch of mangoes to US
The Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap has become the first locality in Vietnam to export mangoes to the US.
— VNA NET

Vietnam Rubber Group urged to aim for US$10 billion revenues
Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has asked the Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) to restructure its business and increase its revenues to US$10 billion in the future.
— Nhan Dan Online

Vietnam and Thailand lead drive to make Southeast Asia cashless
Governments across Southeast Asia are pushing ahead with efforts to create cashless economies, with less developed countries such as Vietnam and Thailand leapfrogging richer ones like Singapore and Malaysia in electronic payments.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

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.