Asean morning news for June 6

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

China claims naming South China Sea islands with English names
Distancing itself from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Beijing insisted that artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea have been named a long time ago.
— Spratly Islands

Thailand needs neighbours’ help to stamp out slavery at sea in its multibillion-dollar fishing industry, says rights activist
Thailand’s crackdown on exploitation and slavery in its multibillion-dollar fishing industry will only succeed if its neighbours step up and adopt anti-trafficking laws, according to a labour rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
— South China Morning Post

Asean watchdog needs substantive protection role
The Asean Intergovernmental Commission On Human Rights (AICHR) is 10 years old this year.
— Bangkok Post

HSBC: Asean gearing up for next wave of Chinese tech investment
Asean’s digital economy is projected to exceed US$200bil by 2025 and many Chinese companies are looking to capitalise on this potential, said HSBC Malaysia, quoting a Google/Temasek report.
— The Star Online

Bloomberg downbeat on Asean EVs
Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) forecasts prices of electric vehicles (EVs) such as cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles remain unaffordable for individual buyers in Southeast Asia, including Thailand.
— Bangkok Post

Consumers in Asean consider the excessive use of platics to be a serious problem
Consumers in Southeast Asia are increasingly aware of the environmental issues facing their countries’ today, with waste being the top environmental concern, according to Ipsos Business Consulting, a global growth strategy consulting firm.
— The Nation

Asia calls for efforts to address protectionism
ASIAN political figures and economic experts have expressed common concerns over the intensifying trade dispute between China and the US and are calling for integrated efforts to address global challenges like unilateralism and protectionism.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Lao gov’t steps up electricity trade with neighboring countries
Lao government has agreed to conduct a feasibility study on electricity trading and hydropower exchanges with neighboring countries to boost cooperation in the energy sector, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Wednesday.
— Xinhuanet

Timor Leste gets support to join AIPA
The National Assembly and Senate will support a bid by Timor Leste to become a member of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly once the country gains admission into the regional bloc.
— Khmer Times

Muslims in South, Southeast Asia Rejoice Over Eid
Muslims throughout South and Southeast Asia joined millions of followers of Islam across the globe Wednesday in ushering in Eid al-Fitr as they bade goodbye to Ramadan, the holy month during which they fasted for 30 days from before sunup to sundown.
— Benar News

ASEAN must switch to electric vehicles faster
While electric vehicles (EVs) continue to capture the attention of consumers in ASEAN, policies and subsidies in line with those found in countries leading the switch to EVs will make electric vehicles a more attractive proposition for the region.
— The Asean Post

ASEAN countries praise poverty alleviation work, urge greater cooperation
Representatives from the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations have hailed China’s rural development model, especially the country’s efforts on poverty reduction.
— Chinadaily.com

Transport, air-con are key green investment areas in Asean: expert
URBAN transport is an important green investment area to watch in Asean, as countries grapple with air pollution associated with conventional vehicles, said climate policy and finance expert Paul Bodnar.
— The Business Times (paywall)

Car GPS Navigation System Market in ASEAN Countries to Reach $29.59 Bn, by 2025 at 11.1% CAGR: AMR
Rise in number of vehicle sales, the integration of smartphones with in-vehicle systems (IVS) and increase in demand for traffic control are the factors that drive the growth of the market.
— Yahoo Finance (media release)

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Swiss Government Pledges to Aid $4M per Annum to Cambodia’s Children Hospital, 2019-2023
The Swiss Government announced to aid USD 4 million per annum to support Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital from 2019-2023, Swiss Ambassador to Cambodia Ivo Siebber spoke in a farewell call on minster of foreign affairs Prak Sokhonn on Wednesday at the ministry.
— Fresh News

ADB boosts Cambodia’s energy with $7.6mln for solar park
A $7.64 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will see an additional 100-megawatt (MW) of solar power added to the Cambodia National Solar Park Project (CNSPP), pushing investment to more than $18 million.
— AEC News Today

European Union unlikely to fully withdraw EBA: GMAC
The Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia yesterday said after a meeting with European Union representatives that a full withdrawal of the Kingdom’s Everything-but-arms trade status is unlikely.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Indonesia drafts Personal Data Protection Act
Protecting public strategic data is essential and that is going to be addressed by the drafting of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDP Bill).
— OpenGov

Minister Upbeat Q2 Economic Growth to Hit 5.2 Percent
Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution is optimistic economic growth in the second quarter will surpass the previous quarter’s.
— Tempo.co

World In Progress: Managing food waste with maggots in Indonesia
Food and green waste make up more than 50 percent of all garbage in low and middle income countries. It is a huge problem — clogging up landfills, contaminating recyclable plastics, and releasing greenhouse gases as it decomposes.
— DW

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

9th Annual Vientiane Career & Education Fair June 22 & 23 at Don Chan Palace
The Annual Vientiane Career & Education Fair started as a Class project in the Business Degree Program at the Lao-American College in the Spring of 2011 with 50 students and 2 staff members.
— J&C

UN Volunteer helps prepare communities in Lao PDR for climate-related disasters
Victor Igbokwe, international UN Volunteer from Nigeria serving in Lao PDR, is currently involved in implementing early warning systems in Bolikhamxay and Saravane provinces.
— UN Volunteers

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Malaysian gov’t investigating visa fees
Claims of excessive fees by Scicom, the company responsible for managing Malaysian study visas, are being investigated by the country’s education ministry, but the company has hit back against what it says are “malicious allegations”.
— The Pie News

PM apologises for any shortcomings in the past year
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad wished all Malaysians Selamat Hari Raya and extended his apologies to the rakyat if there were any shortcomings.In his Hari Raya speech at the Prime Minister’s official residence here, he said Malaysia is a country that has always provided for the.
— The Sun Daily

Sales tax manifests Sarawak’s financial independence: Dr Sim
The passing of the five per cent sales tax on oil and gas this year marks the beginning of Sarawak’s financial independence which allows the state government to further.
— New Sarawak Tribune

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Consolidation expected in banking industry as competition heats up
The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) believes that allowing foreign banks into the retail-banking sector will drive consolidation in the local banking industry and make available a larger pool of funds for growth.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar, UN to launch mine risk education scheme for disability prevention
Myanmar and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are planning to launch mine risk education scheme for prevention of disabilities as part of state level schemes for implementation of persons with disabilities.
— Xinhua

Insurgents’ landmines cause damage to bridge, road in Myanmar western state
Some seven improvised explosive devices, planted by an insurgent group, the Arakan Army (AA), have exploded on a highway in Rakhine state, causing damage to a bridge and the road, according to Myanmar Police Force Wednesday.
— Xinhua

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Inflation snaps 6-month downtrend, rises 3.2% in May
The rise in consumer prices picked up pace in May, snapping a six-month slowdown, as prices of food, housing, utilities and fuels accelerated, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

World Bank sees PH growing 6.4% this year
The World Bank expects the Philippine economy to grow 6.4 percent this year, or 0.1-percentage-point lower compared to its January projection of 6.5 percent, amid the expectation for a weaker global expansion.
— Manilastandard.net

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Singapore vulnerable to foreign election influence: Expert
Singapore has several ingredients a foreign power can exploit to influence election results or even policies, French political analyst Fabrice Pothier said.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

S’pore could go into recession in 2020
Singapore could go into a recession in 2020 as the signs are there and if external conditions continue to deteriorate.
— Mothership

Diplomatic rift mounting between Cambodia and SG over PM Lee’s remark on FB
It has been reported that the Cambodia’s Defence Minister General Tea Banh and Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) legislator Hun Many have both openly rebutted PM Lee Hsien Loong for his remarks regarding the “invasion” of Cambodia by the Vietnamese military in its bid to oust the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979.
— The Online Citizen

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Thai lawmakers elect military chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha as PM
Thailand’s new parliament voted in ruling military chief General Prayut Chan-ocha as prime minister on Wednesday (Jun 5), five years after he overthrew an elected government.
— CNA (very annoying popups)

Prawit urges UN to get tough on illegal fishing
Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon on Wednesday called on the United Nations to make Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing an environmental crime.
— Bangkok Post

World Bank tells Thailand investing in people key to achieving 2036 goal (video)
The next Thailand government (whoever that will be) needs to invest in human capital if the country is to achieve its goal of reducing inequality and reaching high income status by 2036, as is its ambition.
— AEC News Today

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam begins to adopt chip bank cards
Since the start of the year, the Vietnamese government has underlined the role of cashless payment, which recently received a boost when the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has also asked card issuers to switch at least 30% of their cards from magnetic stripe to chip cards, especially contactless cards.
— NDO

Vietnam’s credit growth up 5.07 pct in 5 months
Total loans of Vietnam’s banking system in the first five months of this year expanded 5.07 percent against the end of 2018, according to the State Bank of Vietnam on Wednesday.
— Xinhua

Online tax payment a boon to import-export businesses
Around 99 per cent of import and export tax payments in HCM City are made online, according to the customs department.
— 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.