Asean morning news for September 5, 2018

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

DHL eCommerce going green in Malaysia & Vietnam
People receiving parcels and packages by DHL in Vietnam or Malaysia can soon start feeling less guilty about the carbon footprint generated by motorised door-to-door delivery services.
— AEC News Today

Southeast Asia Forecast to Invest $9.8 Billion in Smart Grid Infrastructure
Southeast Asian countries will invest $9.8 billion in smart grid infrastructure between 2018 and 2027.
— Transmission and Distribution World

TESDA pushes for creation of tech-voc training council in ASEAN
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is pushing for the creation of the ASEAN Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council.
— PTV News

Asean must act against climate change
With many of Asean’s largest cities located in low-lying coastal areas, climate change and rising sea levels would have a catastrophic impact on the region’s economies and people.
— The New Paper

Dams and sand mining threaten integrity of lower Mekong
As investment in hydropower and construction projects ramp up, ecosystems along Southeast Asia’s longest river are paying the price.
— VnExpress International

Vietnam boosts parliamentary ties with Laos, Cambodia, Morocco
Vice Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Do Ba Ty held meetings with leading parliamentary officials from Laos, Cambodia, and Morocco within the framework of the 39th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly in Singapore on September 4.
— Vietnam Plus

Asean ministers agree on Asean plus three economic framework 2019-2020
The Economic Ministers of ASEAN member countries (AEM) and their counterparts from China, Japan, and South Korea have agreed on the ASEAN Plus Three (ASEAN+3) Economic Cooperation plan for the 2019-2020 period.
— Antara News

Asean strengthens economic partnership with Australia, New Zealand, India
Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita and economic ministers from Southeast Asian countries held a consultation meeting with trade partners from Australia, New Zealand, and India on final day of the 50th ASEAN Economic Ministers` Meeting.
— Antara News

FPO presents hearing on AFAS protocol
The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) is launching a public hearing on protocol to implement the eighth package of commitments on financial services under the Asean Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS), which will allow the Bank of Thailand to push toward the long-awaited establishment of the Qualified Asean Bank (QAB) with Bank Negara Malaysia.
— Bangkok Post

Digital Realty: Why tech giants are moving data centres to Southeast Asia
In the 3rd century BCE, during China’s golden age, the Han dynasty established a vast trade network known as the Silk Road.
— Channel Asia Singapore

PH among ‘top performers’ in Asia on sustainable trade
The Philippines is a top performer among low income economies in Asia in sustaining long-term trade.
— Rappler

AFF Suzuki Cup 2018: Lagardere inks three broadcast rights deals
Global sports media and marketing agency Lagardère Sports has inked three free-to-air broadcast rights deals for the coverage of 2018 AFF Championship, also known as AFF Suzuki Cup 2018. The tournament is slated to run from November 8 to December 15, 2018.
— InsideSport

Can ASEAN Turn Geostrategic and Technological Disruption into Opportunity?
Individually, ASEAN’s members have little global clout; collectively, they represent 10% of the world’s people and nearly 5% of its GDP.
— Project Syndicate

Brunei calls for unified law enforcement body for ASEAN
Brunei on Tuesday called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Police (ASEANAPOL) to be unified as one law enforcement body for the region.
— Xinhua

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47

Lawmakers to take oaths today
All 125 elected CPP members will today attend the National Assembly’s first session and take oaths to be lawmakers before King Norodom Sihamoni.
— Khmer Times

Urban planning should not ignore Cambodia’s invisible entrepreneurs
Southeast Asia is experiencing rapid urbanisation, and with it comes more and more people who are absorbed into the unregulated, informal sectors of the economy.
— AEC News Today

Singaporean businesses, finance institutes deliver rapid relief to Cambodia flood victims
Singapore-owned PhillipBank has partnered with Kredit Microfinance Institute (Kredit) to raise more than $13,000 to aid some 300 Cambodia flood-hit victims following recent inundation that killed at least 30 people in Steung Treng and Kratie provinces in Cambodia.
— AEC News Today

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Michael Johansen @mfjohansen47

Indonesia to Halt $25 Billion Power Projects to Shield Currency
Indonesia plans to delay $25 billion worth of power projects as it seeks to rein in a widening current-account deficit and a selloff in the nation’s currency.
— Bloomberg

Malang Faces Administrative Crisis After KPK Nabs 41 Regional Lawmakers for Bribery
Malang, East Java’s second-largest city, appears to be on the brink of an administrative catastrophe after the national antigraft agency arrested 41 of the 45-member Regional Legislative Council for alleged bribery.
— The Jakarta Globe

Only 20% of Containers Meet the Standard
Reported from bisnis.com, according to the data from Ministry of Transportation, 80% of the total container used for shipping doesn’t meet the required standards.
— Indonesia Shipping Gazette

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Two dead, three people missing in new floods
Flooding has struck more areas of Laos after recent torrential rain, killing two people in Huaphan and Luang Prabang provinces, while another three people are still missing in Luang Prabang.
— Vientiane Times

Economic Growth In Laos To Moderate But Remain Robust
Laos’ real GDP growth moderated slightly to 6.9% in 2017, from 7.0% in 2016, according to preliminary data from the Lao Statistics Bureau, and we maintain our forecast for real GDP growth to average 6.8% per annum between 2018-2020.
— Fitch Solutions (media release)

This Laos Resort Serves Rich Tourists Tiger Meat and Fresh-Killed Bear Cubs
Laos’ Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone is a casino resort area where the rich come to eat illegal tiger meat, pangolins, and bear paws.
— Vice

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

DHL eCommerce going green in Malaysia & Vietnam
People receiving parcels and packages by DHL in Vietnam or Malaysia can soon start feeling less guilty about the carbon footprint generated by motorised door-to-door delivery services.
— AEC News Today

Govt to assist rubber smallholders amid low prices
The government will continue to assist rubber smallholders via the Rubber Production Incentive (IPG) scheme to cushion the impact of the current low price period which is expected to persist over the next one to two years.
— The Borneo Post

No ceiling price for airfares, says transport minister
The suggestion to introduce a ceiling price for airfares during festive periods has been rejected, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said today.
— FMT

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

Journalists’ conviction in Myanmar a message that press ‘cannot operate fearlessly’ – UN rights chief
Earlier in the day, Kyaw Soe Oo (also known as Moe Aung) and Thet Oo Maung (also known as Wa Lone) were sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on charges of violating, according to the High Commissioner’s Office (OHCHR), the “ill-defined” Official Secrets Act.
— AEC News Today PR Newswire (media release)

Myanmar pulses unaffected by India’s import restriction: industry
India’s Department of Commerce, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has released a trade policy statement, on August 30, stating that as per the foreign trade policy, import of peas classified under Exim Code including yellow peas, green peas, dun peas and Kaspa peas is “restricted” until the end of September.
— Myanmar Times

Telenor Myanmar launches low-cost data top-ups
Telenor Myanmar has introduced new pre-paid top up plans offering 1GB of data for just 999 kyats ($0.65), to cater to the market’s growing data usage.
— Telecomasia

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Off the rocks: Philippine flagship BRP Gregorio del Pilar removed from shoal (video)
The Philippine Navy managed to get its stranded flagship, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, off Half Moon Shoal on Monday night, but the dignity of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remains firmly aground.
— AEC News Today (video)

House OKs TRAIN 2 on second reading
Notwithstanding serious objections from various business groups including the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AMCHAM), the House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on second reading the second package of the Duterte administration’s tax reform program, now christened Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High Quality Opportunities (TRABAHO).
— Manila Bulletin

PHL to ink exploration deal with Israeli oil firm
AN agreement on energy exploration in Palawan between the Philippines and Israeli company Ratio Petroleum Ltd. is expected to be signed during the President’s visit.
— Business Mirror

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Joanne Encantador @encantador_jo

Govt accepts recommendations of Active Mobility Advisory Panel; restricts speed limit for PMDs to 10km/h on footpaths
The Ministry of Transport (MOT) has announced that it has accepted all of the following recommendation submitted by the Active Mobility Advisory Panel for a safer path and will implement them in early-2019.
— TOC

Forrester Releases Inaugural Singapore 2018 Customer Experience Index
Singapore brands provide customers with weak customer experience (CX), according to Forrester’s inaugural Singapore Customer Experience Index (CX Index(TM)).
— AEC News Today PR Newswire (media release)

First major property launch since cooling measures in Shunfu Road
The developer is selling u

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Cops hunt ‘rape’ post sharers
The Samui provincial court has approved an arrest warrant for the administrator of the CSI LA Facebook page and 12 of its followers for posting and then sharing a report on the alleged rape of a British tourist on Koh Tao.
— Bangkok Post

Parties feel straitjacketed by new laws
Political parties cried foul Tuesday over some regime-sponsored laws including a 20-year national strategy, saying the rules would prevent them from initiating policy platforms or reformist agendas.
— Bangkok Post

Forced labour ‘widespread’
Rights defenders say exploitation of workers becoming more sophisticated; new law needed
–The Nation

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam spends US$60 million importing cars last week
From August 24 to 30, Thailand and Indonesia exported 2,188 and 716 units to the Vietnam`s market, respectively, accounting for 94% of total cars imported to Vietnam.
— The Hanoi Times

Government directs capital hike for State-owned banks
The Government is directing ministries and agencies to raise capital for State-owned commercial banks through the use of dividends or share sales this year, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said at a recent meeting.
— 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.