Asean morning news for May 20

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

‘Divide and conquer Asean’: China tries to go one on one with Malaysia to settle South China Sea disputes
China has been pushing Malaysia to solve the two countries’ South China Sea disputes in the hope of calming one of its most important neighbours.
— South China Morning Post

ASEAN, Chinese officials convene 17th meeting on DOC implementation
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China hold the 17th senior officials’ meeting (SOM) on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties on the East Sea (DOC) in Hangzhou, China, on May 17 and 18.
— Saigon Giai Phong

ASEAN’s paedophiles are tech savvy
Southeast Asia is in the grip of a fresh surge of paedophile activity with predators orchestrating and watching abuse on live-streaming sites and via webcams, and paying for it with near-untraceable cryptocurrency, victims and children’s charities warn.
— The Asean Post

Seminar held to dicuss laborers role in SE Asia
A seminar was held to discuss the role workers play in pushing forward Southeast Asia’s society, economy, and politics.
— NBT World (video)

KOICA to double ODA for six ASEAN countries
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is planning to double official development assistance (ODA) for six members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by 2023.
— Vietnamplus

South China Sea threatened by ‘a series of catastrophes’
The South China Sea is home to more than a tenth of all the fish caught in the world, but fish stocks there are now on the verge of collapsing.
— PBS

Southeast Asia’s fight against paedophiles hits live-streaming sites where ‘nothing is recorded, everything is encrypted’
Southeast Asia is in the grip of a fresh surge of paedophile activity with predators orchestrating and watching abuse on live-streaming websites and webcams, and paying for it with near-untraceable cryptocurrency, victims and children’s charities warn.
— South China Morning Post

Digital is the key to success in ASEAN banking
A discussion over the global economic outlook usually revolves around the likes of the US, Europe, Japan, China and India. But another economic powerhouse has emerged.
— The Business Times

Smart, green and nurturing
“Smart and green” development is the best approach for building in all of the cities within the Asean region, architecture experts say.
— The Nation

Japan: A trusted partner
Conventional wisdom dictates that Southeast Asia has become a region caught between two powers – China and the United States.
— The Philippine Star

ASEAN enhances cooperation with partner countries
The tenth meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN and the ambassadors of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) took place in Jakarta, Indonesia, on May 17.
— Saigon Giai Phong

Rold: Industry 4.0 the Italian way
While many large companies in ASEAN are piloting Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) initiatives in manufacturing, few small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have managed to integrate them in their processes successfully.
— The Asean Post

Mekong river binds regional countries, peoples together as lifeblood of Southeast Asia
Narongchai, a volunteer tour boat guide on the Mekong river in northeast Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom, has been doing this job for 16 years.
— China.org.cn

Southeast Asia represents at the Venice Biennale with ferris wheels and vertigo
With this year’s Venice Biennale now in full swing, art-lovers and tourists planning to visit La Serenissima will be spoilt for choice on what to see. It can be an overwhelming experience, with the main curated exhibition and 90 national pavilions spread over the city (not to mention the countless parallel shows also taking place).
— CNA (video)

Building a sustainable food future
In the last three years, the absolute number of people affected by undernourishment or chronic food deprivation globally has been on an increasing trajectory.
— The Asean Post

MPTC quits Myanmar, Laos toll road projects
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. has abandoned its plans to expand in Myanmar and Laos due to unviable markets for toll road roads.
— Manilastandard.net

BMW: Driving into the future
Despite the big data, analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) inherent in the Internet of Things (IoT), human capital remains the most important asset for the BMW Group as it embraces Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) technology.
— The Asean Post

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

No paradise island: waters off Cambodia’s Koh Rong a giant sewage dump
Those planning on travelling to Cambodia’s Koh Rong, might be best advised to make sure that their Hepatitis B vaccination is up to date first, putrid raw sewage pouring unchecked into the water at Koh Toch, the island’s main tourist area.
— AEC News Today

Police Chief Urges Vigilance Against Popular Uprisings
National Police Chief Neth Savoeun has added to ongoing government rhetoric raising fears of popular uprisings by announcing on Thursday that Cambodia was under threat from revolutionary movements and calling for police to stay alert.
— VOD

Sam Rainsy gets another two years
Judge Ros Piseth of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court today pronounced Sam Rainsy (former CNRP head) guilty in two further cases brought against him. The court ordered that a copy of the writ be posted at the former headquarters of the now dissolved CNRP in Phnom Penh’s Chak Angre Leu commune.
— Khmer Times

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

State budget deficit reaches Rp 101 trillion in April
The Finance Ministry announced that the state budget deficit had reached Rp 101 trillion (US$6.97 billion) as of April this year, compared to the deficit of Rp 54.9 trillion in the corresponding period, last year.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia on edge as Islamist group plans rally in capital
An Islamist group plans to hold a two-day rally from tomorrow in Jakarta to protest against what it claims are fraudulent election results that helped President Joko Widodo win a second term.
— The Straits Times

Unarmed Officers Best Bet to Foil Attackers in Election Protests: Police
The National Police have decided not to equip officers with firearms during Wednesday’s expected election protests in Jakarta, as they seek to minimize risks despite threats of terrorist attacks.
— Jakarta Globe

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Laos-Japan trade grows, tourist flow drops
Laos has raised its trade value targets, including imports and exports, with Japan this year after an increase in the annual trade value of both countries.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times

OPINION: Telex abolished, obstacles remain in tourism
Tourism police have cancelled the telex process after tour operators’ longstanding demand to eliminate this roadblock.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times

Laos ‘Disciplines’ Hundreds of Corrupt Officials in Recent Months, Jails Few
The Lao government has disciplined more than 200 officials involved in taking bribes or embezzlement in recent months as part of a bid to crackdown on rampant corruption in the Southeast Asian nation, but few have been held criminally accountable for their actions.
— Radio Free Asia

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Infrastructure devt to continue for IR 4.0: CM
The state government is committed to develop rural infrastructures such as road networks, bridges, water and electricity supplies in preparation of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0).
— New Sarawak Tribune

Is the Malaysian civil service getting in the way of reform?
Malaysia’s civil service has long come under fire for being bloated, inefficient and self-serving. Now it stands accused of preventing attempts at reform.
— Asean Today

No official agent or lobbyist of the ECRL project: Contractor
Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRLSB) and China Communications Construction ECRL Sdn Bhd (CCCC) today said they have not appointed official agents or lobbyists to facilitate the pre-qualification of local contractors for 40% of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) civil work packages.
— The Sun Daily

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

World Bank under fire for Rakhine development plan in Myanmar
Rights groups are concerned that the development initiative could exacerbate divisions in the conflict-torn state.
— Aljazeera

Some 250,000 Rohingya refugees receive first ID cards: UN
The UN said Friday it has registered more than 250,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, providing many with their first ever identification cards and proof of their right to return to Myanmar in the future.
— Mizzima

170 domestic companies wind up in Myanmar
The Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) announced that a total of 170 companies had submitted voluntary winding up notices. The companies will wind up and have been removed from DICA’s register.
— Myanmar Times

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Malacanang nixes foreign funding of PH media
Malacañang is opposed to the foreign funding of some media entities especially when such resources are supposedly used to “demonize” the government.
— Tempo

Economic cluster to review spending target
The Duterte cabinet’s Economic Development Cluster (EDC) is set to review this week the government’s spending target to determine if it is still achievable given the delay in the passage of the 2019 budget, the Department of Finance (DOF) said.
— The Philippine Star

Probe set on 1 million invalidated votes
The endorsement of some influential groups of more than 12 senatorial candidates could have led to “overvotes” of over a million in the May 13 elections that were invalidated, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Singapore Airlines profit drops by 47.5% despite recording highest annual revenue to date
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has reported a 47.5% decline in profit for the financial year of 201/19 despite also recording its highest annual revenue to date (S$683 million).
— The Online Citizen

Singapore is Rolling Out 5G by 2020. Should the Telcos be Worried?
In Singapore, the rollout of the 5G network by 2020 is looming. Should SingTel (SGX: Z74) and StarHub (SGX: CC3) start to fret given the amounts of investment required?
— The Motley Fool

Biometric fingerprint scans help nab 840 at checkpoints
Biometric fingerprint screening helped detect around 840 people trying to enter Singapore under different or false identities over the last three years.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Lack of skilled labour threatens EEC
The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) policy committee is now focusing on improving educational measures to help curb the skilled labour shortages in Rayong, Chon Buri, and Chachoengsao — the three eastern provinces where the EEC project is located.
— Bangkok Post

Three state enterprises sign MOU to boost exports for SME
Three state enterprises have signed an agreement to provide financial support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in dealing with export markets.
— NBT World (video)

5,000 Buriram citizens register for medical marijuana possession
by Tanakorn Sangiam The 90 day registration period for persons in possession of marijuana, without facing prosecution, end this Tuesday, May 21. 5,000+ persons in Buriram, north-east Thailand, have already registered their possession during this period.
— The Thaiger

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

World Bank supports HCMC’s institutional reforms for urban development
The policy program aims to remove institutional bottlenecks to enable Vietnam’s largest city and economic powerhouse to address some of its most pressing urban governance challenges.
— The Hanoitimes

Vietnamese startup wins $1 million prize of Startup World Cup 2019
Abivin, a Vietnamese startup to provide AI-powered Supply Chain Optimization solutions for enterprises, on May 17 won a prize of $1 million after it was crowned champion the Startup World Cup 2019 in the US, said the Ministry of Science and Technology yesterday.
— Sggp News

State asset management firm plans $2.14 billion bad debt recovery
The Vietnam Asset Management Company, set up to buy bad debts from commercial banks, plans to recover VND50 trillion ($2.14 billion) this year.
— VnExpress

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.