Asean morning news for October 2, 2019

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Malaysia trails Singapore manufacturing drop as Asean output falls at quickest rate since July 2017
Malaysian, Singapore and Indonesian manufacturing sector conditions deteriorated in September 2019, as the overall Asean industry continued to struggle, with latest data signalling a downturn for the fourth successive month, according to the IHS Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).
— The Edge Markets

Asean’s digital development needs to embrace cybersecurity as high priority
Southeast Asia 10-member nations’ digital development needs to embrace cybersecurity as a high priority.
— New Straits Times

Vietnam Stands Alone Defending South China Sea at U.N.
Vietnam warned against China’s belligerence in the South China Sea at the U.N. General Assembly, concluding on Monday. However, Vietnam stood alone among nations whose territory China claims, in part due to the U.N. banning Taiwan from participating.
— Spratly Islands

Japan takes lion’s share in EEC foreign investment
Japanese investors pledged Bt375.907 billion, followed by China Bt67.872 billion, Singapore Bt42.358 billion, US Bt27.908 billion and those from the Cayman Islands at Bt23.169 billion.
— Thailand Business News

Asean opens a big gate for Vietnam
Vietnam is fully plugged into Asean as Southeast Asia’s regional family, Tran Viet Thai of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam says in the conversation below.
— Bangkok Post

ASEAN manufacturing purchasing managers’ index, September (2019)
BUSINESS CONDITIONS for manufacturers in the country improved by the slowest clip in three months in September, as a cautious outlook as well as slower employment and purchasing growth capped the lift from “a solid rise” in new orders, according to the latest Philippine survey conducted by IHS Markit, which released results on Tuesday.
— BusinessWorld

Myanmar seeks to establish Myanmar-India-China economic corridor
As part of efforts to make Myanmar the doorway to ASEAN door, the government will try to establish a Myanmar-India-China economic corridor, says Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein.
— Myanmar Times

Australia hopeful Indonesia will ratify CEPA, former leader says
Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull expressed hope for the ratification of a landmark trade deal between Indonesia and Australia from earlier this year, while further suggesting that Indonesia resist the lure of economic populism and protectionism.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

Building the Belt & Road, Realizing Our Vision for a Community of Shared Future
On September 24,the closing press conference of the 16th China-ASEAN EXPO and the 16th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit was held at the Press Center of Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center with the wide participation of the journalists.
— Bangkok Post (advertorial)

Living with a superpower
Emphasising peaceful development, Chinese President Xi Jinping used his speech at today’s 70th National Day military parade in Beijing to remind the world of its rise as a global superpower.
— The Asean Post

The ASEAN Automobile Industry: Top Destinations for Manufacturers
The growing automobile industry in ASEAN member countries offers vast opportunities for investments for manufacturers and distributors of automobile components.
— Asean Briefing

ASEAN Indo-Pacific Outlook: Low hanging fruit?
Now that ASEAN has come up with a common vision of what the future of the Indo-Pacific region should look like, what will be the next steps?
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

Malaysian Re: Asean insurers should upgrade legacy systems
nsurers in Asean should upgrade their legacy systems and improve their access to data to sustain their long-term competitiveness in the era of digitalisation, said Malaysian Reinsurance Bhd (Malaysian Re).
— Malay Mail

ASEAN Renewable Energy (RE) Market Forecast to 2023 – Solar Power is Becoming a Mainstream Source of Energy Across the Region
The ASEAN RE market is becoming more competitive and attractive for investments, aided by strong economic growth in some countries, active pursuance of ‘sustainability development goals’, and private sector initiatives toward a low-carbon future.
— Research and Markets/ Global Newswire (media release)

LOOK: ASEAN Grand Prix team rosters
The Philippine national women’s volleyball team begins its home stand against three powerhouse squads in the second leg of the inaugural ASEAN Grand Prix begins on Friday at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Laguna.
— ABS-CBN

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews

Cambodia ‘fake news’ laws tighten noose on press freedom
Last month, Cambodia’s Information Ministry took to the Internet to step-up its public warnings to news organizations in the Kingdom over the dissemination of so-called “fake news”.
— IPI

Cambodia Arrests One Opposition Activist, Charges Five Others as Sam Rainsy Return Looms
Authorities in Cambodia have arrested one more member of the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and charged five others, as a crackdown continues ahead of a planned return from self-imposed exile by the party’s acting president Sam Rainsy next month.
— RFA

Int’l tourists to Cambodia’s famed Angkor down 12.5 pct in 9 months
Cambodia has seen a 12.5-percent decline in the number of foreign tourists to the famed Angkor Archeological Park during the first nine months of 2019, said an official statement on Tuesday.
— Xinhua

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Environment ministry to exempt nickel slag from ‘hazardous’ status
The Environment and Forestry Ministry is preparing a regulation to exclude nickel slag produced by local mineral smelters from the list of hazardous and toxic waste ( B3 ) so that it can be used, such as for the construction of roads.
— The Jakarta Post

Thirteen police officers questioned over deaths of student protesters in Kendari
The National Police’s internal investigation team is questioning 13 police officers after a demonstration in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, resulted in the deaths of two students from Halu Oleo University last week.
— The Jakarta Post

Big brands sourcing illegal palm oil from habitat of orangutans, rhinos, elephants and tigers: study
Some of the world’s biggest consumer goods firms have been sourcing palm oil from plantations illegally developed in Indonesia’s Leuser Ecosystem, one of Southeast Asia’s most important remaining rainforests that is home to critically endangered elephants, rhinos, orangutans, and tigers.
— Eco-Business

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Raksmey Khoem @raksmey.aecnews

Vietnamese, Lao men caught trafficking 10 kilos of heroin
Lo Van Dung, 31, is held at a police station in Thanh Hoa Province with 9.9 kilograms of heroin, September 27, 2019. Photo courtesy of Thanh Hoa police.
— VN Express

UN experts concerned by disappearance of Lao rights defender
UN human rights experts* have expressed serious concerns about the disappearance of a prominent Lao human rights defender, Od Sayavong, who went missing in Thailand just months after meeting a UN special rapporteur.
— Scoop

Villagers in Laos Resist 50-year Land Concession to Thai Developer
Residents of seven villages in Laos’ Luang Namtha province are resisting a 7,000-hectare land concession granted to a Thai company that would force them to relocate.
— RFA

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

MIER urges govt to re-introduce GST in Budget 2020
The Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) has urged the government to re-introduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the 2020 Budget at a lower rate of three per cent.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia pushes for strict law to police vapes, e-cigarettes
Malaysia is planning to introduce strict regulations on the sale and use of electronic cigarettes and vaporisers, health officials said on Tuesday, as countries around the world move to ban devices that have been linked to deaths and youth addiction.
— The Star Online

Endangered elephant shot 70 times, tusks removed
Last Thursday, a group of anglers found the adult male elephant’s mutilated carcass floating half-submerged in a river, tied by a rope to a tree on the bank, near Tawau.
— Asean Economist

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

US Businesses Eye Expanded Myanmar Investment
Representatives from top US firms like Google, Ford and Amazon are touring Myanmar to consider large-scale investment.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar fisheries sector: Current status, opportunities for policy reform
By Win Kyaing (Fisheries Department) According to the 2018 statistics of Myanmar Fisheries Department, there are total 491345 acres of fish farms- 247007 acres of fish farms and 244338 acres of prawn farms.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Top Philippine Court Delays Decision on Marcos Election Protest
The Philippines’ top court on Tuesday delayed resolving an election protest filed by the son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos questioning his loss in the 2016 vice-presidential vote.
— Bloomberg

Manila faces climate threat
Manila and five other areas have been identified as facing the most severe consequences of climate change, a Time magazine report showed.
— Manila Standard

Philippines files diplomatic protest vs China over ships near Ayungin shoal
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr on Wednesday, October 2, ordered the filing of a diplomatic protest against China over the presence of its vessels near Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea.
— Rappler

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

New cybersecurity masterplan to protect Singapore’s critical systems
New cybersecurity measures were unveiled on Tuesday (Oct 1) in light of threats to Operational Technology (OT) systems that control critical physical systems like power, water and transportation networks.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Lower electricity, gas tariffs for Oct-Dec period
Households and businesses can expect lower electricity and gas bills for the next three months.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

HDB resale prices increase slightly in Q3 after four quarters of decline
Prices of resale flats for the third quarter of this year rose 0.1 per cent from the second quarter, according to flash estimates released by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) on Tuesday (Oct 1).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

WTO cuts trade growth forecast
The World Trade Organisation has cut its global trade growth forecast for this year to the weakest level in a decade, warning that further rounds of tariffs in an environment of heightened uncertainty could spark a “destructive cycle of recrimination.”
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s king takes personal control of two key army units
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has ordered the transfer of two army units to the direct command of the palace, a royal decree taking effect on Tuesday (Oct 1) showed, the latest move by the constitutional monarch to consolidate his personal authority.
— CNA

Shippers expect gloom with 2019 forecast slash
Shippers have again trimmed their annual export growth forecast to -1.5% from -1% in July, mainly due to the ongoing Sino-US trade row and weak global demand.
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam has 26 products with export turnover exceeding US$1 billion
Vietnam saw 26 items with export turnover exceeding US$1 billion accounting for 89.8 percent of the total export turnover in the first nine months of this year, reported the Ministry of Industry and Trade on September 30.
— Sggp news

Card payments in Vietnam to reach 522.5 mln by 2023
Card payments in Vietnam are set to grow at a CAGR of 17.8% from 271 million in 2019 to 522.5 million in 2023, according to a GlobalData report.
— The Paypers

Vietnam’s manufacturing signals marginal improvement in business conditions
While the Vietnamese manufacturing sector has been one of the best performers globally in recent months, the slowdown in global trade flows amid trade tensions between the US and China is starting to impact firms.
— The Hanoitimes

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

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