Asean morning news for July 2, 2020

Asean morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 1 — Indonesia sets new record for daily deaths
As of 00:50 GMT July 1 there was 60,422 active cases of COVID-19 throughout the 10 Asean member countries, an increase of 715, or 1.20 per cent, on the day prior.
— AEC News Today

Australia to acquire long-range missiles as PM warns of dangerous post-Covid-19 world
Australia’s defence force is set to acquire long-range missiles and research hypersonic weapons systems, as Scott Morrison warns the country to prepare for a more dangerous post-Covid-19 world and an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region.
— The Guardian

ASEAN manufacturing PMI rises to four-month high, but remains in contraction territory
ASEAN manufacturing conditions continued to deteriorate in June, although the rate of decline eased from May, according to the latest IHS Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data.
— The Edge Markets

Laos to move on third Mekong dam project despite neighbours’ green concerns
Laos is pushing ahead with a hydropower project on the Mekong River, despite reservations aired by neighbouring countries over its potential to harm fisheries and farming downstream, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) said on Wednesday.
— CNA

ASEAN countries sweep Rohingya issue under the rug
When the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries met (virtually) for their annual summit last week, it seems they agreed to not put out any formal statement about the ongoing situation with the Rohingya in Myanmar, with Myanmar being a member state.
— Arab News

ASEAN and Australia told to be cautious of virus reimmergence
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhonn called on ASEAN and Australia to take precautions against a second wave of Covid-19.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Stalled South China Sea code stokes fears of China power grab
Negotiations for a South China Sea code of conduct have stalled during the coronavirus pandemic, raising concerns among some Southeast Asian nations that China will exploit the delay to consolidate its presence in disputed waters.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Southeast Asia’s Grim Resilience: Pragmatism Amid the Pandemic
For over fifty years, governments across Southeast Asia have been collectively obsessed with their own resilience: both as individual nations and as a region.
— Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Small businesses in Asean prioritising tech investments for 2020: survey
TECHNOLOGY investments are the top investment priority for small businesses in South-east Asia this year.
— The Business Times

Locsin urges coordinated COVID-19 response by ASEAN; warns vs ‘protectionism’
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has pushed for a coordinated COVID-19 response by ASEAN member states and encouraged his counterparts in Southeast Asia about coming up with a regional recovery plan even while nations control the spread of the virus.
— Inquirer.net

ASEAN seen turning to floating solar plants as demand shifts
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region is seen to install more floating solar plants to balance and make grids flexible to changing power demand after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic drastically changed demand landscape.
— Philippine Star

Teamwork in ASEAN could beat Covid-19
I often wonder when will ASEAN nations speak with a single voice to resolve a regional crisis that requires a single-minded commitment and teamwork?
— TTR Weekly

Business group urges new public finance tools amid virus crisis
ASEAN leaders could tap new trade mechanisms and electronic payments to ensure essential goods and payouts get to citizens during the pandemic, a regional business lobby suggested.
— The Business Times

After ASEAN summit, little change on the South China Sea
On 26 June, the leaders of the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held their 36th annual summit by video conference, after the in-person summit scheduled for April was postponed because of Covid-19. The pandemic was the main topic of discussions.
— The Interpreter

Asean recognizes PH efforts to address HR issues
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has recognized Manila’s efforts to establish mechanisms and address human rights issues related to its anti-illegal drugs campaign.
— Philippine News Agency

Vietnam prioritises defence-security cooperation in ASEAN Regional Forum
As Chair of ASEAN, Vietnam attaches great importance and gives top priority to defence-security cooperation channels in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defence, said at the ARF Defence Officials’ Dialogue Video Conference in Hanoi on July 1.
— Vietnamplus

ASEAN, Chinese senior officials meet online
The 26th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Consultation (ACSOC) was held in the form of video conference on July 1.
— Vietnamplus

ACB lauds nature considerations of ASEAN in COVID-19 response
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) welcomes the call of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte during the 36th ASEAN Summit to intensify the regional response against the COVID-19 pandemic and enable the ACB to help curb wildlife trafficking in the region.
— Malaysia Sun

Advocating for ASEAN migrant workers’ rights
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a task force was formed to address issues on ASEAN migrant workers.
— Borneo Bulletin

ChildFund And MFAT Partnership To Have A Positive Impact In Pacific Communities And Southeast Asia
ChildFund New Zealand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) have today announced a partnership to increase the social and emotional wellbeing of vulnerable children, youth and their families in the Pacific and Southeast Asia region.
— Scoop

Disruption from COVID-19 hits ASEAN private equity hard
Opalesque Industry Update – After a strong 2019, the ASEAN private equity industry has been shaken by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Preqin.
— Opalesque

Specified skilled workers stranded in SE Asia, unable to come to Japan
People in Southeast Asia who want to come to Japan after obtaining the new residence status of “specified skilled worker” are being held back in their home countries due to the spread of the new coronavirus.
— The Nation

World Bank Appoints New Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand
The World Bank has announced the appointment of Ndiamé Diop, a Senegalese national, as its new Country Director for Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, effective July 1, 2020.
— Mirage

In June, startup investment in Southeast Asia continued to weather the storm
The end of June also marked the end of a tumultuous first half of the year –and it has been a wild ride for the Southeast Asian tech startup ecosystem.
— e27

Confronting Southeast Asia’s Troubled Media Landscape
Earlier this month, Maria Ressa, a prominent journalist and outspoken critic of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, was found guilty of cyber libel in another concerning development for media freedom in the country.
— The Diplomat

Cambodia morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

New C-19 patient ‘viral shedding’
One of the two Cambodians who tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from Malaysia on June 26 was found to have been a former patient in the country and had been successfully treated and discharged from a Malaysian hospital before flying to Cambodia.
— Khmer Times

400 factories in Cambodia suspend operations, affecting over 150,000 workers due to COVID-19
About 400 garments, footwear and travel goods factories in Cambodia have suspended their operations, leaving over 150,000 workers jobless due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a joint statement on Wednesday.
— Xinhua

Cambodia and Other Two Nations Call on Laos to Provide Effective Mitigation Measures
Laos have been urged by the government of three nations to better assess impacts, provide effective mitigation measures, as Luang Prabang dam moves forwards.
— AKP

See here for more of today’s Cambodia morning news

Indonesia morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

Indonesia’s inflation falls to 20-year low as consumer spending weakens
Indonesia recorded the lowest annual inflation rate since 2000 in June, slightly below the central bank’s target range, as the coronavirus pandemic upends business activity and demand for goods and services.
— The Jakarta Post

Government extends electricity-relief scheme until September 2020
The government has extended the disbursement of electricity subsidy for PLN customers, whose power consumption falls within the 450-volt ampere (VA) and 900-VA categories, until September 2020.
— Antara News

NTT vows to abolish bride ‘kidnapping’ after nationwide public anger
The administration of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has vowed to abolish the practice of kawin tangkap (capture and wed), a form of bride kidnapping commonly practiced on the island of Sumba, after a viral video of an such an event angered a Cabinet minister and the public nationwide.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia morning news

Lao PDR morning news

Compiled by Mark Henry Uy

Laos keep entry restrictions in place until end of July
The Lao Government has decided to keep its international border gates closed to normal exit-entry, except for Lao citizens or foreigners with urgent need who must receive permission from the Lao national steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control.
— Vietnam Plus

Laos and Myanmar to Target Domestic Tourism
The message that came out of the 7th MeTAG webinar, organised by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) in Bangkok last week, was clear – domestic tourism is going to play a very important role for countries looking to rebuild their tourism revenue.
— Travel News Asia

See here for more of today’s Lao morning news

Malaysia morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Bank Negara Malaysia’s end-May international reserves at US$102.95 billion
Malaysia’s international reserves remained usable as at end-May 2020, with official reserve assets at US$102.95 billion (RM441 billion), in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (IMF SDDS) format.
— The Sun Daily

Schools in Malaysia to reopen on Jul 15 for those not taking leaving examinations
Primary and secondary school students in Malaysia will return to schools beginning July 15, said Senior Minister and Education Minister Mohd Radzi Md Jidin on Wednesday (Jul 1).
— CNA

313 copies of book insulting coat of arms of Malaysia seized
A total of 313 copies of a book allegedly insulting the Coat of Arms of Malaysia were seized by police in a raid on a printing company in Petaling Jaya, Selangor yesterday evening.
— The Borneo Post

See here for more of today’s Malaysia Morning News

Myanmar morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Myanmar gov’t lifts stay-at-home orders in all designated townships
The Myanmar government has lifted the stay-at-home orders in all designated townships after seeing no new COVID-19 cases in the areas, a health official told Xinhua on Tuesday.
— Xinhua

Myanmar to hold general election on Nov 8
Myanmar will hold its next general election on Nov 8, the country’s election commission announced on Wednesday (Jul 1), in a test for the country’s fledgling democratic government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
— CNA

Locals Claim Myanmar Military Kills Civilian, Injures Two as Fighting Intensifies in Shan State
Military tensions with the Restoration Council of Shan State in Kyaukme this weekend saw the army allegedly shoot three civilians as hundreds of villagers fled their homes.
— Irrawaddy

See here for more of today’s Myanmar morning news

Philippines morning news

Compiled by Stella-maris Ewudolu @stmarisewudolu

Shutdown of 3,000 companies affects 100,000 workers
More than 3,000 business establishments have reported a temporary shutdown of operations, while more than 200 have closed down permanently since January this year, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said, adding that the closures affected some 100,000 workers.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

PHL losses from tourism standstill could reach $22.6B
THE Philippines could lose up to $22.64 billion (P1.13 trillion) or seven percent of GDP if the tourism standstill caused by the pandemic extends to 12 months, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in a report.
— BusinessWorld

Over 1,400 COVID-19 lab backlogs still remaining, says DOH
The country s licensed laboratories still have over 1,400 backlogs remaining for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.
— GMA Network

See here for more of today’s Philippines morning news

Singapore morning news

Compiled by Justhine De Guzman Uy @justhine.aecnews

1.4 million Singaporeans to get $570 million in GST vouchers in August
Eligible Singaporeans will receive text messages or letters to inform them of their benefits by July 3.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

GE2020: COVID-19 patients, quarantined cannot vote; special voting hour for those on stay-home notice
COVID-19 patients and those in quarantine will not be able to vote in the 2020 General Election, but there will be a special voting hour for Singaporeans serving stay-home notices, the Elections Department (ELD) said on Wednesday (Jul 1).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore firms see more payment delays in Q2; retail and services post highest jumps
PAYMENT delays among firms in Singapore have risen for another quarter, with retail and services posting the highest jumps out of all sectors, amid the economy’s coronavirus-induced partial lockdown.
— The Business Times

See here for more of today’s Singapore morning news

Thailand morning news

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

8.3 million Thai workers will lose employment or income in 2020 says World Bank
Thailand’s economy is expected to be impacted severely by the COVID-19 pandemic, shrinking by at least 5 percent in 2020 and taking more than two years to return to pre-COVID-19 GDP output levels, according to the World Bank’s latest Thailand Economic Monitor, released yesterday.
— Thailand Business News

Business groups see economy shrinking 5%-8% this year
Thailand’s economy is expected to contract between 5%-8% this year, deeper than the 3%-5% contraction projected in May, due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, a group of the country’s leading business associations said on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post

Crisis shutters 404 factories
Up to 16,680 factory workers lost their jobs in Thailand in the first six months of the year, with 404 factories closing down, as the pandemic continues to hamper the economy, according to the Department of Industrial Works (DIW).
— Bangkok Post

See here for more of today’s Thailand morning news

Vietnam morning news

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam Railways estimates a $60 million loss due to pandemic
Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) estimates a loss of nearly VNĐ1.4 trillion (US$60 million) after tax in 2020, a massive blow to the company due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam extends temporary stay permits for foreigners as Covid-19 continues
Foreigners who entered Vietnam as of March 1 but still stuck due to Covid-19 pandemic’s travel restrictions can have theirs temporary stay permits extended one more month until July 31.
— Vietnam Times

Vinh Phuc invests technical infrastructure to lure investors
Vinh Phuc province is making an effort to complete technical infrastructure while simultaneously accelerating investment promotion programmes in order to attract potential investors, especially foreign-invested enterprises after the pandemic.
— VIR

See here for more of today’s Vietnam morning news

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