1.

Anwar set for disqualification after skipping bid for royal pardon: "His disqualification is only delayed if he petitions for a pardon. Since that has not happened, it is now up to the Speaker to make a decision," the Subang MP told Malay Mail Online in a text message yesterday.When asked when they will file for the review, he declined to give a date and merely said that they "will announce it".Parliament Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia previously said Anwar will only be barred from being a federal lawmaker 14 days from February 10, based on Article 48 Clause 4 (a) of the Federal Constitution.Anwar's disqualification will force the Pakatan Rakyat pact he leads to confront the difficult decision of replacing him, at a time when ties between PKR, PAS and DAP are at their most tenuous owing to public disagreements over the disparate policy goals of the individual parties.

The Malay Mail, 24 February 2015
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/anwar-set-for-disqualification-after-skipping-bid-for-royal-pardon

2.

Ridhuan Tee's misogyny reflects bigger problems in public institutions, critics say: Critics of controversial columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah said his blaming of women for rape reflects a deeply embedded attitude of misogyny in Malaysia's public institutions.Women's rights groups said "rape myths" blaming women's appearance and attire have been widely debunked, but continue to be perpetuated by individuals such as Tee and Islamic bodies such as the Selangor religious authorities."Tee's comments unequivocally perpetuates victim-blaming," Janarthani Arumugam, the president of Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower), told Malay Mail Online in an email."Unfortunately, they also reflect a larger environment with public institutions like Jais mouth the same views without censure from either state or federal government," she added, using the acronym for the Selangor Islamic Religious Department.Janarthani said it is not enough to just address individuals such as Tee, but the public also needs to explore deeply-embedded misogynistic values in public institutions and the reasons for their existence.

The Malay Mail, 24 February 2015
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/ridhuan-tees-misogyny-reflects-bigger-problems-in-public-institutions-criti

3.

Disparities that threaten 1Malaysia: The bottom 40% of the population is still struggling to make ends meet. With low incomes (a monthly household income of less than RM3,000), hardly any wealth assets, limited educational levels and restricted upward social mobility, individuals trapped in this category face a bleak future.Their plight which has been known to social activists and observers for some time now has been highlighted in the first Malaysia Human Development Report (MHDR) made public in November 2014. It is perhaps the most comprehensive review of the performance of the Malaysian economy since the introduction of the New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1971.It is a pity that it has not been given as much prominence as it deserves in the media and within political, business, labour and academic circles.The MHDR notes that bumiputra minorities in Sabah and Sarawak and the orang asli of peninsular Malaysia remain the most vulnerable ethnic groups in Malaysia. It boldly states that the distribution of wealth in the country is extremely skewed and is concentrated at the top.

Dr Chandra Muzaffar is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Yayasan 1Malaysia
The Star, 24 February 2015
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/02/24/Disparities-that-threaten-1Malaysia/

4.

Liow: Permatang Pauh folk should know they need a rep who is committed: Voters in Permatang Pauh should choose a representative who is committed to their cause and can help bring their concerns to Parliament, says MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.He said the coming by-election would be an important battleground for Barisan Nasional, and the party would work hard to help re-capture the seat."The people should know that they need a person who is able to serve the community and realise his promises to them."On our part, MCA will give its full support to the Barisan candidate in the by-election," he told reporters at the Chinese New Year celebration with the villagers of Sungai Penjuring here yesterday.The Permatang Pauh seat fell vacant following the sodomy conviction of PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The date for the by-election has yet to be fixed.Liow stressed that three parties in Pakatan Rakyat have differing political agendas and they don't have a common consensus on many issues."Although the Barisan is a coalition of 13 political parties, all of us have a strong unifying spirit of cooperation for the benefit of the people," he added.

[news contains 2-minute video clip]

The Star, 24 February 2015
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/02/24/Choose-wisely-voters-urged/

5.

Freeing Anwar means Freeing Malaysia: Anwar dedicated himself to fight oppression, corruption, inequality, and injustice. There isn't and never was a Malay problem, Chinese problem, Indian problem, Kadazan or an Iban problem. It has always been a Malaysian problem. And only when we all think and act as Malaysians can we solve this problem. But there are those who do not. They want to keep us apart, separated and divided. They ask the young to sacrifice for their race while they reap the profits from the discord sown. In the days ahead we have to surmount difficult challenges and we must be prepared to meet them. The elections are not free and fair; they carry out gerrymandering, malapportionment, change boundaries to their advantage, the electoral roll is not clean, we are denied media access while the media is the mouthpiece of their propaganda, they arrest and jail our leaders, charging them for sedition, prevent us from holding rallies, while they get away with calling for the burning of bibles, disparaging other races and religions, creating anxieties and tensions.

To achieve victory requires a level of opposition mobilisation, unity, skill and heroism far beyond what is normally required for victory in a democracy.

William Leong
Free Malaysia Today, 23 February 2015
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2015/02/23/freeing-anwar-means-freeing-malaysia/

6.

Life over the waves in Sabah: An estimated 6,000 to 8,000 people live in four water villages off the southern coast of Gaya island. They live in a world where borders matter little, with centuries of tradition of free movement around the region. The coastal shallows have traditionally been home to the seafaring communities of the Sulu Sea, including those from the many islands of the southern Philippines.For decades, the free movement of these people who share ancient kinship and cultural ties had been tolerated, if somewhat reluctantly, by Sabah.But things may soon change.There are plans to relocate the villagers, putting an end to a unique way of life.The villages came under scrutiny after Filipino gunmen landed on Sabah's eastern shores last year to reclaim the state for the now-defunct Sulu Sultanate. The gunmen were routed by a military onslaught that killed dozens.A year later, the situation is still tense, particularly after a spate of kidnappings and a shootout on the diving island of Mabul last year and earlier this year.The water villages are regarded as havens for the illegal migrants criss-crossing the marine borders.

Carolyn Hong
Straits Times, 23 February 2015
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/asia/story/life-over-the-waves-sabah-20150223

7.

Ops Lalang II? ISA veterans worried, but say no: Cries of "Ops Lalang II" following an apparent crackdown on dissent over Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's conviction are premature, said two former detainees who expressed alarm over the growing number of arrests.According to DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, the current arrests have not approached the scale of the 1987 security dragnet that saw over a hundred people detained under the now-repealed Internal Security Act (ISA)."I wouldn't really compare it with Ops Lalang, because that was a series of mass arrests," Lim, who had been held without trial then, told Malay Mail Online.Despite saying the current suppression was not a repeat of the 1987 incident, however, the elder Lim voiced grave concern over the arrests and called it "an ominous crackdown on dissent."He also asked why it was necessary for the police to arrest people who questioned the Federal Court's decision to uphold Opposition Leader Anwar's sodomy conviction, saying that a fair ruling should be able to survive all scrutiny."The (perceived justice) of the decision of the highest court must stand or fall in the eyes of the public based on their own logic, and not require coercion by the police in order to cow people into acceptance," he said.

The Malay Mail, 23 February 2015
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/ops-lalang-ii-isa-veterans-worried-but-say-no

8.

If our varsities world class, why so few Aussies, Europeans enrolled here, asks DAP: Despite claims by the education minister that Malaysia's higher education system is on a par with those in the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany, there are hardly any students from those counties enrolled in local universities, a DAP lawmaker says today. In contrast, said DAP's Zairil Khir Johari, there were some 30,000 Malaysians pursuing their higher education in the UK, Australia and Germany. "Contrary to the minister's claims that our universities are on a par with British, German and Australian ones, his own ministry's statistics clearly prove that the relationship between Malaysia and our so-called peers is strictly one way," he said in a statement today.

"According to the same statistical document, 28,869 or more than one third of Malaysian students abroad in 2013 are studying in the UK (15,020, including Ireland), Germany (452, despite the language barrier) and Australia (13,397)." In fact, the Bukit Bendera MP said, the majority of international students in Malaysia did not come from advanced countries but instead from the developing world, such as Iran, China, Indonesia and Nigeria, whose own universities were far inferior. "The number of British, German and Australian students in Malaysian universities is so negligible that these countries do not even make it into the list of top 35 countries of origin for international students in Malaysia," he added.

Zairil was commenting on the claims by Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh that Malaysia's higher education was now on a par with those of developed nations such as the UK, Australia and Germany. He said this was proven by the fact that 135,000 foreign students made up 10% of students at national institutions of higher education in the country. "Now, foreign students are confident about studying in Malaysia compared with previously, more so with the strong economic development, and the stable and well-administered government in the country," Idris was quoted as saying by Bernama.

The Malaysian Insider, 23 February 2015
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/if-our-varsities-world-class-why-so-few-aussies-europeans-enrolled-here-ask

9.

Book Review: The Colour of Inequality - Ethnicity, Class, Income and Wealth in Malaysia by Muhammed Abdul Khalid: The history of the Malaysia is a history of inequality, and Dr Muhammed has shown that the disparity between races and within the races that has been in existence for the last 100 years or so. However, steps must and can be taken to narrow the disparity.

One of Dr Muhammed's suggestions is to review present day tax structure which he says are "favours the rich more than the poor and is contributing to the widening wealth gap". In The Colour of Inequality, he says it is the income earner who is taxed more than the capital owner.

Maybe it is about time the tax structure and other policies are reviewed, and new ones are introduced to reduce the gap in Malaysian society. The year 2020 is not that far away.

["The Colour of Inequality: Ethnicity, Class, Income and Wealth in Malaysia" has been put in ITQ of Feb Book Acquisition, expected to be available in early April.]

Vanitha Nadaraj
The Establishment Post, 22 February 2015
http://www.establishmentpost.com/story-inequality-malaysia/

10.

Jokowi urged to choose BIN chief wisely: Jokowi has yet to replace current BIN chief Lt. Gen. (ret) Marciano Norman, whereas he has installed new leaders at several state institutions including those considered crucial in determining the fate of cases of past gross human rights violations, such as the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister.

Activists are concerned that stalled cases would be permanently ditched should Jokowi bow to political elites and appoint a controversial individual such as former BIN deputy chief As'ad Said Ali, who served at the agency under the leadership of AM Hendropriyono, a member of Jokowi's inner circle. Hendropriyono is alleged to have masterminded the murder of prominent human rights campaigner Munir Said Thalib, an allegation that he has repeatedly denied. "We don't want BIN led by a controversial figure who would use his or her power to shut off all efforts to resolve cases of human rights abuses that took place in the past," the chairman of Jakarta-based human rights watchdog Setara Institute, Hendardi, said on Monday. "We don't want the President to make a reckless choice," he added.

Margareth S. Aritonang
Jakarta Post, 24 February 2015
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/24/jokowi-urged-choose-bin-chief-wisely.html

11.

Who benefits from demographic dividend? Currently Indonesia is entering the demographic dividend era and the peak is projected to occur in 2028-2031. The demographic dividend, also known as the dependency ratio, occurs when the ratio of young people (15 years and younger) and old people (65 and older) to people at a productive age (15-64 years) shrinks. In fact, in 1971-2010, the percentage of young people decreased from 44 percent to 28.85 percent, while the percentage of productive aged people increased from 53.5 percent to 65.74 percent, and the percentage of old aged people slightly increased from 2.5 percent to 5.41 percent. The dependency ratio decreased from 86.84 in 1971 to 51.31 in 2010.

The percentage of younger people is shrinking mainly because of a decrease of the total fertility rate (TFR), especially between 1971 and 2010. The TFR in the 1970s was recorded at about 5.6, meaning on average a woman gave birth to 5.6 children through her life time. In 2010s the TFR decreased to 2.6. The smaller the dependency ratio the wider the window of opportunity that will in turn create higher potential economic growth. In China, the contribution of the demographic dividend was about 30 percent to its economic growth. On average, for every one point decrease in the dependency ratio there is a contribution of about 0.115 percent in economic growth according to a paper written in 2012 by a scholar from China named Zhang Monan.

If the government could manage its demographic dividend, it is possible that this country could get the same benefits as China does. However, the benefits may not be the same in all provinces and there could be a difference between urban and rural areas. This could happen as a result of migration, mostly by people in productive ages.

Razali Ritonga
Jakarta Post, 24 February 2015
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/24/who-benefits-demographic-dividend.html

12.

Jokowi's Fishing Vessel Sinking Policy: A Question of Propriety: Disappointments with the actions of the Widodo Administration so far rest on the premise of Jokowi as a reformist president. Instead of quibbling over the legal or propriety basis of his tough actions it is perhaps more prudent that attention be directed to the ultimate aims of Jokowi's Working Cabinet (Kabinet Kerja).

A strong underlying motivation is Jokowi's identification and peculiar interpretation of the Sukarnoist principle of Trisakti, seen as a major component driving his policies. While its tenets are decidedly abstract, priority of Indonesia's foreign relations has clearly shifted away from the equally nebulous 'dynamic equilibrium' approach that had characterised the Yudhoyono cabinet.

While not overtly nationalistic, Trisakti demands that Indonesia pays special attention to issues of national pride and honour that inevitably revolves around the idea of sovereignty (kedaulatan).

This amalgamation ties in with Jokowi's Sanskrit pledge of "Jalesveva Jayamahe" (in the sea we are victorious) and the reification of the concept of a 'global maritime fulcrum'. Years of unnoticed trespassing and unpublicised illegal fishing will have to make way for a pronounced enforcement of its maritime borders.

Jonathan Chen and Emirza Syailendra, respectively Associate Research Fellow and Research Analyst at the Indonesia Programme of the S. Rajaratnam of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University.

The Establishment Post, 24 February 2015
http://www.establishmentpost.com/jokowis-fishing-vessel-sinking-policy-question-propriety/

13.

Graft Suspect Suryadharma Ali Files Pretrial Motion Against KPK: Former minister Suryadharma Ali has filed a pretrial motion against the national antigraft agency on Monday for naming him a graft suspect last year, proving predictions that Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan's recent success in a similar move would inspire other graft suspects to follow suit - further undermining Indonesia's battle against corruption.

Suryadharma's legal team filed the motion with the South Jakarta District Court, the same court that granted - to much public outcry - the National Police chief candidate's pretrial motion against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for naming him a suspect in a bribery case last month.

Suryadharma's lawyer, Humphrey R. Djemat, alleged on Monday that the antigraft agency had violated the law by naming the former religious affairs minister as a suspect in May last year over the embezzlement of hajj funds.

The Jakarta Globe, 24 February 2015
http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/graft-suspect-suryadharma-ali-files-pretrial-motion-against-kpk/

14.

What India's upstart can teach Jokowi: The politics of India, like those of Indonesia, are unpredictable. Mr Arvind Kejriwal, the founder of the Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party, was recently elected Chief Minister of Delhi. His comeback is surprising, given his failure last year in challenging the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in the general election.

Mr Kejriwal is the Indian political figure most similar to Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. Both men have sought to represent the interests of the grassroots populations of their respective countries. They have also been accused of being foreign stooges. Both are popular on social media, with the former becoming the fifth-most-mentioned Indian politician on both Twitter and Facebook during his Delhi Legislative Assembly campaign in 2013.

The central theme of Mr Kejriwal's political career has been his pledge to root out corruption in Indian politics. In fact, it was his involvement in the 2011 Jan Lokpal movement that brought him to public attention for the first time. The movement demanded that the Indian government pass a parliamentary Bill to strengthen the fight against corruption through the formation of a public ombudsman office with powers to prosecute officials suspected of graft. The new body would be akin to Indonesia's own Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Johannes Nugroho is a writer and businessman from Surabaya.
Today, 24 February 2015
http://www.todayonline.com/commentary/what-indias-upstart-can-teach-jokowi

15.

Brazil offended govt, people of Indonesia: Foreign Affairs Ministry: This statement was made by Director General of America and Europe of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Dian Triansah Djani. "Of course, we are offended. I have informed him (the Brazilian ambassador to Indonesia) that their act was unacceptable and did not meet diplomatic principles. We have made note of what Brazil has done," Djani said at the Foreign Affairs Ministrys office here on Monday evening.

Indonesian ambassador-designate to Brazil Toto Riyanto had been officially invited by the Brazilian government to present his credential letter to President Dilma Rousseff on Friday (February 20). However, when he arrived at the presidential palace after being received following official protocol, he was told that the ceremony was postponed. The Indonesian government believes that this incident is related to the plan to execute the death penalty given to Rodrigo Gularte, a Brazilian national who was convicted in 2005 after he was arrested for smuggling 6 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside his surfboard. At 10 p.m. on the day of the incident, Djani called the Brazilian Ambassador to Indonesia to express their deep disappointment and make it clear that it had offended the government of Indonesia and its people. "While we are a friendly country and will continue to engage with other countries, these relations must be based on mutual respect and acceptance of the nations respective sovereignty. We are clear on this matter," Djani emphasized.

Antara News, 23 February 2015
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/97869/brazil-offended-govt-people-of-indonesia-foreign-affairs-ministry

16.

Dial M for merger: Jokowi's climate call: In his first 100 days as President, one major move Joko "Jokowi" Widodo made was the merging of the environment and forestry ministries. It was a four-in-one act. Under Presidential Regulation No. 16/2015 on the Environment and Forestry Ministry that Jokowi signed on Jan. 21, the functions of the REDD+ Managing Agency (BP REDD+) and the National Council on Climate Change (DNPI) are now under the wing of the Environment and Forestry Ministry. Indonesia's climate change program is consolidated into the Environment and Forestry Ministry's directorate general for climate change mitigation.

REDD+ is the national program to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, a core climate change initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 41 percent in 2020 against business as usual levels. Given that more than two thirds of Indonesia's carbon emissions come from deforestation and peatland conversion, BP REDD+ played a determinant role in climate mitigation. DNPI, meanwhile, was charged with climate policy formulation, and its executive chair was Indonesia's chief delegate in international climate negotiations. The argument for the merger, as underscored by Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar, is to prevent overlapping functions.

The benefits for merger are in line with two management rules Jokowi has pronounced. First is efficiency. On Dec. 4, Jokowi disbanded 10 state agencies and councils deemed as underperforming or unnecessary. Second is a stop of ministries harboring what he termed as egosectoral tendencies. Ministers should not have their own vision and mission. All must have an operational program that supports the President's vision and mission, Jokowi told his first Cabinet meeting Oct. 27.

Warief Djajanto Basorie
Jakarta Post, 23 February 2015
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/23/dial-m-merger-jokowi-s-climate-call.html

17.

Academicians, Alumnae Stage Rally to Reject KPK Criminalization: Alumnae and academicians from a number of universities on Sunday, 22 February 2014 during the Car Free Day were staging rallies and oration to express their views on the ongoing standoff between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the national police.

The group also visited the national police headquarter and meet with top police officials to express their views on the issue. "After the rally and the oration from representatives of universities, we will hold a long march to Trunojoyo," said head of Alumnae Association of University of Indonesia, Chandra Motik. According to Chandra, the rally was part of the official stand of a number of universities to reject any efforts to criminalize KPK leaders and investigators. Chandra also hoped that all top police officials realize that all their actions would be monitored by all elements of the society, including academicians, alumnae, and university students all across Indonesia.

Tempo, 23 February 2015
http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2015/02/23/055644434/Academicians-Alumnae-Stage-Rally-to-Reject-KPK-Criminalization

18.

Indonesia and Australia: appealing to Jakarta's strengths: Canberra might remind Jakarta of its proud record on human rights promotion, not just with respect to its citizens in trouble overseas, but its strong normative leadership in ASEAN and in the Bali Democracy Forum.

Remarkably early in Indonesia's democratisation process, Jakarta championed the promotion of democratic and human rights norms in ASEAN. Through dogged determination, largely by former foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda, and by virtue of the country's leading status in the grouping, Indonesia moved ASEAN forward on a human rights declaration and commitment to new institutional structures (the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children). This was achieved in the face of considerable unease and resistance on the part of ASEAN's more authoritarian members such as Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Rather than a sign of weakness, a willingness by President Widodo to reconsider the death penalty, would be a tough decision domestically in the short term, but in the longer term would ultimately boost his democratic political legitimacy to both domestic and international constituencies. This isn't a favour to Australia, but a test of Widodo's commitment to Indonesia's democratic future.

Greta Nabbs-Keller is the director of Dragonminster Consulting, a Brisbane-based company providing Indonesia expertise to government and private sector clients. She is a non-resident research fellow of the Perth USAsia Centre.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute, 23 February 2015
http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/indonesia-and-australia-appealing-to-jakartas-strengths/

19.

A more nuanced approach to restructuring: Embracing innovation instead of relying on cheap foreign labour will reap greater long-term rewards. SINGAPORE will slow the pace at which it is squeezing foreign worker inflows, but the government made sure that this would not be mistaken for a U-turn on restructuring.

Teh Shi Ning
Business Times, 24 February 2015
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/singapore-budget-2015/a-more-nuanced-approach-to-restructuring

20.

Budget for the future: ONE of the major themes of the 2015 Budget is to strengthen social support to ensure assurance in retirement and enhance support for middle-income families. Below are some of the key measures that were introduced to achieve the objectives.

Jill Lim & Sabrina Sia
Business Times, 24 February 2015
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion/budget-for-the-future

21.

Employers, unions laud bigger help for training: As part of the new Skills Future measures, mid-career workers can tap more financial support for continual education, while younger workers will get more structured on-the-job training.Singapore National Employers Federation executive director Koh Juan Kiat said the measures will complement the policies to tighten foreign labour inflows and schemes to help companies innovate. "This would help employers reduce the reliance on foreign labour and deepen the skills of locals," he said.The labour movement said it welcomed the move as it had previously suggested individual training accounts for Singaporean workers.National Trades Union Congress president Diana Chia said the $500 credit "will address current gaps for some workers who do not have access to the Workfare Training Support Scheme".Mr David Ang, director of training and consultancy provider Human Capital Singapore, said workers should consider training in one of the growth clusters cited in the Budget, such as advanced manufacturing. "If you are in an industry outside these clusters, look at what you can do to create a future for yourself."

Straits Times, 24 February 2015
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore/story/employers-unions-laud-bigger-help-training-20150224

22.

Median S'porean wages among highest in Asia: In 1975, the median Singaporean worker's wage was only about 60 per cent that of workers in Hong Kong, and less than half of that of those in Japan.Fast-forward 38 years and Singapore has surpassed Hong Kong while the gap with Japan has narrowed significantly.Higher education is a key factor in driving the growth, said Mr Tharman.

More than 95 per cent of young adults now, or those aged 25 to 34, have been able to progress to post-secondary education.That is more than four times as many compared with the generation of "baby boomers", or those who are now between the ages of 55 and 64."It enabled better jobs and much higher living standards for Singaporeans. Everyone has moved up, including poorer Singaporeans," Mr Tharman said.The workforce has developed new skills and built up new competencies, transforming itself along with the economy.

Straits Times, 24 February 2015
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore/story/median-sporean-wages-among-highest-asia-20150224

23.

Progressive, pro-future Budget: For the Budget's transformative agenda to be fulfilled, nothing less than a sea change is called for in Singapore's business culture and social culture. Innovation must not just be a buzzword but a daily preoccupation, whatever the scope and scale of one's work. And acquiring deep skills out of sheer interest or practical necessity must be a lifelong pursuit. Tilling the ground for such a culture are the SkillsFuture Credits, the SkillsFuture Awards, enhanced subsidies for courses, and additional top-ups to the Child Development Account, Edusave and Post Secondary Education Account. Beyond budgetary measures, there are a host of other ways that the yen for learning must be kept alive.The inspiration for such pursuits lies in the areas mapped by Mr Tharman that the nation can harvest, like advanced manufacturing, applied health sciences, sustainable urban solutions, finance, logistics and aerospace. The ramping up of Changi Airport, the development of Tuas port, and the enhancement of living spaces are all mega projects that can also offer many opportunities to workers.

Straits Times, 24 February 2015
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/opinion/story/progressive-pro-future-budget-20150224

24.

Pull through' strategy can put SMEs on world stage: With the growth of exportable service industries such as finance and insurance and wholesale trade over the years, and as manufacturing industries progressively move into knowledge- and skill-intensive service activities, the Singapore economy has become more service-oriented.Services' share of Singapore's nominal GDP has gone up over the last decade, from 64 per cent in 2003 to 70 per cent in 2013. Correspondingly, the share of manufacturing has moderated from 26 per cent to 19 per cent over the same period.This phenomenon is not unique to Singapore - several developed economies, including Japan, Denmark, Sweden, France and Britain, have also experienced a rising share of services as a proportion of GDP over the past decade.As a small economy with limited land, Singapore really has no choice but to focus deeper on higher-value economic activities.Intent on becoming Asia's innovation capital, the Singapore Government has allocated a record $16.1 billion under its five-year Research, Innovation and Enterprise Plan for the period 2011-2015.

Zaid Hamzah
Straits Times, 24 February 2015
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/opinion/story/pull-through-strategy-can-put-smes-world-stage-20150224

25.

Silver Support Scheme wins praise: THE new Silver Support Scheme has been lauded by experts for its automatic inclusion of needy elderly - as opposed to requiring them to opt in - and quarterly payouts.The permanent scheme, to be rolled out in January next year, aims to support the bottom 20 per cent of Singaporeans aged 65 and above, with a smaller degree of support extended to cover up to 30 per cent of seniors.Institute of Policy Studies research fellow Christopher Gee, who studies ageing and retirement adequacy issues, said that a complicated application process may deter the elderly.He also praised the quarterly payouts, as opposed to annual ones as had been widely expected, because it was easier for recipients to "regulate their expenses".Mr Gee said the system could still expand after it has been put in place. He added: "If the cost of living increases, the Government might increase the threshold."But former Nominated MP Kanwaljit Soin called for support to be extended to "all silvers and not just one group" - citing schemes in territories like Hong Kong."We must not just target absolute poverty, but also relative poverty. We must elevate the whole of our country," she said, adding that those who are worse-off can then "apply for a further living allowance".

Straits Times, 24 February 2015
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore/story/silver-support-scheme-wins-praise-20150224

26.

Singapore ripe for a digital revolution in banking: In Singapore, banks do roll out new websites or mobile banking apps, but these basically offer the same services that have always been available, except through the computer or mobile phone.Some have also launched mobile wallets to allow for easier fund transfers and mobile payments. But few seem to be going into fintech on a large scale.DBS is one of the few that looks like it is actively trying to stay ahead of the game.

According to chief executive Piyush Gupta, the bank invests $700 million to $800 million every year on technology and organises hackathons and incubator programmes for tech start-ups.

He said at a recent media briefing that the bank plans to roll out more innovative solutions, and sounded a confident note when asked whether up-and-coming fintech players are threatening his business.Some experts, though, don't think banks need to worry all that much, as they believe the future is more about collaboration between fintech players and banks, not competition.Whether fintech players eventually come here to disrupt and challenge the traditional banking players or end up collaborating with them to offer innovative solutions together, it is clear that the consumer will win.

Yasmine Yahya
Straits Times, 24 February 2015
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/opinion/story/singapore-ripe-digital-revolution-banking-20150224

27.

A 'hongbao' Budget that gives, and takes too: Delivered on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, there was no doubt that many were expecting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam to give out "hongbaos" in Budget 2015. The Budget did not fall short of expectations on the "giving" front. But what surprised many was that the minister did some "collecting" as well. Listening to Mr Tharman's speech, many would have been alerted to the words "we must, therefore, strengthen our revenue base".

So what tax rates will be raised? We know it will not be the Goods and Services Tax - at least not for this year. The usual sin taxes would hardly qualify as something that strengthens the revenue base. Could it be corporate income tax? Mr Tharman kept everyone in suspense while revealing all the "hongbaos". Finally, just as he was wrapping up the speech, out came the big surprise - the top personal income tax rate will be raised by a further two percentage points to 22 per cent. This means there will be a five-percentage-point difference between the top personal tax rate and the corporate tax rate, which remained at 17 per cent.

Today, 24 February 2015
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/hongbao-budget-gives-and-takes-too

28.

Basket of goodies for middle-income households: A string of goodies for middle-income households were announced yesterday, as Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam outlined how the Government will help them meet their aspirations and cope with the rising cost of living. In recent years, those in this income bracket have called for more support, saying they are struggling with the cost of living, but often miss out on government benefits that are focused on the lower income.

Today, 24 February 2015
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/basket-goodies-middle-income-households

29.

S'pore stuck in deflation for third straight month: Deflation stalked Singapore for the third consecutive month in January, as tumbling oil prices continued to drag on energy and fuel costs, but analysts said the risk of a prolonged period of negative inflation looks relatively slim. "This is not a real surprise ... The third consecutive month of deflationary figures is due to administrative measures by the Government and the effects of energy prices, rather than a slump in demand or high unemployment causing prices to fall," said CIMB Research regional economist Song Seng Wun, referring to cooling measures by the Government that have brought down costs of accommodation and private road transport. "Singapore's labour market is doing all right; it should be less of a concern to any risks of prolonged deflation."

A revision in the base year for measuring the consumer price index (CPI) to 2014 from 2009 to reflect the latest consumption patterns also altered readings for last year. The CPI for all items fell 0.4 per cent last month from a year earlier, easing further from a 0.1 per cent drop in December. The slump was slightly more than the median 0.3 per cent fall predicted by economists in a Reuters poll and was also the largest decline since December 2009, when the CPI dipped 0.5 per cent in the wake of the global financial crisis.

Today, 24 February 2015
http://www.todayonline.com/business/spore-stuck-deflation-third-straight-month

30.

Singapore to raise tax on rich to fund welfare: Singapore will raise taxes on its wealthiest residents as it looks to fund a sharp rise in healthcare spending and provide extra support to retirees and low-income workers.From 2017, the top 5 per cent of earners in the city-state will see their income tax rise, with the top rate changing from 20 per cent to 22 per cent. Smaller increases will affect earnings between S$160,000 and S$320,000 a year.Singapore has long had one of the lowest income tax rates among developed economies, helping it become a leading global financial centre. However, rising prices - especially for housing - has made it one of the world's most expensive places to live and heightened concerns about worsening inequality.

Josh Noble
Financial Times, 23 February 2015
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/263dd9b2-bb6e-11e4-a31f-00144feab7de.html

31.

Singapore Budget 2015: 7 reasons why this year's Robin Hood Budget matters: Mr Tharman and other government ministers have been saying for several years now that Singapore has to go beyond a system where people are valued for their academic credentials, to one where every worker is motivated to excel at what he or she does, and rewarded accordingly.This Budget puts substance to that dream, with a new SkillsFuture Credit account for every Singaporean aged 25 and above. The Government will give $500 into this account in 2016.There will be a concerted push to get Singaporean workers and employers to change our culture to one which values people for skills, not their paper qualifications.A range of new SkillsFuture Awards and Fellowships will be introduced. Think of these as the skills-equivalent of the Public Service Commission's scholarships for academically bright students.

Chua Mui Hoong
Straits Times, 23 February 2015
http://www.singapolitics.sg/views/singapore-budget-2015-7-reasons-why-years-robin-hood-budget-matters

32.

Singapore Budget 2015: Jubilee Budget focuses on country's future, says PM Lee Hsien Loong: "Our Jubilee Budget focuses on the future: building Singapore and helping Singaporeans prepare for changes to come. We want Singaporeans to have greater assurance at each stage of life, more opportunities and a better home for all," he said.In his post, Mr Lee said: "We will invest continuously in every citizen, and empower you to learn throughout your life, so that you can become expert in your chosen field of work."He added: "We will invest heavily in infrastructure to create a highly liveable home with quality healthcare. We will provide additional support to Singaporean families for your costs of living and your retirement."This means that Government spending will increase, "so we are also making sure that we have enough revenues." To that end, the Government will raise personal income taxes for the top 5 per cent of income earners.

[news contains 2 video clips]

Straits Times, 23 February 2015
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/singapore-budget-2015-jubilee-budget-focuses-countrys-fu

33.

Singapore Budget 2015: Measures aplenty to support middle-income workers and families: The Government will introduce a new Partner Operator (POP) scheme to complement the Anchor Operator (AOP) scheme. Child care operators on the scheme will have to commit to keeping fees affordable, developing their teachers and enhancing quality.Parents will benefit from lower fees than these centres currently charge, and higher quality care.For example, a household with median income whose child is enrolled in a centre with the median monthly fee of $900, currently pays $500 a month after receiving a subsidy of $400. If the centre comes onto the POP scheme, the household will pay around $100 less, and can look forward to quality improvements.Currently, the AOP scheme accounts for one-third of the preschool sector, comprising both child care and kindergartens. Through a combination of the AOP and POP schemes, the Government aims for about half of pre-school children to benefit from enhanced government support for more affordable and quality pre-school by 2020.

Straits Times, 23 February 2015
http://www.singapolitics.sg/news/singapore-budget-2015-measures-aplenty-support-middle-income-workers-and-families

34.

Singapore to Tweak Policies Toward Foreign Workers: Singapore will tone down policies intended to reduce its reliance on foreign workers and increase taxes on top earners to help create an innovative economy and reduce inequality, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said.

The moves signal a slight shift in the government's earlier efforts to limit foreign-worker numbers. Instead, the government will focus on increasing productivity growth-now flat or negative-to try to help employers struggling to fill vacancies and counter the effects on Singapore's slowing economy."The government will refine the pace of increase in foreign-worker levies since foreign-worker inflows have slowed down markedly," said Mr. Tharman, who is also deputy prime minister. "However, the tight labor market is now a reality."

Jake Maxwell Watts & P.R. Venkat
Wall Street Journal, 23 February 2015
http://www.wsj.com/articles/singapore-to-raise-taxes-of-top-earners-1424697943

35.

An Open Letter to PM LEE

Yin Susu,

English translation by Heartless
TR Emeritus, 22 February 2015
http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/02/22/an-open-letter-to-pm-lee/

36.

CSOs: Don't sign contracts for new projects: The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) called on the government and armed national ethnic groups not to sign contracts for new projects in the conflict-affected regions and its nearby areas before a peace deal has been reached.

The CSOs made their demands during the 9th peace forum in Yangon last week attended by members of the Union Peace-making Working Committee (UPWC) and the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT).

They pointed out that economic investments, development of projects and land management described in the ceasefire deal, are not in accordance with natural and land resources policies being drafted. Adopting such policies without seeking any advice from local people and the armed national ethnic groups would amount to excluding those conflict-affected regions from the country's territory.

Eleven Myanmar, 24 February 2015
http://elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9108:csos-don-t-sign-contracts-for-new-projects&catid=44:national&Itemid=384

37.

NNER clarifies reference to religious organisations: The National Network for Education Reform (NNER) and Action Committee for Democratic Education (ACDE) held a press conference on February 22 to clarify a section of the draft of the new educational law.

The section in question refers to religious organisations that offer courses in Myanmar language, English, mathematics, science and other general education subjects. The NNER has been criticised on social media networks by people who assumed that the draft refers to religious training courses.

"In Section 36 of the new draft, we mean religious organisations that offer [general education] school subjects to students. We don't mean religious training courses. Chapter 14 of the Education Law states that religious schools are not covered under the law. We do not touch that chapter in the new draft," said NNER representative Dr Thein Lwin.

Eleven Myanmar, 24 February 2015
http://elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9111:nner-clarifies-reference-to-religious-organisations&catid=44:national&Itemid=384

38.

Is Beijing supporting rebel groups in Myanmar? Recent skirmishes were preceded by an interview with Peng, which was published on 20 December 2014 in the Chinese Government mouthpiece the Global Times. The interview roused spectres of the past and stirred up deep sentiments. As well as announcing his intention to wage sustained guerilla warfare in an alliance with other armed groups, Peng suggested the option of a Crimea-style referendum for parts of northern Mynamar which would either lead to a high degree of autonomy or even integration into 'Greater China'. Overall, he pleaded for the greater involvement of China in northern Myanmar.

Although such scenarios are unrealistic, Beijing has done little to defuse suspicions and nervousness among Myanmar officials and the public. China has made efforts to improve relations by appointing a special envoy who made some half-hearted attempts to mediate in Kachin State, but mistrust prevails. The experience of a small state being trapped in great-power calculations still resonates among Myanmar's leaders. Beijing's grand designs for a geopolitical and economic regional linkages, including transport corridors towards India, raise concerns. Suspicion about ongoing support for armed groups, or at least connivance of arms trafficking and training such as for the Wa, still exists. The revamped MNDAA most likely directly or indirectly obtained its arms from China.

While Beijing has expressed its concerns about the stability of the border region, Naypyidaw has already called on Beijing to prevent local authorities from providing any unofficial support to armed groups. In order to improve relations and build trust, Beijing will have to go beyond mere 'concerns' about stability and put its house in order.

Bernt Berger
Interpreter, 24 February 2015
http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2015/02/24/beijing-support-rebel-groups-myanmar-burma.aspx

39.

Around 50 Myanmar Military Troops Killed in Weekend Clashes: Rebel Official: Clashes between ethnic Kokang rebels and Myanmar's military near the country's northeastern border with China left around 50 government troops dead over the weekend, a member of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army said Monday, though state media claimed the losses were far fewer.

Lt. Col. Ta Po Kyaw, secretary of the TNLA-which is fighting to reclaim the special region of Kokang in Shan state alongside the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA)-told RFA's Myanmar Service his group had confronted army troops from four different divisions in Nanhkan and Hseni townships in recent days.

"We assume that a total of 50 soldiers from the government army were killed within these two to three days, although we can't give an exact number," he said.

Ta Po Kyaw did not provide a number for casualties suffered by ethnic rebels over the weekend.

Radio Free Asia, 24 February 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/kokang-02232015155330.html

40.

Investigation Into Deadly Drug Mix-Up Continues: Bad Medicine: Kalbe Farma and Siloam Hospitals both face investigations by the Health Ministry to determine if their procedures were adequate: The government says it has instructed Indonesia's largest pharmaceutical firm, Kalbe Farma, to halt production of its anesthetic and anti-bleeding products at the center of investigations into the death of two women, while they were undergoing surgeries at Siloam Hospital in Tangerang earlier this month.

Coordinating for Human Resources and Culture Development Minister Puan Maharani on Monday said Kalbe Farma had been ordered to cease production of Buvanest, an anesthetic, and generic tranexamic acid, commonly used to treat or prevent excessive blood loss during surgery.

As initial indications pointed to Kalbe Farma's fault, the minister has also ordered the withdrawal of the two products to protect the public, while promising the investigation can be concluded quickly.

The Jakarta Globe, 24 February 2015
http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/investigation-deadly-drug-mix-continues/

41.

Facebook stickers counter Myanmar hate speech: Facebook now features a new set of stickers or graphics which users can download to counter online hate speech in Myanmar, according to Global Voices on February 22.

"Speak Panzagar" or flower speech or good speech stickers were developedby the Myanmar organization of the same name in response to a noticeable rise in online hate speech in the country.

The disturbing trend was first observed in 2012 when Facebook was swampedwith hate speech and generally inflammatory communication between Buddhist and Muslim users in Myanmar. Many people believe that the spread of racist and discriminatory comments on Facebook contributed to inter-community conflicts that have gripped the nation in recent years.

Myanmar has a predominantly Buddhist population but it has more than 130 ethnic groups. In the past three years, some radical Buddhist groups have accused the Muslim minority of plotting to dominate the country.

Mizzima, 23 February 2015
http://www.mizzima.com/mizzima-news/myanmar/item/18067-facebook-stickers-counter-myanmar-hate-speech

42.

Myanmar violence could affect tin price: European tin market sources say fighting in Myanmar, rather than an effort by Indonesia to cap tin exports, is more likely to lead to an increase in the world price of tin, reports Metal Bulletin on February 20.

Currently signs of an increase in the price of tin have yet to emerge on the London Metal Exchange. On February 20, the price stood at US$18,075/100 per tonne [K18 million] on a three-month basis, yet recent news from Myanmar could be influential, particularly if the fighting there spreads.

One trader who talked to Metal Bulletin said the fighting in Kokang had the potential to affect the supply of tin concentrate significantly, as well as significantly reduce the global quantities of tin available for a sustained period.

Mizzima, 23 February 2015
http://www.mizzima.com/business/economy/item/18063-myanmar-violence-could-affect-tin-price

43.

Chinese Nationals Help Out in Northern Myanmar Conflict Zone: Chinese nationals in the southwestern province of Yunnan are involved in volunteer work and the moving of medical supplies across the border to rebel forces fighting government troops in northeastern Myanmar, local sources told RFA on Monday.

The fighting erupted Feb. 9 in Laukkai, capital of the special region of Kokang near Myanmar's border with China, between army troops and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) rebel forces.

The MNDAA under ethnic Chinese commander Peng Jiasheng are trying to retake the Kokang self-administered zone, which it had controlled until 2009, forcing a wave of refugees away from the remote and rugged conflict zone in northeastern Shan state and across the border into China.

The MNDAA has been joined by three other ethnic minority armies: the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), and part of the Shan State Army (SSA).

Radio Free Asia, 23 February 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/help-02232015105026.html

44.

Who Are Myanmar's Kokang Rebels And What Are They Fighting For? Clashes between government troops and Kokang rebels in northeastern Myanmar's Shan state have left more than 100 people dead and caused around 100,000 refugees to flee across the border into China since early February. Here is a look at who the rebels are and what they claim to be fighting for:Who are the MNDAA?

Ethnic Kokang are primarily based in northern Shan state and the minority group maintains a rebel army of around 3,000 troops under ethnic Chinese commander Peng Jiasheng known as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).

The MNDAA was formerly part of a China-backed guerrilla force called the Communist Party of Burma (CPB), and became the first of about a dozen factions to sign a bilateral cease-fire agreement with the government after the group broke apart in 1989.

Radio Free Asia, 23 February 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/kokang-02232015173457.html

45.

Refugee Crisis on Myanmar-China Border: The renewed hostilities between Burmese troops and the Kokang armed rebel group known as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) have killed more than 130 people since February 9. According to the government, the fatalities included 61 military and police officers, and around 72 rebels. The casualties could be higher since the situation in other remote areas has yet to be determined and clashes are still ongoing after the government rejected calls for a ceasefire in the conflict areas.

The last time Kokang was besieged by armed attacks was in 2009 when the army successfully pushed the rebel force out of the region. Many believe that the February 9 offensive in the Laukkai regional capital was an attempt to reclaim the political influence which the rebels lost six years ago. The government responded by deploying troops in the Kokang Self-Administered Zone; and later, declaring a state of emergency and martial law. "Launching offensives against a self-administered zone to oust the mandated Kokang autonomous body is an offence to the sovereignty of the zone. We can't let this happen. We have no plans to negotiate a ceasefire," said U Zaw Htay, who is a director in the office of the president.

But in an interview with the independent media group Democratic Voices of Burma, rebel spokesman Tun Myat Linn denied that his group is responsible for the chaos and violence that suddenly engulfed the region. "We did not attack the government administration in Laogai. The director of the administration fled on his own initiative. Our troops are quite a distance from the town - we can't even get close to there," he said.

Mong Palatino
The Diplomat, 23 February 2015
http://thediplomat.com/2015/02/refugee-crisis-in-myanmar-china-border/

46.

'A Guerrilla War is Still Taking Place in Laukkai': In this week Dateline Irrawaddy show-first aired on DVB on Feb 18- The Irrawaddy Magazine editor Aung Zaw is joined by Yan Pai and Kyaw Kha to discuss the history of conflict in the Kokang borderlands.

Aung Zaw: Hello and welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy. This week, we'll be discussing the fighting in Laukkai. I am Irrawaddy Magazine Editor Aung Zaw, and joining me in the discussion will be reporters Yan Pai and Kyaw Kha.

Let's discuss the latest from the fighting in Laukkai, a town located on the Chinese border in northern Shan State, and the Kokang rebels. What is the current situation, Ko Kyaw Kha?

[news contains 16-minute video clip]

The Irrawaddy, 23 February 2015
http://www.irrawaddy.org/interview/dateline-irrawaddy/guerrilla-war-still-taking-place-laukkai.html

47.

Foreign Embassies Press Govt to Intervene in Shwepyithar Garment Strike: Concerned embassies have reportedly made representations to the Burmese government on behalf of foreign businesses affected by a long-running strike at the Shwepyithar Industrial Zone.

On Feb. 2, about 2000 employees of the E-Land, COSTEC and Ford Glory garment factories stopped work to demand a raise in monthly wages to 80,000 kyats. The factories are owned by Chinese and South Korean firms, according to the workers.

"I can't say which embassies filed complaints," said Htin Aung, Deputy Minister for Employment and Social Security, during a press conference held at the Insein Township General Administration Department on Sunday. "Their complaints did not reach us, they were filed with an authority higher than us. Embassies called for actions in line with our existing laws, as the investments of their citizens are being affected."

The Irrawaddy, 23 February 2015
http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/foreign-embassies-press-govt-intervene-shwepyithar-garment-strike.html

48.

RCSS Blames Ethnic Army Representatives for Stalled Ceasefire: The head of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) has further distanced the rebel group from other ethnic factions, blaming the impasse over the nationwide ceasefire agreement on the political concessions sought by members of the United Nationalities Federal Council.

During a press conference in Thailand on Monday, Lt-Gen Yawd Serk, the RCSS chairman, also said that the RCSS would continue to directly negotiate with the Burmese government if a nationwide peace accord did not come to pass.

The RCSS, the political wing of the Shan State Army-South, was one of the four signatories of a "Deed of Commitment for Peace and Reconciliation" on Union Day earlier this month, which pledged a commitment towards achieving lasting peace in Burma.

The Irrawaddy, 23 February 2015
http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/rcss-blames-ethnic-army-representatives-stalled-ceasefire.html

49.

Students, NGOs Say Govt Violates Agreement on Education Law Overhaul: Student leaders and education NGOs on Sunday accused Burma's government of violating the conditions of a recently reached agreement on drafting a new education bill. The groups said the Education Ministry had attempted to circulate its own bill, while authorities had continued to issue threats against students.

The Feb. 14 agreement ended large-scale student protests and was the result of extensive discussions between the government, student leaders, education NGOs, and lawmakers.

On Feb. 16, the bill was submitted to Parliament and it is due to be discussed soon. The draft incorporates the 11 principal concerns of student protesters, broadly seeking to loosen government control over educational institutions and expand access to education. Specific provisions include a decentralized curriculum and allowing for native language instruction in classrooms in ethnic minority regions.

The Irrawaddy, 23 February 2015
http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/students-ngos-say-govt-violates-agreement-education-law-overhaul.html

50.

Economic partnership a highlight in Vietnam-Singapore relations: Economic cooperation constitutes an important part in the relationship between Vietnam and Singapore in 2014 - the first year of the two countries' bilateral strategic partnership.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Nguyen Tien Minh highlighted the remarkable achievements in the two countries' relations in the year in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency correspondents on the eve of the lunar New Year - the Year of the Goat.

In 2014, two-way trade saw a year-on-year rise of 20 percent with Singapore currently being the sixth biggest trade partner of Vietnam. Singapore invested as much as 32.7 billion USD into Vietnam, becoming the third largest foreign investor in the country after Japan and the Republic of Korea, the Ambassador said.

VietNamNet Bridge, 23 February 2015
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/government/123804/economic-partnership-a-highlight-in-vietnam-singapore-relations.html

51.

Vietnam's trade surplus with the EU widens: Vietnam's exports to the European Union (EU) jumped 14.7% on-year to US$27.9 billion, surpassing the United States (US) to make the EU the nation's second largest trading partner. Official statistics also revealed that Vietnam's combined imports and exports with the EU mushroomed to US$36.8 billion in 2014, a significant increase from the US$26.6 billion a year earlier, expanding the nation's trade surplus by nearly US$8.9 billion.

Voice of Vietnam, 23 February 2015
http://english.vov.vn/Economy/Vietnams-trade-surplus-with-the-EU-widens/288094.vov

52.

Vietnamese businesses and integration targets in 2015: Vietnam's international integration process has entered a new phase, with its continued efforts to open its market by joining more international economic institutions. Improving the competitiveness of the national economy and that of Vietnamese businesses to make the most of the opportunities that integration might bring about has become an urgent task.

Economists forecast that Vietnam's economic growth will pick up its pace and Vietnam will become an attractive investment destination this year. Vietnamese businesses, most of which are small or medium-sized, have made thorough preparations to improve their competitiveness. The government has devised solutions to aid domestic businesses in achieving sustainable growth in the future.

Voice of Vietnam, 23 February 2015
http://english.vov.vn/Opinion/Vietnamese-businesses-and-integration-targets-in-2015/288088.vov

53.

Why Vietnam's agriculture industry is unsustainable: There is no escaping the inevitable fact that larger crop farms perform better financially, on average, than smaller farms. The difference results mainly from lower costs of production.

Voice of Vietnam, 23 February 2015
http://english.vov.vn/Economy/Why-Vietnams-agriculture-industry-is-unsustainable/287883.vov

54.

Closing the health equity divide. The past century saw tremendous progress towards ending poverty and improving lives in low- and middle-income countries. Much of this progress was driven by groundbreaking advances in medicine and public health, such as new vaccines to stop infectious diseases, better care to prevent mothers dying in childbirth and large-scale sanitation. Together, these innovations saved millions of lives and contributed to major reductions in extreme poverty.

Somsak Chunharas & Ashvin Dayal
Bangkok Post, 24 February 2015
http://www2.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/482122/closing-the-health-equity-divide

55.

Fixing flaws on the path to democracy: The brand new Ambassador to the United States, Pisan Manawapat, presented his credentials to US President Barack Obama Monday, asking for understanding and support.

The new Ambassador to the United States, Pisan Manawapat, presented his credentials to US President Barack Obama Monday, asking for understanding and support. In written remarks presented to the president prior to his meeting, the ambassador outlines six key areas where Thai-US ties can be enhanced and points out Thailand's goal of returning to a more solid path towards sustainable and functioning democracy - a goal that deserves understanding and support from international friends, especially the United States.

Ambassador Pisan Manawapat
Bangkok Post, 24 February 2015
http://www2.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/481792/fixing-flaws-on-the-path-to-democracy

56.

Get serious on education. For all the talk of reform, the massive public support and all the committees and talking points it has spawned, it is unfortunate the National Reform Council (NRC) has carefully sidestepped the elephant in the room. Its refusal to be serious about education reform is a surrender to the bureaucracy that drives classroom failure at almost all levels. Because it lacks unqualified graduates, the industry plans to "import" one million people to work in Thai factories.

Bangkok Post, 24 February 2015
http://www2.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/482234/get-serious-on-education

57.

NRC eyes Dhammakaya assets: Council suspects money laundering at temple. The National Reform Council (NRC) has called on the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) to confiscate money and assets from Wat Phra Dhammakaya and its former abbot, Phra Dhammachayo.

The council is concerned the temple has been exploited for money-laundering purposes, said Paibul Nititawan, chairman of the NRC's committee on Buddhism protection yesterday. Mr Paibul was speaking after a meeting with Amlo representatives yesterday regarding accusations the temple and its former abbot received more than 900 million baht in donations from Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, the former chairman of the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative, who is accused of embezzling 12 billion baht from the cooperative.

Bangkok Post, 24 February 2015
http://www2.bangkokpost.com/news/general/481810/nrc-eyes-dhammakaya-assets

58.

Thai pair jailed for insulting monarchy in student play: Patiwat Saraiyaem, 23, and Pornthip Munkong, 26, had pleaded guilty to breaking strict lese majeste laws which protect the royals from any insults. The charges related to a play they performed at a university in 2013.

The play, called The Wolf Bride, was set in a fantasy kingdom and featured a fictional king and his advisor. It marked the 40th anniversary of a student pro-democracy protest that was crushed by a military regime. However, the full details have not been widely reported because under the laws media coverage which repeats details of the offence is considered the same as the original statement. It was performed at Bangkok's Thammasat University in October 2013 while Patiwat Saraiyaem was a student and Pornthip Munkong had recently graduated. The pair were not arrested until the following August and have been held in custody ever since.

Human rights groups say there has been a rise in royal defamation cases since the military seized power in a coup in May last year. Our correspondent says 15 people have been charged with lese majeste since then. More than 90 cases are being investigated and police are aiming to bring charges in about half of them, he adds. Recent convictions include a taxi driver jailed for two-and-a-half years after his passenger recorded their conversation. A student was also sentenced to the same amount of prison time for defaming the monarchy in a Facebook post. The military has more widely suppressed dissent by detaining opponents, banning protests and censoring the media.

BBC, 23 February 2015
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31581219

59.

Thailand's Central Group earmarks $1bn for expansion: The strategy shows how Thailand's turbulent politics are intensifying a wider internationalisation of consumer businesses in Southeast Asia, as the region's economies integrate and growing numbers of Chinese tourists travel to the west.Tos Chirativat, Central chief executive, said the Bangkok-based company would push to attract more cross-frontier shoppers, as it added a mall in the Thai-Myanmar frontier town of Mae Sot to existing centres close to Malaysia and Laos."This year we want to be more aggressive, we want to be more active in terms of promoting it to the people across the border," he said, highlighting the need for advertising, transport, hotels and specially tailored food and shops to serve non-Thai customers.

Michael Peel
Financial Times, 23 February 2015
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/24b2eb7e-bb4a-11e4-a31f-00144feab7de.html

60.

Aquino fed wrong info: Purisima texted him AFP help under way. President Benigno Aquino III was given inaccurate information on the assistance that beleaguered Special Action Force (SAF) troopers were supposedly receiving from the military on the Jan. 25 police mission against two terrorists that went awry and cost the lives of 44 commandos.

This was revealed in an exchange of messages on that fateful day between Mr. Aquino and Alan Purisima that the former director general of the Philippine National Police read on Monday at the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the tragic raid in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, that has sparked nationwide outrage.

Leila B. Salaverria and TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 24 February 2015
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/674825/aquino-fed-wrong-info

61.

DFA clears US of involvement in Mamasapano: Despite the reported sighting of a drone over Mamasapano as government security forces clashed with Moro rebels on Jan. 25, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario on Monday said the United States was not involved in the counterterrorism operation that left 44 elite police commandos dead.

At a Senate hearing, Foreign Undersecretary Evan Garcia also said all counterterrorism exercises in the country required the approval and consent of the Philippines through the Philippine-US Security Engagement Board (SEB).

Christine O. Avendano and TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 24 February 2015
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/674847/dfa-clears-us-of-involvement-in-mamasapano

62.

President answers solons' questions: President Benigno Aquino III was misled into believing early on Jan. 25 that the Special Action Force (SAF) commandos were already being extricated from Mamasapano and that the military was providing mechanized and artillery support, a source told the Inquirer on Monday.

The source, who had knowledge of the SAF operation, said Mr. Aquino told congressmen in a meeting at Malaca�ang on Monday what information he received and when, and what he did after receiving the information.

TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 24 February 2015
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/674842/president-answers-solons-questions

63.

The BBL is not consistent with our UN obligations: The ongoing crisis that resulted from the Mamasapano disaster has revealed a serious flaw in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The Philippines being a member of the United Nations, it is our obligation to implement all UN resolutions. The current crisis touches one of the most sensitive issues before the UN: the war against terrorism.

The latest UN resolution on this matter is Resolution No. 1373, which was passed on Sept. 28, 2001, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, and was adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council. There are many provisions of Resolution 1373 relevant to our current crisis. We shall discuss only three of them. (The full text of the resolution is available on the UN website.)

Hermenegildo C. Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 24 February 2015
http://opinion.inquirer.net/82814/the-bbl-is-not-consistent-with-our-un-obligations

64.

Aquino faces calls to quit ahead of People Power anniversary: The President is accused of failing to take responsibility for a botched police raid last month on militants in the south that left dozens of special forces commandos dead. The growing anger has triggered protests and the creation of a coalition determined to topple him.One of those behind the group, which calls itself the "2.22.15 Coalition", is Mr Aquino's uncle - Mr Jose Cojuangco, younger brother of former president Corazon Aquino and a former congressman. The late Mrs Aquino was the mother of the current President.

The government official said this year's celebration of the 1986 uprising, which ended decades of brutal rule by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, would be muted, "so we can go all-out for the 30th (anniversary)".Mr Aquino will lead a wreath-laying ceremony at the People Power monument and then end the celebration with a mass at the Edsa shrine tomorrow, which the government has declared as a schools-only holiday.

Straits Times, 24 February 2015
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/asia/story/aquino-faces-calls-quit-ahead-people-power-anniversary-20150224

65.

Another Marcos Presidency in the Philippines? PSA sources close to the Marcoses say the dynasty is ready and has started mobilizing their remaining political and economic capital for Bong Bong Marcos's future plans. Nonetheless, whether or not Marcos runs in 2016 for the presidency or as some sources say more likely for the vice presidency indicates how the family through Senator Marcos, Governor Imee, and Congresswoman Imelda as well as the Romualdezes of Leyte will continue to utilize the country's political institutions and processes to, at the very least, demonstrate their enduring influence.

How the Aquino administration will exploit the interests of the Marcoses to advance the government's goals in Mindanao will most likely involve political trade-offs. What is clear, however, is the opportunity now affords the Senator a bargaining chip inside and outside his political party to negotiate a Marcos comeback.

Asia Sentinel, 23 February 2015
http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/another-marcos-presidency-philippines/

66.

Positive attitude key to Vision 2035: NURTURING a positive attitude towards any respective field of work among the youth is important for them to be committed towards nation building and achieve the Vision 2035, said the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports yesterday.

The minister said to become a valuable asset of Brunei, youth should not be burdening the country, but rather help and support its progress and growth.

Rachel Thien
Brunei Times, 24 February 2015
http://www.bt.com.bn/frontpage-news-national/2015/02/24/positive-attitude-key-vision-2035

67.

Cambodia Seeks to Pardon Women in Jail with Children: Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday that his government will seek the pardon and release of female convicts who are pregnant or have children living with them inside prisons, following a report by a human rights group which took authorities to task for neglecting children behind bars.

Hun Sen called for ending the "culture of having children live with their mothers inside jail" during a graduation ceremony on Monday in the capital Phnom Penh. He said he would like to see the incarcerated women be pardoned by International Women's Day on March 8 or by the Cambodian New Year in April.

"We will pardon those women who have children living inside prisons and those who are pregnant," he said. "We will try to finish the process before Khmer New Year. We won't allow any women who have children or are pregnant inside jails anymore."

Radio Free Asia, 24 February 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/pardons-for-jailed-women-with-children-02232015165148.html

68.

Water firm calm despite cut: Revenue from the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority - the first listed company on the Cambodian stock exchange - will be cut 800 million riel ($200,000) per year as the company implements a concession plan to lower water prices.

The plan was passed after the government urged PPWSA to lower prices for those living in Phnom Penh by renting rooms or houses, mostly garment factory workers and university students.

Sim Sitha, director general of PPWSA, told the Post the plan will cover 4,356 house owners, equivalent to 90,478 rooms.

He added that under the scheme, water will be sold at 1,030 riel ($0.25) per cubic metre to house owners, giving them the right to sell water to tenants at 1,200 riel per ($0.30) cubic metre.

Phnom Penh Post, 23 February 2015
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/water-firm-calm-despite-cut

69.

Support for Free Markets and Low Tax Regimes in Some Asean Countries: The survey conducted by Pew Research covered 44 countries in total and the five countries surveyed in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. At least a thousand adults were interviewed in each country in a representative sample in 2014.

People are generally in support of the free market economy despite the possible inequality (See above graph). Respondents agreed that people were generally better off under a free market economy. In addition, in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia, over 87 per cent of respondents felt that it was better for young people who wanted a better life to stay in their country rather than move abroad. For the Philippines, this dropped to 65 per cent.

Interestingly, even as respondents from emerging or developing economies were more likely than those in advanced economies to suggest that taxes were the way to address inequality. Instead, respondents from the five Asean countries preferred pro-growth policies which involved low taxes to stimulate growth overall with 60 per cent of respondents in Vietnam agreeing with this, followed by 59 per cent of respondents in the Philippines and 57 per cent of Thai respondents. This fell to 39 per cent for Malaysia with 29 per cent preferring a high tax regime to redistribute wealth. And the balance tipped for Indonesia where 31 per cent preferred a low tax regime to stimulate growth and 32 per cent preferred a high tax regime.

Sharon Snodgrass

The Establishment Post, 24 February 2015
http://www.establishmentpost.com/support-free-markets-low-tax-regimes-asean-countries/

70.

Floods, storms and heat could cost South-east Asia at least S$46b per year: South-east Asia is one of the regions hardest hit by the impacts of climate change, such as floods, typhoons, droughts and saltwater intrusion - when seawater flows up rivers, threatening agriculture and infrastructure. A report released today (Feb 23) found that climate change could cost Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam US$16 billion per year in lost worker productivity, crop production and natural resource assets, plus US$18 billion in infrastructure damage because of flooding, storms and extreme heat.

The report - by the Washington-based World Resources Institute think tank - drew findings from a 2013 USAID analysis that forecasts higher temperatures, more rainfall and sea level rise for the region by 2050. Worker productivity is projected to suffer heavily, costing US$8 billion per year in lost work days due to illnesses such as heat rash, fatigue and stroke, particularly among farmers and construction workers. "There are tens of millions of open-air workers likely to experience greater levels of heat stress and heat-related illnesses when temperatures start rising above 40 degrees Celsius," report author John Talberth said in a statement. "So much of the Lower Mekong Basin's economy is based on outdoor labour, worker productivity should be front and centre for any adaptation plans, and fast-tracked."

Today, 23 February 2015
http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/floods-storms-and-heat-could-cost-south-east-asia-least-s46b-year-report

71.

Bridging the region's security 'noodle bowl': For economic observers of the Asia-Pacific region, the term "noodle bowl" is nothing new. With rival negotiations for the ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and US-led Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) taking place, the region is confronted with the difficulties that ensue from the intertwined overlapping of regional trade agreements. Officials are keen to underline that such negotiations complement one another.

The same cannot be said with the region's emerging security "noodle bowl". For example, the Quad - initiated in 2007 by Australia, India, Japan and the United States - has and continues to be seen as an anti-China initiative. The Quad differs from the ASEAN approach of engaging China through the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asian Summit (EAS). Despite reassurances of the Quad countries that their initiative is founded on the democratic peace theory and not aimed at China, Beijing views the proposed "Asian Arc of Democracy" in an altogether more threatening light. Indeed the lack of significant progress of the Quad can be attributed to China's strong and negative reaction.

Ibrahim Almuttaqi
Jakarta Post, 24 February 2015
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/24/bridging-region-s-security-noodle-bowl.html

72.

Anti-Mainland Sentiment on the Rise in Hong Kong: The anti-mainlander sentiment in Hong Kong has sparked a parallel backlash from mainlanders. "Mainland students somewhat hate local students as well because we feel this hatred from them," one HKU student explained to Reuters. Mainlanders outside of Hong Kong are especially outraged by the treatment of their compatriots. The Global Times ran an op-ed warning that "McCarthyism" was infiltrating Hong Kong's schools. The anti-mainlander protests even became the top trending term on Sina Weibo last week, with mainland netizens decrying Hongkongers as "spoiled" and "arrogant." Many mainlanders argue that China is in fact the source of Hong Kong's prosperity and compared Hongkongers to ungrateful children.

The current tensions echo previous flare-ups between Hongkongers and mainlanders, such as the heated online debate over a video of a mainland couple allowing their child to defecate on the street. Hongkongers denounced the couple (and, by extension, all mainland Chinese) as uncouth and unwilling to recognize Hong Kong's distinct customs; mainlanders attacked Hongkongers as snobbish and uncaring.

There have long been tensions between the mainland and Hong Kong, sparked in part by real cultural and linguistic differences between the city and the mainland. However, there is also an element of economic discontent. Many Hongkongers believe mainlanders are actively making life more difficult by raising real estate prices, monopolizing birthing wards in hospitals, and buying out necessities like baby formula (hence the term "locusts"). The mall protests were mainly aimed at protesting the practice of "parallel trading," wherein mainlanders buy Hong Kong goods in bulk with the aim of reselling them on the mainland.

Shannon Tiezzi
The Diplomat, 24 February 2015
http://thediplomat.com/2015/02/anti-mainland-sentiment-on-the-rise-in-hong-kong/

73.

China May Be Stalling Out and That's OK: As Premier Li Keqiang guides China toward lower growth rates, economists everywhere are grappling with this question: How slow is too slow for the world's second-biggest economy?

Number-crunchers have traditionally believed that China must grow at least 7 percent to 8 percent annually to generate enough jobs and prosperity to keep protesters from flooding Tiananmen Square. But what if China is already operating at a significantly lower rate of output -- more like 5 percent -- without a significant uptick in unrest? And what might that mean for Asia's economic outlook over the next five years?

China's Pain Points.

The consultancy Oxford Economics has created a "Li Index" that tries to estimate Chinese growth by using measures such as electricity output, credit growth and rail freight. Contrary to the official headline GDP number, those data suggest Chinese gross domestic product growth has been stumbling along under 5 percent for a few months now. While some may quibble with the index's emphasis on heavy industry, the fact is that official Chinese GDP and trade data aren't a whole lot more reliable.

William Pesek
Bloomberg, 23 February 2015
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-02-23/china-s-slow-gdp-growth-may-not-spur-protests

74.

Crown Prince turns 55, calls for accounts of history to be passed down correctly: Crown Prince Naruhito, on the occasion of his 55th birthday on Monday and ahead of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II later this year, called for accounts of history to be handed down correctly. "I myself have not experienced the war, but it is important to look back to the past humbly and correctly pass down tragic experiences and the history behind Japan to the generations who have no direct knowledge of the war, at a time memories of the war are about to fade," he said at a press conference prior to his birthday. He characterized postwar Japan as "enjoying peace and prosperity after it was built with the Japanese Constitution as the cornerstone."

"I hope this year will be an opportunity to take the preciousness of peace to heart and renew our determination to pursue peace," he said. As the crown prince reached the same age as when his father, Emperor Akihito, now 81, assumed the throne, he said he feels sobered and moved. "I will make efforts while learning from the Emperor, who has been seeking the way of existence as the symbol" of the country and the unity of the people as stipulated in the Constitution, as well as from his mother, Empress Michiko, 80, who has been supporting him, he said. As for his 13-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko, who attends junior high school, he expressed hope she will acquire experiences little by little and deepen understanding of the duties of the Imperial family.

Japan Times, 23 February 2015
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/02/23/national/crown-prince-turns-55-calls-accounts-history-passed-correctly/ - .VOp4QOaUe1c

75.

Obama's admission not enough: Truly, US President Barack Obama's recent call to address the root causes of violence, including that of the so-called "Islamic State" (IS) and al-Qaeda was a step in the right direction, but still miles away from taking the least responsibility for the mayhem that has afflicted the Middle East since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

"The link is undeniable," Obama said in a speech at the State Department on 19 February "When people are oppressed and human rights are denied - particularly along sectarian lines or ethnic lines - when dissent is silenced, it feeds violent extremism. It creates an environment that is ripe for terrorists to exploit."

Of course, he is right. Every word. However, the underlying message is also clear: it's everyone else's fault but ours. Now, that's hardly true, and Obama, once a strong critic of his predecessor's war, knows it well.

Ramzy Baroud is an internationally-syndicated columnist, a media consultant, an author of several books and the founder of PalestineChronicle.com. He is currently completing his PhD studies at the University of Exeter.
Asia Times, 23 February 2015
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MID-01-230215.html

76.

Naruhito sounds alert on war history: "Today when memories of war are set to fade, I reckon it is important to look back on our past with modesty and pass down correctly the miserable experience and the historic path Japan took from the generation who know the war to the generation who don't," said Crown Prince Naruhito.The comments, released yesterday on the Prince's 55th birthday, come as Mr Abe's controversial views on history roil relations with China and South Korea, and cause unease in Washington.Mr Abe has openly said he wants a more sympathetic telling of the history of the first half of the 20th century, a period marked by brutal expansionism in Asia and warring with China and the West.Mainstream historians agree that up to 200,000 women, predominantly from Korea, were forced into sexual slavery during World War II.

Right-wing Japanese insist there is no documentary proof that the Japanese state or its military were involved in the system on the Korean peninsula and reject official guilt. That position, which is hardening, angers South Korea and China.

Straits Times, 24 February 2015
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/asia/story/naruhito-sounds-alert-war-history-20150224