Daily News on the Southeast Asian Region
27 April 2018
(pm) - 30 April
2018
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Greetings
ISEAS Library wishes all readers a restful Labour Day. The next issue of Daily News Alert will be released on Wednesday, 2 May 2018, covering news between Monday afternoon and Wednesday morning.
This issue of Daily News Alert includes one commentary by Dr Le Hong Hiep, Fellow; and two citations attributed to Dr Deasy Simandjuntak, Visiting Fellow, and Dr Su-Ann Oh, Visiting Fellow, ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute.
This is a daily information alert service containing articles and commentaries selected by eight ISEAS Library staff from 92 international and regional news sources every weekday morning. These news sources cover Southeast Asia and special topics relevant to the research interest/ direction/ agenda of ISEAS.
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Country Studies
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Southeast Asia Countries
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Brunei Darussalam
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Laos
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Cambodia
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NEC begins accepting candidates: The National Election Committee today begins registering candidates from political parties to contest the upcoming national election while former opposition leader Sam Rainsy has reiterated his call for a boycott. NEC spokesman Hang Puthea said the committee would accept applications from parties contesting the July 29 election from today until May 14. "About 10 political parties have already come to get application forms from the NEC," said Mr Puthea while declining to disclose the names of those parties.
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Indonesia
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Greater Jakarta area to have integrated mass transport system: More roads are required in Jakarta from year to year , therefore, the requirement has to be met with adequate mass transport facilities, Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said here when inspecting speed light rail transit (LRT) here on Sunday. Budi said currently the government continued to build mass transport facilities like LRT, commuter trains and mass rapid transport(MRT) in the Greater Jakarta area. Based on evaluation by the government, the busiest access roads to Jakarta are Cibubur-Jakarta, Bekasi-Jakarta, and Bogor-Jakarta.
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Kontroversi Tenaga Kerja Asing [Foreign Labour Controversy]: Wakil Ketua Badan Kerja Sama Antar-Parlemen (BKSAP) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) Rofi' Munawar menilai temuan Ombudsman terkait tenaga kerja asing (TKA) harus menjadi acuan bagi pemerintah untuk menentukan kebijakan soal TKA. Di antaranya, pemerintah perlu menimbang pencabutan Peraturan Presiden (Perpres) Nomor 20 Tahun 2018 tentang TKA. Menurut dia, kebijakan pemerintah terkait TKA selalu menggunakan rumus perbandingan dan kontradiksi dengan negara lain.
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Indonesians optimistic in achieving success, survey says: Across Asia-Pacific, Indonesia is ranked the most optimistic in achieving success in one year, according to a recent global study by LinkedIn. Of all people from six countries surveyed in the study, the highest percentage of optimistic individuals, 16 percent, were Indonesians. This number is followed by India (10 percent), Singapore (3 percent), Australia (3 percent), Hong Kong (3 percent) and China (2 percent). Moreover, 67 percent of Indonesians feel they are successful and the percentage is higher than the global average, which is only 57 percent. Conducted online in the fourth quarter of 2017 with a sample size of over 1,000 Indonesian adults, the survey shows the top-three meanings of success for Indonesians.
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Wiranto: Indonesia tak Ingin Terlibat Konflik LTS [Wiranto: Indonesia Does Not Want to Get Involved in the South China Sea Conflict]: Menteri Koordinator Bidang Politik, Hukum, dan Keamanan Wiranto menyebut Indonesia tidak ingin terlibat konflik di Laut Tiongkok Selatan (LTS). Indonesia justru mendorong semua negara agar tidak menyulut terjadinya suatu konflik di LTS.
"Indonesia juga tidak mau terlibat urusan konflik di LTS," katanya di sela penyelenggaraan KTT Ke-32 ASEAN di Singapura, Sabtu (29/4). Jika ada negara lain mengklaim memiliki konflik dengan Indonesia terkait dengan LTS, Wiranto menegaskan Indonesia tidak memiliki konflik di kawasan itu. "Saya katakan tidak ada konflik. Tidak ada permasalahan soal batas negara antara kita dengan negara lain," katanya.
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Jokowi Reveals Reason Behind the 212 Brotherhood Meeting: Jokowi claimed the closed meeting was driven on a political agenda, "This is a political friendly-gathering (silaturahmi) to break the ice, so no opinions will say that I'm picky with the people I meet," said the President. Furthermore, the president said that the 212 group requested it to be a closed meeting, which the president complied to. "That's why I [complied to their request]. If it was an open meeting I would reveal it," said Jokowi. Member of the 212 Group alumni Ulemas, Usamah Hisyam said that the meeting had been planned since Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab informed them that he would return to Indonesia back in February.
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Islamic Group Accuse Amien Rais of Utilizing Religious Propaganda: Samijo coordinator, Ibnu Baliran Ali said that the group is set to back President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in the 2019 Presidential Election after the group saw that the current administration was pro-Santri. The group's declaration is also a response to the many religious issues that are currently being mixed with domestic political affairs. "[President Jokowi] is a well-mannered individual. The president bows over and kisses the hands of our teachers," said Ibnu on Friday, April 27.
Ibnu regretted the statement issued by Amien Rais on the country's political parties that Amien claims is separated into two categories, God's party and Satan's party. Furthermore, he said that such cynical comments should not have been said publically since it could potentially cause public unrest.
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Indonesia's Citarum: The World's Most Polluted River: With the Citarum clean of waste and integrated industrial wastewater treatment, the World Bank has estimated that Indonesia will get a massive range of benefits. Not only will the water ecosystem return to a healthy state, but the clean Citarum will bring economic benefits of up to USD280 mn annually.
Clean water will improve the quality of drinking water, improve crop yields, and in the long term revitalize the ecosystem and the volume of fish in the river. And when downstream canals are not clogged with garbage, aesthetically pleasing, crystal clear river water will make riverside property more attractive and resorts and water tourism can grow and prosper. But none of those dreams will come true if fishermen like Suratmo are only pulling garbage, rather than fish, out of the river.
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FACEBOOK'S CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA SCANDAL PUTS INDONESIA'S TECH FIRMS ON THE SPOT: Indonesian regulators say they will issue the latest draft of a ministerial decree on internet companies in May. In the last three years, it has experimented with a number of drafts that include much-criticised potential solutions - having internet companies establish domestic presence and data centres, using a single national payment gateway and applying self-filtering that conforms with the country's censorship standards. All of these are needed to provide data protection and a level playing field between local and international players, the ministry argues.
Critics, however, say the proposed rules could inhibit innovation and foreign investment at a time when neighbouring countries are vying to host global tech companies. They say Indonesia applies a one-size-fits-all approach for all internet-based companies, from ride-hailing firms such as Grab and Go-Jek to e-commerce companies to content-streaming providers and social media platforms.
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Ruling party yet to settle on Jokowi's running mate: Earlier, Mr Jokowi had looked into the possibility of pairing up with his staunchest rival from the last presidential election, Mr Prabowo Subianto of the main opposition Gerindra party, according to Mr Romahurmuziy, chairman of the United Development Party, a member of the President's ruling coalition. The Straits Times understands that the talks on such a ticket did not continue because both sides could not reach agreement on a power-sharing arrangement. Mr Prabowo initially agreed to having control of international affairs, but later demanded to also have the military under him. Gerindra has named Mr Prabowo as a candidate for the 2019 election, which looks set to be a rerun of the previous contest that was widely seen as the most divisive in Indonesian history.
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All villages in east and north Kalimantan have electricity: Electrification by the state power utility company PLN has covered all 1,520 villages in East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan. "East Kalimantan has 1,038 villages and North Kalimantan 482 villages," Business Director of the regional branch of PLN Machnizon said here on Thursday. The target for electrification ratio, therefore, has been fully reached in East and North Kalimantan, Machnison said. "This is in line with our target that electrification would cover all village in East and North Kalimantan in 2018," he said.
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A call to advance restorative justice in Indonesia
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Will jail sentence for former speaker Setya Novanto be a turning point in Indonesia's fight against graft? Novanto was hit with one of Indonesia's heaviest sentences for corruption after being convicted of taking millions of dollars in kickbacks and bribes linked to the national roll-out of government ID cards.
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Fadli Zon Optimistic PAN will Support Prabowo: Gerindra Party Deputy Chairman Fadli Zon is optimistic that National Mandate Party or PAN will support Gerindra in the 2019 presidential election.
"Yes, Pak Amien Rais supports Pak Prabowo," said Fadli in Jakarta, Thursday, April 26. Chairman of the PAN Honorary Board Amien Rais met with Fadli at the Parliament building, Jakarta, yesterday. During the meeting, Fadli said, Amien talked a lot about preparations for the 2019 presidential election.
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Malaysia
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Garap sejarah awal undang-undang jenayah rasuah [The work on the early history of the criminal law of corruption]: "Buku ini juga penulisan pertama berkaitan sejarah menyentuh undang-undang jenayah rasuah serta pencapaian institusi pencegahan rasuah di Malaysia yang merentas zaman iaitu dari era Kesultanan Melayu Melaka yang bermula 1262," kata Norizan ketika ditemui di majlis berkenaan.
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Sedia hadapi Industri 4.0 [Ready to face Industry 4.0]: Menurut Azman, kini penggunaan teknologi berkaitan Industri 4.0 yang sedang berkembang pesat di peringkat global bukan lagi menjadi pilihan buat syarikat di Malaysia malah satu keperluan.
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BTN chief: Luxury spending shows GST not hurting purchasing power: Malaysians spent nearly RM12 billion on mobile devices last year despite complaining that a consumption tax was hurting their buying power, said National Civics Bureau (BTN) director-general Datuk Ibrahim Saad.
"Many complained that, because of GST, the price of goods was increasing. But in 2017 alone, Malaysians spent RM 11.7 billion for gadgets alone such as phones and tablets. (This shows) Malaysians don't eat rice but they eat handphones instead," he said.
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Banyak kesan positif gaji minimum [Many positive effects of minimum wage]: Abdul Halim turut berpendapat pelaksanaan kadar gaji minimum membantu merancakkan pengambilan pekerja tempatan tetapi dalam masa yang sama masih ada ruang untuk menambah elok keadaan agar persaingan sihat antara pekerja tempatan dan asing dapat diwujudkan.
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Bida KL jadi Ibu Kota Buku Dunia [KL bids to become World Book Capital] "Imej Malaysia juga dapat dipertingkatkan sebagai negara berbudaya tinggi yang mengangkat bidang ilmu sebagai asas pembentukan negara," kata Mohd Amin.
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Israel cabul kedaulatan Malaysia? [Israel violates Malaysia's sovereignty?] Persoalan yang berlegar di minda kita pastinya bagaimana peristiwa sebegini boleh berlaku di tanah air tercinta ini.
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Tenaga buruh Malaysia hampir 15 juta, meningkat dua peratus [Malaysia's labor force is almost 15 million, increases by two percent]: Kajian Tenaga Buruh dilaksanakan oleh Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia (DOSM) setiap bulan melalui pendekatan isi rumah bagi mendapatkan data berkaitan struktur tenaga buruh, guna tenaga dan pengangguran.
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Myanmar
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UN security council overwhelmed by suffering at Rohingya camps: Karen Pierce, the UK ambassador to the UN, who was among the 15 members on the trip, was confronted by dozens of Rohingya refugees making emotional pleas for the UN to hear their stories and make sure justice was done. Women wept in her arms as they recounted their experiences.
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Q and A: The 'Rohingya' word: What's in a name? In this conversation, we go deep into the surface to understand the political, emotional, and societal load behind the term "Rohingya" with Su-Ann Oh, visiting fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute) in Singapore.
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Pengungsi Rohingya Minta Perlindungan PBB [Rohingya Refugees Ask for UN Protection]: Pengungsi Rohingya menggelar unjuk rasa di kamp pengungsian yang ada di Bangladesh. Unjuk rasa tersebut digelar untuk meminta perlindungan Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa (PBB) terkait rencana pengembalian pengungsi ke Myanmar. Pengungsi Rohingya meminta perlindungan PBB pada Ahad (29/4) bertepatan dengan kunjungan perwakilan Dewan Keamanan PBB ke kamp pengungsian di Bangladesh. Perwakilan Dewan Keamanan PBB juga akan mengunjungi Myanmar untuk melihat langsung setelah terjadi kekerasan yang menimpa minoritas Muslim di Myanmar. Bahkan apa yang dilakukan penduduk mayoritas dan negara terhadap etnis Rohingya telah dikecam oleh dunia. Banyak yang mengatakan telah terjadi pembersihan etnis di Myanmar.
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UN envoys visit Rohingya Muslims in 'ethnic cleansing' probe in Myanmar and Bangladesh: "We care because we are here, but the United Nations is not limited to the Security Council," said deputy Russian UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy. "The threat of raising this issue in the Security Council shouldn't be used as a leverage for the Myanmar government to cooperate." British UN Ambassador Karen Pierce said all council members believed the Rohingya issue was "one of the most significant human rights cases that we have ever faced in the last decade and that something needs to be done" to avoid it causing instability in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
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KNPP to try to step up NCA signing: The joint-statement appeared following the official meeting held by the government peace commission and the KNPP. A two-day-long official meeting jointly organized by the government peace commission and the KNPP was held in Loikaw, Kayah State on April 26 and 27. The joint-statement issued from the meeting includes three points. The three points are--(1) to carry out matters relating to local monitoring team & JMC, to negotiate travel and communication of both troops at the state level and to hold regular coordination meetings as agreed by both sides, (2) to appoint relations in-charges at the Union level and to use relations links as agreed by both sides and (3) the KNPP made progress in negotiating military matters as agreed by both sides and agreed to step up NCA signing, according to the joint-statement.
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Aung San Suu Kyi seeks new relationship with UN over Rohingya crisis: Aung San Suu Kyi hopes to restore her battered reputation by allowing UN human rights and development organisations to enter Myanmar to prepare the ground for the large-scale return of Rohingya Muslims. Her aides hope the offer, linked to internal political changes strengthening her position and the appointment of a UN special envoy for the crisis, can mark a turning point in her relations with the international community.
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Are municipalities Myanmar's champions of reform? There are pockets of reform that the democratic transition, however nascent, has unleashed. Despite Myanmar's highly centralized governance system, its municipalities, known as Development Affairs Organizations (DAOs), are free to raise their own revenues and experiment in the way they provide urban services. Once part of the Ministry of Border Affairs, DAOs were decentralized and came under the management of the state/region governments as specified under the 2008 Constitution.
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Thousands flee fresh clashes in northern Myanmar: UN: More than 4,000 people have been displaced in Myanmar's northernmost state of Kachin near the border with China in the last three weeks, Mark Cutts, the head of the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told AFP late Friday.
The numbers do not include some 15,000 people who have fled since the beginning of the year and upwards of 90,000 residing in IDP (internally displaced persons) camps in both Kachin and Shan states since a ceasefire between the government and the powerful Kachin Independence Army broke down in 2011.
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Myanmar needs 'more transparency, strategies': MYANMAR'S hopes of becoming Asia's last frontier market would be realised only if the government could create a clear and transparent regulatory environment for attracting investment and financing the economy, according to Patrick Cooke, regional editor for Asia at Oxford Business Group (OBG), a global research and consultancy firm.
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Myanmar rebels say clashes with army will displace more people: Clashes have been reported in half of the 18 townships in the region, where the Myanmar military has sent about 2,000 infantry troops, fighter aircraft and helicopters to combat KIA forces, said the KIA spokesman, Col Naw Bu. "The army is sending more troops from the lower part of Myanmar and that's why the fighting will be more intense," he said. "The number of refugees could increase and they could suffer more challenges," he added, calling the clashes "the worst conflict" since Kachin soldiers started fighting the government in the early 1960s.
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More Kachin villagers flee as clashes intensify: More than 5,000 Kachin civilians have abandoned their homes in recent weeks and are now sheltering in makeshift shelters in the jungle around Tanai, Hpakant and Injangyang townships as military clashes intensify between Burmese government forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), according to a local relief committee. Speaking to DVB on Thursday, Naw Taung, vice chairman of the committee, said that Burmese troops had launched an offensive against the KIA in Injangyang, starting on 24 April, compelling about a thousand local civilians to abandon their homes and walk to nearby Tang Phare village, close to the site of the Myitsone dam.
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Ethnic armed organisations are not 'delaying' peace conference: ABSDF: The third round of the 21st Century Panglong Conference is delaying not because of the ethnic armed groups but because of the step-by-step process of the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA), said Yebaw Myo Win, vice chairman of All Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF). The remark came during an exclusive interview with NCA signatories. He pointed out several reasons surrounding the delay in holding the conference such as implementation of the NCA provisions step by step.
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KNPP, Gov't Agree to Further Peace Negotiations: Both sides agreed to the creation of a local monitoring team, reestablishing liaison offices at both the state and Union levels, and regular negotiations at the state level on troop movements of both armed forces, according to the statement.
In his opening speech on Thursday, Gen Bee Htoo said that while the two sides have not yet been able to reach an understanding on signing the NCA, "It is important to keep peace in Karenni State."
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Push to Refer Tatmadaw to ICC Could Harm Stability: USDP: According to U Thein Tun Oo, the director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, the proposal is an effort to clamp down on the military, which he said is country's only strong institution. If the effort succeeded, the country's defense and security could be seriously affected, he said. "Frankly, this is inference. Their ambition is to weaken the only remaining organization which has real strength. If the situation continues like this, the political situation will be harmed, especially while military officials and government authorities are trying to build unity," U Thein Tun Oo said.
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KNLA and Tatmadaw Clash Near Site of Planned Hatgyi Dam: A clash broke out yesterday between the Myanmar Army and the Karen National Liberation Army in territory held by the KNLA near the site of the planned Hatgyi Dam project in the Mae Tha Wor area, according to Karen sources. The KNLA reported that two Myanmar Army soldiers were wounded when a landmine was detonated, but this could not be confirmed at press time. The KNLA said it suffered no casualties. Padoh Mann Mann, a KNLA leader, told The Irrawaddy today that the fighting erupted at noon when the Myanmar Army entered an area held by KNLA Brigade 7.
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Danish Ambassador discusses press freedom and democratic transition in Myanmar: In recognition of World Press Freedom Day the Danish Ambassador, Mr Peter Lysholt Hansen, shared his thoughts with Soe Myint, Editor-In-Chief and Managing Director of Mizzima Media Group in an exclusive interview for Mizzima TV.
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Philippines
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A Transgender Paradox, and Platform, in the Philippines: Dominated by conservative morals taught by the Roman Catholic Church, the Philippines is also one of Southeast Asia's most tolerant countries toward gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people. And lawmakers are taking steps to ensure national legal protections that would penalize discrimination against them.
At the pageant, children sat cross-legged in the dirt, crowded close to the spindly stage where the contestants spun and danced in red feather headdresses, gold brocade and clouds of tulle. The crowd laughed and cheered as they delivered flowery speeches, weaving jokes with witty rhymes, beauty-queen platitudes and proclamations on gender equality.
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says Kuwait employment ban now 'permanent', suggests workers teach English in China instead: Duterte on Sunday described the situation in Kuwait as a "calamity". He said he would bring home Filipina maids who suffered abuse as he appealed to workers who wanted to stay in the oil-rich state. Describing China as a "true friend", he said he would use Chinese aid to fund the workers' repatriation. Duterte added that he was not after "vengeance" against Kuwait and did not "nurture hate". "But if my people are considered a burden to some of them, to some government mandated to protect them and uphold their rights, then we will do our part," he said.
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Opinion: By expelling nun, Duterte has shamed and damaged the Philippines: What makes it all worse is that the Philippine government took unaccountable shortcuts. Fox was detained even though she was not caught in the act of committing a crime; she was told she had 10 days to submit a counter-affidavit to contest her deportation; she found out on Wednesday her visa had already been revoked. This is not the majesty of the law, but its manipulation.
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Comfort women' memorial removed from Manila baywalk: A memorial dedicated to Filipino "comfort women" forced to work in Japanese brothels during World War II was removed Friday night, days after suspicions surfaced about its possible demolition. The bronze statue of a blindfolded, early 1900's-era Filipino woman was removed from Roxas Boulevard in Manila, workers leaving behind only debris fenced in by makeshift barriers.
Government workers interviewed by Kyodo News in the area Saturday morning said the memorial was removed so that pipes could be laid underground. According to the Japanese Embassy in Manila, the Philippine government had notified the embassy of its intention to remove the statue that was erected in December. The embassy had expressed concerns over the statue. In January, Japanese Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Seiko Noda visited Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to express displeasure over the memorial. Since then, the Philippine government has been sending mixed messages on whether or not it supports advocacy efforts on behalf of former comfort women.
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Duterte 'not abandoning' court victory against Beijing over South China Sea areas, says spokesman: With Duterte's shift in strategy in dealing with China from his predecessor's more assertive stance, Vietnam is now the only vocal critic of China's activities in the region. "I hope [Philippine Supreme Court] Justice [Antonio] Carpio and all the critics of President Duterte will now keep quiet because this is now a statement of the Philippine president made to another head of state, that he has not abandoned, he is not reneging, he is not relinquishing, he is not in any way ignoring the arbitration [award] and he considers it as a binding arbitral decision in favour of the Philippines," Roque said.
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Manila expresses 'great displeasure' as abuse row with Kuwait deepens: But on Wednesday, Kuwait ordered the Philippine ambassador to leave within a week and recalled its own envoy for consultations after the Philippine foreign secretary said the embassy was forced to "assist" Filipino workers who sought help as some situations were a matter of life and death. The Philippine foreign ministry on Thursday summoned the Kuwaiti ambassador to demand an explanation for Kuwait's action but was told the envoy, Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh, had left the country late on Wednesday.
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Singapore
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All eyes on Singapore's economic prospects: The Singapore central bank's half-yearly review has reiterated that full-year gross domestic product growth is expected to come in "slightly above the middle of the forecast range" - that is, 1.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent - while March factory output numbers showed a year-on-year rise of 5.9 per cent, slightly higher than predictions but lower than the revised February growth figure of 6.7 per cent. Research analyst Lukman Otunuga at currency broker FXTM wrote in a note: "The industrial production report is considered an indicator of future inflation, so a further sign that Singapore's manufacturing output is building momentum could stimulate expectations of rising inflation...
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Punishing corporate corruption: Of late, there has been several high-profile cases involving bribery and embezzlement, attracting commentary both in the media and outside. One recurrent theme is that the penalties for corruption and criminal breach of trust are insufficient. This is not quite accurate. The problem is not that the penalties are too low; it is that the available tools have not been utilised fully.
Despite Singapore's supposedly squeaky clean image, corruption does still exist, even among government-linked companies. Just fining companies is not enough; this only trims the weeds without digging out the roots. Eradication of corruption requires that the humans responsible for the offences account for their misdeeds, no matter how influential or well connected they may be. If we want to have standards, we must be willing and able to defend them.
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The Straits Times says: Retiring ministers made their mark: The three veteran ministers retiring from the Cabinet today account for 66 years on the front bench collectively. That figure indicates the extent of the contributions made by Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang; Manpower Minister and former labour chief Lim Swee Say; and Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim, also Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs. Like their predecessors in political office, each faced up to new challenges while holding on to the fundamentals that made Singapore what it is. Public policy hardly ever offers a clear-cut choice between right and wrong; if that were the case, the decisions would be simple. Rather, sound policies reflect the often hard decisions that need to be taken to make the most of a difficult situation.
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PUB to generate solar power from Bedok, Lower Seletar reservoirs to run operations: On Monday (April 30), it called a tender for engineering studies to be carried out at Bedok and Lower Seletar reservoirs to facilitate the development of floating solar photovoltaic systems there. A solar system will also be installed on the roof of Bedok Waterworks this year, PUB said. Energy is required throughout the water loop - from the pumping of raw water from reservoirs to waterworks, to the production of drinking water, treatment of wastewater, and production of Newater and desalinated water. "There is potential to replace some of the grid energy needed by its operations with solar energy generated by solar panels installed on the roof spaces of existing installations and on the surfaces of the reservoirs," the agency said.
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3 historic structures on Mount Sophia to undergo SGD6.3m restoration: It has been one of the country's best kept secrets but that will change when a former chapel on Mount Sophia that boasts some striking architectural features throws open its doors to the public next year . This one-of-a-kind modernist tropical structure, which has been largely in private hands, is set to reopen as a restaurant, but will retain the sweeping roof beams forming the Chinese character "ren" (people) and a floating skylight. The old chapel was built in 1969 by the Trinity Theological College and is one of three historic structures that developer Hoi Hup Sunway spent SGD6.3 million on restoring as part of its new SGD161 million condominium project, Sophia Hills.
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Some 50 churches set up new alliance to serve as 'additional Christian voice': For the first time in local church history, Pentecostal, Charismatic and independent churches have come together to form a representative body to serve as an "additional Christian voice". The Alliance of Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches of Singapore, launched on April 19, has about 50 members to date. They add to existing representative bodies for Protestant denominations such as the Methodists, Anglicans, Presbyterians and Lutherans, which generally oversee and take care of the needs of their respective member churches and parishes.
Dr Mathew Mathews, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies who studies race and religion, said it is clear that some churches "feel they would be better off networking with a group which is like-minded in their theological distinctness and experiences".
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Singapore's Cabinet: The cream of the crop? Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee etc were towering figures. Even today PM Lee, Tharman Shanmugaratnam and K. Shanmugam have commanding personas but many Singaporeans would struggle to identify most of the so called 4th generation leaders by face or name. But this is their time to shine. Younger leaders are now the majority in Cabinet and over the next three to four years, they will make the reputations and develop the images that will turn them into credible leaders and statesmen -- or not.
It's a key moment. This is the first generation of leaders born and bred in an independent Singapore. Products of the Singapore system. Previous generations were products of earlier colonial systems so it's only now we will find out if the Singapore system can create world class leaders. Of course, nothing is going to change overnight but these leaders and our nation are going to face a genuine test over the next few years.
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'PROSTITUTE MANSION': IS SINGAPORE HEADING FOR HONG KONG-STYLE HOUSING? As tycoons buy up properties in record-breaking deals and private house prices rebound, homes in the Lion City seem destined to get pricier - or tinier.
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The Big Read: S'pore's political succession goes beyond finding the next PM: The political analysts and observers whom TODAY spoke to noted that there is no hard-and-fast rule that a Prime Minister for Singapore must check off the right boxes, in terms of having led certain key ministries.
Murdoch University Associate Professor Terence Lee, who studies Singapore and Malaysia politics, added: "Singaporeans typically prefer continuity more so than change, so voters are not likely to criticise his decision to stay on as long as they can see progress being made to nurture the next group of leaders, as is being done right now." All things considered, the observers said that the public should not base the country's current leadership transition on past precedents -- be it in terms of the timeline or the succession pathway. "The current political and policy landscape is very different from Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Goh Chok Tong's time," Asst Prof Woo said.
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评论
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政治生态决定领袖魅力
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新加坡的政治生态环境和马国以及印尼有根本的不同，三国政治领导的背景和行事作风有很大差异，三国领导之间的关系都必须经过长时间的互动，才能磨合。第四代领袖的表现不仅在国家的治理上，能否延续前代领袖的外交成就，个人魅力便显得尤其重要。这一点我们暂时还未能在潜在人选身上看出来。
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Singapore's economic outlook for 2018 remains positive despite global trade risks: The review comes two weeks after the MAS tightened monetary policy for the first time in six years, after two years of neutral policy. Core inflation is expected to rise gradually for the rest of the year, and to come in at the upper half of the forecast range of 1 to 2 per cent. With global final demand expected to stay firm in 2018, the trade-related sectors will anchor growth, said the MAS in its review on Friday. In modern services, digital activities have emerged as an important growth engine. With more firms investing in technology, the ICT and professional services industries will also benefit, it added. And as the labour market improves, consumer spending is expected to pick up.
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What are the policy implications of the Cabinet reshuffle? At the heart of the recent cabinet reshuffle is a strong emphasis on Singapore's ongoing economic transformation and in particular, tackling the implications of technological disruption. This is evident in the roles that have been taken on by the three Prime Ministerial frontrunners, namely Mr Chan Chun Sing, Mr Heng Swee Keat, and Mr Ong Ye Kung.
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Thailand
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Writing and rewriting history: Many respected historians had raised objections to the claim when the book first appeared in October 2015, some describing it as "state ideology" rather than "historical science". But, until this month, few people outside academia have glimpsed the book, whose print run was relatively small, or heard the criticism. Now, Facebook has inflamed passions anew amid widespread belief that the military is preparing to cement its role in politics at the next elections.
[This publication has been included in ISEAS Library's May acquisitions list.]
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Thais rally against officials building homes on sacred mountain in Chiang Mai: The controversy has touched on long-running frustration over special treatment granted to Thai officials and elites - often at the expense of the public and the environment. "We want the demolition of the houses and a return of the forest," the rally's organisers said in a statement on Sunday. "Bring back the forest to Doi Suthep. Bring back the forest to people." The march went ahead in defiance of a ban on protests imposed by the junta that seized power in 2014.
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Folk history, culture at risk unless officials learn from Mahakan Fort fiasco: academics: The tragic disbanding of the historical community was an affirmation of the authorities' lack of regard for, and acceptance of, the value of local people's history and culture, said the head of the Architecture Department at Silpakorn University, Supitcha Tovivich.
"Bangkok has just lost one of its last links to its roots, and if the authorities still hold on to their mindset of sterilising the 'mess' - in their eyes - from official historical sites, many more valuable and culturally rich communities across Bangkok may suffer a similar fate as Mahakan Fort Community," Supitcha said.
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New rules 'worry' former members of established parties: The current political party law has damaged the existing parties' membership bases and the country's efforts to restore democracy, according to Nikorn Chamnong, director of Chat Thai Pattana Party. Chat Thai Pattana expects fewer than 10 per cent of its previous 24,000-strong members to re-register as members under the current law, which Nikorn said is not designed to promote the country's political development via stronger political parties
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Vietnam
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Trade boost with China set to shake up Vietnam: For Vietnam, data indicating lower exports would support the government's efforts to extend trade deeper into Chinese markets. Plagued by a large and persistent bilateral trade deficit, Vietnamese officials have long requested that their Chinese counterparts allow more imports from Vietnam. The numbers released by GDVC would advance, or at least not undermine, that goal.
For China, on the other hand, inflating the figures for imports from Vietnam could help neutralise such a request, reminding the Vietnamese authorities of how important trade with China is to their country's economy. Higher trade figures may persuade Vietnam to maintain friendly bilateral ties, and perhaps even to adopt more accommodating positions on thorny regional security issues, such as the South China Sea dispute.
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HCMC admin center scheme threatens city's vanishing heritage: In recent years, a spate of unsympathetic new developments on Dong Khoi Street have inflicted serious damage on the integrity of the historic urban fabric. Several heritage buildings on and around this street, at 151 and 164 Dong Khoi, and 22-26 Ly Tu Trong, currently stand on so-called "gold land" and thus are also earmarked for future demolition and redevelopment. If the current pace of destruction continues, Dong Khoi - once described as the "Canebière of Southeast Asia" to compare it favourably with the famous shopping street in Marseille - will have little attractive architecture left other than the Municipal Theater, Continental and Caravelle. Once old buildings have gone, they are gone forever.
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Inadequate urban planning stresses residents: Irrationalities in urban planning and management have led to an overly dense urban population and an overloaded transport infrastructure in the capital city of Hà Nội, affecting the lives of local residents.
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How Apps and Social Media Are Helping to Save Vietnam's Environment
[37-minute podcast]
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To street vendors in Vietnam's biggest cities, sidewalk is a lifeline: Official government data from 2015 showed that migrants aged between 15 and 59 made up 17.3 percent of the country's population of 90 million. The majority of them work in the unofficial sector, which means they have no contracts or insurance, and pay no taxes. This sector is believed to make up 20 percent of the country's gross domestic product. Over the past year, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have been taking drastic actions to reclaim the sidewalks for their original purpose by removing shops, vehicles and last but not least, street vendors. But as long as street vending remains the only viable livelihood for these unofficial migrants, the policy is bound to fail from the start.
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ASEAN / Southeast Asia
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Jokowi Peringatkan Ekonomi ASEAN Hadapi Ancaman [Jokowi warns of Threats Facing ASEAN Economy]: Presiden Joko Widodo (Jokowi) mengatakan, memasuki 25 tahun kerja sama antara Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), sejumlah capaian penting berhasil diraih ketiga negara. Hal itu di antaranya yakni pertumbuhan IMT-GT pada 2016 yang mencapai angka 4,4 persen hingga produk domestik bruto (PDB) per kapita penduduk di wilayah IMT-GT yang senilai 14.557 dolar AS pada 2016 dari sebelumnya 11.508 dolar AS pada 2011. Hal itu disampaikan Jokowi saat menghadiri Pertemuan Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) ke-11 di Banyan Room, Hotel Shangri-La, Singapura.
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What's in the New Malaysia-Singapore Air Force Exercise? On April 25, Malaysia and Singapore launched the first iteration of a new bilateral exercise. The inaugural edition of the search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) Malsing was held as a command post exercise at the Multinational Operations and Exercises Center in the Changi Command and Control Center, with the opening ceremony at Paya Lebar Air Base co-officiated by Chief of Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Major-General Mervyn Tan and Chief of Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) General Affendi bin Buang. Though search and rescue exercises themselves are a fairly common activity, according to the RMAF, this is the first joint exercise between the two air forces where the focus of a command post exercise was conceptually around SAR.
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Southeast Asia's strongmen unite against political dissidents: Observers are concerned by the shrinking number of regional safe havens for political dissidents who have to slip across borders for their own safety. "The key crossroad for political dissidents for years in this region has been Thailand, and now that crossroad is looking increasingly hard to traverse," Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch (HRW), a global rights watchdog, told the Nikkei Asian Review. Robertson believes the rights-abusing governments of Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar having found a willing ally in the Thai junta, which itself wants its own political dissidents repatriated. "The new political dynamic is working both ways at the cost of respect for political refugees," he added.
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32nd ASEAN Summit
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Three Indonesian cities proposed to be ASEAN smart cities: Three cities in Indonesia, Jakarta, Makassar in South Sulawesi and Banyuwangi in East Java, are proposed to be included in the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN). Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi in Singapore, during a press conference on the 32nd ASEAN Summit, Sunday, said the concept of ASCN was designed to achieve a shared goal of smart city development in ASEAN network cooperation program.
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Indonesia satisfied with results of ASEAN Summit: Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, after the ASEAN Summit activities in Singapore on Saturday, told reporters there was no summit result that was not satisfying. "Nothing is unsatisfying, everything is positive," she said. According to Retno, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was very pleased to be able to present the concept of Indo-Pacific development in the forum. During the forum, Jokowi called on ASEAN to maintain active role including in the development of Indo-Pacific regional cooperation concept.
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Asean seek to enhance the bloc's resilience and innovation: The summit, also attended by other Asean leaders, adopted three significant documents, reflecting Asean's commitment to strengthen their cooperation and common vision. The three documents included 'Asean Leaders' Vision for a Resilient and Innovative Asean', the 'Asean Leaders' Statement on Cybersecurity Cooperation' and the 'Asean Smart Cities Network'.
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Jokowi calls on ASEAN to make IMT-GT a building block: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on ASEAN member countries to make the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) a building block that could contribute to the regional association. "We must ensure that this cooperation brings concrete and inclusive benefits to our people as well to the people of ASEAN," Jokowi said at the 11th IMT-GT Meeting at Banyan Room, Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore.
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Indonesia to lead 12th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Summit: Indonesia will replace Thailand as chairman of the 12th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Summit (IMT-GT) to be held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Thailand in 2019. The change in chairmanship was announced by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the 11th IMT-GT Summit. The summit was also attended by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Musa Hitam following the implementation of the 32nd ASEAN Summit in Singapore on Saturday. In Singapore, the IMT-GT leaders held a discussion on developing green cities and sustainable tourism in addition to enhancing regional connectivity.
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Indonesia asks Vietnam to wrap up talks on maritime border: President Jokowi raised the border issue at a bilateral meeting with the Vietnamese Prime Minister on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit conference being held in this city country. Jokowi said a number of the results of the Joint-Council-Bilateral-Cooperation (JCBC) meeting need immediate follow up talks include issue of maritime borders between Indonesia and Vietnam. Conclusion of the border talks would prevent unnecessary incident and would help promote fishery and maritime cooperation. Indonesian authorities have detained and exploded a number of foreign fishing boats including Vietnamese fishing vessels caught illegally fishing in Indonesian waters.
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Jokowi wants ASEAN to play active role in Indo-Pacific partnership: Development of Indo-Pacific cooperation should be based on the principle of transparency and inclusive, with emphasis on cooperation and friendship, Jokowi said addressing the 32nd summit meeting of the regional grouping here on Saturday. In addition, the Indo-Pacific cooperation concept should underline the ASEAN centrality, he said. "ASEAN must be able to play its role including in the development of the cooperation concept of Indo-Pacific. The concept is important to keep ASEAN relevant, always able to play its centrality and show its capability in managing strategic environmental change," he said.
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Singapore PM: ASEAN growing closer to China and India: Addressing the summit of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that regional economic growth was under threat because the political mood in many countries had turned against free trade. He said recent trade tensions between the United States and China in particular are worrying. "The global strategic balance is shifting, and so is the regional balance," Lee said. "New powers, including China and India, are growing in strength and influence. This has opened up new opportunities for ASEAN member states as we expand our cooperation with them."
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Asean reaffirms humanitarian aid-only stance in Rohingya crisis: While the repatriation of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh has been delayed due to the unreadiness of Myanmar, the Asean leaders said they looked forward to the expeditious commencement of the voluntary return of displaced persons to Myanmar in a safe, secure and dignified way without undue delay. However, leaders of the group stressed the need to find a comprehensive and durable solution to address the root causes of the conflict and to create a conducive environment so that the affected communities can rebuild their lives.
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Asean welcomes peace efforts in Korean peninsula: PM Lee: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday said Asean will continue to support efforts to secure the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner, and that the grouping welcomed the historic summit between leaders of North and South Korea. Denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula was one of several regional developments which leaders discussed at the 32nd Asean Summit hosted by Singapore, which is chairing Asean this year.
In his remarks at the opening ceremony of the summit, Mr Lee had highlighted the need for Asean to speak in a collective voice to be effective as it reacts to major external trends, such as growing protectionism and trade tensions between the United States and China. Asean leaders voiced their deep concern over the rising tide of protectionism and anti-globalisation sentiment in a chairman's statement released yesterday, and reiterated their continued support for a multilateral trading system. The 10 member states reaffirmed their commitment to improve Asean's free trade pacts and deepen engagement with the grouping's trading partners.
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SE Asia faces threats from IS, cyber-attacks, summit hears: The leaders at a working dinner Friday ahead of their formal summit agreed to increase coordination in cybersecurity. Lee also warned that the open global trading system, which has allowed many of the region's export-driven economies to flourish, has come under increasing threat due to protectionist policies in major economies.
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ASEAN 'deeply concerned' over protectionism: summit statement: "The open, rules-based multilateral trading system, which has underpinned the growth of ASEAN member state, is under pressure," Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said at the beginning of Saturday's summit, pointing out that recent tensions between the U.S. and China are "worrying concerns."
In the chairman's statement issued after the meeting, ASEAN noted member states are "deeply concerned over the rising tide of protectionism and anti-globalization sentiments." Speaking at a press conference after the summit, Lee told reporters that the national leaders agreed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) -- a trade framework among ASEAN, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand -- is "something urgent which we do want."
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Duterte tells Vietnam: Manila not throwing out maritime arbitration win: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc that Manila is not abandoning an arbitration victory that rejected China's expansive territorial claim in the South China Sea. Duterte told Phuc that "we are not ignoring, we are not setting aside the tribunal victory which is in our favor," according to Harry Roque, Duterte's spokesperson. The two leaders met Friday on the sidelines of the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Singapore, this year's rotating chair.
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81
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KTT ASEAN tak Hasilkan Kesepakatan Soal Rohingya [The ASEAN Summit Does Not Issue Resolution on Rohingyas]: Konferensi Tingkat Tinggi (KTT) Ke-32 ASEAN menghasilkan tiga dokumen tanpa ada satu pun yang menyebutkan kesepakatan untuk mengatasi isu kemanusiaan Rohingya. Ketiga dokumen tersebut disampaikan Perdana Menteri Singapura Lee Hsien Loong sebagai ketua ASEAN 2018 di Hotel Shangri-La, Singapura, Sabtu (28/4). Ketiga dokumen hasil tersebut adalah Pernyataan Pemimpin ASEAN tentang Kerja Sama Keamanan Siber, Nota Konsep Jaringan Kota Pintar ASEAN (ASCN) dan Visi Pemimpin untuk ASEAN yang Berketahanan dan Inovatif. Dari ketiga dokumen hasil tersebut hanya pada Visi Pemimpin ASEAN sedikit disebutkan ada poin ke sepuluh tentang pentingnya penghormatan Hak Asasi Manusia dan Kebebasan Dasar.
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Islamic State and cyberattacks are among most pressing threats facing Asean, according to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: Opening the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Singapore, Lee warned that IS continues to threaten the region despite their military defeat in Iraq and Syria, while the move towards digitalisation has made countries more vulnerable to cyberattacks. "Southeast Asia is at peace, but these threats are very real," he said. "We need to be resilient to both conventional threats, and also non-conventional threats such as terrorism and cyberattacks."
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Asean to support peaceful denuclearisation of Korean peninsula: PM Lee Hsien Loong: Speaking a day after the historic summit which saw North and South Korea pledge to end their decades-long conflict, PM Lee told reporters at a press conference that Asean welcomes recent developments on the peninsula. He cited the positive steps taken, from Friday's Inter-Korean Summit to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's earlier visit to China in March as well as the plan for American President Donald Trump and Mr Kim to meet in the near future. "The Inter-Korean Summit supports steps to decrease tensions and improve inter-Korean relations, and it will contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region," said PM Lee on Saturday (April 28) after regional leaders met at the 32nd Asean Summit hosted by Singapore, which is chairing the grouping this year.
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Concept Note of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network: Most of ASEAN's growth has been, and will continue to be, driven by urban centres, with 90 million more people expected to urbanise by 2030 and "middleweight" cities of between 200,000 and 2 million residents forecast to drive 40% of the region's growth. However, this rapid urbanisation is not without its challenges as it has implications on important issues such as city congestion, water/air quality, poverty, rising inequalities, urban-rural divide, citizen security and safety. Technological and digital solutions can be utilised to resolve these issues and to enhance quality and accessibility of services, thereby improving our citizens' lives across the urban-rural continuum, creating new opportunities for them and helping ensure that no one is left behind.
[news contains link to 9-page PDF document]
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85
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ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Statement on Developments in the Korean Peninsula
[1-page PDF document]
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86
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ASEAN Leaders' Statement on Cybersecurity Cooperation
[3-page PDF document]
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87
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ASEAN Leaders' Vision for a Resilient and Innovative ASEAN
[9-page PDF document]
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88
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Chairman's Statement of the 32nd ASEAN Summit
[11-page PDF document]
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89
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Singapore hopes to develop consensus on an overall approach to Asean's challenges: PM Lee Hsien Loong: He was addressing leaders and delegates from the regional grouping's 10 member states at a working dinner at the Istana on Friday (April 27), as part of the 32nd Asean summit.
PM Lee said Singapore hopes to work with its Asean partners to tackle shared concerns, including growing transboundary threats such as terrorism, climate change and cyber security. "We do not expect to resolve all the issues in the span of our chairmanship, but we hope to prompt a productive discussion and develop a consensus on an overall approach, as crystallised in our vision statement in order to take Asean forward," he said. The prime minister added that Singapore hopes to put forth tangible initiatives that will contribute to a more "resilient and innovative" Asean - in line with the themes of its chairmainship this year.
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Asia Pacific
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90
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Cross-Domain Coercion: Contours Of East Asia's Future Conflicts: The resurgence of great power rivalries in East Asia coupled with the diffusion of advanced military technologies suggests that while wars and conflicts in the region are not inevitable, neither are they inconceivable. The confluence of China's rise and its emerging power projection capabilities raise the spectre of a major accidental or planned naval clash in the South China Sea or the Indian Ocean Region, in addition to the geopolitical hotspots around the Taiwan Straits and the Korean Peninsula. However, regional strategic competition between adversaries armed with nuclear weapons and precision strike systems places a premium on coercive diplomacy - persuading an adversary to change a particular course of action by integrating both military and non-military instruments of power short of conventional war.
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91
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A new class struggle: Chinese party members get back to Communist Manifesto basics: A spectre is haunting party members who only pay lip service to communist ideology as Xi Jinping orders extra Marxist study sessions.
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92
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US-China trade war threatens Asian supply chains: This would be bad news for consumers and companies alike, adding costs to both. But it would be particularly worrisome for suppliers in low-cost, labor-intensive Asian economies, who have grown by shipping their products out to those same multinationals. Asia's exporters are already fretting about unrelated developments that might begin to push global manufacturers to "reshore" activities, notably the replacement of human workers with industrial robots. Now trade frictions threaten to accelerate the same trend.
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Leaders of two Koreas build strong rapport, pave way for long road towards peace: The first face-to-face meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae In, 65, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, 34, on Friday (April 27) was a friendly, relaxed affair that set the tone for the full day of talks between them.
There was even an impromptu moment whereby Mr Kim grasped Mr Moon's hand and led him across the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) separating the two Koreas, onto the North Korean territory. They posed for photos before crossing over to the South together, hand in hand. They also issued a high-anticipated declaration dedicated to reconciliation, peace building, joint exchanges, and "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean Peninsula. Analysts said the two leaders looked relaxed and at ease around each other and managed to build strong rapport that will pave the way for closer collaboration in the long road towards permanent peace.
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Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
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Asean asks Indonesia to conclude RCEP negotiations with six partner countries: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has asked Indonesia, as the coordinator of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), to conclude the negotiations with six partner countries soon. In response to the ASEAN`s request, Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita remarked that Indonesia will make as maximum effort as possible to conclude the negotiations. However, all ASEAN member states must first reach an agreement to enable the regional block to have a unanimous bargaining power in its negotiations with the six partner countries.
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Global economy
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95
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Outlook for Global Stability: A Bumpy Road Ahead
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