Indonesia

Fake News Still a Concern in Lead-Up to Election (27 Feb, 12 Mar)

Indonesia’s National Police is closely monitoring online activity in the lead-up to the April election, with the aim of preventing provocative fake news from triggering violence in public. Much of the fake news stories have been targeted at the incumbent President, Joko Widodo (“Jokowi”). A viral video from February showed three women in West Java claiming that Jokowi would ban the call to prayer and legalise same-sex marriages if he was re-elected. A Muslim cleric from the same region claimed that Jokowi would “legalise adultery”, claiming that it would destroy the country and calling on his listeners to vote for Prabowo Subianto. Still, Jokowi’s campaign team remains confident in the incumbent’s ability to appeal to the people and clarify falsehoods.

Sources: The Straits Times, Detik News

Moeldoko Speaks On Pre-Employment Card Concerns (11 Mar)

Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko clarified that the pre-employment card, a campaign promise that Jokowi made in February, would not dispense benefits indefinitely. In response to concerns about its scope, he said that it would It would only be valid for a set period of time in order to help unemployed people or workers who aim to undergo vocational training. Moeldoko, however, declined to specify how long this period would be, or how much was budgeted for the program overall. The pre-employment card joins other campaign promises made by Jokowi, including an Affordable Staple Foods Card program and the Family Hope Program. Such welfare programs have been a hallmark of Jokowi’s tenure, with the number of students receiving Smart Indonesia Cards more than doubling between 2014 and 2019.

Sources: Jakarta Post, Tempo.co, Antara News

Indonesian Suspect in Kim Jong Nam Assassination Goes Free After Lobbying by Jakarta (11 Mar)

Siti Aisyah, an Indonesian woman who was charged with the killing of Kim Jong Nam in Malaysia in February 2017, was reportedly released from Malaysian custody after a lobbying campaign by the Indonesian government. The Nikkei Asian Review noted that the Indonesian government had supported Aisyah throughout her incarceration, providing legal representation and exerting diplomatic pressure. Such a move could be seen as a victory for Jokowi, especially since Aisyah expressed her gratitude towards Jokowi after arriving back in Indonesia.

Sources: Nikkei Asian Review, Tempo.co

Coordinating Economic Minister Expresses Concern About US-China Trade War (12 Mar)

Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution stressed that the US-China trade war has and will continue to badly affect Indonesia’s exports, given that the two powers are Indonesia’s two largest export destinations. The minister, however, maintained that Indonesia could still grow by the predicted rate of 5.3% in 2019, depending on Indonesia’s imports. Indonesia is also seeking free trade agreements with Iran, Turkey and the European Union, having recently concluded one with Australia.

Sources: Jakarta Post, Bloomberg

Malaysia

BN Candidate Emerges Triumphant in Semenyih as Rumours of Cabinet Reshuffle Persist (1 Mar)

Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Zakaria Hanafi defeated Pakatan Harapan (PH) by 1,914 votes in the Semenyih by-election. The outcome marked the second by-election defeat for PH as a whole since the 14^th general election. It also demonstrated that Malay support was shifting back over to BN, which was energised by its newfound cooperation with Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS). Much attention should be paid to Rantau, Negri Sembilan, where another by-election is due on 13 April.

Sources: Malay Mail, The Star

Despite Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s repeated denials, rumours of a cabinet reshuffle persist. The Star’s Joceline Tan noted that a cabinet reshuffle may be necessary for Dr Mahathir to address the host of complaints about his ministers and deputy ministers. James Chin, head of the Asia Institute at Tasmania University, said that a reshuffle should take place before the Rantau by-election in order for the ruling PH government to show it has its act together.

Sources: The Star, Malay Mail

PAS and UMNO Announce Formal Political Ties, Sparking Comments from Government (5 Mar)

Malaysia’s main opposition parties, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) announced that they would work together without any conditions. UMNO’s acting president Mohamad Hasan described the two parties as “married”, but denied that they had formed a coalition. Together, the parties control 56 seats in the Dewan Rakyat, and have been successful in shifting Malay support away from the PH government. Rumours that they would form coalition government in four opposition-held states have been dismissed by PAS Vice President Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, who said that parties are still “flirting” and are not at the “proposal” stage yet.

Sources: Channel NewsAsia

PH politicians treated news of this “marriage” with dismay. Malaysiakini initially reported that Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng called the move the equivalent of “[declaring] war on non-Malays”, though he subsequently corrected his earlier statement to say it targeted non-Malays. Democratic Action Party (DAP) politician Nga Kor Ming also compared UMNO-PAS cooperation to the Taliban. The remarks led to an uproar in the Dewan Rakyat on 13 March, as PAS and UMNO lawmakers reportedly said they “welcomed a war” in response.

Sources: Malaysiakini, Malay Mail, The Edge Markets

MCA and MIC Threaten to Leave BN, then Decide Against It (6 Mar, 8 Mar)

Following “racial remarks” by then-BN Secretary General Nazri Aziz, BN component parties Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) called for an urgent meeting of the coalition’s top leadership to decide its future. The two parties said that they were “left with no choice but to move on to explore a new alliance”. The meeting on 8 March, however, ended without a consensus to disband the coalition. UMNO’s Mohamad Hasan also said that the matter of UMNO-PAS cooperation was raised, and received the support of both the MCA and MIC.

Sources: Free Malaysia Today, The Straits Times, The Edge Markets

Vaccination Policy Sparks Pushback (7 Mar)

Following the death of an unvaccinated two-year-old boy from diphtheria on 21 February and the discovery of five more children who had contracted the disease, Malaysia’s Ministry of Health announced its commitment to making vaccinations compulsory. Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye noted that measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations rates stood at 89% in 2018, lower than the required 95% for herd immunity. However, efforts to ban unvaccinated children from enrolling in schools have sparked pushback from parent groups, due to fears that vaccines contain porcine DNA. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said that the government would not impose compulsory childhood vaccinations, though Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad also said that his ministry aims to amend the law to make the MMR and diphtheria vaccines compulsory.

Sources: Free Malaysia Today, Malay Mail, Channel NewsAsia, New Straits Times

130 months in Jail for Facebook User Who Insulted Islam (9 Mar)

The holder of the Facebook account ‘Ayea Yea’ was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in jail for posting content deemed insulting to Islam and the Prophet Muhammad on 9 March. Over 929 police reports have recently been made about insults against Islam, which is a crime under Section 298A of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. The ruling sparked a rare show of agreement between the DAP and the MCA, with both saying that the sentence was excessive.

Sources: South China Morning Post, New Straits Times, Malaysiakini

Malaysian Ministers Defend Flying Car Project (11 Mar)

Minister of Entrepreneur Development Redzuan Md Yusof caused a stir in late February with his announcement of a flying car project. While clarifying that this project is separate from the third national car project championed by Dr Mahathir, Redzuan told reporters that a US$245,884 prototype of the car is “already available”. The announcement drew ridicule on social media, prompting Redzuan to defend the “engineering benefits” of the project. Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Dr Ong Kian Ming also clarified that the flying car would be separate from the third national car project and not be produced on a commercial basis.

Sources: New Straits Times, Business Insider Malaysia, Malay Mail, The Star

Dr Mahathir Mulls Privatising Parts of the “Bloated” Civil Service (12 Mar)

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that his government will evaluate the feasibility of privatising sections of the civil service. Having grown from 1 million employees in 2003 to 1.7 million at present, he characterised the civil service as a drain on government funds. He also cited the example of the corporatisation of Telekom Malaysia in 1987, and reasoned that such privatisation would save the jobs of civil servants and increase their salary levels.

Sources: Malay Mail, The Edge Markets, The Straits Times

Following Poor 2018 Performance, Government to Decide on Future of Malaysia Airlines (13 Mar)

Loss-making Malaysia Airlines might be shut down, Dr Mahathir said on Tuesday. The airline, which was taken private by sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional, has struggled to turn a profit amid rising fuel costs, foreign exchange volatility and competition from budget airlines. While it received the Best Airline in Asia Award at the 2019 International Council of Pacific Area Travel Writers Association International Travel Awards at ITB Berlin, the airline accounted for half of Khazanah’s US$1.8 billion of impairments in 2018. Following a heated online debate about the national carrier, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng clarified that the government has not made a decision about the fate of the airline yet, and that other options included selling the airline or divesting its assets.

Sources: Nikkei Asian Review, The Star, New Straits Times, The Edge Markets

Singapore and Malaysia Agree on Seeking Boundary Settlement, but Water Woes Persist (12-14 Mar)

Singapore and Malaysia agreed to jointly suspend overlapping port boundary claims with immediate effect on 14 March, following a meeting between Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah to de-escalate tensions. With regards to the disputed area, both sides also agreed to suspend and not authorise commercial activities, not anchor government vessels, observe international law, and set up a joint committee to ensure the implementation of these measures within one month. Talks to delimit maritime boundaries will start shortly thereafter.

Sources: Free Malaysia Today, South China Morning Post, The Star

Separately, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said that the country has always been prepared to resolve disputes through appropriate international third-party dispute settlement procedures. These remarks came after Dr Mahathir said that Singapore would lose its case if the water dispute is brought before an international court. Saifuddin Abdullah also criticised Vivian Balakrishnan’s claims in Parliament on 1 March that Malaysia did not honour the 1962 water agreement and could not review it after the 25-year point passed in 1987. Singapore and Malaysia’s attorney generals met in December 2018 to discuss the water issue, but were unable to make headway due to background concerns over the airspace and maritime boundary dispute.

Sources: Malaysiakini, Malay Mail, Free Malaysia Today

Illegal Dumping of Toxic Waste in Pasir Gudang Causes Casualties, School Closures (7-14 Mar)

Over 1,000 people have been sickened by the illegal dumping of toxic waste into Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang, while all 111 schools in the area have been closed as a precaution. The Johor Department of Environment has detained two factory owners and a worker who were alleged to have dumped the chemicals on 11 March, though charges have yet to be filed. Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has stressed that there is no need to declare a state of emergency, noting that the situation is under control. Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad also clarified that stories of deaths associated with the incident are false, and that there have been no related fatalities on record.

Sources: The Straits Times, The Edge Markets, The Star

Myanmar

Kachin Leaders face further pressure from China over Myitsone Dam (6 Mar)

An eminent Kachin religious leader from the influential Kachin Baptist Convention told the Irrawaddy that senior officials from China’s Yunnan province had again attempted to convince him and his colleagues to support the Myitsone Dam project. This comes on the heels of renewed efforts from China to restart the project, which has been described as central to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s plans for the region. State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi responded to a query on the project put to her the following week during a visit to Pyay in the Bago region by reiterating the need for a “wider perspective” on the issue.

Sources: Irrawaddy, Irrawaddy

Arakan Army seizes control of a tactical base and takes 11 prisoners (11 Mar)

The Arakan Army announced that it has taken control of a temporary forward command base and apprehended 11 prisoners after its latest skirmishes with Tatmadaw troops around Buthidaung Township, in Northern Rakhine State. This comes on the heels of numerous skirmishes with the Tatmadaw from the 8^th to 11^th of March, which have claimed the lives of at least 21 Myanmar military and police personnel. Attacks by the Arakan Army reportedly emerge from concealed bases in Bangladeshi territory as well as from the eastern Indian state of Mizoram.

Sources: Irrawaddy, The Diplomat

Tanintharyi region Chief Minister arrested on bribery and corruption charges. (11-12 Mar)

The Office of the President of Myanmar issued a statement on 12 March formally dismissing Daw Lei Lei Maw from her post as Chief Minister of Tanintharyi region, which is situated along the western coast of the Isthmus of Kra. Daw Lei Lei Maw had over the preceding weekend been arrested on bribery and corruption charges, due to allegations that she had awarded lucrative contracts to family members and close associates. Said arrests come off the back of a month-long investigation by Myanmar’s Anti-Corruption Commission. Daw Lei Lei Maw faces 15 years in prison and a fine if she is convicted.

 Sources: Irrawaddy, Irrawaddy, Irrawaddy

Relocation of Rohingya to Bhasan Char to begin in April (3-13 Mar)

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Disaster and Relief Management Md Enamur Rahman has announced that plans to relocate around 23,000 of the 740,000 Rohingya residing in Cox’s Bazar to recently-completed facilities on the silt islet of Bhasan Char will begin next month. Bangladesh is proceeding with the proposal despite concerns voiced by UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar Yanghee Lee, who questioned the location’s habitability, citing the possible emergence of a “new crisis” were the worst to happen. Bangladesh plans to eventually move up to 100,000 Rohingya to Bhasan Char.

Sources: Dhaka Tribune, Reuters, Straits Times

China’s Guangdong province to support Myanmar in infrastructure development (13 Mar)

It was announced that China will be offering support for infrastructure and trade development through Guangdong province. Guangdong province has experience in developing transport and trade infrastructure, and is working with Myanmar to implement a plan to cooperate in industrial tools production, the garment industry and large-scale manufacturing, to help improve local labour productivity. The collaboration was outlined by Guangdong province’s Deputy State Administrator Mr Ouyang Weimin, at the China-Myanmar Trade and Investment Forum in Yangon on March 12, as part of development efforts on sectors related to the Belt and Road Initiative.

Source: Myanmar Times

Bangladesh launches probe into misuse of funds meant to help Rohingya (13-14 Mar)

Bangladesh’s Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, who heads the government cabinet’s law and order committee, has reportedly instructed Bangladesh’s intelligence agencies to assess how funds directed towards the Rohingya crisis were being spent, and submit a list of NGOs who were operating in Rohingya camps with an “ill motive”. The Minister asserted that NGOs had only spent 25% of their allocated funding on assisting the Rohingya, while using the rest on hotel bills and other expenses. Tk150Cr (SG$24m) was reportedly spent on lodging alone over the last six months.

Source: The Daily Star, Dhaka Tribune, Irrawaddy

Ministry of Defence submits Coast Guard proposal to Parliament (14 Mar)

Myanmar’s Ministry of Defence has officially submitted a proposal to establish a Coast Guard under direct Tatmadaw supervision. Minister for Transport and Communications U Thant Sin Maung had previously told the media that the Office of the President wished to have the force placed under its – and therefore the civilian government’s – jurisdiction. Addressing the House of Representatives, Deputy Minister for Defence General U Myint Nwe cited Article 338 of the 2008 Constitution, which asserts the Defence Services chief’s sole right to command Myanmar’s armed forces, in justifying the need for the Tatmadaw-controlled Ministry of Defence to retain full control of the new unit.

Sources: Myanmar Times, Irrawaddy, The Diplomat

UN Resident Coordinator for Myanmar stepping down (15 Mar)

Knut Ostby, who has held the title of acting United Nations Resident Coordinator in Myanmar since November 2017, will shortly be vacating the position. The UN has indicated that his replacement will be announced shortly. Mr Ostby is reported to have upset some during a speech he delivered in Naypyidaw in November 2018 where he used the term “Rohingya”, which Myanmar’s government does not recognise. UN officials have nonetheless asserted that the change of coordinator was part of ongoing reforms implemented by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, citing a total of 27 similarly high-level personnel changes being undertaken concurrently. UN Resident Coordinators are the highest United Nations officials stationed at a given nation’s UN diplomatic mission.

Source: Financial Times

Thailand

Parliament Rushes Out Bills, Brings 5-Year Total to 412 (5 Mar)

While the Thai National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is scheduled to be dismissed prior to the election on 24 March, it has passed through a flurry of new laws in recent months. These include a cyber-security bill on 1 March that authorises sweeping rights to seize computers or devices without a warrant if there are critical threats to cybersecurity, and a law that will raise protection standards for fishery workers in accordance with the Work in Fishing Convention. In total, the NLA will have considered at least 509 laws and passed 412 of them by 5 March.

Sources: The Straits Times, Channel NewsAsia, The Nation

Prayuth Decides to Avoid Direct Campaigning (6 Mar)

Incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has decided to avoid direct participation in the campaign activities of Phalang Pracharat, the party that nominated him as its PM candidate. Though Phalang Pracharat announced that Prayuth would take the rally stage at a 10 March rally in his home province of Nakhon Ratchasima, the premier reportedly expressed concerns that anti-junta parties might file charges against him for breaking election laws. These concerns, however, have not stopped him from indirect measures such as releasing pop songs to social media sites.

Sources: Khaosod English, Bangkok Post, South China Morning Post

Thai Raksa Chart Dissolved – Supporters Grieve, Markets Shrug (7 Mar)

The Thai Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution of the Thai Raksa Chart Party on 7 March for undermining the “rule of constitutional monarchy”, and banned its executive board members from participating in politics for 10 years. While supporters of the banned party were reportedly distraught following the sentencing, the stock exchange of Thailand index closed up 7.70 points. Thai Raksa Chart’s dissolution was seen as in line with market expectations.

Sources: Channel NewsAsia, Bangkok Post

In response, Thai Raksa Chart is reportedly rallying its supporters for a “vote no” campaign, with the aim of ensuring that contests in at least 101 of their former constituencies will be nullified by the presence of more “no” votes than votes for the winning candidates. This would allow Pheu Thai, which is not contesting these constituencies in the coming election, to participate in the re-election. The Election Commission has since launched an investigation against Thai Raksa Chart on this issue.

Sources: Bangkok Post, The Nation

Thai Army Swears Loyalty to King in Ritual Ceremony (7 Mar)

Thai Army Commander-in-Chief Apirat Kongsompong led an unprecedented oath-swearing ceremony on Thursday, 7 March, vowing to uphold the legacy of King Rama V and defend a government committed to protecting the royal family. King Rama V is considered to be the founding father of the Thai military. General Apirat also awarded a certificate of appreciation to a soldier scolded by Police General Seripisut Temiyavet for allegedly monitoring his activities on the campaign trail. The Seri Ruam Thai Party leader is facing a barrage of complaints from the military for allegedly making improper comments about General Apirat’s military decorations during a media interview, violating the computer crime law by posting snippets of the interview on social media and defaming the soldier who was tasked to “observe and ensure his safety”.

Sources: Khaosod English, Bangkok Post

Abhisit Says No to Support for Prayuth, but Open to Coalition with Phalang Pracharat (10-11 Mar)

Democrat leader and Former-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced on Sunday, 10 March, that he would not support incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth’s return to power. However, he subsequently said that his party is willing to form a coalition with either Phalang Pracharat or Pheu Thai under certain conditions, such as if the former does not insist that Prayuth be re-elected as PM. Abhisit’s statements have been criticised by pro-junta parties such as the Action Coalition for Thailand as well as anti-junta parties such as Pheu Thai for wanting to have things both ways, though Abhisit rejected these allegations at a press conference on 12 March.

Sources: Bangkok Post, Khaosod English

Following Thai Raka Chart Dissolution, Pro-Junta Forces Move Against Other Parties (14 Mar)

After the dissolution of Thai Raksa Chart, scrutiny has turned to the Pheu Thai Party and Future Forward. A lawyer from Loei province filed a complaint with provincial Election Commission officials that Pheu Thai had committed offences under the 2018 MP election law, and asked them to consider disbanding the party. The junta has also filed numerous complaints with the computer crime police against Future Forward, from charges ranging from false biographical information on their leader Thanatorn Juangroongruangkit’s website to a video that allegedly contained false information that may undermine national security. Activist Srisuwan Janya had asked the Election Commission to look into the alleged wrongdoing in the former issue, but the Commission decided on 14 March that there was not enough evidence that Thanatorn had broken the law and dropped the complaint.

Sources: Bangkok Post, Bangkok Post

Strong Growth in 2018, but Dark Clouds Ahead for Thailand (15 Mar)

Thailand’s economy grew at 4.1% in 2018, its fastest pace in six years, with fourth quarter growth buoyed by higher domestic demand and a sharp rebound in tourism arrivals. However, economists from Capital Economics and ING bank cautioned that GDP growth is likely to be limited by weak external demand, given that Thailand’s exports are worth around two-thirds of its economy. Political uncertainty due to the election is also expected to impact growth, though Fitch Ratings expects robust domestic consumption to support a growth rate of 3.7% in 2019.

Sources: The Business Times, Bangkok Post