These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.
Ja New 'not asked' to stop activism
The Thai government dismissed an allegation that police had asked political activist Sirawith Seritiwat, recently injured in a brutal attack, to stop building a new political movement in exchange for continuing to receive police protection.
Mr Sirawith, better known as Ja New, was attacked twice last month. In the most recent incident on June 28, he was badly beaten in broad daylight near his home in Klong Sam Wa district by four men wielding blackjack batons. – Bangkok Post
KJ's shift from contented to not so happy
“Suddenly, I am not so happy where I am.”
This was the short response given by Rembau member of parliament Khairy Jamaluddin when asked to comment on the appointment of Datuk Seri Najib Razak as Barisan Nasional (BN) advisory board chairman.
This was also seemingly in reference to his statement on Monday that he was “content where he was” when asked to comment on an invitation for him to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
Last night, Najib was appointed as chairman of the BN advisory board after the coalition’s supreme council meeting. – New Straits Times
MHA arrests at least six supporters of Myanmar insurgent group in Singapore
Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has arrested a group of Myanmar nationals for using Singapore to mobilise support for armed violence against their government.
Their actions in support of the Arakan Army (AA), an armed group that has conducted violent attacks in Myanmar, are “inimical to Singapore’s security”, MHA said in a statement on Wednesday (July 10). It added that those found involved in activities of security concern will be deported. – Straits Times
Human traffickers ‘target youth with bad reputations’
Human traffickers target young people who have bad reputations and low moral character, said U Win Naing Tun, Myanmar’s director general of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.
The poor economy and scarcity of jobs in Myanmar make people easy prey for human traffickers. At particular risk are under-aged girls who have little knowledge of how traffickers operate. He made the comments at a ceremony to help victims of human trafficking in Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday. – Myanmar Times
Business owners express concern over competition from Chinese
Chinese tourists topped the country’s tourism market in the first quarter of this year. However, not all local business owners are pleased about it. Business owners, both Chinese and local, speak of the challenges and how the Kingdom’s small and medium enterprises fare in the competitive business environment – Khmer Times