These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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UK-Singapore digital economy deal enters into force
A landmark digital trade deal establishing rules and standards for cross-border data flows and data protection between Singapore and the United Kingdom (UK) came into force on Tuesday (June 14).
The UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement (UKSDEA) was signed and finalised in February and both parties have completed the legal requirements and procedures since.
While the Republic has similar digital pacts with Australia, Chile, New Zealand and South Korea, this is the first such agreement for Britain, and also the first between an Asian country and an European one.
"The UKSDEA's entry into force reflects the UK and Singapore's strong commitment towards enabling new growth opportunities for Singapore businesses in the digital economy," said Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Communications and Information, and Infocomm Media Development Authority in a joint statement.
"With the UKSDEA, benefits to businesses include end-to-end digital trade such as safe and secure e-payments and paperless trading, as well as seamless and trusted data flows, which encourage participation in the digital economy. Consumers will enjoy greater online consumer protection, as well as safe and secure cross-border payments."
Highlights of the deal include the setting out of transparent rules for secure cross-border electronic payments and accepting electronic versions of trade documents, so that cargo can be cleared more efficiently and transactions made faster and cheaper. Both countries will also help smaller businesses with jobs, connections with international partners and efforts to innovate, for instance by making government information open and easily accessible. – Straits Times
MMEA detains Vietnamese fishing vessel that crashed into KM 'Arau'
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained a Vietnamese foreign fishing vessel that aggressively crashed into the authority's assets off waters here.
On Saturday around noon, district maritime zone director Maritime Commander Maurice Grenville Abeyeratne said the boat was detected during Op Kuda Laut 03/2021.
He said the foreign boat was harvesting seafood about 118 nautical miles northwest of Tanjung Simpang Mengayau here.
"During the detention and arrest process, the foreign fishing boat moved aggressively by breaking and crashing into KM Arau. "Although KM Arau also suffered minor damages, the detention effort was successful," he said today.
Maurice said the foreign vessel had 41 Vietnamese crew members, including the skipper, aged between 18 and 58.
He said the foreign boat was operating illegally in the country's waters as it failed to present any relevant documentation.
"Besides that, the operations team also found three tonnes of seafood on the boat."
Maurice added that investigation would be continued before further action could be taken.
"The boat, crew and all the seafood were taken to the Kudat Maritime Zone Jetty to be handed over to the investigating officer.
"The total value of the seizure is estimated to be RM 1.5 million and the case is being investigated under Section 15 (1) (a) of the Fisheries Act 1985 for engaging in fishing activities in Malaysian waters without a valid permit." – New Straits Times
Prayut quashes talk of reshuffle
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday assured there won't be a cabinet reshuffle while a deputy minister faces legal action over forest encroachment.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission concluded on Tuesday there were sufficient grounds to launch legal action against Deputy Education Minister Kanokwan Vilawan, her father Soonthorn and eight other individuals for illegally occupying 150 rai in Prachin Buri's Khao Yai National Park. Ms Kanokwan is also a deputy secretary-general of the Bhumjaithai Party, while her father is the head of the Prachin Buri Provincial Administrative Organisation.
"Bhumjaithai has not proposed a cabinet reshuffle yet," Gen Prayut said, adding a court will decide if Ms Kanokwan should be suspended from her duties pending a trial. Deputy Prime Minister and Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul said that the constitution stipulated that if a court accepts the case, the minister will be suspended from duty.
"This has nothing to do with Bhumjaithai. Ms Kanokwan has to look for her own evidence and present it to the court. This is a personal matter and one must take responsibility for one's actions," said Mr Anutin, who also serves as Public Health Minister.
He also dismissed a rumour that Ms Kanokwan had tendered her resignation from the post. Supachai Jaisamut, a Bhumjaithai list MP and party registrar, said that the party will hold a meeting tomorrow to decide Ms Kanokwan's fate. – Bangkok Post
Army deploys anew disaster response teams amid Bulusan unrest
The Philippine Army (PA) has deployed disaster response teams to help in clearing and relief efforts in Sorsogon areas heavily affected by Sunday's phreatic eruption of the Bulusan Volcano.
In a statement late Monday, Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said these teams are under Joint Task Force Bicolandia headquarters.
Meanwhile, Army units in the region like the 903rd Infantry Brigade, 22nd Infantry Battalion, and 31st Infantry Battalion remain on red alert status for possible humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions.
"(The) 31st Infantry Battalion deployed a company to secure Barangay Puting Sapa in Juban, Sorsogon, one of the villages that bore the brunt of the volcano’s ashfall, while the 22nd Infantry Battalion is coordinating with local authorities for the implementation of the four-kilometre Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the Bulusan Volcano. A platoon composed of 36 reservists meanwhile cleared ash-fall covered roads in Barangay Rangas in Juban town," Trinidad said.
Meanwhile, PA chief Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. lauded Army humanitarian assistance and disaster response teams and reservists for their steadfast dedication to ensuring the safety of families in affected areas. – Philippine News Agency
NA scrutinises draft laws on health facilities, treatment
National Assembly (NA) deputies yesterday looked at ways to improve nationwide health facilities and treatment methods.
The wide-ranging discussions were in relation to the draft Law on Medical Examination and Treatment (amended) during the 15th NA’s ongoing third session.
Among the items raised were which department should handle the issuance of medical licences, laying out more detailed criteria for medical schools, and expanding family treatment models to improve capacity and reduce overcrowding at health centres.
The making of the draft law aims to institutionalise the Party’s policies; address shortcomings and limitations of the existing law, deal with newly arising issues to increase the quality of medical services towards fairness, quality, effectiveness, development, and international integration; and strengthen the validity, efficiency, order, and discipline of State management over health check-ups and treatment.
The draft law includes 10 chapters and 102 articles, one chapter more than the existing one.
Regarding the granting, suspension and revocation of medical practice licences, Pham Thi Kieu, delegate from Dak Lak Province, said the National Medical Council was assigned with great tasks such as advising on institutional and policy development on health, medical examination and treatment; and solving professional problems.
The issuance of licences should be assigned to State agencies or independent organisations instead of the medical council, Kieu said.
Many delegates agreed that the licensing should be assigned to the Ministry of Health or local health departments.
The country now has 27 medical schools with different admission score and training quality. – Vietnam News
Spirits raised: PM announces salary hikes after two-year freeze
After enduring the trials and tribulations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, civil servants in the Kingdom have something to rejoice at last. Prime Minister Hun Sen announced yesterday they would all be given a pay rise after a two-year freeze due to the pandemic.
However, while welcoming the raise, some civil servants have pointed out a harsh reality – prices of daily necessities have soared too.
In a speech at a graduation ceremony, Mr Hun Sen said the minimum wages for teachers and doctors would go up to $375 from $325 per month, or $50 more, and other government officials would receive a minimum of $350 per month, up from $300.
Proeung Srey Leang, 27, a secondary school teacher in Kampong Speu province said yesterday that she was very happy that the government plans to increase the salaries of teachers across the Kingdom by a higher margin this time. During the previous salary increase exercise in 2019, teachers were given a raise of $21.25.
However, Srey Leang noted that since after Covid-struck the prices of necessities, especially gasoline, have skyrocketed making it hard for her to make ends meet.
“I have two children. During the two years when we did not get salary increase and after Covid-19 caused the price of gasoline to become very high, I find it a struggle to travel to teach in my school which is far from my house,” she said.
Ek Samnang, 36, a teacher at Hun Sen Serey Dey Dos Secondary School, also said that she was very supportive of the government for raising the salaries while Cambodia is faced with economic woes caused by the pandemic. – Khmer Times
Two junta soldiers abducted in Rakhine’s Kyauktaw Township
Two Myanmar Army soldiers were abducted in northern Rakhine State’s Kyauktaw Township on Saturday, in what local residents said was likely a “warning” from the Arakan Army (AA).
The two missing soldiers belonged to a unit based at a train station located near the entrance to the town of Kyauktaw, local sources said.
“One was taken near a guesthouse and the other was picked up at the market. They were staying at the train station,” said a Kyauktaw resident who did not want to be identified.
According to residents, the soldiers were seized by men in plain clothes, believed to be members of the AA. The group is known to be active in the area, they added.
Junta troops arrived in two trucks that afternoon and began looking for the abducted soldiers, according to residents.
“They’re ransacking the whole town. There are 50 to 60 of them with full equipment and weapons,” a local man said, adding that the town’s streets have been deserted since the soldiers arrived.
Another man speculated that the AA took the two soldiers to send a “warning” to the military, noting that they “could have taken more of them if they wanted to.”
“It’s good that it happened. The military has been terrorising the civilians for too long now. This could be a warning from the AA,” he said.
At least 10 uniformed junta soldiers are typically seen patrolling around Kyauktaw.
Neither the AA nor the military have responded to Myanmar Now’s calls regarding the incident. – Myanmar NOW
Agriculture Ministry to roll out FMD vaccination on June 14
The Ministry of Agriculture will start the vaccination of livestock against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) from June 14, 2022, in a bid to curb the spread of FMD in Indonesia.
Head of the Ministry of Agriculture's public relations and public information bureau, Kuntoro Boga Andri, said here on Monday that FMD vaccination would begin on June 14 and be carried out based on the mapping of the spread of the disease.
“The government will prepare the budget for the procurement of a total of 3 million doses of the FMD vaccine. Currently, the first batch of the vaccine (doses) has arrived on Sunday, June 12, 2022, via Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Then, 800 thousand doses will arrive in the next few days,” he informed.
The vaccine doses would be prioritized for healthy animals that are at high risk of infection: animals at livestock breeding centres, community-owned dairy farms, dairy cooperatives, and beef cattle farms, Andri said.
The Ministry of Agriculture has predicted that 17 million livestock will receive the vaccine, or around 80 percent of the livestock population in provinces affected by the disease. The livestock will be inoculated three times: twice in 2022 and once in 2023.
The ministry, through its Veterinary Pharmacy Center (Pusvetma), is also preparing a locally-produced vaccine, which is expected to be completed by the end of August 2022
In addition, he urged the community not to panic and worry about the availability of livestock for the Islamic ritual Qurbani (animal sacrifice) during Eid al-Adha.
"We ensure that the availability of animals for Qurbani, such as cattle, goats, and sheep, is safe. This refers to the number of Qurbani animals needed last year, which reached 1.5 million heads," he said.
Despite the FMD outbreak currently occurring in the country, the government is optimistic that the current stock of animals for Qurbani is sufficient for the Eid al-Adha ritual.
"We emphasize that FMD is not harmful to human health and the facts on the field show that FMD can be cured," he stressed. – AntaraNews.Com