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.
Stay informed with The ASEAN Post.
More piracy cases in Singapore Strait so far this year than in whole of 2019
More piracy cases have been reported in the Singapore Strait in 2020 than in the whole of last year. Two more incidents last week took the total this year to 33, surpassing the 31 reported in 2019. A special report to alert the shipping industry was released on Monday (Nov 23) by the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre. It warned law enforcement agencies about "the current situation of concern in the Singapore Strait", and provided insights and recommendations to the industry players and authorities in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. The 105km-long strait south of Singapore is a key waterway for trade, and passes through the territorial jurisdictions of all three countries. On Nov 17, the bulk carrier Asia Spring was passing through the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait en route to China, when three intruders were spotted on the main deck, said the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre. The ship's alarm was raised and the crew were gathered. The three perpetrators escaped from the stern of the ship. "The master reported the incident to Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System. Nothing was stolen and the crew was not injured. The ship did not require assistance and proceeded on her passage to China," said the centre. The Singapore navy's Maritime Security Task Force and Singapore Police Coast Guard were informed. The Indonesian authorities were also notified, and a safety navigational broadcast was sent to sailors at sea. Two days later, on Nov 19, chemical and oil tanker MTM Amsterdam was also travelling through the eastbound lane of the TSS en route to China when two perpetrators armed with knives were sighted on the poop deck, an open deck area in the rear of the ship. The alarm was immediately raised and a search was conducted on board the vessel. But the perpetrators had escaped undetected, nothing was stolen and the crew were unharmed. The ship master reported the incident to the Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System, and the ship proceeded on her passage to China. The Singapore navy and Singapore Police Coast Guard were informed, along with the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities. The ReCAAP centre noted that the 33 incidents between January and November account for an increase of 43 per cent compared with the same period last year, when there were 23. Although the majority were at "a low level of severity", the centre said it is "seriously concerned" about the continuing cases of piracy in the key waterway. It explained that most are CAT 4 incidents, which means the perpetrators were not armed and the crew were unharmed. – The Straits Times
Factory closure to push Top Glove's prices?
The temporary closure of 28 Top Glove Corp Bhd factories in Selangor is likely to push the company's and industry average selling prices (ASPs) higher on potential supply disruption, Kenanga Research said. The firm said Top Glove's factories in Klang had been operating at less than 20 per cent utilisation since the Enhanced Movement Control Order was enforced. "For illustration purposes, based on our back-of-the-envelope calculation, assuming all the Klang factories stopped production for two weeks, the loss in production is about two per cent," Kenanga Research said in a report today. Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced yesterday that Top Glove's factories in Klang would cease operations in stages to allow factory workers to undergo screenings and mandatory quarantine in an effort to contain the spread of the virus among its employees. Top Glove, in a filing to Bursa Malaysia, confirmed that it would temporarily shut down 28 factories in Klang, following an insurgence of Covid-19 cases among its workers. Top Glove, the world's largest glove manufacturer, has 41 factories in Malaysia. "With reference to the announcement by the senior minister, Top Glove will work closely and cooperate fully with the relevant authorities to implement the temporary stoppage by stages of our manufacturing facilities in Meru, Klang," the company said. Kenanga Research said Top Glove accounted for 25 per cent of global market share, and the situation would likely push the company's and industry ASPs higher given the potential supply disruption. "Recall our financial years 2021 and 202 ASP assumptions of US$55 and US$40 per 1,000 pieces respectively compared to the current nitrile ASP of between US$70 to US$90," said the firm, which did not make changes to its earnings estimates on Top Glove pending further developments on the situation. Kenanga Research has maintained its "outperform" call with a target price of RM10.68. – New Straits Times
PM rules out martial law
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday rebutted speculation that there could be another military coup or the enforcement of martial law to quell the current spate of anti-government protests ahead of a planned mass event in front of the Crown Property Bureau on Wednesday. After the government met to prepare for the Ratsadon group's demonstration, the premier said the government was trying to prevent confrontations between opposing protest groups and pledged equal enforcement the law against both sides. Gen Prayut said the government would not discriminate against anyone and called on the protesters to be considerate of the officers whose job it is to maintain order. He also stressed that martial law would not be introduced to prevent this or future rallies and dismissed the idea that there might be another coup d'état with the same goal in mind. As the prime minister, he said did not want to see Thais kill and use violence against one another and told the media to ask the anti-government protest leaders why they have to go to the Crown Property Bureau. Last Thursday, Gen Prayut declared that "all laws and all articles" would be enforced against protesters who broke the law. He gave his warning after street rallies by pro-democracy protesters demanding his removal and reform of the monarchy. Gen Prayut also brushed aside a claim made on Facebook by protest leader Arnon Nampa that he might resign before Wednesday's rally. Deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) Pol Maj Gen Piya Tawichai said on Monday nine companies of police officers and another company of crowd control officers will be deployed to provide security during the demonstration. Police had yet to decide whether to designate a protest ban within a 150-metre radius of the bureau and close nearby roads to traffic, the official said. Barbed-wire barriers have been set up around the bureau and signs that read "palace area" have been put up in front and on the side of the place. Saint Gabriel's College which is located near the bureau has announced that it will close on Wednesday due to the demonstration. Chulalongkorn University warned its students and staff to be careful while travelling to the university due to incidents that might cause inconvenience and affect their safety this week although it did not elaborate further. – Bangkok Post
Papua, West Papua residents to receive antigraft training
In an effort to curtail corrupt behaviour and criminal activity in the country’s easternmost provinces, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is set to provide online training on corruption prevention on Tuesday and Wednesday using its JAGA mobile application. The program is open to all residents of Papua and West Papua provinces, said Ipi Maryati Kuding, the acting spokesperson of the KPK’s prevention division. She said the online event was intended as an exploration that could set up or galvanize the antigraft movement in the region through the use of the JAGA platform. Until now, users in big cities supported by good internet connections and members of a digitally literate community have been the most active on the mobile platform. “Through this event, the KPK also wants to develop effective collaboration in the development of corruption-prevention efforts [in Papua and West Papua],” Ipi said in a statement to The Jakarta Post on Monday. Discussions will focus on three public service sectors, namely education, health and social assistance. The training provided will touch on, among other issues, the challenges of corruption management in both provinces, as well as the management of regional budgets and village funds, in the hope that the public will play an active role in preventing corrupt practices. “The KPK hopes that through this series of webinars, exposure from various sources and focus group discussions, we can formulate an action plan to tackle problems in those sectors at the end of the activity,” Ipi said. As one of the last frontiers of development in the country, and in spite of its abundance of natural resources, graft still pervades the region of Papua and West Papua. Most cases in the region involve local elites, private sector players or officials from other regions, and usually revolve around the misuse of authority and/or funds, irregularities in procurement projects and bribery. – The Jakarta Post
Over 300 killed, 2,500 ‘illegally arrested’ in anti-red ops, says ex-solon
Over 300 activists and civilians have been killed, while over 2,500 have been “illegally arrested” in line with the government’s counter-insurgency operations, a former lawmaker said Tuesday during a Senate probe on red-tagging by military officials. With these figures, former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño claimed that there is “chilling effect” in red-tagging, saying it “kills democratic participation and healthy debate on issues of public concern.” “Pag ni-red tag ka, siyempre pag-iinitan ka, matatakot ka at mas gugustuhing tumahimik na lang… Red tagging is guilt by association, with our accusers playing the role of judge, jury and executioner,” he said. (If you are red-tagged, of course you will become a target, you will be scared and you will opt to become silent. Red tagging is guilt by association with our accusers playing the role of judge, jury and executioner.) Casiño said human rights groups have documented at least 328 activists and ordinary civilians getting killed in counter-insurgency
operations. “Meanwhile, 2,596 have been illegally arrested and 973 arrested and detained, many on questionable grounds, with the arresting police or military unit routinely planting evidence to make it appear that they are armed combatants,” he added. He said this number includes 57 arrested in a “crackdown” on the offices of Bayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Gabriela and National Federation of Sugar Workers in Bacolod City in October 2019. “Also arrested that day were three activists in the Bayan Manila office, including Reina Mae Nasino, who was denied the right to care for her baby River until she died,” Casiño added. He also said that red-tagging is not only aimed to silence dissent and to discourage people’s participation. “It is also part of the military’s psy-war operations to demonize, terrorize, neutralize and kill suspected insurgents,” he said. – INQUIRER.net
US wants to promote comprehensive partnership with Việt Nam: US security advisor
The US wants to promote the comprehensive partnership with Việt Nam in a stable and sustainable manner, based on mutual respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and political institutions, said US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien. He was speaking during a meeting at the Government Guest House in Hà Nội with students, lecturers and postgraduates from the Diplomatic Academy of Việt Nam (DAV) during his official visit on November 20-22. O’Brien affirmed the US supports a strong, independent and prosperous Việt Nam, and expressed his admiration for Việt Nam’s history and culture, as well as lasting impression on a dynamic and hospitable country. Looking back at progress in the bilateral relations in the past 25 years, he spoke highly of their cooperative achievements in the fields of politics-diplomacy, defence-security, economy-trade, settlement of war consequences, and people-to-people exchanges. He said that 25 years ago, the two nations set aside a difficult history, and established a friendship which has grown into a strong and comprehensive partnership, rooted in trust and understanding. Over the past quarter of a century, Americans and Vietnamese have traded and invested in each other’s countries, creating countless jobs for people of the two nations, said the National Security Adviser. He particularly stressed the flexible organisation of activities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the diplomatic relations during the COVID-19 pandemic and thanked Việt Nam for its support in the search for US servicemen missing since wartime in Việt Nam. The US will continue with projects on dioxin detoxification, bomb and mine clearance, support for people with disabilities, and search for remains of Vietnamese soldiers, making a contribution to increasing trust between the two nations. Both countries are working closely to combat transnational crime and wildlife trafficking, strengthen water security, and increase energy security following the launch of the Mekong-US Partnership in September. “As we have overcome the legacies of war, we have created opportunities for our children to grow while strengthening our bonds," he said. – Viet Nam News
China offers a helping hand to Sihanoukville sustainability
The government of China has provided Sihanoukville with clean energy equipment to help the coastal city reduce its carbon footprint and become more sustainable. The news comes less than a week after it was announced that another coal-fired power plant would soon be constructed in the area, one of three coal-fired plants Cambodia’s government has approved this year. The equipment arrived at Sihanoukville International Port on Sunday. The delivery included 2,800 solar bulbs, 200 solar panels, and 200 electric motorcycles that will be used to equip schools and public places, according to the Ministry of Environment. The donation was made as part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in a low-carbon emissions pilot project in Preah Sihanouk province that was signed last year between the Ministry of Environment of Cambodia and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China. The Ministry of Environment encouraged all stakeholders to participate in activities to raise environmental awareness and strengthen capacity to prevent and reduce climate change, as well as keeping the province clean and sustainable. Sihanoukville has undergone rapid development in recent years and that has spawned a number of new infrastructure projects in the city. Earlier this year Prime Minister Hun Sen announced that more than 5,000 smart lights would be installed to both illuminate the city and dramatically cut power costs upon the completion of a new $300 million road project. Although the MoU between Cambodia and China is a step in the right direction, observers say that more work needs to be done to truly achieve a cleaner, more sustainable Cambodia. According to EnergyLab’s analysis, if all announced energy projects go forward, in 2030 a total of 80 percent of Cambodia’s grid electricity will still be generated from fossil fuels, up from about 34 percent in 2018. This future energy mixture would compromise Cambodia’s ability to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals and Nationally Determined Contributions under the UN Climate Agreement. – Khmer Times