VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Singapore's prime minister on Wednesday said his ruling party had "taken a hit" over a spate of scandals including a graft probe and senior lawmakers' resignations, which shocked the city-state otherwise known as a haven of political stability.

In his first remarks to parliament on the issue, Lee Hsien Loong told lawmakers that Transport Minister S. Iswaran, who is under investigation by the country's anti-graft agency, has been barred from duty and given reduced pay of S$8,500 a month until further notice.

He said such incidents involving ministers are rare, and that the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has "zero tolerance" for corruption.

"...The PAP has taken a hit but we will show Singaporeans that we will uphold standards and do the right thing, so that trust is maintained," he said.

"When the investigation is completed, CPIB (Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau) will submit its findings to the Attorney-General's Chambers, which will decide what to do with them," said Lee, declining to provide further details as the investigation is ongoing.

Singapore is due to hold elections by 2025. While the PAP has maintained a grip on power since 1959, voters, already bruised by high living costs, have raised eyebrows at the graft probe and resignations of two senior PAP lawmakers on account of an "inappropriate relationship".

The lawmakers, including the house speaker, resigned last month.

When asked why their relationship was kept under wraps since late 2020, Lee said, "I should have forced the issue earlier". (Reuters)

Taiwan's military vowed on Wednesday to step up counter-espionage efforts as authorities investigated several serving and former military officers suspected of spying for China.

China, which is pressing the island to accept its sovereignty, has in recent years mounted a sustained espionage campaign to undermine democratically governed Taiwan's military and civilian leadership, a Reuters investigation has found.

A lieutenant colonel surnamed Hsiao, based in the army's Aviation and Special Forces Command, had been detained on suspicion of leaking defence secrets to "foreign forces including China" and "developing organisations" in Taiwan, the official Central News Agency (CNA) reported.

Investigators searched the Command headquarters in the northern city of Taoyuan this week, the CNA reported, adding that four retired military officers as well as a "middleman" surnamed Hsiao were also being investigated.

The defence ministry said in a statement authorities had gathered "concrete evidence" of illegal activities.

"Facing infiltration by the Chinese Communist Party, the national forces will continue to boost counter-espionage education and raise awareness," the ministry said, adding it was saddened by the crime of "selling out the country and people".

Responding to a question about the reports at a press conference, Deputy Secretary-General to the Presidential Office Alex Huang said the incident was "shameless" and called for thorough investigations.

"Betraying your own fellow soldiers and country should be punished by law strictly," he said, adding that authorities had been working hard to prevent such incidents happening again.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up military and political pressure over recent years to try to force the island to accept its sovereignty, which the government in Taipei rejects.

In the past decade or so, at least 21 serving or retired Taiwanese officers with the rank of captain or above have been convicted of spying for China, according to a Reuters review of court records and reports from Taiwan's official news agencies. (Reuters)

Thailand's Pheu Thai party will nominate a real estate tycoon to become prime minister as it takes the lead in efforts to form a government after the progressive party that won a May election was sidelined, Pheu Thai said on Wednesday.

Southeast Asia's second largest economy has been in political limbo since the May 14 election, which the Move Forward party won with the backing of young voters tired of rule by military-linked governments, closely followed by the populist Pheu Thai.

Pheu Thai, the latest incarnation of a party founded by former telecoms tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra, said it would nominate Srettha Thavisin in a parliamentary vote for prime minister due on Friday.

It said Move Forward was no longer part of the effort. Despite winning the most seats in the election, it faced relentless opposition from pro-military parties and members of the military-appointed upper house Senate, alarmed by its reform agenda.

"Pheu Thai has supported Move Forward to our fullest ability," Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew told reporters, explaining his party's decision to dump its ally and take the lead in forming a government.

Under the constitution drafted during military rule, a joint sitting of the two houses of parliament has to vote for a prime minister, who then forms a government.

Twice Move Forward's attempt to get its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, voted in as prime minister were blocked by conservatives.

Rangsiman Rome, a Move Forward lawmaker, told reporters he was shocked by Pheu Thai's decision to abandon their alliance.

"I thought we were married. Today ... it's like a divorce," Rangsiman said near Pheu Thai's headquarters, where more than 100 people gathered to protest against the sidelining of Move Forward.

"You betrayed the people," some protesters shouted, referring to Pheu Thai.

Pheu Thai's nominee for prime minister, Srettha, has little political experience. He co-founded Bangkok-listed Sansiri (SIRI.BK), one of Thailand's largest real estate developers.

Members of a new alliance that will seek to form the next government would be announced on Thursday, Chonlanan said.

The attempt by Pheu Thai to form a government comes as Thaksin plans to return to Thailand after almost 15 years in self-exile.

Thaksin, 74, who was ousted as prime minister in a 2006 coup, is expected back next week, his daughter, who is also a Pheu Thai leader, said recently. He faces up to a decade in jail on convictions for graft and abuse of power, charges that he denied and described as politically motivated.

'SO DISAPPOINTED'

Move Forward rose to prominence with the backing younger voters, many of whom protested for months against a military-backed government in 2020.

Conservative opposition to Move Forward stemmed from a progressive agenda seen by the royalist-military establishment as a threat, in particular a promise to amend a law, known as article 112, that punishes insulting the monarchy with prison of up to 15 years.

Critics say the law has long been used by conservatives to stifle dissent.

Move Forward's secretary general, Chaithawat Tulathon, said opposition to his party's proposal to amend the law was an excuse to block it from power.

"The old powers don't want to see a Move Forward government," he said.

Pheu Thai deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai said a government led by his party would not support amending article 112 but would focus on solving economic and political problems.

Several hundred protesters assembled in cars and on motorbikes for a noisy show of frustration near the Pheu Thai headquarters in Bangkok.

Some protesters revived a rallying cry from the 2020 agitation, shouting "abolish 112".

Jiraporn Butsapakit, a 75-year-old protester, said she had hoped Pheu Thai and Move Forward could have worked together for democracy.

"I am so disappointed," she said. (Reuters)

India has found violations related to manufacturing and laboratory practices at drugmaker Riemann Labs, whose cough syrup was linked to the deaths of children in Cameroon, a government health official told Reuters on Wednesday.

Authorities have stepped up scrutiny of drugmakers after some cough syrups made in India were linked to deaths of dozens of children overseas.

Riemann Labs did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters. It is the fourth Indian cough syrup maker to stop production after regulators found lapses.

Rajesh Bhatia, one of the three directors at Riemann Labs, had told Reuters previously he was not aware of the matter.

Regulators inspected the company's production unit in Madhya Pradesh state and issued a notice after finding lapses, said Sudam Khade, the state's drugs controller.

"Some violations in good manufacturing practices and good lab practices were found," Khade said, without specifying what the violations were.

Samples of all of the company's products had been sent for testing and further action would be decided based on the results, Khade said.

The government told parliament on Tuesday that Riemann was directed to stop manufacturing after inspections by federal and state regulators.

Riemann has been identified as the maker of Naturcold cough syrup, Khade said.

A batch of it was linked to the death of at least six children in Cameroon by authorities there. Some media, however, reported the deaths of 12 children. (Reuters)