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August
Indonesia says 'Jurassic Park' project on track despite UNESCO warnings
Written by Nur Yasmin
Construction on an Indonesian tourism project dubbed "Jurassic Park" on social media will continue, the Southeast Asian country's environment ministry said on Thursday, despite UNESCO warnings the plans could have a negative environmental impact.
Work on a series of tourism projects in Indonesia's Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, began last year, sparking concerns about threats to the local economy and the fragile habitat of the park's namesake, the Komodo dragon.
Last month, officials from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) told a World Heritage Committee conference that the project required a new environmental impact assessment over illegal fishing concerns and the potential risk to the Komodo dragon's natural habitat.
"This project will proceed... it's been proven to have no impact," Wiratno, a senior official at Indonesia's environment ministry, told Reuters.
UNESCO officials told last month's meeting that they had requested an updated assessment from the Indonesian government but received no response. Wiratno said a new assessment was being drafted and could be sent in September.
It was not clear exactly what the project, centred on the island of Rinca, entails. Last year, the government said it was building a "premium tourism spot" on the island.
In a separate statement, Wiratno said the project mainly included renovation work on existing structures and did not pose any danger to the rare Komodo dragons.
Rima Melani Bilaut of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI), an environmental group, said the project could impact the local community, as well as disturb the dragons.
"We urge the government to develop tourism that's based on the people. There are people living there," she said.
Last year, social media users likened the project to one on a dinosaur island featured in the "Jurassic Park" films after photos of a dragon standing in front of a big vehicle were widely shared online.
Indonesia is home to around 3,100 Komodo dragons, according to government data. The unique lizards grow up to 3 metres (10 feet) long and have a yellow forked tongue. (Reuters)
August
Malaysian PM does not have majority support, say opposition and ally
Written by Nur Yasmin
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin does not have a majority as he has asserted, the main opposition bloc and a key ally said, predicting that he could lose a confidence vote next month.
On Wednesday, Muhyiddin said he retained majority support among lawmakers and would prove it through a confidence vote when Malaysia's parliament reconvened next month. His comments followed the withdrawal of support from some members of his coalition. read more
Muhyiddin's grip on power has been shaky since coming to power in March 2020 as he leads an unstable coalition. The latest crisis comes as Malaysia sees a resurgence in COVID-19 infections and economic slowdown from lockdowns.
The main opposition bloc, Pakatan Harapan, disputed Muhyiddin's majority claim and called for an immediate vote.
"After Pakatan Harapan leaders made careful calculations with friends from opposition parties and all who do not support Muhyiddin, it is clear that Muhyiddin did not speak the truth," the bloc said in a statement on Thursday.
The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the biggest bloc in Muhyiddin's ruling alliance, also challenged the premier.
In a statement on Wednesday, UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said more than eight lawmakers from the party have withdrawn support.
UMNO has constantly challenged Muhyiddin even after agreeing to form a government with him last year. But the party is split on its support for the prime minister - a factor that has kept Muhyiddin in power despite threats from UMNO to quit.
Deputy prime minister and UMNO politician Ismail Sabri Yaakob has stood by Muhyiddin and appeared along with him in a televised address on Wednesday.
Muhyiddin said the political turmoil was triggered by "certain parties" whose demands he had refused to meet, including freeing individuals facing corruption charges.
Several UMNO lawmakers face corruption charges since the party's defeat in 2018 elections, including former premier Najib Razak and party president Hamidi.
They have both denied wrongdoing. (Reuters)
August
Australia to adopt Magnitsky style sanctions law
Written by Nur Yasmin
Australia will adopt a sanctions law similar to the U.S. Magnitsky Act that allows targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against individuals who are "perpetrators of egregious acts of international concern", foreign affairs minister Marise Payne said on Thursday.
In March, the United States, the European Union and Britain sanctioned Chinese officials in connection with serious alleged human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region, prompting retaliatory action from Beijing.
Australia will reform its laws to expand country-based sanctions and specify the conduct to which sanctions could be applied by the end of the year.
This conduct could include the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, gross human rights violations, malicious cyber activity, and serious corruption, Payne said in a statement.
"Australia will have the ability to impose targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against individuals and entities determined to be involved in such sanctionable conduct wherever it occurs, without having to establish specific country-based regimes," she said. (Reuters)
August
Expats wait anxiously as Singapore weighs COVID-19 reopening
Written by Nur Yasmin
For months, Briton Jamie Pierre has been trying to get approval to travel to Singapore for his new job there. But after repeated checks online plus multiple emails and messages, he is frustrated, confused, and still without an entry permit.
Now, as Singapore says it may ease COVID-19 quarantines in September for vaccinated people, he hardly dares feel optimistic.
"It does give me some hope," said Pierre, 32, who works for a marketing procurement platform.
"But ... I'm kind of tempering that hope" with worry of more delays, he added.
The pandemic has disrupted global mobility on a scale that hasn't been seen since World War Two. Governments in the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, China, Thailand and Hong Kong, have maintained quarantine and entry requirements.
Singapore - long known as a global financial hub for highly mobile foreign professionals - has had especially strict border controls, quarantine and contact tracing. It has been one of the most successful countries in curbing COVID-19, with only 39 deaths.
But for its legions of foreign workers - who make up one-fifth of the 5.7 million population - the restrictions have been a nightmare, with many stranded abroad despite having jobs and visas, and others afraid to leave for fear of not being allowed to return.
The government recently said it was considering quarantine-free travel for people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 starting in September, when 80% of the population should be inoculated. It also plans to review some virus restrictions in early August, when two-thirds are on track to be inoculated. read more
'IN LIMBO'
The pandemic has forced Singapore to weigh its reputation as one of the world's most accessible business climates against its efforts to control the virus.
"As a small economy, Singapore must and will remain open and connected to the world," the manpower and trade ministries told Reuters in a written reply to questions.
"We cannot afford nor do we have any intention to close ourselves off to the world for longer than necessary," it added.
Since last year, foreign work visa holders have needed special permits to enter Singapore. The city-state largely stopped accepting new applications from most countries in May after a surge in coronavirus cases globally.
Although many workers have successfully entered, others have been frustrated. A Facebook group with 18,000 members features accounts of navigating an opaque permit system.
There is no official data on how many foreign workers are stranded, but an online petition seeking entry for vaccinated passholders from India has nearly 5,000 signatories, many of whom share tales of families separated for months on end.
Singapore-based business owner Yigit Ali Ural travelled to Turkey last month for a family emergency. Uncertain of getting approval to return, he gave up his rented apartment, losing thousands of dollars in deposit.
"We are in limbo - whether to stay in Turkey and try to come back to Singapore. Or just forget it," said Ural, who is Turkish-American.
Pierre has been working remotely until he's allowed to enter Singapore. He has spent months in Airbnbs and temporary accommodation in the U.K. with his wife and toddler.
"I have to essentially work irregular hours to be able to keep communication with the region," said Pierre, calling the situation "stressful".
Singapore's government said approvals are based on COVID-19 risk levels of the countries applicants are coming from, and it prioritises more critical travellers.
REOPENING CLOSELY WATCHED
Singapore's tentative reopening moves are being closely watched - not only by anxious expatriates but also by other countries that are further behind in vaccinations.
"Other countries currently pursing zero-COVID strategies, such as China, Hong Kong, Australia, and Taiwan, will be keeping a keen eye on Singapore's progress," said Gareth Leather at Capital Economics.
A decrease in the number of foreigners last year pushed Singapore's population down 0.3% to 5.69 million, the first drop since 2003.
The number of employment passholders, defined as professionals earning at least S$4,500 a month, dropped 8.6% to 177,100 in 2020.
For now, expatriates who have not seen their families since the pandemic began are keeping a close watch on the September plan.
"Going there is easy. But what are my chances of actually coming back?" said Maura Geertsma, who is Dutch. "I need to be confident that I'm able to return to Singapore." (Reuters)
August
Malaysia grants conditional approval for Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
Written by Nur Yasmin
Malaysia's Health Ministry on Thursday said it has granted a conditional approval for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.
The ministry will continue to evaluate the quality, safety and effectiveness of the vaccine to ensure that its benefits outweigh the risks, director-general, Noor Hisham Abdullah, said in a statement. (Reuters)
August
U.S., Indonesia commit to South China Sea defense in 'strategic dialogue'
Written by Nur Yasmin
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Tuesday the launch of a "strategic dialogue" with Indonesia, and Washington said the two countries committed to working together on issues that include defending freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
Meeting in Washington, Blinken and Indonesian Foreign Minster Retno Marsudi also committed to work together against COVID-19 and the climate crisis and to boost bilateral trade and economic ties, the State Department said.
Indonesia is the largest country and economy in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a bloc Washington sees as key to its efforts to stand up to China's growing influence in Asia.
The two sides agreed to establish a "strategic partnership" in 2015, but Blinken told reporters while standing alongside Marsudi that the dialogue was only now actually being initiated.
"Indonesia is a strong democratic partner to the United States; we are working together on so many different fronts," he said, adding that Washington appreciated Jakarta's strong voice within ASEAN.
Marsudi told Blinken a strong partnership with Indonesia would be "a key asset for your increasing engagement in the region."
She said the United States was one of the important partners for ASEAN in implementing its Indo-Pacific outlook.
"It is my hope, and the Indonesian government's, to advance the bilateral relationship with the U.S., from health to SDGs, from education, to economy, and beyond," she said, using the acronym for sustainable development goals.
A State Department statement on the meeting said the two discussed steps for pandemic recovery. Blinken noted Washington had donated 8 million vaccine doses to Indonesia, and the countries were also working together on oxygen and therapeutics.
Marsudi and Blinken also "expressed shared views on maritime security" and committed to "defending freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, and continuing collaboration in cybersecurity and preventing cybercrime," the statement said.
It said Blinken commended Indonesia's efforts to support Afghanistan’s peace negotiations and stressed the importance of restoring ASEAN member Myanmar to the path to democracy.
On climate, the two sides "discussed opportunities for Indonesia to raise its climate ambition," it said, without elaborating.
The talks came before Blinken was to participate in a virtual meeting with ASEAN, several members of which have competing claims in the South China Sea to those of China. Beijing sees nearly all the strategic waterway as its own and has built up its forces there.
Blinken is joining a week of meetings with regional counterparts, part of a U.S. effort to show it is serious about engaging with Southeast Asia to push back against China. read more
Murray Hiebert, a Southeast Asia expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said there had been little time to develop the strategic partnership agreement reached under the Obama administration before former President Donald Trump took office.
"Agreements like this weren't a priority for his administration," he said of a deal stretching into multiple domains, including defense, energy and broader economic ties.
"Hammering out details in all these areas will take some time and require considerable focus by senior foreign policy, defense and economic officials." (Reuters)
August
The dollar on Wednesday hovered around the levels it has held for days as investors awaited U.S. jobs data for a guide on the outlook for interest rates.
The greenback has lost ground against major rivals after the U.S. Federal Reserve in a policy statement at the end of July said the job market had "some ground to cover" before it eases stimulus.
But it is still up around 2% overall since a Fed meeting in June when the central bank flagged it was gearing up for sooner-than-expected rate hikes.
On Wednesday the dollar index edged up 0.1%, last at 92.109.
Investors will get a clue on the jobs situation later on Wednesday with the publication of the ADP employment survey, ahead of Friday's labor market report.
"The U.S. labor market report on Friday is likely to be the highlight of this week for the markets," currency analysts at Commerzbank said in a note, adding ADP data would provide a foretaste, but was unlikely to significantly move the dollar.
The U.S. dollar was last broadly flat against the euro, after gains on data showing eurozone business activity surged in July, expanding at its fastest pace for 15 years.
The euro was last trading at $1.18560.
The New Zealand dollar made strong gains for the second consecutive day, after a drop in unemployment in the country raised expectations rate hikes could begin within weeks.
The kiwi was last up 0.9% against the U.S. dollar, at $0.70740.
The country's central bank had said on Tuesday it would soon begin consulting on ways to tighten mortgage lending standards, as it tries to control an inflated housing market.
"The heat we've been hearing and warning about regarding New Zealand's labor market has been borne out," said analysts at the Bank of New Zealand.
"This surely removes any doubt about the (central bank) soon removing its foot from the accelerator."
Against the yen, the dollar traded near recent lows, last at 109.140.
Sterling edged up 0.1% ahead of a Thursday Bank of England meeting, at $1.39250. (Reuters)
August
Hong Kong museum commemorating 1989 Tiananmen victims reopens online
Written by Nur Yasmin
Hong Kong's June 4th Museum, dedicated to the victims of China's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square, reopened online on Wednesday as "8964 Museum", a pro-democracy group said.
The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, the organizers of annual June 4 vigils in the global financial hub, said the launch was crowdfunded and organized overseas after a "political risk assessment".
Its physical location in Hong Kong closed on June 2 due to an investigation by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department into its licensing.
After Beijing set the financial hub on an authoritarian path with its imposition of a sweeping national security law last year, fears have grown over whether the museum would still be allowed to operate.
"Political repression has intensified," the alliance said in a statement. "The June 4th Museum is currently closed and reopening will only be considered when a suitable method or location is found in the future."
The online museum https://8964museum.com/ operates independently from the alliance, the statement said.
The former British colony of Hong Kong, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with a promise its wide-ranging freedoms would remain intact, traditionally holds the largest June 4 vigil in the world to commemorate the victims of the crackdown. Mainland China bans commemorations and heavily censors mention of the topic.
Hong Kong police banned the last two vigils, citing the coronavirus.
The alliance's chairman Lee Cheuk-Yan is in jail accused of participating in an unauthorized assembly.
Vice-chairwoman Chow Hang-tung was arrested on the eve of June 4 this year and charged with incitement to knowingly take part in an unauthorized assembly. She has been denied bail.
Hong Kong authorities have repeatedly denied curbing human rights and freedoms in the city and say law enforcement has been based on evidence and has nothing to do with the background, profession, or political beliefs of those arrested.
China has never provided a full account of the 1989 crackdown. The death toll given by officials days later was about 300, most of them soldiers, but rights groups and witnesses say thousands of people may have been killed. (Reuters)
August
Britain granted 'dialogue partner' status by Southeast Asian bloc
Written by Nur Yasmin
Britain has been granted "dialogue partner" status by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a step forward in London's push to build stronger diplomatic ties in Asia following its exit from the European Union.
Britain has been seeking the status as part of its post-Brexit policy shift to focus more on the high-growth economies of Asia and the Indo-Pacific, and away from the EU which it left in 2020.
"We agreed to accord the United Kingdom the status of Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in view of its individual relationship with ASEAN as well as its past cooperation and engagement with ASEAN when it was a member of the European Union," said a communique issued by ASEAN during its latest meeting.
ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The group has close diplomatic relations with other world powers including the EU, the United States, and China, and is seen by many as an important forum for discussion of geopolitical issues.
The United States sees ASEAN as key to its efforts to stand up to China's growing influence in Asia.
But the group, whose members are bound by a code not to interfere in each other's affairs, has recently come in for criticism by some of the region's politicians and rights activists for being little more than a talking shop.
Becoming a dialogue partner gives Britain high-level access to ASEAN summits. The British government hopes it will also spur deeper practical cooperation on issues like climate change and regional stability.
Britain has also applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement it hopes will open up new markets for goods and services and strengthen existing commercial links. (Reuters)
August
Australia takes Mercedes to court for downplaying Takata airbag risks
Written by Nur Yasmin
Australia's consumer watchdog filed a court case against Mercedes-Benz on Wednesday alleging that the company downplayed the risks involved with the use of Takata airbags in its vehicles.
The defective airbags, which in rare instances lead to a rupture in the inflator and send potentially deadly metal fragments flying, have resulted in the world's largest automotive recall impacting 100 million vehicles.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said staff at the Mercedes call center told customers it was "okay" to use vehicles that were more than six years old and that the recall was precautionary as there have been no major incidents.
By downplaying the risks, the watchdog said consumers were exposed to potentially serious injury or death.
"These alleged representations used language which was inconsistent with the requirements of the compulsory recall notice," it said.
Voluntary recalls in Australia due to defective airbags began in 2009, but it was made compulsory in 2018 to four million defective airbags identified for replacement after a car crash in Sydney that led to one death.
Germany's Daimler AG, the parent of Mercedes-Benz, said its vehicles were not fitted with Takata 'Alpha' airbags that were identified as a higher risk by the ACCC.
It said since its vehicles were fitted with 'Beta' airbags, the "recall process overseen by the ACCC did not require affected Mercedes-Benz vehicles to be off the road or owners to cease driving them until the repair was undertaken".
The ACCC, however, said its recall notice included both Alpha and Beta airbags, citing the death in Sydney and a serious injury to a driver due to defective Beta airbags.
Daimler said 97.7% of affected airbags have been replaced to date and it has cooperated with the ACCC through its investigation and made improvements to internal systems and call center operations to address concerns. (Reuters)