Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam: July 25, 2025
A trade agreement between Indonesia and the United States set to include provisions on personal data transfers has raised alarms about the potential undermining of Indonesia's data sovereignty.
Indonesia's government and parliament have agreed on a 2026 economic growth target of between 5.2 and 5.8 per cent, according to the preliminary 2026 draft state budget and national development plan endorsed in a plenary session on Thursday.
1.ADB FUNDS RM266 MILLION TO DEVELOP AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS -- VIENTIANE TIMES
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide RM266 million (US$63 million) to finance the Sustainable Agrifood Systems Sector Project. The project aims to enhance climate resilience, food security and nutrition, raise household incomes and strengthen high-value agricultural exports.
2.LAO URGES CAMBODIA, THAILAND TO MAINTAIN PEACE -- VIENTIANE TIMES
The Lao Foreign Affairs Ministry has urged Cambodia and Thailand to resolve the border conflict through peaceful means. As a neighbour sharing borders and maintaining good relations with the two countries, the ministry urged them to exercise restraint.
MYANMAR
1.AVOCADO GROWERS EYE MORE ASEAN MARKETS -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
The Myanmar Avocado Producer and Exporter Association plans to expand its exports to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and China this season. The association will expedite imports of fertilisers and pesticides to assist farmers in improving the production of avocados.
2.THREE MISSING AFTER BOAT CAPSIZES IN YANGON RIVER -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
Three people are missing after a boat sank while crossing from Dala's Thamada to Yangon's Botahtaung jetty due to heavy rain and strong winds. The boat was carrying 10 passengers when the tragedy happened and rescuers failed to find the missing people.
SINGAPORE
1.GIC POSTS 3.8% ANNUALISED RETURN OVER 20 YEARS DESPITE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES -- THE STRAITS TIMES
The returns on GIC's investment portfolio have remained stable despite trade uncertainties, geopolitical upheaval and volatile markets, according to its annual report on July 25.
2.GIC'S 20-YEAR ANNUALISED REAL RETURN DIPS TO 5-YEAR LOW OF 3.8%, WARNS OF VOLATILE RETURNS AHEAD -- CNA
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC on Friday (Jul 25) reported a dip in its returns to the lowest in five years and reiterated a warning on volatile returns ahead amid 'a world in flux'.
THAILAND
1. 2ND ARMY ASSERTS THAILAND'S RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENCE UNDER UN CHARTER AMID CAMBODIAN ATTACKS -- THE NATION
Thailand asserts its right to self-defence under the UN Charter after Cambodia attacks civilian areas, including ancient site, petrol station, and hospital.
2. CAMBODIA'S ATTACK KILL 12 THAIS -- BANGKOK POST
The number of fatalities from Cambodia's attacks on Thai civilian areas has risen to 12, including an eight-year-old boy, with over 30 injuries, according to the Thai army.
VIETNAM
1.TRADE REMAINS BUOYANT DESPITE HEADWINDS -- VIETNAMPLUS
Vietnam's exports and imports reached RM2 trillion (US$470 billion) from January to July despite global challenges. Computers, electronics, machinery, equipment, apparel and footwear remained major revenue earners.
2.HO CHI MINH TAPS INTO SPORTS TOURISM -- VIETNAM NEWS
Ho Chi Minh City plans to combine sports with cultural and nature-based activities to attract more tourists. The city is trying to leverage the country's scenic mountains, rivers and coasts to promote the travel industry.
-- BERNAMA
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The Star
26 minutes ago
- The Star
Japan's Ishiba stresses resolve to stay, avoid political vacuum
TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reiterated his resolve to stay on to avoid creating a political vacuum and to ensure that a trade deal with the US is fully implemented. "I intend to fulfill my responsibility so as to never create a political vacuum for the nation and its people,' Ishiba said on Monday (July 28) at the start of a rare meeting in which the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's lawmakers have gathered to assess the reasons for the party's recent election setback. The meeting, which started around 3.30pm local time, will give those in the party who seek a change at the top an opportunity to directly challenge Ishiba over his leadership. In his remarks, Ishiba apologised for the historic defeat that the LDP suffered in the July 20 election, and he said he wants to do his best to ensure the recent trade deal with the US is fully implemented. LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama, speaking at the same venue, said he'll finish analysing the election's results in August and decide at that time how best to hold himself accountable. On Sunday, Ishiba signalled he intends to stay in office even after the ruling coalition lost its majority in the upper house of parliament in the election. "I intend to devote myself to the people and the future of the country,' Ishiba said in an interview with national broadcaster NHK. He added he wanted to ensure the successful implementation of the recently announced US-Japan trade deal. New opinion polls show support for Ishiba's administration remains low, although surveys also suggest the public sees few good alternatives to the current prime minister. Polls in the Mainichi and Asahi newspapers published on Sunday both showed approval ratings of 29% for Ishiba's government. The Asahi poll also found that 41% of respondents thought Ishiba should stand down, while 47% thought that wasn't necessary. The same survey showed that 81% of respondents thought the LDP's defeat was due to partywide issues rather than the prime minister's leadership. Ishiba has also found support on social media and in small public gatherings outside the prime minister's office from members of the public calling for him to stay on. Nonetheless, party members have been calling for someone to take responsibility for the July 20 election setback, which substantially weakened Ishiba's position. For the first time since 1955, a leader from the storied Japanese party now has to govern the country without a majority in either of the legislative bodies. Former foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi called for a leadership change within the LDP on his YouTube channel over the weekend. The party needs a "fresh start with a new leader,' he said. While pressure mounted on Ishiba last week, the premier got good news in the form of a surprise trade deal with the US that carried relatively favourable terms for Japan, including the lowering of across-the-board tariffs to 15% from 25%. The deal doesn't appear to have given Ishiba a significant boost in popularity. - Bloomberg
New Straits Times
26 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Analyst: Malaysia leans on quiet engagement to seek favourable tariffs revision
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia remains locked in quiet engagement and possibly embracing a deliberate positioning with the United States (US) to lower the 25 per cent tariffs on its exports to the American markets as the Aug 1 deadline approaches. Unlike other Asean countries, which have struck quick deals with Washington, SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes said Malaysia's more measured response to the impending US tariffs likely reflects deliberate positioning rather than passivity. He said that contrary to countries pursuing headline-grabbing diplomacy, Malaysia often leans on quiet engagement and multilateral cooperation to navigate complex trade tensions. With the Aug 1 deadline nearing, exporters and investors are keeping a close watch on the outcome of these negotiations, which would reshape the cost dynamics of doing business between Malaysia and its third-largest trading partner. While regional peers such as Indonesia and Vietnam have already struck last-minute deals to reduce their tariffs to 19 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, Malaysia is still seeking favourable terms that safeguard local industries without compromising national interests. The proposed tariffs — a revival of protectionist measures introduced during President Donald Trump's first term — have stirred fresh uncertainties across Southeast Asia, where economies are deeply embedded in global supply chains. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has described the ongoing talks with the US as progressing well, with emphasis on striking a balanced outcome. "This low-profile approach fits with Malaysia's broader strategy, namely maintaining economic openness, avoiding entanglement in great power rivalries, and preserving regional alignment within Asean. "By staying restrained, Malaysia may be aiming to protect its long-term credibility as a stable, rules-based partner," said Innes. That said, he cautioned that the exposure is real as Malaysia's export economy is heavily tilted toward electrical and electronic goods, precision machinery, and intermediate components, many of which plug directly into US-bound supply chains. A 25 per cent tariff could disrupt flows, especially in semiconductors, sensors, and specialised modules that are difficult to reroute, he said. "The pain would be felt most in hubs like Penang, where small and medium enterprises and multinationals are deeply intertwined. "While some firms could shift volumes elsewhere, the high-tech nature of these exports makes substitution harder than it sounds," said Innes. The absence of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US limits Malaysia's negotiating toolkit, but Innes believed it doesn't shut the door entirely. He pointed out that Malaysia remained strategically important to US firms seeking reliable, non-China supply bases, which provides leverage particularly if Malaysia targets exemptions for specific sectors tied to US industrial or security interests, such as chip packaging or electric vehicle components. While countries like Indonesia have dangled major purchases to secure tariff relief, Malaysia's options are different, Innes said. "It is unlikely to buy its way into a deal with big-ticket orders. Instead, it can offer alignment, which is co-investment opportunities in green tech, digital infrastructure, or rare-earth refining," he said. According to Innes, these would support Malaysia's industrial roadmap while offering Washington something it values: supply chain resilience and diversification, but from a policy standpoint, the trade-off is nuanced. He noted that offering short-term concessions or budget support might help shield critical sectors from long-term dislocation. "But any deal must be carefully structured. It should channel benefits beyond just large exporters towards local suppliers, workers, and tech development ecosystems," said Innes, highlighting that if no deal is reached, the impact may not be catastrophic at a national level, but could be meaningful in key sectors. "Export growth could slow, investment plans may be paused, and employment could tighten in affected industries. The greater risk is longer-term: losing ground in a global supply chain reshuffle that increasingly rewards agility and alignment. Malaysia still has room to move, but the window is closing," he added. Meanwhile, Moody's Analytics economist Denise Cheok said Malaysia's economic exposure to the US through value-added trade is more significant than headline export figures suggest. Citing calculations based on OECD Trade in Value Added (TiVA) data, Cheok said that Malaysian domestic value added embedded in foreign final demand to the US accounted for slightly over 5.0 per cent of the country's gross domestic product. She noted that this includes not only direct exports of final goods but also intermediate components that eventually reach the American consumers and provide a more comprehensive measure than gross exports alone. "This compares to over 9.0 per cent of GDP for Singapore, which is highly trade-exposed, and about 2.0 per cent of GDP for Indonesia, which is more domestically focused and not as reliant on exports to the US," Cheok said. If the full 25 per cent tariff is imposed without any rerouting of supply chains, Cheok estimates the impact could shave up to 2.6 per cent off Malaysia's GDP in 2025, with the effects likely to be uneven across sectors. "The key manufacturing sector is likely to be hit hard — not only by the direct impact of the tariffs but also by global supply chain disruptions caused by the uncertainty surrounding tariff policies," she said. Cheok added that Malaysia, like many of its Southeast Asian peers, relies heavily on exports as part of its growth model, and structural changes to this would be difficult, even in the long term. "The fractured relationship between the US and its trading partners will likely continue beyond the next three years, and Malaysia should continue strengthening its trade relations with other economies, including Asean, as a counterbalance to this," she said. — BERNAMA
The Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Sun
Thailand and Cambodia ceasefire talks begin in Malaysia
PUTRAJAYA: Thailand and Cambodia initiated ceasefire discussions on Monday as border tensions entered their fifth day, with over 200,000 civilians displaced by artillery and gunfire exchanges. The talks, held at Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's official residence, Seri Perdana, included delegations from the US and China. Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met shortly after 0700 GMT, following US President Donald Trump's intervention. Trump reportedly secured commitments from both leaders to 'quickly work out' a truce during late-night weekend calls. Malaysia, as the current ASEAN chair, is mediating the negotiations. However, hostilities persisted ahead of the meeting, with both sides exchanging fresh accusations. Phumtham claimed Bangkok doubted Phnom Penh's sincerity, while Cambodian defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata accused Thailand of continued territorial incursions with heavy weaponry. The disputed border region, home to ancient temples, has seen repeated clashes despite past ceasefire agreements. US State Department officials and a Chinese delegation were present at the talks, reflecting international interest in stabilising the conflict. – AFP
