Latest news with #CorruptionEradicationCommission
Barnama
18-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam: July 18, 2025
The Corruption Eradication Commission on Thursday announced the detention of four suspects in an alleged bribery and extortion scheme involving foreign worker permit services at the Manpower Ministry. The four suspects are all current or former senior officials at the ministry, accused of delaying work permit approvals for foreign nationals until payments were made through intermediaries. Political parties have welcomed a recent Home Ministry proposal to increase state financial assistance for them, in the hope of reducing their dependence on business interests, but analysts warn stronger oversight and systemic reform are needed to prevent taxpayer's money going down the drain. 2. PARTIES LOOK FORWARD TO TRIPLING OF STATE FUNDING -- THE JAKARTA POST A flood preparedness drill was held at the Ang Nam Houm Reservoir in Vientiane on Tuesday amid flood threats. The exercise focused on underwater rescue, evacuating people in high-risk areas and the timely coordination of assistance. 2. LAOS-BELARUS EXPAND BILATERAL TIES -- VIENTIANE TIMES Laos and Belarus firmed up their diplomatic ties established in 1994 by promoting key areas — trade, investment and tourism. Both governments have waived visas to promote tourism and ease travel of official delegations. MYANMAR 1. POSITIONING TANINTHAYI AS PREMIER TOURIST SPOT -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Authorities approved licences to build 17 new hotels and high-standard guesthouses in Taninthayi Region to promote tourism. Thirty new travel agency licences and 55 new local tour guide permits were approved to promote the southern state, which is popular for its marine tourism. 2. MYANMAR-RUSSIA TIGER CONSERVATION STAMPS -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR The Myanma Post will release commemorative stamps featuring tigers to mark Myanmar-Russia cooperation in tiger conservation on July 20. The stamps are part of Myanmar's contribution to the International Forum for Tiger Conservation. SINGAPORE 1. TRUMP DIAGNOSED WITH VEIN CONDITION CAUSING LEG SWELLING, WHITE HOUSE SAYS -- THE STRAITS TIMES/REUTERS The White House said on July 17 that US President Donald Trump is experiencing swelling in his lower legs and bruising on his right hand, after photographs emerged of Mr Trump with swollen ankles and makeup covering the afflicted part of his hand. 2. 'THERE'S NO MOVING ON': 8 MONTHS ON, PARENTS OF TEEN WHO DIED IN MALDIVES STILL SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS -- CNA Eight months after their daughter's death on a school trip to the Maldives, the parents of 15-year-old Jenna Chan say they are still waiting for answers. THAILAND 1. THAI PROPERTY SECTOR FACES CRISIS AS DEBT BURDEN SOARS -- THE NATION Experts warn of potential collapse as household debt reaches 90% of GDP amid cash flow crunch. 2. DOZENS OF ILLEGAL BORDER-CROSSERS ARRESTED IN ARANYAPRATHET -- BANGKOK POST Soldiers have arrested 38 people for illegally crossing the Thai-Cambodian border in this eastern province, most of them are Cambodian migrants returning to Thailand because they could find no jobs at home. VIETNAM 1. ONLY VALID BANK ACCOUNTS TO AVOID FRAUDS -- VIETNAMPLUS The State Bank of Vietnam announced that over 86 million bank accounts that do not have biometric authentication or have been dormant for a long time will be deleted starting September 1. The move is to prevent fraud and cybercrime. 2. RISING DENGUE CASES DEMAND COMMUNITY HELP -- VIETNAMPLUS Health officials are encouraging community participation to control the rising dengue fever cases in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces. The Cu Chi Regional General Hospital has admitted 20-30 dengue patients per day in the last two months. -- BERNAMA BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio Twitter : @ @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
The Star
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Reform era draws to a close in Indonesia
JAKARTA: Twenty-seven years after Indonesia emerged from the shadow of authoritarian rule, the nation now stands at a crossroads, as it reaches what some pro-democracy advocates describe as 'the end of political reform,' marked by the dismantling of democratic institutions and the return of authoritarian tendencies. The fall of Soeharto and his New Order regime on May 21, 27 years ago, marked the beginning of the Reform era, a transformative period that ended the military's roles in civilian and political affairs, strengthened democracy, promoted greater regional autonomy and fostered a freer press, among other reforms. In the years that followed, Indonesia became widely regarded as a rare democratic success in Southeast Asia, as it held regular competitive elections, empowered a vibrant press and civil society, and established independent institutions that symbolised a decisive break from authoritarian rule, such as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). New era? Now, after more than two and a half decades have passed, some pro-democracy advocates and experts suggest that the reforms may be over, or at least nearing their end, as the nation drifts further from the spirit that defined the Reform era. 'One by one, the key mandates and institutions of reform have been dismantled, from anticorruption to civilian control over the military, everything the Reform era stood for has been undone,' said Wijayanto of the Institute for Economic and Social Research, Education and Information (LP3ES). 'At this point, we have to admit that political reform in Indonesia is over. This is the close of an era and the rise of a new one, defined by authoritarianism dressed in democratic clothing,' he added. Among the earliest signs of this shift, he said, was the declawing of the KPK, which once stood as a symbol of the Reform era's commitment to transparency and accountability. The amendment of the KPK Law in 2019 stripped the once-independent anticorruption agency of its autonomy by placing it under a supervisory council appointed by the government. Civil society, which has long been considered a crucial safeguard of Indonesian democracy, has also been under growing pressure, marked by a pattern of intimidation and online surveillance, as well as harassment targeting activists, students and academics, Wijayanto said. Nicky Fahrizal of the Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said democratic backsliding began in the final years of Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's presidency, when legal and constitutional norms were increasingly bent to serve political interests. An example was the controversial Constitutional Court ruling that altered the age eligibility rules for elections and which effectively enabled Jokowi's son Gibran Rakabuming Raka to run for vice president alongside President Prabowo Subianto. The trend has only accelerated under Prabowo, Nicky said, pointing to his growing reliance on the military to deliver his programmes, which was further reinforced by the recent passing of the amendment to the Indonesian Military (TNI) Law allowing active-duty officers to take on more civilian roles in government. Nicky noted that the Reform era is drawing to a close, describing the country as transitioning into a 'hybrid regime', a system that maintains democratic facades like elections and civil liberties while quietly reintroducing authoritarian characteristics. 'We have entered the post-Reform era,' he said. 'But what's happening isn't the strengthening of democratic or civil institutions, but the rise of a hybrid regime. Democracy is still maintained, but only in a formal and superficial way.' Historical whitewashing The potential nomination of late president Soeharto as a national hero and the plan by the Prabowo administration to release new history books have added to concerns about the rehabilitation of the former strongman's legacy. 'What we're seeing is an effort to rewrite history and portray [Soeharto's] New Order regime as not all that bad,' Nicky said. 'This historical revisionism is dangerous because the reforms began as a response to the New Order's suppression of civil liberties, corruption and human rights abuses.' The attempts to rewrite history not only reflect strong nostalgia for the New Order among political elites, but also the broader public consciousness, with the military gaining traction in local politics and police officers being regarded with reverence by rural people, said Wijayanto of LP3ES. 'We haven't truly left [New Order] behind. It still lives in our minds, it's seen in the public's admiration for military figures and uniforms. This isn't just about Soeharto as a person, but about the kind of regime that existed with him,' he said. Presidential Communications Office head Hasan Nasbi and State Secretary Supratman Andi Agtas were not immediately available for comment. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
New Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: Brotherly nations join hands to fight crime
FOR over 60 years, Malaysia and Indonesia have had brotherly feuds over geopolitics, cross-border crime and even pop culture. This rivalry is particularly evident in sport, more so when the two nations squared off in eight Thomas Cup finals, with Indonesia victorious in six. Squabbles over the proprietorship of traditional songs, cuisine and costumes flare up every now and again but have petered out peacefully. There is deference though. Malaysian literati often pay obeisance to Indonesian greats, such as novelist Pramoedya Ananta Toer and poet Chairil Anwar. When intellectuals from both nations fraternise, the Malaysians would subtly switch to an "Indonesian accent", as if yielding to cultural dominance. There is this stark metric though: almost three million Indonesians have entered Malaysia—1.8 million illegally—in search of work. They have also carved out "Little Jakartas" in Malaysia's urban centres. It seems like a win-win situation: Malaysian employers get low-cost labour while Indonesia reaps billions in wage remittance. There are also long-settled Indonesians-turned-Malaysians through the centuries. Now, in more pragmatic times, Malaysia and Indonesia again have set aside rivalries to tackle a mutual problem: international corruption, cross-border crimes, money laundering and human trafficking. The bilateral cooperation seeks to strengthen anti-corruption initiatives through information sharing and the judicial process. One such initiative is the cross-border cooperation between the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission. This is to tackle sophisticated and transnational corruption, uncover intricate money-laundering networks and analyse their methods. While the focus is on the digital money trail, they will likely loop in human trafficking, specifically illegal migrant labour enabled by law enforcement complicity. Recent cases have shown the wisdom of pursuing such cooperation. In the follow-up to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal, Indonesia seized the superyacht Equanimity as part of global investigations. An Indonesian judge and trade ministry official allegedly fast-tracked palm oil export permits that circumvented requirements to benefit Malaysian companies. A Malaysian company was allegedly embroiled in land rights corruption and deforestation in Indonesia to cultivate oil palm. Against this sordid backdrop, the two nations aim to plug legal vacuums and loopholes that had subverted justice. Weeding out root causes of such crimes is also being planned. It entails dismantling a seedy political system that facilitates cross-influence of oligarchs, high-powered politicians and top government officials. These efforts make past and present quarrels seem like playground scuffles.
