Malaysia state polls: Selangor expected to be most fiercely fought; outcome will be closely scrutinised

‘ECONOMY NOT IN SHAMBLES’

“The economy is not in shambles. Our growth rate of between 4 to 5 per cent is among the highest in the region and inflation is trending down at 2.8 per cent,” he said, adding that the problem lies in low wage growth. 

The government has clear economic policy and solutions, which will be unveiled in the lead up to the Aug 12 state polls to win over fence sitters, he said.

His ministry will be releasing the renewable energy transition plan on Jul 27 that will attract RM25 billion (US$5.45 billion) in investments and create some 23,000 high-paying jobs.

“For the last six, seven months, the governing parties have focused very much on running the country. Everything was about policies, while there was a lot of build up of opposition content against us which we now have to neutralise,” said Mr Rafizi, who insisted there is still time to counter the opposition narrative. 
 
Meanwhile, Mr Anwar has promised to unveil the Madani Economic Narrative next month to put the country on a stronger economic growth path.
 
Observers said he needs a strong win in Selangor to inject public confidence in his administration and ensure the stability of his unity government.

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Southeast Asian countries expect the US and China to responsibly manage their relationship, says Blinken

JAKARTA: Southeast Asian countries expect the United States and China to “responsibly manage” their relationship, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday (Jul 14). 

“We have an obligation … both the US and China, to responsibly manage our relationship,” he said.

“We want to make sure the competition that we are in does not veer into conflict. And that starts with good communication. It starts with making sure there are no misunderstandings or misperceptions.”

He emphasised that dialogue with China is of importance to US President Joe Biden, who has sent a flurry of diplomats to Beijing to engage with Chinese counterparts in recent weeks.

This includes US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen last week, climate envoy John Kerry in the coming days, and Mr Blinken himself last month.

“We have profound differences that we are trying to manage responsibly. There are areas where we should be able to cooperate because it’s in our mutual interest, and in the interests of other countries as well,” he added.

“I have heard from countries throughout Southeast Asia that there is an expectation that both the US and China will responsibly manage our relationship. That is what we are intent on doing.”

Mr Blinken made the remarks during a wide-ranging interview with CNA’s Indonesia correspondent Saifulbahri Ismail.

The Secretary of State was visiting Jakarta to attend meetings with foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the regional bloc held its annual meeting.

Aside from Washington’s ties with Beijing, the wide-ranging interview also touched on US engagement with Southeast Asia, tensions in the South China Sea, as well as the worsening Myanmar crisis.

ASEAN AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

Mr Blinken avoided a question on whether the US means to increase its military presence in the region, especially in the South China Sea.

Instead, he spoke about the US’ economic engagement in the region and stressed the need for freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.

“We are focused intensely on an affirmative agenda that answers the needs of people in the region, as well as our own citizens,” he said

“We are the single largest provider of foreign direct investment (in ASEAN). That’s tremendously beneficial to the region, and also to us … On an economic basis alone, we see so much of the future being written here in the Indo-Pacific broadly, and in Southeast Asia as well.”

Mr Blinken emphasised it is “very important” to have a shared vision with the bloc and a “free and open” Indo-Pacific.

“We, as do all of our partners in ASEAN, share a commitment to freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and to making sure that we preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific that includes the ability of people, goods and ideas to move lawfully and freely throughout this region.”

He added that the US is keen on deepening its engagement with Southeast Asia on issues of shared interests including climate change, energy, economic growth, infrastructure and health.

MYANMAR CHALLENGE

Mr Blinken praised Indonesia’s leadership as ASEAN Chair, despite a deteriorating crisis in Myanmar.

“Indonesia has been leading very strongly and insisting on upholding the Five-Point Consensus and trying to (get) the military junta … to re-engage in dialogue and to move the country back on the track of democracy,” he said.

“But unfortunately, we’ve not seen any kind of positive response from the regime.”

He cited a worsening situation with deadly violence perpetrated by the junta, the continued detention of political prisoners, and the difficulty in getting humanitarian assistance to those affected by the crisis.

Mr Blinken said diplomats have discussed Myanmar extensively during the meetings and ASEAN is united in its approach of resolutely standing behind the Five-Point Consensus, a peace plan adopted in April 2021 between the bloc and Myanmar’s military leaders.

He acknowledged that while sanctions have not deterred the junta from bloodshed, there is a collective need to continue putting pressure on the regime.

“It is important to deny the military regime the resources that it needs to continue to repress the people of Myanmar … It is also very important that countries do not provide weapons, or support the military regime, because that will only add fuel to the fire of its own making.”

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IN FOCUS: Revitalised Boracay island in the Philippines faces next challenge - the return of mass tourism

TIME TO TAKE PAUSE

Just as tourists have been drawn en masse to the white sands over the years, entrepreneurs, street vendors, gambling personalities and resort tycoons have ridden the same winds blowing into Boracay, chasing a slice of the earnings.

Aguirre-Graf, the former head of the Boracay Foundation – a non-profit charged with “sustaining the island’s environmental, business and social needs” – and an officer of the local hotel association, said that the island’s fabric will only be further damaged if the relentless pursuit of profit is allowed to run.

“We cannot only think about profit. We should also think about the future, how the island will survive if we keep on putting more buildings and bringing more people,” she said.

“The management of the garbage and preservation of our flora and fauna on the island is very important because there has to be balance.

“If we have to open it to mass tourism, again, we have to really impose strict regulations so that those things that happened before will not happen again. 

“I’m sure there will be a way but we just have to install all the necessary infrastructure in order to sustain growth in Boracay. But sometimes you doubt your governments, you know,” she said.

Boracay faces a litany of challenges, including erosion on its White Beach, driven by rising sea levels and climate change, hundreds of sinkholes throughout the island caused by soil erosion and sustained leaking of water pipes and sewerage lines and the overall pursuit of sustainable and equitable development.

At the same time, the building of new hotels, resorts and restaurants is rapidly underway.

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Can Johor Bahru's iconic opera house ignite the city's cultural life?

Cultural expert Joe Sidek, who is the founding director of the George Town Festival in Penang, told CNA that he “thoroughly enjoyed” his experience at the opera house in April when he watched the Drum Up JB! Performance. 

However, he expressed concern that the small capacity of the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House would make it difficult for performances with large manpower to break even financially. 

“It’s really a lovely little opera house, nice building and great views of the sea and the Causeway,” said Joe. 

“But from the commercial side of things, it’s not so easy. Can you imagine, if there are around 20-30 people in your performing team and you have so many people to pay? The maths is not right,” he added. 

Joe explained that having a 600-capacity venue will hold back the opera house from hosting larger scale events like concerts featuring world renowned artists, keeping in mind the likes of Coldplay and Taylor Swift have recently favoured Singapore’s Sports Hub 55,000 capacity venue for consecutive-days performances over other options in the region.

However he acknowledged that in the case of the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House, garnering profits through large-scale events was never R&F’s main objective.

“The idea is to enjoy the multiplier effect, offer these events to draw tourists who will come to Johor Bahru, eat at the restaurants, stay at the hotels and attract more footfall in that manner,” said Joe. 

“But doing (large-scale) events is not (R&F Group’s) core business,” he added, noting that the company’s focus is on residential and retail property.

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Commentary: Can Thai prime ministerial aspirant Pita Limjaroenrat find a way back after a chastening first defeat?

The second is if the Constitutional Court decides to disqualify Mr Pita from the second round based on alleged violations of electoral laws. This would effectively force the opposition to nominate someone else or risk being out-manoeuvred by an incumbent coalition leader.

Arguably, this outcome would also simplify the intra-opposition bargaining process by taking Mr Pita out of the picture, paving the way for Pheu Thai to lead in forming the government. Pheu Thai will work hard to keep Move Forward on board but once again, the sticking point will be the lese-majeste reform. This will likely result in a Pheu Thai-led coalition with conservative parties, with Move Forward in the opposition.

A RETURN TO MAY 2014 AND MILITARY INTERVENTION?

Of course, it is entirely plausible that none of these developments will transpire, and everyone sticks to their original scripts next week.

Mr Pita may not give way to Pheu Thai; Pheu Thai may fear breaking away from Move Forward at the risk of losing credibility with progressive voters; the Constitutional Court may not want to risk sustained demonstrations and violence in Bangkok by taking the nuclear options of removing Mr Pita or dissolving the Move Forward Party – which happened to the party’s predecessor Future Forward Party in early 2020.

This scenario would not only prolong the political limbo but tip Thailand towards a situation where unrest becomes more disruptive and overt military intervention becomes increasingly likely. A return to May 2014 may be around the corner.

Harrison Cheng is a Director in risk consultancy firm Control Risks.

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