12.5m more skilled staff eyed by 2027
11 industries being targeted for upgrade
Thailand aims to produce around 800,000 skilled workers next year in targeted industries, including intelligent electronics, next-generation automobiles and healthcare.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon chaired a meeting of the national workers’ skill development committee at the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation on Friday to discuss incentives to develop more skilled workers.
The meeting agreed to draft a skilled worker development plan which will be executed by provincial organisations to create 12.5 million skilled workers by 2027.
Provincial governors have been assigned to draft development plans to create more skilled labour in 11 targeted industries.
Four of the 11 industries have finalised their desired number of workers: 24,500 people in next-generation automotive services, 713,432 in digital services, 357,300 in processed food, and 298,100 for Thailand’s medical hub.
Provinces will be offering students in local schools and colleges the chance to join skills training and worker development programmes based on local demand. Gen Prawit said prisoners would also be included in the training.
Skills development training at the provincial level will lessen the chances of workers wanting to migrate to cities and will also improve the lives of local people, he said.
Gen Prawit said the public and private sectors must collaborate to create more skilled labour to meet the demands of growing industries.
He added that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the Department of Skill Development should join hands to foster new jobbers.
Meanwhile, Job Expo Thailand 2023, which started on Thursday and ends on Saturday, saw large numbers of job-seekers. It is being held at Event Halls 100-102, Bitec Bang Na, organised by the Ministry of Labour and private companies.
The expo offers job opportunities for new graduates, senior citizens and people with disabilities. With over 29,000 positions in the private sector and 81,000 offered by recruitment companies, people can seek jobs in real estate, communications, manufacturing, finance, insurance, sales, construction, health and academia.
Nawaporn Rod-iam, 23, said she is a finance graduate working at a private company who is looking for a new job with higher pay that will also allow her to gain more skills.
Commentary: Why do so many Singapore diners dislike vegetables?
While we might think that adhering strictly to tradition is key to protecting our hawker heritage, perhaps a better way to keep it alive is to allow the dishes to evolve with the times and needs of people.
THE SYMBOLISM OF MEAT AND SEAFOOD
I have noticed that it is not just hawker meals that are imbalanced. When my husband and I ate at restaurants with the older generation, we observed that vegetables were at times not ordered. The reasoning provided is often that the mark-up on vegetable dishes is the highest on a menu; it is “not worth it” to order greens at a restaurant and ordering meat or seafood dishes gives you more bang for your buck.
But, the decision to omit vegetables from a restaurant order is often far more complex. In a food-obsessed country like Singapore, food transcends nourishment; it is loaded with symbolism. offering others meat or seafood – often the more expensive items on a menu – is a sign of generosity, hospitality and love.
Meat has also become a social marker in Singapore – a symbol of progress. Tan explained, “Not so long ago, my parents could not even afford chicken rice, so they only ate it on their payday. Or they only ate eggs on their birthday. So, for a lot of older people, big prawns or wagyu is a big deal.”
EMBRACING LOCAL VEGETABLES
That said, vegetables are not popular among some of my younger friends either. When pressed, they say that the produce one gets in Singapore simply doesn’t taste good.
I get where they are coming from. My first taste of pumpkin in Australia was a revelation; its dense, sweet flesh was a far cry from the water-logged specimens I had encountered in Singapore. Yet, while produce imported from afar is undoubtedly inferior to farm-direct produce, I believe that if our attention is turned to vegetables from our region, we might find unexpected treasures.
Heart of the Matter: Presidential election walkover not ideal, but getting candidates to come forth is a challenge, political watchers say
SINGAPORE: Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced on Thursday (Jun 8) that he intends to resign from the People’s Action Party (PAP) and stand as a candidate for the upcoming presidential election.
So far, he is the only candidate to throw his hat in the ring.
A new head of state will need to be elected before Sep 13 this year.
First-time voter Nur Ridhuan, 28, is hoping he will get a chance to exercise his right to vote and that it will not be another walkover like the last.
“The walkover (in the last election) didn’t give her (President Halimah Yacob) a chance to stand out and talk about her perspectives about why she thinks she might be a good candidate compared to other candidates,’’ said the business analyst.
Mr Ridhuan was one of three guests on the latest episode of the Heart of the Matter podcast. He was joined by Eugene Tan, associate professor of law at the Singapore Management University, and Felix Tan, associate lecturer at the Nanyang Technological University.
When asked by host Steven Chia what he would like to see in a candidate, Mr Ridhuan said it should ideally be someone more “proactive” in asking the government of the day questions about political appointments and the reserves.
Assoc Prof Tan said that the role of the President in Singapore is unique in that while it is an elected position, it is not “an alternative centre of power”.
Commentary: Anwar Ibrahim’s struggle for economic rejuvenation in Malaysia
POLICY STANCE ON GOVERNMENT SPENDING NOT SUSTAINABLE
Politics aside, economic headwinds remain Mr Anwar’s most serious challenge.
Once one of the region’s budding tiger economies, Malaysia has fallen to fifth place among the economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It has been overtaken by Vietnam that ranks in the top four together with Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.
The effects of the continuing global slowdown showed up starkly in the country’s export performance, which contracted 17.4 per cent year-on-year in April.
Bank Muamalat’s chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid forecasts that overall exports this year could decline by 9 per cent, compared with a 25 per cent growth in 2022. “This will leave domestic demand as the main economic driver for overall growth,” he said.
Economists noted that domestic demand, made up by government spending and private consumption, has accounted for more than 70 per cent of GDP since 2019.
But this growth option is no longer sustainable. Malaysia is now suffering a serious financial hangover for the spending binge, with government debt ballooning to 1.08 trillion ringgit at end-2022, almost doubling in six years.
“The policy stance of government spending is no longer sustainable, and Malaysia needs a new economic narrative,” Sunway University’s Professor Yeah Kim Leng, who sits on a five-member panel advising Mr Anwar on financial matters, told CNA.
“The new path must feature shifting the economy to more value-added production driven by attracting technology intensive industries that will in turn boost wages,” added Prof Yeah.
Leslie Lopez is a senior correspondent at CNA Digital who reports on political and economic affairs in the region.
Move Forward leader backs major 2028 expo bid
Pita vows to deliver for Phuket
PHUKET: Prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat has vowed his government will support Phuket in hosting the Specialised Expo 2028.
Mr Pita, leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), which won the most seats in the May 14 election, visited the resort island to thank MFP supporters.
The party’s spokesman Rangsiman Rome and three Phuket MPs-elect also joined Mr Pita, who gave a speech to at least 1,000 supporters at a football field in front of the Krathu District Office.
A key component of his speech was on the island’s candidature for the Specialised Expo 2028, which will be held from March 21 to June 20, 2028.
“Phuket is the pearl of the Andaman Sea and also a destination that I love. We want to thank Phuket people for the trust you gave to our party and our candidates,” Mr Pita said.
“From now on, Phuket will not be the same. I will promote Phuket to be the pearl of the world,” he said.
“We have about 10 days before judgment day on June 21 when we know which city will be selected as the host.”
Phuket is competing with the Serbian capital of Belgrade, Spain’s Barcelona, and Minnesota in the United States to host the expo.
The government has set aside a 4.18-billion-baht budget to host the event, which will be organised by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Public Health Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and related sectors.
The theme proposed by Thailand for the expo is “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity”.
The authorities have pitched the island to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) panel twice.
“If Phuket is selected, it will mark the first time the country has hosted an event like the Specialised Expo. I am sure that locals will profit at least tenfold from the 4.18 billion baht that the government will invest for this expo,” said Mr Pita.
“We want you to say that your province is ready for those voters in 120 countries who are going to vote for us in Paris,” he said.
Prayut: Also backs hosting event
“We want you to say to them that Phuket is strong and Phuket is safe for people around the world.”
He said the island welcomed eight million tourists last year and 400,000 so far this year.
As prime minister, Mr Pita said, his job would be to bring back another fourfold of visitors to the island.
What he plans to do, he said, is not just have more facilities for the expo but also improve the development of every section of the island, including the economy, health and wellness and environment.
Mr Pita also promised to solve two of the island’s long-term problems — illegal narcotics and corruption.
“We will not do this just in case the island is selected to host the Specialised Expo 2028. We will do it to improve the quality of life of people,” he said.
He also expressed his gratitude to every eligible voter in Phuket for the MFP’s overwhelming victory, which he said the party won by getting twice as many votes as the now-dissolved Future Forward Party got from the island in the 2019 election.
“Your voice means a lot to us and the three MPs-elect. We will never let our voters be disappointed,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Bangkok, current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged people to support Phuket in hosting the international event, said deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul.
“Many parties have worked hard during the past year for the event preparation,” Ms Traisuree said.
“Thai people who want to express their support can visit the website https://support.expo2028thailand.com and click vote to show the power of our country,” she said.
Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, president of the TCEB, also said a vote from Thai citizens is also needed for the final lap of the competition to see who hosts the event.
Mr Chiruit said the expo would be a core part of Thailand’s plan to promote its health, wellness and medical tourism in Southeast Asia. The event will generate up to 50 billion baht in economic value and attract about 5 million visitors, he added.
The expo is expected to create 113,439 jobs in Phuket and will also help promote tourism in nearby provinces, he said.
Phuket has prepared a 141-rai site in Thalang district to host the Specialised Expo 2028.
Religion and politics in Malaysia: A new page turns as state elections loom?
It is also difficult to parse how much of the “green wave”, a term derived from PAS’ party colours, is due to rising religiosity or, as political analyst Chandra Muzaffar believes instead, a rejection of the United Malays National Organisation (Umno).
“If you look at Malaysia electorally, no political party can afford to become too extreme. Because it won’t serve their interests. We’re not just talking about ideals … (but) about real politics,” said Chandra.
While PAS has questioned the legitimacy of the unity government, comprising Pakatan Harapan (PH), Umno and parties in East Malaysia, the state elections will not change the status quo, predicted International Islamic University of Malaysia associate professor Syaza Farhana Mohamad Shukri.
“PN will (continue) in power up north, and Selangor and Penang will still be under PH. But I feel (the incumbents in) Penang, and Selangor especially, are going to lose some seats,” she said.
“PH will win but (with a) reduced majority. … It’s difficult for PN to win over the Chinese and Indians, so that’ll stop them from getting a majority.”
Inside Chinaâs zero-COVID world: How it changed some residents forever
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
My co-producer and I conducted the first interviews in December 2022 when China had just abandoned zero-COVID.
I spoke to some of interviewees again in February 2023 after the country was hit by a brutal exit wave of infections.
We got back in touch with the four (we used pseudonyms for all to protect their identities) after we wrapped production to see how they were doing.
“Jie” was one of the first workers to escaped from the iPhone factory in Henan. He is now doing odd jobs to support himself and his widowed mom.
After being deeply scarred by his time inside Foxconn’s “closed loop management”, he said he doesn’t plan to ever return to that job.
“Susu” was haunted by the experience of being trapped in Xinjiang even after her escape.
“I still have nightmares. Once I dreamt that I was still trapped in Xinjiang. Another time I dreamt that the officials turned up at my door and said they would take me back, that I had to be there for three years,” she said on the podcast.
Today Susu is no longer having bad dreams, but the fear of losing control lingers. She’s moved to the countryside to build a house and start a farm. She said she now wants to be self-sufficient.
“Kaka” is the tech worker who was laid off and went to work as a lockdown enforcer for only a few days before China ended lockdowns for good.
On the podcast, she said: “It feels a bit ridiculous that I couldn’t even hang on to a job enforcing COVID rules.”
Kaka has now found another job in the tech industry, but she doesn’t know how long she can hold on to the job after her experience. She is hoping to retire when she turns 35 and end the cycle of job changes.
Perhaps the most drastic change happened with Hammer.
He has now become somewhat of a doomsday prepper. Hammer is keeping six months’ worth of food at home and has set up his own power generator in case the lockdown comes around again.
“There were only two things on my mind: One is to find enough food, the other is not to go crazy,” he said of the last lockdown on the podcast.
When I caught up with him again, Hammer told me that he has listened to both episodes and while he was initially alarmed by how freely he spoke, he said he soon realised that in a normal society, he would have no reason to fear.
“I don’t think I belong here anymore,” he told me.
Right now, he’s planning to pursue a PhD in Europe.
Both episodes of Red Wall: Inside China’s zero-COVID world are available on all major podcast platforms.
Pita vows to deliver for Phuket
MFP leader backs major 2028 expo bid
PHUKET: Prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat has vowed his government will support Phuket in hosting the Specialised Expo 2028.
Mr Pita, leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), which won the most seats in the May 14 election, visited the resort island to thank MFP supporters.
The party’s spokesman Rangsiman Rome and three Phuket MPs-elect also joined Mr Pita, who gave a speech to at least 1,000 supporters at a football field in front of the Krathu District Office.
A key component of his speech was on the island’s candidature for the Specialised Expo 2028, which will be held from March 21 to June 20, 2028.
“Phuket is the pearl of the Andaman Sea and also a destination that I love. We want to thank Phuket people for the trust you gave to our party and our candidates,” Mr Pita said.
“From now on, Phuket will not be the same. I will promote Phuket to be the pearl of the world,” he said.
“We have about 10 days before judgment day on June 21 when we know which city will be selected as the host.”
Phuket is competing with the Serbian capital of Belgrade, Spain’s Barcelona, and Minnesota in the United States to host the expo.
The government has set aside a 4.18-billion-baht budget to host the event, which will be organised by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Public Health Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and related sectors.
The theme proposed by Thailand for the expo is “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity”.
The authorities have pitched the island to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) panel twice.
“If Phuket is selected, it will mark the first time the country has hosted an event like the Specialised Expo. I am sure that locals will profit at least tenfold from the 4.18 billion baht that the government will invest for this expo,” said Mr Pita.
“We want you to say that your province is ready for those voters in 120 countries who are going to vote for us in Paris,” he said.
“We want you to say to them that Phuket is strong and Phuket is safe for people around the world.”
He said the island welcomed eight million tourists last year and 400,000 so far this year.
As prime minister, Mr Pita said, his job would be to bring back another fourfold of visitors to the island.
What he plans to do, he said, is not just have more facilities for the expo but also improve the development of every section of the island, including the economy, health and wellness and environment.
Mr Pita also promised to solve two of the island’s long-term problems — illegal narcotics and corruption.
“We will not do this just in case the island is selected to host the Specialised Expo 2028. We will do it to improve the quality of life of people,” he said.
He also expressed his gratitude to every eligible voter in Phuket for the MFP’s overwhelming victory, which he said the party won by getting twice as many votes as the now-dissolved Future Forward Party got from the island in the 2019 election.
“Your voice means a lot to us and the three MPs-elect. We will never let our voters be disappointed,” he said.
Prayut: Also backs hosting event
Meanwhile, in Bangkok, current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged people to support Phuket in hosting the international event, said deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul.
“Many parties have worked hard during the past year for the event preparation,” Ms Traisuree said.
“Thai people who want to express their support can visit the website https://support.expo2028thailand.com and click vote to show the power of our country,” she said.
Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, president of the TCEB, also said a vote from Thai citizens is also needed for the final lap of the competition to see who hosts the event.
Mr Chiruit said the expo would be a core part of Thailand’s plan to promote its health, wellness and medical tourism in Southeast Asia. The event will generate up to 50 billion baht in economic value and attract about 5 million visitors, he added.
The expo is expected to create 113,439 jobs in Phuket and will also help promote tourism in nearby provinces, he said.
Phuket has prepared a 141-rai site in Thalang district to host the Specialised Expo 2028.
Kedah chief minister divides opinion as he leads Perikatan Nasional’s bid to strengthen hold at state polls
The Kedah PAS information chief Mohd Azam said the state government is in the process of distributing financial aid to residents living in extremely rural areas, through grants that these residents have requested for decades.
“We are making efforts to develop the state and help Kedahans prosper,” he said.
Mohd Azam said PN will work towards Sanusi’s target of winning 33 seats in Kedah, citing the positive GE15 results and what he says is Kedahans’ overwhelming support for PN, based on the thousands that he claims attend its physical and virtual rallies.
“We pray to God that we will achieve what we work for,” he added.
PH-BN AIMING FOR AT LEAST 16 SEATS IN KEDAH
On the other hand, PH and BN leaders have said they will place “special focus” on Kedah among the six states holding elections.
PH’s Mahfuz said this comes as the coalitions are confident of successfully defending Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor.
“Kedah historically has been governed by PH, BN and PAS. This special focus shows that the people of Kedah can change,” he said.
“Its politics are not built on extremities. They are humble people whose politics are based on knowledge and reasonable considerations.”
Since Mahdzir’s stint as chief minister from 2005 to 2008, Kedah’s government has been led by PAS, BN, PH and now PN.
Mahfuz said PH and BN will work towards winning 16 seats at the upcoming state election, which is the same number of seats they won at the previous state polls in 2018 without Bersatu.
“So if we defend these seats, and each party adds one or two more seats, we can form the government. It’s not impossible to think that each party can add at least one seat,” he said.
PH-BN PACT A “DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD”
BN’s Mahdzir acknowledged this is the first time that lynchpin party the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) is teaming up with PH’s Chinese-based DAP.
“At the start, it was difficult because for a long time we were enemies. DAP called UMNO Malay ultras, and UMNO called DAP chauvinists,” he said.
“But we are a multiracial country. Chinese families have stayed here for many years … so I feel that based on this multiracialism, we can accept this coalition with conditions.”
This includes upholding Islam as the official religion and ensuring the special rights of the Malays and Bumiputeras as enshrined in the constitution, he said.
Mahfuz said parties in the unity government have formed committees at both the federal and state levels, as well as jointly conducted community events to “eliminate old feelings of hate”.
“We also have unity conventions, not to rewrite history, but to write new politics for Malaysia’s future … to build a more united country,” he added.
“We already have 19 parties in the unity government, and the voters in Kedah should see that this is Malaysia’s future.”
MFP leader backs major 2028 expo bid
Pita vows to deliver for Phuket
PHUKET: Prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat has vowed his government will support Phuket in hosting the Specialised Expo 2028.
Mr Pita, leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), which won the most seats in the May 14 election, visited the resort island to thank MFP supporters.
The party’s spokesman Rangsiman Rome and three Phuket MPs-elect also joined Mr Pita, who gave a speech to at least 1,000 supporters at a football field in front of the Krathu District Office.
A key component of his speech was on the island’s candidature for the Specialised Expo 2028, which will be held from March 21 to June 20, 2028.
“Phuket is the pearl of the Andaman Sea and also a destination that I love. We want to thank Phuket people for the trust you gave to our party and our candidates,” Mr Pita said.
“From now on, Phuket will not be the same. I will promote Phuket to be the pearl of the world,” he said.
“We have about 10 days before judgment day on June 21 when we know which city will be selected as the host.”
Phuket is competing with the Serbian capital of Belgrade, Spain’s Barcelona, and Minnesota in the United States to host the expo.
The government has set aside a 4.18-billion-baht budget to host the event, which will be organised by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Public Health Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and related sectors.
The theme proposed by Thailand for the expo is “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity”.
The authorities have pitched the island to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) panel twice.
“If Phuket is selected, it will mark the first time the country has hosted an event like the Specialised Expo. I am sure that locals will profit at least tenfold from the 4.18 billion baht that the government will invest for this expo,” said Mr Pita.
“We want you to say that your province is ready for those voters in 120 countries who are going to vote for us in Paris,” he said.
Prayut: Also backs hosting event
“We want you to say to them that Phuket is strong and Phuket is safe for people around the world.”
He said the island welcomed eight million tourists last year and 400,000 so far this year.
As prime minister, Mr Pita said, his job would be to bring back another fourfold of visitors to the island.
What he plans to do, he said, is not just have more facilities for the expo but also improve the development of every section of the island, including the economy, health and wellness and environment.
Mr Pita also promised to solve two of the island’s long-term problems — illegal narcotics and corruption.
“We will not do this just in case the island is selected to host the Specialised Expo 2028. We will do it to improve the quality of life of people,” he said.
He also expressed his gratitude to every eligible voter in Phuket for the MFP’s overwhelming victory, which he said the party won by getting twice as many votes as the now-dissolved Future Forward Party got from the island in the 2019 election.
“Your voice means a lot to us and the three MPs-elect. We will never let our voters be disappointed,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Bangkok, current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged people to support Phuket in hosting the international event, said deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul.
“Many parties have worked hard during the past year for the event preparation,” Ms Traisuree said.
“Thai people who want to express their support can visit the website https://support.expo2028thailand.com and click vote to show the power of our country,” she said.
Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, president of the TCEB, also said a vote from Thai citizens is also needed for the final lap of the competition to see who hosts the event.
Mr Chiruit said the expo would be a core part of Thailand’s plan to promote its health, wellness and medical tourism in Southeast Asia. The event will generate up to 50 billion baht in economic value and attract about 5 million visitors, he added.
The expo is expected to create 113,439 jobs in Phuket and will also help promote tourism in nearby provinces, he said.
Phuket has prepared a 141-rai site in Thalang district to host the Specialised Expo 2028.