Boeing relaunches its Malaysian manufacturing site as Boeing Composites Malaysia

By:
On:
In: Technology
    Progress over past 77 ages, a recognition of aviation industry capabilities

  • Site is Boeing’s second absolutely owned manufacturing facility in Southeast Asia.

Boeing relaunches its Malaysian manufacturing site as Boeing Composites Malaysia

Boeing, a worldwide manufacturer of aircraft, has been operating in Malaysia for 77 years, expanding its presence there beyond its business office and sales and service team. It has both a manufacturing center in Kedah and a worldwide support service in Cyberjaya.

That production facility, Aerospace Composites Malaysia, first a joint venture with Indonesian companion, Hexcel Corporation, which Boing completely acquired in Dec 2023, was relaunched today as Boeing Composites Malaysia.

The service, which is Boeing’s primary absolutely owned manufacturing facility in Southeast Asia, offers hybrid products and subassemblies for all Boeing commercial aircraft models, including the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner. The page employs an all-Malaysian labor of about 1, 000 people. &nbsp,

” Malaysia needs both speed and scale to accelerate manufacturing practices and proactively develop the country’s aerospace industry” ,&nbsp, said Hairil Yahri Yaacob, Secretary General of Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry ( MITI).

” MITI, through MIDA and NAICO Malaysia, is committed in creating an environment that supports quick business development, especially in high-value areas like aircraft. We are thankful for Boeing’s devotion to Malaysia”.

Joining Hairil at the restart was United States Ambassador to Malaysia, Edgard D. Kagan, Boeing people, representatives from the Malaysian authorities and Boeing’s companions in Malaysia.

” I’m convinced that Boeing has found Malaysia more than able to support the intelligence needed to produce high-quality parts for your global consumers,” Hairil continued.

” Our superior service and talented team in Kedah play a vital role in Malaysia’s growing aircraft business”, said Penny Burtt, leader, Boeing Southeast Asia. We are “ecstatic to work with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority” and applaud Boeing Composites Malaysia’s outstanding safety and quality record.

Sikh Shamsul Majid, CEO of MIDA, said,” This is a strong testament to our skilled workforce and our strategic position in the aerospace industry. The global aerospace supply chain is fully supported by Boeing Composites Malaysia.

Boeing’s 77-years partnership with Malaysia which dates to 1947 when Malayan Airways Limited acquired its first Douglas DC-3, supports the development of aerospace and defense capabilities through safety training, sustainability workshops, supply chain development, university collaborations and community impact initiatives.

Together with the relaunch, Boeing also announced a US$ 10, 180 ( RM44, 000 ) higher education grant to the Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara ( National Youth Skills Institute ) in Jitra, Kedah to train 30 students in machining technology and fabrication, while guiding them toward employment possibilities in the aerospace industry.

Continue Reading

The decline and fade of Australia’s soft power – Asia Times

By:
On:
In: Asia

This article originally appeared on Pacific Forum, and it has since been republished with authority. Read the original around.

Soft power is a government’s ability to attract and co-opt rather than pressure. In practice, soft energy allows countries to work their values, ideals, and society worldwide to&nbsp, foster&nbsp, kindness, improve security, and develop long-term partnerships.

Australia has long been a pillar of historical charm, democratic values and academic excellence—these elements have formed the core of Australia’s soft energy in the post-war time.

But, Australia’s soft power ratings have shown a distinct upward trend over the past decade. Ranking 6th in 2015 in the&nbsp, The Soft Power 30 score, &nbsp, Australia slipped to 10th in 2019 and to 14th by 2023 in Brand Finance Global Soft Power Index.

In a time when non-coercive energy is extremely important, this constant decline has significant implications for Australia’s security and role. &nbsp,

For instance, &nbsp, Edelman’s Trust Barometer&nbsp, highlights the general decrease in Australia’s confidence levels in Southeast Asia: Australia was marked as one of the biggest losers on the score between 2021-2023, constantly landing in the hostility class with low scores between 1-49 out of 100.

This raises a significant issue for American politics in the Indo-Pacific region’s current state of global power competition. Before it is too late, Australia needs to strengthen its soft power politics to ensure its local influence and safety.

Canberra’s shifting interests in the region

The fiscal outlook for Australia’s existing national channels that support gentle power have gotten worse in recent years.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade ( DFAT ) has massively shrinking funds, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ( ABC ) has seen an&nbsp, A$ 526 million &nbsp, &nbsp, ( US$ 357 million ) reduction in funding since 2022, and&nbsp, tightening visa policies&nbsp, is expected to affect educational diplomacy with tertiary institutions projecting an&nbsp, A$ 310 million &nbsp, revenue shortfall in 2024.

While the Albanese state has pushed for financial&nbsp, boosts&nbsp, in specific areas, the general administrative environment is excessively negative. Why has this happened?

One explanation is that in the wake of Australia’s prolonged economic downturn and soaring debt following Covid-19, Canberra’s policies have increasingly prioritized domestic issues.

Faced with an expected gross debt of&nbsp, A$ 598.5 billion &nbsp, for the fiscal year ending June 2024, the government has needed to redirect funds towards pressing domestic concerns such as healthcare, economic stimulus, infrastructure, and social services.

This fiscal realignment is also likely driven by the need to concentrate on policies that have a direct impact on voter approval as the elections approach. Yet despite these fiscal constraints, defense spending has surged.

The government has allocated a record&nbsp, A$ 36.8 billion &nbsp, to defense in the 2024-2025 budget, &nbsp, marking a 6.3 % increase from the previous fiscal year.

This boost in defense expenditure reflects a return to hard power, in response to increasing&nbsp, geopolitical tensions&nbsp, and strategic imperatives of AUKUS over the next decade. Considering all factors, Australia has, unfortunately, pushed public diplomacy to the back burner.

These trends are troubling. However, it is also important to recognize Australia’s soft power efforts have always been relatively meager.

Australia has never established an international cultural agency, unlike the British Council ( 1934), the Japan Foundation ( 1972 ), and the Korea Foundation ( 1991 ). Since the end of World War II, Canberra has given economic and strategic interests precedence over soft power, preferring to invest money in areas that are directly related to national interests, such as trade and defense.

Public diplomacy has always been Australia’s weakest area of foreign policy, according to John McCarthy, the former ambassador to Indonesia.” Canada invests more in public diplomacy than Australia allocates for its entire foreign service.

That said, Australia’s soft power decline stems from more than just budgetary restraints. Controversial policies on&nbsp, Indigenous rights&nbsp, and&nbsp, asylum seekers, perceived inaction on&nbsp, climate change, inconsistent approach to&nbsp, human rights issues, restrictions on&nbsp, freedom of expression, and disputes over environmental management have all complicated our global image in the region.

Canberra’s foreign policy should be at the forefront of a concerted effort to prioritize the development of soft power through public diplomacy because we have so few resources available to advance our national interests.

Addressing the problem

First, Australia needs to make the most of its national assets by providing more pro-Australian leaders with international education. For many years, international education was one of Australia ‘s&nbsp, triumphs&nbsp, in public diplomacy.

The country’s higher education system is globally renowned for its quality and inclusiveness, attracting global talent from nations including China, India, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and more. In 2023, &nbsp, eight&nbsp, of Australia’s top ten source countries for international students were from Indo-Pacific nations.

Therefore, investing in international education not only improves Australia’s reputation abroad, but also cultivates generations of pro-Australian young leaders. Alumni of Australian universities frequently travel back to their home countries to take eminent positions in government, business, and civil society, acting as informal ambassadors and championing Australian values and policies in the area.

For instance, as Beijing ramps up policy and&nbsp, security assistance&nbsp, to Fiji and Papa New Guinea, investing in pro-Australian leaders is crucial for maintaining regional stability and promoting democratic principles, transparency, and sustainable development.

However, Australia’s reputation in international education has taken a hit following the recent tightening of visa policies. This has led to the&nbsp, rejection&nbsp, of over 50, 000 international applications between November 2023 and February 2024, and as visa rejections reach record-high numbers, students are &nbsp, seeking&nbsp, educational opportunities elsewhere.

This opens the door to rival regional countries, which might otherwise have attracted students from other regions, and it goes in the wrong direction. While Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil emphasizes the need for&nbsp, curbing migration levels, &nbsp, this approach has significant long-term consequences for Australia’s educational diplomacy and, by extension, public diplomacy.

There must be ongoing efforts to balance migration while preserving Australia’s reputation as a premier educational destination. One possible solution would be to adopt a program similar to Canada’s Student Direct Stream, which would help international students from important Indo-Pacific nations streamline visa requirements and sustainably manage migration levels.

Second, Canberra should prioritize investing money in public broadcasting to restore Australia’s international media presence.

As Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior fellow Graeme Dobell&nbsp, writes,” Until the last decade, Australia was the pre-eminent international media voice in the South Pacific, as we had been since World War II”.

What was once a news presence in the 1990s that was comparable to CNN and the BBC has since vanished. In fact, Canberra’s continued efforts to withdraw resources from Australia’s broadcasting company ( ABC ) in an “<a href="https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/abc-australia-s-waning-soft-power-star”>unfocused” and unstrategic manner is odd, given existing&nbsp, <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301940227_Introduction_to_International_Broadcasting_and_Public_Diplomacy_in_the_21st_Century”>evidence&nbsp, that international public broadcasting is still a powerful tool in promoting public diplomacy in the 21st&nbsp, century.

Many of our regional competitors have also shown persistent growth in their media influence through continued financial investment by their governments, such as China ‘s&nbsp, CCTV&nbsp, and Japan’s NHK.

In comparison, the ABC’s budget is now among the smallest globally, a situation that must be urgently addressed. Without substantial financial support from the Australian government, Australia’s global voice cannot be rebuilt.

This additional funding must be implemented strategically. Over the past ten years, the majority of the ABC’s original programming has been geared toward Australian viewers, a situation that is being exacerbated by persistent financial constraints.

Rebroadcasting this kind of content in the Pacific, as expected, has had very limited impact because it lacks the necessary language and cultural relevance for regional viewers.

To address this challenge, the ABC must prioritize creating content that resonates with the varied interests, languages, and cultures of Indo-Pacific audiences. China’s successes in multilingual programming and content diversification serve as a compelling illustration.

By enhancing our media capabilities, Australia can better shape perceptions, boost visibility, and strengthen ties with Indo-Pacific audiences.

Australia’s decline in soft power is cause for concern. Despite making incremental improvements, our progress has not been quick enough to keep us in line with other regional, rapidly expanding competitors.

Canberra must improve its soft power projection to avoid falling irreversibly behind if Australia wants to defend its national security interests in a region with a shifting balance of power.

Helen Wu&nbsp, ( [email protected] ) &nbsp, is an Emerging Leader at Pacific Forum and a senior at New York University majoring in International Relations.

The opinions expressed in PacNet commentaries and responses are those of the respective authors. Alternative viewpoints are always welcome and encouraged.

Continue Reading

Beijing rips Canada’s 100% tariffs on China-made EVs – Asia Times

By:
On:
In: Asia

After Canada announced its intention to impose tariffs on electric vehicles ( EVs ) and other steel and aluminum products produced in China, Beijing has pledged to take all necessary steps to safeguard the interests of Chinese businesses. &nbsp,

Justin Trudeau, the country’s prime minister, announced on Monday that starting October 1, China will start imposing a 100 % tariff on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles and a 25 % tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum.

” We are transforming Canada’s automotive industry to be a world leader in building the cars of tomorrow”, Trudeau said. However, China and other countries have chosen to give themselves an unfair advantage in the world market, compromising the safety of our vital sectors and displacing skilled American metalworkers and autoworkers.

While protectionism only protects what is protected, subsidies do not produce business competitiveness. Potential growth will be abandoned”, Lin Jian, a director of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said in a press presentation on Tuesday. &nbsp,

” The rapid advancement of China’s Vehicle market is the result of prolonged technology innovation, well-established business and supply chains, and total market competition”, he said. ” This is what occurs when our comparative benefits match the market’s needs,” the statement goes.

He claimed that China regrets and opposes the French side’s decision because it disregards facts, violates WTO regulations, and goes against historical trends. &nbsp,

He claimed that this ostentatious action störches China-Canada trade relations, harms American businesses and consumers ‘ interests, and does little to support Canada’s green transition process and global climate change efforts. &nbsp,

Some experts claimed that Canada’s tariffs will only have an impact on the exports of Tesla EVs from China because big Chinese EV manufacturers have not yet entered the American market. They claimed that while large Chinese electric car manufacturers like BYD were originally planning to export products to Canada in 2025, they will now have to think about starting factories there to prevent new tariffs. &nbsp,

Effect on Tesla&nbsp,

According to Automotive News Canada, Tesla sold 36, 900 Vehicles in Canada last year, compared with 24, 400 in 2022. Elon Musk, the company’s CEO, is currently supplying Canada with its Vehicles manufactured in Shanghai, but it can evade the new tariffs by moving to US factories. &nbsp,

Liu Chunsheng, an associate professor at the Beijing-based Central University of Finance and Economics, claimed that Tesla’s Automotive taxes could push China to reduce production there. &nbsp,

” The major places of Chinese Vehicles are not the US and Canada, but Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and some Belt and Road places”, Liu said. ” Canada’s taxes will not harm the export of Taiwanese EVs”.

” We must beware, however, that the US is now urging its allies to decrease or stop the goods of Taiwanese electric vehicles. Canada’s taxes will be a display and affect additional countries ‘ decisions”, he said. ” Besides, Tesla may be forced to reduce its creation in China”.

Tesla stated in March of this year that it had decreased its car production in China as a result of weak demand and fierce business competition. Reuters then reported, in May, that Tesla’s Model Y output in Shanghai was 49, 498 units in March and 36, 610 products in April– down 17.7 % and 33 % year-on-year, both. &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp,

With a manufacturing capacity of about one million cars annually, Tesla’s Shanghai stock is the largest in the world. &nbsp,

BYD’s plan&nbsp,

The Biden administration increased the US’s import tariff from 25 % to 100 % in May. It imposed a 25 % tariff on steel products in July, and a 10 % tariff on aluminum products that came from Mexico. &nbsp,

Mexico has n’t already imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, but it has since stopped funding incentives like tax breaks or low-cost land for EV production there.

Chinese EV companies were subject to 17 to 38 percent tariffs from the European Union in early July, but analysts claimed Chinese EV companies had a value benefits and were able to withstand the EU’s new tariffs.

Now, BYD has been selling electronic trucks and trucks in Canada. The Shenzhen-based business reportedly intends to sell customer electric vehicles to Canada through a rideshare program with Uber, starting with financial in 2025. &nbsp,

A multi-year strategic partnership between Uber and BYD was announced on July 31 as part of its commitment to introduce 100, 000 brand-new BYD Vehicles onto the Uber system in important global markets. According to the news, the relationship may start in Latin America and Europe before moving on to the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. &nbsp, &nbsp,

The United Kingdom government, according to a report from The Financial Times next month, is not immediately planning to investigate China’s auto industry grants or impose new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Additionally, Australia has never added any tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Over the past 15 times, more than 550, 000 China-made cars have been sold in Australia, media reports said. &nbsp,

Read: China EVs also driving for EU’s secured industry

Observe Jeff Pao on X: &nbsp, @jeffpao3

Continue Reading

Lighthouse Canton boosts North Asia and SEA wealth management teams | FinanceAsia

By:
On:
In: Asia, Finance, South-East Asia

Singapore-headquartered Lighthouse Canton has appointed Stella Lau as managing director, wealth advisory where she will be strengthening the company’s client base and leading the growth strategy for North Asia.

A market veteran, Lau has over two decades of private banking and leadership experience. She was previously Greater China market group head at Deutsche Bank and has held similar roles, managing and expanding North Asia market teams at JP Morgan, UBS, and Credit Suisse.

Lau’s team will provide co wealth solutions to ultra-high-net-worth clients, families, and institutions.

In addition, Charlene Lin has been promoted to managing director, strategic growth – North Asia and Southeast Asia (SEA). A founding member of Lighthouse Canton, Lin has been pivotal in establishing the company’s presence across Asia since its inception in 2014, a statement said. 

Shilpi Chowdhary, Lighthouse Canton’s group CEO, said in a statement: “Under the leadership of Stella and Charlene, I’m confident that we have a formidable team, deeply committed to delivering excellence and innovation. Their extensive experience and expertise are invaluable assets to our company, and I’m certain their teams will be instrumental in advancing our growth strategy.”

Rapid growth

In H1 2024, Lighthouse Canton reported a 89% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year to assets under management (AUM) of $3.7 billion.

The firm’s AUM is expected to cross $4 billion by the end of 2024 with growth in markets including Singapore, the Middle East, and India. Additionally, it has seen a 23% increase in hires since the start of the year and is continuing to make strategic appointments across business lines.

Lighthouse Canton employs more than 160 professionals across its offices in Singapore (based in Collyer Quay – pictured), Dubai, India, and London.

The firm offers wealth and asset management services to ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, private accredited investors, and institutional investors.

For more FinanceAsia people moves click here. 


¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.

Continue Reading

‘Little desire to have kids’: More young Chinese choosing pets over children

By:
On:
In: Asia

MEETING THE NEEDS OF Animals, THEIR Masters

The pattern was evident at the five-day trade show Pet Fair Asia in Shanghai, which ended on Sunday ( Aug 25 ). &nbsp,

The occasion was hailed by organizers as the largest exhibition of its kind in Asia Pacific, with fur boys playing the big roles and a focus on meeting their demands. &nbsp,

According to Mr. Edwin Tan, CEO of events management company Globus Events, the administrator of Pet Fair Asia,” a lot of measures are saying that the business itself is growing at 8 to 15 %.” &nbsp,

” Our present itself is growing about 10 to 12 per share this month, and more importantly, if you look around us, a lot of our vendors have increased their funding in the present. They have even come up with … a lot of new items”.

Attendees occupied all 17 of the Shanghai New International Expo Center’s temporary exhibit areas, including seven temporary exhibit areas. Additionally, organizers used wagons to transport visitors from house to house.

” I’m here to source for pet products, largely cat litter and healthy cat food for my clients in Southeast Asia”, said Mr Paul Liu, revenue producer at dog supplies strong Floofs &amp, Fluff. &nbsp,

” Because in China, there are many companies and they are able to supply excellent-quality fresh supplies at a comparatively much cheaper cost”, he added.

Continue Reading

Why Thailand’s Thanathorn isn’t headed to the streets – Asia Times

By:
On:
In: Asia

Bangkok – Two weeks after the Thai Constitutional Court dissolved the famous liberal movement’s Move Forward Party in protest of royal reform, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit insists that everything will go according to prepare for his favorite progressive movement.

As the now-banned chairman of Move Forward’s dissolved origin, Future Forward Party, Thanathorn was widely seen as the architect behind Move Forward’s social giant and is also seen as the guiding hands behind the recently formed third-generation People’s Party.

Some wondered if Thanathorn and Shift Forward’s leaders had mobilize their masses and get to Bangkok’s streets in protest against the judge’s August 7 breakdown decision, probably opening a new orange-garbed chapter in the kingdom’s destabilizing street politics.

Thanathorn declared victory in battle on August 23 in a presentation titled” Sustaining the Pushback against Autocratization” at Bangkok’s Thammasart University, his old school and a historically rife with student animosity. This is forbidden because it could put opponents in 15 years of prison sentences.

He told the audience that his movement aims ultimately for a” soft landing” for the monarchy while insisting “radical problems require radical solutions” and that his “peaceful” vision for Thailand’s transformation “might take decades” rather than years.

In an exclusive interview with Asia Times Southeast Asia Editor Shawn W. Crispin in a rickety school house overlooking the city’s Chao Phraya River, Thanathorn explained why it is time for Move Forward’s disillusioned voters and young supporters to get to the streets and outlined his long-game perspective for Thailand’s transformation. &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp,

Asia Times: What effects will the Move Forward party’s recent court-ordered dissolution have on your progressive movement?

Thanathorn: For us, I think the administrative work in setting up a new party is huge. Before the dissolution, the party had like 100, 000 members. Therefore, it will take time to return to the same level.

But otherwise, the court verdict has united us – I think it makes us stronger. I ca n’t recall exactly how many cobras ( MPs who switched to new parties ) there were after the Future Forward party’s dissolution. This time there are zero cobras.

So I think the organization, the movement as a whole has solidified over the years. It’s stronger quantity-wise and quality-wise. Quantity-wise, I mean the numbers of supporters. Quality-wise, I mean the understanding of our ideologies, our ideals and ideas – people understand us more.

Asia Times: It’s happened twice now. Who exactly is dissolved by your affiliated parties, and why?

Thanathorn: I think the’ why’ is clear. The why is that we are a threat to the system of too many individuals, not to any specific organizations, but to the system as a whole. So I think that’s the’ why’ – we are a threat. The’ who’? It’s difficult to say, I do n’t really know.

Asia Times: MFP won 32 of 33 Bangkok seats at last year’s election. What does the outcome say about the closet elite’s support for MFP as the heart of economic and political power?

Thanathorn: Well, I think not only in Bangkok. If you look at other provinces, many provinces, we won the party list vote even though we did n’t win many constituency MPs. That demonstrates how widespread is the need for change. People still voted for this party despite the fact that it is accused of overthrowing the monarchy. So people demand change.

It’s safe to say not only Bangkok, but yeah, of course, the sentiment of people in Bangkok is the sentiment of

Thailand, right? That’s what they say. So I think when we won hugely in Bangkok, it terrifies them.

Asia Times: Do you believe that the election results indicate that members of the royal family secretly support your cause? That people in the royal family still support the changes you’re calling for?

Thanathorn: People understand that we have no … that, that reforming the monarchy is the soft landing, the best way to go for Thailand. People put their trust in us because they know that, and I believe they do so.

Asia Times: Do you believe you have more backing from those who were more in tune with the previous monarch than perhaps the current?

Thanathorn: Difficult to say, difficult to quantify. However, we can see that many royalists who are educated believe that a soft landing is the best course of action.

Asia Times: So with all the support you have in Bangkok, why has n’t there been a popular response to the MFP dissolution decision? Why have n’t we seen anything on the streets? &nbsp,

Thanathorn: Because, on the one hand, I believe the party has planned this in advance and mentally prepared the electorate for the election of 2027. So we sort of agree on that now.

Because at the time, we did n’t prepare the people’s mentality, the Future Forward party and the Move Forward Party are totally different from one another. So people were angry. And people were not sure if we could survive the dissolution, but we did.

And now, talking many months in advance]we prepared the people for possible dissolution]. And if it occurs again, we’ll form a new party and hold elections until 2027. And I believe that in 2027, the direction will reach its peak. So people did n’t lose faith, did n’t go to the street in protest.

Asia Times: Do you believe that the protests could occur naturally as they did in 2021 with the student protests against the monarchy, even if Move Forward/Future Forward does not organize them?

Thanathorn: If in 2027 the People’s Party wins the election and cannot form the government, you know it’s gonna break.

Asia Times: Given the threat it poses to democracy, why has the party shied from publicly organizing protests against the dissolution decision for royal reasons?

Thanathorn: You talk about change. I want to see a peaceful transition. It has to be peaceful, right? So we will continue to do this unless and until we are completely convinced that the parliamentary approach cannot result in a peaceful transition.

Asia Times: Does the inability to act on the backs of the majority of voters only serve to stifle anti-democratic forces that defend establishment interests? That as long as there is no response, they will continue to dissolve your parties. Do n’t you eventually have to respond?

Thanathorn: No, because I think if you look back at what happened, we prepare for this. People had their minds set aside for this. There’s anger, of course, on]dissolution ] day. There was anger, there was sorrow on that day. However, others are aware of what we’re going to do.

We made it clear that we would form a new party and that we would run in the 2027 election. So I think that’s that’s why there’s no student protest this time around, because we communicated months earlier in advance.

Asia Times: Because the dissolution was for royal reasons, protests could target palaces or royal symbols?

Thanathorn: Potentially.

Asia Times: Is there a chance that your affiliated parties will outshine your party’s leadership if they start using salami-slicing tactics gradually to erode support for FF/MFP/PP and its third-string generation of leaders? That the third generation may not have the same level of support and resonance as you did, which has also outlawed Pita Limjaroenrat?

Thanathorn: I have total faith in the third generation leadership. I believe that time strengthens them. For example, Tang, ( Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, the new People’s Party leader ), he will be 40 at time of the 2027 election, the same age when I set up the Future Forward party.

He’s really, really bright, smart – and very firm ideologically speaking. Very firm. So that’s one of the things I’m proud of: To be able to take/bring this new generation of politicians into the spotlight.

Could a youth-focused Peua Thai replace Paetongtarn Shinawatra ( 38 ) as the country’s youngest prime minister ever?

Thanathorn: No. It’s about organization structure, the way they recruit MPs is totally different from the way we recruit

MPs. ]For Peua Thai] you have to have family names. You have to be somebody.

But for us, show me if you are good enough to get the position. For example ,]PP spokesman ] Parit]Watcharasindhu], you know Parit. He’s 30 years old, and he’s the chairman of political development, commission of development.

At the age of 30, he did n’t contribute financially, He got this position because of his capability, because he’s hardworking, because he has proven himself to the people inside the party. So he gets this position.

Or Rangsimon Rome. He’s 31 and he’s the chairman of the parliamentary border issue commission. So here in this party, it’s all about your capabilities, your potential, your contribution to the party. It’s not about your family names. It’s not about your chip amount.

So that’s why I think organization structure is very important. We set it up in this manner, and doing so makes us capable.

Asia Times: Imitation is the most flattering flattery: Is Peua’s use of a young leader at the top not an attempt to copy your model?

Thanathorn: It’s not about being youthful or not being youthful. I think the content is more important than the presentation. What do you offer the Thai people, in terms of content? And is it novel or novel?

It’s not about age of the leadership. It is about the content, about offering the right policies to the Thai people. What kind of Thailand do you want to create for the Thai people? And I think that defines forward thinking.

Asia Times: Some feel]Peau Thai party patron ] Thaksin Shinawatra is as part of the system, the oligarchs, the big business monopolies, you want to change. Is it even possible for a member of the Shinawatra family to influence the change, taking into account their past, where they came from, and who they are?

Thanathorn: If theywanted to do it, they would have done it by now. It’s how many months now? A year?

Asia Times: How long can you really play the long game? You received the news that you had purchased Pridi Banomyong’s [revolutionary who overthrew the absolute monarchy in 1932 ] old house in France. Are you getting ready for the day so Thaksin can leave?

Thanathorn: No, no, no – that was symbolic … The future is interesting. I’m not sure how and when. However, I think things will change. When you talk to the people on the street, you ca n’t resist the change, the opinions of the people. It’s tangible, the view of change, its very tangible.

Asia Times: And history demonstrates that the spark frequently comes from an unforeseen circumstance?

Thanathorn: I think the people at the very top, they are very detached from ordinary people. They do n’t understand what ordinary people are thinking. They reside in a different world. They do n’t respond to people’s calls.

Continue Reading

SG keen to boost collaboration

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 26 Aug 2024 at 06: 11

Catherine Wong, Singapore's ambassador to Thailand, at the Singapore Education Fair at Samyan Mitrtown Hall on Sunday. Apichart Jinakul
Catherine Wong, Singapore’s adviser to Thailand, at the Singapore Education Fair at Samyan Mitrtown Hall on Sunday. Apichart Jinakul

According to its adviser, Singapore is eager to find new ways to strengthen its relationship with Thailand in the education field.

Speaking at the first Singapore Education Fair in Bangkok, Singapore’s ambassador in Thailand Catherine Wong said cooperation between the two countries is ongoing at many levels, such as the twin schools programme, the Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Partnership ( Step) Camp, and several active cultural exchange programs.

According to the embassy, about 70 universities in Singapore have collaborations with Thai educational institutions, and many of the IHLs have staff and student exchanges with Thai institutions in addition to standard apprenticeship programs and joint study.

Around 200 Singaporean interns travel to Thailand each year for a six-month position because Thailand offers our students a healthy and stimulating environment to teach and learn while on the job, she continued.

The embassy claimed that since 1998, the Singapore state has been awarding scholarships to exceptional students from all over Southeast Asia, including Thailand.

” Our educational system is renowned for its excellent around the world. Singapore is also a secure and diverse country of diverse races, religions, cultures, and countries, so we are obviously welcoming of people.

” I believe Thai students will quickly adapt and grow in the Singapore atmosphere, given our physical proximity and familiarity,” she added.

Two Singapore colleges are among the best 20 in the world, according to the QS World University Ranking 2024, with Nanyang Technological University ranking early and the National University of Singapore position seventh.

Students in Singapore does have a solid education foundation by continuing to study there.

” With this basis, I am comfortable each student will have a beautiful potential– be it in Singapore, Thailand, or anywhere in the globe”, she said.

Jaruwat Kiatiwongse, CEO of SG Gateway, which organised the occasion, said Singapore has continuously demonstrated its commitment to providing world-class training.

“Education is the basis of progress, the motivator for growth, and the key to unlocking people potential”, he said.

Continue Reading

Singapore keen to boost collaboration

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 26 Aug 2024 at 06: 11

Catherine Wong, Singapore's ambassador to Thailand, at the Singapore Education Fair at Samyan Mitrtown Hall on Sunday. Apichart Jinakul
Catherine Wong, Singapore’s adviser to Thailand, at the Singapore Education Fair at Samyan Mitrtown Hall on Sunday. Apichart Jinakul

According to its adviser, Singapore is eager to expand its ties with Thailand in the learning field.

Speaking at the first Singapore Education Fair in Bangkok, Singapore’s ambassador in Thailand Catherine Wong said cooperation between the two countries is ongoing at many levels, such as the twin schools programme, the Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Partnership ( Step) Camp, and several active cultural exchange programs.

According to the embassy, about 70 universities in Singapore have collaborations with Thai educational institutions, and many of the IHLs have staff and student exchanges with Thai institutions in addition to standard apprenticeship programs and joint study.

Because Thailand offers our students a safe and stimulating environment to teach and learn on the job, she continued,” about 200 volunteers from Singapore travel to Thailand every year for a six-month placement.”

The embassy claimed that since 1998, the Singapore state has been awarding scholarships to exceptional students from all over Southeast Asia, including Thailand.

” Our educational system is renowned for its excellent around the world. Singapore is also a secure and diverse country of diverse races, religions, cultures, and nationalities, so we are obviously welcoming of people.

” I believe Thai students will quickly adapt and grow in the Singapore atmosphere, given our physical proximity and familiarity,” she added.

Two Singapore colleges are among the best 20 in the world, according to the QS World University Ranking 2024, with Nanyang Technological University ranking early and the National University of Singapore position seventh.

” Staying an education in Singapore will give students an outstanding educational groundwork.

” With this basis, I am comfortable each student will have a beautiful potential– be it in Singapore, Thailand, or anywhere in the globe”, she said.

Jaruwat Kiatiwongse, CEO of SG Gateway, which organised the occasion, said Singapore has continuously demonstrated its commitment to providing world-class training.

“Education is the basis of progress, the motivator for growth, and the key to unlocking people potential”, he said.

Continue Reading