ASEAN NOW Content Team

Myanmar's regime filed corruption charges against numerous members of the deposed Yangon regional NLD government last week, but exempted former chief minister U Phyo Min Thein, who testified against State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Former Yangon agriculture, livestock, forestry, and energy minister U Han Tun and mayor U Maung Maung Soe were charged with abuse of power under Article 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law, as well as former deputy mayor U Soe Lwin, Yangon City Development Committee secretary Daw Hlaing Maw Oo, and joint secretary U Than for aiding and abetting corruption under Articles 55 and 63.

The majority of the complaints concern Yangon Petrol (YP) Co's acquisition of land from the regional government of U Phyo Min Thein.
As part of U Phyo Min Thein's objective to lower fuel prices, the company opened a chain of filling stations in Yangon in 2019.
According to reports, the regional government awarded sites at below-market rentals, and YP was expected to offer fuel at competitive pricing.

The report of the regime's Anti-Corruption Commission included no mention of YP, which was run in collaboration with the provincial government.

However, the junta has imprisoned and accused U Zin Min Aung, a significant YP shareholder, for violating the country's anti-corruption laws.

According to the commission, the regional administration approved the registration of 63 acres in Dagon Township under the hands of a YP director.
According to the report, the director sold the land to a private company for 6.5 billion kyats.

Except for U Phyo Min Thein, who testified that he provided Daw Aung San Suu Kyi seven viss (approximately 11.4kg) of gold and US$600,000, the dictatorship has accused practically all Yangon ministers with alleged corruption.
Last month, the government sentenced her to five years in prison based on his testimony.

Apart from U Phyo Min Thein's charges, there was no additional evidence.

"They are becoming upset because repatriation has not yet begun, and many are becoming involved in illicit activities such as drugs and human trafficking, violence, and other crimes," said AK Abdul Momen.

Bangladesh's foreign minister, AK Abdul Momen, warned on Saturday that Myanmar citizens living in Bangladesh as refugees could resort to extremism, as he asked support from India and other nations in the area to repatriate them.

"I'm talking about the massive influx of Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh who have been forcibly displaced from their home country, and Bangladesh is providing them with food and shelter on humanitarian grounds," Momen said during the opening session of the two-day Asian Confluence River Conclave-Natural Allies in Development and Interdependence 3 (NADI-3) in Guwahati.

After fleeing Myanmar, around 1.1 million Rohingya refugees now live in improvised camps in the Cox's Bazar region of south-eastern Bangladesh.
The refugees were not referred to as Rohingyas by Momen.
Following the April 2017 violence, 890,000 Rohingya refugees landed in Cox's Bazar, according to the UNHCR.

The discussion was attended by S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam, and ambassadors and high commissioners from numerous Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar.

According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, armed attacks, violence, and human rights violations forced thousands of Rohingyas to flee Myanmar's Rakhine state and trek days on foot through jungles or cross the Bay of Bengal to reach Bangladesh in August 2017.
Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar is known as the "world's largest and most densely populated refugee camp."

The Rohingya have been dubbed "the world's most persecuted minority" by the United Nations.
The Rohingyas are a Muslim minority who have lived in predominately Buddhist Myanmar for millennia but have been denied citizenship since 1982.

"They've been temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh for the past five years and wish to return to their homeland," Momen explained.
"They are becoming upset because repatriation has not yet begun, and many are becoming involved in illicit activities like as drug and human trafficking, violence, and other crimes."

Over the last week, the health ministry reported a 19 percent increase in instances of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) (May 22-28).

Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, the director-general of health, said there were 18,602 instances reported this week, up from 15,548 the week before.

According to him, 65,535 instances were registered from January to May 28, a 27-fold rise over the same period last year, when only 2,333 cases were reported.

According to a statement released today, the majority of the instances (91%) involved youngsters aged six and under, with only 7% involving children aged seven to twelve.

Selangor had the highest number of instances (28.3%), followed by Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (12.3%), Perak (8.8%), Kelantan (7.5%), and Sabah (7.5%). (6.2 percent ).

From January 1 to May 28, a total of 1,505 outbreaks have been reported across the country.

With 502 outbreaks (33.4 percent), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya led the way, followed by Selangor with 172 (11.4 percent) and Perak with 168. (11.2 percent ).

The majority of outbreaks were still happening in nurseries, kindergartens, and preschools.

Noor Hisham encouraged these businesses to conduct health screenings at the gates to prevent the sickness from spreading further.

"Parents are also encouraged not to bring their children to places where there is a high risk of transmission, such as public playgrounds," he added, adding that the public should report any occurrences of HFMD to the ministry so that action can be taken.

Since the beginning of 2022, the three primary types of viruses that cause HFMD in the country are Coxsackie A16 (CA16), Coxsackie A6 (CA6), and Enterovirus 71. (EV71).

Singaporeans may expect higher prices for their national chicken-and-rice dish as Malaysia plans to halt shipments on Wednesday in order to boost supply in its own markets and keep prices down.

Singaporeans may expect higher prices for their national chicken-and-rice dish as Malaysia plans to halt shipments on Wednesday in order to boost supply in its own markets and keep prices down.

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob declared last week that exports of 3.6 million chickens per month will be banned from June 1 until domestic prices and production normalise. Singapore, which imports a third of its chicken from Malaysia, is the hardest hit.

Almost all of the chickens are brought to Singapore alive and butchered before being chilled.
Consumers in Singapore have been scrambling to stock up on fresh chicken ahead of the ban, with local media reporting that fowl has been emptied from shelves in several wet markets and supermarkets.

According to the Singapore Straits Times, chicken vendors expect that the cost of chilled chicken will jump by up to 30%, causing chicken dish prices to skyrocket.
Singapore's government has advised residents to switch to frozen chicken and other alternative meats, and it's looking into new markets for fresh chicken.

However, the destiny of the ubiquitous chicken rice, which is sold everywhere from hawker stalls to five-star hotels, is causing anxiety.
If it can't find new suppliers, Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, which obtains all of its poultry from Malaysia, is reportedly planning to serve pig and seafood dishes instead of frozen chicken.

Malaysia's prohibition comes as governments around the world battle with rising food prices, which have been exacerbated in part by the Ukraine conflict.
Ukraine exports a lot of corn and grains, which are important ingredients in poultry feed.

India took steps to defend its markets by banning sugar and wheat exports, while Indonesia temporarily halted — and then resumed — palm oil exports to other countries.

Despite the fact that it only opened to Australian tourists in March, industry experts have urged for a tourist embargo to help curb the spread of a disease.

Following the rapid development of foot and mouth disease, a global agriculture analyst believes Australians should be barred from visiting Bali for six months.

An outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Indonesia was reported to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (AWE) earlier this month.

More than 2000 livestock are thought to be sick in North Sumatra and East Java provinces.

Indonesia had been FMD-free since 1986, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health, which recognised the condition in 1990.

Despite the fact that Australia is free of FMD, industry experts believe that tourists should be barred from visiting Bali, despite the island's recent opening to visitors.

According to Yahoo News, Global AgriTrends expert Simon Quilty is concerned about Indonesia's "poor response" to the outbreak and believes the country should act soon because the disease can be spread through clothing and shoes.

"As severe as it seems, as a country, we seriously need to consider preventing people from going to Bali," he added, adding that we are building disease "highways" via each of our airports where return passengers from Indonesia pass through.

Mr Quilty believes that unless Indonesia takes immediate action in the next eight to twelve months, the disease will spread to other parts of the country, including East Timor and Papua New Guinea.

In the absence of intimate contact between animals or the importation of contaminated items, the risk to Australia, according to the AWE, remains low.

While the risk of an invasion in Australia is modest, the spread of FMD to Indonesia has increased the odds of an incursion in Australia, according to Australia's chief veterinary officer Mark Schipp.

"Two years ago, we predicted that the danger would be 9% during the next five years," he stated.

"Given the proximity of Indonesia, the trade we have with Indonesia in transporting live cattle up there, and the risk of returning stockmen and travellers from Indonesia, I would expect that risk to have at least increased."

Anyone returning to Australia after visiting a farm or dealing with livestock outside of Australia should declare it upon arrival so that actions can be taken to eliminate the risk of transmission through contaminated clothing or unclean shoes.

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has great hopes for Indonesia's golden generation in 2045, or on the country's 100th anniversary of independence.

The statement was made by Amin during his online remarks at the "Moving Forward: Local Initiatives in Reducing Stunting in Indonesia" book launch.

"We hope that when Indonesia celebrates 100 years of independence in 2045, we will have a golden generation capable of progressing the country rather than a demographic burden generation owing to stunting," he said.

Efforts to reduce stunting in Indonesia have been underway since 2018, according to the vice president. The vice president underlined the importance of reducing stunting in children under the age of five, as it has the potential to jeopardise the country's future in terms of education, health, productivity, and the economy.

The government continues to expand investment in the first thousand days of human life, according to the National Strategy for Accelerating Stunting Reduction (Stranas Stunting).

"We should be thankful that the prevalence of stunting has dropped from 30.8 percent in 2018 to 24.4 percent in 2021.
This accomplishment is the result of hard effort, ingenuity, and collaboration on the part of all parties involved, both at the federal and regional government levels "Amin took notice.

He also said that because the program's implementation differs from that of other regions, the presence of regional innovations that use local expertise and adapt to various peculiarities of the local area is critical.

He believes that the public can obtain an awareness of the spirit to reduce stunting at the grassroots through the book "Moving Forward: Local Initiatives in Reducing Stunting in Indonesia," where the hard work and dedication of stunting reduction officers can serve as an example to all parties.

"I believe this book will inspire cadres, midwives, nutritionists, public health professionals, and local governments to continue the noble goal of reducing stunting cases in Indonesian children, particularly through efforts to educate and empower the community to engage in and prevent stunting," he said.

According to Amin, the book serves as a means to disseminate creative ideas to all actors and partners in an effort to speed stunting reduction at all levels of government, as well as a form of recognition for local heroes for their struggles.

On Saturday, the vaccination rate for children aged five to eleven exceeded 80% in Brunei, when 208 first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine were given to youngsters in this age range, raising the coverage percentage to 80.4%. (34,501 children).

There were further 1,155 second shots given to children in this age bracket, bringing the total to 20,341. (47.4 per cent).

The population of Brunei has received three doses of the vaccine, with a coverage percentage of 70.4 percent.

During the daily press conference yesterday, Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Halbi Mohd Yussof, as Acting Minister of Health, announced this.

The Sultanate registered 217 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, according to the minister, with 216 found via antigen rapid test (ART) screenings and one from 322 RT-PCR laboratory testing completed in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 148,089.

According to the minister, 220 cases have been declared recovered, increasing the total number of cases recovered to 146,406.

There are 1,460 active cases, with four individuals having hospital treatment and 1,456 undertaking self-isolation at home.

According to the minister, one person in Category 4 requires respiratory help and is being closely monitored, while no cases in Category 5 require immediate attention.

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The Yangtse Copper Co. Ltd. employees were among people escaping junta assaults on villages near the mining projects in Sagaing.

On Wednesday evening, two of the five residents taken by junta forces in the southern Sagaing Region's Yinmabin and Salingyi townships were found killed.
Employees of a Chinese business in charge of a significant copper mining project in the area were identified as the guys that died.

Residents had been displaced by military raids on nearby towns and were taking refuge near Done Taw when they were apprehended on Wednesday afternoon.
Three of the men were quickly released, but Kyaw Nyein, 38, and Chit Thein Zaw, 34, were found dead later that evening.

Both men had previously worked for Yangtse Copper Co. Ltd.'s Myanmar branch.
According to residents, Kyaw Nyein worked in the processing department while Chit Thein Zaw worked as a drill operator.

Yangtse is a subsidiary of Wanbao Mining, which together with the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. (UMEHL), a military conglomerate, operates the contentious Letpadaung mining site in the area.
Yangtse and UMEHL jointly run two more neighbouring copper mines, known as the S&K mines, at Sabetaung and Kyisintaung.

Multiple injuries were discovered on Kyaw Nyein and Chit Thein Zaw, indicating that they had been subjected to serious treatment while being imprisoned by the military.

"It appears that they were tortured based on their injuries.
On the condition of anonymity, a local guy informed Myanmar Now that they had their hands tied behind their backs.

"Due to the amount of torture Kyaw Nyein was subjected to, his face was misaligned.
He has a bullet hole in his forehead as well," he added.
"Chit Thein Zaw was shot in the chest and the head.
They looked to be shot at close range."

The victims were from Ywar Thar village in Salingyi Township, but they were eventually buried in Kan Kone village's cemetery near the Kyisintaung copper mine.

"Their motorcycle was in horrible shape, so it made a lot of unusual noises, and the military most likely thought they were building up explosive devices," the local guy added, citing testimonies from the abductees who were eventually released.
"Their hands were bound behind their backs from the moment they were kidnapped.
They were not murdered in the presence of the other three victims.
After the others were liberated, they were utilised as guides through the area before being slain."

According to the source, Kyaw Nyein was intimately acquainted with him and had been participating in the general strike as part of the Civil Disobedience Movement, refusing to work at Yangtse.

On Thursday morning, the two men's bodies were incinerated.

The military council has not made any statements about their assassination.

According to local sources, a junta column of about 100 troops, which had been stationed near the Yangtse office in the area since early May, had been assaulting villages surrounding the Kyisintaung mine since Tuesday, burning approximately 40 homes in total.
The village of War Tan, located south of the mining facility, was reportedly set ablaze on Thursday morning.

The Myanmar army has denied responsibility for arson attacks around the country, blaming them instead on the anti-junta People's Defence Forces.

Residents of War Tan, as well as Done Taw, Shwe Pan Khaing, Tein Pin Kan, and Thea Taw Gyi, all fled the attacks this week, but were compelled to stay due to severe rains.

New Delhi strikes a compromise with the military junta government, a deviation from the BIMSTEC conference.

The government is unlikely to include the Myanmar Foreign Minister at the India-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting, which will be hosted by the External Affairs Minister (EAM) in mid-June, due to international pressure on how to engage with the Myanmar military junta regime and India's own ties with its neighbour.

The move contrasts with India's attendance at the regional BIMSTEC meeting in Colombo in March, where Myanmar's junta-appointed Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin was invited as a virtual participant, a move that drew criticism from the US.
Myanmar is likely to boycott the India-ASEAN summit in Delhi as a result of New Delhi's decision.

Several official and diplomatic sources claim that India has opted to follow the ASEAN consensus and send solely a "non-political," "non-military" representative to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and US-ASEAN meetings.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U Chan Aye, is receiving invites from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for both the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) on June 15 and the Foreign Ministers' meeting on June 16-17, according to sources.

Myanmar's response is still unclear, and a final call is expected on Monday, when the MEA convenes a logistics meeting in Delhi for diplomats from all ASEAN countries — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar — to prepare for the XIIth "Delhi Dialogue," or India-ASEAN FM meeting.

The MEA has refused to comment on the matter.

After Western countries put sanctions on the Myanmar military administration, which toppled the elected National Unity Government (NUG) led by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, India has chosen to take an independent stance on Myanmar, including at the UN Security Council.
India has emphasised the importance of democratic processes being restored, as well as the release of all political leaders and adherence to the ASEAN five-point accord.

The ASEAN five-point consensus on Myanmar, which was adopted in April 2021, calls for an immediate end to violence in the country, as well as dialogue among all parties, the appointment of a special envoy, ASEAN humanitarian assistance, and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to meet with all parties.

In 2021, India opted not to boycott Myanmar's government, and officials including then-Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla travelled to Naypyitaw and Yangon to meet with coup leader General Min Aung Hlaing.

In March, India agreed to participate in a summit of the Bay of Bengal Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or BIMSTEC, which includes Myanmar and Thailand, and which Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin virtually attended in sessions also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EAM S. Jaishankar.
The US had submitted strong demarches to both Sri Lanka, as the host, and India, which had backed the decision, in protest at the Minister's inclusion.

There's good news for anyone considering a trip to Malaysia.

Malaysia has reportedly announced Visa on Arrival (VOA) for Indian visitors who enter the nation via Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, or Brunei and have a valid visa from either country.

From June 1, 2022, this revised rule will take effect.

The VOA price will be MYR 200 (USD 46), according to the Immigration Department of Malaysia (Mumbai Attaché), and travellers will be needed to provide proof of having at least USD 500 cash/debit card/credit card/cheque traveller's or any electronic money verified by the Central Bank of Malaysia (Bank Negara Malaysia).
With a confirmed return plane ticket, travellers will be able to stay for up to 15 days.

Malaysia, as previously reported, will open its doors to fully-vaccinated and quarantine-free travel on May 1, 2022.
As a result, fully-vaccinated inbound travellers, including children aged 17 and younger, are no longer needed to take pre-departure and on-arrival Covid-19 tests.

In the event that you require an eVISA, you can now apply for one online.
According to reports, Malaysia Airlines, IndiGo, Malindo Air, AirAsia, and Air India Express offer over 18000 weekly tickets between India and Malaysia.

It is expected that the relaxation of COVID-related limitations and VOA will make travel to Malaysia even more convenient for Indians, allowing Malaysia to see an increase in tourism activities in the following days.

According to Nikkei, Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has dismissed calls for an early election, citing an increase in food prices and other living costs (May 31).

Although the next election isn't scheduled until 2023, Ismail Sabri has been under pressure from some members of his party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), to call one sooner in order to capitalise on UMNO's recent gain in popularity in local polls.

Given inflationary pressures resulting in part from the Ukraine crisis, the prime minister told Nikkei in an interview that he will wait for "the perfect time" to call an election.

"We're in the midst of a period of rising inflation and high prices... do you believe now is the best time?"
According to Nikkei, Ismail Sabri said.

The Malaysian central bank predicts headline inflation to range between 2.2 and 3.2 percent this year, with food prices rising by 4.1 percent in April.
To reduce inflationary pressures, the central bank unexpectedly hiked its benchmark interest rate earlier this month.

The government has implemented price controls, but the expense of subsidies has put a strain on its finances.

The administration wants to reintroduce a Goods and Services Tax, according to Ismail Sabri of Nikkei (GST).

The GST was adopted by an UMNO government in 2015, but it was repealed by Mahathir Mohamad's administration three years later, when people resented the 6% consumption tax for rising costs.

Ismail Sabri said the government was aware of the GST's unpopularity but had few options, noting that the tax has cost the government 20 billion ringgit (US$4.57 billion) in annual revenue since it was repealed.

He told Nikkei that the government will aim for a GST rate that was not too low to burden people, but not too low to "undermine the purpose of expanding tax income."

In 2022, Malaysia is anticipated to spend 28 billion ringgit on gasoline subsidies alone, up from 11 billion ringgit last year, in addition to subsidies for cooking oil, sugar, and flour.

Following the easing of a restriction a week ago, Indonesia has received its first requests for palm oil export licences, some of which could be granted as soon as Monday (May 30), according to a senior official, signifying a gradual resumption of shipments after long delays.

Despite the fact that Indonesia, the world's largest producer of palm oil, has officially authorised exports to resume following a three-week stop, firms are encountering regulatory roadblocks that are prolonging the process of getting their shipments out.

"As of this morning, five to six companies had submitted requests, which the system would process promptly.
We are hopeful that the permits would be issued today "A senior commerce ministry official named Veri Anggriono.

Under a Domestic Market Obligation (DMO), Indonesia is mandating companies to set aside a portion of their palm oil exports for the domestic market and to participate in a bulk cooking oil programme to sustain domestic supplies and keep prices in check.

Based on firms' domestic sales under the scheme, the government has set a target of 1 million tonnes of palm oil exports over an undetermined time period.
That's less than half of the average monthly volume before the prohibition.

According to laws, the volume of cooking oil that enterprises are authorised to export is determined by their refining capacity and domestic demand.

According to Veri, the DMO is roughly 20% when the export allocation is divided by the domestic distribution.

Officials say 26 people are missing after a ferry ran out of gasoline and sank off the coast of Indonesia in heavy weather.

The ferry was carrying 43 passengers when it capsized on Thursday in the Makassar Strait, the strait that separates the islands of Sulawesi and Borneo, according to the country's search and rescue agency.

Officials just learned about the event on Saturday, according to Djunaidi, the local head of search and rescue, who, like many Indonesians, goes by only one name.

"Two tugboats passing by rescued seventeen persons who were still alive.
"We've sent out a rescue team to look for the others who have gone missing," he said.

Djunaidi stated that a crew of 40 rescuers were at sea looking for survivors.

In Indonesia, a south-east Asian archipelago of roughly 17,000 islands with inadequate safety standards, marine accidents are widespread.

A ferry carrying over 800 people struck aground in shallow waters off the coast of East Nusa Tenggara province last week and was stuck for two days before being rescued.
There were no injuries.

On the Indonesian island of Sumatra, more than 150 people drowned in 2018 when a ferry collapsed in one of the world's deepest lakes.

Myanmar's military administration has selected two former military officers to lead the Myanmar Press Council, in addition to their oversight over the Myanmar Press Council, in what is believed to be yet another effort to choke the already suffocated media.

Former lieutenant colonel U Ohn Maung will lead the press council, with former lieutenant colonel U Myo Tun as vice-chairman.
In November, both men were elected chairman and vice-chairman of the writers association.

Under past military regimes, U Ohn Maung, also known as Myinmu Maung Naing Moe, received multiple national poetry honours.

U Myo Tun, also known as Maung Sein Naung Lewe, worked for the Defense Ministry's Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare.
They have a modest public profile.

Former military officers and those with ties to the military dominate the writers association's 11-member central executive committee.
"The two are from the military from the very beginning," a writer who requested anonymity stated.
They will not contribute to the development of literature."

With the February 2021 coup, many liberties enjoyed by journalists and writers for nearly a decade came to an end.
The press council was reformed under regime control in November of last year.
After nearly six months, the authors' association was formed.

The new council members, who took an oath before junta leader Min Aung Hlaing in November, did not speak out against the regime's detention of journalists and issued statements in support of it.

U Ohn Maung has been publishing propaganda poems in junta newspapers for the past six months.
The 70-year-old is recognised for his unwavering devotion to the military, having hosted literary discussions, poster displays, competitions, and writing contests within battalions.

Myanmar's former leader Aung San Suu Kyi's relatives filed a complaint with a UN watchdog on Wednesday (May 25) over her arrest following a military coup last year, according to their attorneys.

The 76-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been held in military detention since a coup deposed her administration in February 2021, plunging Myanmar into chaos. She faces a slew of allegations that may land her in prison for more than 150 years.

Human rights lawyers Francois Zimeray and Jessica Finelle described the scenario as a "judicial kidnapping," and said they had filed a complaint on behalf of her relatives with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

The complaint, seen by AFP, stated that "her arrest was illegal, her incarceration was without legal justification, and her several trials violated the basic standards governing any legal proceeding."

"This is a kidnapping disguised as a trial; she is imprisoned incommunicado in defiance of all justice and fights back against inhumane psychological torture with tenacity."

"For Myanmar, this is a devastating reversal.
The entire Burmese population is muted by Aung Sang Suu Kyi's figure, and its democratic ambitions are destroyed."

Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison after facing a series of "farcical charges," but stands the possibility of serving more than 100 years on 17 distinct offences, according to her defenders.

Aung San Suu Kyi was held under house arrest in her family's lakeside residence in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, during a former junta regime.

Following two years of pandemic restrictions, Malaysia is bringing back travellers from the Middle East, with tourism operators anticipating a surge in visitors, particularly those travelling for family vacations.

Following the reopening of the country's borders in April to allow quarantine-free travel, Malaysia's tourism ministry has increased its advertising efforts in an attempt to lure 2 million overseas visitors this year.

"We just returned from the Arabian Go Market, and we saw how eager they are to travel," Mohmed Razip Hajji Hasan, director-general of the Islamic Tourism Center, a ministry-run body, told Arab News.

"People want to travel again, and our industry participants may take advantage of the reopening of borders to capture this niche market, which is recognised for staying longer and spending more."

The coronavirus epidemic halted Malaysia's tourism economy, and this year's aim is more than ten times lower than the 26.1 million visitors it received in 2019.

Malaysia has been a top destination for travellers from the Middle East since 2015, according to the Global Muslim Travel Index.

Hasan stated that the ministry is collaborating with airlines, tour companies, and hoteliers to provide privacy and safe spaces for families travelling to the Middle East.

Omar Hameed, manager of the Al-Diuf Al-Arabia Tourism and Travel firm, believes Malaysian tourism would pick up by next month, when many Middle Eastern countries' school seasons end.
The government does not require visas for many travellers from the region.

"By then, it would be Malaysia's prime tourism season, since most Middle Eastern families will want to spend their vacation here," he told Arab News.
"It's not as congested as it is in Indonesia."

However, others in the hospitality industry believe that the country still has difficulties to overcome before it can be considered a pleasant destination.

"Many people adore Malaysia, but sadly some of the minor details need to be addressed," said Alaa A., proprietor of Hadramot House, a Yemeni restaurant in Bukit Bintang, a posh retail district in Kuala Lumpur popular with Middle Eastern visitors.

He mentioned the issues that visitors have with taxi drivers who refuse to utilise metres and instead try to charge significantly higher fixed fees.

During the 21st iteration of the country's largest exercise, Taming Sari 21/2022, which took place in the north of the Strait of Malacca between May 16 and 20, 2022, the Royal Malaysian Navy cruiser KD LEKIR live-fired an Exocet missile.

Today, we saw the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) assets undertake the exercise TAMING SARI Series 21 of 2022, which included real missile launches.
This is also the end of Operational Sea Training Exercise West (OSTEX WEST) 1/22, which took place from May 16 to 20, 2022 with Royal Malaysian Fleet forces.

TAMING SARI brought together 1,250 personnel from the Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), and Maritime Enforcement Agency Malaysia (MMEA).
Ten naval ships, five fast attack craft (FAC), three RMN aircraft, three RMAF aircraft, and two MMEA aircraft took part in the exercise.

KD LEKIR, a Kasturi-class corvette, launched an EXOCET MM40 missile in the seas of the Strait of North Malacca as part of the drill.
The target, which was 20 nautical miles away, was hit with pinpoint accuracy (or 36 kilometers).

The missile's successful strike on the target demonstrates not only RMN personnel's ability and expertise in handling the country's defence assets, but also RMN's readiness to ensure that the country's waters remain safe and sovereign.

Because a new missile system will be deployed as soon as the previous system becomes obsolete throughout this two-year timeframe, the RMN's missile systems will always be at the maximum level of readiness.

Following Elon Musk's meeting with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo this weekend, Indonesia's Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia stated that Tesla committed to establish a battery and EV plan in Indonesia.

In Jakarta, Bahlil stated, "God willing, Tesla will enter Indonesia this year."
However, I am not yet able to reveal the month.
Let us pause for a moment because we have yet to sign a contract.
How much money has been invested is still a mystery.
However, this is important material."

According to Benar News, the Minister of Investment revealed that Tesla is targeting an industrial complex in Central Java region for its new EV production in Indonesia.
Bahlil indicated on Tuesday, May 17 that Indonesia and Tesla's team are working on a deal, with the goal of having a sound investment plan in place by the end of 2022.

"The team is in negotiations, but rest assured that the President has a unique manoeuvre in the works to attract Elon Musk."
Personally, I believe in it.
Elon Musk's [investment] will come to our country, God willing," Bahlil stated.

In recent weeks, Elon Musk has met with a number of Indonesian leaders.
President Jokowi recently paid a visit to Elon Musk at SpaceX in Texas.
During President Jokowi's visit to SpaceX, the two discussed innovation and technology.
Musk and Jokowi had previously met at Giga Texas to discuss Tesla's possible nickel investments in Indonesia.

In December 2021, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) presented a commentary on Indonesia's nickel reserves.
Indonesia has the world's greatest nickel reserves, according to the CSIS.
The country produces 1 million metric tonnes of nickel each year, accounting for 37% of global output.

Indonesia makes use of its nickel riches to encourage investment in the battery industry.
In January 2020, the Indonesian government banned the export of raw nickel.
The government said earlier this year that the prohibition on raw nickel exports had benefited Indonesia by increasing mining investments and nickel-derived product exports.

In May 2021, Indonesia opened its first nickel processing factory.
Seven more nickel projects are currently being developed.

After a three-week prohibition, Indonesia is set to begin palm oil exports on Monday, but industry traders and corporations are waiting for specifics on accompanying restrictions to safeguard domestic supply of the edible oil and manage cooking oil prices.

The world's largest palm oil producer banned exports of palm oil on April 28 in an attempt to lower skyrocketing local cooking oil costs, causing global edible oil markets to tremble.

Last week, President Joko Widodo announced the lifting of the export ban on crude palm oil and some derivative products, expressing confidence that bulk cooking oil prices would eventually reach a target of 14,000 rupiah ($0.9546) per litre, despite the fact that prices were currently higher in some areas.

Palm oil, which is used in everything from margarine to shampoo, accounts for a third of the global vegetable oil market, with Indonesia supplying over 60% of it.

To ensure supply security, Indonesia announced that it will implement a policy known as the Domestic Market Obligation (DMO), which requires producers to sell a percentage of their products locally at a set price.

Under the DMO standards, Indonesia wants to keep 10 million tonnes of cooking oil supplies at home, according to Chief Economics Minister Airlangga Hartarto, who added that the Trade Ministry will oversee their implementation.

On Monday, traders were waiting for specifics on the DMO and other restrictions to be released.

"Sellers are attempting to clear pending orders that have been stalled due to the ban.
They are also taking fresh orders, but demand is not high "said a Mumbai-based global trading house dealer.

"They also don't want to sell a lot till they grasp DMO laws," the trader continued.

Palm oil prices from competitor supplier Malaysia rose 1.67 percent on Monday, partly reflecting the policy uncertainty in Indonesia.

When asked if Musim Mas had begun exports, spokeswoman Carolyn Lim said the company was still focused on "flooding the domestic markets with cooking oil in the hopes of reaching the target retail price," stressing that the Indonesian government was still concerned about high retail pricing.

According to Trade Ministry data, the average price of bulk cooking oil was 17,000 rupiah per litre as of Friday.

Myanmar's junta threatened to sever diplomatic ties with Australia on Thursday after Canberra refused to replace the military-run country's recently-departed ambassador.

Western governments have led worldwide condemnation of Aung San Suu Kyi's government's overthrow and deadly crackdown on dissent last year, with some implementing sanctions and meeting with opposition groups.

Canberra will not replace ambassador Andrea Faulkner, who concluded her term in April, and will instead send a senior official to operate as charge d'affaires, according to Australian media on Monday.

At a press conference on Thursday, Chan Aye, permanent secretary of the regime's foreign affairs ministry, said Canberra had informed the junta of the decision.

'As a result, we're working on having a charge d'affaires administer the Myanmar embassy in Australia,' he said, without specifying if Myanmar will withdraw its ambassador or downgrade their standing.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been approached for comment by AFP.

Rights organisations blasted a meeting between outgoing Faulkner and junta leader Min Aung Hlaing in April as giving the military legitimacy.

It also came with the prosecution of detained Australian academic Sean Turnell in a junta court, where he faces 14 years in prison for breaking the country's official secrets legislation.

Britain's recent downgrading of its mission in the country, according to Chan Aye, is 'unacceptable.'
According to the British foreign ministry website, Peter Vowles was appointed as ambassador in July but is currently charge d'affaires.

On his current status, Vowles, who is now outside Myanmar, will not be allowed to return, according to Chan Aye.

Former president and head of state Win Myint is currently on trial alongside Suu Kyi in a junta court.

According to sources in state media, newly arriving ambassadors from India and Saudi Arabia handed their credentials to Min Aung Hlaing.

Former Australian ambassador to Myanmar Christopher Lamb told AFP that any downgrade of ties by Canberra would not be surprising, and that several other nations had not nominated new diplomats since the putsch.

'You have to decide whether making this judgement will have an impact on Sean Turnell's circumstances, and they have probably come to the conclusion, which I believe is sensible, that it won't.'

The junta has turned to longstanding allies for backing after being shunned by Western countries. These include Russia and China.

It has backed its key friend and armaments supplier by calling Russia's invasion of Ukraine "legitimate."

On the international scene, the junta is becoming increasingly isolated, with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen being the only foreign leader to visit since the coup.

Military tensions are strong in Pekon, Shan State, between Myanmar's regime and the Karenni insurgency.

The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force is being attacked by the junta (KNDF).
The operations follow a May 11 attack on a military checkpoint in Nyaung Shwe Township, Shan State, in which five junta troops, including a deputy battalion commander, were kidnapped along with weapons.

On Wednesday morning, the KNDF 3 Battalion in Pekon led resistance forces against the junta's 422 Battalion pushing to the east of the Moe Bye dam near Pekon.
According to the KNDF, artillery assistance was provided by Junta troops based in Loikaw.

During the fighting, one KNDF fighter was killed and another was badly injured.
Fresh violence is expected around Pekon at any time, according to the KNDF.

From Hsi Hseng, Hopong, and Moe Bye in southern Shan State, the regime is attacking the Karenni resistance to the east of the Moe Bye dam.

"To the east of Pekon is Pekon Lake.
Junta forces with armoured vehicles arrived from Hopong and Pinglong in the north, and 422 Battalion and 66 Division from Loikaw in the south.
"They're attempting to trap us east of the lake," a KNDF spokesman explained.

Aung Kham Hti's Pa-O National Organization (PNO) is fighting alongside junta troops.
According to witnesses, the junta is being fought by the KNDF, people's defence forces, and the Southern Shan Revolution Youth, a collaboration of five revolutionary groups.

Although there was no fighting in the village, the KNDF reported both sides may have suffered losses, and junta and PNO troops burnt Saung Nan Ke village in Pekon.
Thirty homes were reportedly destroyed by fire.

On Tuesday, Junta troops airdropped reinforcements and ammunition to Pekon, implying that the regime considers the routes unsafe.
On Wednesday morning, there was further fighting.

The PNO was threatened by the KNDF.

"We annihilate everybody who aids the dictatorship."
"Anyone who works with the dictatorship is our enemy," the spokesman declared.

On May 14, the Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC) published an open letter to the PNO, Pa-O National Liberation Organization, and Pa-O people on Facebook.

It expressed gratitude to the Pa-O for looking after individuals fleeing Kayah State and stated that it appreciated the Pa-desire O's for peace and stability in the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone.

The Pa-O was warned in the letter to stay away from the government since it only hurts the ethnic group.

"We will intercept junta reinforcements," a KNDF spokesman warned.
It is our responsibility because junta attacks have harmed numerous villages.
We will continue to attack them, and our attacks will get more intense."

Following encouraging international tourist arrivals following the reopening of the country's borders on April 1, the Bursa Malaysia reversed yesterday's losses to begin higher today on improving market mood, according to an analyst.
Approximately 500,000 international tourists have arrived Malaysia since last week, according to reports, and the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry is sure that the two million tourist arrivals target would be met by the end of the year.

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 5.59 points, or 0.36 percent, to 1,555.00 at 9:05 a.m. from its previous closing of 1,549.41.

At 1,552.38, the benchmark index opened 2.97 points higher.

Gainers outnumbered losers 176 to 105 on the broader market, with 190 counters unchanged, 1,810 untraded, and 22 others suspended.

A total of 110.88 million units worth RM53.40 billion were sold.

Investors may remain cautious in the near term, according to Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd, as current market sentiment may be compounded by continuous Wall Street turbulence.

According to a note released today by the research firm, Wall Street closed lower due to growing fears about the impact of persistently high inflation and future erosion of business profitability.

"On a related issue, Indonesia's decision to abolish its prohibition on palm oil exports may provide relief to the world market, lowering the price of crude palm oil (CPO)."
However, with this news, plantation stocks may see selling pressure.

"In the meanwhile, investors may turn their attention to the banking sector in anticipation of firmer earnings that will fare well in the face of interest rate hikes," it said.

The CPO is currently trading at roughly RM6,000, while crude oil is trading at around US$112 per barrel.

In the face of the COVID-19 problem, Malaysia and Singapore have remained solid, loyal, and dependable allies, according to Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (May 19).

Dr. Balakrishnan spoke to the media on the final day of a three-day business visit to Malaysia, during which he met with key Malaysian lawmakers and personalities.

"People on both sides of the causeway have had a rough time in the last two years.
"However, one significant factor that has emerged is that both Malaysia and Singapore have been solid, loyal, and dependable partners throughout the crisis," Dr Balakrishnan added.

"Despite the crisis, we maintained our supply networks open and the flow of basic services - food, medication, logistics, supply chains - was uninterrupted," he continued.

Dr Balakrishnan responded that Malaysia's political environment has been "complex and complicated" since the 2018 General Election when asked if it has been difficult to maintain and build bilateral ties amid political uncertainty.

Despite this, he claims that the pandemic has enhanced the bilateral connection and increased mutual trust between Singapore and Malaysia.

"The fact that we can work together and support each other made all the difference since we came through for each other during important occasions."

The minister went on to say that his lengthy friendships with people like Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Senior Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had enabled him communicate effectively for both countries' mutual benefit.

"For almost two decades, I've known Prime Minister Ismail (Sabri) and Defense Minister Hishammuddin.
And these friendships have endured through good and bad times...
"I'll call us buddies," Dr. Balakrishnan replied.

"I believe that our fundamental obligation as political leaders on both sides is to enhance the interests, security, and opportunity for our respective peoples," he continued.
But, as friends with a long history of connection and participation, we are able to speak effectively, without misunderstanding, and collaborate successfully to bring ideas of mutual interest to fruition."

Dr. Balakrishnan stated that he met with Mr. Ismail Sabri, Mr. Hishammuddin, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, and other political leaders during his tour.
He also met with Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, the Deputy King.

Dr Balakrishnan and Mr Ismail Sabri hailed the full restoration of land and air borders between Singapore and Malaysia, according to a statement issued by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

Dr. Balakrishnan and Mr. Saifuddin also "took stock of current bilateral cooperation, and agreed that it had proceeded apace even amidst the epidemic and travel limitations," according to the release.

More than 600 kilometres from Darwin, in the remote East Arnhem Land village of Nhulunbuy, 130 US Marines, Australian Defence Force, and Indonesian military troops engaged in a very elaborate game of pretend this week.

In the imaginary nation of 'Belesia,' they're responding to 'Tropical Cyclone Sophia.'

As part of the Crocodile Response training exercise, the three forces were dispatched to help a made-up village with no running water, cut-off roads, unsuitable airstrips, and displaced people.

"A storm hit during the drill, and there was some very widespread damage," said Major Tim Murphy of the Australian Army.

"There has been damage to the hospital system, the township's freshwater supply, and residences and basic infrastructure, so this is a difficult area for the local community to live under the present limits, and we're here to help."

The Australian Army and Darwin-based US Marines participate in this yearly humanitarian relief training exercise.

The fictional country, which is based in a decommissioned mining camp on the Gove Peninsula, was created exclusively for military training, with made-up countries like Belesia imitating actual ones with their own fictional governments, social issues, and currencies.

The Australian Army received the Decisive Action Training Environment (DATE) simulation system from the US in 2018, and the make-believe training areas and scenarios were meant to mimic parts of the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions.

Following improvements in the domestic cooking oil supply situation, President Joko Widodo said on Thursday that Indonesia will suspend its palm oil export embargo on Monday, May 23.

Despite the fact that the price of bulk cooking oil has not yet reached the anticipated 14,000 rupiah per litre, the government decided to relax the prohibition because the government is concerned about the wellbeing of 17 million palm oil workers, according to news agency Reuters.

Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil exporter, has blocked edible oil shipments since April 28 in an attempt to flood the domestic market with supply in order to control rising cooking oil prices.

According to reports, despite strict measures that have shook the edible oil markets and cost hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue, the price of cooking oil, a staple for Indonesian families, has not decreased, lowering President Joko Widodo's approval rating.

The president, known as Jokowi, previously stated that the need for affordable food superseded income considerations, and that the export ban would only be repealed if domestic requirements were addressed.

Palm oil dealers have speculated that the restriction may have been partially removed, especially when storage tanks fill up.

Politics is almost certainly a factor in the timing.
The president's approval rating is at a six-year low, according to a poll conducted this week by pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia, which is mostly due to rising cooking oil prices and inflationary impacts.