Government
National government
Disqualification law not intended to bully EC: Meechai
Chief constitution writer Meechai Ruchupan on November 16 said all independent agencies, including the Constitutional Court, would be treated equally regarding the disqualification of members as stipulated by new organic laws, adding the Constitution Drafting Commission had no intention to bully the Election Commission. The drafters ...
Malaysia silences 1MDB whistleblower in blow to rights
A chorus of international outrage was struck immediately after the sentencing of opposition politician Rafizi Ramli for disclosing part of the Auditor General’s report into the 1MDB corruption scandal, which has severely damaged Malaysia’s reputation in business and politics. London based Amnesty International immediately called ...
'An epochal change': what a Trump presidency means for the Asia Pacific region
From China and Japan to India and the countries of south-east Asia, leaders are being confronted by the unknowns of a new American president. Donald Trump’s victory has the potential to radically redraw the geopolitical landscape in Asia, where Barack Obama has been trying to counterbalance ...
ASEAN, China join forces to tackle transnational crime
ASEAN member states and China will further boost their joint efforts through bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms to tackle transnational crime. Transnational crime includes drugs and human trafficking which are increasing in scale as reflected by the large number of young people that fall victim ...
NA approves draft-amended Law on Government
The National Assembly approved a draft-amended Law on Government on November 8 that revises the mandates of the prime minister, ministers and some state departments. The amendments came after the Government Office was renamed the Prime Minister’s Office following the assumption of office of the new ...
Poverty reduction slows
Poverty reduction has slowed a little but the government will strive to reduce the number of poor families from 6.56 percent in 2016 down to 6.09 percent by 2017, the government has told the National Assembly. There are four main reasons for the slower rate ...
Anxiety in Manila as Duterte blasts U.S., embraces China
During long hours stuck in Manila’s choking traffic, taxi driver Maning Yabut constantly hears about the anxieties of Filipinos from all walks of life. These days, the talk is all about whether President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-U.S. outbursts are good for the Philippines. Particularly concerned, he ...
Media law approved, but needs more changes: Assembly
National Assembly members have called for media outlets, individuals and entities that operate within the industry to be more clearly defined by law to ensure the media contributes positively to national protection and development. Members highlighted these points when debating a draft amendment to the ...
Government accedes to requests of UN resident coordinator and diplomatic missions
Union officials on November 3 said they had satisfied the requirements of diplomatic officials for northern Rakhine State in the aftermath of the deadly armed attacks of October 9. Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Ye Aung, Chief Minister of Rakhine State U Nyi Pu ...
President inspects Biluchaung Hydro-power Plant 2 in Kayah State
President U Htin Kyaw, together with Union Ministers U Than Myint, U Thein Swe and U Pe Zin Tun and Deputy Minister Maj-Gen Than Htut, visited Loikaw in Kayah State on November 3 and met with local officials, entrepreneurs, farmers and residents in Linphonlay Village. The ...
