Berita Harian for 11 March 2024
Berita Harian for 11 March 2024
The Berita Harian is today’s news from the region (in Bahasa Inggris) covering regional, local and international affairs.
Indonesia
Fraud allegations in the recent presidential election have prompted second runner up Ganjar Pranowo of the Pancasila nationalist PDI-P party to pursue a Right to Inquiry, effectively a parliamentary investigation which is one of the privileges of the House of Representatives. Pranowo has raised concerns that recent allegations of financial corruption levelled at him have been attempts to undermine this inquiry.
Also, the South China Morning Post have presented a pessimistic view of president elect Prabowo’s 8% over 5 years growth target, describing it as “delusional”. The context of these comments was a speech made to promote his incoming policies which also included promises to reform the tax system to properly capture all taxes owed. Given the rampant corruption in Indonesia with non-payment of taxes this second item seems less realistic to me.
Finally, a push by the government to bring forward regional elections from November to September has failed after a court ruling rejecting the proposal. This push is thought to be made in order to allow the current government of Joko Widodo to influence the election. Regional Elections are fairly important in Indonesian politics as Mayors of major cities and Governorships are usually seen as stepping-stones to higher authority; Joko Widodo himself was governor of Java before his election as President and his recently elected incoming vice presidential son is the Mayor of Surakata.
Malaysia
The Malaysian government has rejected calls from an unrecognized group named the United Tausug Citizens (UTC) who are claiming citizenship over the Sabah State via the defunct Sultanate of Sulu. Presently the State of Sabah is ruled via a directly appointed Provincial Governor or Yang di-Pertua Negeri and is one of the few Malaysian states not overseen by a sultan. The peculiarities of the Malaysian sultanates are a holdover from the federation. Groups such as the UTC are often agitating for greater independence from the centralized government and in this instance independence is being sought via the re-establishment of a sultanate. Regardless, the group is unlikely to find much traction with their campaign given the particular interest paid to Sabah, which shares land borders with Indonesia and Borneo.
Also, Malaysia has made an appeal to the UN security council for all 5 permanent members to withhold their veto for “ situations involving mass atrocity crimes such as genocide”. This is obviously a loaded statement regarding the use of the United States veto of a ceasefire in Gaza. The Malaysian government is receiving significant pressure from their devout Muslim voters but as with most countries is attempting to toe the line of international relations between the United States and China.
Finally, the organizers of the recent Women’s March on International Women’s Day are under police investigation for offences under the Peaceful assembly Act 2012 and the Minor Offences Act 1955 for alleged “insulting acts”. This likely spurious investigation is not unusual in Malaysia, as criminal offences are often levelled at opponents of the government due to the heavy Sharia influence in the Malaysian criminal code. For example, current prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was arrested and imprisoned twice for sodomy charges based on the sworn testimony of a politically connected accuser.
The Philippines
Journalists call for the release of reporter Frenchie May Compio, arrested in 2020 for firearms possession and terrorism financing. Compio is believed to be a target of “Red Tagging” which is a red-scare era tactic of alleging connection between a target of the state and the rebel Communist Party of the Philippines. Her arrest was believed to be related to her reporting on poverty and the drug war carried out by former president Dueterte.
Also, president Feridnand Marcos Jr has maintained his position of not inviting investigators from the ICC to the Philippines. The Philippines is not a signatory to the ICC and is under no obligation to invite the body to visit the country despite the multiple human rights abuse allegations that have been raised under the previous president Rodrigo Duterte.
Finally, Netnet Camomot of the Mindanao Gold Star Daily provides a regional perspective on post Marcos Jr Philippines from the troubled Mindanao Region and the long-extant challenges of people living in the political reality of the Philippines:
Developing sounds optimistic, makes the developing-country citizen believe that his country is indeed developing and is on its way to becoming a developed country. If there’s total acceptance that Pinas will remain a Third World country, the only way out is to get outta here and immigrate to a First World country, or at least a Second World country.
Singapore
An unnamed Singaporean actor has been arrested with an unnamed Malaysian actress in Kuala Lumpur by the Malaysian Religious Authority. While it is not illegal for unmarried couples to cohabitate in Malaysia the Sharia aspect of Malaysian law does hold Unmarried Muslim women to a different standard of modesty. Celebrity arrests for immodesty are not uncommon but this is likely to cause a diplomatic row between the Singaporean and Malaysian governments due to the arrest of the non-citizen Actor.
Brunei
Lastly, Brunei has budgeted $1 billion BND (~ $750,000,000 USD) for the Ministry of Finance and the economy. Out of this, only $220,270,740 is actually allocated for department for departmental purposes. The remainder is earmarked for “Miscellaneous Expenses”. Online commenters have raised that these expenses make up the budget of 4 other ministries combined and are questioning the legitimacy of the use of these expenses.