Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Singapore, & Thailand: July 15, 2025
After a decade of deadlock, the European Union has shifted its tone in negotiations with Indonesia on a long-awaited free trade agreement, a pivot that some economists attribute to mounting external pressure, particularly the growing uncertainty stemming from United States trade policy.
1. 'SOME CANNOT SOURCE OUTSIDE CHINA': S'PORE FIRMS' CHALLENGES AND SUPPORT NEEDED AMID US TARIFFS -- THE STRAITS TIMES
For the past three months, business owner Ernie Koh has been cycling through various scenarios in his head, pending finalisation of tariff rates for Vietnam.
2. WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS RACE AT SENTOSA POSTPONED, WATER QUALITY FAILS TO MEET 'ACCEPTABLE THRESHOLDS' -- CNA
The World Aquatics Championships women's open water 10km race at Sentosa was postponed hours before the event was due to begin as water quality levels failed to meet "acceptable thresholds", organisers said.
THAILAND
1. LEGAL ACTION SOUGHT AGAINST HUN SEN FOR ALLEGED SEDITION -- THE NATION
Thai police have forwarded a case involving Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen to prosecutors, accusing him of sedition over social media activity linked to Thai domestic politics.
2. NACC TAKES UP PM'S PHONE CALL CASE -- BANGKOK POST
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has unanimously agreed to set up a panel to investigate suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for alleged ethical misconduct, in connection with the audio clip featuring a controversial phone conversation between her and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.
-- BERNAMA
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The Star
37 minutes ago
- The Star
Defence minister demands public apology for assault on Cambodian soldier at Ta Mone Thom
A former Thai soldier assaulted a Cambodian in uniform at Ta Mone Thom Temple on July 13. Defence minister Tea Seiha (left) has called for a public apology. - Supplied PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's National Defence Minister has demanded that a former Thai patrol soldier, along with Thai authorities, issue a public apology for the unprovoked assault on a Cambodian soldier that took place at Ta Mone Thom temple on July 13. This demand was made in spite of the fact that the suspect has already been arrested by Thai authorities and is facing legal consequences. Speaking today, July 15, at an event to welcome Cambodian peacekeepers returning from the Central Africa Republic, defence minister Tea Seiha explained that on July 13, the former Thai soldier initially approached to shake hands but then suddenly attacked the Cambodian. 'If there was just an apology, I would be satisfied. There could be an apology; I believe there has been an informal apology. However, it hasn't been publicly announced that he apologized to Cambodia,' Seiha said. He further noted that the suspect, identified as 'Sommai', claimed he attacked the Cambodian soldier out of anger after seeing Cambodian civilians at Ta Mone Thom. He alleged that Cambodian soldiers prevented Thai civilians from accessing the temple. According to Seiha, Sommai face legal action in Thailand, as Thai authorities claim Ta Mone Thom belongs to them and plan to prosecute him in a Thai court. However, the minister argued that the suspect should be tried in Cambodia since the incident occurred on Cambodian soil. For now, Cambodia is monitoring the situation. 'What frustrates me even more is that some Thai lawyers have volunteered to defend him. Defending someone when the crime is clear is pointless. Where is the respect for the law in Thailand?' he asked. He noted that the lawyers publicly volunteered their services on social media, seemingly to gain popularity. The arrest was widely reported in Thai media but no updates on the nature of the charges he will face have been made available. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
The Star
41 minutes ago
- The Star
Miti's AI chip export rule to have no impact on data centres
KUALA LUMPUR: MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd believes that data centres will not be affected by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry's (MITI) latest directive on artificial intelligence (AI) chips. The ministry has issued a directive which requires all exports, transshipments and transits of high-performance AI chips of United States (US) origin in Malaysia to obtain a Strategic Trade Permit (STP). In a research note today, the investment bank said the import of US-made advanced AI chips for use in domestic servers does not fall under the scope of the new rules unless the data centre operators intend to move the chips out of Malaysia. "There is zero impact from this directive in our opinion, as far as data centres in Malaysia are concerned. This is not an additional red tape that could delay the process of setting up a data centre in Malaysia,' it said. MIDF noted that since the beginning of the year, it has consistently reiterated that most new data centres are AI-ready, though some may eventually be used for non-AI purposes. The investment bank said the directive primarily addresses the movement of AI chips out of Malaysia, which it views as a prudent move by MITI to prevent suspected smuggling of chips into China through intermediaries. "This shows Malaysia's willingness to take responsibility for the movement of US-origin AI chips out of the country by stepping up its enforcement,' it added. MIDF said negotiations between Malaysia and the US will likely focus on regulatory enforcement, end-user monitoring, and the seriousness in addressing violations of the control measures. "MITI's latest directive covers all these. It is hoped that this will be able to placate the US when negotiating the restrictions of AI chip exports under Trump's refashioned AI Diffusion Rule,' it said. It added that speculation is growing around a possible shift from the current three-tiered country system to a licensing regime based on government-to-government agreements. This could mean that firms headquartered in the US or its close allies may no longer be restricted by the current seven per cent AI computing power limit for countries outside Tier 1, which allows for more AI capacities to be planned in countries such as Malaysia. "Regardless of the changes from Biden's rescinded Framework of AI Diffusion to the new rule being rewritten by the Trump administration, MIDF believes the essence remains, which is to contain China's AI advancement and ensure that US AI chips are not used to train Chinese AI models,' noted MIDF. - Bernama
The Star
42 minutes ago
- The Star
Ringgit strengthens against US dollar as China economic data boosts sentiment
KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit finished higher against the US dollar at the close on Tuesday as market sentiment improved on the back of better-than-expected economic data from China. News that NVIDIA can resume microchips sales to China also suggested that US tariff shocks could be managed, further lifting sentiments. At 6 pm, the local note rose to 4.2395/2440 from Tuesday's close of 4.2505/2560. SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes said the ringgit "caught a gentle tailwind' after China's second quarter gross domestic product surprised to the upside, which is a regional morale boost driven not by American demand, but by "China's resilience in non-US export lanes.' "It's a reminder that ASEAN currencies, particularly the ringgit, can still find traction when Beijing's supply engine hums and its trade compass pivots south and east rather than west,' he added. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid agreed that external factors had driven the ringgit and other currencies to a stronger level today. At the close, the ringgit was traded higher against a basket of major currencies. It strengthened against the British pound to 5.7047/7107 from 5.7305/7379, improved against the Japanese yen to 2.8702/8734 from 2.8858/8897 and was up versus the euro at 4.9539/9591 from 4.9693/9757. The local note also trended higher against ASEAN currencies. It traded higher vis-à-vis the Singapore dollar at 3.3095/3133 from 3.3184/3229 yesterday, improved against the Indonesian rupiah to 260.6/261.0 from 261.5/262.0 and strengthened versus the Philippine peso to 7.47/7.49 from 7.50/7.51. It gained against the Thai baht to 13.0784/0988 from 13.1213/1439. - Bernama
