Register or login ASEAN, China sign investment agreement in Bangkok

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the People’s Republic of China finally signed a comprehensive economic deal on Saturday after seven years of negotiations.

China is ASEAN’s eighth largest investor with accumulated investments of US$6.1 billion as of 2008, while the 10 ASEAN member countries invested a total $5.6 billion in the same year.

Signed by economic ministers from ASEAN’s 10 member countries and the PRC’s Trade Minister Chen Deming, the agreement is expected to boost trade and investment.

“The core point is not liberalization, but investment facilitation, promotion and the creation of legal certainty,” said the Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, after the signing in Bangkok.
“Now we have a clear platform to develop economic integration with one of the world’s key economic players.”

The investment pact is the third free trade agreement between China and ASEAN.

The agreement, she said, provides opportunities for ASEAN member countries — Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, the Philippines, Myanmar and Cambodia — to attract more direct investment from China.

Mari said China’s investment within ASEAN was not yet comparable to that of other East Asian countries including Japan and Korea, but was steadily increasing.

China’s investment in Indonesia was $31.5 million in 2006, but increased to US$139.6 million in
2008, according to data from the Investment Coordinating Agency (BKPM).

Mari said this excluded the nearly $2 billion worth of acquisition that the PRC had in the oil sector as well as its participation in the 10,000 megawatt power plant projects across Indonesia.

“The PRC is also involved in the Suramadu bridge project,” she added, referring to the 5.4-kilometer bridge connecting Java and Madura Island, the longest so far in Indonesia. It was opened in June by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Mari said China also reiterated commitment to providing ASEAN with $15 billion in loans to build infrastructure facilities to link ASEAN member countries and China.

She added that Indonesia had proposed infrastructure development in the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle area and in the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines area — the East ASEAN Growth Area.

Malaysia deputy PM in helicopter emergency landing

The Associated Press , Kuala Lumpur | Sun, 08/16/2009 5:50 PM | World

A news report says a helicopter carrying Malaysia's deputy prime minister has made an emergency landing due to bad weather.

The national news agency Bernama says Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and 13 others on board the helicopter were unhurt in the emergency landing Sunday in eastern Sabah state.

It quoted Muhyiddin as saying the pilot decided to make the emergency landing shortly before reaching his destination due to bad weather. Muhyiddin was on the way to the state capital, Kota Kinabalu.

Indonesia aces tough challenges in the fight against AIDS: Experts

Exchanging info: Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Indonesia Ambassador Julian Wilson (right) talks to executive secretary of National AIDS Commission Nafsiah Mboy during the seminar on EU policies and actions on HIV and AIDS in Indonesia, on Wednesday, in Jakarta. JP/P.J. Leo

A lack of awareness about AIDS, an increasing number of intravenous drug users, and cultural diversity across the vast archipelago are some of the major challenges facing Indonesia in its fight against HIV/AIDS, experts said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

“It’s not an easy task to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in a country like Indonesia,” National AIDS Commission (NAC) executive secretary Nafsiah Mboy said at a seminar titled Confronting HIV/AIDS in Indonesia.

To tackle the tough challenges resulting from a decentralized government and an uncoordinated bureaucracy, the scarcity and unpredictable availability of resources, Nafsiah emphasized the need for dialogue between civil societies and local governments.

Citing the NAC’s motto — “We have to work together to defeat HIV” — she urged all stakeholders and society in general to take action against the spread of HIV: “Everyone, all of you must participate. Let’s not wait for someone else to do it.”

An overview of the epidemiological situation in Indonesia shows that out of an estimated 270,000 HIV positive cases, less than 15 percent were reported as of March 2009, and that intravenous drug usage had become the leading cause of the disease in the country.

Effective implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs must be made a priority
on government and NGO agendas, she said.

Slow disbursement of funds is also a point of concern for the Global Fund, a fund that focuses on HIV/AIDS, and recipients alike, as is the coordination required between the various institutions involved in the effort.

“Good coordination is needed to ensure the thing that comes out of the kitchen is eedible,” the head of the Delegation of the European Commission (EC) to Indonesia, Ambassador Julian Wilson, said in his opening remarks.

Bachti Alisyahbana of IMPACT, an anti-AIDS organization operating in Bandung, said there would be a projected 1 million HIV positive cases in Indonesia by 2015, given the current growth rate of infection unless action was taken to avoid such an exponential spread of the disease.

Bachti elaborated on the project’s achievements in the West Java city of Bandung, which included routine testing and care for AIDS victims at Banceuy prison, and decreasing dependence on foreign aid.

Currently, the EC is financially supporting the IMPACT activities.

The mayor of Bandung also recently approved a pilot project to be developed by IMPACT strengthening school curriculums and training teachers to impart relevant skills for AIDS prevention.

Amélie Courcaud, program coordinator of the EC-backed organization Médecins du Monde (MDM), talked about the challenges in spreading awareness about AIDS in Papua, the region with the highest rates of HIV cases in the country.

“Condoms are taboo in Papua. Still, we don’t deny traditional beliefs. Church leaders are involved in prevention and awareness activities, as are student clubs because they are active in this cause,” Courcaud said.

Indonesia police arrest bomb threat suspect

Police spokesperson Chryshnanda Dwi Laksono said the police had captured the perpetrator, identified as NT, at Labuhan Ratu Selatan, South Sumatra on Wednesday.

The truck driver sent the threat to the Jakarta Police, saying he had placed a bomb at the hospital which was about to explode.

“We have charged him under the 2003 law on anti-terrorism, charges which carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison,” Chryshnanda said Thursday

new airport in BANDA ACEH SULTAN ISKANDAR MUDA

resident Susilo Bambang Yudohoyono kicked off his post-election visit to Aceh by opening both the province's 5th Cultural Week and the 2009 International Expo on Wednesday.

It is his first official visit since he and his running mate Boediono won a significant number of votes in the country's westernmost province in the presidential election.

Public works minister Djoko Kirmanto and transportation minister Jusman Syafii Djamal were among those who accompanied the President.

After opening Aceh Cultural Week at H. Dimurtala Stadium in Banda http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4832382378178813573&postID=787978340616776179Aceh, Yudhoyono went on to the Expo at Queen Shafiatuddin Park.

In his speech, Yudhoyono called on all Aceh residents to maintain security and peace as a key element to improving development in the area.

“Aceh is currently peaceful and safe. Do not waste the opportunity to build a better Aceh,” Yudhoyono said.

And after that President open the new airport in Indonesia. Sultan iskandar muda port.

MERPATI AIRLINES LOST CONTACT IN PAPUA

Indonesian rescue personnel are searching for a Merpati Nusantara turboprop aircraft reportedly missing on a domestic flight over the Papua region.

Indonesian authorities have suspended a land and air search for a Merpati Nusantara flight that lost contact with air traffic controllers Sunday morning over the rugged Papua forest in eastern Indonesia until Monday.

A search flight dispatched over Abmisibil in Pengunungan Bintang regency, Papua, has reported having spotted a missing Merpati Airlines Twin Otter plane in the area.

The regency police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Maikel informed Antara news agency that Erich and Mak, pilot and co-pilot of an Association of Missionairy Aviation (AMA) plane, located the missing plane at around 6.35 a.m. (4.35 a.m. Jakarta time).

Amisibil is located three miles off Oksibil, the regency's capital.

The Twin Otter plane, which was carrying 16 people on board, first went missing on Sunday when the plane lost contact with the monitoring officials on the ground. It was flying between the Papuan capital of Jayapura and Oksibil.

Merpati said pilot Frans Noble and co-pilot Dedi Sudrahat, a mechanic, 11 adult passengers and two babies were onboard the plane.

The DeHavilland DHC6 Twin Otter aircraft was on a scheduled flight from Sentani, a major airport in Papua, to the Papuan town of Oksibil, when contact was lost about 40 minutes into the 50 minute flight.

Captain Nikmatullah, director of operations for Merpati Nusantara, who like many Indonesians uses just one name, said the flight was carrying 13 passengers, including two babies, and a crew of three.

Indonesian Transportation Ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan said contact with the aircraft was lost while it was flying at a height of 9,500 feet (2,895 meters) over the heavily forested Papuan terrain.

Indonesia, a country comprised of more than 18,000 islands, relies heavily on air and sea transport and has seen a number of air crashes in recent years.

Travel by aircraft is the only way to travel around Papua, much of which is covered with impenetrable jungles and mountains. In the past, crashed planes there have never been found.

Two weeks ago, the EU took four Indonesian airlines – Garuda, Mandala Airlines, Airfast Indonesia and Premiair – off its list of carriers banned from entering its airspace, citing “considerable improvements”.

However, all other Indonesian airlines, including Merpati Nusantara, remain on the list.

Indonesian Police and the military will join the search at first light Monday, with the air search being hampered by poor weather conditions in the region.

NEW MONEY IN INDONESIA WAS LAUNCHED

Indonesia has launched new nominal money for 2000 rupiah. And now that money was in using in Indonesia money market too.
Money has a new background color is gray with Prince Antasari picture on the front of the dance and the bell in the back. Issuance of money bills, are intended to meet the needs of people with cash to the nominal low. Up to now cash transactions are still relatively high even though the non-cash transactions continue to grow.

Bank Indonesia has officially released news of retrieving four denomination of rupiah notes from public and stop their circulation as of 31 December 2

Bank Indonesia has officially released news of retrieving four denomination of rupiah notes from public and stop their circulation as of 31 December 2008.

The Four denominations and notes are Rp10.000 that was issued in 1998 with the face of Pahlawan Nasional Cut Nyak Dhien, Rp20.000 issued in 1998 with face of Pahlawan Nasional Ki Hajar Dewantara, Rp50.000 issued in 1999 with face of Pahlawan Nasional WR Soepratman and Rp100.000 notes issued in 1999 with the face of Pahlawan Proklamator Dr.Ir.Soekarno and Dr. H. Mohammad Hatta made with polymer.

Here is the picture of the four Indonesia currency notes that will be retrieved from circulation:



“With the retrieval of these rupiah notes from circulation as of 31 December 2008, these notes will not be accepted as payment (legal tender),” Deputi Gubernur BI, S Budi Rochadi.

However, these notes are still accepted at Bank Indonesia and local Banks and can be exchanged for new notes of the same denomination or other smaller denominations. Local Banks will accept these notes until 30 December 2013 or 5 (five) years from now. As for Bank Indonesia, the notes can be exchanged for newer notes until 30 December 2018 or for 10 (years) from now.

“Bank Indonesia regularly retrieve old notes from circulation as these notes has been circulated for a long period of time and the conditions can be poor. Other reasons for this is to anticipate and follow new technologies in security features of currency notes”

Money changers overseas may still carry these old notes hence we share this information with you here so the public including travelers can be aware of which rupiah notes are legal tender and will be aware when exchanging currencies with money changers overseas.

If you are in Medan, then its time for you to go shopping and spend all your old rupiah notes before 31 December 2008!

AirAsia Bhd’s plan to place a private placement of 20%

PETALING JAYA: Analysts have responded positively to AirAsia Bhd’s plan to place a private placement of 20% of its share capital to raise about RM500mil, saying the move would “substantially enhance” AirAsia’s ability to restructure its finances while earnings dilution would be minimal.

The airline recently proposed a private placement of new shares amounting to 20% of its existing paid-up share capital or 475 million shares, with the aim to reduce debts and have more cash.

Affin Investment Bank said it has turned “sanguine” on AirAsia following the announcement of the private placement plan, in addition to the budget airline’s decision to defer delivery of eight aircraft in 2010 and seven in 2011 to 2014.

“We were previously concerned over AirAsia’s increasingly stretched balance sheet in lieu of its aggressive fleet expansion as well as steep earnings dilution arising from a potential cash call,” the brokerage said.

Based on AirAsia’s closing price on Thursday at RM1.48 and an estimated RM500mil to be raised, the research house calculated that some 338 million new shares would be issued.

“This represents 13% of the enlarged share base of 2.7 billion. Together with the guidance that the placement price will be close to prevailing market price, we thus believe that the potential earnings dilution will be minimal,” it said.

Affin Investment also said the lower capital expenditure (capex) requirements in tandem with the deferment in aircraft delivery addresses its concerns over AirAsia’s future funding commitments, and estimated that its net gearing position would fall to 2.6 times from 3.7 times in first quarter.

The budget airline’s capex has been reduced to RM4.5bil over fiscal year 2010 (FY10) to FY11 from RM6.8bil based on initial aircraft delivery schedule.

Affin also lifted its core earnings forecast by 6%-7% for AirAsia, projecting that the airline would make RM545.5mil in fiscal year 2010 and RM591.7mil in 2011.

However, after accounting for an enlarged share base in FY10, the budget airline’s earnings per share (EPS) would decline 7%, the brokerage said.

Affin has lifted its recommendation on AirAsia to “trading buy” from “reduce” with the target price raised to RM1.81 from RM1.10 previously.

TA Securities said the private placement would substantially enhance AirAsia’s ability to restructure its finances.

“Gearing ratio would decline to 2.7 times from 3.7 times,” it said in a note to clients recently, noting that a high gearing level was a key investment concern on the stock.

The brokerage adjusted upwards AirAsia’s earnings estimates by 10.9% to RM574.8mil in fiscal year 2009 and by 45.3% to RM758.5mil in 2010.

TA has maintained its “buy” call on the stock with a target price of RM2.20.

The brokerage said it estimated AirAsia’s private placement would raise gross proceeds of about RM487mil, with the proceeds to be allocated for working capital purposes only.

“The group is more likely to allocate 10% to institutional investors, while the balance will be allocated to existing shareholders,” analysts with the brokerage said.

ECM Libra Investment noted that AirAsia’s shares have surged 27.5% in just two weeks, saying it did not expect its trading target price of RM1.50 to be achieved so fast.

The brokerage recommended a “buy” call on AirAsia with a 12-month target price of RM1.90.

“If AirAsia can break above its major resistance at RM1.70, it will likely head towards the RM2.00 region soon,” ECM Libra said in a research note.

The counter was heavily traded yesterday to close two sen higher, or 1.3% at RM1.50, with 15.7 million shares changing hands.

New Southeast Asian Economic Outlook on track update article

The ASEAN Secretariat and the OECD Development Centre launched a collaborative project on the occasion of the 2nd OECD-Southeast Asia Regional Forum entitled “Enhancing Competitiveness through Regional Integration” which took place in Bangkok on Monday 29 April 2009.

At the Forum’s opening ceremony, the Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Surin Pitsuwan welcomed the joint collaboration to produce the Southeast Asian Economic Outlook. The report will serve as a tool for facilitating policy dialogue between OECD Member and Southeast Asian states, by providing up-to-date information on regional macroeconomic trends and policy developments, as well as the progress of regional integration among the latter group of countries which is one of the thematic issues of the first edition to be published in 2010.

“This partnership will bring to the ASEAN Secretariat the much needed resources and expertise to identify the progress and gaps and challenges facing economic integration in ASEAN", he said. “The global financial crisis that hit the region in the last quarter of 2008 highlights the importance of improving the risk management framework to implement the roadmap of establishing the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015 as planned. Hopefully, this Outlook will serve as a tool for promoting peer learning among all stakeholders involved in the region by identifying potential risks and challenges ahead.”

The Deputy Secretary- General of the OECD Mr. Mario Amano also welcomed this collaboration and said,

“We support the goal of economic integration as outlined in the AEC Blueprint and the ASEAN Charter to create a stable, prosperous and competitive economic community.”

The Southeast Asian Economic Outlook comprises two main parts. Part 1, entitled Regional Economic Perspectives, will discuss macroeconomic trends, regional integration and growth in the region. It will provide an overall picture of what is happening in the region and identify potential risks and policy challenges which will be a bridge to thematic discussion in the subsequent part. Part 2 - Development Challenges - will offer detailed analyses on thematic issues. The main topic will change in every volume; the first edition in 2010 will focus on how to enhance competitiveness in Southeast Asia, with three thematic issues, namely, productivity gains from trade opening, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) development and innovation, and infrastructure development.

Dr. Surin added that “the initiative will help build the capacity of the ASEAN Secretariat to improve the data quality of its regional integration indicators and to further enhance regional surveillance efforts to provide timely alerts and advice to ASEAN and its Dialogue Partners on the regional economic trends, issues and priorities.”

This new Outlook will build upon the successful model of two regional economic outlooks, the African Economic Outlook and the Latin American Economic Outlook, both produced annually by the Development Centre in partnership with regional organisations. The Southeast Asian Economic Outlook will be a biannual product with an update of the first part to be released every year.

“Our two organisations have a lot in common and a lot to share and the important new missions between ASEAN and OECD would open further opportunities for strengthening our relations,” Mr. Amano further added.

Antasari Azhar the corrupion hero in Indonesia detention extended as date for trial remains unset

The Jakarta Police decided Sunday to extend for the second the detention of former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief Antasari Azhar, who is accused of murder.

Jakarta Police chief spokesman Sr. Comr. Chrysnanda told The Jakarta Post that Antasari will remain detained until Aug. 31, pending his trial for the alleged murder of director of PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran, Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, who was a KPK witness.

“We still have some perfecting to do with our charges against him, and that is why we have extended his incarceration again, that is to make our case flawless,” Chrysnanda told the Post over the phone Sunday.

The extension came as a surprise, as the police had said that Antasari would stand trial in early August. The move has raised speculation that the police lack enough evidence to prosecute Antasari, a charge Chrysnanda has denied.

“This is not about us not having the evidence, but about how we can best use the evidence we have in court,” he said.

Antasari’s lawyer, Ari Yusuf Amir, criticized the extension, calling it a violation of human rights.

He said the fact that the second request for extension was made on July 6, long before Antasari’s first extension expired on Aug. 1, was a deliberately unfair.

The police may detain a suspect for 60 days before bringing their case to court, with extensions only available with a solid reason and with the court’s permission.

“The police had until July 13 to bring his case to court, but a request to extend his detention was filed on June 1. The court granted the police that extension until Aug. 1,” Ari said.

“The weird thing is before that deadline is up, the police requested another extension, on July 6, which the court granted again.

“That means this extension was already planned, which violates the law, as an extension can only be given if it is deemed necessary.”

Ari said his team had already sent an objection letter to the Jakarta High Court, saying that Antasari must be released if the police and prosecutors could not find the evidence to charge his client.

H1N1 attacked University Utara Malaysia

There was one case of H1N1 at UUM today and there was a mad rush home when the university was force to closed for a week.
There was traffic jam everywhere in the tiny town of Changlun as students with big and small bags standing along the roadside waiting for their transport home.
Some of the students are not taking any chances...
and she was rushing to the bus ticketing center...

Influenza A(H1N1) virus is a subtype of influenzavirus A and the most common cause of influenza (flu) in humans. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a large fraction of all seasonal influenza. H1N1 strains caused roughly half of all human flu infections in 2006.^[1] Other strains of H1N1 are endemic in pigs (swine influenza) and in birds (avian influenza).

In June 2009, World Health Organization declared that flu due to a new strain of swine-origin H1N1 was responsible for the 2009 flu pandemic. This strain is commonly called "swine flu" by the public media.

H1N1 Come to Malaysia

Malaysia recorded its first influenza A (H1N1)-related death in a 30-year-old Indonesian student who died of heart complications.

Tengku Abdullah Syahputra from Medan was a first-year student of the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance in Kuala Lumpur.

His body has been claimed by his family and taken back to Medan.

He was on holiday in Indonesia and returned to Malaysia on July 5. He had fever and cough but the symptoms were mild.

On July 20, he started to have high fever and cough and was lethargic.

The next day, the student sought medical treatment at a private medical centre in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.

While waiting for his medication, the student fainted and was given emergency medical treatment but he failed to respond.

He was declared dead at 11.50am.

The medical centre declared the cause of death as cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (irregular heartbeat).

In extending his condolences to the victim’s family, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai stressed that the student did not die of H1N1 virus.

“Based on the preliminary post-mortem results, although he was a H1N1 patient, his death was not directly due to H1N1 as he suffered from other complications,” he said at a press conference in the ministry yesterday.

Post-mortem conducted by Hospital Kuala Lumpur found that besides being obese, there were signs of pneumonia in the lungs, enlarged heart and liver, high level of white blood cells and “pus-like material” at the trachea.

Additionally, influenza A (H1N1), dengue, TB, HIV and leptospira tests were conducted on the body and the results were negative.

Liow said the ministry was still waiting for the results of toxicology, biochemical and histology tests.

“There are lots of factors that could be the cause of death. We will only get the full report tomorrow,” Liow said at a press conference at the ministry yesterday.

In illustrating an example, Liow said any H1N1 death would not cause the white blood cells to increase.

“Normally, H1N1 will attack the lungs. The high presence of white blood cells in the victim is due to bacteria,” he said.

Elaborating further, Health director-general Tan Sri Ismail Merican said because of all the complications, it was highly likely that the cause was “something else”.

Nevertheless, Liow said the ministry had taken precautions by directing 25 employees of the private medical centre who had come into contact with the victim to quarantine themselves for seven days.

They were also given anti-viral treatment.

The ministry had also identified seven people who were roommates and part of the victim’s study group. Only one was given treatment. The others were told to take care of their health.