AseanPlus News

Asean news headlines as at 9pm on Thursday (March 23)

News highlights from the Asean Plus section on Thursday (March 23)

Brunei

Nine more entities added to Central Bank's scam alert list

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network): Nine individuals, companies, or entities were added to Brunei Darussalam Central Bank’s (BDCB) alert list on Wednesday (March 22), the agency said.

Singapore

From Facebook intern to TikTok CEO: Who is Singaporean Chew Shou Zi?

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): He was once an intern at Facebook. Today, Singaporean Chew Shou Zi is the chief executive of popular social media app TikTok.

Entertainment

TVB actor Mat Yeung writes touching tribute to girlfriend Lisa Ch'ng's late father, Malaysian tycoon Bill Ch'ng

Ch'ng's father, Malaysian businessman Datuk Bill Ch'ng Chong Poh, passed away from an illness on Feb 28 at age 83.

Singapore

Jail terms raised for ex-BP manager and businessman in S$5.9mil corruption case

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): An ex-manager at BP Singapore and the businessman who paid him S$5.88 million in bribes, each had their jail terms raised from 4½ years to six years and eight months by the High Court on Thursday (March 23).

Sabah & Sarawak

Improved facilities at Kudat’s popular Tip of Borneo when it reopens in April

KOTA KINABALU: The public can expect improved facilities at Kudat’s popular tourist spot, the Tip of Borneo, when it reopens in April after the first phase upgrading works are completed.

Philippines

China, Philippines should properly manage differences: Beijing

BEIJING (Reuters): China and the Philippines should manage their differences properly, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday (March 23), after the first in-person meeting between senior diplomats from the countries since before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Indonesia

Ban on civil servants hosting iftar could backfire on Jokowi: Yusril

JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): Islamist Star and Crescent Party (PBB) chair Yusril Ihza Mahendra has called on President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo to reconsider his policy barring government employees from hosting breaking-of-the-fast meals during Ramadan.

Philippines

Grab Philippines seeks 20,000 additional driver slots

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): Grab Philippines, which is keen on expanding presence in the provinces, is seeking additional 20,000 slots for transport network vehicle service (TNVS) as the initial allotment by the government has already been filled.

Nation

Dr Wee lodges police report on Indian egg import issue

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has lodged a police report following the fiasco that ensued after he highlighted the issue of egg imports from India.

Entertainment

Donnie Yen praises Michelle Yeoh for bringing glory to Asians and women

The 59-year-old 'John Wick' star said that Yeoh deserved to win the Oscar for her hard work and perseverance.

Technology

Toshiba board accepts Japan Industrial Partners' $15.2 billion buyout proposal

TOKYO (Reuters) -Toshiba Corp's board has accepted a $15.2 billion buyout offer from a group led by private equity firm Japan Industrial Partners, the company said on Thursday, potentially drawing a line under years of upheaval at the conglomerate.

Singapore

Nightly tarawih prayers return to HDB void decks for the first time since 2019

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Nightly congregational tarawih prayers have resumed at void decks across the Republic for the first time since the pandemic.

Cambodia

Cambodia slams US for its 'double standard' human rights report

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua): Cambodia said on Thursday (March 23) that the "US Department of State's 2022 Human Rights Report on Cambodia" was downright unfounded, biased, and prejudicial as to its political nature.

Forex

Ringgit rallies against US dollar after Fed signals a more dovish stance going forward

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit jumped against the US dollar today as its winning streak continued for the fourth consecutive day after the US Federal Reserve (Fed) signalled a more dovish monetary stance going forward.

Myanmar

Two killed, 14 injured in Myanmar highway accident

YANGON (Xinhua): Two people were killed and 14 others sustained injuries in a road accident on Myanmar's highway on Thursday (March 23) morning, the highway police said

Metro News

DBKL to monitor club after controversy over planned 'Thai Hot Guy' event

KUALA Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will be monitoring Privacy Club Tun Razak closely, the premises which is behind the controversial "Thai Hot Guy" event.

China

US Navy denies China’s claim that it drove away destroyer

WASHINGTON (Bloomberg): The US Navy hit back at the Chinese military over a claim it drove off a destroyer sailing in the South China Sea, the latest in a series of disputes between the nations.

Thailand

Controversial gold mine reopens in Thailand

KHAO CHET LUK, Thailand (AFP: A controversial gold mine in Thailand restarted operations on Thursday (March 23), more than six years after the government forced it to close over health and environmental concerns.

Sabah & Sarawak

Shop owner fined for possessing slimming products containing banned appetite suppressant in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: The Sessions Court on Thursday (March 23) slapped a shop owner here with a RM3,500 fine after slimming products that contained a chemical that was banned in Malaysia was found in his possession.