World & ASEAN Briefing (15 Feb): BBC Office Raided in India; Malaysia PM Debuts Q&A Session
Besides that, we have briefing on Myanmar plans to allow gun to loyal citizens, summary on Singapore Budget 2023, Thailand plans to charge tourists 'landing fee'
Hello, folks! There has not been much major world news today, but there are a lot more interesting stories from the ASEAN side. Let's look at the summary below.
TLDR Summary
World Stories:
Indian Tax Agents Raid BBC Offices Following the Broadcast of a Documentary Critical of Modi
ASEAN Stories:
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim Debuts Prime Minister's Question and Answer Session (PMQ); Good Reception from Public
The Myanmar Junta to Allow 'Loyal' Citizens to Carry Firearms, Raising Concerns about Increased Violence
Thailand Approves THB 300 on Landing Fee for Foreigners from About June 2023 Onwards; Bad Reception from Netizens
Singapore Announces Budget 2023 (SGD 104.2 Billion) with Key Focus on Being Globally Competitive in the Trend of Zero-Sum Thinking
World Briefing
Indian Tax Agents Raid BBC Offices Following the Broadcast of a Documentary Critical of Modi
What Happened?
On Tuesday, Indian tax agents raided the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government attempted to halt the distribution of a documentary by the broadcaster that criticized his treatment of the country's Muslim minority.
Allegations Against Modi
Under Prime Minister Modi, the authorities have frequently used such raids to silence dissent, according to activists.
Indian authorities have frequently used such raids against independent media organizations, human rights organizations, and think tanks in what activists call an effort to intimidate critical voices into silence by targeting their funding sources.
Rights groups have repeatedly expressed concern about the dwindling press freedom, with journalists and activists imprisoned for extended periods of time or mired in court cases that drag on in India's convoluted judiciary.
What’s the Documentary All About?
The two-part BBC documentary "India: The Modi Question" revisits Mr. Modi's role in one of India's bloodiest episodes of communal violence in Gujarat two decades ago, when he was the state's chief minister.
It also investigates his party's marginalization of the country's 200 million Muslims since he took office in 2014.
The deaths of nearly 60 Hindu pilgrims in a train fire in 2002, which Mr. Modi's supporters blamed on local Muslim groups, sparked a wave of retaliatory mob violence in which more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed and approximately 150,000 were displaced.
Mr. Modi has long faced questions about whether his state government encouraged the mobs rather than containing it. While much of the information in the BBC documentary was already known in India, it also included a secret British government report that blamed Mr. Modi for the retaliatory violence.
ASEAN Briefing
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim Debuts Prime Minister's Question and Answer Session (PMQ); Good Reception from Public
What Happened?.
Anwar addressed concerns about his ministerial portfolios and assuaged fears of future tax hikes in his first appearance at a British-style PMQ session, which was introduced to improve scrutiny of the top office and freshen up the country's stale political discourse.
Anwar instituted PMQ sessions as part of his reform agenda in order to improve political scrutiny and revitalize political discourse
PMQ will take place every Tuesday when parliament meets.
Result and Hope
While the sessions are still in their early stages, early public opinion appears to be in favor of regular PMQs to allow for greater transparency.
Unlike the UK's "PMQs," which frequently devolve into furious jibes and partisan recriminations, the first day of the Malaysian version was courteous and orderly.
Radzi Jidin, the opposition's point person for financial and economic matters, was the only one to question Anwar's dual roles as prime minister and finance minister.
Malaysians applauded the upgrade in parliamentary debate, calling Anwar brave for inviting scrutiny.
A routine question session may also increase legislators' attendance in parliament.
The Myanmar Junta to Allow 'Loyal' Citizens to Carry Firearms, Raising Concerns about Increased Violence
What’s Going On?
Myanmar's military government intends to allow people who are "loyal to the nation," such as government employees and retired military personnel, to carry licensed firearms
According to the document, applicants for gun permits must be "loyal to the nation, of good moral character," and not involved in activities that jeopardize state security.
It also states that license holders must comply when local authorities direct them to participate in security and law enforcement operations.
The decision to license guns is widely interpreted as a way for the military government to arm its supporters in order to assist state security forces in combating pro-democracy opponents.
Following a massive but ultimately unsuccessful popular pro-democracy uprising in 1988, the military revoked civilian gun licenses and ordered people to surrender all firearms.
Context on the Myanmar Situation
The military deposed Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government two years ago, sparking widespread peaceful protests that turned into armed resistance after security forces used lethal force to suppress all opposition.
The announcement fueled fears of even more violence in a country that some UN experts have labeled a civil war.
Criminal activity has increased as a result of the fighting and the government's focus on battling its political opponents.
The majority of the fighting, however, is between the army and pro-democracy guerillas from the People's Defense Force, the loosely organized armed wing of the main opposition group, the National Unity Government, and their allies in ethnic minority militias.
Thailand Approves THB 300 on Landing Fee for Foreigners from About June 2023 Onwards
The fee will be used to purchase foreigner insurance, with the remainder going to the tourism development fund to help fund the construction of disabled entrances and toilets at tourist attractions.
The fee is cut in half for foreign visitors arriving by land or sea
Exemptions for those on a one-day visit or with a work permit.
Netizens in Thailand and around the world have slammed the decision.
Singapore Announces Budget 2023 (SGD 104.2 Billion) with Key Focus on Being Globally Competitive in the Trend of Zero-Sum Thinking
For Singaporeans who are looking to see specific benefits in more detail, we highly suggest you check the government’s website here.
Theme of Budget 2023
The spending is intended to grow the economy and equip workers in a volatile world, as well as to strengthen the country's collective resilience.
Part of the measures will also assist Singaporeans in dealing with high inflation.
Key theme from the speech is about an era of zero-sum thinking where the world will be less hospitable to small economies such as Singapore, says Lawrence Wong (Deputy Prime Minister)
Mr Wong noted how China and the United States are jostling for leadership in key technologies, setting off a trend of greater economic nationalism and protectionism around the world.
Measures/Incentives of Budget 2023
Investment Incentive: A new Enterprise Innovation Scheme will allow businesses to claim tax breaks of up to 400% (from 250%) for spending on innovation-related activities such as:
Development and research
Intellectual property registration
Buying and selling intellectual property
Polytechnics and Institutes of Technical Education Skills collaborate on innovation.
Future-approved training courses for education, career development, and skill enhancement that are aligned with the Skills Framework
Assistance on Employment: Senior Employment Credit and Part-time Re-employment Grant extensions until 2025. SGD 2.4 billion in additional funding for the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme
The Enabling Employment Credit will be expanded to encourage businesses to hire people with disabilities, and a new Uplifting Employment Credit will be introduced to encourage businesses to hire ex-offenders.
Tackle Inflation: Budget 2023 will set aside the total package to S$9.6 billion to help Singaporeans cope with inflation and the impact of rising Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates.
Essentially, there will be a cash handout depending on people’s assessable income and number of properties
Family: The Baby Bonus Cash Gift will be increased by S$3,000 for all Singaporean children born on or after February 14, 2023, and the disbursement period will be extended.
Children born on or after February 14 will also receive increased government contributions to their Child Development Account to help offset preschool and healthcare costs. For children born on or after January 1, 2024, government-paid paternity leave will be increased from two weeks to four weeks.
Home Ownership: First-time homebuyer families with children, as well as young married couples aged 40 and under, will be given an extra ballot.
The CPF Housing Grant will be increased by S$30,000 for eligible first-timer families purchasing four-room or smaller resale flats, and by S$10,000 for those purchasing five-room or larger flats, effective immediately.
Low-Income Individuals: Low-income households and seniors will also receive targeted assistance in Budget 2023, with S$300 million added to the ComCare Endowment Fund, S$500 million added to the ElderCare Fund, and S$1.5 billion added to the MediFund.
The government will also implement a Central Provident Fund (CPF) Transition Support for lower-income platform workers who will see an increase in CPF contribution rates.