WWW.ASEANAFFAIRS.COM Inside Out Quarterly Roundup & Outlook Brunei Cambodia Sultan scores a victory Gas reserves in the Great Lake? he oil-rich country rarely makes onle Sap, or the Great Lake, exploration. Environmentalists have headlines in Asean. But when it apparently, Asean’s largest expressed concern about the impact any T did it was among the most-read. T freshwater lake that touches six future oil projects may have on the On August 7, tabloids and dailies alike provinces, has attracted the attention of environment in the basin. Numerous from Australia to England ran on their Cambodian authorities who believe the geological studies in the basin have been front page the story of the Sultan of lake has onshore oil and gas reserves. conducted to look for possible oil and gas Brunei who won a court battle in Australia The government has set up a body to reserves, which could help the country over an alleged agreement to buy a 400- manage the lake located about 200 reduce poverty. In 2005, US energy giant year-old gold-lined miniature Koran for $8 kilometers (120 miles) northwest of the Chevron Corp. discovered oil off the million. Some said Southeast Asian capital Phnom Penh. Tonle Sap, which Cambodian coast and plans to drill 10 potentate’s extraordinary wealth has its covers about 250,000 hectares (618,000 more wells by the end of 2007. Sceptics limits. Once the world’s richest and now • Sultan of Brunei Darussalam acres) during the dry season and worry the income from oil could exacer- among the globe’s top-ten, the 61-year-old Empire relic had been in his family’s expands to about 1.25 million hectares bate the already widespread corruption. sultan had allegedly agreed to buy it as a possession for more than a century. (3 million acres) wedding present for his third wife, a Since the Australian judge ruled that the during the rainy glamorous television hostess 32 years his case was outside the court’s jurisdiction season, holds a rich junior, and then backed out of a deal with and that the three businessmen should biosphere of more than Australian businessmen to buy the instead pursue it through Brunei’s legal 200 species of fish, 42 matchbox-size system, the victory was the Sultan’s. The types of reptiles, 225 holy book. The prospects of the Aussies pursuing their species of birds and 46 Australians case in Brunei is almost zero because kinds of mammals. claimed to have the Sultan, a graduate of Sandhurst, is The authorities won’t bought the tiny immune to prosecution in his tropical comment on their treasure from a fiefdom, a former British protectorate tasks or on prospective former colonel on the north coast of Borneo. The oil and gas reserves but • The miniature Koran in the KGB, who lawyers for the sultan had earlier argued promise that they will told them the that the case should be dismissed, make sure there is no Ottoman calling it “a joke”. pollution from the • Slums on the bank of Tonle Sap Laos Tears and flowers in Bali Eco tours to bring in $190 million

elatives and friends of victims of struggling to pick up after the bombs he number one contributor to 2006, making the sector the country's the 2002 Bali bombings gathered and subsequent attacks in the world's the country’s coffers, tourism, second largest foreign exchange earner R at the Kuta beach in Bali mid- largest Muslim populated nation. There T particularly ecotourism, is after mining. October to pay tribute to the 202 people still are fears terrorists might strike expected to bring in $190 million in Laos, which has been promoting eco- killed in the blasts five years ago. Scores of again. foreign exchange through the 1.3 million tourism to appeal to the European market, people, from countries such as Australia visitors flocking to the land-locked has set a target of 2 million arrivals by which lost 88 people, Japan and New country in Asean this year. By compari- 2010 generating revenues of 290 million Zealand placed flowers at Kuta’s ground son, Laos recorded 1.2 million tourist for the country, currently ranked among zero where the explosions ripped apart a arrivals and $173 million in revenues in the world's poorest nations. nightclub strip on the resort island, spark- ing a deadly inferno. The attack, blamed on the militant Jemaah Islamiyah network linked to Al-Qaeda, claimed the lives of people from 22 countries. Australia, which for years saw Bali as its playground, had the most victims. Tears and flowers marked the sunset ceremony in the waves off Bali's shores. Visitors are returning to the island, yet Bali is still • Bali Bombing Memorial

• Sunset On Kuta Beach • Kayaking in Laos 8ASEANAFFAIRS Magazine • Oct-Dec 2007 The Voice of ASEAN Myanmar Is press freedom universal? Gems and the junta here is no such thing as universal ery often described as one of jade, some the size of boulders, will be laid press freedom, at least for the world’s poorest nations, out for perusal in the tropical heat. T Zainuddin Maidin, Malaysian V Myanmar is probably the Bidders will then retreat into air- information minister who said fellow richest among the ten countries in conditioned auction room to compete for a Asean and Asian countries should ignore Asean in terms of natural resources. It is gem that is growing in demand throughout the freedom ratings made by the Paris- the source of up to 90 percent of the the world - and help the junta get richer. based Reporters Without Borders (RSF). world’s rubies, and carat for carat the Hardly any of them will take note of pro- Zainuddin believes in local values when it rare blood-red stones are worth more democracy groups’ call to boycott the comes to judging press freedom, saying than diamonds. Jade, highly prized in auctions. RSF based the ratings on the Western China, is found almost nowhere else. Will they be bothered even if they discover values, mainly driven by the market and Forget about the economic sanctions the junta has been using forced labor to money. He was commenting as RSF’s from the US and EU. The junta is again mine gems? Malaysia's ratings plunged to 124th spot poised to rake in this year from 92nd in 2006 while Singa- hundreds of millions of • Zainuddin Maidin pore edged up to 141st spot from 146th dollars through the sale previously. The Malaysian information of precious gems and Press Freedom in Asean chief had nothing but praises for Lee jewellery in November. Kuan Yew, Singapore's former prime Ranking Country Note It will be the fifth gems minister, for fighting the Western values of 85 Cambodia 25,33 auction this year, up press freedom and winning against the 100 Indonesia 30,50 from four last year. The influential Financial Times recently. “The 124 Malaysia 41,00 junta is believed to have 128 Philippines 44,75 only language understood by the Western earned more than $100 135 Thailand 53,50 media is when their pockets are hit,” million so far this year. 141 Singapore 56,00 remarked Zainuddin. RSF noted that in Buyers come from all 161 Laos 75,00 Malaysia (124th), Thailand (135th), over the world, the 162 Vietnam 79,25 Vietnam (162nd) and Egypt (146th), biggest group being 164 Burma 93,75 bloggers were arrested and news websites from China. Hundreds of were closed or made inaccessible. Source: Reporters Without Borders blocks of rough-hewn • Ruby-mining town of Mogok

Garuda Indonesia Call Center: 0807-1-807807

GA Offices & General Sales Agent - Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE: MALAYSIA: Thailand: Bangkok

101 Thomson Road Hex 12-03 United Suite 19.03 Level 3, menara Citi bank 1168/77 Lumpini Tower, 27th Floor Square, Singapore 307591. Jalan ampang 50450, Kuala Lumpur. Rama IV Rd, Thungmahamek, Sathorn. Tel.: (65) 62502888/62505666 Tel.: (60-3) 21622811 Tel.: (66-2) 6797371-2, (65) 62104000 Fax: (60-3) 21624360 (66-2) 2856470-3 Fax: (65) 62536196 Fax: (66-2) 2856474

9 WWW.ASEANAFFAIRS.COM

Philippines Singapore Recovering Marcos’ wealth The gloomiest lot he government has said it is open are top businessmen - San Miguel Corp hen it comes to the future, incomes average S$4,000, (US$2,705) to deals with the family and chairman Eduardo Cojuangco and affluent Singaporeans, started to plan for retirement as early as at T business partners of former billionaire Lucio Tan, whose varied W despite being relatively the age of 34 on average, compared with president Ferdinand Marcos to end court interests include Philippine Airlines, well-off and well-prepared for retire- the regional average of 39. Yet, they had cases involving about 180 billion pesos ($4 Allied Bank, Fortune Tobacco and Asia ment, have turned out to be the gloomi- the lowest score of 59.2 on the index, billion). There are 23 ‘banner’ or big cases Brewery. Marcos and his family are est lot in Asia. A recent survey compared with the average score of 71.6 pending in the anti-graft court. According accused of pilfering $10 billion from conducted by AXA Life Insurance has for the eight countries surveyed, which to Camilo Sabio, head of the Presidential state funds during his 20-year, iron-fisted found Singaporeans, who bought the included China, Indonesia, India and Commission on Good Government rule. Marcos was toppled by an army- most insurance in the region, had the Malaysia. The index adopts a scale of 1 to (PCGG), an agency tasked to search and backed popular uprising in 1986 and lowest level of confidence and satisfac- 100, from least to most optimistic. Indians recover nearly $10 billion worth of assets died in exile in Hawaii three years later. tion about life among 2,400 respondents topped the list for being the most optimis- allegedly stolen by the late dictator, his Marcos is survived by his widow Imelda, from eight countries who took part in tic bunch. family and partners, the authorities are a son and two daughters. the study. AXA’s Life Outlook Index ready to consider proposals revealed that six in 10 ‘mass affluent’ for amicable settlement Singaporeans, whose monthly personal depending on the nature of proposals. Since 1986, when PCGG was created, only $1.8 billion has been recovered, including $658 million in various Swiss bank accounts. The government has entered into deals in the past with some minor partners of the Marcoses, but not with the family itself or his major allies. Two of the former dictator’s big business allies • Marcos lying in state • Singapore Thailand Vietnam No belly, please … we’re Thais No strikes here, please! mong the Asia-Pacific rim Command headquarters found to be he government has banned 38 foreign and locally owned companies in countries Thailand has the fifth overweight or obese. The prevalence of strikes in key public services and a southern province near Ho Chi Minh A most serious problem with being overweight and obese is assessed T in sectors that are ‘of extreme City. State newspapers reported workers obesity, as some 10 million of the by using body mass index (BMI). The importance to the national economy’, at the plants in Binh Duong, including country's 65 million people, including weight in kilogrammes is divided by the which include power stations, the oil and South Korean and Taiwan-owned factories, many soldiers, are rated fat due to a lack square of the height in metres (kg/m2). gas sectors, airports and train stations, were unhappy with their salaries and of exercise and over-consumption of fast Persons with a BMI over 25 kg/m2 are the postal service, newspaper delivery, working conditions, including in some food. The report prepared by World defined as overweight, and a BMI over and water supply, irrigation and drainage cases the quality of canteen food. A wave Health Organisation (WHO) said most of 30 kg/m2 are considered obese. Worried services. The list of companies and state of strikes hit foreign-owned companies those people, particularly office workers, by the report, Thailand's Public Health agencies, released in a decree by Prime across southern Vietnam last year, with in Bangkok and other cities, have Ministry recently launched 'No Belly' Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, is subject to tens of thousands of workers participating. problems with weight and obesity. Office campaigns. Yet, not all the overweight revision ‘depending on the socio- The government has, since, increased the workers are not the only ones with weight Thais seem to be joining as the fast-food economic circumstances,’ the govern- minimum wage at foreign firms by 25 problems. The armed forces face a similar outlets remain crowded as usual. After ment said in a notice posted on the percent. problem, with up to 24 percent of 12,227 all there still are four other countries official website. Government ministers soldiers at which should start worrying: Australia, and local authorities would meet every Supreme Mongolia, Vanuatu and Hong Kong took six months with employers and trade the first, second, third and fourth unions in the sectors banned from strike positions, respectively, in the obesity action ‘to hear and handle legitimate index. Let them worry first. requests from the workers,’ the website Besides, there are more than one billion said. The government’s call against adults globally who are overweight, and strikes, however, excludes most private at least 300 million of them are clinically sector businesses. About 30,000 Vietnam- obese. ese workers went on strike in October in • President Yudhoyono Environment tackle global warming. Developing them to prevent any further deforesta- pore – over the haze from rampant forest Let the rich pay the poor countries, he said, should seek from $5 to tion. Rich countries may agree to fires – is unlikely to end soon. Indonesia, for not polluting $20 for every hectare of forest under a Indonesia’s initiative - to ‘pay for not despite its relatively small economy, is the In the run up to the Bali meeting on global framework on “avoided deforesta- polluting’. However there are skeptics world’s third largest carbon dioxide environment, Indonesia is asking tion”, - term used to describe the preven- who doubt Jakarta’s little ability to stop emitter after the United States and China, I wealthy nations to consider setting tion or reduction of future forest loss. the annual fires that spew millions of tons according to a World Bank study. The up a fund to help developing countries The idea is that developing countries will of carbon into the atmosphere from environmental group Greenpeace points stop cutting down their forests. President attract funds from industrialised nations, burning forests for palm oil and pulp out that Indonesia destroyed an area of made the at least those who have agreed to meet wood plantations. The annual war of forest the size of 300 soccer pitches every plea on behalf of other tropical forested commitments under international agree- words between Indonesia and the hour between 2000 and 2005, the fastest nations at a meeting to discuss ways to ments like the Kyoto Protocol, to pay affluent neighbours - Malaysia and Singa- pace of deforestation in the world. 10 ASEANAFFAIRS Magazine • Oct-Dec 2007 The Voice of ASEAN