Sabah Electricity on the brink, minister says

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Sabah Electricity on the brink, minister says

ASEAN+ December 23, 2017 01:00

By THE STAR
ASIA NEWS NETWORK
KUALA LUMPUR

THE fate of Malaysia’s loss-making Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), which is on the verge on insolvency, will hinge on the ongoing discussion among its major shareholder Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry (KeTTHA) and Ministry of Finance (MoF).

“The discussion is crucial, especially since SESB continues to make losses and on the verge of insolvency,” KeTTHA Minister Maximus Ongkili said on Friday.

TNB owns 82.75 per cent of SESB and the Sabah State government holds the remaining stake.

Ongkili pointed out that SESB’s energy generation cost is much higher than its current average tariff and this has caused the Federal Government to subsidise its fuel cost.

“SESB’s current average tariff is 34.52 cents/kwh while cost of energy generation is 56.50 cents/kwh. Hence, the federal government has been subsidising SESB’s fuel costs, that is primarily diesel, medium fuel oil (MFO) and gas,” he said.

The federal government has also been providing the bulk of SESB’s capital expenditure.

Since 2012, the Federal Government has spent RM4.2mil to boost SESB’s operation while both TNB and SESB have also spent their portion on capex expenditure.

Ongkili added that through these efforts, the system average interruption duration index (SAIDI) has been reduced from 777 minutes per customer a year in 2014 to 311 last year. The SAIDI is expected to be further reduced to 280 by year end.

SESB also has been asking for tariff revision since its last review in 2014.

But it is also the federal government’s duty to ensure tariff is fair and affordable to consumers.

He also said the ministry wants to ensure that the tariff revision is reflective of the quality of power delivered.

He was responding to the comments by TNB chief executive officer Azman Mohd who was quoted saying they were discussing on the future of SESB and an agreement was expected by 2018 to determine the best option.

AEC Feed

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AEC Feed

ASEAN+ December 23, 2017 01:00

By Asia News Network

Jakarta to subsidise mortgages for the poor

The Indonesian government has allocated 4.5 trillion rupiah (Bt10 billion) to implement a mortgage interest subsidy for low-income households next year.

The Housing Finance Fund Management Centre (PPDPP), which falls under the Public Works and Housing Ministry, signed an agreement on Thursday with 40 banks that have been tasked with distributing the subsidy to low-income households seeking a mortgage loan.

Lana Winayanti, the ministry’s housing finance director general, said the fund would be disbursed under the housing financing liquidity facility (FLPP) to subsidise 42,000 low-cost houses.

“The fund will be disbursed in January,” said Lina in Jakarta, adding that this year, the PPDPP had allocated 4 trillion rupiah to the FLPP scheme.

In the last five years, the PPDPP has disbursed 30.68 trillion rupiah to subsidise the purchase of 517,558 houses.

The mortgage subsidy’s recipients comprise private employees (73.94 per cent), civil servants (12.78 per cent) and informal sector employees (7.68 per cent). – The Jakarta Post

CDL sells Brisbane properties for A$77m

Singapore-based CDL Hospitality Trusts is selling the Mercure Brisbane and Ibis Brisbane for A$77 million (Bt1.4 billion), the stapled group announced yesterday.

The sale price represents an exit yield of 5.3 per cent on the fixed rental; a 43.4 per cent premium over the A$53.7 million original purchase price; and a 10 per cent premium over an independent valuation of A$70 million.

The buyer is CR Hotel Target, an independent third party. Completion is expected in January.

The 194-room Mercure and 218-room Ibis are connected properties within a single site across from the Performing Arts Complex Centre and Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Brisbane.

The property was acquired on February 18, 2010, with a master lease that expires on April 30, 2021. – The Straits Times

Honda Malaysia recalls Accord, Odyssey models

Honda Malaysia has issued a product recall for 49,116 units of the Odyssey (2014-2017 model) and Accord (2013-2016 model) for faults in the makes involving battery sensor failure and a defective door mirror component.

Honda said 20,233 units of the Accord are being recalled due to inaccurate forming on the printed circuit board in the battery sensor during its production process.

“This may cause electrical short circuit of the sensor, and possibilities of smoke coming from the hood or, in the worst case, a fire,” it said in a statement.

Meanwhile, 27,912 units of Accord and 971 units of Odyssey are being recalled for a defective door mirror component. – The Star

Indonesia to develop Papua’s Nabire Port

The Indonesian government has announced its plans to develop the Nabire Port in Papua as feeder port for the province, for both cargo and passenger ships.

President Joko Widodo said on Thursday in Nabire Regency, Papua that the construction to expand the port would start in 2018.

After its expansion, Nabire Port will be able to serve six regencies around Nabire – Waropen, Paniai, Dogiai, Mimika, Kaimana and Wandama.

“We will start with [building] the container terminal in 2018. [The existing port] will be repaired, expanded and improved upon,” Widodo said in a press release.

Renovations on the passenger terminal would commence later, |the President said, adding that |the private sector was welcome |to take part in the port’s development.

“I heard from Regent Isaias Douw that a lot off Nabire’s products such as fish, oranges, wood and bananas, are shipped to Surabaya and Makassar,” Widodo said. – The Jakarta Post

Cambodia can’t escape cement imports

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Cambodia can’t escape cement imports

ASEAN+ December 23, 2017 01:00

By THE PHNOM PENH POST
ASIA NEWS NETWORK
PHNOM PENH

FOUR NEW Cambodian cement factories are set to come online in the near future, tripling the number of local producers, but insiders and officials say that even increased capacity will not significantly lower rates of cement imports to Cambodia due to the high costs of local production.

According to information from Cambodia’s Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts, only two cement companies are currently operational, annually producing a combined 3.4 million tonnes. An additional three factories are expected to begin production at the start of the new year, and a fourth is currently in construction.

Hort Pheng, director of the Industrial Affairs Department at the Ministry of Industry, projected that the total annual production of all six factories would be around 20 million tonnes, but noted that no efforts were being made to lower costs of production, which continue to negatively impact local cement quality and price.

“Our construction sector is growing, but even if our cement factories produce 20 million tonnes a year, our imports of cement will remain high because our cement prices are still too high to compete with imported products,” he said. “We should focus on lowering the cost of our own cement, so we do not have to depend so heavily on imports.”

Heng Sinsiphat, deputy general manager of Battambang Conch Cement, claimed that his new factory, which will be operational in a few months, should produce 1.8 million tonnes of cement annually. He added that the cement market demand in Cambodia was about 7 million tonnes in 2017, but said he expects demand to grow exponentially in the next few years.

“The growth of investment from China and Korea will push the growth of construction, and I do not think that even the entire supply of Cambodian cement will be sufficient to meet the needs of the growing construction sector,” he said.

However, Sinsiphat added: “Even if we produce enough cement to cover all new [construction] projects, importing will still be a challenge to the local industry, because we cannot compete on quality or cost.”

Tieng Sopheak Vichea, public and government relations manager at Chip Mong Insee Cement, said that the company’s US$262 million factory will be operational in February and has the capacity to produce 2 million tonnes of cement a year, though he declined to comment further.

Production figures for the other two factories could not be obtained this week. According to Seang Thai, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, the kingdom imported 1.19 million tonnes of cement last year, equivalent to US$85 million.

“Cement imports are still highly important for construction, because our cement supply is not sufficient to meet construction growth,” he said. “We are part of a free market now, and we have to build up our capacity to compete in this market – we cannot ban imports.”

Megawide and partner snare Manila contract

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Megawide and partner snare Manila contract

ASEAN+ December 23, 2017 01:00

By PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
ASIA NEWS NETWORK
MANILA

CONSTRUCTION and infrastructure group Megawide Construction Corp has landed a contract worth 3.3 billion pesos (Bt2.1 billion) with property developer DoubleDragon Properties Corp to put up a new office tower and a luxury hotel at Meridian Park along the Manila Bay area.

Megawide and DoubleDragon, through the latter’s subsidiary, DD-Meridian Park Development Corp., recently signed a contract for the construction of DoubleDragon Tower and Ascott DD-Meridian Park.

“We’ve been working with DoubleDragon for the DoubleDragon Plaza at DD-Meridian Park since the very beginning. To be trusted once again to work on these new projects is proof of our successful working relationship these past years,” Megawide chair and chief executive officer Edgar Saavedra said in a press statement yesterday.

DoubleDragon Tower and Ascott make up the third and final phase of the eight-tower DoubleDragon Plaza at DD-Meridian Park, a 4.75-hectare mixed-use development located at the Bay Area in Pasay City.

The 11-floor DoubleDragon Tower, which will be another office building within the development, will cover 61,859 square meters of land, while the 11-floor luxury serviced apartment Ascott will span 49,542 square meters. The total contract cost is around P3.3 billion for these projects.

Megawide had also worked on the first two phases of the development. These include the four-tower DoubleDragon Plaza completed this year, and the DoubleDragon Center-East and DoubleDragon Center-West buildings expected to be completed by the last quarter of 2018. DoubleDragon has recently relocated its headquarters to this new office development.

DD-Meridian Park Development Corp signed the deal with Ascott in June to develop a 300-room five-star serviced residence at the Meridian Park. Ascott, a Singapore-based company known to be one of the leading international serviced residence owner-operators, owns the brands Ascott The Residence, Citadines Apart’Hotel and Somerset Serviced Residence.

Saavedra said these new projects would open new opportunities to maximize Megawide’s engineering and construction expertise.

“Our team of professionals continues to study new methods and technologies to be able to deliver excellent results. We will make sure that Ascott and DoubleDragon Tower will come out as how our loyal client envisions them,” he said.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s official engagement photos

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  • Photo : AFP

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s official engagement photos

ASEAN+ December 22, 2017 15:01

By Philippine Daily Inquirer
Asia News Network

2,291 Viewed

December will never let us catch a break. Just when we thought we’ve swooned enough for the engagement announcement of His Royal Highness Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, they just simply release their official engagement photos on Instagram.

The photos were taken by New York-based fashion photographer Alexi Lubormirski. He regularly shoots the covers of Harper’s Bazaar UK and would even do campaigns for brands like Maybelline and Lancôme.

The photos were taken earlier this week at Frogmore House in Windsor. The first photo features the prince in a navy blue suit, while Meghan wore a sheer black dress with intricate embellishments. The second one was more casual and romantic as you see the couple in a tight hug wearing a cosy coat and sweater.

Sigh! We really can’t wait to know which designer she’ll pick for her dress and for the wedding that will take place at t St. George Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Indonesian fan attempts suicide following Jonghyun‘s death

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Indonesian fan attempts suicide following Jonghyun‘s death

ASEAN+ December 22, 2017 14:46

By The Korea Herald
Asia News Network

SEOUL: Following Jonghyun’s untimely death that spread grief around the globe, an Indonesian female fan’s recent suicide attempt has sparked a possible copycat suicide alert.

According to Indonesian media reports Thursday, the fan was found unconscious from an overdose and hospitalized in an apparent suicide attempt. On Monday she left suicidal posts on her Twitter account, the day Jonghyun passed away.

She wrote, “I can‘t endure it anymore. Mom, dad, Jonghyun oppa, we’ll meet really soon” in both Korean and English.

It is also reported that in a previous post she wrote, “Should I give up my life for now since I lost both of my parents and my idol? It’s stressing me out.”

In the wake of the incident, concerns have risen that the K-pop act’s suicide might have a contagious effect on young fans who may emulate self-destructive behavior, known as “the Werther effect.”

According to Bangkok Post, the Department of Mental Health in Thailand has released a statement warning parents to monitor their children’s behavior to see if there are any changes following Jonghyun’s death.

Indonesian media also reported that another female fan fainted after refusing any food or drinks in shock of the superstar’s death.

Jonghyun was found unconscious at a rented studio apartment in Seoul on Monday. He was pronounced dead shortly after being sent to a hospital. Investigators ruled it a suicide.

His funeral took place at Seoul Asan Hospital Thursday, attended by family members, as well as officials and artists of S.M. Entertainment.

Several houses affected in Brunei flash floods

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  • Family members and village residents hold ‘Balik Tiga Hari’ ceremony for a newlywed couple despite flash-floods

Several houses affected in Brunei flash floods

ASEAN+ December 22, 2017 14:20

By Borneo Bulletin
Asia News Network

Bandar Seri Begawan – Powerful rains lashed across the Tutong District, causing flash floods in several areas of the district yesterday.

Heavy rains that began on Tuesday evening and prolonged until midmorning yesterday, damaged several houses in Kampong Kiudang.

One of the worst affected residential areas was Jalan Batang Mitus, where according to the Lamunin Fire Station, water reached 0.50 metre high, making the roadway inaccessible to normal saloon cars.

However, some areas usually affected by flash flood like Kampong Keranching Benutan, Kampong Kuala Unggar/Rambai and Jalan Bengkuru in Mukim Rambai remained unaffected this time.

Despite the torrential rain and flash flood, a newly-wed couple was able to perform their ‘Balik Tiga Hari’ ceremony, a traditional Malay ritual which heralds the newly married couple’s return to the groom’s family house after three days at the bride’s home.

The torrential rains did not deter 81yearold Pengiran Ibrahim bin Pengiran Haji Tengah from holding the ‘Balik Tiga Hari’, albeit in moderation.

Some areas in Tutong District are no stranger to flash floods, he said. “In 1998, flood water reached three-and-a half feet high and this year it reached more than two feet,” he added.

With the rainy weather continuing, members of the public, especially those living in low-lying areas or flood-prone areas, have been urged to exercise extra caution.

Defying Trump threat, UN rejects US decision on Jerusalem

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The voting results are displayed on the floor of the United Nations General Assembly in which the United States declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capital was declared "null and void" on December 21, 2017 in New York City./AFP
The voting results are displayed on the floor of the United Nations General Assembly in which the United States declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was declared “null and void” on December 21, 2017 in New York City./AFP

Defying Trump threat, UN rejects US decision on Jerusalem

ASEAN+ December 22, 2017 07:06

By Agence France-Presse
United Nations, United States

3,682 Viewed

Defying President Donald Trump’s threat to cut off funding, the United Nations approved by a resounding vote on Thursday a motion rejecting the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution by 128 to nine with 35 abstentions, in what Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour called a “massive setback” for the United States.

An additional 21 countries did not turn up for the vote including Ukraine, which had supported the same resolution in the Security Council, indicating the US threats did have a chilling effect on some governments.

Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Togo joined the United States in opposing the measure.

Among the countries that abstained were Argentina, Australia, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, Romania and Rwanda.

Speaking at the emergency session, US Ambassador Nikki Haley warned the United States “will remember this day.”

“America will put our embassy in Jerusalem,” Haley said in defense of the US move, which broke with international consensus and unleashed protests across the Muslim world.

“No vote in the United Nations will make any difference on that,” Haley said. “But this vote will make a difference on how Americans look at the UN and on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the UN.”

“When we make generous contributions to the UN we also have a legitimate expectation that our goodwill is recognized and respected,” she said.

The resolution reaffirms that the status of Jerusalem must be resolved through negotiations, and that any decision reached outside of that framework must be rescinded.

Without explicitly referencing the US move, it “affirms that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the vote showed the “illegality” of Trump’s decision, urging the United States to withdraw it.

– ‘Unprecedented test’ –

The motion was sent to the General Assembly after it was vetoed by the United States at the Security Council on Monday, although all other 14 council members voted in favor.

While resolutions by the General Assembly are non-binding, a strong vote in support carries political weight.

Ahead of the vote, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the UN as a “house of lies,” saying Israel “rejects outright this vote, even before it passes.”

“No General Assembly resolution will ever drive us from Jerusalem,” vowed Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon.

Palestinian foreign minister Riad al-Malki called the vote an “unprecedented test” for the UN, and referenced the US warning that it was “taking names.”

“History records names, it remembers names — the names of those who stand by what is right and the names of those who speak falsehood,” al-Malki said.

Trump’s decision on December 6 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital prompted a flurry of appeals to the United Nations.

The status of the Holy City is one of the thorniest issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Trump warned that Washington would closely watch how nations voted, suggesting there could be reprisals for those that back the motion put forward by Yemen and Turkey on behalf of Arab and Muslim countries.

“They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars and then they vote against us,” Trump said.

“Well, we’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don’t care.”

– ‘House of lies’ –

The resolution mirrored the text that was vetoed at the Security Council on Monday, and although it does not mention Trump’s decision, it expresses “deep regret at recent decisions” concerning the city’s status.

No country has veto powers in the General Assembly, unlike in the 15-member Security Council where the United States, along with Britain, China, France and Russia, can block any resolution.

UN diplomats privately said the United States had succeeded in making some countries think twice.

Haley tweeted that 65 countries had “refused to condemn the United States” over its decision on Jerusalem – a tally of “no” votes, abstentions and no-shows.

“While the resolution passed, the vote breakdown tells a different story,” said a spokesperson for the US mission.

“It’s clear that many countries prioritized their relationship with the United States over an unproductive attempt to isolate us for a decision that was our sovereign right to make.”

The Palestinian ambassador insisted the vote was more about Trump’s foreign policy approach than the status of Jerusalem.

“They made it about them,” said Mansour. “They did not make it about Jerusalem, so when you make it about them and to only be able to get nine votes to say ‘no’ to it, I think it was a complete failure for their campaign.”

Israel seized the largely-Arab eastern sector of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it, claiming both sides of the city as its “eternal and undivided capital.”

But the Palestinians want the eastern sector as the capital of their future state and fiercely oppose any Israeli attempt to extend sovereignty there.

At least 29 dead in sauna fire in S. Korea: fire service

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  • Photo : EPA-EFE
  • Photo : EPA-EFE
  • Photo : EPA-EFE
  • Photo : EPA-EFE
  • Photo : EPA-EFE

At least 29 dead in sauna fire in S. Korea: fire service

ASEAN+ December 22, 2017 01:00

By The Korea Herald
Asia News Network

At least 29 people were killed and 26 were injured in a fire that engulfed a commercial building in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, on Thursday , fire fighters said.

They said the fire started from a vehicle in the basement parking lot of the eight-story building that houses several leisure facilities, inclduing a fitness club, sauna, restaurants and an indoor golf practice facility, in the city,  about 170 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

Most of the victims were found in the public sauna on the second and third floor, the authorities said.

It was not still known the cause of the deadly fire.  About 20 fire engines and trucks as well as 50 firefighters were sent to scene, according to news reports.

Latest : At least 28 dead in sauna fire in S. Korea: fire service

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  • Photo : AFP
  • Flames and smoke billow from an eight-storey building after a fire broke out in Jecheon, 120 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on December 21, 2017.// AFP PHOTO
  • Flames and smoke billow from an eight-storey building after a fire broke out in Jecheon, 120 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on December 21, 2017.// AFP PHOTO

Latest : At least 28 dead in sauna fire in S. Korea: fire service

ASEAN+ December 21, 2017 18:25

By The Korea Herald
Asia News Network

At least 28 people were killed and more than 24 others were injured in a fire that engulfed a commercial building in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, on Thursday afternoon, firefighters said.

They said the fire started from a vehicle in the basement parking lot of the eight-story building that houses several leisure facilities, including a fitness club, sauna, restaurants and an indoor golf practice facility, in the city,  about 170 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

Firefighters search for missing persons after a fire broke out in an eight-storey building in Jecheon, 120 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on December 21, 2017. // AFP PHOTO

Most of the victims were found in the public sauna on the second and third floor, the authorities said.

It was not still known the cause of the deadly fire.  About 20 fire engines and trucks, as well as 50 firefighters, were sent to the scene, according to news reports.

President Moon Jae-in ordered a thorough investigation into the fire incident.

Rescue members carry the body of a victim from an eight-storey building after a fire broke out in Jecheon, 120 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on December 21, 2017. // AFP PHOTO