Indonesia keeping close eye on developments in South China Sea

The Indonesian military is evaluating its troop deployment in its territory closest to disputed islands in the South China Sea. The Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces said he was closely monitoring developments there, as any conflict would spillover to Indonesian territory.

JAKARTA: Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) General Moeldoko said that he has been keeping watch on territorial disputes in the resource-rich South China Sea.

While Indonesia does not have competing claims over islands in those waters, the four-star general has met his counterparts from several ASEAN countries which do, and he has relayed their concerns to his Chinese counterparts.

General Moeldoko said: "We in ASEAN do not want a situation that would lead to instability in this region. That is our firm position. And Indonesia will contribute to ensure stability. Second, Indonesia will be following the situation from time to time."

The Indonesian military anticipated that any conflict in the area would naturally spillover to Indonesian territory.

He said: "It's quite certain there will be a spillover if something happens in the South China Sea. And for that, we will certainly re-evaluate the deployment of our troops in the Natuna and Riau Islands. Those are the areas closest to the South China Sea."

General Moeldoko also warned that the rebalancing of power in the Asia Pacific, which includes the United States, could also potentially lead to instability.

He said: "We do not want rebalancing turned into provocation for people in ASEAN because it will lead to an uncomfortable situation for us."

The TNI commander's commitment to ensuring stability in the region underscores and complements Jakarta's ongoing diplomatic efforts at finding a peaceful resolution to the South China Sea disputes.

With Indonesia soon to see a change in government, its ASEAN neighbours are likely to find General Moeldoko's resolve reassuring.


Sumber - Channel NewsAsia

What does the AEC really mean?

While the trade bloc aims to boost the region’s competitiveness, Thailand stands to gain as well as lose

The advent of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in late 2015 has been in the limelight in recent years, but how many people are truly aware of it or understand the effect it will have on the economy, businesses, the workforce, education or even society as a whole?

The AEC is not just about setting up free trade zones within Asean. It aims to create a single market and production base in order to boost the competitiveness of Asean countries. It is expected to create free mobility of goods, services, investments, capitalisation and skilled labour.

Free mobility of labour is a significant element as all businesses and economies rely on manpower. And since the agreements have been signed, the 10 Asean members — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand — have tried to create a single clear standard for professional qualification screening in order to help the free flow of seven key professions plus one sector (hotel and tourism) within member countries and ensure standards of quality.

The professional services are medicine, dentistry, nursing, engineering, architecture, surveying, accounting and hotel and tourism.

Background

Although the AEC comprises only 10 countries, the total population stands at 600 million — a gigantic market with ample opportunities. Nevertheless each country possesses different scales of economy, business characteristics, laws and regulations, cultures, languages and customs.

Based on research by the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), 50% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines comes from a service sector. But half the GDP of Thailand and Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) is contributed by the agricultural sector. In 2009 Singapore had the highest professional employment, accounting for 36.44% of overall employment, followed by Malaysia (20.8%), Thailand (8.12%) and the Philippines (7.4%), while most CLMV employment was in the agriculture, forestry and fishery sectors.

In 2010 the International Institute of Management Development did a survey on the competitiveness of 58 countries, taking into account the economy, efficiency of government and private sector, and infrastructure. Singapore had the highest score while Thailand ranked 26.

Thailand scored higher in all areas against Indonesia and the Philippines, but lower than Singapore in all areas. Against Malaysia, Thailand scored better only for the economy; it lost over competency of government and the private sector and infrastructure.

EU precedence

The formation of the AEC is similar to the establishment of the EU in 1993, which has expanded to 28 countries. Advantages of the union include free trade agreements which have encouraged mobility of the workforce within the region, easing labour scarcity in many countries.

It has also promoted equality of professions and improved benefits and welfare of labour. This has also resulted in improved GDP of member states.

According to some studies, the union has also improved education standards and promoted higher education in many countries resulting in improvement in quality of people and professionals.

But the free mobility of labour has not happened in all professions. In order to protect their own labour markets, several countries have implemented rules and regulations screening entrance to their workforce.

Labour mobility within the AEC

For skilled labour mobility within the 10 Asean states, based on industry’s experts and academics, Thailand has  advantages over several of the other member countries, such as better education, good infrastructure and living conditions as well as higher salaries and remunerations.

“All these positive factors are likely to keep our talented professionals at home,” said Yongyuth Chalamwong, research director at the TDRI.

“Most Thai professionals don’t want to leave the country to work elsewhere. But they may have to when their companies relocate,” said Aat Pisanwanich, dean of the economics faculty at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

Thai professionals in the hotel and tourism sector are the most likely to  explore new opportunities in countries with a serious shortage and high demand for their professions.

Meanwhile, there is also the possibility of semi-skilled and low-skilled labour from CLMV seeking work in Thailand to meet demand for lower level jobs in the tourism sector.

According to industry experts there is a high chance that professionals from Singapore and Malaysia will move to Thailand, particularly in the engineering and architectural sectors.

Regulations and barriers

Under the AEC, mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) are intended to ease the flow of professionals within member countries. To do so, standards of professional qualifications are set so all countries will have the same clear standards.

Before migrating to another country, a professional must register to work through the regulatory authorities in that country, pass a professional test in the local language to get a licence and follow other local rules and regulations.

These strict procedures and requirements are needed to screen the quality of professionals before entering the country.

“Though it is a free flow of skilled-labour, it’s not really a free flow in practice,” said Acharn Yongyuth.

On top of that, English proficiency is obviously a barrier for Thais entering English-speaking countries.

Additionally, under the mutual agreements signed in 2011, foreign business ownership will be allowed to more than 70% up from the previous 49%.

“Foreigners will definitely bring in their own people to work in their companies in Thailand.

"This may affect opportunities for Thai professionals. And our language handicap will even further lessen our chances,” said Acharn Yongyuth.

Medical, nursing and dentistry

The quality of Thailand’s medical services, including doctors, nurses and dentists, is higher than many other Asean countries. Yet its medical fees are considered moderate or even cheaper than many countries including Singapore. The earnings of these professionals are considered competitive compared with other Asean countries.

Thailand has established itself as a “medical hub”. The large number of foreign patients have boosted medical tourism. On top of that, a number of Thai physicians and nurses working abroad have been lured back home.

According to Chalerm Harnphanich, president of the Thai Private Hospital Association and CEO of Bangkok Chain Hospital Plc, medical tourism earned about 140 billion baht in 2012, up 18% from a year earlier. And the figures have kept increasing.

According to Acharn Aat, the focus group interview revealed that it is unlikely that medical professionals will migrate to other countries in Asean, but if they do so Singapore will be the first destination.

There is a severe shortage of these professional services in Thailand particularly in remote provinces as a large number of practitioners have opted to work at private hospitals where the pay is better. He added that Thailand is short of 10,000 nurses.

Meanwhile, he continued, the Philippines is a key producer of nursing professionals and there has been a high rate of migration of them to other countries.

However, under AEC restrictions the free flow of talents may not easy as they must obtain licences and pass tests in the local language. This is viewed as a reasonable screening measure and also a barrier.

Architecture

Generally speaking, the quality of Thai architect is second to none. The AEC will definitely open doors for professionals to migrate to other countries such as Brunei, the Philippines, Laos and Myanmar at senior levels while it also offers opportunities for professionals in other countries to enter Thailand’s labour market.

According to Pongsak Vadhanasindhu, Thailand Monitoring Committee, Asean Architect Council, competition in this field should not be fierce as the mutual agreements stress that foreign registered architects must work in partnership with local architects in an equal manner.

“This means there will be less competition among local and foreign architects as they will have to work in collaboration than alone,” said Prof Pongsak, adding that Thai architects should continue to develop their skills and know-how in order to stay competitive.

Prof Pongsak believes the competitive situation will boost the quality and proficiency of local staff. “And working with foreign staff will definitely enhance skills and experience of local staff.”

But he acknowledged that Thai architects need to improve their English proficiency as they may lose out to Singaporeans and Malaysians who speak English well.

Engineering

According to Nitaya Chanruang Mahabhol, secretary-general of the Consortium of Professional Council of Thailand and member of the executive board of the Council of Engineers, engineers from Singapore and Malaysia are likely to aggressively enter the Thai market. Hence it is necessary to enhance Thai engineers’ capability, know-how and English proficiency in order to gain acceptance for big national projects.

“On top of that, standards used to gauge registered architects must be Asean standards and not others in order to be fair,” she said.

Liability of construction projects is another key concern. “It’s important to define or share liabilities with those foreign engineers who enter Thailand to work on projects. That’s because they will also need to be responsible for their projects even when they leave Thailand. These liabilities must be shared accordingly,” Ms Nitaya said.

She also expressed concern over small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). “I don’t worry about big construction companies, but the small ones might not be able to fight the battle. So I’m not very sure if we’re ready to compete with others in this field.”

Accounting

Although accounting is currently guided by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), there are still differences in accounting and taxing regulations among countries.

According to Sira Intarakumthornchai, chief executive officer at PwC Thailand, the challenge for Thai accountants will be English proficiency and knowledge about taxation and business acts in different countries.

“If they can overcome these limitations then they will become strengths. And then they will be in high demand for local and overseas employment,” said Mr Sira.

While he has no worries about big accounting firms, small and medium ones may face problems due to local language and some restrictions.

“Hence small and medium-sized firms will need to adjust themselves fast for this competition. In the future there may be mergers among local firms or with foreign ones in order to stay competitive,” said Mr Sira.

Hotel and tourism

Within Asean, Thailand is considered the best in hotel and tourism services.

Surapong Techaruvichit, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), says Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are tourism leaders among Asean members. But demand for professionals in this sector in CLMV is high and there is a high chance that Thai professionals will migrate to these countries as many are offering high remuneration particularly Myanmar.

“However, we don’t expect to see many Thais migrating as our tourism industry is much bigger than those of CLMV. Last year we welcomed 26.7 million tourists, while only slightly more than 2 million visited Laos and about 1 million visited Myanmar,” said Mr Surapong.

According to Acharn Yongyuth, there is still no clear mutual competency standards for professionals in this sector as several parties are involved with no recognised certified body in charge.

Meanwhile, Thailand is trying to solve labour shortage in this sector through developing education in the field and staff training.


Sumber - Bangkok Post

Hudud: Sultan Brunei tangkis kritikan antarabangsa

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM 14 April - Ketua negara Brunei Darussalam, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah menangkis kritikan antarabangsa berhubung pelaksanaan hukum hudud di negaranya dan menafikan bahawa tindakan itu satu langkah ke belakang.

Laman web, Mail Online melaporkan Mac lalu, Sultan Hassanal bertitah, semua bangsa perlu bersatu di bawah undang-undang syariah dan baginda menyifatkan kod panel baharu itu merupakan kejayaan besar Brunei.

Hukum hudud yang memperuntukkan hukuman sebat dan rejam sehingga mati bagi kesalahan tertentu, mula dilaksanakan bulan ini.

Sultan Hassanal turut bertitah, pihak luar perlu menghormati sebarang keputusan Brunei sama seperti negara ini menghormati keputusan pihak lain.

Kelmarin, jurucakap Suruhanjaya Tinggi Hak Asasi Manusia Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB), Rupert Colville mengkritik pelaksanaan hukum hudud oleh Brunei yang dianggap menyalahi undang-undang antarabangsa.

Jelas Colville, pihaknya memandang serius pelaksanaan undang-undang Islam tersebut yang turut memperuntukkan hukuman mati bagi kesalahan seperti merogol, berzina dan meliwat.

Colville berkata, negara Islam itu sepatutnya tidak melaksanakan langkah tersebut kerana undang-undang antarabangsa menyatakan hukuman rejam sehingga mati misalnya dikategorikan sebagai kejam dan penyeksaan serta tidak berperikemanusiaan, sekali gus diharamkan di bawah perjanjian-perjanjian hak asasi manusia.

Brunei tidak melaksanakan hukuman mati sejak 1957 dan turut mengharamkan penjualan serta pengambilan minuman keras dalam kalangan penduduk Islam negara ini.


Sumber - Utusan Malaysia Online

United Nations OHCHR: Press briefing notes on Brunei penal code, Death penalty abolition and USA - execution of Mexican national

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Rupert Colville
Location: Geneva
Date: 11 April 2014

1) Brunei penal code

We are deeply concerned about the revised penal code in Brunei Darussalam, due to come into force later this month, which stipulates the death penalty for numerous offences. These include rape, adultery, sodomy, extramarital sexual relations for Muslims, insult or defamation of the Prophet Mohammad, insulting any verses of the Quran and Hadith, blasphemy, declaring oneself a prophet or non-Muslim, and for robbery and murder. Application of the death penalty for such a broad range of offences contravenes international law.

The revised code, which is expected to enter into force on April 22, also introduces stoning to death as the specific method of execution for rape, adultery, sodomy and extramarital sexual relations.

Under international law, stoning people to death constitutes torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and is thus clearly prohibited. A number of UN studies have also revealed that women are more likely to be sentenced to death by stoning, due to deeply entrenched discrimination and stereotyping against them, including among law enforcement and judicial officers.

The criminalization and application of the death penalty for consensual relations between adults in private also violates a whole host of rights, including the rights to privacy, to equality before the law, the right to health and freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention. The provisions of the revised penal code may encourage further violence and discrimination against women and also against people on the basis of sexual orientation.

The revised penal code also contains provisions that violate the rights to freedom of religion, freedom of opinion and of expression. Articles 213, 214 and 215 of the revised penal code criminalize printing, disseminating, importing, broadcasting, and distributing publications “contrary to Hukum Syara”, which literally translates as “contrary to the order of Shariah” by both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

We urge the Government to delay the entry into force of the revised Penal Code and to conduct a comprehensive review ensuring its compliance with international human rights standards.

Brunei has maintained an effective moratorium on use of the death penalty since 1957. We urge the Government to establish a formal moratorium on the use of the death penalty and to work towards abolishing the practice altogether.

2) Death penalty abolition

On a related note, we welcome the accession of Gabon and El Salvador to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR-OP2), aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. This brings the total number of State parties to the ICCPR-OP2 to 80.

3) USA - execution of Mexican national

We deeply regret the execution of Mexican national Ramiro Hernandez Llanas in Texas on Wednesday. Mr Hernandez-Llanas is the 16th person to have been executed in the US in 2014 and the sixth prisoner executed this year in Texas.

The UN opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of policy and principle; but, in addition, this case once again places the US in breach of international law, as Mr Hernandez was not granted consular access pursuant to Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. In 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a ruling stating that the United States must review and reconsider the cases of 51 Mexican nationals sentenced to death – including Mr Hernandez – as they had not received consular services. Under international law, the violation of the right to consular notification affects the due process; and the execution of a foreign national deprived of his rights to consular services constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of life, in contravention of articles 6 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the US ratified in 1992.

It is important to recall that the execution by the State of Texas of Mr Hernandez Llanas engages the United States' international responsibility. We are once again disappointed that neither the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles nor the Governor took steps open to them to prevent this breach of US obligations under international law from occurring.


Sumber - UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

UN criticizes Brunei over tough new Islamic law

GENEVA: The UN human rights office on Friday criticized Brunei's planned introduction of the death penalty for a raft of new offences, as part of a shift to harsh Islamic punishments in the oil-rich sultanate.

"We are deeply concerned about the revised penal code in Brunei Darussalam, due to come into force later this month, which stipulates the death penalty for numerous offences," said Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN high commissioner for human rights.

He told reporters these offences include rape, adultery, sodomy, extramarital sexual relations for Muslims, but also crimes such as robbery and murder.

The death sentence could also be imposed for defamation of the Prophet Muhammad, insulting any verses of the Koran and Hadith, blasphemy, and declaring oneself a prophet or non-Muslim, he said.

"Application of the death penalty for such a broad range of offences contravenes international law," he added.

Brunei has not carried out any executions since 1957, but Colville said that rather than adding new capital crimes to its books, the sultanate should be working to abolish the death penalty outright.

Brunei's all-powerful Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah announced last October that the country would phase in Islamic sharia law punishments such as flogging and death by stoning.

The new criminal code, expected to enter into force on April 22, also introduces stoning to death as the specific method of execution for rape, adultery, sodomy and extramarital sexual relations.

Colville said that international law classified stoning as "torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment", meaning it is banned under global human rights treaties.

UN studies have shown that women are more likely to be sentenced to death by stoning, due to entrenched discrimination and stereotyping in the justice system, he noted.

Criminalizing consensual sex between adults, let alone applying the death penalty for it, breaches a series of rights, while the new code also violates freedom of religion, opinion and expression, Colville added.

Brunei practices a more conservative form of Islam than neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia, banning the sale and public consumption of alcohol and closely restricting other religions.

The sultan has advocated the strengthening of Islam in the country, against what he calls potentially harmful outside influences, recently calling his Islamic monarchy a "firewall" against globalization.

Officials have previously said sharia cases would require an extremely high burden of proof and judges would have wide discretion applying it.


Sumber - The Times of India

The Regional Implications of Indonesia's Rise

As it tallies votes from Wednesday’s election, Indonesia’s economic outlook is strong. What does that mean for the region?

By Abdul-Latif Halimi

Despite a mild economic slowdown amidst China’s economic rebalancing and the U.S. Federal Reserve tapering—and despite a dip in Indonesian shares following a surprisingly weak performance by the favorites in Wednesday’s parliamentary election—the general direction of Indonesia’s economy seems clear: onwards and upwards. Since the Asian Financial Crisis and the fall of Suharto, Jakarta has learned lessons, expedited political reforms, and taken economic strides that today constitute a platform from which Southeast Asia’s largest country can continue to build on what it has achieved to date. That’s not to say corruption, infrastructure deficiencies and inequality do not remain problems for whoever takes the political baton after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, but Indonesia’s economic trajectory is bending sharply in the right direction.

Since the turn of the century, Indonesia’s economy has been one of the world’s best-performing and most consistent. Since 2001, the country has averaged 5.4 percent growth, far faster than the global average, despite the shocks of the global financial downturn. That growth has facilitated the fall of gross government debt from 95.1 percent of GDP in 2000 to around 26 percent today, the lowest of any ASEAN member-state except Brunei Darussalam, and enough for Fitch and Moody’s to grant Indonesia’s debt investment grade status. Indonesia has gone from being the world’s 27th largest economy in 2000 (nominal GDP) to the 16th largest today—an impressive leap in just fifteen years.

Much more is expected to come. Indonesia is forecast to have the world’s seventh largest economy by 2030, surpassing the U.K. and Germany according to a report by McKinsey Global Institute, and the fourth largest in 2040 according to a Citibank report, trailing only China, India and the United States. While such projections are often over-reliant on extrapolating current trends, there is little doubt that Indonesia stands to benefit immensely from a rebalancing of the global economy towards the Asia-Pacific and from the demographic dividend of the country’s young population. The former will ensure relatively high ubiquity of capital, technology and demand in Indonesian markets, while the latter will ensure that the workforce will be able to maintain productivity and a low dependency ratio between workers and dependents, thereby setting the foundation for decades of robust growth and healthy public finances.

The regional implications of this economic rise will be very significant, even if gradual.

A bigger and more robust economy means that defense spending will continue to rise, albeit from an extremely low base. Indonesia currently spends less than 1 percent of its GDP on defense, at around $8 billion annually. In comparison, Singapore has a military budget of $12 billion, more than 4 percent of its GDP, while Australia spends $26 billion. By any measure, Indonesia lags well behind its neighbors relative to its size; however, its rapid economic growth has facilitated sharp annual defense budget increases, such as the 9 percent increase announced in August 2013. This much-needed growth comes as Indonesia attempts to increase defense spending to 1.5 percent of GDP by 2015, or a projected $14 billion, as sought by Yudyohono. While this target will not be met by next year, it at least recognizes Indonesia’s military potential and sets a spending benchmark.

Much of this defense budget growth, particularly a $15 billion kit announced in 2010, will be allocated to equipment procurement and modernization. The country’s 2010 Strategic Defence Plan outlined a modernization vision that included 10 jet fighter squadrons, 274 ships and a dozen submarines by 2024—a significant qualitative and quantitative leap from Indonesia’s current military capabilities, even if the targets do not seem entirely realistic. Nonetheless, recent purchases are congruent with the vision, such as the purchase of six Sukhoi Su-30MK2s that were delivered last September and which completed a squadron of advanced air-superiority fighters consisting of sixteen Su-27 SKM and Su-30 MK2 jets. Similar major procurements and orders have included dozens of F-16 and Su-35 fighters, advanced air defense systems from Thales, Boeing AH-64 Apache Longbow gunship helicopters and more than hundred world-renowned German Leopard tanks.

As it bolsters its military, Indonesia’s weight and importance in the region’s balance of power will only grow, particularly with respect to the U.S. and China. As Washington and Beijing seem set for an era of strategic rivalry across the Asia-Pacific, bringing Jakarta into one or the other’s sphere of influence becomes ever more appealing. For the U.S., greater security and economic cooperation with Indonesia, at the relative expense of China, helps strengthen and coalesce a grouping of states—which includes Japan, the Philippines and India—that is wary of China’s rise and territorial claims. China’s recent claim to the Natuna waters that are part of Indonesia’s Riau Islands could convince some Indonesian policymakers to lean towards Washington and hedge against Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea. On the other hand, the seeming inevitability of China’s rise to great-power status, amidst the uncertainty of the viability and extent of America’s Asia “pivot” and security guarantees, constitutes a good case for Indonesia to move closer to Beijing and leverage China’s unprecedented economic force and growing military heft.

However, the most likely strategic disposition, to use former Vice President Mohammad Hatta’s expression from 1948, remains having a “free and active” Indonesian foreign policy.  As opposed to relatively passive non-alignment during the Cold War, Indonesia—on the back of rapid economic growth and growing power—is increasingly likely to see itself as entitled to a prominent role in the region and the world in its own right, and in light of its own interests and potential. Jakarta is therefore likely to seek prosperity and cooperation equally with both the U.S. and China, as opposed to creating any form of dependency on one power in the face of the other. Moreover, Indonesia might be uniquely positioned in trying to arrest any escalation in the region or prevent the entrenchment of a paradigm of strategic rivalry that could harm its own interests and development priorities.

This independent streak is likely to take Indonesian foreign policy beyond the Asia-Pacific. As recent engagement with the Middle East shows, Indonesia increasingly sees itself as an important actor in the Muslim World. In late January, the country signed a defense cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia—Jakarta’s first such agreement with an Arab state—which covered military industry cooperation, counter-terrorism and joint training. In 2012, Indonesia also co-sponsored UN General Assembly Resolution 67/19 on the statehood of Palestine, with foreign minister Marty Natalegawa delivering a strong speech in defense of the Palestinians’ choices and policies regarding Israel. This seems to be a natural extension of a more confident Indonesia more willing to articulate its population’s solidarity with Middle Eastern causes.

As for Australia, Indonesia’s economic rise will shift the power dynamic and importance of the bilateral relationship. Indonesian GDP, on the basis of purchasing power parity, overtook Australia’s in 2004 and is today thirty percent bigger, and that gap will only expand as Indonesia outgrows Australia by a ratio of 2 to 1, with the IMF predicting 6 percent growth for Indonesia to the end of this decade compared with around 3 percent for Australia. This will not only enhance Indonesia’s economic primacy over Australia and entrench Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s maxim of “less Geneva and more Jakarta,” it will also shift the balance of power within the relationship. Australia’s dominance and transactional approach to the relationship will have to give way to a more balanced and strategic one, as Canberra comes to terms with the fact that a burgeoning Asian power of more than 250 million people cradles Australia’s northern borders.

Indonesia’s economic rise will therefore pave the way for significant geopolitical change. The country’s economic growth engine is of such vigor relative to the rest of the world—perhaps surpassed only by China amongst the world’s twenty largest economies—that a military and strategic dividend for Jakarta is inevitable. Projected timeframes and Indonesian goals will shift with movements in the domestic and regional landscape, but the fact remains Indonesia will have more clout in the future than it’s ever had before.


Sumber - The Diplomat

Gagasan ASEAN Berteraskan Rakyat

KUALA LUMPUR 8 April - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata, Malaysia akan melaksanakan gagasan 'ASEAN Berteraskan Rakyat' apabila menduduki jawatan Pengerusi ASEAN pada tahun depan bagi menjadikan rantau ini sebagai tempat tinggal yang selesa untuk semua lapisan penduduk.

Perdana Menteri berkata, gagasan itu akan menjadi instrumen lebih berkesan untuk merealisasikan impian penduduk di rantau ASEAN iaitu ke arah tadbir urus kerajaan yang lebih efektif dan responsif, standard kehidupan lebih baik, pengukuhan perlindungan persekitaran, pengupayaan golongan wanita dan menawarkan peluang lebih baik untuk semua masyarakat.

"Gagasan '‘ASEAN Berteraskan Rakyat'’ adalah visi Malaysia untuk melibatkan semua lapisan masyarakat dalam aktiviti-aktiviti ASEAN. Rantau ini tidak lagi akan menjadi tempat untuk golongan elit dan istimewa semata-mata.

"Sebuah komuniti ASEAN yang berteraskan rakyat akan benar-benar menjadikan ‘'Satu ASEAN untuk Semua’'," katanya dalam ucaptama semasa merasmikan Kolokium Nasional yang bertemakan Malaysia sebagai Pengerusi ASEAN 2015: Ke arah ASEAN Berteraskan Rakyat di sini hari ini.

Yang turut hadir, Yang Dipertua Dewan Negara, Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang; Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed; Timbalan Menteri Luar, Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin serta duta-duta besar dan pesuruhjaya tinggi luar negara ke Malaysia.

Najib berkata, Malaysia yang mempunyai nisbah kebergantungan perdagangan keempat terbesar di dunia memerlukan persekitaran rantau yang stabil untuk terus berkembang maju dan dalam hal ini, penyelesaian berhubung isu tuntutan bertindih di Laut China Selatan antara negara-negara ASEAN dan China adalah penting.

Di samping itu, katanya, masalah konflik dalaman negara-negara anggota terus menjadi kebimbangan yang perlu ditangani di rantau ini, di samping memenuhi harapan rakyat untuk tadbir urus kerajaan yang lebih baik dan demokratik.

"Atas alasan-alasan ini, Malaysia mengenalpasti '‘ASEAN Berteraskan Rakyat’' sebagai elemen asas dan tema menyeluruh Malaysia sebagai Pengerusi ASEAN pada 2015," ujarnya.

Perdana Menteri turut menggariskan empat cabaran yang perlu ditangani ASEAN pasca 2015 yang cabaran pertamanya ialah menangani jurang antara 'cara ASEAN' yang memberikan penekanan kepada hubungan peribadi dan perjanjian di belakang tabir dengan pendekatan berdasarkan peraturan bagi menjaga kepentingan pelabur dan negara-negara anggota.

Seterusnya, matlamat ASEAN perlu dinyatakan dalam terma yang lebih konkrit dan relevan yang memperlihatkan kepentingannya supaya pertubuhan itu mempunyai perbincangan yang fokus terhadap isu-isu kritikal seperti perubahan iklim serta masalah jerebu, kata Najib.

"Pencapaian dan kepentingan ASEAN juga mesti diketahui ramai. Kurangnya kesedaran mengenai ASEAN dalam kalangan rakyat merupakan halangan utama bagi memenuhi visi ‘ASEAN Berteraskan Rakyat’. Kajian oleh Sekretariat ASEAN pada 2012 menunjukkan hanya 34 peratus rakyat Malaysia pernah mendengar Komuniti ASEAN berbanding 96 peratus rakyat Laos," katanya.

Beliau berkata, cabaran keempat ialah perlunya langkah-langkah untuk mengukuhkan penyelarasan dan bersepadu bagi mewujudkan kecekapan serta mengelakkan pertindihan dalam kalangan negara-negara anggota.

Dalam pada itu, Najib berkata, beliau percaya institusi-institusi yang diterajui ASEAN seperti sidang Kemuncak Asia Timur boleh menerokai kaedah-kaedah baharu bagi menggalakkan kerjasama serantau dalam operasi mencari dan menyelamat (SAR) supaya negara-negara anggota lebih bersiap sedia apabila berlaku tragedi seperti kehilangan pesawat MH370 pada 8 Mac lalu.

Beliau turut menyatakan amat tersentuh dengan sokongan yang ditunjukkan negara-negara rakan antarabangsa Malaysia dan sekali lagi mengucapkan terima kasih kepada bantuan yang dihulurkan sepanjang pencarian pesawat itu.


Sumber - Utusan Malaysia Online

MH370 crisis shows lack of cooperation in Asean, says Singapore MP

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 — Asean nations need to close ranks and present a united front if they hope to counter to increasing pressure from China over territorial issues in the region, a Singaporean lawmaker said.

Lim Wee Kiak, who heads Singapore’s government parliamentary committee for defence and foreign affairs, said the disappearance of Flight MH370 was a “disturbing sign” of lack of cooperation among the 10 countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), a Singapore daily reported.

“There’s been speculation that countries are hiding their military capabilities but it’s sad, this is a humanitarian case. This is the time for you to use your assets to help someone else,” he said in an interview published by Straits Times over the weekend.

“With the row with China on the South China Sea, this episode may give China a reason to say they should manage the airspace over South China Sea. That may directly or indirectly imply the sea and islands as well,” Lim was quoted saying.

The Philippines and Indonesia are currently embroiled in a diplomatic spat with China over the Chinese claim on the South China Sea — dubbed the ‘Nine Dash Line’.

Said to have been drawn up by Kuomintang cartographers in 1946, the area under the Nine Dash Line puts nearly the entire South China Sea under Chinese control, leaving naval control of just a sliver of the sea hugging the coasts of the Philippines, East Malaysia and Vietnam to the Asean member nations.

China has also been long at odds with Asean nations over control of the Spratly islands. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam are all staking a claim over the area which is rich with oil and gas as well as marine biodiversity

Lim, a member of Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party, stressed that Asean member countries should have set aside their differences and worked together in solidarity in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines-owned Boeing 777-200.

“What I found most appalling is this: the plane was in the heart of Asean, flying towards Vietnam in the South China Sea. Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines all nearby. How could everybody miss the plane?

“If Asean can’t even have good management of airspace, a coordinated approach in sharing information, then it shows a lot to the outside world. It doesn’t present a good image,” he said.

Lim said that Asean leaders need to go beyond just talking about how well they responded to crises such as the March 8 disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines plane, and actually build on their coordination and cooperation.

“We don’t want Asean to be a community existing just for economics, for free trade. We want it to be a region where people freely collaborate with one another.

“What Singapore needs to do is continue to focus on the development of Asean. Being a small country, we will not have all the resources. If we are able to co-ordinate, get everybody to come on board together, 10 Asean countries can be a formidable force especially if we are dealing with natural disasters,” he said.

The Beijing-bound Boeing 777 carrying 239 passengers and crew vanished from civilian radars under one hour after departing from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Satellite data showed the plane turned back. It was tracked it to the Indian Ocean before signal was lost altogether.


Sumber - The Malay Mail Online

Hukuman Hudud di Kelantan: Penjelasan Ringkas Berkaitan Hudud

Oleh Dr. Zaharuddin Abd Rahman

Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri telah memberi lampu hijau, MT UMNO yang juga YDP YADIM sudah beri 'green light', Tengku Razaleigh sudah beri 'green light'. Semoga Kerajaan negeri Kelantan BERJAYA menguatkuasakan undang-undang hudud di negeri Kelantan. Semoga ahli Parlimen beragama Islam dapat sepakat bersetuju di parlimen apabila tiba masanya perlu sokongan mereka.

Biar Kelantan laksanakan, jika ada kelemahan dalam pelaksanaan di sana sini selepas ini, kita pakat baiki sama-sama. Insha Allah.

Beberapa nota ringkas saya (pandangan peribadi):

1. Hudud hanya akan terjatuh bagi individu yang benar-benar jahat dan sebab itu syaratnya sangat ketat hingga sebahagian pengkritik merasakan 'mustahil' dapat dicari saksi dan bukti sedemikian. Jika tidak cukup syarat maka hukuman ta'zir sahaja yang akan dijatuhkan. Tahap berat hukuman tertakluk kepada peruntukan undang-undang ta'zir dan mengikut kebijaksanaan hakim.

2. Jangan menyangka hukuman hudud sangat mudah dijatuhkan, syarat-syarat perlu diteliti sebelum memberi komentar. Dalam kebanyakan kes, hanya ta'zir akan dijatuhkan kerana tidak cukup bukti untuk hudud dijatuhkan. Contohnya mencuri, tidak akan dipotong tangan kecuali benar-benar yakin dan terbukti pencuri tidak miskin kelaparan, dipaksa, diugut dan lain-lain. Jika terbukti, hudud tidak dijatuhkan.

3. Ulama khilaf sama ada non muslim terlibat, sebahagian menyatakan non-muslim TIDAK TERLIBAT kecuali jika ada berkaitan dengan Muslim. Dalam kes biasa, Non-Muslim boleh menuntut dihukum dengan hukuman sivil biasa.

4. Jika terdapat non-muslim yang memilih untuk dibicara dengan hukuman hudud, ia diharuskan untuk menghukumnya dengan hukum hudud.

5. Jika kedua-duanya terlibat jenayah dan dibimbangi tidak adil kerana muslim kena hudud dan non muslim tidak kena, maka hakim boleh membuat keputusan mengadili secara ta'zir bagi kedua-duanya agar seragam hukumannya, khususnya apabila tidak cukup bukti untuk hudud.

6. Jika non-muslimah berzina dengan muslim, atau sebaliknya, terdapat khilaf ulama mazhab. Sebahagian ulama mengatakan keduanya dihukum hudud sebagai hukuman dari keputusan mahkamah negara dan bukan berasaskan keagamaan. Sebahagian lagi menyatakan yang Islam sahaja dikenakan hudud, yang seorang lagi dihukum setimpal melalui ta'zir.

7. Berkenaan kuasa mahkamah syariah tidak memperuntukan hukuman kepada non-muslim, Peruntukan undang-undang terbabit boleh dipinda dengan kuasa 2/3 ahli parlimen. Parlimen perlu meluluskannya. Di sini diperlukan kesatuan ahli parlimen islam dari PAS, UMNO, PKR & Bebas.

8. Berkenaan wanita tidak boleh menjadi saksi, terdapat pergecualian jika ia di tempat yang tiada lelaki pada kebiasaannya. Selain itu, sebahagian ulama membenarkan wanita yang mencukupi syarat untuk menjadi saksi maka budi bicara hakim adalah terpakai.

9. Jika Non-Muslim merogol muslimah, menurut mazhab maliki, apabila cukup bukti, non-muslim akan dijatuhkan hukuman hudud ke tahap maksimum iaitu hukuman mati kerana pencerobohan secara kekerasan dan jenayah. Muslim juga akan dijatuhi hukuman yang sama.

10. Muslimah yang terbukti dirogol dengan bukti-bukti moden yang meyakinkan walau bukan 4 orang lelaki adil, TIDAK dikenakan hukuman QAZAF sewaktu dia mendakwa seseorang lelaki. namun, keterangan mesti dilakukan secara tertutup agar dakwaan dihalusi dan tidak dihebahkan media sebelum keputusan jitu diperolehi. hak lelaki yang dituduh akan dijaga sebaiknya juga selagi tidak terbukti bersalah.

11. Non Muslim yang minum arak TIDAK dikenakan hukuman hudud. Hanya untuk Muslim. Namun itu juga terdapat beberapa ijtihad yang berbeza, sebahagian menegaskannya sebagai hudud dan sebahagian sebagai ta'zir.

Ini hanya sebahagian nota ringkas. Kesimpulannya, hukuman hudud memerlukan penjelasan dan pengajaran besar-besaran di negeri yang mana hukuman ingin dijalankan agar hampir tiada syubhah lagi rakyat di sana TIDAK MENGETAHUI jenis kesalahan dan hukuman.

Didoakan rakyat Kelantan & Brunei dan semua institusi kehakimannya sudah bersedia dengan ilmu dan kebijaksanaan. Kerana tanpa persediaan yang jitu dan mantap lagi adil, pelaksanaan hukuman ini bakal menjadi fitnah besar kepada Islam seluruhnya.

Dr. Zaharuddin Abd Rahman
8 April 2014


Sumber - Zaharuddin.net

OPINION: Vocational training the key to curb joblessness

Dear Editor,

IT IS sad to learn that there were 14,461 locals who were unemployed in the Sultanate according to unemployment data in January 2014 (The Brunei Times, March 27, 2014).

I believe the Sultanate needs to modernise vocational training institutions by making them attractive to youth not only in terms of skills courses being offered but also financial help provided through interest-free loan so that students can start their own business once they completed their studies successfully.

Students need to be taught that the age of seeking jobs from the government is over; it is the age of creating jobs that require creating the conducive environment for reading and learning. Here, the government needs to build modernise public library so that youth can spend valuable time there rather than wasting their time in the shopping malls.

After six year of experience working as senior lecturer at Faculty of Business, Economics and Policy Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (2006-2012), I believe that Islamic microfinance enterprise is also the answer for youth unemployment problem that was well documented by two studies conducted by author with the support of his Master students in Islamic Banking and Finance.

The first study was on “An Islamic Microfinance Enterprise, The Financial Vehicle That Will Change The Face of the Islamic World: The Power of Salam Financing”, and the second study was on: “Islamic Microfinance untapped potential”.

These two studies demonstrated without any doubt that Islamic microfinance enterprise has huge potential for the country and the government need to take the matter seriously.

To enable youth to start their businesses, seed capital is vital base on Islamic microfinance principles. Generally speaking, microfinance is a financing tool that provides very small loans to the working poor who are traditionally considered non-bankable, mainly because they lack the guarantees that can protect a financial institution against a loss.

Islamic microfinance provides an innovative interest-free alternative to conventional microfinance. Based on the profit sharing principles of equity based finance, Islamic microfinance offers greater resilience than conventional microfinance.

If a business fails, nothing is paid; if a business succeeds, profits are shared. Risks and rewards are always proportionate to equity shares.

While any return on capital in the form of interest is completely prohibited in Islam, there is no objection to getting a return on capital if the provider of capital enters into a partnership with a worker or entrepreneur and is prepared to share in the risks of the business.

Though still a long way from the financial mainstream, many governments now see Islamic microfinance as an effective way to build up local enterprise and reduce unemployment.

In light of the above, microfinance is seen as a powerful tool for reaching out to the unemployed youth, raising living standards, creating jobs, boosting demand for other goods and services, contributing to economic growth and alleviating poverty.

The main purpose of this noble task is to enable youth to succeed and to be financially independent to live according to what Allah wants us to be (as human beings) through decent life that is called “Hayat Taeebah”, through which there is no fear from tomorrow.

If it is well carried out and managed by efficient and experienced professionals, it will undoubtedly lead to make major changes about the way we think about them.

Finally, the government today is looking for graduates who are problem solvers with strong personality and fear of Allah SWT to be an asset to the nation rather than burden on them.

Dr Saad Al-Harran,
Business Consultant, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Email: drsaadalharran@yahoo.com


Sumber - The Brunei Times