ASEAN’s Fake Drugs

Published on May 23, 2012 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — An international study has confirmed fears that fake anti-malarial drugs have put at risk global efforts to counter the scourge, with weaker and unchecked medicines potentially fanning the disease by allowing it to build immunity to medical treatment. Southeast Asia figured prominently in the study, which should come as no surprise, given most governments in the region have paid only lip service to warnings that the lax enforcement of laws had allowed the market for cheap homemade drugs to thrive, not unlike copies of DVDs, brand name handbags or other drugs like Viagra. Read more in The Diplomat. .

Moken Gypsies at Sea

Published on May 22, 2012 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — They live in stilted shacks on a mudflat above piles of oyster shells, broken glass and rubbish, their nomadic days on the seas of south-east Asia gone forever. THEY live in stilted shacks built on a mud flat above piles of oyster shells, broken glass and rubbish, their nomadic days on the seas of South-east Asia gone forever. Read more in The Age. .

China’s Un-Neighborly Ban

Published on May 19, 2012 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — China has imposed its annual ban on commercial fishing in the South China Sea, but its efforts to preserve and replenish fish stocks have been met with skepticism. Hanoi is particularly irritated, while Manila is biting its tongue, believing the move is simply another form of Chinese bullying. Vietnam says the ban, from May 16 to August 1, is “invalid”. The Philippines responded with its own ban, allowing a face saving reduction in tensions amid the month-long stand-off with China over Scarborough Shoal. Neither believe China is genuinely acting in the best interests of food security, and they suspect its ulterior motive is simply to assert itself over the Spratly and Paracel islands, which has increasingly....

Singapore’s Facebook Windfall

Published on May 18, 2012 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — Singapore’s next billionaire has upset the strategic heart of capitalism.Eduardo Saverin, who owns a four percent stake in Facebook, is renouncing his U.S. citizenship, lodged the required paperwork to make Singapore his new home and is no doubt scouting the island-state for the right bankers. All this comes as Facebook readies itself for a an IPO that will potentially value it at about $100 billion, which will add several more billion dollars to Saverin’s personal coffers and expose him to an unwanted U.S. tax bill from the income earned on future stock sales. Singapore, his new home, likes rich people, and there’s no capital gains tax there. Read more in The Diplomat. .

Bush and Cheney on Trial

Published on May 15, 2012 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — For decades, critics have politely pointed to Malaysia as a country of parallel universes. Laws separate race and religion, and people who live and work side by side are forced to coexist within different worlds as defined by successive UMNO coalitions and at times enforced by the courts, civilian and Islamic. Prime Minister Najib Razak has attempted to change this. He has announced a series of political and economic reforms that he and the reformers in his United Malays National Organization (UMNO) hope will make Malaysia a fairer and more competitive place. The initiatives, however, haven’t stopped protestors like the Bersih movement from campaigning for free and fair elections. They also fear Malaysia won’t change, and....