Malaysia beefs up security at Thai border

Hanoi (VNA) - Malaysian police have increased patrols and stepped up security at the northern border of its Kelantan state as precautions against an influx of Thai immigrants following political unrest in the country, a Malaysian police chief said.

“We are monitoring the situation closely and so far there is no indication of an influx of Thai immigrants,” State Deputy Police Chief Amir Hamzah Ibrahim told the Malaysian news agency (Bernama).

Amir was quoted as saying that stringent checks were being carried out at the border areas to prevent undesirable people, who could pose a threat to national security, from entering the country.

Illegal entries and smuggling activities are rampant at the porous Thai-Malaysia border at the north of Malaysia, Bangkok Post said.

It added that Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej invoked on September 2 a state of emergency in Bangkok as part of efforts to quash intensifying street protests against his administration.-

Thailand, Laos sign land transport agreement

Hanoi (VNA) - Thailand and Laos have signed an agreement, designed to facilitate land transportation, cut transportation costs and boost tourism between the two countries.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) underscoring the agreement was inked on September 5 by Thai acting Director-General of the Land Transport Department Chairat Sa-nguansue and Director-General of the Lao Department of Public Works and Transport Viengsavath Siphandone.

Bangkok Post quoted Thai acting Director-General Chairat as saying that the MoU will help boost tourism on a new route between Luang Prabang in Northern Laos with Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand, in which private bus operators of the two countries will be encouraged to invest and operate.

In future, buses traveling between Laos and Nakhon Ratchasima, considered Thailand’s gateway to the northeast, and the eastern seaboard’s Pattaya resort, will also be open, he added.

At present, 452 companies with some 10,700 trucks operate daily between the two countries, up sharply from only a few hundred operating only a year ago, the newspaper said.

Previously, the two countries had an agreement which allows vehicles to cross the border by bearing a special license plate, according to Thailand’s news agency (TNA).-

Indonesia to discuss ASEAN charter next week

Jakarta (VNA) - The Indonesian government and House of Representatives (DPR)’s Commission-I overseeing foreign, defence and information affairs, will discuss the ratification of the ASEAN Charter next week, local media reported.

“It (discussion) was scheduled on September 8, but we still maintain contacts by phone, so there is no fixed date yet,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

The ASEAN charter discussion will be carried out behind closed doors, Spokesman Faizasyah said.

Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam have already ratified the document which was signed by heads of the ten members of ASEAN during the grouping’s summit in Singapore in 2007.

Three other ASEAN states – Indonesia, the Philippine and Thailand, have yet to ratify the ASEAN charter, which contains 13 chapters and 55 articles.-

Anti-tank mine kills at least five in Cambodia

Hanoi (VNA) – At least five Cambodians were killed and three others injured when their truck hit an anti-tank mine in a former Khmer Rouge stronghold, according to news reports.

The truck, carrying rice to a mill, likely ran over the buried mine on September 5 in the northwestern province Anlong Veng, the police said. The mine was loosened by heavy rain in recent days, to provincial police chief Menn Ly was quoted as saying.

According to Cambodia’s Mine Action Centre, about 450 people are killed each year in  the country by mines, and 4,000 square km are still to be de-mined.-

Cambodian trade volume tops 5.6 bln USD in first half

Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodian trade volume topped over 5.6 billion USD in the first semester of 2008, according to a recent report released by the National Bank of Cambodia.

Cambodia’s export turnover reached over 2.4 billion USD in the first half of 2008, up 448.4 million USD compared with the same period last year, the report said.

Meanwhile, the country spent over 3.2 billion USD for imports, an increase of more than 583.9 million USD as compared with the same period of 2007, it said.

Cambodia’s main exports are garment and textile, fish, rice, and furniture. The country imports gasoline, household goods, electronics, and construction materials. –

Pro-Thai gov’t supporters to demonstrate in 50 provinces

Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand is heading toward further rifts with pro-government crowds planning to rally in 50 provinces to demand an end to the anti-government protesters’ siege of the Government House, local media reported.

The pro-government rallies were scheduled to take place at provincial halls, the “Nation” newspaper said on September 8.

The pro-government crowds might even lay siege to religious sanctuaries run by Santi Asoke, who is seen as closely linked to the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leader Chamlong Srimuang, in Ubon Ratchathani and other provinces.

According to the Thai paper, some 2,000 supporters will be mobilised to greet PM Samak Sundaravej and his Cabinet on September 8 at the airport and to prevent the PAD’s protesters from getting close to the PM. –

Malaysia’s AirAsia offers extra flights to Indonesia

Hanoi (VNA) - Malaysia’s low-cost carrier AirAsia on September 8 announced additional flights to Indonesia to meet the demand for services during Hari Raya (end of Ramadan).

There will be additional flights from Kuala Lumpur to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on September 25 and 26 and from Kuala Lumpur to Medan, Indonesia from September 27 until October 5, foreign news reported, citing AirAsia’s statement.

It will also offer additional flights from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan and Tawau in Malaysian eastern Sabah state, and from Iota Kinabalu, capital of Sabah, to northern Penang state.-

ASEAN urged to realise goal to build regional community

Bangkok (VNA) – ASEAN should exert efforts in realising the goal of building a people-centred ASEAN Community on security, economy and culture, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said.

Addressing the ASEAN Lecture 2008 in Bangkok on September 8, the ASEAN chief noted that the grouping is receiving due attention by the international community. He called on ASEAN to beef up regional cooperation to bring practical effectiveness to the people in Southeast Asia .

In his speech, Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej affirmed his country in its capacity as the rotary presidency of ASEAN would spare no effort to accelerate the implementation of ASEAN vision in the new era.

The function drew the participation of ambassadors from ASEAN member countries in Thailand.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippine, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-

H5N1 vaccine effectively prevents bird flu

Hanoi (VNA) – The current H5N1 vaccine has been good in preventing avian influenza virus, including the newly-found clade (clade 7) of H5N1, according to the Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

During a seminar on bird flu for the media held in Hanoi on September 4, Veterinary Department Director Hoang Van Nam announced that the ministry has asked the Government to allow the import of additional 500 million doses of H5N1 vaccine this year.

Nam reaffirmed fact vaccination is still effective measure in preventing the epidemic.

Meanwhile, efforts to speed up the production of H5N1 vaccine for poultry is going on after it was successfully made at laboratory, he added.

The test of locally-made influenza A/H5N1 vaccine on humans has proved successful. The Military Medical Institute 103 in August reported that the first phase of the test of H5N1 influenza vaccine on humans was completed.

Three months after receiving the second shot of the Fluvax vaccine, made by the Vaccine and Bio-technology Products Company No. 1 (VABIOTECH), 30 volunteers showed no serious side effects, the Institute reported.

Fluvax vaccine, made of monkey kidney cells, is expected to be put into mass production in late 2009 at a cost of around 30,000 VND per dose.

The Nha Trang Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) also developed vaccine for the same purpose and is waiting for Ministry of Health’s permission to test it on humans.

The locally-made vaccine may not be cheaper than the imports, Nam said, but if successful, the country would be active in the supply of vaccine for epidemic control.

According to the Veterinary Department, by September 4, only southern Ben Tre province was still affected by bird flu. After 21days with no new bird flu cases reported, a locality will be reported free from the disease. However, Vietnam has been considered as a country with high-risk of bird flu outbreak.-

Schneider Electric transfers technology to local company

Hanoi (VNA) – Schneider Electric Vietnam and Viet A Group (Vapower) on September 5 signed a technology transfer contract that will allow Vapower to install Blokset Low Voltage switchboards in Vietnam by mid-2009.

Schneider Electric Vietnam said the contract will also enable Vapower to access the high-end electrical distribution market and shall contribute to both increasing the quality of infrastructures in Vietnam and further developing energy efficiency among targeted industries.

Since it was launched by French-based Schneider Electric in 1998, more than 100,000 Blokset cubicles in the world, mainly for industries, infrastructures and construction.

Schneider Electric has also provided Blokset to big projects in Vietnam such as Tan Son Nhat International Terminal, Nhon Trach Power Plant and Zamil Steel.

Established in 1995, Vapower specialises in the fields of trading, electrical devices manufacturing, construction, consulting and engineering.-