Stefano Vecchia

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, founder of the Future Forward Party in 2018, raised doubts about a vaccine manufactured in Thailand by a company owned by the royal household. He faces up to 15 years in prison. Activists slam the increasing use of this charge to silence criticism of the military and the monarchy.

After a failed last attempt to get parliamentary support, PM Yassin handed his mandate back to king who had sought the reopening of parliament. The decision by UMNO, which ruled the country for 60 years, was a decisive factor, as was the PM’s poor handing of the pandemic.

A civil court blocked a government decree meant to silence the opposition, but did not ban the use of rubber bullets by law enforcement against protesters. Many Thais are uneasy about the economic situation. According to experts, there will be one million more unemployed by the end of the year.

The prime minister of the city-state released a video message on Independence Day. The pandemic has widened the fault lines in society. Plans are being drawn up to help migrant workers and low-income groups.

Critics slam a recent decree used to control public opinion as well as the government’s disastrous handling of the pandemic. About 200,000 people are expected to benefit from a royal pardon this year, party due to numerous coronavirus outbreaks in prisons.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin tried to use special powers to deal with the pandemic until September. The sovereign’s decision follows a political crisis in the ruling coalition government caused by UMNO’s threat to withdraw and fears among civil society groups that the government might crack down on dissent.

The city-state has based its economy on attracting foreign capital through an advantageous fiscal regime. The G20’s global 15 per cent tax rate could have serious repercussions, driving some Southeast Asian countries closer to China.

As more coronavirus cases are reported, the images of three bodies in a central part of the Thai capital have gone viral on social media. The Thai government inks a deal with Pfizer for 20 million doses of its vaccine, but delivery is expected only in the last quarter of 2021.

Police use water cannons and tear gas against young protesters defying the ban on gatherings. The country reported 12,000 coronavirus cases, a new record. “Spending on the monarchy and the military must be cut; effective vaccines must be bought,” not Sinovac, one protester said.

The Thai government wants to pass a law on non-profit organisations by the end of the year. To avoid “terrorist initiatives”, the authorities want NGOs to disclose foreign funding to the Ministry of the Interior. Civil society groups see the bill as another step to stifle criticism and freedom of association.

UMNO has announced its decision to withdraw from the coalition government led by Muhyiddin Yassin. The party, which lost popular support in recent years, dominated Malaysian politics since 1957. Parliament will meet on 26 July to discuss the COVID-19 emergency but also to find a way out of the political impasse.

The Home Affairs minister mentioned the figure in his response to a parliamentary question. Race-related incidents are cause of concern as the country’s economic crisis raises tensions with ethnic minorities in one of the most overcrowded places in the world.