15/09/2025

MONDAY | SEPT 15, 2025

7

Prabowo instals loyalists

China military warns against provocations BEIJING: China’s military said yesterday it had conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea and warned the Philippines against any provocations. A spokesperson for the Chinese military Southern Theatre Command said the Philippines must immediately stop provoking incidents and escalating tensions in the South China Sea. “We sternly warn the Philippine side to immediately stop provoking incidents and escalating tensions in the South China Sea, as well as bringing in external forces for backing such efforts that are destined to be futile,” the spokesperson said. “Any attempt to stir up trouble or disrupt the situation will not succeed.” The Philippine maritime council and armed forces did not immediately respond to questions outside office hours, while the Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The US Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement that Japan, the Philippines and the United States conducted joint maritime exercises in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone from Thursday to Saturday to strengthen regional cooperation and support a free and open Indo-Pacific region. “The US, along with our allies and partners, upholds the right to freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect to maritime rights,” it said. Calls to Japan’s Foreign Ministry yesterday went unanswered outside of business hours, and a person answering a call at the Defence Ministry said no one could respond to a query on the issue over the weekend. China claims almost all the South China Sea despite overlapping claims by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. – Reuters North Korea condemns ‘reckless’ military drills SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister condemned upcoming joint military drills by South Korea, the United States and Japan as a “reckless show of strength” that would bring “bad results”. The allies are set to hold joint military drills from today to Friday off Jeju Island, combining naval, air and missile defence exercises to better prepare against threats from the nuclear-armed North. Seoul and Washington, which stations around 28,500 troops in South Korea, will also stage a tabletop military exercise, aimed at integrating their military assets. Kim Yo Jong slammed the drills as a “dangerous idea”, in a statement carried by state news outlet KCNA. “The reckless show of strength made by them (the allies) in real action in the vicinity of the DPRK, which is the wrong place, will inevitably bring bad results,” she said, using the acronym for North Korea. Pyongyang has long baulked at such joint military drills involving the allies, calling them rehearsals for an invasion. The North perceives the trilateral drills as “scenarios for limited or full-scale nuclear strikes and attempts to neutralise its launch platforms”, said Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification. “The North is likely using the allied exercises as a pretext to push ahead with nuclear modernisation and conventional upgrades,” he said. Kim Jo Yong’s statement follows a visit by her brother to weapons research facilities this week, where he said Pyongyang “would put forward the policy of simultaneously pushing forward the building of nuclear forces and conventional armed forces”. – AFP

Sri Mulyani served for eight years under Jokowi, while new finance minister Purbaya is close to key government economic adviser Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, an ex-military colleague of Prabowo. State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said on Monday the replacements were the right people for the job. To win back public trust, experts say Prabowo needs to address an expanding wealth gap and weakening democracy in a nation long known for dynastic politics. “What we need is the determination from the president, a political will, and real progress,” said Airlangga. But in installing loyalists to oversee budget and security, Prabowo appears to be trying to uphold his flagship programmes, rather than change course. “Putting trust in people who are well-known becomes key to securing (his) policies,” said Wasisto Raharjo Jati, political analyst at the National Research and Innovation Agency, who added that those hired were from Prabowo’s “closest circles”. “Prabowo will be more comfortable moving forward if his flagship programmes are handled by trusted figures.” – AFP

misdirected budget efficiency,” said Rani Septyarini, a researcher at the Centre of Economic and Law Studies. Prabowo has focused on expensive social mega-projects funded by widespread budget cuts that already roused protests in February. His flagship policies include a free meal programme and a new sovereign wealth fund. But his new finance chief Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said on Wednesday he would inject an unprecedented US$12 billion (RM50.5 billion) into the economy to spur growth and calm simmering public anger. “Prabowo sees this problem as something that needs to be anticipated seriously,” said Airlangga Pribadi Kusman, political analyst at Airlangga University. “He wants to prevent further social damage.” The protests turned increasingly angry against the political elite. “This shows that the public has a real, legitimate problem with this administration,” said Airlangga. Prabowo has used the reshuffle to replace officials linked to popular predecessor Joko Widodo with his own people.

JAKARTA: President Prabowo Subianto is scrambling to restore public trust while seizing a chance to instal loyalists after riots last month, experts say. Demonstrations that were sparked by low wages, unemployment and anger over lawmakers’ lavish perks grew after footage spread of a paramilitary police vehicle running over a delivery motorcycle driver. The ensuing riots, which rights groups say left at least 10 dead and hundreds detained, were the biggest of Prabowo’s presidency and the ex-general is calling on the public to restore their confidence in his government. He vowed tough action on the officers who ran over 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan, backtracked on lawmaker housing allowances, and last week removed five ministers, including respected finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. “We can read this as damage control after the wave of public anger, especially at the o President upholds flagship social programmes

Nepal premier vows to end corruption KATHMANDU: Nepal’s interim leader vowed yesterday to “end corruption” as she began work as prime minister, after demonstrations ousted her predecessor. increasing an earlier toll of 51. It was the worst unrest since the end of a decade-long civil war and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008. Nepalis taking part in a candlelight vigil in Kathmandu on Saturday in memory of those who died during the protests. – REUTERSPIC

“We will not stay here more than six months in any situation, we will complete our responsibilities and pledge to hand (it) over to the next parliament and ministers,” she said in a speech to the nation. “This is not possible without your support.” Workers put up a new signboard for the prime minister’s undamaged office in a building within the complex that was earlier torched. Paudel, who swore Karki into office, said on Saturday that “a peaceful solution has been found through a difficult process”. Paudel called it a “very difficult, complicated, and grave situation” in the Himalayan nation of 30 million people. “I sincerely appeal to everyone to make the most of this opportunity in making the election on March 5 a success,” he said. – AFP

The appointment of Karki, known for her independence, came after intense negotiations by army chief Gen Ashok Raj Sigdel and President Ram Chandra Paudel, including with representatives of protesters. Thousands of young activists had used the Discord app to name Karki as their choice of next leader. “The situation that I have come in, I have not wished to come here. My name was brought from the streets,” she said. Parliament was dissolved and elections set for March 5 next year shortly after she was appointed.

“What this group is demanding is end of corruption, good governance and economic equality. You and I have to be determined to fulfil that,” said Sushila Karki, in her first public comments since taking office on Friday. The 73-year-old former chief justice held a minute’s silence yesterday for those killed in the unrest, before meetings began in the key government complex of Singha Durbar, where several buildings were set on fire during mass protests on Tuesday. At least 72 people were killed in two days of protests, and 191 injured, the government’s chief secretary Eaknarayan Aryal said yesterday,