Floods hit northern Thailand, Laos ramps up storm relief efforts

A major fire that broke out on the morning of December 15 devastated Kramat Jati, Jakarta's largest wholesale food market, destroying at least 350 kiosks.

Criminal networks are believed to be using routes from Palawan to Sabah, then through Malaysia, with final destinations in Myawaddy (Myanmar) or Phnom Penh (Cambodia).

The proportion of respondents who said they could not identify a suitable political party also rose to 32.36%, surpassing all parties for the first time.

Delivering a speech at the Clean Energy Transition Asia (CETA) Summit 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Fadillah, who is also the energy transition and water transformation minister, said that the Southeast Asian region now drives more than half of the global energy demand.

As disaster-related losses continue to rise, authorities in the affected provinces have decided to extend the state of emergency to ensure resources and legal mechanisms for response efforts. West Sumatra extended it to December 22, North Sumatra to December 24, and Aceh to December 25.

Malaysia’s direction is to focus on building a modern grid, a digital economy powered by trustworthy AI, and climate finance systems that deliver real-world decarbonisation.

The Special AMM on the situation in Cambodia and Thailand will be chaired by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan in Malaysia’s capacity as the current ASEAN Chair.

In a statement released on his Facebook post, Hun Sen explained that his earlier message, advising the Royal Government to consider suspending cross-border travel, referred specifically to land routes, as tensions are escalating along the entire land border, with some spillover into maritime areas.

A series of special operations have been launched, and over 70,000 foreign nationals involved in these crimes were repatriated to 54 countries over more than two years.

Myanmar authorities have handed over three drug-related fugitives wanted by Thailand and one Thai national who was residing illegally in Myanmar to Thai authorities, according to the Myanmar Police Force.

More than 59,000 scam-linked accounts were taken down after the Anti-Online Scam Centre joined Meta and five international partners in a coordinated crackdown on cross-border fraud.

ASEAN reiterated its call for the full implementation of an expanded and extended ceasefire throughout Myanmar, as reaffirmed by the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on an Extended and Expanded Ceasefire in Myanmar issued on May 26 this year.

The floods and landslides that struck three provinces on Indonesia's Sumatra Island have caused damage to about 1,200 public facilities, as well as 219 health facilities, 581 educational establishments, 434 places for worship, 290 office buildings and 145 bridges.

Malaysia remains ready to support efforts to de-escalate the situation, protect civilians, and help restore regional stability, in line with ASEAN's spirit of good neighbourliness.

To prevent similar smuggling activities, Indonesia’s Directorate General of Customs and Excise is conducting strict surveillance along the coast. The areas under surveillance include Belawan, Tanjung Balai Asahan, Dumai, Jambi, and the Riau Islands.

Prime Minister of Timor-Leste Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão emphasised that becoming a member of ASEAN is “a dream comes true" for the people of Timor Leste, affirming that joining ASEAN marked a significant turning point, helping Timor Leste move towards the future and integrate into the broader regional community.

For 2026, Thailand expects 34.9 million foreign visitors, a 4% increase, earning 1.63 trillion THB in revenue, up 8% year-on-year. Total tourism revenue, including domestic travel, is forecast at 2.79 trillion THB (88 billion USD).

The Party, State, Government, National Assembly and people of Laos gathered in a rally in Vientiane on December 12 to mark the 105th birth anniversary of President Kaysone Phomvihane (December 13).

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on December 12 signed a decree dissolving the House of Representatives, paving the way for a new general election.

As of October, a total of 3,634 illegal dumping sites in Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perlis, Kedah, and areas under Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya had been shut down - the highest number recorded since the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) took effect.