WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Aug 6) unveiled sweeping bans on US transactions with China’s ByteDance, owner of video-sharing app TikTok, and Tencent, operator of messenger app WeChat, in a major escalation of tensions with Beijing.
The orders come as the Trump administration said this week that it was stepping up efforts to purge “untrusted” Chinese apps from US digital networks and called the Chinese-owned short-video app TikTok and messenger app WeChat “significant threats”.
TikTok, the hugely popular video-sharing app, has come under fire from US lawmakers and the administration over national security concerning data collection, amid intensified tension between Washington and Beijing.
The TikTok app may be used for disinformation campaigns that benefit the Chinese Communist Party, and the US “must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security”, Mr Trump said in one order.
In the other, Mr Trump said WeChat “automatically captures vast swaths of information from its users. This data collection threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans’ personal and proprietary information”.
The order would effectively ban WeChat in the US in 45 days by barring “to the extent permitted under applicable law, any transaction that is related to WeChat by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with Tencent Holdings Ltd” .
Mr Trump issued these orders under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a law that grants the administration sweeping power to bar US firms or citizens from trading or conducting financial transactions with sanctioned parties.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expanded efforts on a program dubbed “Clean Network” to prevent various Chinese apps as well as Chinese telecoms firms from accessing sensitive information on US citizens and businesses.
James Lewis, a technology expert with Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the orders appeared coordinated with Pompeo’s announcement.
“This is the rupture in the digital world between the U.S. and China,” he said. “Absolutely, China will retaliate.”
“On TikTok, Trump is clearly putting pressure on Bytedance to close the deal,” Lewis said.
TikTok has 100 million users in the United States. While WeChat is not popular in the country, the app, which has over 1 billion users, is ubiquitous in China. It is also widely used by expat Chinese as a main platform for communications with family and friends as well as a medium for various other services such as games and e-commerce.
WeChat and TikTok were among 59 mostly Chinese apps outlawed in India in June for threatening the country’s “sovereignty and integrity.”
Operator Tencent is China’s second most-valuable company after Alibaba at US$686 billion. It is also China’s biggest video game company and earlier this summer opened California-based studio.
Tencent's shares fell nearly 10 per cent in Hong Kong after Trump’s order. The yuan, which is sensitive to Sino-U.S. relations, lost 0.4 per cent.
Tencent and ByteDance declined to comment.
The latest move comes soon after the US ordered China to vacate its consulate in Houston, Texas, followed by China’s order requiring the US to vacate its consulate in the south-western city of Chengdu.
US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will identify transactions covered by the prohibition after the order takes effect in mid-September.
The order leaves key unanswered questions about the restrictions.
SINGAPORE: Singapore and Malaysia have finalised arrangements for cross-border travel via the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA), and both schemes will be open for applications next Monday (Aug 10).
The PCA will allow Singapore and Malaysia citizens or Permanent Residents (PRs) who hold long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes in the other country to enter that country for work.
The other cross-border travel scheme - the RGL - is for Malaysia and Singapore residents keen to do shorter-term travel of up to 14 days, for essential business and official purposes.
For those who need to travel for work purposes, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions based on information released by the authorities so far.
Q: How can Malaysian citizens/ Permanent Residents holding a Singapore work permit apply for PCA and when can they return home?
A: Under the PCA, Malaysia Citizens and PRs with valid Singapore work passes should remain in Singapore for at least 90 days before returning to Malaysia for home leave. Those eligible to apply will need to have the following passes – Employment Pass, EntrePass, Personalised Employment Pass, S Pass and Work Permit. The pass should be valid for at least 15 days from the date of entry into Singapore.
The entry and exit point between Singapore and Malaysia must be via the land crossings - Woodlands Checkpoint or Tuas Checkpoint.
When they enter Singapore, travellers under this scheme are required to serve a Stay-Home Notice (SHN) of at least 7 days and undertake a COVID-19 swab test. The employee must remain in the declared SHN accommodation for at least 7 days from the date of entry into Singapore and test negative for COVID-19, whichever is later. Once the employee has served the SHN and tests negative for COVID-19, the employee can commence work.
Authorities conducting temperature screening at Tuas checkpoint on Jan 24, 2020. (Photo: TODAY/Najeer Yusof)
Singapore-based companies that wish to apply for the PCA for their employees may submit their applications from Aug 10 at 12pm onwards, through CorpPass.
Employers may choose a date of entry within a 60-day window of their application. All applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Employers must submit their applications at least 7 days before their employees enter Singapore.
Q: For Malaysia citizens/PRs who have entered Singapore via PCA, what are some of the health protocols involved?
A: After clearing immigration, the employees will have to take their personal transport. These include motorbikes, private buses that only ferry Malaysian passengers who are serving SHN, or taxis and private hire cars directly from the immigration checkpoint to the declared SHN accommodation. They should not stop at any other destination along the journey.
If they are being driven, the employees should indicate clearly to the driver that they are serving an SHN. The employee should not take public transport or flag down a taxi while serving the SHN.
A healthcare worker dressed in personal protective equipment collects a nasal swab sample for COVID-19 in Singapore on Apr 27, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Roslan Rahman)
Those under SHN will only be permitted to leave their accommodation to head to the designated testing facility for the COVID-19 swab test on the assigned date and appointment time of swabbing, with similar transportation restrictions.
The employee or the employer will bear the costs of the employee’s accommodation for the SHN and post-arrival COVID-19 swab test in Singapore, subject to prevailing Ministry of Manpower requirements.
Q: For Singapore citizens/PRs holding a Malaysia work permit, how different is the procedure to obtain PCA?
A: The minimum duration of stay as well as the entry and exit points are the same.
Those eligible to apply for a PCA must hold a long term visa for business or work purposes in Malaysia.
Employers can apply for PCA for their employees to enter Malaysia via the MyTravelPass online application at least 10 working days before the date of travel. Employers also need to provide a letter of appointment and copy of passport during the application.
Meanwhile, as part of health protocols outlined by Malaysia’s Immigration Department, employees will be subject to a modified Home Surveillance Order (HSO) for 7 days.
They must also undertake a COVID-19 test via antibody test kits at the end of HSO and will be released from HSO if tested negative. Travellers must also subscribe to the MySejahtera application, developed by the Malaysia government to manage the COVID-19 outbreak and conduct contact tracing across the country.
These travellers may also apply for a waiver for their SHN during the duration of their short-term home leave in Singapore, after spending at least 90 days working in Malaysia.
According to Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the intent of the Malaysia-issued PCA passes is to allow Singapore Citizens and PRs to re-enter Malaysia after their home leave, to continue with their business or work. In lieu of SHN, the returnee will undergo a COVID-19 swab test upon arrival at Woodlands Checkpoint or Tuas Checkpoint in Singapore, at their own cost.
Q: How can a Singapore resident apply for RGL to visit Malaysia?
A: All nationalities who are legal residents in Singapore and need to enter Malaysia for essential business travel and official purposes can apply for RGL. This will be approved on a single-entry basis.
Unlike the PCA where employees may only travel via the land crossings, individuals entering the other country via RGL may also travel via air. Hence, Singapore residents may also fly to Malaysia via direct flights and enter through Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), KLIA2 and Penang International Airport.
The maximum period of stay is 14 days. Travellers are required to submit and adhere to a controlled itinerary throughout the duration of their visit.
Before departing Singapore for Malaysia, the traveller’s sponsoring enterprise or government agency in Malaysia will apply on behalf of the applicant. This should be done at least 10 days before the date of travel. The sponsor would also need to provide a traveller certificate to certify that traveller has tested negative for COVID-19 via a swab test taken within 72 hours before departure.
Health workers collect samples for COVID-19 testing in Gombak on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on Apr 22, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Mohd Rasfan)
Documents needed for online application are a copy of the traveller’s passport, letter of invitation, an itinerary for the duration of stay, proof of hotel accommodation as well as health and travel history declaration.
Upon arrival in Malaysia, the traveller will be transferred to accommodation via transport provided by the sponsor or government agency. The traveller is also required to subscribe to the MySejahtera mobile app, and undertake a COVID-19 swab test at the point of entry or 24 hours of arriving in Malaysia.
If tested positive, the traveller will be accorded the necessary medical treatment by the Malaysia government. If tested negative, the traveller may proceed with the controlled itinerary.
Q: Is the process any different for Malaysia residents applying for RGL to enter Singapore?
A: All legal residents in Malaysia, who need to make single-entry, short-term essential travel to Singapore for business and official purposes, are eligible to apply for the RGL.
Similarly, travellers have to take a swab test within 72 hours of departure.
Residents in Malaysia seeking to travel to Singapore for short-term essential business or official travel via the RGL must be hosted by a company or a government agency in Singapore.
The host company can self-sponsor and file the application for a SafeTravel Pass on behalf of the traveller either directly or through a sponsoring government agency.
When the SafeTravel Pass application is approved, an approval letter will be issued to the sponsoring company or government agency by email within three working days.
With this letter, an approved applicant who is a visa-required passport holder may then apply for a visa for travel to Singapore through the usual channels at least four working days before departure.
A health worker takes a COVID-19 nasal swab test sample from an essential worker in Singapore, Jun 10, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Roslan Rahman)
If the applicant already has an existing valid visa, the visa suspension will be lifted when the SafeTravel Pass is approved, and the traveller need not apply for a new visa.
For travellers entering Singapore by air, they are encouraged to pre-register and pre-pay for the COVID-19 swab test prior to entry into Singapore. Preregistration and pre-payment can be made at the online portal and travellers should expect to pay around S$300 for the test upon arrival at the airport.
For travellers entering Singapore by land, travellers will make payment at the testing stations located at Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoint. Only card payments or PayPal are accepted. Travellers should expect to pay around S$200 for the test upon arrival at the land checkpoints.
Q: Is travel for study or leisure purposes permitted via PCA or RGL?
A: No, the PCA and RGL are not to facilitate movement for students or tourists across the border. SafeTravel Passes are only issued to travellers making short-term essential business and official travel. These passes are not applicable for tourists.
Travellers seeking to enter Singapore for study may wish to visit the ICA website.
Meanwhile, those seeking to enter Malaysia for purposes other than essential business and official travel should contact the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore for further details.
Q: What about emergency travel for compassionate reasons, to attend a funeral or visit a sick loved one?
Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan said on Jul 26 that both countries were working on terms to allow people to travel between Singapore and Malaysia on compassionate reasons such as to visit their loved ones who are sick or to attend funerals.
He said that this category of people moving across borders is on a “much smaller scale” and authorities are working out arrangements to facilitate this. However, no details have been announced yet.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s former minister for finance Lim Guan Eng has pleaded not guilty to a corruption charge over the RM6.3 billion (US$1.5 billion) Penang undersea tunnel project on Friday (Aug 7).
He was accused of asking for a 10 per cent cut from the profits of the project when he was Penang chief minister.
He allegedly solicited the bribe from Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, whose company was appointed by the state government to implement the roads and tunnel project. He was accused of committing the offence near a hotel in Kuala Lumpur in March 2011.
Malaysia's former finance minister Lim Guan Eng is escorted by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers to Duta Court complex in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 7, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Mohd Rasfan)
Lim was charged at the Special Corruption Court on Friday morning.
His arrest on Thursday night came after a months-long investigation into graft allegations over the undersea tunnel project, part of the Penang South Reclamation project.
The 7.2km undersea tunnel was planned to connect Penang’s state capital George Town to mainland Butterworth.
Lim, who is the secretary-general of Democratic Action Party, was Penang chief minister from 2008 until his appointment as the finance minister in 2018.
Malaysia's former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng arrives at Kuala Lumpur High Court, Aug 7, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Lim Huey Teng)
Previously, he had been charged with two counts of abuse of power for approving a land deal and the purchase of a bungalow below market price.
The charges were dismissed after Barisan Nasional, led by then-prime minister Najib Razak was defeated by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition in the 2018 elections.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s former minister for finance Lim Guan Eng has pleaded not guilty to a corruption charge over the RM6.3 billion (US$1.5 billion) Penang undersea tunnel project on Friday (Aug 7).
He was accused of asking for a 10 per cent cut from the profits of the project when he was Penang chief minister.
He allegedly solicited the bribe from Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, whose company was appointed by the state government to implement the roads and tunnel project. He was accused of committing the offence near a hotel in Kuala Lumpur in March 2011.
Lim was charged at the Special Corruption Court on Friday morning.
His arrest on Thursday night came after a months-long investigation into graft allegations over the undersea tunnel project, part of the Penang South Reclamation project.
The 7.2km undersea tunnel was planned to connect Penang’s state capital George Town to mainland Butterworth.
Lim, who is the secretary-general of Democratic Action Party, was Penang chief minister from 2008 until his appointment as the finance minister in 2018.
Previously, he had been charged with two counts of abuse of power for approving a land deal and the purchase of a bungalow below market price.
The charges were dismissed after Barisan Nasional, led by then-prime minister Najib Razak was defeated by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition in the 2018 elections.
As Singapore enters a new normal with the gradual easing of various restrictions, large gatherings and festivities, such as National Day community concerts and seventh lunar month events, will by and large continue to remain virtual, the Health Ministry (MOH) said yesterday.
But there will be exceptions.
The ministry said seventh lunar month prayers and post-funeral religious rites, conducted by religious organisations with a good track record of implementing safe management measures, will be allowed in places of worship and some external venues such as Housing Board common areas.
Details on how many people will be allowed to attend are expected to be released soon.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said at a virtual press conference earlier yesterday that many Singaporeans have expressed their eagerness to resume regular activities.
"We recognise that these are key milestones in life that Singaporeans hope to commemorate, and that memories of these events will stay precious long after the Covid-19 pandemic is over.
"We will continue to assess the situation and allow the gradual resumption of other events, including wedding receptions and some religious rites," he said.
But most other events should remain virtual for the time being, he added.
The bustle near a bicycle rental shop in East Coast Park on July 31, 2020. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
"This does not mean that we can no longer celebrate these occasions, but that we will need to find new ways to do so," he said.
Citing this year's National Day celebrations, the minister said: "Singaporeans are a resourceful people, and many have found new and creative ways to commemorate our nation's independence while adhering to the safe management measures.
"With a right mindset and attitude, we can adapt and make the best of the situation, even if we need to continue with safe distancing measures."
The authorities have taken active steps to move Singapore into a "new normal" within the pandemic environment.
MOH's director of medical services Kenneth Mak said the costs of polymerase chain reaction tests for Covid-19 will decrease in the future as protocols get optimised and tests become more available, benefiting all visitors and travellers who will require testing when they enter or leave Singapore.
More travellers are expected as Singapore gradually reopens its borders, with testing being a necessary step to ensure they do not bring the coronavirus infection with them.
Currently, the cost is around $200 per test.
But even as Singapore moves towards the new normal, Covid-19 task force co-chair Lawrence Wong said the country is unlikely to ever be completely free of the virus.
The lunch-time crowd in Bugis Street on Aug 4, 2020. ST PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAVID
Despite Singapore's recent streak of low community cases, it must be wary of a resurgence in infections.
He said: "We still think today that there is some underlying rate of infection. It's very, very low, but it is there.
"And it's quite likely that this was the case in many other countries where you saw a resurgence of cases... places where you saw very low case counts on a daily basis for many, many days or even weeks... and then suddenly things spike up."
The key is to learn how to live with the virus, to find new safe ways for people to carry on with their lives.
"As long as we are able to put in place the necessary measures, as long as Singaporeans and residents of Singapore comply with the safe distancing measures, we think we can progressively resume more activities while keeping the infection under control."
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's former finance minister Lim Guan Eng was arrested on Thursday (Aug 6) and is set to be charged with corruption in connection to the Penang undersea tunnel project, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said.
Lim will be charged at the Special Corruption Court on Friday for offences under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009, which involves accepting gratification, the MACC said in a press statement on Thursday night.
On Aug 10, he will also be charged for offences under Section 23 of the Act, which involves using public office or position for gratification, the MACC added. That prosecution will be carried out at the Penang Sessions Court.
"Both charges in the Kuala Lumpur and Penang courts are related to Penang undersea tunnel project," said MACC.
Meanwhile, MACC said Lim would also be charged for a separate case next Tuesday under Section 23 of the MACC Act at the Penang Sessions Court.
Lim, who was Penang's chief minister for more than 10 years until 2018, was seen entering the MACC's headquarters at about 9.10pm on Thursday.
The Bagan Member of Parliament had previously been called up three times to give statements regarding the case connected to the RM6.3 billion (US$1.5 billion) undersea tunnel project.
Lim's arrest follows a months-long investigation into graft allegations over the undersea tunnel project, part of the Penang South Reclamation project.
Earlier reports stated that investigations into the case were in the final phase, while MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki was quoted to have said that investigation papers on the case were expected to be submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers in the near future.
On Jun 30, the MACC detained a former senior official of the Penang Port Commission to assist with investigations into elements of corruption in the project.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, as well as several current and former state executive council members, were also called to provide their statements to the MACC regarding the project.
The 7.2km undersea tunnel was planned to connect George Town and Butterworth, and was in the final stages of feasibility studies in August last year, the New Straits Times reported.
Lim served as finance minister in former prime minister Mahathir Mohamed's administration that collapsed in February.
He was one of the key leaders from the Mahathir administration who was involved in Malaysia's efforts to recover billions allegedly stolen from state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
In 2016, Lim was charged with two counts of abuse of power for approving a land deal and the purchase of a bungalow at below market price – a move critics said was part of a crackdown on those who opposed then prime minister Najib Razak's administration.
The charges against Lim were dismissed after Najib was ousted in the 2018 election by the Mahathir-led coalition.
Najib was sentenced to 12 years' jail and fined about US$50 million on Jul 28, following a guilty verdict in his first 1MDB corruption trial.
