TOP NEWS HEADLINES IN INDONESIA, SINGAPORE & THAILAND: MARCH 19, 2025

INDONESIA

1. SRI MULYANI REASSURES INVESTORS ON PRUDENT BUDGET MANAGEMENT AS STOCK MARKET SLUMPS -- JAKARTA GLOBE

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on Tuesday reassured investors that Indonesia’s state budget is being managed with prudence and efficiency, emphasising the country’s stable macroeconomic conditions despite a sharp decline in the stock market.

2. INDONESIA’S STOCK MARKET PLUNGES WHILE OTHERS SHINE -- THE JAKARTA POST

The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) Composite index tumbled 3.84 per cent to 6,223 points on Tuesday, recovering only slightly from a plunge of more than five per cent in the morning trading session that triggered a 30-minute trading halt.

SINGAPORE

1. SINGAPORE GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT RESUMPTION OF HOSTILITIES IN GAZA: MFA -- THE STRAITS TIMES

Singapore is gravely concerned about the resumption of hostilities in Gaza, which has resulted in an increasing number of civilian casualties, said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on March 19.

2. SINGAPORE 'GRAVELY CONCERNED' ABOUT RESUMPTION OF HOSTILITIES IN GAZA --  CNA

Singapore is "gravely concerned" about the resumption of hostilities in Gaza that has resulted in escalating civilian casualties, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Wednesday (Mar 19). 

THAILAND

1. PICHAI: NEW AMC MAY BE SET UP TO BUY PEOPLE'S DEBT -- THE NATION

Finance Minister Pichai considers a new asset management company to buy people’s debt, following Thaksin’s proposal to ease Thailand’s financial burden.

2. FUEL CONSUMPTION CLIMBS 2.8% IN JANUARY -- BANGKOK POST

Fuel consumption in Thailand increased by 2.8% year-on-year in January in line with economic growth, driven by tourism and government stimulus measures, says Sarawut Kaewtathip, director-general of the Department of Energy Business.

-- BERNAMA