Thai social media posts have repeatedly shared a false claim that five Southeast Asian countries will stop using the US dollar from November 2022. Financial experts told AFP there was little chance of the countries -- Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines -- abandoning the dollar as it is a global standard and there is no currency that could currently replace it. Thailand's central bank also told AFP the claim is not true and may have stemmed from misunderstanding efforts by ASEAN countries to make mobile payments easier for travellers.

"From November 1, five ASEAN countries will stop using the US dollar," reads a Facebook post shared here on September 26, 2022.

The post includes a graphic that shows the flags of Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines below an image of Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha.

The text on the graphic reads: "(From) Nov 1st, 5 ASEAN countries will stop using the US dollar, switching to local currencies as a payment system for travellers."

ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, comprises 10 countries in the region. Besides the five countries mentioned in the graphic, the organisation also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The claim circulated in Thailand as the country's currency -- the Thai baht -- weakened to a 16-year low against the US dollar, according to the Bangkok Post newspaper.

Similar claims were shared elsewhere on Facebook alongside an identical...

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