These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.
Dr M: When big countries disregard UN, small countries follow suit
The United Nations, despite being a major multilateral organisation, is weak because it cannot act against injustices, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.
From forest fires that envelop neighbouring countries in hazardous smog to atrocities against the country’s own citizens, the UN does not have the capacity to interfere in what it deems ‘domestic’ affairs of nations.
“We can preach. We can pray. We can ask them ‘Please don’t do such things’, but they can continue doing it because we don’t invade countries to remove such regimes,” Dr Mahathir said. – New Straits Times
Data law 'safe' for businesses
The government has assured local and multinational corporations that the new personal data protection law taking effect in May next year will not harm their businesses, saying that a guidebook on the law will be launched soon.
The move was unveiled by Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta on Wednesday at the Bangkok Post Conference 2019 on "Power of Data: Privacy in a Connected World". – Bangkok Post
UN asked to intervene in CNRP journo’s arrest
Mu Sochua, the vice-president of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) has requested UN Women executive director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to intervene in the case of former CNRP news presenter Yu Chantheany.
On September 13, Chantheany was charged with “conspiracy and incitement to provoke serious chaos to national and social security” and placed in pre-trial detention the next day. – Phnom Penh Post
US Embassy warns of possible attacks in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, Mandalay
Major cities, including three of the largest in Myanmar could face potential attacks this month, the next, and coming months, US Embassy in Myanmar warned on Wednesday.
A security alert posted on the US Embassy website cautioned that "Myanmar security forces are investigating reports of potential attacks" in the administrative capital Nay Pyi Taw today and on October 16 and 26. The alert also warned that attacks could happen in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay in the coming months.
The alert did not elaborate on what type of attacks to expect or who is behind them. – Myanmar Times
PMA hazing probe: Cadet punished over misplaced boots
A witness account that Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio was beaten up over misplaced boots will be the focus of a complaint the police are preparing against three Philippine Military Academy (PMA) upperclassmen for the death of the 20-year-old plebe.
Col. Allan Rae Co, Baguio City police chief, on Wednesday said two upperclassmen were directed to punish Dormitorio for failure to find a pair of boots that had been entrusted to him by another cadet. – Philippine Daily Inquirer