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.
Sarawak Year 1 pupils to be taught Science, Maths in English
Sarawak is ready to implement the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English for Year 1 pupils in 1,026 primary schools in the state beginning Jan 1. Sarawak Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong said so far, RM11 million (US$2.7 million) had been spent by the state government for that purpose.
"This includes to provide training to 2,853 teachers as well as to print books and (teaching) materials," he told a press conference after officiating the Sarawak Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (SaSTEMS) 2019 Symposium here yesterday. – New Straits Times
Labour minister denies high jobless rate
Labour Minister MR Chatu Mongol Sonakul has denied there is high unemployment in Thailand, claiming the jobless rate is only 1 percent. During a visit to Kanchanaburi, the minister dismissed mounting job losses as being quite small.
"Most people leaving their jobs are doing so for new ones. Thailand's economy is also changing. We are upgrading the workforce and industry, as evidenced by more than three million migrant workers who are taking demanding jobs Thais avoid. It is better to let them do jobs that improve their skills," he said. – Bangkok Post
PKS lawmaker asks Prabowo to monitor people claiming to be missionaries in Papua
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker Jazuli Juwaini has asked Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto to pay closer attention to people entering Papua claiming to be missionaries.
"We're not worried about the proselytizing because that is already regulated by law," he said. "Our concern is that the people claiming to be missionaries actually have a different agenda, and might be the culprits behind the rioting." – The Jakarta Post
Govt, UNICEF commit to providing a better future for children
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said on Monday that key agencies such as the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children continue to work for the protection, promotion and development of Lao children so that they grow up to become productive members of society.
The prime minister also said that, despite all the successes in various dimensions of child protection and development, there remain a number of challenges relating to child rights in Laos, which are in need of continuous effort so that solutions can be found. – Vientiane Times
Palace open to ending ‘Oplan: Tokhang’
Malacañang is open to scrapping “Oplan: Tokhang,” a controversial strategy in President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs, if Vice President Leni Robredo has a more effective way of carrying out the crackdown on narcotics, the Palace said on Monday.
President Duterte will also give Robredo “everything” to help her fight illegal drugs, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said, adding that the Vice President has “free rein” as cochair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs. – Philippine Daily Inquirer