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.
Lawyer: Health and life of all Malaysians more valuable than money
Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla has called on the government to take stern action against entities and individuals found violating the restricted movement order.
Haniff said under Section 11(4) and Section 24(a) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342), failure to adhere to the restricted movement order, which will come into force tomorrow, is a criminal offense.
“Any person guilty of an offence under this Act shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to fine or to both,” he said, adding that health and life of all Malaysians are more valuable than money. – The New Straits Times
Virus puts paid to Songkran
The government will postpone the Songkran holiday and ban large public gatherings, including entertainment venues, sport and education activities, in fresh efforts to handle the spread of COVID-19.
Still, it insists that the country has not yet entered Stage 3, when community transmission of the virus becomes widespread. – Bangkok Post
PM Orders Preschool and Kindergarten Closures in Lao
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has ordered the temporary closure of preschools and kindergartens nationwide amid the ongoing global outbreak of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19.
The closure of preschools and kindergartens, which is effective from today, was ordered regardless of there being no confirmed cases of the virus inside the territory of Lao. – The Laotian Times
Asia stocks seesaw, US futures jump after historic market rout; STI up 0.7%
The stomach-turning roller coaster ride in global financial markets showed no signs of easing in Asia on Tuesday (March 17) after United States stocks plunged the most since 1987 on fears over the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan's Nikkei stock index was up 2.1 after earlier falling 3 percent and South Korea's Kospi almost erased a loss of over 3 percent, to trade down just 0.3 percent. – The Straits Times
Checkpoints lead to crowds, chaos
“Hurry up, we’re getting hungry!” a female passenger barked from a bus at the checkpoint on the border between Laguna province and Metro Manila.
“Look at that long line behind us!” another passenger shouted, pointing to the kilometre-long tailback. The policemen at the checkpoint paid no attention. They went on checking the temperatures of hundreds of travelers - with their two thermal scanners, one for motorcyclists and people on foot, and the other for commuters on jeepneys and buses, private motorists and truck drivers. – Philippine Daily Inquirer