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.
2 more buildings in KL under lockdown as infections rise
Malaysia placed two buildings in Kuala Lumpur under an enhanced movement control order (Emco) yesterday, as the number of new coronavirus cases in the country continued to rise.
The Emco, implemented after 15 cases of coronavirus infections were detected at Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion in the Jalan Masjid India area, affects some 6,000 people. Malaysia has the highest number of coronavirus infections in Southeast Asia.
It reported 170 new coronavirus cases yesterday, bringing the tally to 3,963 cases. It also recorded one new death, raising total fatalities to 63. – The Straits Times
Nearly 2,000 US coronavirus deaths in last 24 hours
Nearly 2,000 people infected with the new coronavirus have died in the United States in the last 24 hours, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 8:30 pm Tuesday (0030 GMT Wednesday).
The record daily figure of 1,939 brings the total number of deaths in the US to 12,722, which is approaching tolls in the worst-hit countries so far – Italy with 17,127 dead and Spain with 13,798. President Donald Trump has defended his response to the crisis, and on Tuesday he blamed the World Health Organization for reacting slowly. He questioned why the WHO had given “such a faulty recommendation,” apparently referring to the UN body’s advice against curtailing international travel to stop the virus which first spread from China. “They called it wrong. They really missed the call. They could have called it months earlier,” he said. – New Straits Times
COVID-19 in Cambodia, Five more recoveries with two new cases
Five more COVID-19 positive patients have been successfully treated in hospitals in Phnom Penh and in Sihanoukville. Among those who have recovered are two French males aged 63 and 67, from the tour group which had a total of 33 infections and infected four other Cambodians in Sihanoukville. Others who have recovered are all Cambodians. They are two Cambodian males ages 36 and 28 while the other is a 37-year-old female.
The two French were tested positive on March 22 at the Independent hotel where they had checked in and had started showing symptoms of the virus. The hotel was subsequently quarantined but not before the virus had infected its manager. The Cambodians had been tested positive on March 17, March 25 and March 28 respectively. – Khmer Times
Cash aid for middle class gaining support
As problems mounted in the distribution of emergency subsidies to poor families during the coronavirus crisis, the chair of the House ways and means committee on Tuesday suggested a radical change in the government’s approach. Instead of giving the second instalment of the P5,000-to-P8,000 assistance per month to 18 million indigent families, why not grant a universal basic income of P1,000 to all Filipinos, except the wealthiest 10 percent?
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said the emergency aid should not be limited to the poor but expanded to the middle class, considering its contribution to the country’s tax revenue. The administration is open to extending a helping hand to the middle class.“The middle class cannot avail themselves of the social amelioration. So, we have to study what program we can create for them,” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases, said on Tuesday. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
People asked to scrap joint iftar plans, mass Idul Fitri prayers
The Religious Affairs Ministry has issued prayer and worship guidelines for Ramadan, asking people not to hold gatherings and adhere to the physical distancing policy to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Ramadan, expected to start on April 23 and end May 23, traditionally includes gatherings, such as breaking-of-the-fast, or iftar, dinners and tarawih (Ramadan night prayers), usually held at mosques. “These worship guidelines can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect Muslims in Indonesia from the risk of contracting the disease,” Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi said in a statement on Monday. – The Jakarta Post