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.
Relief package by NTU to help students facing financial difficulties amid coronavirus outbreak
The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has launched a private philanthropic programme to help its students, with the university's president Subra Suresh and his wife, Mrs Mary Suresh, making a personal gift of $100,000 to seed and anchor the fund. "We will use the new NTU Priorities Fund and other sources of philanthropic support to alleviate the financial burden of our students, so that those needing immediate help can continue to focus on their studies and their future," said Professor Suresh, an American scientist who began his presidency at NTU in January 2018. In a statement on Wednesday (April 22), the university said the fund is part of a new NTU Covid-19 Relief Package to help students who may be facing financial difficulties amid the outbreak. – The Straits Times
Despite fall in Covid-19 cases, MCO will not be relaxed
There will be no leniency in restrictions under the Movement Control Order (MCO) despite the downward trend of Covid-19 cases in the country. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the standard operating procedure (SOP) in place for the MCO would remain and the public must continue adhering to it. “When the health director-general (Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah) announced that there were only 36 positive Covid-19 cases yesterday with no deaths, many people may feel that there is a need to loosen the restrictions, including the roadblocks. “I would like to stress that as long as the MCO is in force and there is no new SOP, the restrictions remain. It is everyone’s collective responsibility to obey this and the police will act against those who violate the MCO,” he said in the daily Covid-19 press briefing here yesterday. – New Straits Times
Moguls ready to help Thailand
Thailand's top business leaders are ready to help the government ease the crunch of the coronavirus crisis, and plan to offer their ideas to lift the country out of the economic quagmire. The move comes after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha sent an open letter to the country's multi-billionaires asking them to help people affected by the pandemic through assistance projects. He said he did not want cash donations. Gen Prayut said on Tuesday he wrote the letter to ask the business leaders how they have helped their employees, insisting the government was not trying to borrow money from them. "I want to thank all the 20 business leaders. I only wrote to ask if they will do anything in addition to the government's measures so we can work together in sync. There are no exchanges of any benefits whatsoever," Gen Prayut said. – Bangkok Post
Workers to protest omnibus bill as companies continue with business as usual
Labour unions will march on with their plans to hold mass protests against the omnibus bill on job creation, as many workplaces are still requiring non-essential employees to work as usual despite the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) implemented by several regional administrations. The Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), one of Indonesia’s largest labour groups, said it would not cancel plans to hold rallies in front of the House of Representatives or the Coordinating Economic Minister’s office in Jakarta on April 30 – one day prior to May Day. "We’ve notified the police. According to regulations, rallygoers only need to submit a notification letter to the police rather than securing a permit,” KSPI spokesperson Kahar S. Cahyono said on Tuesday. – The Jakarta Post
6th suspected COVID-19 death recorded in Palawan
Another suspected coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient died in Puerto Princesa City on Tuesday evening. Richard Ligad, city information officer, in a public announcement aired live on Facebook on Wednesday, said the patient suspected of having COVID-19 was a senior citizen from the outskirts village of the city. He said the patient was swabbed, but the test result had not yet arrived. The patient was first reported last week to the City Health Office by the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team due to recurring fever and cough. He was also known to have other comorbidities. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
Tax cuts proposed from SMEs to accelerate growth after COVID-19
The Ministry of Planning and Investment has asked for corporate income tax (CIT) to be cut for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by half this year in an effort to boost growth when the COVID-19 pandemic eases. The proposal was highlighted in a draft Government Resolution about solutions to remove difficulties for businesses and accelerate the disbursement of public investment. Reducing CIT for SMEs was just a part of the efforts to lower production costs for businesses, of which a number of taxes and fees would also be cut, according to the draft resolution. Under the draft, the Ministry of Finance would be in charge of forming policies for exemptions or tax reductions to be submitted to the National Assembly this month. – Viet Nam News