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.
Great Singapore Sale cancelled this year amid Covid-19 outbreak
There will be no Great Singapore Sale (GSS) this year. This will be the first time in the 26-year history of the event - usually held between June and August - that it will not be taking place. The Singapore Retailers Association (SRA), which organises the GSS, told The Straits Times that it will "take a break this year in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic". "It will return next year to offer local and tourist shoppers the 'Great Singapore Experience', both offline and online," said SRA's executive director Rose Tong. The annual event - where retailers traditionally serve up discounts and promotions - underwent a revamp last year amid criticism that it had lost its relevance. Its duration was cut by half and it was expanded to include festivities such as a pop-up market, fashion shows and film screenings. – The Straits Times
Covid-19: Nursing homes doing their best for residents
Despite the Movement Control Order (MCO) at its tail end and the economic sector set to resume in stages, nursing homes are sticking to their decision not to allow families to visit their residents until further notice. They believe that erring on the side of caution is the right move to take for the sake of the elderly residents, who are at higher risk of severe complications from the Covid-19 virus. Pusat Jagaan Warga Tua Sri Tanjung Sungai Buloh assistant manager Abdul Azmi Azman, 30, said the decision was taken to ensure the health and safety of the elderly. "We don't allow visits at the moment as our patients are vulnerable. Some are bed-ridden and have a high risk of getting infected. We try our best to minimise social affairs, which include family gatherings." – New Straits Times
Govt quells fears over exodus
The Interior Ministry on Sunday gave assurances that the thousands of people leaving Phuket for their homes in other provinces have already been screened for Covid-19. "They have been instructed to carry their medical certificate with them on their journeys," said Chatchai Phromlert, permanent secretary for Interior. His comments came after people in many provinces, especially in the South, expressed concern after seeing the long tailbacks of outbound traffic on Friday and Saturday. Phuket is seen as one of the coronavirus hotspots in the South, having so far recorded 220 infections and two deaths. People in other provinces are worried the infection might spread to them. – Bangkok Post
COVID-19 aid stalled, used for political stunts
While millions of people out of work are depending on the arrival of social assistance to weather the COVID-19 crisis, bureaucrats have dragged their feet in the distribution process and have even taken the opportunity to boost their popularity among voters. The distribution of food packages and cash assistance is lagging outside of Jakarta as many regencies and cities continue to gather data about their poor populations, a problem that economists warned about. In Central Java, Klaten Regent Sri Mulyani faced criticism for putting her image on bottles of hand sanitizer in aid packages sponsored by the Social Affairs Ministry. She is seeking a second term in office in the regional elections scheduled to take place in December. – The Jakarta Post
Higher PhilHealth rates for OFWs raise furore
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has made common cause with the militant labour group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) in denouncing the move of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to increase the mandatory contribution of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) starting this year. An online petition on Change.org against the PhilHealth move has so far gained close to 300,000 signatures. Locsin said the state health insurance payments required of migrant workers would not benefit them at all. “It is like an income tax which was abolished for OFWs and even their tax-free income filings were destroyed,” he tweeted on Sunday. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
Việt Nam’s exports surge in four months despite pandemic
Viet Nam's export value saw a year-on-year increase of nearly 5 per cent to an estimated US$82.94 billion in the first four months of this year despite the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). Domestic companies generated $26.45 billion from exports during the period, rising 12 per cent year-on-year and making up 32 per cent of the country's total export earnings. Meanwhile, exports of foreign-invested firms hit $56.49 billion, up 1.5 per cent and making up 68 per cent of the total. Fifteen groups of products recorded an export value of over $1 billion or equivalent to 80 per cent of the nation’s four-month total earnings. Of them, phones and parts earned the largest export turnover with $16.2 billion, up 1.1 per cent year-on-year and accounting for 19.5 per cent of the total exports. – Viet Nam News
Myanmar economy unlikely to recover this year: MoPFI
Despite a huge increase in approved foreign investments from US$1.9 billion to $3.3 billion during the period between October and March, the actual inflow of foreign direct investments (FDI) are lower. At US$500 million, the inflow of investment in the first quarter of the year fell short of last year’s US$800 million, said U Aung Naing Oo, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations (MoPFI). “My concern is that although more investment was approved, the actual inflow of FDI will be a challenge for us,” he said during an AustCham Myanmar webinar last Wednesday. “Almost all businesses in the country are suffering as a result of the coronavirus,” U Aung Naing Oo added. He is also a member of the Working Committee to Address the Possible Impacts of COVID-19 on the Country’s Economy, chaired by the investment minister U Thaung Tun. – Myanmar Times