These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Singapore agrees to further extend KL-S'pore High-Speed Rail project suspension till Dec 31 at Malaysia's request
Singapore has agreed to further suspend the high-speed rail (HSR) project that would link it with Kuala Lumpur for seven months, till the end of the year. In a Facebook post on Sunday (May 31), Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said that Malaysian Senior Minister Azmin Ali wrote to him to ask for the extension to discuss Malaysia's proposed changes to the project. "As any project change requires our agreement, the extended suspension will allow both countries to assess the changes that Malaysia has in mind," he said. "In the spirit of bilateral cooperation, we have agreed to a final extension of the suspension period to Dec 31, 2020," he added. "This should provide sufficient time for Malaysia to clarify its proposal and for both sides to assess the implications of the proposed changes," said Mr Khaw. – The Straits Times
Submissions in Najib's SRC trial to begin today
The High Court will today begin hearing oral submissions by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's defence team in his corruption case involving RM42 million worth of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds. High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali has set three days to hear the oral submissions by both parties at the end of the defence case. The court had previously set May 18 to 20 for the hearing, but the dates were vacated when the Movement Control Order (MCO) came into force. The proceedings will begin with the defence making their oral submissions, which the prosecution will rebut. On March 11, the defence closed its case with 19 witnesses in 33 days from December, last year. Apart from Najib, among other star witnesses for the defence were former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah; former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom; former foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman; and former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali; and two former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chiefs – Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad and Latheefa Koya. – New Straits Times
Overwhelming 'yes' vote for exec decrees
Three executive decrees have sailed through parliament after a five-day marathon debate. House Speaker Chuan Leekpai on Sunday called MPs to vote on three decrees worth 1.9 trillion baht in total to tackle the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. For the first decree that authorises the Finance Ministry to borrow about 1 trillion baht to fund the government's economic and social rehabilitation in the aftermath of the pandemic, 274 out of 481 MPs voted in favour, with zero against, and 207 abstained. For the second decree worth 500 billion baht which provides financial support for affected SMEs, 275 out of 481 MPs voted in favour, with one against and 205 abstentions. For the other decree worth 400 billion baht which aims to maintain financial stability, 274 of 482 MPs voted in favour, with 274 against, 12 abstentions, and one failed to cast a vote. – Bangkok Post
100-year-old woman recovers from COVID-19 in Surabaya
A 100-year-old woman in Surabaya, East Java, has recovered from COVID-19 after spending a month in the hospital. The woman, identified as Kamtin, was the country’s oldest COVID-19 patient. She came down with a fever and cough on April 13 before being admitted to the Porth Health Centre (PHC) Hospital in Surabaya on April 20 and undergoing a swab test a day later. On April 28, doctors told her she had tested positive for COVID-19. She was allowed to return home on May 17 after doctors declared her free of the disease. “She recovered because she was disciplined in maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa said on Friday, as quoted by kompas.com. – The Jakarta Post
DepEd starts monthlong ‘remote enrolment’ on June 1 amid COVID-19 pandemic
Tens of millions of public-school students can start enrolling for this school year on June 1, as the Department of Education (DepEd) undertakes an unprecedented and monthlong virtual enrolment in K-12 classes against the backdrop of a global pandemic. “The first two weeks shall completely be remote enrolment, where there will absolutely be no face-to-face” interactions, the education department said in DepEd Order No. 008, which sets guidelines for the enrolment period. The order applies even in areas not badly hit by the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Any form of physical enrolment would be allowed in the third week of June, but only if it was coordinated with the local government unit. “Making physical appearance in school for enrolment purposes shall be the last option for parents or guardians or learners,” said Education Secretary Leonor Briones. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
PM targets powerful, prosperous status for southern key economic region by 2035
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Saturday asked the southern key economic region to strive to become a powerful and prosperous region by 2035, 10 years ahead of the deadline for the same goal for the whole nation. He made the remarks while chairing a meeting in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province between Government members and officials of the eight localities in this region, which comprises HCM City and Đồng Nai, Bình Dương, Bình Phước, Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu, Tây Ninh, Long An, and Tiền Giang provinces. The southern key economic region is the largest foreign direct investment magnet of the country, a leading economic driver, and a gateway for Việt Nam’s trade with the world. Addressing the event, PM Phúc applauded the eight localities’ work in COVID-19 prevention and control, social security and economic development, which have joined the entire country’s efforts to defeat the pandemic. – Viet Nam News
Cambodian unionist released from jail
Cambodian unionist Soy Sros was released on 28 May, after being detained without trial for nearly two months. She was jailed for a post on social media criticizing her employer, Superl Cambodia Ltd, for suspending union members, including a pregnant woman. Cambodian union Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW) fought to have their local union president released, supported by a LabourStart campaign and international solidarity. – Cambodia Daily