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.
Discussions with Malaysia on RTS Link ongoing ahead of July 31 deadline: Khaw Boon Wan
Discussions with Malaysia about the construction of a cross-border Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is still ongoing ahead of a final deadline of July 31, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said on Monday (June 22). The rail line project - which would connect Woodlands North station on Singapore's Thomson-East Coast MRT line to Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru - has been suspended since April last year to allow Malaysia to review the project and suggest changes for Singapore's consideration. Mr Khaw said: "Even as we battle Covid-19, in parallel, we press on with many other important tasks, including our bilateral discussions with Malaysia on both the High-Speed Rail and the RTS Link projects. "In fact, the RTS Link discussions - over teleconferencing - have been intensive, often running into the night, as the negotiators are mindful of the end-July deadline." – The Straits Times
2.2 million jobs saved by wage subsidy programme
The wage subsidy programme under Prihatin and other benefits under its SME Economic Stimulus Package have received overwhelming response from employers and employees in the small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) segment. SME Corp Malaysia chief executive officer Noor Azmi Mat Said said the three-month wage subsidy programme had saved 2.2 million jobs. He said up until June 8, the programme had helped 309,410 employers and 2.51 million workers, with more than 95 per cent of the applications approved. The payments were made through the Social Security Organisation (Socso). "The government has extended the programme until September, and we expect 2.7 million workers to benefit from it, especially those working in SMEs, airlines and tourism. – New Straits Times
New plans to curb street racing
Law enforcement is not enough to deal with street motorcycle racers, criminologists say, who are urging for prosecution against motorcycle shops and garages that modify motorcycle engines for racing purposes. They shared their views after the Royal Thai Police led by assistant national police chief Pol Lt Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas last Tuesday issued a stern warning against dek waen motorbike riders who have returned to take over the roads of Bangkok and some provinces after the government lifted the night-time curfew last Sunday. Pol Lt Gen Damrongsak came out a day after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the government would reimpose the night-time curfew if people failed to cooperate with Covid-19 control measures. – Bangkok Post
Indonesia expands search for missing fishermen
Indonesia has expanded the search for seven fishermen still missing after a rescue team found three more survivors of a capsized boat in waters near the Anak Krakatau volcano, officials said Sunday. A motorboat carrying 16 people sank on Thursday due to strong waves in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra. Six survivors were found after the accident, and on Sunday, Indonesia's rescue agency said three more were rescued from a traditional fishing boat, which found them floating. Efforts to find them were extended to a "20-25 kilometres radius to find the seven people still missing", said Heru Amir, a search and rescue official in the Banten province. The three survivors told rescuers that the seven fishermen tried to swim to a nearby island using objects they took from the capsized boat including jerrycans, according to Amir. – The Jakarta Post
Modern jeepneys start plying Metro Manila routes
Some 300 modern jeepneys were given the green light to start plying Metro Manila roads on Monday, but a think tank warned that the news might not be the reprieve commuters had been clamouring for since COVID-19 ground transportation in the capital to a halt months ago. The jeepneys will be supplemented by 3,600 buses to ferry commuters who had been inconvenienced by the lack of public transportation, according to Malacañang. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said 1,500 other vehicles would be allowed to ply certain routes to help ease the burden of people who had returned to work after President Rodrigo Duterte further relaxed quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila on June 1. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
Prime Minister meets citizens in Hải Phòng
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc reported the outcomes of the 14th National Assembly’s ninth session to residents in Ngô Quyền District, the northern port city of Hải Phòng during a meeting on Sunday. He said it was the first time the session had been held online and achieved important results, adding that lawmakers highly valued the Government and people’s efforts and determination in the fight against COVID-19. The PM said the world and international organisations expect Việt Nam to post positive growth in Southeast Asia. He attributed the country’s economic growth partially to contributions by Hải Phòng that ran a 14.9 per cent growth in the first quarter. Notably, the province’s investment in economic sectors has kept rising. – Viet Nam News
Activist Kung Raiya seeks asylum in Thailand
Activist Kung Raiya is seeking political asylum in Thailand after he was handed a two-year sentence on charges of incitement for selling T-shirts bearing the image of slain political analyst Kem Ley last year. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on June 19 sentenced Raiya to two years in prison for incitement to commit a felony. Municipal court spokesman Y Rin confirmed that that the court had sentenced the defendant, but did not provide details. – The Cambodia Daily