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.
Millions in Indonesia head home for Hari Raya
Millions of Indonesians have hit the newly-launched Trans-Java toll roads since last week as part of the annual mass exodus to celebrate the Muslim festival of Idul Fitri in their hometowns. Millions of motorcyclists and about 1.3 million vehicles would have left Jakarta by today, the last day of the Ramadan fasting month. – The Straits Times
21 road deaths on Day 5 of Op Selamat
For the second day in a row, the number of road deaths was higher than the national daily average of 18. Twenty-one people were killed in road crashes on Sunday, the fifth day of the nationwide Op Selamat 15 - the highest daily death toll so far this festive season. – New Straits Times
Transformer blast likely caused fire at Chatuchak market
An explosion in an electrical transformer inside Chatuchak market could be behind a fire that hit the world-famous emporium and damaged 110 shops on Sunday night, police said on Monday. – Bangkok Post
Duterte seeks funds for teachers’ pay hike
President Rodrigo Duterte is working on the appeal of public-school teachers for a much-deserved salary increase, Malacañang said on Monday as a new school year started. Teachers are asking for a raise of P10,000 for them to catch up with rising prices and the cost of basic services. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
Myanmar earns the lowest tobacco tax revenue in ASEAN region
Myanmar manufactures 10 billion cigarettes every year, and the government should increase cigarette tax as the tax revenue is the lowest among the ASEAN countries, Dr. Than Sein, the President of Public Health Foundation told the media after the ceremony to mark the World No Tobacco Day in Taw Win Garden Hotel in Yangon on May 29. – Eleven Myanmar
Hun Sen backs Timor Leste ASEAN bid
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday expressed support for Timor-Leste to become the 11th member of ASEAN ahead of a meeting with its Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Dionisio da Costa Babo Soares. Mr Dionisio, who also met with Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn yesterday, is on a two-day trip to Cambodia aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries. – Khmer Times