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.
Coronavirus: 2-year-old Singaporean girl among 18 new community cases
Infections in the community have increased with a two-year-old Singaporean girl among the 18 new community cases announced on Sunday (July 5) by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The 17 other community cases reported on Sunday comprise five Singaporeans and permanent residents, two work pass holders and 10 work permit holders. 10 of the community cases today are linked to previous cases or clusters. Among them, five had been identified as contacts of previously confirmed cases, and had been tested during their quarantine. Another four cases, comprising two pairs of housemates, were detected as part of proactive screening of workers. They are all asymptomatic. MOH said that the four could have had past infections, but as a precautionary measure, all others staying in the same residences as them will be placed on quarantine. The remaining case was tested after having symptoms. He was a colleague of an earlier case, but they were working in different sections of the company. – The Straits Times
PM tells civil servants not to let red tape hinder Covid-19 recovery efforts
In his first monthly address to staff of the Prime Minister's Department, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin urged civil servants not to let bureaucracy affect the government's Covid-19 recovery plans. According to the Prime Minister, the government will re-evaluate its decision-making procedures at all levels. "Previously, we would take a month to resolve certain issues or give approvals for certain requests (by the public). But given the current situation, such a time frame to settle problems can't be applied anymore. "We are in a critical time. Malaysia has managed to recover faster than other countries and we don't want countries that are left behind (now) to overtake us. "Do not let bureaucracy and administrative problems halt our efforts for recovery," he said in his speech, attended by all ministers in the Prime Minister's Department, as well as representatives from 56 government agencies. This was Muhyiddin's first monthly assembly with his department since assuming office on March 1 amidst the Covid-19 outbreak. – New Straits Times
Task force to be formed to track tourists
The Royal Thai Police is forming a special task force to track down tourists infected with Covid-19 as Thailand prepares to reopen its airspace to travellers. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) will be in charge of tracking tourists, according to a source. National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda has appointed Pol Lt Gen Sutin Suppuang, commissioner of the CIB to establish a "Covid-19 Investigation Division" to avoid any potential future outbreaks, the source said. The Covid-19 Investigation Division will contain the spread of the virus, which might enter the country by way of foreign tourists or Thai returnees when the airspace is reopened. Even though the government has yet to open its airspace to international flights, he said he has a blueprint on how the division will operate. Staff will be recruited from the Thai Marine Police Division, Highway Police and Natural Resources and Environment Crime Suppression Division which normally work with the tourism sector. – Bangkok Post
Indonesia says trade, investment deal with Australia takes effect
An Indonesia-Australia deal that eliminates most trade tariffs between the two nations and aims to open up investment, took effect on Sunday, Indonesia's Trade Ministry said. The Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA), signed last year and ratified by the Indonesia's parliament in February, aims to boost bilateral trade that was worth US$7.8 billion in 2019. "COVID-19 has resulted in economic slowdown in nearly all countries," Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto said in a statement. "IA-CEPA momentum can be used to maintaining Indonesian trade and improve competitiveness." In a signing ceremony last year, the two countries said the pact would eliminate all Australian tariffs on imports from Indonesia, while 94% of Indonesian tariffs would be gradually removed. – The Jakarta Post
DOF to ban online sale of ‘sin’ products
While cigarettes and liquor are enjoying brisk sales online in the time of pandemic and are delivered to the comforts of home of buyers, who may include minors, the Department of Finance (DOF) wants to stop the sale of the “sin” products in digital marketplaces. To ensure that these products are not accessible to minors, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on Saturday said “we will move to ban online sales of cigarettes and liquor.” The Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 bars cigarette makers from advertising, including on the internet, but there’s no law preventing them from selling in online marketplaces. Presidential Decree No. 1619, issued in 1979, prohibits the sale to minors of “volatile substances that induce intoxication.’’ Amid the quarantine, which limits the movement of people and access to certain goods and services, online sales are booming – and those of cigarettes are no exemption. – INQUIRER.net
National retail sales, service revenues up in June
Việt Nam’s total retail sales and service revenue hit VNĐ431 trillion (US$18.6 billion) in June, up 6.2 per cent month-on-month and 5.3 per cent year-on-year. However, the figure in the first six months of this year decreased by 0.8 per cent to about VNĐ2.38 quadrillion (US$103 billion) compared to the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). Total revenue in the second quarter was VNĐ1.15 quadrillion, down 5.8 per cent from the previous quarter and 4.6 per cent from a year ago. During the first half of the year, the retail sector earned about VNĐ1.89 quadrillion, an annual increase of 3.4 per cent, the office said. The rise was attributable to the abundant supply of goods and thriving online shopping, particularly during the COVID-19 social distancing period, reported chinhphu.vn. Online shopping has become increasingly popular, especially when social distancing measures were put in place. – Viet Nam News
Cambodia Gives Green Light to Reopening Casinos
Cambodia casinos will restart operations, the country’s Prime Minister, Hun Sen, confirmed on Friday. With operators now having an official green light by the government, estimated 200 casinos are expected to restart. The approval comes after the Ministry of Health has worked out the necessary safety measures to defer the spread of COVID-19 on the premises of the casinos. Casinos had to shut down on April 1 with the novel coronavirus’ cases increasing rapidly. Yet, the peak is now deemed to have passed, giving the government and health officials some leeway in restarting operations. According to health authorities, the incidence of COVID-19 infections in Southeast Asia has stabilized. Before they can launch, all operators planning to do so would have to make a petition to the Ministry of Health and familiarize themselves with the set of prevention measures that need to be observe before they can reopen. – The Cambodia Daily