These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Cross-border travel between Singapore and Malaysia kicks off
Factory operator Nurul Hidayah Norezan was among dozens of Malaysians who made their way across the Causeway to Singapore on Monday (Aug 17), as the two countries' cross-border travel arrangements kick in. As there is no public transport plying the 1km-long Causeway, Ms Nurul, 28, joined others in making their way on foot in the early hours of the morning. The journey took a little longer than usual at over an hour as they were walking with luggage in tow. She used to commute daily between Singapore and Johor for her job here, but has been away from it since March, when Kuala Lumpur decided to close Malaysia's borders to stem the spread of the coronavirus, catching her and thousands of Malaysians off-guard. Ms Nurul told The Straits Times at the Woodlands Train Checkpoint: "I'm excited to be back to work again but at the same time I'm sad that I'll be separated from my one-year-old child. It was difficult parting from him but at least I know he'll be in good hands." Her mother will be taking care of her only child, she added. Dozens of Malaysians were also leaving Singapore on Monday morning to go back to their home towns. – The Straits Times
D614G mutation: No reason to sound alarm, say experts
While the discovery of the "super spreader" variation of the Covid-19 coronavirus in Malaysia is a cause for concern, experts believe that there is no reason to sound the alarm just yet. They believe that the authorities' ability to manage the situation, coupled with overall public compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOP) in place, will help steer Malaysia to calmer waters. The Health Ministry yesterday confirmed that it has detected a D614G-type mutation of Covid-19 in the culture tests of samples taken from three cases linked to the Sivagangga cluster and one from the Ulu Tiram Cluster. The D614G variant has earned a distinct reputation for reportedly being 10 times more likely to infect other individuals and easier to spread by "super spreader" individuals, compared with the previous D614 variant. Professor Datuk Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud, an epidemiologist with Universiti Malaya, said it had yet to be proven that the presence of the D614G mutant variant would affect the severity of Covid-19 in Malaysia. He believed it should not have much effect on public health measures for now. "This is because the same public health measures in place are effective for the previous D614 and the current G614 variants," he said. – New Straits Times
Students press demands
An anti-government group has said it will stick to its original demands while at least 10,000 protesters rallied at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok on Sunday, in what appeared to be the largest demonstration against the government since Covid-19 restrictions were relaxed. Thatthep Ruangprapaikitseree, the leader of the Free People group – the new name of the Free Youth group –announced on Sunday that the group will stand by its three demands. In a statement released on Sunday, the group called on the government to stop harassing individuals who are exercising their rights in accordance with democratic principles and set up a charter-drafting body to come up with a new constitution based on the will of the people. The group also urged the government to dissolve parliament to allow the people to exert their right to elect their own representatives, by amending Section 269 and 272 of the constitution. The group also reiterated its anti-coup stance and rejected the establishment of a national unity government. – Bangkok Post
150 prominent national figures form coalition to ‘save Indonesia’
As many as 150 national figures have reportedly agreed to form the Save Indonesia Coalition (KAMI), a movement that aims to prevent any deviations from Indonesia’s founding principles, former Muhammadiyah chairman and the coalition’s cofounder Din Syamsudin said. The public figures include prominent government critics such as Rachmawati Soekarnoputri – the daughter of Indonesia’s first president Soekarno – former coordinating maritime affairs minister Rizal Ramli, former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. (ret.) Gatot Nurmantyo and Islam Defenders Front (FPI) chairman Sobri Lubis. Din said the coalition would be officially declared at the Proclamation Monument in Central Jakarta at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, a day after the country’s Independence Day. He said KAMI was formed because its founders all felt the country had strayed from its founding principles and that political parties and the House of Representatives had failed to uphold the will of the people. – The Jakarta Post
PhilHealth still has P714 million debt to Red Cross for COVID-19 testing
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. still has to pay about P714 million to the Philippine Red Cross for its COVID-19 testing. PhilHealth Vice President Oscar Abadu revealed this on Monday during a House probe on the state insurer’s corruption allegations. PhilHealth still has P714 million debt to Red Cross for COVID-19 testing. The agency recently made a payment of about P123 million to Red Cross but it still has to settle its payment of about P714 million to the humanitarian organization. Abadu explained that it cannot process immediately the claims of Red Cross as it was only submitted recently. “We have already paid last Tuesday around P123 million. However, they submitted a new list of billing since Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and that is the claim for the P714 million,” he said. “So far, kaka-receive pa lang namin, and we cannot also process immediately while it was just submitted three, four days ago,” the PhilHealth official added. Red Cross chairman and CEO Senator Richard Gordon earlier said the organization could suspend its COVID-19 testing due to the failure of PhilHealth to pay its remaining balances. – INQUIRER.net
Ministry of Public Security awarded first-class military honour
The Ministry of Public Security was awarded a first-class Military Exploit Order at a ceremony held in Hanoi on Sunday to mark its 75th traditional day (August 19) and the 15th anniversary of “All people protect national security” festival (August 19). Chaired by Minister of Public Security Gen To Lam, the event was attended by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, former President Tran Duc Luong, former PM Nguyen Tan Dung, former National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An, permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong, among others. Speaking at the event, PM Phuc hailed the public security force for fulfilling assigned tasks and making great contributions to the country’s achievements. He expressed his gratitude to generations of public security officers and soldiers who have helped protect national independence and freedom while ensuring social security and order. He said the public security force must protect the Party and State, socialism, national security, social safety and order, safeguard territorial sovereignty, maintain socio-political stability and create an environment of peace, security and order for national development. – Viet Nam News
Cambodian students in limbo as Japan bars their entry
The Japanese embassy in Cambodia has confirmed that Cambodians will be denied entry to Japan because direct flights from the Kingdom to that country have been suspended. The question of returning to Japan arose as some 55 Cambodian students are currently stranded in the Kingdom and unable to return there to continue their studies, according to Cambodia Students Association in Japan president Men Vuthy. “Of the 55 students, about 10 are here for home visits and research purposes while the others are supposed to leave for Japan on scholarships but are unable to get there,” he said. – The Cambodia Daily