These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Analysts, firms welcome extension of Jobs Support Scheme to cushion Covid-19 impact
Companies and analysts welcomed the extension of the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) to cushion the heavy impact of the coronavirus pandemic, but added that it may not be enough on its own to save some firms, such as those in tourism. OCBC Bank head of treasury research and strategy Selena Ling said: "Seven more months is quite generous and will help tide (over) distressed companies during these challenging times. Hopefully, by March 2021, there may be greater clarity that things are turning around." She added that the tapering off is rather restrained as the support could have been cut by half or even not extended at all for some industries. CIMB Private Banking economist Song Seng Wun noted that the scheme has been calibrated such that every business gets help, even those at the third tier. "The tiered approach is practical as not all businesses can get back on their feet to the same degree. Even the 10 per cent support can help, such as to pay the Central Provident Fund contribution of staff. From an aggregate standpoint, it is about saving as many jobs as possible." – The Straits Times
Malaysia launches Sukuk Prihatin, maiden digital Islamic bond
The government has launched the RM500 million Sukuk Prihatin which aims to raise funds from the public and corporates who wish to help contribute towards the Covid-19 Fund. Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Sukuk Prihatin was part of the 6R initiative launched by the government to help tackle issues faced during the Covid-19 pandemic. He said the fund raised from the bottom up initiative would be used to modernise telecommunications network in the rural area to help students get access to education through digital channel. It is also to provide further assistance to the micro, small and medium enterprises, as well as the healthcare sector's research on infectious diseases. "The Sukuk Prihatin, a bottom up assistance, was launched on the back of overwhelming support from the public and corporates to help the groups who are affected by Covid-19 pandemic and movement restrictions. "In response to this support, we are launching Sukuk Prihatin to allow the public as well as corporates who wished to help us in combating this pandemic and helping towards the recovery of the economy. – New Straits Times
Charter rewrite takes first step
An attempt to write a new charter, seen as a crucial step to defuse tension and resolve political conflicts, got off the ground on Monday after House Speaker Chuan Leekpai accepted the opposition-sponsored motion seeking to revise Section 256 to clear the way for a charter drafting body to be formed. Pheu Thai leader Sompong Amornvivat filed the motion in the presence of representatives from opposition parties – Prachachat, Puea Chat, Thai People Power and Seriruamthai. The Move Forward (Kao Klai) Party did not have a representative accompanying the opposition camp. According to Mr Chuan, the process to verify the legitimacy of the motion would begin immediately and it would be placed on the House meeting agenda within 15 days. Senate speaker Pornpetch Wi- chitcholchai brushed off demands by student activists that the Senate must be dissolved, saying they needed to understand that the Senate and the government were governed by the charter and related laws. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday shrugged off calls for the government to meet their demands next month, saying the government would have to adhere to the procedures. – Bangkok Post
'It's for humanity': Indonesians step up to volunteer in vaccine trials
In the past several months since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Indonesia, people have come together to help each other amid what many see as an insufficient government response. Public donations have supplied front-line workers with personal protective equipment and crowdfunding campaigns have been initiated to pay for phone and internet data for students who are distance learning. Now, with the country pinning its hopes on developing a vaccine, public participation appears to be once again playing a vital role. At least 1,620 Indonesians are scheduled to take part in the final stage of clinical testing, phase III trials, of a COVID-19 candidate vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech. Herlina Agustin, 52, said she had wanted to participate in the trials since she heard the news of the candidate vaccine’s arrival in Indonesia in July for clinical testing by state pharmaceutical holding company Bio Farma. – The Jakarta Post
Magnitude 6.6 quake rattles central Philippines
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake shook several provinces in Bicol region and the Visayas Tuesday morning and state seismologists say that aftershocks are expected. The strong quake was centred five kilometres southwest of Cataingan town in Masbate and it rattled a large swath of central Philippines, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Paul Alanis, Phivolcs resident volcanologist in Albay, said the tremor that struck at 8:03 a.m. was felt in Bicol provinces, in the Visayas and in Quezon province. It occurred at a shallow depth of one kilometre. Its magnitude was initially placed at 6.5. Initial damage report by the Masbate disaster risk reduction and management council indicated that some structures collapsed and cracks were seen in buildings including the town hall in Cataingan. Infrastructures were also damaged in Uson town. – INQUIRER.net
Viet Nam to have support packages to cover all affected by COVID-19: MPI
The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) will look to extend some economic stimulus policies until 2021 if the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Minister Nguyen Chi Dung held a meeting to discuss solutions amid the second wave of the pandemic in Hanoi late last week, saying: "MPI will work on policies that best support affected stakeholders and stimulate economic growth." According to an MPI report, the pandemic had a negative impact on almost all economic sectors and industries, especially aviation, tourism, accommodation and catering services, which forced many businesses to go bankrupt, suspend operations, or narrow their business scale. The pandemic also seriously affected the income and employment of many workers. In the first wave of the pandemic, Vietnam introduced two main support packages to help local people and businesses. They included a fiscal policy which was to extend deadlines and reduce the burden of tax and fee payment worth VND180 trillion (US$7.78 billion) and a social security support package worth VND62 trillion. However, some experts said the effectiveness of the above support packages was still quite limited. – Viet Nam News
Mystery in Cambodia over missing Covid-positive Chinese
Cambodia’s Health Ministry is concerned about six Chinese nationals who tested positive for Covid-19 but are now unaccounted for after their embassy in Phnom Penh questioned the results, medical sources said. After the initial tests were conducted around July 25 following their arrival in Phnom Penh, a Chinese embassy official urged the ministry not to include the results in its daily reports which are made public through government-backed news outlets. Sources said the six were then retested and all the results turned out negative, which one medical practitioner described “as a result that would be almost impossible to obtain.” – The Cambodia Daily