These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Demand for HDB resale flats remains strong in August: SRX
Sales of Housing Board resale flats remained strong in August while prices grew at the fastest monthly rate since February. There were 1.4 per cent fewer HDB resale flats sold in August compared with July, but this volume was 23.5 per cent higher than the same month last year. In all, there were 2,435 HDB resale transactions in August, flash estimates from real estate portal SRX showed on Thursday (Sept 3). Of the HDB flats sold last month, 40.3 per cent were four-room flats, 26 per cent were five-room flats, 23.2 per cent were three-room flats and 8.8 per cent were executive flats. The rest of the transactions involved multi-generation and two-room flats. OrangeTee & Tie's head of research and consultancy Christine Sun said that the HDB resale market remained strong last month despite the Hungry Ghost Festival from Aug 19 to Sept 16, which typically sees lower sales activity. "The strong sales volume over the past three months is not likely to be a 'blip' after the circuit breaker period," she said. – The Straits Times
Prihatin saved 1.4 million jobs'
The Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package's (Prihatin) Wage Subsidy Programme launched in March has helped over 1.4 million people in the country keep their jobs amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Deputy Finance Minister I Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said it was one of Prihatin's programmes that had shown results so far. "It has assisted 213,688 employers and maintained 1.46 million jobs and, at the same time, reduced unemployment," he told the Dewan Negara yesterday. Rahim added that the effects of various aid measures offered under the Economic Recovery Plan (Penjana), which was a continuation of Prihatin introduced in June, had yet to be seen. "This is because it had just been announced and its implementation is still at an early stage. Therefore, the effectiveness of the initiatives can be measured only in few more months. "The government has set up the Economic Stimulus Implementation and Coordination Unit Between National Agencies (Laksana) under the Finance Ministry. It serves to monitor and evaluate every initiative under the Penjana and Prihatin packages and will announce its implementation performance from time to time," he added. – New Straits Times
Govt plans cash handout
The government plans to spend 45 billion baht on 3,000-baht cash handouts to 15 million people affected by the economic fallout caused by Covid-19, which is expected to inject a cash flow of about 90 billion baht in the economy and boost domestic consumption. Danucha Pichayanan, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, said on Wednesday that a meeting of the Centre for the Administration of the Economic Situation Affected by Covid-19, approved an economic stimulus measure proposed by the Finance Ministry. Under the measure, the government will give 3,000-baht cash handouts to people to buy consumer goods. They are required to register for the cash and the money will be transferred through the Pao Tang app's G-wallet app, similar to the Chim Shop Chai (taste-shop-spend) relief scheme, Mr Danucha said. The Finance Ministry will prepare details of the cash handouts scheme to present to the centre again and the measure is expected to be implemented from next month until the end of the year, he said. – Bangkok Post
Police suspend investigations into candidates running in 2020 regional races
The police will suspend any criminal investigations involving potential or registered candidates running in the 2020 regional elections in December, according to a telegram issued by National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis. In the telegram dated Aug. 31, Idham argued that any legal proceedings against candidates in the run-up to elections would further encourage mudslinging and smear campaigns to influence the election outcomes. The telegram, signed by the chief detective of the police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) Comr. Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo on behalf of Idham, is also aimed at deterring any political influence among police officers and to further prevent irresponsible stakeholders from using the police in the interests of rival candidates in the elections. National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Argo Yuwono confirmed the telegram on Wednesday. "If the police proceed with any criminal investigations against candidates, the police could be accused of not being neutral. That's what we have to avoid,” Argo said as quoted by kompas.com. – The Jakarta Post
Duterte in ‘good state of health,’ says Duque
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III assured on Thursday that President Rodrigo Duterte is in a “good state of health” despite his earlier admission that his Barrett’s oesophagus condition is worsening and may progress to stage 1 cancer. Duque said Duterte is “okay” based on his observations during their Cabinet meetings. “He is okay. Whenever we meet, his directives are clear. His words and his frame of mind are very clear,” Duque told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo. “He is in a good state of health,” Duque said of the 75-year-old President. “He is able to clearly deliver orders to us and relay his priorities to the Cabinet. He is okay, his complexion is okay. I don’t see any problem. He is in a good state of health.” Duterte had previously admitted in public that he has Buerger’s disease and Barrett’s oesophagus. He also said he has been experiencing occasional headaches and has spinal issues which he attributes to a motorcycle accident when he was 68 years old. – INQUIRER.net
Real estate booms in HCM City’s east as innovation city takes shape
HCM City’s plan to establish Thủ Đức City by merging districts 2, 9 and Thủ Đức has caused property prices in the three eastern districts to increase sharply. The prices of some existing apartments on Đồng Văn Cống Street and Hà Nội Highway in District 2 have increased by nearly VNĐ300-400 million (US$12,944-17,259) each since early 2020. Many projects in District 9 such as Him Lam Phú An and Jamila Khang Điền have seen prices increase to VNĐ37-40 million ($1,596-1,725) per square metre from VNĐ30-35 million ($1,294-1,510) last year. Others such as Safira Khang Điền, Saigon Gateway and Hausneo have gone up from VNĐ27-30 million to VNĐ35-37 million. Prices at Vinhomes Grand Park have increased from VNĐ30-38 million late last year to VNĐ35-45 million now. Metro Star in District 9 increased to VNĐ45 million in the second phase of sale, up VNĐ10 million from the first. According to a survey conducted by Chợ Tốt online real estate platform, apartment prices in the three eastern districts have increased by 18 per cent compared to April. Most of the city’s key transportation projects like the Hà Nội Highway, Saigon River Tunnel, HCM City-Long Thành-Dầu Giây expressway, and Metro Line No1 pass through the east. Besides, a series of further transportation projects are planned such as the Thủ Đức bridge to the Thanh Đa peninsula in Bình Thạnh District, Ring Roads No. 2 and 3 that will link the entire eastern area and the Cát Lái Bridge connecting District 2 with Nhơn Trạch District in Đồng Nai. – Viet Nam News
Sokha urges drop of all charges
Former opposition leader Kem Sokha on Wednesday reiterated his call for the court to drop all charges against him. The call came as he marked three years since his arrest on a treason charge. However, Ministry of Justice officials said the court can only make a decision based on facts, the law, witnesses and evidence. In his Facebook post, Sokha said the ongoing case costs him freedom and rights in politics, and opportunities to serve the people and nation. He said Cambodia needs to take positive steps rather than suspect negativity at a time when the world is facing the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis. “Under these circumstances, Cambodians should have the spirit of national reconciliation and unity. I should also have full rights and freedom to be able to serve the nation and the Cambodian people. “I can contribute to finding solutions to the most important challenges, including the livelihoods of Khmer citizens which have been affected by the global economic crisis,” he said. Sokha claimed there is no specific and sufficient evidence against him and it is clear he has no intention of committing or supporting any acts that harm the national interest. He said national and international leaders, as well as the judges, understand and recognise he has no intention of committing or supporting violence. – The Phnom Penh Post