These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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New programme launched to help SME leaders in Singapore drive transformation and growth efforts
Leaders of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) here will learn how to drive change and growth in their companies as part of a new initiative. The Enterprise Leadership Transformation programme, which was announced at Budget 2020, was launched on Wednesday (Oct 28). The inaugural run will see 60 participants from 38 local SMEs undertake a one-year curriculum designed to address knowledge gaps in leadership and business fundamentals, and provide them with specific guidance in areas such as drawing out execution roadmaps. They would also gain access to different perspectives through peer learning, and engagement with successful entrepreneurs and industry experts. It could provide exposure to potential collaboration opportunities within Singapore and the region, said Enterprise Singapore, which is overseeing the programme. Speaking at the launch at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said there is no going back to the pre Covid-19 world, but noted a collaborative effort is needed to help firms move forward and adapt to the new environment. "The Government can establish the macro environment, but we need business leaders to lead the transformation of your respective businesses. "We can equip you with the resources, we can provide with access to advice from partners... but ultimately, you and your leadership teams are the ones who will make it happen." In his speech, Mr Chan outlined the Government's three-pronged strategy to grow the economy and create good jobs. He said it will nurture the start-up ecosystem, and focus on new growth opportunities and anchor these capabilities in Singapore. – The Straits Times
Malaysia condemns growing international hostility towards Islam
Malaysia has expressed its grave concern over growing open hostility towards Muslims. Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said as a matter of principle, Malaysia strongly condemns any inflammatory rhetoric and provocative act that seeks to defame Islam - as the world has recently witnessed in the forms of populist speeches and the publication of blasphemous caricatures depicting Prophet Muhammad. "Malaysia is committed to upholding freedom of speech and expression as fundamental human rights, as long as these rights are exercised with respect and responsibility in order to not infringe on or violate the rights of others. "In this context, to denigrate and tarnish the Prophet and to associate Islam with terrorism are certainly beyond the scope of such rights. "Such acts are provocative and disrespectful towards Islam and more than two billion Muslims all over the world," he said in a statement tonight. As a democratic and moderate Islamic country with a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, Hishammuddin said Malaysia continues to promote and maintain harmonious relations and peaceful co-existence. This, he said, is done not only among Malaysians of different faiths and convictions, but also in the context of the diverse global community. "Malaysia will continue to work with the international community to promote mutual respect among religions and prevent religious extremism at all levels." – New Straits Times
People in yellow gather at Lumpini Park in support of monarchy
Yellow-clad people gathered at Lumpini Park in Bangkok on Tuesday afternoon to show their support for the royal institution. People wearing yellow clothing started gathering at the public park around 4pm. Some carried photos of His Majesty the King, of King Rama IX and the royal family, and national flags to show their determination to protect the monarchy and the nation. Many kept shouting “We love the King. Long Live the King’’. They demanded that anti-government protesters stop making allegedly offensive remarks about the royal institution. Taya Teepsuwan, who was a core member of the former People's Democratic Reform Committee and is the wife of Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan, on Sunday wrote on her Facebook page asking people to wear yellow shirts and meet at the front of the park at 5pm on Tuesday in a symbolic act of support for the monarchy. Earlier on Tuesday, pro-monarchy activists showed up in front of the United States embassy in Bangkok carrying signs asking Washington to stop its "hybrid war" in Thailand. The group, led by singer Haruethai Muangboonsri, carried several signs written in English accusing the US of hybrid warfare and interfering in Thailand's internal affairs. The pro-monarchy rally was called off peacefully at around 18.30. Dr Tul Sittisomwong said he would later announce the date of gatherings at the French embassy, the Japanese embassy and Thai Summit Building to oust those who are allegedly subverting the monarchy. – Bangkok Post
West Java to random test tourists for COVID-19 during long weekend
The West Java administration will carry out random COVID-19 tests on tourists visiting the province during the long weekend from Oct. 28 to Nov.1, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said on Monday. "Don't be surprised if you're politely stopped by officials from the [COVID-19] task force on your trip and asked to take a COVID-19 test," Ridwan said, adding that the task force would also coordinate with police officers to carry out the program. The West Java COVID-19 task force will use both rapid and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. They will be carried out in outdoor tourist spots during the day and in cafes, bars and nightclubs during the evening. According to Ridwan, the program aims at preventing a spike in new COVID-19 cases after the long weekend, such as what happened after the Idul Adha holiday in July. He urged tourist spots and nightclubs to remain disciplined in implementing health protocols. "Nightclub operators, please pay attention to the maximum capacity [of the venues], the distance between tables and air circulation. If you promise to limit your capacity to only 50 percent, please remain disciplined. Any violation will result in [temporary] closure," Ridwan said. Bandung Deputy Mayor Yana Mulyana urged visitors who planned to visit the city to adhere to health protocols. "We can’t ban people from entering Bandung. So, I urge visitors to remain disciplined in following our health protocols: use masks, keep yourself clean, wash your hands frequently with soap," Yana said. The Transportation Ministry has also ordered random checks on vehicles heading out of Jakarta ahead of the long weekend to ensure every public transportation operator adheres to health protocols. "We will emphasize to the entire ranks of the Transportation Agency that the upcoming holiday is not only a matter of traffic but also the implementation of health protocols," said Budi Setiyadi, the ministry’s land transportation director general. The ministry expects more than 600,000 vehicles to travel out of Jakarta for the long weekend. – The Jakarta Post
Duterte to DOJ: Probe all corrupt acts in gov’t
Saying official corruption had gotten worse, President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Tuesday that he had directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch a sweeping investigation into graft across all government agencies and to put special focus on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which he earlier described as ridden with irregularities. He also ordered Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to prosecute and file charges against people involved in irregularities, whether from the public or private sector. On Tuesday, Mr. Duterte issued a memorandum that expanded the scope of an earlier task force formed to look into allegations of widespread graft at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and authorized Guevarra to create as many panels for the investigation as necessary and to include other government agencies in these groups. The DOJ will look into graft until the end of Duterte’s term on June 30, 2022. Guevarra said it was the “toughest” assignment he had received from the President. “I will need the support and cooperation of the entire government machinery to achieve this singular objective of substantially reducing corruption in [the] government,” he said in a message to reporters. In issuing the directive, Duterte noted that corruption in the country has been thriving. “I have made a pledge … that I will concentrate the last remaining years of my term fighting corruption, because up to now, it is not waning, it is becoming stronger. It’s as if officials of the country are becoming inutile and cannot do anything with the onslaught of corruption,” he said in a televised address. The Philippines fell 14 notches to 113th spot among 180 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index last year. – INQUIRER.net
PM Phúc said VN does not devaluate currency, urges objective assessment from the US
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Monday told the visiting CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation Adam Boehler that Việt Nam does not devalue its currency to generate an unfair trade advantage. The high-level delegation visit – including representatives from the US Department of Treasury (USDT), Department of Commerce, and the US Export-Import Bank (US EximBank) – takes place as the US Government earlier launched a currency manipulation investigation against Việt Nam which it deemed is causing harm to US commerce given the large trade surplus with the US, an allegation Việt Nam has strongly disputed. The Vietnamese Government leader stressed that it is not the purpose of Việt Nam’s currency policies to create a competitive advantage for exports in international trade or support specific industries, in addition to the fact that currency devaluation could undermine its macroeconomic stability, people’s trust and investors’ confidence, resulting in “great harm to the economy.” PM Phúc affirmed that Việt Nam aims to maintain financial stability, prevent shocks and limit impacts from external factors through flexible management of currency tools. The State Bank of Việt Nam manages the exchange rate policy within the framework of a general monetary policy in order to achieve the overarching goal of maintaining macroeconomic stability. PM Phúc asked the Director General of DFC to “have talks” with the President of the United States Donald Trump, the US Trade Representative (USTR) and other US agencies to assist Việt Nam in implementing the Action Plan towards balanced trade that was agreed by the two sides at the end of 2019 and have a more “objective assessment of the real situation in Việt Nam” to serve the end goal of appropriate bilateral cooperation, mutual benefit, mutual development in line with the US commitments to a strong, independent and prosperous Việt Nam, and the US-Việt Nam Comprehensive Partnership. – Viet Nam News
Cambodia’s COVID-19 tally increases to 290 barely 48 hours after PM Hun Sen warned of the resurgence of the deadly virus
Two Cambodian men, who returned to Cambodia from Japan via Seoul and arrived at Phnom Penh International Airport on Monday, October 26, became the latest two victims of COVID-19. They were tested positive and their results were released by the Ministry of Health this morning. This brings the tally with zero deaths and 7 active cases. The two are aged 23 and 34 and highlighted the dangers of the virus, now slowly but surely pushing up the infection numbers one or two at a time and all from passengers, foreigners and locals who are entering Cambodia or are returning home from abroad. On Monday, October 26, Prime Minister Hun Sen, during the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of two bridges linking National Road No. 1 to Koh Pich satellite city via Koh Norea development area in Phnom Penh said “We must not underestimate COVID-19 pandemic. “When we compare the situation of COVID-19 outbreak in Cambodia and Myanmar, in the beginning, the pandemic situation in the two ASEAN countries was nearly similar, but it is now very different.” As of this morning, Myanmar has reported 1,466 new cases, taking its total to 47,666, 25 new deaths, a death toll of 1,1147. The total 290 confirmed cases in the Kingdom include 180 Cambodians, 45 French, 18 Chinese, 13 Malaysians, 9 Indonesians, 7 Americans, 6 British, 3 Vietnamese, 3 Canadians, 1 Belgian, 2 Indians, 1 Kazakhstani, 1 Hungarian, and 1 Polish. – Khmer Times