These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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2 S'porean private plane pilots make emergency landing on North-South Expressway in Johor
Two Singaporean pilots flying a small private plane were forced into an emergency landing on the North-South Expressway in Johor on Sunday morning (Nov 22), after their plane experienced technical difficulties. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said in a statement that both pilots are in stable condition, without elaborating. Its chief executive, Captain Chester Voo, said that one of the pilots requested for a return landing to Senai International Airport in Johor Baru at 10.40am due to technical problems. "The private aircraft, operated by Premier Air Singapore, was en route from Seletar Airport in Singapore to Melaka," he said, adding that it is a light aircraft type Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. Captain Voo also said that the plane eventually landed on the part of the highway near Sedenak in the district of Kulai. "The two Singaporean pilots on board are reportedly in stable condition and the aircraft has been moved to a position that does not obstruct traffic on the highway." He said that the search and rescue team have completed all required tasks. News outlet Utusan Malaysia, citing an unidentified source, said that the pilots decided to make an emergency landing after they heard a small explosion from the plane's engine. Several pictures and videos circulating online show the plane parked on the road shoulder along the expressway. Another video shows about a dozen men pushing the plane along the road to an unknown location. A fireman activated to the scene told Utusan Malaysia that there was traffic congestion on the expressway after the plane landed. An inspection of the plane found that it did not catch fire and that the pilots did not suffer any injuries, the fireman added. The Air Accident Investigation Bureau, a body under Malaysia's Ministry of Transport, will investigate the incident. – The Straits Times
Animal shelters hard hit by pandemic
While Malaysians have rushed to the aid of Zoo Negara amid its financial woes, the national zoo isn't the only casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic. Animal welfare groups, which have been relying on public and corporate donations to keep their operations afloat, have also been hard hit by the effects of the Movement Control Order and lockdowns, and are seeking support from Malaysians. Some have resorted to thinking outside the box to raise funds and keep the animals fed and cared for. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor is banking on the cuteness of dogs and cats adopted at the centre, as well as those owned by sponsors, in selling its 2021 calendar. All donations made towards calendar purchases come with SPCA tax-exemption receipts. Those interested can visit SPCA's Education, Rehabilitation & Adoption Centre in Jalan Kerja Ayer Lama here to buy the calendar priced at RM25 each, or email to spca.marcomm@gmail. com and arrange for delivery with a courier fee. SPCA Selangor is home to some 100 rescued dogs and puppies as well as over 80 cats and kittens waiting to be adopted, needing about RM90,000 monthly to keep afloat and care for the animals. Its chairman, Christine Chin, said the cost included pet food, medicine, as well spaying and neutering strays. Like other animal shelters, SPCA relies on donations from individuals and corporate bodies for its operations, although it has become more challenging for them due to health and safety concerns amid fears of Covid-19, with numerous programmes cancelled and restrictions placed on walk-in guests. The Malaysian Animal Welfare Association (Mawa) is seeking funds to build its shelter on a plot of land it acquired in Hulu Langat, Selangor. Founder and president S. Mukunnan, however, said the association was facing challenges in raising the funds needed to complete the construction of the building, with the pandemic compounding the problems. "Mawa has two shelters in different locations. Due to logistic and resource constraints, there is an urgent need to consolidate both shelters, which prompted us to acquire the land. "However, we don't have enough money to finish the construction of the shelter that is 20 to 30 per cent completed. "We need RM16,000 complete phase 1 and RM25,000 for phase two of the shelter relocation," he said, adding that the association needed about RM16,000 to cover the monthly operational cost. In addition, the association has outstanding veterinary bills of RM9,000. Mukunnan said the association is reaching out to Malaysians to donate to this cause. Donations can be made to Maybank account 562384524376 (Persatuan Kebajikan Haiwan Malaysia). – New Straits Times
Buri Ram community selected for ganja pilot project
A community near a hospital in Buri Ram province has been selected by Cannhealth institute to be the first to be allowed to harvest medical marijuana at home under a ministry-sanctioned pilot project that is expected to start early next year. Dr Kitti Losuwanrak, director of Cannhealth Institute, under the Ministry of Public Health, said on Sunday the pilot project will start in January if all of its proposals are approved. The project is part of the ministry’s campaign to enable ordinary citizens to grow marijuana at home for medical purposes. The initiative is led by Anutin Charnvirakul, Minister of Public Health. Cannhealth Institute will submit the details on the homegrown cannabis project to the Mr Anutin for his final approval. The project would still need approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because growing homegrown marijuana is still illegal, even if it is meant for medical use. The government at the end of 2018 approved a law to legalise the medical use of marijuana but only when approved by the state. “If approved, Buri Ram province will become the first in the country where people can grow cannabis in their homes for medical purposes without facing legal action,” Dr Kitti told the media yesterday. The plan involves 10 households in a community near the Ban Noen Malai Hospital in the province’s Khu Muang district. Each house would be allowed to grow six cannabis plants in its garden. “Villagers can grow cannabis in their homes,” Dr Kitti said. “All they need is [sturdy] fences. They need to use non-contaminated soil and water for harvesting because we only accept quality, chemical-free cannabis,” he noted. The community was selected because villagers showed interest and the ability to comply with ministry rules. They were also chosen to participate in the pilot project because the villagers were willing to work with the Ban Noen Malai Hospital. Dr Kitti said the pilot project could be the pretext for others to be allowed to grow marijuana for medical use at home. At the same time, the health ministry is pushing to have the kingdom’s narcotics law amended to allow people to allow the practice. “The Ministry of Public Health want to observe the feasibility of homegrown marijuana by using this pilot as a test case,” Dr Kitti said. “If the outcome is encouraging, the ministry is going to expand the project to other provinces.” – Bangkok Post
Bio Farma aims to submit interim review on Sinovac vaccine in January
PT Bio Farma has announced that the state-owned pharmaceutical company plans to submit its interim results from the third and final trial phase of the Sinovac vaccine to the Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) in January 2021. The interim report is to include the results of the phase three clinical trials of the vaccine conducted in China and Brazil, which started prior to the trials in Indonesia. The interim results are intended to provide a basis for the BPOM to approve the issuance of emergency use authorization (EUA) for the vaccine. “Hopefully, we will obtain emergency [use] approval in the third or fourth week in January,” Bio Farma president director Honesti Basyir said on Thursday. He added that the third phase trials of the Sinovac vaccine involved 1,620 volunteers at six research centres in Bandung, West Java, with 1,603 volunteers receiving their second injection of the candidate vaccine on Nov. 13. Meanwhile, 1,523 volunteers were now being monitored. “We already took their blood samples two weeks after the injection. We have also conducted a neutrality test with the Health Research and Development Agency,” Honesti said, referring to the Health Ministry’s R&D agency. In response to a question on any unexpected adverse reactions among volunteers, Honesti said that Bio Farm had not encountered any serious events that could halt the clinical trials. He also added that Bio Farma was currently preparing its facilities and human resources for mass-producing the vaccine, and that the BPOM had inspected its production facility at the end of October. “We will organize training workshops, such as for media observers, to ensure that the vaccine is produced safely at Bio Farma,” he said. Vivi Setiawaty, who heads the ministry’s Center for Biomedical Research and Basic Health Technology, said that the centre had started testing the Sinovac vaccine for neutrality in early November. The test analyses the candidate vaccine’s immunogenicity, or its ability to produce an immune response, and uses blood samples collected from the trial volunteers. “So far, we still have yet to obtain the results, we have only validated the test,” she said. Separately, BPOM head Penny K. Lukito said the agency would approve an EUA if the interim review on the Sinovac vaccine showed a minimum efficacy rate of 50 percent, the standard approved by the drug authorities of several countries at a World Health Organization (WHO) forum. To put it simply, said Penny, the vaccine should protect at least 50 out of 100 COVID-19 patients. “The usual requirement is 70 percent, but we have been given leeway during the pandemic,” she said. – The Jakarta Post
Drilon: 2021 calamity fund ‘totally inadequate’
The P16-billion calamity fund in the 2021 national budget is “totally inadequate” considering that recent typhoons brought about billions worth of damage in the country, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Monday. He noted that the three typhoons – Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses – that wreaked havoc in the country brought about P34 billion in damages in infrastructure and agriculture. “From these three typhoons alone, you’re talking about P34 billion in damages, and next year you’ll only have P16 billion in the calamity fund,” Drilon said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel. “So again, the P16 billion that is in the budget for calamity funds, is totally Rally inadequate,” he added. He noted that the P16 billion is under the budget of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The agency, he said, uses the budget for “immediate relief” to victims of calamities such as typhoons. “We have the calamity fund which is tapped immediately, if and when, or even simultaneously with the quick response funds of the other department,” the senator said. Drilon likewise thumbed down the proposal to create a Department of Disaster Resilience as this will add another layer of bureaucracy. “What we need is additional disaster funds, not additional bureaucracy,” he said. For its part, the House of Representatives will be seeking a P5-billion increase under the proposed 2021 budget’s calamity fund for the rehabilitation of areas devastated by recent typhoons. – INQUIRER.net
PM Phúc: Efforts needed to build sustainable, inclusive, resilient future
To overcome current challenges, countries need to stay united, build trust, intensify cooperation and share joint responsibility towards sustainable, inclusive development in which no state or body is left behind, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has said. Speaking at the second discussion held online on November 22 within the framework of the G20 summit, the leader also called on the G20 members to cooperate with the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary and the World Trade Organisation, among others, to actively create new development foundations so as to overcome the challenges and narrow the development gap among the countries. The COVID-19 pandemic which has driven tens of millions of people into poverty, natural disasters, inequality, environmental pollution, poverty, digitalisation gap, and food and water source security remain global challenges that no single country can deal with, PM Phúc pointed out. He asked G20 members to provide financial and technological support to developing countries for realising sustainable development goals, and affirmed Việt Nam’s commitment in implement the Paris Agreement, striving to reduce the total greenhouse gas emissions by 9 percent with domestic resources by 2030 and by 27 percent with international support. Peace, stability, cooperation for joint development are pre-conditions for sustainable and inclusive development, the leader stressed, pointing out that this is only available when international relations are maintained through the law-based multilateral systems and mutual respect, understanding, cooperation and trust among the countries. This is an important prerequisite for the G20, the UN and other multilateral bring into full play their role in addressing global issues in the new context, PM Phúc said. At the meeting, G20 leaders stressed the pandemic has made the efforts for sustainable development become more urgent. They also emphasised the important role of the G20 in pushing up the scheduled implementation of the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development, and further empowering women and youth. Since 2010, Việt Nam has been invited to the G20 summits for five times. PM Nguyễn Xuân Phúc’s participation in and addresses at this one have affirmed Việt Nam’s active and responsible contributions as the ASEAN Chair 2020 to the global issue. – Viet Nam News
Vaccine relief promised: Australia to provide assistance under Covax initiative
Australia will provide COVID-19 vaccine assistance to Cambodia, under the Covax initiative, after the World Health Organization approves one or more currently being tested by several countries. The announcement of COVID-19 vaccine assistance to Cambodia was made during a meeting between Australian Ambassador to Cambodia, Pablo Kang and Cambodian Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng on Friday afternoon. During a meeting at the Ministry of Health, Kang said the Australian government would provide COVID-19 vaccine assistance to Cambodia when the WHO announces it for official use in the future. “The Australian Government has announced a grant of AUD 500 million (about $360 million) to the Covax initiative, a project to develop and distribute the COVID-19 vaccine, which was initiated by the WHO, at the time when the vaccine is effective, usable and available to supply countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, including Cambodia,” he said. Kang confirmed that the Australian grant to the Covax initiative would provide COVID-19 vaccines to help with the above-mentioned countries and public health-related work. “Vaccines are currently being tested for their effectiveness and ability to be used effectively and evaluated by the World Health Organization,” he said. “In addition, Australia will strengthen cooperation with Cambodia on human resource training through scholarships,” he added. Bun Heng thanked the Australian government and people for their support to the health sector in Cambodia. “Australia has provided many benefits for Cambodia and especially during COVID-19 when it will make available a vaccine to Cambodia in the future and train human resources,” he said. The minister also recalled the cooperation in the field of health between the two countries, especially from 2007 until the present. He said the Australian government has provided cooperation to tune of AUD 145 million (about $106 million) in a bilateral agreement. At the ASEAN-Australia Summit last weekend, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a head-turning new package of economic, development and security measures to support Southeast Asia’s recovery from COVID-19. He said the package totals over AUD 500 million ($365 million) and comes on top of regular development cooperation programmes – around AUD 65 million ($50 million) annually in Cambodia – and a recent announcement of a further AUD 500 million ($365 million) to assist Australia’s Indo-Pacific neighbours to roll out a COVID-19 vaccine. – Khmer Times