These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Singapore contributes US$5 million to ensure lower-income nations get Covid-19 vaccine access
The Republic will contribute US$5 million (S$6.6 million) to a global initiative to ensure sufficient production of Covid-19 vaccines and access for poorer nations. The Advance Market Commitment (AMC) is a mechanism under the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access (Covax) Facility. It aims to incentivise manufacturers to produce sufficient quantities of Covid-19 vaccines, and to ensure access for developing countries. In a statement, the Health Ministry and Foreign Affairs Ministry said this "will help support 92 low- and lower-middle-income countries' access to Covid-19 vaccines through the Covax Facility". AMC-eligible countries include several ASEAN countries, as well as small states globally, the ministries noted. The eligible ASEAN countries are Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam. The Covax Facility is a global risk-sharing mechanism that seeks to procure, equitably allocate and deliver two billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines by the end of 2021. It does this through supporting the research, development and manufacturing of a wide range of vaccine candidates, and negotiating their pricing. As of Nov 25, Singapore is one of 97 self-financing participants in the facility. The facility's implementing partners are the World Health Organisation; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. Singapore also co-chairs the Friends of the Covax Facility group with Switzerland to support the work of the facility. The two ministries said that the pandemic has had a significant impact on public health, society and the economy both at home and abroad. "The virus does not respect borders, and no one is safe until everyone is safe," they said, adding that "the successful development of safe and efficacious vaccines is a critical step towards overcoming the pandemic". Said the ministries: "Singapore will continue to work closely with our international partners, in particular, the United Nations; the World Health Organisation; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to advance vaccine multilateralism and forge a global response to this pandemic." – The Straits Times
Malaysia drafts natural gas roadmap as part of National Energy Policy, to be released in Q1 2021
Malaysia is drafting a Natural Gas Roadmap (NGR) as a continuation of the market liberalisation and to further future proof the gas industry, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said. The roadmap was part of the overall National Energy Policy to be announced in the first quarter of 2021, Muhyiddin said at the 7th International Energy Forum-International Gas Union (IEF-IGU) Ministerial Gas Forum yesterday. He said the blueprints would serve as an important policy framework in energy sector under the 12th Malaysia Plan spanning 2021 till 2025. "The NGR, among others, strives to optimise the value of indigenous gas resources, enhance security of supply and access to cost competitive gas, amongst others." Muhyiddin said numerous initiatives and infrastructure had been established to bolster the use of gas within the country and beyond its shores. "Malaysia's global innovation in gas with the completion of the world's first operational floating LNG (FLNG) facility in 2016 with the capacity to produce 1.2 million tonnes of LNG per year has allowed it to optimise previously stranded gas fields. "This is followed by the second FLNG expected to go into commercial operations next year," he said. Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the strength and openness of Malaysia's economy had provided a solid foundation for foreign investments to grow and flourish. He said as one of the fastest growing economies in the Asia Pacific region, Malaysia's robust and thriving natural gas industry offered a plethora of attractive market opportunities, across the gas value chain. "With 42 trillion cubic feet, Malaysia is blessed with the second largest proven natural gas reserves in ASEAN. To meet the rising demand for clean energy, Malaysia's indigenous gas production, supplemented by regasification facilities, ensures security of supply for long-term energy sustainability. "This also helps to sustain demand, while solutions are being developed to render technically and commercially challenging reserves more viable," he added. Mustapa said Malaysia's abundant gas reserves and security of supply was further underpinned by its reputation as one of the world's most reliable LNG suppliers - with a total LNG production of almost 36 million tonnes per annum. – New Straits Times
Arkhom calls for tax reforms
Thailand needs to reform tax structures to boost income and prepare for new challenges in the future, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told the Forbes Forum 2020. Speaking as a keynote speaker at "Forbes Thailand: Thailand's Mega Trends Forum 2020", which explored the mega-trends and their impact, Mr Arkhom said there are five current global trends -- technological changes, a shift in global economic power, social and demographic changes, climate change and a green economy, and the shift toward urbanisation. He said the government has clear policies to accommodate these "mega-trends" and the Finance Ministry has fiscal, monetary and capital market tools for this purpose. "We have to tell the truth about the need for state revenue. Therefore, tax structure reforms are needed to boost high-technology and digital competitiveness, create green businesses and support health care and wellness of people in the country," Mr Arkhom said. He said technologies have played a crucial role in society particularly during the lockdown at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak. "One of the global mega-trends is technology. Covid-19 has increased the impact of technology on people and businesses. During the lockdown, we could not order food deliveries if we did not have a smartphone. Even the government projects to support Thai people during Covid-19 relied on smart devices and e-payments," he said. "These trends help accelerate digital literacy among Thai people at a fast pace and many businesses are still moving forwards to digital. Many technology companies, such as Huawei, are educating people on how to use technology. "We are moving forward in this direction, although there is still a lot more room left to increase digital literacy for Thai people," the minister said at the forum held by Forbes Thailand, a magazine published by Bangkok Post Group. – Bangkok Post
Indonesia shatters COVID-19 daily record with more than 8,000 new cases
Indonesia reported on Thursday afternoon the highest daily COVID-19 surge the country has yet seen with 8,369 new cases, shattering all previous single-day records by a few thousand. The latest spike brings the total nationwide tally to 557,877 confirmed cases, 17,355 of which have ended deadly, while 462,553 patients have recovered. Papua recorded the highest single-day jump in the archipelago with 1,775 additional cases. Significant spikes were also reported in West Java and Jakarta with 1,648 and 1,153 cases, respectively. National COVID-19 task force spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito attributed the soaring numbers to a lag in real-time data synchronization between the central government and regional administrations. “For instance, Papua has reported 1,755 new cases, which is the cumulative total of positive cases logged since Nov. 19 until today,” Wiku said during an online press conference. He further urged regional leaders to immediately report the latest COVID-19 data in their respective communities to the central government so as to ensure greater accuracy. Wiku conveyed concern over a reported decline in public compliance with COVID-19 health protocol as the year draws to a close. Citing the latest government data, he said only nine of 512 regencies and municipalities reported proper adherence to the mask-wearing rule. Furthermore, only 4 percent of all regencies and municipalities across the country had reported satisfactory compliance with the physical distancing rule, he said. “We can conclude that the recent long weekend [from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1] was the main trigger for such a decline in public discipline,” he said. “The public must realize that negligence can prove fatal.” The government has decided to reduce the number of collective leave days for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, including off days promised in compensation for forgone Idul Fitri leave, to avoid more case spikes. According to the new arrangements, the country will enjoy a total of eight days off, namely from Dec. 24 to 27 for the Christmas holiday, only Dec. 31 for the Idul Fitri substitute leave, as well as Jan. 1 to 3 for the New Year celebration. – The Jakarta Post
Duterte to UN: Combatting terrorism just as urgent amid COVID-19 pandemic
While he recognizes that medical care for Filipinos must be ensured amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte told the United Nations that combatting terrorism “is just as urgent now as it was before the pandemic.” In a pre-recorded speech on Friday at the UN General Assembly’s special session on COVID-19, Duterte said the pandemic “worsened threats to peace and security.” “The Philippines wants to ensure the swift and unimpeded provision of medical care to all Filipinos, especially the most vulnerable. Yet combatting terrorism is just as urgent now as it was before the pandemic,” Duterte said. “In my country, this fight is about protecting life while preserving the democratic values we have restored without violence,” he added. The President also welcomed UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ call for a global ceasefire as the world continues to face the COVID-19 pandemic. “The lawless weaponizes this health crisis. They cripple the state’s ability to respond. They leave COVID-19 to wreak its worst on the population. This is an inconvenient truth but one that we must face head-on,” said Duterte. “The Philippines supports the Secretary General’s report for a global ceasefire. It is most welcome and appreciated,” he went on. Duterte said this as the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it will not recommend a holiday truce with communist rebels. Malacañang said Duterte has yet to make a decision on the recommendation but said, “the President gives it a lot of weight.” – INQUIRER.net
Việt Nam PMI disrupted by storms and flooding
The Việt Nam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) dipped fractionally below the 50.0 no-change mark to 49.9 last month, signalling broadly unchanged business conditions during the month. A survey by newly-released IHS Markit showed that the recovery in the Vietnamese manufacturing sector paused last month as a succession of storms and associated flooding hit the country. This followed a reading of 51.8 in October and was the first sub-50 figure in three months. Output decreased slightly last month, thereby ending a two-month sequence of growth. That said, anecdotal evidence suggested that the reduction could be temporary as a number of firms indicated that recent stormy weather and subsequent flooding had disrupted their production during the month. The COVID-19 pandemic was also a factor weighing on output. New orders continued to rise, but only fractionally as business was impacted by the stormy weather conditions and flooding, as well as the pandemic. The latter had a particular effect on new export orders, which decreased solidly. On the other hand, a number of respondents indicated that new orders had increased amid improving underlying demand. With new order growth slowing, firms worked through outstanding business, leading to a tenth successive reduction in backlogs of work. The latest fall was solid, but softer than in October. Falling workloads led firms to scale back their employment and purchasing activity last month. The modest reduction in staffing levels followed a slight rise in the previous month. Purchasing activity decreased for the first time in three months. The fall in input buying fed through to a reduction in stocks of purchases. In both cases, however, consumer goods producers bucked the wider trend by posting expansions. Meanwhile, a reduction in output during the month resulted in a decrease in stocks of finished goods. As well as hampering production, the stormy weather and COVID-19 pandemic combined to disrupt the delivery of purchased items to manufacturers. Suppliers' lead times lengthened for the twelfth successive month and to the greatest extent since August. Raw material shortages were also a factor behind delivery delays. Shortages of raw materials contributed to rises in input costs during November, with difficulties importing items and higher prices in international markets also cited. Input prices increased sharply, and at the fastest pace since August 2018. The rate of output price inflation also quickened, but remained modest. The rise in charges was the greatest for two years. Despite the setback in November, firms expect production to expand over the coming year. Confidence was centred on expectations that the COVID-19 pandemic would remain under control in Việt Nam and cause less disruption globally. – Viet Nam News
Cambodia’s tally in community spread of COVID-19 increases to 23 with 4 new positive cases
The Ministry of Health today announced that it has found four more community infection cases all related to “the November 28 Community Incident”, bringing the total cases to 335. In the ministry’s announcement release this morning, the new cases include a 35-year-old Cambodian man who is an employee at Deam Computers on Street Preah Sihanouk and a cousin of a 23-year-old man who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and who works at Bank of China. His 32-year-old wife and 3-year-old son also tested positive for the virus. The family resides in Borey Lim Chheang Hak in Phnom Penh’s Chhbar Ampov district. Another case is a 22-year-old Cambodian man who works at Pedro accessories store on Street Preah Sihanouk and who has been in direct contact with a 21-year-old female patient who had visited the store for shopping. The four new patients are now receiving treatment at Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital while the authorities are tracing the people who have been in direct and indirect contact with them. According to the Health Ministry, as of yesterday, it has tested 9,793 people in related to the November 28 Community Incident and so far has found 23 positive cases. Thus far the ministry has tested 896 people in the capital, some of them are from Cathay United Bank 210, Bank of China and Canadia Towers – 502, Deam Computers – 62, a Chak Angre Clinic – 40. With these new cases, Cambodia total COVID-19 positive cases has risen to 335, including 219 Cambodians, 45 French, 18 Chinese, 13 Malaysians, 9 Indonesians, 9 Americans, 6 British, 3 Vietnamese, 3 Canadians, 3 Indians, 2 Hungarians, 2 Pakistanis, 1 Belgian, 1 Kazakhstani, and 1 Polish. Of this total, the November 28 Community Incident tally alone stands at 23. The total number of recovered patients remains at 304 with no fatalities. – Khmer Times