These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Parliament: Employees can retain job scope even if not getting Covid-19 vaccine, says Gan Kim Yong
People who choose not to get the Covid-19 vaccine will not need to have a change of duties at their workplaces, unless there is a resurgence in the number of local cases, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Monday (Jan 4). He was responding to Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang), who had asked if those who are not vaccinated will have their job scopes reviewed, in order to reduce exposure to the virus. All workers should continue to take the necessary precautions such as wearing masks, and where required, don personal protective equipment and undergo rostered routine testing, Mr Gan added. He noted that there are certain groups of employees, such as researchers or laboratory staff, who may be working directly with the Covid-19 virus or face high risk of exposure to infected individuals. The Health and Manpower ministries are reviewing the issue of vaccinating workers in such workplace settings, and will provide further advice later, he said. In his ministerial statement on Singapore's response to the pandemic, Mr Gan said that the Health Ministry (MOH) will also introduce a vaccine injury financial assistance programme. This scheme will support those who suffer a serious adverse event that is assessed to be related to Covid-19 vaccines administered in Singapore. "While we expect few to need this, the programme will give peace of mind to those taking the vaccination," he said. "Further details on the programme will be provided in due course." Mr Gan said that the Health Sciences Authority, as well as an independent expert committee appointed by his ministry, have studied the data on potential side effects caused by the Covid-19 vaccine. The data includes information from clinical trials as well as the actual experience of countries where vaccination efforts are under way. – The Straits Times
PM launches 100 million tree-planting campaign
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today planted a Merbau tree in the garden of Seri Perdana, the Prime Minister's official residence, to kick off the 100 Million Tree-Planting Campaign 2020-2025. In his speech, the Prime Minister called on the people to participate in the campaign and ensure the success of the agenda to make Malaysia green. "To all Malaysians, let's come together to ensure the success of the Greening Malaysia agenda by planting 100 million trees across the country by 2025," he said when launching the campaign, as well as its mobile app and special website www.100jutapokok.gov.my. Also present were Energy and Natural Resources (KeTSa) Minister Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, Deputy Minister Ali Biju, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and KeTSa secretary-general Datuk Zurinah Pawanteh. The campaign was also launched simultaneously at the state level with the theme "Greening Malaysia: Our Trees, Our Life". In a statement, Muhyiddin said the 100 Million Tree-Planting Campaign was part of the Greening Malaysia Programme, one of the national agendas for addressing climate change and improving the quality of life of people. He said the programme would preserve the country's biological diversity, which is an invaluable national treasure, while improving the quality of the environment and rivers. "The Greening Malaysia Programme is also a pledge and commitment of the government based on the Shared Prosperity Vision to contribute to a greener future," he said. The campaign, organised by the Energy and Natural Resources (KeTSa) Ministry with cooperation from the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (JPSM), state forest departments, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) and state governments, aims to have 100 million trees planted across the country over the next five years. Muhyiddin said through the campaign, JPSM estimates an increase of 20,000 to 80,000 in preserved forest areas by 2025. – New Straits Times
Thais fear luck has run out
People who were buying food at a supermarket in Klong Toey district, one of the areas worst hit in Bangkok by the fresh wave of Covid-19 infections, have expressed mixed feelings about the government's response this time around, insisting they are ready to tackle the problem themselves if needs be. Bangkok was one of the 28 "red zones " published in the Royal Gazette on Sunday. Siriporn Pangsriwong, 56, a housewife living nearby, said the second wave of Covid-19 is "scary and we need to protect ourselves by trying not to go out as much as possible, wearing masks and using hand sanitiser frequently". Hoarding of essential goods is unlikely for now, she feels, as "the majority of large department stores are still open for business. So, we can go there and buy them. "I believe the government's measures will be effective in controlling the pandemic and I am confident that it's managing the situation well," she added, although she did not specify which measures she was referring to. However, Ms Siriporn was not alone in voicing the opinion that, "In addition to the government's response, we need to take care of ourselves too". One of two employees at a local company which sells sportswear in the district, Sirinrat Pengsap, 20, said fear is part of everyday life now. "I am scared since the number of getting infected is rising and some of those infections are being reported quite close by. "Furthermore, I am afraid of customers who might carry the virus. At the same time, they are also afraid of us for the same reasons. We have all become afraid of each other.'' In terms of personal precautions, Ms Sirinrat said: "I try to wear a mask and not touch my face as much as possible. I even carry my own personal alcohol to sanitise everything before touching it." – Bangkok Post
Instagram user under fire for selling counterfeit PCR test results for travellers
An Instagram user is under fire for offering a service to forge polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results for Indonesians who wish to travel to other cities. Doctor and prominent social media influencer Tirta Mandira Hudhi shared a screenshot of a post uploaded by Instagram user @hanzdays in which the latter announced his counterfeit PCR test result service. Tirta lambasted the user for taking advantage of the COVID-19 situation for profit, and called him out publicly for endangering the public. “Do not take advantage of COVID-19 for such a matter. Are you aware of how many people have been disadvantaged by this? Who lined up [for a long time] for a mere test?” Tirta said as quoted by kompas.com. The Instagram user, who is yet to be identified, said individuals who wished to obtain a PCR test result without having to undergo a test first could do so by paying him Rp 650,000 (US$45.90). The result, according to the Instagram user, could be issued within an hour. People who wished to use his service only needed to show him their identity card in exchange for a forged PCR test result that could be used in all Indonesian regions, he claimed. In the same post, he also boasted that the service had been used by more than 30 people. Bumame Farmasi, a pharmacological company in South Jakarta, released a statement on the company’s Instagram account after their logo was used on one of the allegedly fake PCR results. “None of the staff in Bumame are able to forge the test result as every test had to undergo a strict validation process from doctors and administrators to prevent any mistake or forged result,” the company said on Wednesday. In order to prevent forged results, Bumame stated that the company would put a QR code on every future test result, through which the original result could be accessed from the company’s database by scanning the code. In response to the counterfeit PCR test, COVID-19 task force spokesman Wiku Adisasmito warned the public against procuring it to allow them to travel outside the city. “Never take this issue lightly. Please refrain from engaging in such a practice and immediately alert the authorities if you witness a similar case,” Wiku stated. – The Jakarta Post
PH military stops probe on use of unregistered COVID-19 vaccines after Duterte order
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay has called off the military’s own investigation of the Presidential Security Group’s (PSG) use of unauthorized Chinese coronavirus vaccines. In a statement, AFP spokesperson Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the cancellation was due to the recent pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte, prohibiting the PSG to divulge details. In his weekly address on Monday night, Duterte ordered the PSG, his close-in security detail, not to attend legislative summons and stay mum about their use of the unregistered vaccines. Aside from the AFP, the Senate and National Bureau of Investigation also planned to look into the use of smuggled COVID-19 vaccines. “Do not obey the summons…I am ordering you to stay put in the barracks,” Duterte told PSG chief Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III in a late-night televised address. The probe of the 10-member investigating team led by Lt. Gen. Franco Nemesio Gacal, the AFP’s Inspector General, was supposed to start on Tuesday, Jan. 5. Duterte said the PSG inoculated themselves for “self-preservation” and he was ready to defend them. “I am prepared to defend my soldiers. I will not allow them for all of their good intentions, to be brutalized in hearing,” he said. The Philippines Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve a COVID-19 vaccine, making the importation and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine as illegal. – INQUIRER.net
VN secures 30 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, in talks to manufacture Russia's Sputnik V
Việt Nam will be supplied with 30 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine within this year, a Vietnamese health official confirmed on Monday. With a double-dose regime given about a month apart, the delivery from the UK-based university and pharmaceutical firm will be used to inoculate some 15 million people in the country. Deputy Minister of Health Trương Quốc Cường said at a Government press briefing in Hà Nội that the delivery of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is reportedly more affordable and doesn't require super-cold storage conditions, will be done in phases through all four quarters of 2021. The health ministry is in negotiations for the procurement of the four most notable COVID-19 vaccines, the Oxford-AstraZeneca, the US’ Pfizer-BioNTech, Russia’s Sputnik V, and an unspecified Chinese vaccine, Cường said, adding that various details regarding the deals with the four vaccine makers cannot be made public due to non-disclosure agreements that they required. The US-based Pfizer has also tentatively agreed to a fourth-quarter delivery, Cường stated. Meanwhile, the Russian maker of the Sputnik V vaccine, developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, is asking to manufacture the vaccine in Việt Nam under a technology transfer agreement with a company under the management of the Vietnamese health ministry. The price of the vaccines does not differ significantly, Cường stated, noting that the requirements of the vaccines’ storage and delivery and rollout, as well as payment issues, matter a great deal and need co-ordination from different ministries and agencies and even instructions from the Politburo given the unprecedented nature of this undertaking. The other thing to consider is that these vaccines have varying levels of effectiveness in clinical trials, some reaching 65 per cent at the lowest while another could be as 94.5 per cent, Cường said. “We are doing our best so that Vietnamese people could get access to COVID-19 vaccines,” he added. – Viet Nam News
More than 6,000 migrant workers returned from Thailand
A total of 6,465 migrant workers have so far returned from Thailand over the past two weeks and about 129 workers have been allowed to return to their homes after being quarantined at centres in Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pailin and Oddar Meanchey provinces. Pen Kosal, governor of Oddar Meanchey province, said yesterday he had instructed relevant officials to ensure that those who return from Thailand through the O’Smach International border checkpoint must be quarantined as instructed by the Ministry of Health. He said authorities in villages, communes and districts have to report immediately if they suspect or come across migrant workers who have come from Thailand and have returned home without documents to prove they have undergone quarantine. “I call on all workers returning from abroad to take part in the implementation of health measures, don’t be afraid or refrain from being quarantined in centres,” Kosal said. Provincial police chief Major General Huot Sothy has also instructed local authorities and people to immediately report if they know that there are people from abroad returned home without undergoing quarantine. “I would like to appeal to our residents in the villages, communes, districts in the province to report such workers immediately to the village and commune chief or the police at phone numbers 097-780024 and 012-500011,” Maj Gen Sothy said. Provincial health department director Khloak Huot said that from December 21 to Sunday, it has recorded more than 1,972 migrant workers who returned from Thailand. Voeurng Bunreth, Battambang provincial health department director, said yesterday said that from December 20 to Sunday there were 1,735 migrant workers who returned from Thailand and 1,418 are still undergoing quarantine. He said 15 workers tested positive for COVID-19 of whom nine have recovered and six are still being treated in hospital. – Khmer Times