These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Health records go digital to fight fakes, restart air travel in Singapore
In efforts to inspire confidence in cross-border travel amid the pandemic, Singapore is rolling out a tamper-proof digital system that captures an individual's Covid-19 test results - and soon, vaccination records. A portal is launched today for authorised clinics to issue digital pre-departure Covid-19 test (PDT) certificates. The IQcert portal is compliant with GovTech's HealthCerts - an open-source scheme and set of standards to ensure that the digital certificates can be widely recognised at local and overseas airports. The portal is owned by Innovative Diagnostics and Quest Laboratories, which will be merging to become the largest independent lab here, called Innoquest Diagnostics. The two labs assess Covid-19 samples provided by more than 400 general practitioner (GP) clinics here authorised by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to conduct such tests. From March 10, all clinics authorised to perform PDTs for outbound travellers will have to issue digital test result certificates. Clinics can issue the digital certificates via the IQcert portal, or they can buy technology from approved vendors to do so. "These digital PDT certificates will smoothen and expedite check-in processing and Customs clearance at foreign and local immigration checkpoints, especially as Singapore ramps up travel for both inbound and outbound travellers," the ministry had said in a circular on Jan 21. The move comes as the authorities abroad uncover scams involving negative coronavirus test certificates. With cases of fake polymerase chain reaction test results reported in France, Spain, the Netherlands and Britain, the European Union's law enforcement agency Europol has warned that the problem will persist as long as travel restrictions remain in place. – The Straits Times
Lack of savings a major concern
Draining retirement savings from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Account 1 serves to underscore how financially ill-prepared some Malaysians are for rainy days, even before the Covid-19 pandemic began. Such a move during the pandemic would only compound the negative effects on Malaysians as they had barely enough savings in Account 1 to tide them through retirement, said the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca). Fomca chief executive officer Datuk Paul Selvaraj, describing the situation as "dangerous", said based on reports, 67 per cent of Malaysians were unable to meet the minimum amount of RM240,000 in savings on retirement. Some 42 per cent of Malaysians, he said, solely depended on Account 1 funds and had no other form of savings or revenue. "While the measure to ease their financial burden now is good, it is going to be very tough on them when they hit retirement age. "This is a dilemma as whatever savings they have will be little and may be exhausted within two to three years. "The money channelled to Account 1 is a form of forced savings and in principle, should not be touched until one's retirement. "However, with 30 per cent Malaysians said to have withdrawn close to all of their savings, it shows how unready we are for emergencies. "It proves how saving for retirement is not taken seriously as the amounts are low. "They are forced to dig into their long-term savings, which is not good, and such situations expose how it (saving for retirement) is being neglected," he told the New Straits Times. On Saturday, EPF chief executive officer Tunku Alizakri Alias revealed in the EPF Financial Report 2020 that nearly 30 per cent of members could have taken out almost all of their Account 1 retirement savings since March last year, leaving only RM100 as part of the condition. He added that some 60 per cent of members were also expected to use money from Account 2, which was dedicated for home purchase, medical and education expenses. Paul urged the government to play an active role in educating the people on the importance of retirement savings, especially among young workers. The best way forward, he said, was to intensify education on alternative retirement savings such as the Private Retirement Scheme (PRS), which would complement the contributions to EPF, as the current pickup volume was not satisfactory. "Empowering consumers to manage their finances is crucial, which would lead to the realisation that they, in fact, have not saved up enough. "We need to stress that apart from EPF, one should have other forms of savings to face crises such as job loss, emergencies, long-term needs and also retirement. It is better to have money in the pocket," he said. Sunway University Business School of Economics Professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng said the high number of EPF contributors who had emptied their Account 1 savings was worrisome. He said it meant that a high proportion of the population could end up with insufficient savings on retirement, which was concerning from a national social safety net perspective. "The affected individuals would need to better plan and rebuild their savings, including extending their working life and having spouses supplement family income. "Besides boosting sources of income, they will need to tighten their purse strings and set aside more savings to make up for the projected short fall in retirement funds," he said. National Council of Senior Citizens Organisations Malaysia (Nascom) deputy president Datuk Dr Soon Ting Kueh said the government should consider a plan for members to re-contribute to Account 1 when their financial situation permits. He suggested that contributors could kickstart an initiative with EPF's announcement on Saturday of a 5.2 per cent dividend for last year. – New Straits Times
Mayoral candidate killed, 4 wounded at funeral shooting
A woman running for mayor in the March 28 municipal election was shot dead and three other candidates and the local kamnan wounded at a funeral at a temple in Photharam district on Monday night. Police on Tuesday asked Ratchaburi Court for a warrant to arrest a suspect in the shooting. Pol Lt Gen Thana Chuwong, the Provincial Police Region 7 commissioner, identified the suspect as Wanchart Niamraksa, a member of the Ratchaburi provincial administration organisation. Pol Lt Gen Thana said Mr Wanchart would be charged with murder, attempted murder, having firearms and ammunition in possession without permission and carrying them in public without proper reason. The shooting was believed to have been motivated by local politics and personal conflict, he said. The attack occurred about 7pm at Wat Tha Kham in Moo 7 village of tambon Sam Ruan. The mourners were seated in an open prayer hall. Five people were hit by bullets. Police called to the scene found the hall a mess, with toppled chairs, abandoned possessions and blood splatters. Those wounded were Yingpan Kanket, kamnan of tambon Don Sai, and four candidates in the March 28 election for the municipal council of tambon Don Sai - Varaporn Niamraksa, Nakhon Wanpen, Somthawil Srirat and Monthien Jaitham. The wounded were admitted to Ratchaburi, Chet Samian, Bangkok-Ratchaburi and Mahachai hospitals. Mrs Varaporn, who was running for mayor of the municipality, was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Police said two spent .22 cartridges and one 11mm spent shell had been found at the scene. Eyewitnesses said Mr Yingpan, as sub-district chief, had been asked to light joss sticks and candles before a Buddha image to mark the opening of the ceremony. As he did so, there was a barrage of gunfire. Amid the ensuing panic, people were heard yelling out for everyone to lie flat on the floor. When the gunfire ended, five people Malachi were found to have been hit. Witnesses told police the shots were fired from behind the main Buddha image. The number of attackers was not known. – Bangkok Post
Duque says PH vaccine rollout not ‘mishandled,’ blames rich countries for supply shortage
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday said that government did not mishandle the purchase of coronavirus vaccines that resulted in the delay in the country’s vaccination rollout. In an interview over ABS-CBN New Channel, Duque echoed the sentiments of President Rodrigo Duterte and of the World Health Organization (WHO) that rich countries have cornered a huge bulk of the world’s supply of COVID-19 vaccines, leaving poor countries scrambling for supplies. “I’d like to disagree because the global supply is the big problem,” Duque said when asked about Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon’s statement that the government mishandled the vaccine procurement process which delayed the arrival of vaccines to the country. “10 countries have already secured 75 percent of the global supply and even the WHO (World Health Organization) has missed on its target to get the poorer countries to get off with their vaccination, 130 countries,” Duque went on. Duque’s remarks paralleled Duterte’s, who earlier lamented how the European Union is supposedly holding hostage Covid-19 vaccines developed by the British drug maker AstraZeneca. “Let’s just hope for the best. The problem is yung bakuna… E yung AstraZeneca hinostage ng European Union. Sa Europe kasi parang isa na lang sila. Wala na silang distinction kaya ganun ang ginagawa nila,” said the President. (Let’s just hope for the best. The problem is the vaccine. The European Union held AstraZeneca hostage. In Europe, they are like one. They don’t have distinctions that’s why they’re doing that.) WHO also lamented that countries seeking their own COVID-19 vaccine doses are making deals with drug companies, threatening the supply for the global COVAX program for poor and middle-income countries, and compromising the COVAX supply. COVAX is a global mechanism under the WHO to provide countries equitable access to the vaccine, has pointed to the global supply shortage. “Yung masakit na problema [ay] yung supply, na-corner ng mga mayayamang bansa. Look at the Covax facility with all the [participation of] UNICEF and the WHO, so talagang dito mo makikita na [it’s] pointing to the underlying problem [of] supply shortage, so nahuli. January pa nga sinasabi ng WHO na maguumpisa sila together with the richer countries, pero ano? ‘Di naman natuloy,” Duque said. – INQUIRER.net
Da Nang aims to become tourism hub of Viet Nam
Da Nang plans to become a tourism and sea-based economic hub of Viet Nam by 2030 following its adjusted master plan with a vision to 2045. Under the plan, the central city is projected to become a part of the global supply chain network and a gateway to the East-West Economic Corridor, leaders of Da Nang reported at a meeting with Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc in Hanoi on Monday. The city also hopes to become a special urban area in its long-term vision of becoming an international city. Its population by 2030 is expected to reach 1.79 million and the urban construction area will be about 31,800ha, accounting for more than 32 per cent of its mainland area. PM Phúc applauded Da Nang authorities’ efforts to work closely with ministries, agencies and to collect public opinions into making the master plan. The city should aim to become a special city of Viet Nam to bring Da Nang to a higher level in terms of both quality and development scale, the PM said. The Government leader approved the plan to develop Da Nang into a spearhead tourism city, a sea-based economic centre of Viet Nam, a gateway to the East-West Economic Corridor and a worth-living and safe city. Regarding waste treatment, PM Phúc said this was an important issue for Da Nang – a city with one of the most beautiful beaches in the region. The city should also have measures to deal with climate change. He also asked for measures to prevent corruption in adjusting and implementing the master plan and have a proper supervision mechanism. – Viet Nam News
Eight lockdown escapees arrested
Seven Chinese men, a Chinese woman and two taxi drivers were arrested on Saturday in Koh Kong province after leaving the Rose Condominium in Phnom Penh, which is under lockdown. Tuon Euv Ti, a deputy Kiri Sakor district governor, was called by police forces who suspected the eight Chinese nationals of escaping a lockdown when they failed to produce any identification at the checkpoint for all traffic entering the province. He added that the two taxi drivers confessed they picked up the Chinese nationals at the Rose Condominium in Phnom Penh when questioned by the police. He continued that the ten suspects are being quarantined at Koh Kong Health Centre in Phnhi Meas commune for 14 days, before filing their cases with the court. In other developments, almost 100 migrant workers were caught crossing the Cambodian-Thai border illegally to avoid quarantine and reach their hometowns in Battambang province’s Mong Russei district. Tep Horn, Mong Russei district governor, told local media that 92 illegal migrant workers from the border area arrived in his district, most of them crossing through the Pailin provincial border trying to avoid staying at a quarantine centre. Battambang deputy governor, Seurm Bun Rithy, said that from December 21 to February 28, the number of migrant workers returning to Cambodia through the border to Battambang from Samut Sakhon, Thailand, has increased to nearly 10,000 people who have been quarantined, of which 6,095 people have been allowed to return home. He said that more than 3,500 people are currently being quarantined in the centre, while the number of migrant workers from Thailand is increasing daily and the Battambang provincial authorities are preparing to expand more quarantine centres. In Preah Sihanouk province yesterday, an additional eight locations were shuttered bringing the hotspot total to 28 with 30 cases testing positive for COVID-19. The locations were identified through contact tracing after two women linked to the February 20 Community Incident in Phnom Penh visited a hotel in Sihanoukville on February 23. Since then, 30 people in the city have tested positive for the virus, with no new cases reported yesterday. The eight new hotspots are “100” Hotel and Apartment; Sambath Hotel and Apartment; Xihu International Hotel; Mingmen International Hotel; San Sang Zhong Guo Hotel; Palma Apartment Building; “78” Apartment Building and Easton Grand Hotel. – Khmer Times
Police raid Kachin Baptist church in Lashio; 10 arrested, including ministers
Four Kachin Baptist ministers were among 10 people arrested at a church in Lashio on Monday after police forced their way in to apprehend fleeing protesters. Church officials said that around 30 police officers raided the church in Lashio’s Ward 1 after crashing through the front gate in a police vehicle at around 12:30pm. “A total of 10 people were taken away. They beat up non-protesters as well as protesters after they crashed through our gate with their car. They destroyed the doors as well,” said Sin Wah Aung, an official at the church in the northern Shan state town. Requests to meet with the detainees, who are currently being held at a local police station, have been denied, he said, adding that they have reportedly been subjected to further beatings since being taken into custody. The four arrested ministers were identified as KD Naw Mai, Hkawng Lwam, Zaw Dwe Aung and Saira Aung. They and two other prisoners, including a disabled man named Zay Hkawng, were not involved in the protest, according to Sin Wah Aung. The protesters, who fled after police started using tear gas to break up a large crowd calling for the end of military rule, had had been granted sanctuary in the church, he said. Myanmar Now reached out to Lashio’s No. 1 police station for comment, but did not receive a response. The police are believed to be filing charges against all 10 who were arrested. Protests against Myanmar’s ruling military council, which seized power in a coup on February 1, have been taking place around the country every day for more than three weeks. Sunday was the deadliest day for protesters so far, with at least 18 confirmed dead and scores more injured and arrested. According to reports by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, at least 1,132 people had been arrested by the authorities as of February 28. – Myanmar NOW
Health Ministry, Halodoc jointly organize drive-thru vaccination
The Health Ministry, in collaboration with online health service provider, Halodoc, has prepared services for the drive-thru vaccination of residents in the elderly category, so as to facilitate the distribution process of the COVID-19 vaccine. The drive-thru vaccination program for the elderly is planned to be initiated on Wednesday (Mar 3) in the Kemayoran area, Central Jakarta, and will expand to other areas. "Yes, we have cooperated with Halodoc for conducting the drive-thru vaccination. For the first, the vaccination is conducted at JIExpo Kemayoran," acting Director General of Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, stated, when confirmed, Monday. The Ministry of Health, Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta, DKI Jakarta Health Service, the Kemayoran Complex Management Center (PPK), Hermina Hospital, and also Halodoc are collaborating for the drive-thru vaccination program. The drive-thru vaccination is held to assist the elderly around Central Jakarta and North Jakarta, so that it can be in line with one of the aspects being promoted in implementing health protocols, which is to reduce mobilization. Furthermore, the drive-thru method aligns with health protocols to reduce crowding, as the elderly do not need to stand in long queues. In implementing the drive-thru vaccination program for the elderly, the Ministry of Health is tasked with preparing the COVID-19 vaccine. The elderly keen to get vaccinated through the drive-thru method can use the Halodoc application service on their cell phone or smart device to set the vaccination schedule that is available from March 3, 2021. After obtaining the schedule, Halodoc users can receive vaccines in the parking area of Hall C JIExpo Kemayoran and secure their vaccination certificates through the Halodoc application. "With the drive-thru COVID-19 Vaccination Program Service Post, we hope to provide safer and more comfortable facilities for vaccination recipients, especially the elderly, as an effort to contribute to accelerating the COVID-19 vaccination program for the creation of herd immunity in Indonesia," Halodoc CEO and Cofounder Jonathan Sudharta noted during an online press conference, Monday. Halodoc had earlier also initiated a tracing and testing process for COVID-19 by employing the drive-thru method currently being developing at 20 locations spread across 11 cities in Indonesia. – AntaraNews.Com