These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.
More than 85,000 e-scooters registered with LTA as new rules kick in
More than 85,000 e-scooters were registered with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) before the deadline to do so ended on Sunday (30 June). Of the total, almost 1,000 registrations were recorded on the last day, an LTA statement said on Monday (1 July). With the passing of the June 30 deadline, it is now illegal for personal mobility device (PMD) users to ride, cause or allow another person to ride an unregistered e-scooter on public paths. - The Straits Times
Eyes on Cabinet as rumours swirl
As the dust settles after the conclusion of the 2019 presidential election, all eyes are now on the composition of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s next Cabinet. Jokowi previously mentioned that he wanted individuals who had strong capability to carry out the government’s programs as well as great managerial skills and integrity to fill the ministerial posts during the second term of his administration. The former Jakarta governor is set to be inaugurated on 20 October. - The Jakarta Post
Dewan Rakyat passes special motion on asset declaration
The Dewan Rakyat yesterday approved a special motion for all members of parliament, senators as well as their immediate family members to declare their assets. With the motion being passed, MPs would now be required to declare their assets as well as the assets of their spouses, children aged 21 and below, and those of their related trust holders. - New Straits Times
Prayut apologises for rifts in Palang Pracharath Party
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has apologised for internal rifts in the Palang Pracharath Party, saying the new party contains many groups of members who want ministerial roles. "The prime minister feels uneasy and must apologise to fellow people on behalf of the Palang Pracharath Party, as the person it nominated as the prime minister," Gen Prayut wrote in his message released on Monday. - The Bangkok Post
Basic salary for civil servants increases as of 1 July
A range of new policies are coming into effect this month, including wage increases, paternity leave for male workers and regulations relating to retirement age of the people’s public security force. Under Decree No. 38/2019/NĐ-CP, which took effect yesterday, the monthly basic salary for civil servants, public employees and those working in the armed forces will increase from VNĐ1.39 million (US$59.7) to VNĐ1.49 million (US$64) as of yesterday. It will apply to public officials and employees working at State agencies from commune-level to the central level; civil servants working at public socio-political organisations; and the armed forces. - Vietnam News
Palace: Duterte-Xi fishing deal verbal
There is no written agreement between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping that allows the Chinese to fish in Philippine waters. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the agreement referred to by the President was just a verbal understanding reached by the two leaders during a bilateral meeting in 2016. The President mentioned the deal last week in explaining why he could not bar the Chinese from fishing in the West Philippine Sea, the waters within the Philippines’ 370-kilometre exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the heavily disputed South China Sea. - The Philippine Daily Inquirer
Idea of Rainsy meeting ‘disgusts’ Hun Sen
Ruling party spokesman Sok Eysan said Prime Minister Hun Sen will not negotiate with Sam Rainsy, the “acting president” of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), and was “disgusted with the idea of meeting him”. He said there was no reason for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) to negotiate with Rainsy because no one cared whether or not he was the president of the Supreme Court-dissolved CNRP. “Prime Minister [Hun Sen] does not care to negotiate. Indeed, he is disgusted with the idea of meeting him. There is no reason to meet with such a person – one who is the dregs of society,” Eysan said. - The Phnom Penh Post
Brunei hydrogen expected to fuel Tokyo Olympic Games
Hydrogen gas to be produced in Brunei Darussalam by the beginning of next year is expected to fuel buses at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. “The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games are utilising green technologies such as hydrogen buses. In Brunei, the hydrogen project will start operations early next year and the gas will be exported to Japan and used for the bus transportation," said Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Motohiko Kato, in a recent interview during this year’s Olympics Day celebration. - Borneo Bulletin