These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Chat groups circulating obscene images of women in Singapore re-emerge on Telegram
Chat groups similar to the now-defunct SG Nasi Lemak, which circulated obscene photos and video clips of women in Singapore, have resurfaced on messaging app Telegram. Some of the images show young women in the nude and are pornographic in nature. Pictures of female commuters on the MRT, selfies of women and TikTok video clips of girls in secondary school or junior college uniforms, with the usernames of the victims revealed, are also being shared in the groups and channels. Checks by The Straits Times on more than 10 such groups found that most had about 2,000 members. Some had more than 7,000 subscribers, with over 500 photographs and video clips shared. Police confirmed that a report has been lodged and investigations are ongoing. Ms Nisha Rai, 21, a National University of Singapore (NUS) political science undergraduate, stumbled across a tweet about such groups on Twitter and reported them to the police on March 24. Students for a Safer NUS, a group that advocates for a safer environment on campus, posted a statement on social media on Monday to notify students about the resurgence of the groups on Telegram. Ms Rai is a member of the NUS group, but acting on her own, along with 20 others, helped to uncover almost 60 such groups and reached out to victims to provide them with emotional support. They have contacted about 30 victims so far. Ms Kelly Leow, communications manager of gender equality advocacy group Aware said its Sexual Assault Care Centre (Sacc), has seen an increase in technology-enabled sexual violence cases. The number of such cases jumped from 88 in 2017 to 118 the next year and 140 in 2019. She said: "Sacc has witnessed the harassment, intimidation, stalking and threats that often accompany the obtaining and sharing of intimate images. We have also witnessed the shame, confusion and depression, including suicidal ideation, on the part of victims." – The Straits Times
Malaysia's GDP to grow up to 7.5pct in 2021: Bank Negara
Malaysia's economy is expected to expand between six per cent and 7.5 per cent this year, Bank Negara Malaysia governor Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus said. This is against a 5.6 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) contraction in 2020. Nor Shamsiah said the GDP was likely to return to pre-Covid-19 levels by mid-2021. She said this would be supported by the improving external demand amid technology upcycle, less stringent containment measures and Covid-19 vaccine rollout, gradual improvement in labour market conditions, as well as continued policy support for households and businesses during the year. "Malaysian economy is projected to rebound in 2021, with the GDP achieving pre-Covid-19 levels by mid-2021. And in our forecast, we assumed herd immunity will only be achieved in the first quarter of 2022. "We also assumed that the international borders will remain closed for this year and the Movement Control Order (MCO) will be highly targeted," she said at a virtual press conference in conjunction with the release of Bank Negara's Annual Report 2020, Economic and Monetary Review 2020 and Financial Stability Review Second Half 2020 today. Nor Shamsiah said while heightened downside risks to growth remained, the immediate policy focus of the bank was to facilitate a strong and sustainable recovery and minimise permanent output losses. She said monetary policy in 2021 would therefore remain accommodative to support an enhanced and sustained economic growth. Meanwhile, Nor Shamsiah said headline inflation was expected to average between 2.5 per cent and four per cent in 2021, from a contraction of 1.2 per cent in 2020, mainly due to higher global oil prices. She said although headline inflation was expected to rise, it would be driven mainly by supply side factors. Nor Shamsiah said underlying price pressures, on the other hand, would remain subdued with core inflation projected to be between 0.5 per cent and 1.5 per cent amid spare capacity in the economy. "The bank will continue to utilise its policy levers as appropriate," she added. She said even with the Overnight Policy Rate at its current historical low of 1.75 per cent, monetary policy space remained adequate to provide additional support to the economy if needed. "The bank will be mindful to avoid a premature withdrawal of monetary policy support. This is complemented by the availability of the bank's various liquidity management tools, targeted financial policies and regulatory flexibilities. "All these afforded the bank with sufficient flexibility to respond to risks using the most appropriate policy tool," she said. – New Straits Times
'We won't push back refugees'
Refugees fleeing across the border from Myanmar will be allowed into Thailand on humanitarian grounds if the violence there escalates, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday. He was speaking after the Myanmar army's air strikes against the Karen National Union (KNU) last week sent ethnic Karen civilians fleeing across the border to Thailand. Many of them, however, just crossed the river back and stayed on the bank, too afraid to go back home. "Thailand will not turn them away," Gen Prayut said. "When they are in trouble, we will not deny them entry to our country. However, this does not mean we will declare our intention to allow them in with open arms. ''Asked about reports that some refugees were denied entry on the border, Gen Prayut said that it was necessary for authorities to enforce requirements for legal entry. "If there is a war, that's another scenario. In the event the situation escalates, leading to deaths and injuries, the government will put in place measures to deal with an influx," he said. "We have years of experience, with nine refugee centres sheltering more than 400,000 refugees,'' Gen Prayut said. Gen Prayut said the government would send them back when the situation across the border was deemed to be safe. Thailand already hosts about 100,000 refugees from Myanmar at camps along the border. Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai said on Tuesday that the situation in Myanmar will be raised at the ASEAN meeting in Brunei next month. Mr Don echoed the prime minister's view, saying that Thailand will help refugees from Myanmar temporarily on humanitarian grounds. When the situation there improves, they are supposed to return to their home country, he said. Mr Don said he urged Myanmar leaders to de-escalate violence in Myanmar and bring the situation under control swiftly. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Tanee Sangrat told the press on Tuesday, "It is Thailand's policy not to push back anyone fleeing from fighting in Myanmar. Some have been allowed back voluntarily as they have depleted their food supplies that they have brought from their villages across the border in Myanmar. They often stay a few days until they are convinced that it is safe to return. These are mostly ethnic Karen." The influx of refugees started last week after the Myanmar army bombed territory controlled by the KNU. About 3,000 Karen people fled across the border to Thailand. They crossed the Salween River and were staying at tambon Mae Sam Laep in Sop Moei district of Mae Hong Son province. The air attacks began after the KNU joined protests against the military coup. KNU fighters also blocked food deliveries to government soldiers in Papun district of Karen state, according to The Irrawaddy. More than a dozen people were allowed to cross into Mae Sam Lap on Tuesday to receive medical treatment. According to sources, soldiers from the 36th Ranger Regiment on Monday sent about 500 Karen people across the Salween River back to Myanmar. The soldiers reasoned that the clashes between KNU and Myanmar government troops had already eased. However, the Karen people, particularly women, children and the elderly, reportedly remained on the Myanmar side of the border along the river on Tuesday for fear that the Myanmar government may renew attacks on their communities, the sources said. Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said that security agencies had been instructed to deal with an influx of refugees from across the border. – Bangkok Post
One Hospital Command Center under ‘a lot of strain’ due to COVID-19 surge
The government’s One Hospital Command Center is currently facing “a lot of strain” due to the surge of COVID-19 cases in the country, with nearly 400 calls being received daily, treatment czar Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said. “Because of this surge, the One Hospital Command is experiencing a lot of strain,” Vega said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel on Wednesday. The One Hospital Command is a centralized COVID-19 referral center. According to Vega, the center used to only receive an average of 68 to 70 calls back in February. “But now we’re receiving almost 400 calls per day. It kind of overwhelms also the number of agents that are going to refer patients to the different hospitals,” he said. “This is one of the weaknesses that we have and we are seeking the understanding and the patience of the public that we’re trying to improve more the command center so we can respond to and serve the public better,” he added. Vega added that the government is expanding the bed capacity for COVID-19 patients by constructing field hospitals, which would usually take the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 45 days to put up. “The one in the Lung Center [of the Philippines] has just been operated, the 44-bed field hospital,” he said. The Dr Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Caloocan City has also been expanded with a 44-bed field hospital, Vega noted. “This April 8 we are going to operationalize the Quezon City Institute modular hospital to be managed by Jose Reyes [Memorial Medical Hospital],” he said. “This is something that we are really trying to expand because the number, especially the allocated beds here for COVID is not enough to cover the surge that we have. This is roughly more than we saw in August of 2020,” he added. Since last week, the country has been logging record-breaking numbers of new COVID-19 infections, the highest being 10,016 new cases reported on Monday, March 29. On Tuesday, the Philippines recorded 9,296 additional cases, pushing the country’s total to 741,181. Of this number, 124, 680 are active cases. – INQUIRER.net
Number of foreign arrivals to Viet Nam plunges 98.7% in first quarter
The number of foreign arrivals to Viet Nam in the first quarter of this year fell 98.7 per cent year-on-year to just over 48,000, as the country’s inbound tourism sector continues to suffer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). As the country has closed its borders to nearly all foreign arrivals since late March last year to contain the pandemic and implemented strict quarantine protocols, the number of visitors arriving by air, land, and sea has fallen substantially. Most arrivals have been foreign experts, diplomats, and technical workers working for Vietnamese projects or drivers bringing goods through border gates, according to the GSO. The pandemic is largely under control in Viet Nam, with frontline workers now receiving vaccine shots. Authorities have bolstered negotiations with international partners on vaccine procurement while speeding up homegrown vaccine development to ensure accessibility for local people. The Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said although it was necessary to reopen the door to foreign tourists, the country must ensure effective pandemic prevention. VNAT has worked with representatives from relevant ministries and sectors to discuss a pilot plan on bringing foreign visitors to Viet Nam. Source markets must have sound pandemic prevention measures in place and have bilateral agreements with Viet Nam on the issue, such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan (China). Travel companies and destinations must also meet State requirements on pandemic prevention. – Viet Nam News
City in the clouds: ‘Bokor’ created on mountain in Kampot’s national park
Prime Minister Hun Sen has signed a sub-decree to establish a new city in Bokor National Park, Kampot province, to be completed in the next five to six months. The sub-decree was issued on March 16 and released to the press yesterday. According to the sub-decree, the new city will be named “Bokor City”, and will include three communes – Boeng Touk, Koh Touch and Prek Tnoat. The government announced the plan to build a city in Bokor National Park in August 2019. The master plan – “Master Plan for Bokor City Development Project until 2035” – stated that the new city will occupy about five percent of land in Bokor National Park, or about 9,000 hectares. Before the pandemic, the national park attracted thousands of tourists each year as it is known for its abundant forests and varied wildlife. The master plan addresses eight areas – residential (3,390 hectares), commercial (821 hectares), mixed-use zones (380 hectares), physical infrastructure (644 hectares), tourism, administration and public service (856 hectares), public and green spaces (995 hectares), technical infrastructure (1,102 hectares) and sewage and wastewater treatment systems (637 hectares). Ministry of Interior secretary of state Sak Setha told Khmer Times yesterday that Bokor will officially become a city in the next five to six months. The current population of Bokor is around 23,000 with around 5,000 families. “The reasons for transforming the city are three-fold: to restore the history of the former ‘Bokor City’ during the 1960s; to execute the land border being modified in the annex of the sub-decree, and due to the current development of the area,” Setha said. Bokor National Park, also known as Preah Monivong Bokor National Park, which straddles the provinces of Kampot, Preah Sihanouk and Kampong Speu, is home to many threatened animals and plants as well as being a popular tourist site. The park which gained official protected status in 1993, covers 1,423.17 square kilometres and is designated as an ASEAN Heritage Park. According to local media, 20,000 hectares of the 150,000-hectare park was then awarded to tycoon and owner of Sokimex group Sok Kong on a 99-year lease for a reportedly $1 billion development project. Bokor National Park reaches 1,075 metres above sea level, the foot of the mountain is about 11 kilometres from Kampot city and there are about 32 kilometres from the foot to the peak. Bokor Mountain was founded by the French in 1917 and developed into a resort in 1921. It was a famous summer escape for the French elites and royal family. Bokor National Park is one of Cambodia’s most beautiful and most mystical national parks. It is popular for its cool mountain climate and remains a year-round favourite amongst locals and foreigners. – Khmer Times
Four killed in Kawthaung as junta continues bloody crackdown
At least four people were killed as the junta’s armed forces opened fire in the southern town of Kawthaung in Tanintharyi region on Tuesday, according to local sources. Eight trucks carrying armed soldiers and police arrived in the town’s Shwe Zinyaw ward early in the day, before residents could gather for an anti-coup rally. The coup regime’s forces then destroyed a makeshift barricade set up by residents of the ward and started shooting at a nearby crowd. “They shot at the Shwe Zinyaw stronghold from all directions,” a local resident told Myanmar Now. Two people – 30-year-old Min Ko and 22-year-old Kyaw Thura – were killed in the crackdown. "We were looking ahead, staying behind sandbags. Then we heard gunfire and one person was shot,” the resident said, referring to Min Ko. “We ran away thinking that they were shooting at us with sniper fire. We couldn’t go back for the wounded because they were shooting at anyone who tried to get to the body,” he added. The junta’s forces fired not only at people living in the area, but also at passers-by, residents said. Later in the afternoon, soldiers started roaming around the town, pursuing people who had come out to distract them from the crackdown on the Shwe Zinyaw ward residents. There were two confirmed deaths from this later assault, which also targeted passers-by. The two fatalities were identified as 38-year-old Myo Zin and 17-year-old Nardu. Myo Zin was shot in the right side of his chest after he left his home to buy cold drinks, and Nardu was shot in the back while riding to work on a motorbike with a friend, residents said. The bullet penetrated Nardu’s chest and also hit his friend, who was in front of him on the motorbike, in the back, according to a local who asked not to be named due to security concerns. A third man who was shot at least five times could not be found, and no details about his identity or condition were available at the time of reporting. At least seven civilians were injured in the attacks on Tuesday. One of them, 37-year-old Win Ko Ko, was shot in the abdomen and is said to be in serious condition. Five people were slain in Kawthaung on Saturday, when at least 114 people, including 11 children, were murdered in some 50 towns and cities around the country in the worst day of killing by junta forces since the military seized power on February 1. Saturday was also Armed Forces Day, which top junta officials commemorated with a ceremony and a state dinner in Naypyitaw. – Myanmar NOW
Three held in connection with Makassar suicide bombing
National Police's anti-terror squad Densus 88 has arrested three women who are believed to have links with the perpetrators of the suicide bombing attack outside the Cathedral Church in Makassar, South Sulawesi on Sunday. "Following the suicide bombing in Makassar, the number of suspects has increased by three. They are all women," chief of the public information section of National Police’s public relations division, Senior Commissioner Ahmad Ramadhan, informed in Jakarta on Tuesday. The three women, identified by their initials as MM, M, and MAN, had links with the married couple – identified as L and YSF or D – suspected of being the perpetrators of the suicide bombing, Ramadhan said. MM, who was arrested a few days before the bombing, allegedly knew the exact plan for the suicide bombing and motivated the married couple to execute it, he informed. MM also gave jihad (holy war) and sahid (martyr) motivations to the couple, he said. M is the sister-in-law of SAS, who was arrested on Monday in a separate operation. SAS allegedly had knowledge of the activities of the study group at Villa Mutiara, he added. The third suspect, MAN, allegedly saw L riding a motorcycle to the scene of the suicide bombing and also attended the study group with SAS, he informed. Ramadhan said seven suspected terrorists from the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) network have been arrested since the suicide bombing attack. Earlier on Monday, Densus had arrested four suspected terrorists, identified as Daulat, SAS, MR, and AN or AA. – AntaraNews.Com