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.
Most newlyweds in Singapore want to have babies, but are not planning ahead: Survey
Most newlyweds in Singapore want to have children within the first three years of marriage, but may not be thinking about fertility issues early enough, a survey has found. A new poll of 1,000 respondents has found that more than half of them knew people who are having difficulties trying for their first or second child, and nearly 70 percent wrongly think that assistive reproductive technologies are a "magic bullet" that can solve fertility problems. – The Straits Times
MACC arrests Riza Aziz
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested former Prime Minister Najib Razak's stepson Riza Aziz yesterday. "He will be charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court tomorrow under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001," said MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya. Earlier, sources said Riza who is also the owner of Red Granite Pictures would be charged with five counts of money laundering from Good Star Ltd, a company linked to fugitive financier Low Taek Jho or Jho Low. Red Granite produced the "Wolf of Wall Street" movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio. – New Straits Times
Mosque used to store meth
Police are investigating a new drug trade practice of using mosques to securely store crystal methamphetamine. The practice was uncovered after the police arrested a man on 27 June in a parking lot of a fast food restaurant in Pondok Pucung, Pondok Aren district, South Tangerang, where he allegedly planned to carry out a transaction. Police claim they confiscated 12.5 grams of meth from the suspect and said they discovered that he had kept the meth in a mosque in Cinere, Depok, West Java. – The Jakarta Post
Line-up fails to win fans
Political analysts are saying the latest version of the cabinet line-up leaves a lot to be desired as some ministers-to-be are known to have sketchy track records, and that the unity of the next government will be undermined by the continued bargaining among coalition parties. Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bukhet, the Dean of National Institute of Development Administration's (Nida) School of Social and Environmental Development, said the next government will continue to be plagued by public image issues. "Several names are currently being probed for alleged irregularities in their dealings, as well as their connections to influential figures in the 'grey business'," said the academician. – Bangkok Post
Diverse service sector to drive growth in HCM City
Ho Chi Minh City should develop a more diverse service-sector economy and avoid relying on only real estate to maintain robust economic growth, experts have said. Nguyen Thien Nhan, secretary of the city’s Party Committee, said the service sector has greatly contributed to economic growth during the past three decades, but a long-term growth strategy should be devised by 2030. “Services such as healthcare, education, transport and logistics are badly needed, and they must focus on environmental protection,” he noted. Nhan said local authorities should learn from other urban areas around the world and enhance services, especially transport and logistics. – Vietnam News
ICCPR report filed to the UNHRC
Cambodia has submitted a report on the enforcement of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC), with a government official saying some people did not properly understand the convention, leading them to overstep boundaries when exercising their rights. The Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) spokesperson Chin Malin said the content of the report responded to the 31 recommendations Cambodia received from the UNHRC, which covered all aspects of rights, including the right to justice, the right of assembly and to rally and hold demonstrations, and the right of expression. They also included housing and land rights, and the rights of specific groups such as women, children, people with disabilities and ethnic minority groups. – Phnom Penh Post
Food fortification must improve Lao people’s health
The level of chronic malnutrition in Lao has decreased from 44 percent in 2012 to 33 percent in 2017. However, the country still has the highest rate of malnutrition in the region making the population’s intake of quality nutrients a challenge. This was the key message delivered at a technical workshop on reviewing the current status of food fortification and focusing on the initial steps of setting standards for food fortification in Lao. The National Nutrition Committee Secretariat organised the technical workshop in Vientiane this week with technical assistance from the World Food Programme (WFP) and input of experts from the German chemical company BASF. – Vientiane Times