These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Hari Raya under Covid-19 disappointing, but safety measures necessary: President Halimah
The tighter Covid-19 safety measures are necessary to save the lives of Singaporeans, said President Halimah Yacob, as she called on everyone here to do their part to overcome the pandemic. In her Hari Raya Aidilfitri message on Tuesday (May 11), Madam Halimah said it was unfortunate that Muslims will have to again celebrate the festival, which falls on Thursday, under the shadows of Covid-19. "Some of us are understandably disappointed by the recent tightening of safe management measures, as Hari Raya has always been the time for us to enjoy the company of family and friends. I, too, was looking forward to hosting my children and their families," she said. "But I hope that we also understand that these measures are necessary to protect all Singaporeans, given the emergence of new virus variants and the increase in the number of local community cases." Singapore has tightened its rules on social gatherings from Saturday as it takes steps to stop the spread of Covid-19 in the community. Until May 30, people can gather in groups of only up to five, down from eight previously. These restrictions also apply to households, which can receive only five distinct visitors a day. They also mean that for the second year in a row, Muslims here will have to make adjustments to how they celebrate the holiday. Last year's Hari Raya fell on May 25, seven weeks into Singapore's circuit breaker, and visiting was forbidden. – The Straits Times
No fear or panic for now, despite MCO 3.0
There will not be any fear or panic for now as most economic sectors will continue to remain open, following the reinstatement of a nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO), said Public Investment Bank Bhd (PublicInvest). The firm said the start-stop nature of the recovery measures did not bode well for sentiment and might prove to be a drag on the gross domestic product (GDP)-dominant services sector. "We are concerned that the improvement in labour market conditions may be delayed by the constant MCOs and resultant strains on businesses, while the government may also find it hard-pressed to continue supporting households and business without putting further strains on its coffers should these conditions persist." PublicInvest said economic growth might only have improving external demand to fall back on. Malaysia's first quarter (Q1) GDP growth, incorporating effects of MCO 2.0, will provide greater insights. It said Bursa Malaysia's key benchmark FBM KLCI would likely be a lot more attractive at 1,583 level with the expected market fervour now possibly delayed to the second half of 2021, owing to persistent setbacks. "While retail participation remains strong, the return of foreign investor participation has seen various false starts in recent months," said PublicInvest. It cautioned that the pandemic could still trip up enthusiasm in the market and the excitement appears to be floundering. However, amid a global resurgence in Covid-19 cases and the relatively laboured pace of vaccinations domestically. "While vaccinations are expected to gather pace in the coming months, the discouragingly low levels of registrations are a cause for concern and may be a dampener toward the government's aim in achieving herd immunity by end-2021/early-2022. "It is imperative that this programme be sped up if the country's economic recovery is to have a fighting chance of hitting the upper band of consensus expectations (2021 GDP growth: 6.5 percent)." PublicInvest said MCO 3.0 would hit the tourism-related ones (hotels and airlines) given the prohibition of cross-border travel, while gaming (casino) may be deemed non-essential and a potential hotspot, and may be shuttered once again. It added that longer-term cyclical recovery plays (on stronger economic growth and gradual return to normalcy) namely banking, oil and gas, and construction looked to be back on track, with the recent MCO 2.0 and declaration of Emergency doing little to dim respective prospects. "Impact from the current MCO 3.0 is not likely to be dire as well, though we are wary over its effects on sentiment. "We see no changes to fundamentals of the recovery story for now and retain our overweight stance on the manufacturing, technology, consumer, oil and gas, gaming and rubber glove sectors," it said. – New Straits Times
Patrols stepped up against illegal border crossers
More checkpoints and increased patrols are operating along the borders, particularly in the North and the South, to prevent people entering the country illegally and help halt the spread of Covid-19. In the North, Pol Maj Gen Trairong Piewpan, deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 6, went by helicopter to Phop Phra district in Tak province on Monday. He visited border checkpoints in the district, inspecting the readiness of security personnel deployed to prevent illegal entry. Pol Maj Gen Trairong said checkpoints had been set up along roads, waterways and natural foot trails to block all possible channels for illegal border crossings from Myanmar. In the southern province of Songkhla, combined patrols by the 437th Border Patrol Police Unit and Company 5021 of the 5th Infantry Regiment are deployed along the border with Malaysia, particularly in mountainous areas frequently used by border crossers. Illegal border crossers, both Thai and foreign nationals, have been caught trying to avoid the Covid-19 screening process and 14-day quarantine. They are seen as high-risk for spreading the virus, especially the Indian and South African variants. On Monday, 10 Myanmar job seekers were arrested after crossing into Sadao district from Malaysia's Kedah state. Border authorities said more illegal crossings were expected now the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan is ending, with the Hari Raya festival this week. Apart from regular patrols along the border, checkpoints have been set up along major and secondary roads from the border. A close watch is being kept on border villages. – Bangkok Post
Health warning up as parts of PH sizzle
Several parts in the country continued to sizzle to dangerous high levels, prompting the government weather service to advise the public to stay indoors to avoid potential heatstroke and exhaustion. Dagupan in Pangasinan province posted the highest heat index at 46ºC on Monday afternoon but it was lower than the record high of 51ºC this year, also in the same city two days before. Heat index refers to how the human body feels or perceives actual temperatures. High air temperatures and high relative humidity lead to high apparent temperatures or indices, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). The agency’s senior weather specialist, Chris Perez, said high temperatures would continue to prevail across the country throughout the dry season, or from March to May. Residents in Mimaropa and Bicol regions, the Visayas and Mindanao may get slight relief from the extreme heat in the next few days due to the cloud cover brought by the intertropical convergence zone, or the area where the southern and northern winds meet. Pagasa listed high heat indices of 43ºC at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City and in Ambulong, Batangas, on Monday. Similar conditions were observed in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province, Clark Airport in Pampanga province, and Iba town in Zambales province. Only Baguio City showed a relatively lower heat index at 27 ºC. Indices of between 41ºC and 54ºC can lead to heat cramps and exhaustion, while continuous activity can lead to heatstroke, according to Pagasa. The agency still cannot determine if such heat indices are normal during the dry season. Climate measurements require data taken over at least a 30-year period, and Perez said it had been recording only in the last 10 years. But the recent figures are “very alarming,” said Perez, especially for those who are vulnerable to heatstrokes and exhaustion. “As much as possible, the public should avoid unnecessary outdoor activity,” he said. “For those who have to be outdoors, they should take time to rest under the shade, drink water and bring umbrellas, which are both helpful against the heat and rains brought by localized thunderstorms.” – INQUIRER.net
Vaccinated people near 900,000 mark, as health ministry in talks for mRNA technology transfer
A total of 892,454 people in Viet Nam have been given COVID-19 vaccine shots to date, according to Tuesday's morning report from the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation (NEPI). On Monday, 25,057 people in 41 cities and provinces have been given the jabs. The doses administered has reached 97 per cent of the existing stock of 917,000 doses of AstraZeneca that Viet Nam has received so far as part of the purchase of 30 million doses from the company and another 30 million from the global vaccine sharing scheme COVAX that is expected to be delivered in different batches within 2021 and early 2022. The first in line are mostly frontline workers – medical staff directly involved with the treatment of COVID-19 patient; medical staff performing tasks such as collecting patient samples, testing and tracing; members of grassroots anti-COVID-19 groups; members of COVID-19 steering committees at local and central levels; and police and military members. Regarding last week's death of a medical worker in Viet Nam who developed anaphylactic shock after receiving the COVID-19 shot, health authorities have stressed that the reaction rate is still too small to forego the critical protection that the vaccines offer against COVID-19. Pham Quang Thai, head of the northern region office of the NEPI, said all vaccines, drugs, and even food – not just COVID-19 vaccines – could lead to adverse reactions, but the rate is “very low” and if the vaccinated are monitored and reactions are promptly dealt with then there would be few problems. “We are pained to hear about the incident. It was very rare, and we won’t pause (the vaccination drive) here but we should learn from the experience here to prevent such regrettable incidents in the future,” Thai said. Specifically, there must be increased readiness for the prevention of anaphylaxis at all immunisation facilities, according to the doctor. Adrenalin shots must be readily available so that they could be immediately administered, instead of wasting critical time in preparing the shots, he said, adding that training and supervision of follow-up post-vaccination monitoring should also be strengthened to ensure that medical staff are ready in all situations. Given the currently limited supply to Viet Nam, especially as the COVID-19 situation is showing complicated developments, the health ministry has met with a World Health Organization (WHO) representative to facilitate the negotiations on transferring of mRNA technology – currently the cutting-edge technology used in highly effective COVID-19 vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna (while AstraZeneca used vector-based technology) – so that Viet Nam can start producing the vaccines right within the country. The health ministry is awaiting the results of the second phase of the human trials of Nanogen, Viet Nam’s front runner in the race for a homegrown COVID-19 vaccine, and depending on the safety assessment, could start administering the vaccine to the population as the phase 3 trials commence. – Viet Nam News
Day of sorrow: Family killed in house fire, while blaze wrecks Takhmao market
Five people, including four children and a pregnant woman, died in a house fire on Sunday night in Kampong Chhnang province’s Doeu Chrey village. Deputy police chief of Boribor district Tith Saroun told Khmer Times that the fire was brought under control after an hour of battling the raging flames. The fire started at about 8.30 pm and was completely extinguished around 9.30 pm. The house belonged to Non Sareth, 35, and his wife Sean Sokchea, who is in her thirties. A pregnant mother and four children were killed in the fire which also gutted the entire house. Deputy Police Chief of Kampong Chhnang province, Ear Buthoeun told Khmer Times he cannot comment on the case as investigations were still in progress. “A fire that claimed the lives of up to five people in a family is unprecedented for Kampong Chhnang,” he said. According to local residents, the victim’s house was made of steel pillars with galvanized walls and a roof, therefore if there was a short circuit, the family would have been electrocuted and could not have been able to escape the fire. “We will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire as well as do a post-mortem on all those who died in the fire,” Buthoeun said. The district police used three fire trucks to put out the fire. Meanwhile, there was a fire at Takhmao market yesterday at 9.30 am which damaged 12 motorcycle parts stalls, but no one was injured in the incident. According to the Fire and Rescue Police Department, this fire was caused due to welding works being done on the roof, and sparks fell on rubber and motorcycle tyres on the ground which started it. In this operation, the police used eight fire trucks including three fire trucks of the provincial headquarters, three fire trucks of the Fire Prevention Department and two fire trucks of the bodyguard command. – Khmer Times
14 arrested in raid on village in Sagaing’s Kani Township
Fourteen people, including one teenager, were arrested on Monday following a raid on a village in Saging Region’s Kani Township, according to local sources. The raid was carried out by around 70 soldiers shortly after 5am, the sources told Myanmar Now. “They thought there would be weapons. They beat the men and then arrested them,” said a Kani resident who asked not to be identified by name. All of those arrested showed signs of injury, he added. “Their faces were swollen and badly bruised. The soldiers beat every one of them. One was in terrible condition. They were tied together by the hands in twos and threes and put on a truck,” he said. Most of the arrested men were in their 30s, but one was in his 60s and three were in their 50s. A 10th-grade student believed to be around 15 was also among those taken into custody, according to Kani locals. All 14 are currently being held at a police station in Monywa, they added. The Monywa police station and the military spokesperson could not be reached for comment when contacted by Myanmar Now on Monday. Locals in Yinmabin and Kani townships have been fiercely resisting military rule, blocking roads and fighting back against junta crackdowns using homemade hunting rifles known as Tumi guns. Late last week, the military’s troops and residents of villages along the Chindwin River and on the Kalaywa-Yargyi-Monywa road clashed for two days. There have been at least five major clashes between soldiers and locals from Kani Township since early April, killing 16 civilians and injuring 50. Thirty locals have also gone missing, according to a member of the Kani Strike Committee. The military has also suffered casualties, but Myanmar Now has been unable to independently verify the exact figures. Tens of thousands of residents from villages in southern Sagaing Region’s Yinmabin and Kani townships have fled their homes since early April due to the junta’s brutal crackdowns. – Myanmar NOW
Indonesia seeks to vaccinate one million people in June
Indonesia seeks to vaccinate one million people in June given adequate vaccine stocks, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has said. "The stocks of our COVID-19 vaccine doses are adequate in May (2021),” he told journalists at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Monday. Since the government commenced its vaccination program on January 13, 2021, a total of 13,340,957 people have received the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. At least 8,634,546 other recipients have received their second dose, according to data provided by the government's COVID-19 Task Force. However, the total number of vaccine recipients is still far behind the target set by the government for creating herd immunity in the country. "On March 26 (2021), we reached 10 million recipients and the number of recipients went up to 20 million on April 30. So, we can increase 10 million within a month," Sadikin observed. To boost the vaccination rate, Sadikin has been urging authorities across Indonesia to help step up the nation’s vaccination capacity. Indonesia has been striving to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic since March last year. To stem the transmission of the lethal virus, the government has rolled out a nationwide vaccination program since January 13 this year. The time-frame for conducting the vaccination has been set from January, 2021 to March, 2022. During the period, the government is targeting to inoculate at least 181.5 million people, comprising 1.3 million paramedics and 17.4 million public sector workers in 34 provinces. The Health Ministry expects the inoculation of the targeted recipients to take 15 months. The first phase of the government's immunization program has been segregated into two periods: January-April, 2021 and April, 2021-March, 2022. Even amid vaccine rollouts, Indonesia has been struggling from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which has crippled nations across the globe. Indonesia's public health and economy have been dealt a major blow from the coronavirus disease crisis, with some sectors, including travel and tourism, crippled by the pandemic. To revive the tourism sector, the Indonesian government is seeking to implement a travel bubble scheme with some countries. In the first stage of its implementation, the Indonesia-Singapore travel corridor will officially open travel for people between Singapore and Bintan, Riau Islands. – AntaraNews.Com