These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Whole-of-society effort needed to change norms and practices on women's roles, says President Halimah Yacob
A whole-of-society effort is needed for societal norms and practices to change and better support women, said President Halimah Yacob on Thursday (June 3) at a conference on gender equality here. The issue is not just about securing rights for women, but also giving them the respect and the appreciation, they deserve for their contributions and sacrifices, she said. "All of us are in a position of influence to do so," she said. "With respect as the cornerstone of the rapport between women and men, we can create a society where every woman and man can achieve their aspirations and fullest potential." Madam Halimah, Singapore's first woman president, and before that, first woman Speaker of Parliament, was giving the keynote speech at the Institute of Policy Studies Women's Conference 2021. The fully virtual event brings together more than 250 academics, activists, business and community leaders, as well as representatives from government to discuss challenges Singapore women face in a changing world. Speaking in a recorded message, President Halimah said that Singapore has pledged its commitment to equality between women and men, and acceded to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 1995. "To ensure continued progress as a nation, it is imperative we invest, develop and maximise the full potential of every individual and support them in achieving their aspirations, regardless of whether they are women or men," she added. "We must make it a priority for women who hold up 'half the sky' to be able to participate and contribute fully, and equally, to Singapore's development." – The Straits Times
Front liners exhausted, but vow not to give up
Drenched in sweat from head to toe, constantly standing, walking and running or sprinting during an emergency, front liners continue to brave the odds attending to the increasing number of Covid-19 patients at hospitals nationwide. The situation is especially harrowing at Kuala Lumpur Hospital, one of the many health facilities striving to do the utmost for those in their care. One of the doctors at the recently added Covid-19 ward, who wished to be known only as Dr Alfred, in his mid-30s, looked visibly drained and exhausted, during his break. But after a shower, a change of clothes and a short break, he was already preparing himself both mentally and physically to return to his job. "The alarming spike in positive cases necessitated the opening of this additional ward to cope with the increasing number of patients. "We were told on Friday (May 28) that we needed to open an additional ward and the very next day, we were already receiving and treating patients. And now, this additional ward is almost at full
capacity. "Caring for Covid-19 patients is no joke. It requires strict adherence to the SOP (standard operating procedures) and additional safety measures because of the highly infectious nature of the virus. "The ward is sealed off from the outside world and the only human contact patients have is with us, the doctors and nurses, who care for them round the clock. "All of us have to don PPE (personal protective equipment) suits and gear correctly before we go into the ward to treat and care for the patients. "When a patient's condition worsens without warning, it is a race against time to do all we can to save him. "Apart from administering the best possible healthcare, we also do our best to keep the patients motivated and positive despite their predicament. "This is a vital part of the battle to recover, being determined to regain good health and having the will to carry on. "The patients' only connection to the outside world is their smartphones, and thankfully they are able to communicate with their families and loved ones regularly. "This helps to put them in good spirits," he said in an interview with the New Straits Times, yesterday. Head nurse Noor Jamaliah Zulkapli, 44, who manages the new ward, stressed that despite the public healthcare system being in a critical state, they were not about to give up. "Yes, we are very exhausted, and even short-handed because of the many patients, but we are professional healthcare providers. Therefore, we improvise and soldier on. "The opening of this new ward is a good example of the great lengths that we are willing to go as we literally set up this ward overnight. "Because we are dealing with a deadly, highly infectious virus, I made careful selection of the nurses to serve in this ward. They must be healthy, resilient, young and energetic, and with a positive outlook," she said. "They need those qualities to cope with the different and demanding situation. "Thankfully, the hospital administrators managed to rope in healthcare personnel from other hospitals almost overnight. This has addressed the shortage of manpower. "We've got more than two dozen doctors and nurses who work round the clock over three seven-hour shifts to care for the patients in this ward alone." Dr Alfred, Noor Jamaliah and the rest of the medical personnel at the ward shared their hope that fellow Malaysians remained responsible and disciplined during the Movement Control Order. They also appealed to the public to adhere to the SOP and other movement restrictions so that the chain of infection could be broken and the daily infection and death numbers brought down. "We need everyone to cooperate. We're doing our part, so please do yours. Remember, #KitaJagaKita," said Noor Jamaliah. – New Straits Times
Parliament passes B3.1tn budget bill at first reading
Parliament on Wednesday passed by a narrow margin the first reading of a 3.1 trillion-baht budget bill for the 2022 fiscal year starting Oct 1, aimed at reviving an economy hit by coronavirus outbreaks. The budget is crucial to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's government as it deals with the Southeast Asian country's latest, most severe outbreak yet. After a three-day debate, the bill passed with 269 votes in favour, 201 against and two abstentions. "The budget bill will help drive our economy out of this economic crisis caused by the outbreak as well as quickly restore growth," Gen Prayut told the House of Representatives. The bill has to pass second and third readings expected in August before it goes for senate and royal approval. The budget forecasts a 5.7% drop in spending to 3.1 trillion baht in the 2022 fiscal year, with a deficit of 700 billion baht, up 15% from the current year. Budget planners have assumed Southeast Asia's second-largest economy will expand by between 2.5% and 3.5% this year and 4.0% to 5.0% in 2022. The National Economic and Social Development Council, however, predicts growth of between 1.5% and 2.5% this year due to the latest outbreak. – Bangkok Post
Tropical Storm Dante hits Luzon
Tropical Storm Dante (Choi-wan) slightly accelerated as it passed through the coast of Zambales, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Thursday. As of 5 a.m., Dante was spotted over the coastal waters of Santa Cruz, Zambales, moving north north-westward at 25 kilometres per hour (kph) and packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the centre and gusts of up to 90 kph. Gale-force winds are extending outward up to 50 km from the centre of the storm, Pagasa added. Moderate to heavy rains are expected in Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian Islands. Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains are expected in the Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Oriental Mindoro, and the rest of Palawan including Cuyo and Kalayaan Islands. Dante will continue moving north-northwest over the coastal waters of Zambales and Pangasinan, and then head toward the West Philippine Sea, Pagasa said. The storm is likely to be downgraded into a tropical depression in the next 12 hours. – INQUIRER.net
More medical staff volunteer in the north to support COVID-19 hit-Bac Giang
Nearly 90 doctors and nurses from Hai Phong, Ha Noi, and Vinh Phuc on Wednesday left for Bac Giang to help the northern province deal with a severe COVID-19 outbreak. Their support will primarily involve contract tracing, treatment and care of critical COVID-19 patients, and COVID-19 vaccination efforts, as the worst-hit province in Viet Nam’s fourth wave is seeing a double-digit daily increase in new infections with clusters surrounding industrial zones. At the farewell ceremony with departing medical staff of Hai Phong, the city’s Party Secretary Tran Luu Quang said their volunteering is “a source of pride for the city’s authorities and people.” Responding to the call from the health ministry and the city’s authorities, within 24 hours, many doctors, nurses, and technicians specialised in emergency cases and intensive case have signed up and 18 have been selected. A group of drivers, a mobile X-ray system and an accompanying X-ray technician will also be sent to Bac Giang Province. The group’s primary task will be treating seriously ill COVID-19 patients, in addition to other responsibilities assigned by Bac Giang’s health authorities. Tran Anh Cuong, head of Hai Phong’s health department, said a council of leading medical experts in the city has also been set up and stands ready to provide consultation and help for the volunteer group via teleconference. Doctor Dam Quang Son, head of the emergency ward, intensive care and toxicology unit at the Hai Phong Lung Hospital, and leader of the team to Bac Giang, has pledged to fulfil the mission. Also, today, six doctors from the emergency ward, intensive care and toxicology department of the northern province of Vinh Phuc’s General Hospital – who have extensive experience in contact tracing and treating COVID-19 patients – left for Bac Giang. On behalf of Vinh Phuc authorities, Thanh handed over VND2 billion to Bac Giang and Bac Ninh provinces as well as medical supplies to help battle COVID-19. – Viet Nam News
Woman prisoner dies of Covid-19 as new Kampong Speu Prison outbreak surges
A woman inmate of Kampong Speu Provincial Prison has died of Covid-19 after having been infected during an outbreak caused by a doctor. Kampong Speu provincial governor Vei Samnang told Khmer Times yesterday that the doctor’s factory-worker daughter had Covid-19 and transmitted the infection to him. He said the doctor went about his duty of treating inmates in the correctional facility and in turn transmitted the virus to the woman and another 99 out of the 1,800 prisoners there. “Currently, we are working hard to control the virus spread by isolating the patients from the other prisoners,” Samnang added. The director of the Kampong Speu Provincial Health Department, Dr Hok Kry, told local media yesterday the fatality was Lam Sokha, a 66-year-old woman prisoner. He said that she tested positive for Covid-19 on May 29 and died because she also suffered from a number of ailments. Dr Kry noted that the victim had been suffering from colorectal cancer and was in a critical condition when she died from Covid-19. The virus scourge reared its ugly head among prisoners in the Kingdom early last month. On May 7, the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration reported finding 126 Covid-19 in the provincial prison. On May 21, 18 inmates in the men’s section of Prey Sar prison centre tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to an official. On Tuesday, Kandal provincial authorities reported 249 new cases of Covid-19, of which 106 were prison inmates, raising concerns over the safety in prisons with outbreaks, including Prey Sar and Sihanoukville. Meanwhile, Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng on Tuesday informed hotel, restaurant and company owners in the capital to keep details, including the whereabouts, of employees who go on leave. He added that this will make it easier for the authorities to conduct contact tracing in the event of any infections. – Khmer Times
As spate of killings continues, anti-junta forces warn of more to come
Four months after seizing power, Myanmar’s military is facing a new challenge to its efforts to bring the country under its control – the use of guerrilla tactics by some of its opponents. After facing brutal crackdowns around the country, elements within the anti-coup movement have decided that the time has come to start fighting violence with violence. While peaceful protests continue – albeit on a far smaller scale than in the early days of the movement – they have been increasingly overshadowed in recent weeks by almost daily reports of shootings and bombings. One of the most recent came on Tuesday afternoon, when a lone gunman shot at two soldiers stationed outside the No. 32 Basic Education High School in Mandalay’s Pyigyidagun Township, killing one and injuring the other. Unlike many such incidents, this one could be attributed to a particular group – the Mandalay People’s Defence Force (PDF), part of a nationwide network of local civilian resistance forces that aims to coalesce into a federal army. “Our PDF team has started carrying out guerrilla activities in Mandalay,” said Bo Nat Khat, one of the group’s leaders. He also claimed responsibility for a recent series of small explosions in five townships. Speaking to Myanmar Now by phone, he also acknowledged that the shift to more confrontational tactics could make life more dangerous for ordinary citizens. “We don’t want people to go to crowded places such as the electricity office or the courts,” he warned. He insisted, however, that the only civilian targets would be officials and others who have collaborated with the regime in its bid to cement its hold on power. “We have plans to handle informants giving trouble to the people. We’ll be unveiling more soon,” he said. As guns and homemade bombs replace posters demanding democracy as the chief weapons of the resistance, Myanmar’s cities could see a surge in the kind of hit-and-run attacks long deployed by armed groups based along the country’s borders. Barely a month after young city dwellers began to head to remote areas to receive military training, anti-junta forces have already started hitting army bases and other locations associated with the junta’s oppression. – Myanmar NOW
COVID-19: Daily recoveries outnumber fresh cases
Indonesia’s daily COVID-19 recoveries increased by 6,022 on Wednesday, surpassing new infections, which were recorded at 5,246, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force informed. The new recoveries brought the total number of patients who have recovered from the infection so far to 1,680,501, while the country's COVID-19 caseload reached 1,831,773. Meanwhile, 185 people succumbed to the virus on Wednesday, bringing the death toll to 50,908. The number of active cases, or patients receiving treatment and conducting self-isolation, fell by 961 to reach 100,364. The tally of suspected COVID-19 cases touched 63,643. The figure was based on tests conducted on 64,830 specimens collected from 49,731 people at hundreds of laboratories across the country. The daily specimen positivity rate stood at 14.37 percent, while the daily individual positivity rate reached 10.55 percent. As per data from the task force, the highest number of daily cases were recorded in West Java (930), followed by Central Java (739), Riau (615), Jakarta (601), Riau Islands (351). The three provinces of Southeast Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua reported no new cases. Cumulatively, Jakarta has witnessed the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 431,179 and reported 413,102 recoveries, while East Java has recorded the highest number of deaths at 11,385. – AntaraNews.Com