These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Racist acts signal it's time for Singaporeans to confront 'painful truths' about beliefs: President Halimah
President Halimah Yacob on Thursday (June 10) said recent incidents of "hatred and chauvinism" have shaken confidence in Singaporeans' belief in hard-won cohesion. "It is agonising to read about the incidents of hatred and chauvinism perpetrated by Singaporeans against each other," she said in a Facebook post, calling such acts "so hurtful". "Our greatest fear is how such prejudice will affect our young and influence their minds. We wonder whether these are one-off incidents or reflective of a larger problem," she added. Madam Halimah noted that the law would not, by itself, stop such incidents from being perpetuated. Instead, it is time to have deeper engagements about the importance of cohesion and how to achieve a truly multi-racial and multi-religious society. "In the process, we may have to confront and reassess some very painful truths about ourselves and our beliefs. It may be unpleasant but this is a journey that I feel every Singaporean needs to take," said Madam Halimah, adding that social media use and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic were contributing factors that may mask real issues. Of late, a slew of incidents has sparked widespread attention and debate among the public as well as ministers and MPs. Madam Halimah recalled how a high-level interfaith forum - an idea of hers - was held in Singapore for the first time in 2019 and drew over 1,100 participants from some 40 countries. "There were initial concerns about whether it was wise to get an international audience to talk about such a sensitive topic, but I believed that racial and religious threats to cohesion will always be present and having meaningful conversations will do more good than harm," she said. She described how Jordan's King Abdullah was "clearly impressed" with Singapore's cohesion despite its diversity, and had said in his keynote speech that the "dynamism" displayed here was urgently needed to tackle threats to interfaith harmony, mutual respect and trust all over the world. Singapore does not claim to have the perfect model on racial and religious harmony, said Madam Halimah. – The Straits Times
PM congratulates 2020 SPM candidates
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin congratulated all 2020 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates whose results were announced today. Despite the challenges brought by the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, he said, the results for the 2020 SPM was the country's best in five years. "Alhamdulillah, I take note that the SPM examination results for the year 2020 is the best in five years. "I am proud that each of you (2020 SPM candidates) are outstanding individuals since the challenges surrounding the examination this time was way different compared to the previous years as the country and the rest of the world are battling the Covid-19 pandemic. "All of you were tested with tough challenges. "However, with high spirits of determination, all of you stepped up to the challenge and rose to the occasion," said Muhyiddin in a statement shared on his official Facebook account. Muhyiddin added he prayed for all 2020 SPM candidates to walk away with excellent results. "Of course, everyone will place high hopes that all the efforts will bear good results. "Nevertheless, do not give up if the results announced today were not as expected. It is not the end of the road. "The journey in life has just begun since there is more knowledge and experience out there that need to be explored and acquired. "Treat the results received today as a spirit booster for you to continue to persevere and secure better futures," he said. Muhyiddin also recorded his appreciation and congratulated parents and teachers for their roles in helping the 2020 SPM candidates during this challenging period. "Parents and teachers had doubled their efforts since the pandemic also brought new norms in the teaching and learning process," he said. – New Straits Times
More supplies needed: Anutin
More Covid-19 vaccine supplies will be sought for Bangkok to catch up with rising demand for the vaccine while the capital's outbreak situation remains critical, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Wednesday. Bangkok is a large, densely populated area and the centre of everything, he said during a visit to a vaccination unit at a shopping mall in Bang Khae. It is actually capable of injecting at most 3,000 people with a Covid-19 vaccine per day but is currently supplied with only 500 doses each day. He didn't explain how the shortfall came about. It comes amid reports some people are being kept waiting for hours for a jab. The lower-than-expected amount of vaccine supplies came despite the fact that about 2 million doses of the vaccine were allocated to Bangkok last week for the mass vaccination drive which kicked off on Monday. "If the outbreak situation in Bangkok is fully contained, the situation in all other parts of the country should improve dramatically too," he said. Bangkok has been designated a dark red zone or maximum- and strict-control zone by the Public Health Ministry since the new wave of infections began. As of Wednesday, 70 major clusters of Covid-19 infections have been detected in 35 districts of Bangkok, said Apisamai Srirangson, assistant spokeswoman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Among them was a new infection cluster identified at Prayuk Sport Supply Co, where 54 out of all 120 employees have tested positive for Covid-19, she said. The company was ordered shut until June 18 while local health authorities continue testing people living in communities nearby, she said, adding that all infected employees are now being treated in hospital. – Bangkok Post
Luzon brownouts hit 700K homes, caused P116M economic losses, says solon
The recent Luzon brownouts affected over 700,000 households in two days and resulted in more than P116 million in economic losses, the head of the Senate energy panel said in a hearing on power supply shortages Thursday. “Those rotational brownouts affected close to 705,000 customers in two days, this is just only in the Meralco franchise,” Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said. “We understand that various electric cooperatives also experienced rotational brownouts in their own respective jurisdiction so this does not take into account customers affected within the jurisdiction of the electric cooperatives,” he noted. Gatchalian also said he estimated at least over P116.8 million in economic losses during the two-day power outages. “This only takes into account the Meralco franchise. We’re not even talking about the economic losses experienced by the electric coops,” he added. Gatchalian said the recent power interruptions added to the challenges the country is facing amid efforts to recover the economy from the hit it took due to the pandemic. “The government is trying to reopen the economy as possible, that’s why when these rotational brownouts hit the country, the first person who I saw on TV pleading with the Department of Energy (DOE) to restore power is the secretary of trade and industry, Sec. [Ramon] Lopez because he’s very concerned with the reopening of our economy,” Gatchalian added. Last week, Luzon experienced rotational power interruptions due to thinning energy supply. The DOE, during a House hearing last Friday, said the “red alert” status of the Luzon grid may persist until this week but rotational brownouts may no longer be experienced by mid-June. – INQUIRER.net
HCM City quarantine zones face risk of being overloaded
As the number of COVID-19 cases in HCM City has increased in recent days, concentrated quarantine centres are at risk of being overwhelmed. According to the municipal Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention (HCDC), more than 21,400 people are currently in some form of quarantine in the city. Of the figure, 7,770 are in concentrated quarantine areas, with the rest at home or special accommodations. If F1 cases later test positive, then the F2 cases must be isolated in concentrated quarantine areas. HCM City plans to build a new field hospital with 1,000 beds at Phu Tho Stadium in District 11 if the number of COVID-19 infections exceeds 1,000. Health workers, beds and medical equipment will be prepared for the field hospital. Earlier, the municipal department issued a COVID-19 response plan for treatment, with three scenarios: fewer than 100 cases, 100-1,000 cases and 1,000-5,000 cases. The establishment of the field hospital is part of the city’s preparation for the worst-case scenario. The city's Health Department is also planning to set up other field hospitals at the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre in District 7, and culture and sports centres in city districts, with a total capacity of up to 5,000 beds and 1,000 ventilators. Tan Phu District is considering using district cultural houses, children's houses, and political training centres as quarantine zones. The city has five hospitals for COVID-19 treatment, Cho Ray, Cu Chi Field Hospital, HCMC Children’s Hospital, the Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Can Gio Covid-19 Treatment Hospital, with a total of more than 970 beds and 42 ventilators. The city has also requested military units to use military areas as concentrated quarantine sites to respond promptly if the city has more than 3,000 cases. Nguyen Trung Hoa, director of the Go Vap District Health Centre, said the district continued to promote screening, focusing on high-risk places, testing in quarantined areas, so F1 cases could increase. The health centre has set up an 80-bed quarantine area located at the Go Vap District Political Training Centre, but in the long run, it needed to increase its capacity. Binh Thanh District has recorded the second highest number of infections in the city in this outbreak with 49 cases. The district's quarantine area has 585 beds but it is forecast that the F1 cases will increase, putting pressure on the existing quarantine area. The district has used schools in the area to set up quarantine centres with a capacity of 200-300 beds, said Dinh Khac Huy, chairman of the district people's committee. To solve the problem of overloading quarantine areas in districts, deputy chairman of HCM City People's Committee Duong Anh Duc has agreed to allow localities to set up quarantine centres in local hotels. Duc asked the municipal Department of Health to provide urgent instructions for districts about this task. – Viet Nam News
WHO finds stumbling blocks in bid to end Feb 20 spread
The WHO has identified problems hindering Cambodia’s efforts to contain the unrelenting spread of Covid-19 caused by the February 20 Community Event. Dr Li Ailan, WHO Representative in Cambodia, told local media yesterday that there are some reasons why Cambodia has not been able to control the spread of Covid-19 as it did last year. She was speaking during a joint-ceremony by WHO and the Health Ministry to distribute medical tablets and equipment to health officials in Pursat province. She said firstly, Cambodia is currently fighting with the new Covid-19 mutation leading to rapid transmission. Dr Ailan said the new strain has been found to be asymptomatic, making it difficult to detect. She also cited fatigue among emergency response personnel which makes it difficult for them to carry out their duties effectively. Dr Ailan also said some people were not taking preventive health measures seriously after getting vaccinated because they think they are already safe. In order for Cambodia to be able to control the situation, she recommended that people still continue to avoid large gatherings or crowded places. Dr Ailan also recommended that groups of people should not stay together in enclosed places with just an air conditioner running. “I call on the Cambodian people to fully implement the Cambodian government’s measures, especially the three Dos and Don’ts,” she said. Health Ministry Secretary of State and chairwoman of the Vaccination Committee Or Vandine also acknowledged that the February 20 Community Event was a complex and difficult one to manage because people refused to follow the Ministry of Health’s instructions, lacked caution and failed to maintain social distancing. This allows the new strains to spread rapidly because it is very contagious. “I think the February 20 Community Event that erupted and lasted so long are also linked to the spread of new viruses such as B.1.1.7 UK strain and B.1.617 Indian variant,” Vandine said. She said the government has issued a number of measures to control the February 20 Community Event to prevent further spread but these can only be successful with the participation of the people. – Khmer Times
Junta troops raid monastery in Depayin
Regime forces raided a monastery in Sagaing Region’s Depayin Township on Tuesday after an alleged tip that People’s Defence Force (PDF) members had been training residents there. Around 30 soldiers stormed the monastery in Yin Kye village, 16km south of Depayin town, at around 7am on Tuesday. Members of the anti-junta civilian resistance force in the village fought back with handmade rifles. “They came here after receiving information that combat training was provided at the back of my monastery,” U Thuzarta, the abbot of the monastery, said. “They seized our national registration cards and other documents they found here. They also ate here and even took our tea leaves.” At around 1pm, members of the Depayin PDF attacked the regime soldiers who occupied the monastery, the abbot said, adding that the junta’s forces retreated after an hour-long clash between the two armed groups. “The shooting took place in my monastery compound. Locals shot at soldiers from outside the monastery and soldiers fired back with heavy artillery. The kids from the village did not dare to come out. The soldiers fired heavy artillery twice,” U Thuzarta told Myanmar Now. He blamed the coup regime’s armed forces for instigating the battle. “The fighting broke out because the locals could not tolerate this raid. Local PDFs from all over the township came to help the villagers,” the abbot added. Before retreating, the junta’s forces reportedly broke glass windows, damaged walls of monastery rooms, stole four motorcycles and seized 1.5 million kyat (around US$900). “Since the villagers delivered the message that locals from the whole of Depayin Township were ready to fight back against them, the soldiers opened fire indiscriminately. There were no casualties on either side but my monastery was badly destroyed,” said U Thuzarta. The soldiers also arrested a man on their way to the town of Ayadaw, more than 70km south of Depayin, a Yin Kye villager told Myanmar Now. Earlier that day, regime soldiers also stormed Kin Mun Taw village in Sagaing Region’s Chaung-U township, nearly 100km south of Depayin, in a pre-dawn raid. They accused villagers there of making weapons. “A house was crushed. It was made from wood and bamboo. They just smashed it. They opened fire as they entered the village,” a Kin Mun Taw villager told Myanmar Now. Three villagers were arrested in the raid and three houses in the village were destroyed after soldiers stole items of value from them, according to the local man. “I was not at home. They took my dad. They also took a butcher, who is one of our neighbours. Some villagers have fled since the raid,” he said. The soldiers also raided Kin Mun Taw on May 27 with the same allegation, that villagers were making traditional hunting rifles which have been used against junta troops. In late March, residents of five villages in Depayin Township fled their homes after troops seized control of Thabyaygone and Tei Taw villages. The regime has carried out several raids in villages across Sagaing Region since late March on the pretext of searching for anti-coup activists or searching for weapons. A spokesperson from the coup council could not be reached for comment regarding those raids. – Myanmar NOW
Indonesia provides 1,400 oxygen concentrators to India
Indonesia, in a show of solidarity and support, has donated 1,400 oxygen concentrators to India to help the South Asian country tackle a spike in COVID-19 cases. The oxygen concentrators were handed over to the Indian government through the Indian Red Cross Society at the Nhava Sheva Port on Tuesday (June 8, 2021), according to a written statement released by the Indonesian consulate general in Mumbai on Wednesday. Mumbai-based Indonesian consul general Agus P. Saptono received the oxygen concentrators at the port and handed them over to the India Red Cross Society (IRCS) for further distribution. With the latest donation of five container loads of concentrators, the number of oxygen concentrators provided by Indonesia to India since May 12 this year has reached three thousand. Indonesia plans to send another two thousand oxygen concentrators to India, which are scheduled to reach the port at the end of June this year. The assistance reflects the spirit of the two countries' togetherness in facing the pandemic and aims to help India get through a difficult time caused by a surge in COVID-19 cases, Saptono said. The pandemic is a common problem facing all countries, so they need to build strong collaborations to resolve it, he added. Meanwhile, IRCS’ regional passport officer (Maharashtra), who represented the Indian Foreign Ministry, expressed appreciation and gratitude to Indonesia for the assistance, which, he said, would be very useful to handle the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Indonesia and India have good cooperation and support each other, Saptono said adding, the cooperation has lasted more than 70 years, and India is one of Indonesia's strategic partners. "With the assistance from Indonesia, we hope the cooperation between the two countries will increasingly become stronger in the future, particularly in facing the COVID-19 pandemic," he remarked. The Indonesian government, in cooperation with industry associations and other stakeholders, had dispatched 1,400 oxygen cylinders to India on May 10, 2021 and another 200 concentrators on May 24. As an old and close ally and strategic partner, Indonesia has kept abreast of the developments of the pandemic in India and is ready to respond to urgent requirements for oxygen supplies to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in the South Asian country, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L. P. Marsudi had stated earlier. – AntaraNews.Com