These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Parliament: One in five seniors aged 70 and above have not booked Covid-19 vaccination appointment
More than 96,000 seniors - that is, 21 per cent of those aged 70 and above - have not yet booked a vaccination appointment. This is six percentage points higher than the general population, said Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary on Monday (Aug 2). Giving an update on the nationwide vaccination situation, Dr Janil told Parliament that 61 per cent of the population have completed the full two-dose vaccination regimen as of Saturday (July 31). Steady progress is also being made with seniors, he noted, with 79 per cent of those aged 70 and above having gotten at least one dose, and around 1,000 seniors signing up each day. Staff and volunteers from the People's Association and Silver Generation Office have intensified outreach efforts, with mobile vaccination teams starting work in towns with a higher proportion of seniors. "We will continue to reach out to as many seniors as possible and encourage them to get vaccinated," Dr Janil said. He was replying to a question from Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC), who had asked about vaccine hesitancy among older people and efforts made to counter misinformation. Dr Janil said that the MOH is pushing back against vaccine misinformation by putting out infographics, but stressed that combating this problem involves the whole of society. Mr Giam also asked about individuals who were prevented from taking their second dose of the vaccine due to allergies, as well as the progress of bringing in the protein-based Novavax vaccine. In response, Dr Janil said those who have received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, but are unable to take a second dose due to allergic reactions, have been invited to take the Sinovac vaccine instead. His ministry has set up a programme for them to be vaccinated at public hospitals for closer monitoring. Such individuals will be considered fully vaccinated after taking the Sinovac vaccine. People who are allergic to the mRNA vaccines may also choose to wait for the Novavax vaccine, which is expected to arrive by the end of the year. Dr Janil said his ministry and the Health Sciences Authority are working with Novavax to facilitate their regulatory submissions. "The review timeline will depend on the availability and submission of data by the company to HSA," he said. "While we recognise the need to facilitate timely access to the vaccine, there should be no compromise on the scientific rigour of the assessment of their quality, safety, and efficacy." – The Straits Times
Opposition MPs protest against postponement of special sitting
Almost all opposition members of parliament gathered at Dataran Merdeka this morning to protest against the postponement of the special Dewan Rakyat sitting, which was supposed to take place today. Leaders of opposition parties such as PKR's Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim; Pejuang's Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir; Parti Amanah Negara's Mohamad Sabu; Warisan's Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal; Muda's founder Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman; and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng were present at the square since 9am. According to PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution, the MPs will walk to Parliament and try their best to enter the compound. "It is our workplace and we will try our best to enter our workplace," Saifuddin said today. The government's decision to cancel the Dewan Rakyat special sitting at the last minute was met with criticism, with opposition MPs calling Perikatan Nasional government and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to exit Putrajaya. According to the government, a number of Covid-19 positive cases were detected within the parliament compound and due to that, it decided to postpone the sitting to avoid further spread of the virus in Parliament. On July 31, MPs were informed in a circular that the meeting on Aug 2 had been postponed to an undetermined date, in line with Dewan Rakyat Standing Order 11(3), following a suggestion by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah who is of the opinion that Parliament is a locality at-risk for the spread of Covid-19. Upset with the Parliament's postponement, Syed Saddiq described the government as the most "corrupt and morally bankrupt" administration in Malaysia. "They say the youth can't protest at Dataran Merdeka. But when the MPs elected by the people want to voice out in parliament, they shut parliament down. "If this is not a cowardly government, then I don't know what it is," he said in a short speech. Mukhriz claimed that the government is barely holding on, adding that the reason it chose to shut Parliament was to avoid a vote of no confidence. "They are worried Muhyiddin will be removed. They are worried they will lose power. They are stopping us from entering Parliament because they are scared we will dare them for a no-confidence vote," he said. Shafie pointed out that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's decree for the parliament to sit must be upheld, adding that the government's refusal to do so proved that it is "derhaka" (treasonous) towards the king. "The speaker (Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun) promised that our questions will be answered on Monday but the government cancelled it at the last minute," he said. – New Straits Times
Govt extends lockdown
The government has extended lockdown and curfew measures for two more weeks starting on Tuesday with 16 more provinces added to the list of "dark red or maximum and strict control zones", areas hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Apisamai Srirangson, assistant spokeswoman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), on Sunday said the 9pm – 4am curfew hours and other strict measures will be imposed in Bangkok and 28 other provinces for two weeks starting tomorrow. The CCSA is expected to evaluate the pandemic situation again on Aug 18, and Dr Apisamai indicated another lockdown extension until the end of this month is on the cards. "It is highly likely the [restrictions] will continue until Aug 31 if the situation does not improve," she said at a press briefing at Government House following a CCSA virtual meeting chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to review Covid-19 measures yesterday. The CCSA also decided to ease restrictions for restaurants and eateries at malls in the dark red zones, allowing them to sell food via delivery using online platforms, Dr Apisamai said, adding dine-in services are still banned. Existing restrictions in the dark red zones will remain in place, including curbs on inter-provincial travel, she said. People who wish to visit dark red zones must have a proper reason and will be screened upon entry, she said, noting a ban on gatherings of five people or more continues. Shopping malls, department stores and community shopping centres are closed except for supermarkets, pharmacies and vaccination stations in their premises, Dr Apisamai said. No public transport services are available from 9pm – 4am, she said, noting public transport in dark red zones is limited to 50% capacity. People in dark red zone provinces are still urged to work from home, Dr Apisamai said. People with medical reasons and businesses transporting essential goods are exempt from the travel curb, she said. The curfew and lockdown measures have been enforced in Greater Bangkok –Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Pathom, as well as the four southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla since July 12. Chon Buri, Chachoengsao and Ayutthaya were added to the list on July 20. The current measures will expire on Monday. The CCSA yesterday added 16 more provinces to the dark red zone list – Ang Thong, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Kanchanaburi, Lop Buri, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Prachin Buri, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Sing Buri, Suphan Buri, and Tak. It was found that infection rates in Bangkok showed signs of slowing down, accounting for 39% of infections nationwide while infection rates in other provinces went up due to the Delta variant, Dr Apisamai said. A source who attended the virtual CCSA meeting said Gen Prayut told the meeting that the government is set to import Sputnik V vaccine doses from Russia and it will ask its manufacturer to send the documents to Thailand. The vaccine would be used to inoculate frontline health workers first, the source said. – Bangkok Post
HCM City, southern region lockdown extended by two weeks amid soaring COVID-19 cases
HCM City along with 18 southern provinces and cities will continue to enforce lockdown measures in line with the Government’s Directive 16 for two more weeks, per a dispatch issued by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday. The original lockdown order for the entire southern region with a population of about 35 million people, effective since July 19, was set to expire on August 1 but the fourth-wave COVID-19 outbreak has shown no signs of letting up. The Prime Minister wants all localities under Directive 16 – which includes measures like the closure of all non-essential businesses, leaving home only for essential goods and services, and suspension of public transport – to strictly abide by the rules and stand ready to roll out more stringent measures if necessary. Most of southern localities, including HCM City, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai asked people not to go outside at night. The order goes on to state that local authorities must step up their information campaign and carry out immediately necessary me
asures to ensure the livelihood and healthcare of residents to ensure they can remain where they are. The order came as thousands of people – mostly workers from the central region and other southern localities – have left or were making plans to leave HCM City on their personal vehicles for their hometown due to the worsening COVID-19 outbreak, business closures, the imposition of lockdown, and the adverse impacts it was having on their livelihoods. The local governments where lockdown is in effect have been told they must not let residents leave their places of residence for another locality after July 31 until the end of lockdown (unless authorised). “Leaders of provinces and cities are responsible to the Prime Minister if they let people travel out of their localities on their own. For people who want to leave one province for another, all relevant localities’ authorities must organise the pick-up and drop-off sites to ensure the safety of the community, as well as arrange testing, transportation by car (trucks can be used to carry people's motorbikes if people travel by motorbike), handover protocols, quarantine facilities and medical supervision in accordance with regulations, in order to not let the disease, spread,” the dispatch reads. The Ministry of Public Security has been tasked with consulting local authorities with regard to transportation and routes. The dispatch notes that if the social distancing measures are effective, and if the situation is under control, provincial and municipal authorities could consider lifting restrictions for certain areas under their jurisdiction. For inter-provincial areas, however, restriction removal would need the agreement of all concerned localities and the plan would have to be submitted to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control before any decision was made. All local governments across the country need to immediately provide food and medical attention for all workers suffering from income loss or those without savings. Support for their people who are working or living in HCM City or elsewhere with complicated COVID-19 situations must be provided. The Prime Minister urged a faster rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and emphasised that no dose should go to waste. He also said that administrators of the vaccination programme must ensure priority groups receive theirs first and that there are not incidents of abuses of power to administer vaccines to ineligible persons. The Government leader also called for the participation of medical workers in the private sector in the local COVID-19 fight and said they should stand ready to reinforce localities with high case numbers in line with the health ministry’s direction. The Ministry of Public Security will need to lead efforts to handle fake news that undermine COVID-19 prevention and control efforts. The Ministry of Health has also been told to shorten administrative procedures related to production and the supply of COVID-19 vaccines and drugs, and review and propose additional appropriate support policies for medical staff and frontline forces. – Viet Nam News
Boosting protection: PM approves third jabs in wake of Delta variant scourge
In the wake of the rapid spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced yesterday that the AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines will be used as booster shots for all Cambodians who have been vaccinated twice. He said AstraZeneca should be administered to those who were inoculated with Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines which in turn would be used as booster shots for those who were vaccinated with AstraZeneca. He said that the Health Ministry should be working towards providing these shots quickly and, if possible, as soon as tomorrow because some AstraZeneca doses are already available in the Kingdom. Mr Hun Sen was speaking at the start of the vaccinations of children and youth aged 12 to 17 years which took place at the Peace Palace. “Yesterday I decided to approve a third dose or booster shot and use the AstraZeneca vaccine to inoculate people. Those who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 with Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines should use AstraZeneca as a booster shot dose to increase the effectiveness of protection,” he said. “For me and other people who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 with AstraZeneca, I think we should be inoculated with Sinopharm or Sinovac as a booster shot dose. According to a study by health officials, the first dose and the second dose cannot be mixed, but this can be done for a third dose,” Mr Hun Sen said. He instructed Vongsey Vissoth, a Secretary of State for the Ministry of Economy and Finance, to prepare to purchase more AstraZeneca vaccines through the COVAX Facility or contact the manufacturers directly. Mr Hun Sen said the government has enough money to buy the vaccines and the Finance Ministry should sign a purchase contract immediately. He said that Cambodia would have had a total of 35 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine in the near future, through orders and donations from friendly countries and the World Health Organization (WHO). In order to boost confidence among the public to have their children vaccinated, Mr Hun Sen brought 11 of his grandchildren to be among the first to be inoculated at the Peace Palace yesterday. In addition, vaccinations for those aged 12 to 17 began at the Hun Sen Bun Rany Phsar Doeum Thkov high school. “The implementation of an action plan for vaccination of children and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 is to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 among them as well as reduce the severity of the disease or loss of life,” he said. “In addition, vaccinations can help protect children and adolescents from the negative effects of the pandemic, including the mental strain of not being able to physically attend schooling.” The vaccination campaign for about two million children and adolescents has started in Phnom Penh first and later be extended to Kandal, Sihanoukville, Koh Kong and other provinces. In another development, Mr Hun Sen said yesterday that he is considering allowing some hotels to be used as treatment centres for middle class patients who do not wish for this to be done at home but cannot afford to go to private hospitals. “The private sector is planning to open some of its hotels at a cheaper price than private hospitals,” he noted. “Some patients want to be treated in own rooms, so if there is such a request, I recommend that the Ministry of Health should resolve this problem immediately.” He pointed out that hotels that used to receive tourists can now switch to having Covid-19 patients. The hotel staff, who volunteer to deliver food to the patients will also be able to be employed. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health yesterday reported 671 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number in the Kingdom to 77,914. Of the new cases, 265 are imported and the rest are linked to the February 20 Community Event. The ministry also announced 23 new deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 1,420. At the same time, the ministry also recorded 758 new recoveries, bringing the total number in the Kingdom to 70,754. – Khmer Times
Myanmar junta chief named head of ‘caretaker government’, pledges election in two years
Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing was appointed prime minister of a newly formed “caretaker government” on Sunday, hours after delivering a televised speech in which he promised to hold an election in two years’ time. The senior general, who came to power in a predawn coup exactly six months ago, did not mention his new title or the formation of an interim government in his 52-minute-long address on state television on Sunday morning. The move, which was announced by state media later in the day, involves not only the creation of a cabinet to be headed by Min Aung Hlaing and his deputy, Vice-Senior General Soe Win, but also changes at the state and regional level. New cabinets were appointed for the states and regions, which will each have a chief minister, six ministers, and an attorney general, the announcement said. Yangon and Mandalay, the country’s two largest cities, will also have ministries in their respective regional governments, with their mayors acting as ministers. The junta appointed army
officers with the rank of colonel to head each state or region’s ministry of security and border affairs, while police colonels will head the ministries of transportation. In his speech, Min Aung Hlaing cited the military-drafted 2008 constitution as the basis for his timeline to hold a new election. He said the constitution allows for two six-month extensions of the one-year state of emergency that was imposed immediately after the February 1 military takeover. Six more months would be needed to prepare for the election, he added. “We will accomplish the provisions of the state of emergency by August 2023,” he said. He also repeated accusations of electoral fraud against the civilian government led by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party, which won a landslide victory in last year’s polls. A day after seizing power, Min Aung Hlaing said that holding another election within a year would be a priority of his regime. So far, however, the only step it has taken has been to annul the results of last year’s election. Last week, the junta-appointed election commission announced that it had overturned the results of the election, which delivered a humiliating defeat to the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party. The commission claimed that there were more than 11 million errors in the vote count, and accused the then ruling NLD of violating Covid-19 public health restrictions in an attempt to stay in power for another five-year term. Local and international observers have dismissed the military’s claims of fraud and said the election results reflected the desire of the majority of Myanmar’s people. These latest developments were seen by critics of the regime as evidence of both its weakness and its determination to hold onto power. – Myanmar NOW
Indonesia to receive 45 million doses of three vaccine in August: govt
Indonesia is scheduled to receive 45 million doses of three COVID-19 vaccines in stages in August 2021, the Health Ministry's spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccination, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, stated. "The 45 million doses of vaccine comprise 35 million doses of Sinovac vaccine, six million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and three to five million doses of the Pfizer vaccine," Tarmizi noted here on Monday morning. The spokesperson informed that 50 percent of the total 45 million vaccines would be distributed to seven regions in Java and Bali Island. Tarmizi remarked that once the number of COVID-19 cases in Java and Bali were brought under control, the government would distribute the vaccine supplies evenly to 34 provinces in the country. "Some 50 percent of the 45 million vaccines will be distributed to Java and Bali since the number of COVID-19 cases in the two islands is still relatively high. The rest will be distributed to 27 provinces outside Java and Bali," she revealed. The spokesperson also informed of the
required 28-day time gap between the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, people can postpone taking the second dose if they are ill, she noted. "People can take the second dose of injection later after having recovered," she remarked. Nadia stated that as of July 27, Indonesia had secured 173.1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, comprising 144.7 million doses in bulk form from Sinovac and 28.6 million doses in the form of finished products from AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and Moderna. In a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19 and build herd immunity, the Indonesian government began a nationwide vaccination program on January 13, 2021, with President Joko Widodo being the first recipient of the vaccine. – AntaraNews.Com