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.
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Singapore's first priority is its Covid-19 situation at home, says Vivian Balakrishnan
Singapore's first priority is to control the Covid-19 pandemic at home and ensure healthcare facilities are not overwhelmed, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan said.
The issue of relaxation of travel curbs with Asean is being actively discussed, he told The Straits Times on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday (Sept 25).
"For a start, we've got to settle mutual recognition of health certificates, vaccine certificates, that's in a sense making sure our digital systems, our ability to verify records, are in place," Dr Balakrishnan said.
"The second step is to actually decide when and how we can actually liberalise and allow travel. This is a much more difficult point, because even in the case of Singapore, these decisions whether to open or tighten depend very much on the domestic situation at that point in time."
"Right now is the time to be careful," he added.
He said the Singapore Government has had to introduce more measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the country, to not overload its medical facilities. - Straits Times
Malaysia's travel bubble helps but extend more financial support: Industry players
The reopening of Langkawi and looming travel bubble of other destinations is a big relief industry players but they are banking on more support particularly in the 2022 Budget.
They said the opening of more destinations was crucial in reviving the industry devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Industry players have claimed that they were on the brink of "total collapse". This was due to regulatory constraints imposed by the government as borders had remained closed for the last 18 months, while other countries were recovering at a faster rate in their battle against Covid-19.
Melaka, Genting Highlands and Tioman island reportedly will soon join Langkawi in the tourism green bubble project. - New Straits Times
CCSA to mull limited reopening, shorter curfew
A proposal to shorten the nighttime curfew by an hour and resume 11 types of businesses, such as cinemas and spas, will be considered by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday.
If approved, curfew hours, which were imposed to help prevent coronavirus infections, would be shortened to 10pm-4am instead of the current 9pm-4am, according to a government source.
Also, 11 types of businesses and establishments -- such as spas, cinemas, restaurants with live bands, tutorial schools, sporting grounds and museums -- would be able to reopen, the source said.
However, the most stringent public health measures are likely to be maintained in 29 dark-red provinces, including Bangkok, the source said, adding the coronavirus situation will be reviewed every 14 days.
The shortening of curfew hours and the resumption of businesses are expected to be the top agenda during today's CCSA meeting chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The proposal will be presented to members of the meeting by a CCSA-appointed sub-committee asked to study the kingdom's Covid-19 restrictions and determine when they should be relaxed. - Bangkok Post
Local Maguindanao political parties name bets for 2022 polls
Barely five days before the start of filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs), local aspirants, both seeking reelection and newbies in Maguindanao, announced alliances and their desire to run for the 2022 national and local elections.
On Sunday, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), through its United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), has named its candidates that the party will support in next year’s polls.
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim, also head of the MILF and its local political party, has endorsed Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu and former House Representative Bai Sandra Sema as the UBJP’s gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial candidates.
Ebrahim, during a political gathering inside the BARMM compound, also endorsed the reelection bid of Rep. Roonie Sinsuat who is seeking his second term as Maguindanao's first district solon.
Ebrahim also endorsed the reelection bid of Board Member Datu Bimbo Sinsuat and Datu Jam Sinsuat. - Philippine News Agency
As HCM City reopens, businesses realise flexible is the way to go
Many businesses in HCM City’s ‘green zones’ (safe zones) that have been allowed to reopen since September 15 have adopted flexible models to meet the market’s new requirements.
Tung Minh, owner of a store that sells imported fruits in District 7, said the first thing he did on reopening his store was to start investing in online infrastructure and building a network of potential online customers.
The store has started to receive orders via phone and website, he said.
It connects closely with loyal customers, and through them introduces and markets its products to their relatives, friends and neighbours, he said.
It also digitises product images, prices and origins to enable people to shop online, he added. - Vietnam News
Apathy among fully vaccinated causing C-19 spread in Siem Reap
Authorities in Siem Reap have voiced concern over the fact that the lackadaisical attitude of some fully vaccinated people in the province is contributing to the spread of Covid-19.
Siem Reap Deputy Governor Neak Nerom told Khmer Times that those who have received two doses of vaccine have become infected because some of them are not following health guidelines in the mistaken belief that they cannot get Covid-19 anymore.
“The main reasons for those fully vaccinated to be detected positive for Covid-19 are carelessness, apathy and a carefree attitude towards the deadly pandemic because they have had both doses,” he said. - Khmer Times
Military cuts off internet connection in 11 more townships in northwestern Myanmar
The junta cut off mobile internet access and most Wi-Fi services to 11 townships in war-torn areas of Chin State and Magway Region at 6pm on Thursday evening, according to locals and members of the local resistance forces in the area.
The affected townships are Gangaw, Htilin and Myaing in Magway Region, and Falam, Kanpetlet, Matupi, Mindat, Paletwa, Tedim, Thantlang and Tonzang in Chin State.
Locals have said that the internet blackout will make it difficult for locals to both send and receive information on the conditions in the region.
“After the internet connection is cut off, the phone connection may also be cut off. In that case, I don't think the situation will be easy,” a Mindat resident told Myanmar Now.
A church and several buildings were hit by artillery shells fired by the Myanmar army during a clash with the Chinland Defence Force (CDF) on September 22 in Mindat. - Myanmar NOW
Indonesia vows to continue transformation toward circular economy
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stressed the government's commitment to carrying out an economic transformation toward a circular economy.
"The concept is not only about waste management but is also about production process with reusable raw material. Hence, this will be a significant saving of natural resources," Hartarto said in a statement here on Sunday.
The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible.
This model will reduce consumption of primary natural resources and waste production.
Hartarto said the transformation toward circular economy is important for Indonesia, as it will bring positive impacts to environment as well as growth in many other sectors in future. - AntaraNews.Com