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.
Stay informed with The ASEAN Post.
Malaysia to resume interstate and overseas travel from Oct 11
Malaysia will allow interstate and overseas travel from Monday (Oct 11) for the 90 per cent of its adult population that have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
In a national broadcast on Sunday to mark the achievement of the immunisation target, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob also vowed that the progressive relaxation of pandemic curbs will not be reversed even if there are spikes in infections.
“I want to assure everyone that businesses and livelihood will continue normally. Even if cases rise, we will only focus (restrictions) on specific areas. The reopening will continue even if there is a surge, but we can ensure there are no closures at all if we abide by the SOPs,” he said.
Malaysians who are fully vaccinated, along with their children, will be allowed to travel domestically across the country.
Those who want to travel overseas will be able to do so. However, a mandatory 14-day quarantine remains in force for anyone entering Malaysia. - Straits Times
Taiwan leader says island will not bow to China
Taiwan will not bow to pressure by Beijing and will defend its democratic way of life, President Tsai Ing-wen said Sunday, following a spike in incursions by Chinese warplanes into its air defence zone.
Self-governed Taiwan's 23 million people live under the constant threat of invasion by China, which views the island as its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.
"The more we achieve, the greater the pressure we face from China," Tsai said in a speech marking Taiwan's National Day, adding: "Nobody can force Taiwan to take the path China has laid out for us."
She described Taiwan as "standing on democracy's first line of defence." - New Straits Times
Police warn 'Squid Game' viewers
Police on Sunday cautioned that Squid Game, a popular South Korean survival drama on Netflix, contains violent scenes that could leave a negative impression on viewers.
Pol Col Kissana Phathanacharoen, deputy spokesman for the national police, said the critically-acclaimed series contains scenes unsuitable for viewing.
Characters on the show exhibit violent behaviour, he said, noting the drama was given an 18+ rating.
Viewers, including youngsters, are glued to the series as they spend a great deal of time indoors during the lockdown, Pol Col Kissana said.
He said the show depicts scenes of violence, including murder and mutilation, and could lead viewers to engage in crimes in real life. He said the show is about people's raw instincts to survive at all costs.
Pol Col Kissana also advised parents to keep an eye on their children's online activities, adding impressionable youngsters should not watch movies on the internet alone as they are prone to copying the behaviour of the characters. - Bangkok Post
PNP deploys nurses to help hospitals dealing with Covid-19 surge
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the deployment of police medical personnel to hospitals experiencing a surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.
PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, said the agreement will "concretize collaborative efforts in the implementation of the said program."
Shortly after the MOA signing ceremony, 10 nurses of the PNP Health Service were formally deployed to the DOH.
“The existing manpower of hospitals is not enough to cater to the health care needs of severe and critical Covid-19 positive patients hence we are thankful for the additional support and manpower from the PNP who will be assigned in Covid wards,” DOH-National Capital Region Director Gloria J. Balboa said
Balboa also thanked the PNP for its steadfast commitment to assisting the government's pandemic response efforts. - Philippine News Agency
Rapid vaccination and targeted policies key to Vietnam’s endemic growth
As the world is transitioning from pandemic to endemic, Vietnam needs to ensure its vaccination progress and greater adeptness at targeting control measures and support policies to follow suit.
Experts predicted COVID-19 could become endemic which means the virus may never go away but we can turn it into something much less threatening like influenza and live with it safely.
This is also Vietnam’s priority in the coming months.
It is not only people around the world who are tired of the pandemic control measures that have been implemented over the past two years, many governments cannot suffer more lockdowns given their devastating impacts on the economy. - Vietnam News
WHO backs reopenings: Cambodia rep says new normal possible if adopted safely
WHO in Cambodia has requested the Ministry of Health to consider reopening all sectors, especially businesses in the Kingdom, after observing a sustainable and well-managed response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
World Health Organization Representative to Cambodia Dr Li Ailan told Khmer Times yesterday that Safe & Sustainable reopening is possible, if well managed.
“We need to apply a good risk management approach in all the sectors, especially the business sector for business reopening. Individuals need to make right choices on Covid-19 measures. Implementation & Monitoring are key,” Dr Ailan said.
“We have indeed learned some lessons to realise the safe-reopening ambition,” she added.
She cautioned however, that if reopening is rushed without good planning and risk management in place, cases will surge, hospitals are highly likely to become overwhelmed and businesses may close again. - Khmer Times
Ousted Rakhine chief minister sentenced to two years in prison for incitement
A junta court in Sittwe sentenced Nyi Pu, the detained former chief minister of Rakhine State, to two years in prison with hard labour for incitement on Friday, according to his lawyer.
Judge Win Naing of the Sittwe Township court delivered 66-year-old Nyi Pu’s verdict at a hearing held via video conference on Friday regarding charges filed under Section 505b of the Penal Code.
Section 505b outlaws “any statement, rumour or report” likely to induce people to “commit an offence against the state.” Nyi Pu is the second chief minister and central executive committee (CEC) member of the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) to be convicted by the junta of violating the statute since Myanmar’s February 1 military coup. On June 8, Aung Moe Nyo, another NLD CEC member and former chief minister of Magway Region, was also sentenced to two years in prison for incitement. - Myanmar NOW
HALAL - The catalyst for universal economic recovery
The World Halal Business Conference 2021 (WHBC2021) organised by the Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC) was officiated recently by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, RT. Hon. Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, was held fully virtually, watched by 3000 registered delegates from 65 countries.
Held annually, WHBC2021 aims to be the halal industry's leading stage for government representatives, key opinion leaders, captains of industries and experts to discuss their roles and contributions in accelerating global economic recovery.
Themed "Halal - The Catalyst for Universal Economic Recovery", Dato' Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Senior Minister, Minister of International Trade and Industry Malaysia (MITI), who delivered the Keynote Address for WHBC2021 on behalf the Prime Minister, applauds the aptness and relevance of the event and its overall theme, given the current global economic recovery process where Halal can assume an important feature and be a catalyst through its various value propositions.
"This Conference demonstrates the firm commitment and reliance of all stakeholders that the Halal economy remains resilient and becoming a strong contributor to the global economic recovery," said the Prime Minister. - AntaraNews.Com