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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Bookings for Singapore-KL flights spike despite lack of VTL flight details
Bookings for flights between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur have spiked in the past day, even though details such as the designated Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights are yet to be announced.
But many Malaysians in Singapore are still holding back in the hope that the eased border restrictions will be extended to land checkpoints soon.
The VTL, which will restart quarantine-free air travel between the two countries, was announced by Singapore and Malaysia on Monday (Nov 8) afternoon. - Straits Times
Dewan Rakyat to discuss vaccine hesitancy among civil servants
Statistical information on civil servants who have refused vaccination or reluctant to receive a Covid-19 vaccine without valid reasons will be among topics to be raised in the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.
According to the Order Paper on the Parliament website, the matter will be raised during the question and answer session by Chan Foong Hin (PH-Kota Kinabalu) who will pose the question to the Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong) will also ask the Prime Minister to clarify on the income gap between urban and rural groups and the extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to the problem. - New Straits Times
Trafficked illegals in crosshairs
Arrest warrants are being sought for smugglers of illegal migrant workers and their assets will be seized as a crackdown continues against people entering the country illegally to find work following the Nov 1 reopening.
Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said the ministry has asked assistant national police chief Pol Lt Gen Surachet Hakparn to seek warrants for smuggling gangs while the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) will be asked to seize their assets.
"Migrant workers should not have to wait longer than three weeks before they can enter the country legally under new memorandums of understanding," Mr Suchart said on Tuesday. - Bangkok Post
Floods likely as shear line brings rains over parts of PH
The weather bureau on Wednesday warned of possible flooding in some areas of the country as the shear line continues to bring rains.
In its 4 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecast scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over the Visayas, Palawan, and the Caraga and Davao regions.
"Light to moderate, with at times heavy rains will be experienced over these areas, so flooding and landslides are possible," PAGASA weather forecaster Benison Estareja said. - Philippine News Agency
HCM City ties up with Mekong Delta to revive tourism
The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Dong Thap will promote linkages with HCM City as part of its efforts to revive tourism, authorities have said.
The province had approved a plan for accelerating tourism revival with a number of measures focused on safe adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthening linkages with other localities, Doan Tan Buu, deputy chairman of its People’s Committee, said.
The province was designated ‘medium risk’ in the four-level scale, Buu told a conference last week. - Vietnam News
Cambodia to face extreme weather from today to November 19
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology confirmed that from November 10 to 19, Cambodia will be affected by high pressure from China and some areas will receive light to moderate rain.
The ministry said that such a situation would cause the provinces in the central lowlands to have a minimum temperature of 21-23 degrees Celsius and a maximum temperature. 27-29 degrees Celsius.
There may be light to heavy thundershowers, especially in Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Kandal, Takeo, Kampong Thom, Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang and Phnom Penh. - Khmer Times
Dr Zaw Myint Maung to testify in Suu Kyi's Covid-19 trial
Dr Zaw Myint Maung, the detained vice chair of the National League for Democracy (NLD), has been called to testify in Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial on charges of violating Covid-19 restrictions ahead of last year’s election.
A court source familiar with the case said that the legal team for the ousted state counsellor submitted Zaw Myint Aung’s name as a witness during a hearing on Tuesday.
Suu Kyi and Zaw Myint Maung have both been charged under Section 25 of the Disaster Management Law for allegedly ignoring measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 while conducting campaign activities last year. - Myanmar NOW
Commence vaccinations for children soon, House Speaker tells govt
House of Representatives (DPR RI) Speaker Puan Maharani has asked the government to commence vaccinations for children aged 6-11 soon to support the implementation of face-to-face learning.
“We hope the vaccination for children aged under 12 can be implemented immediately. With vaccination, children can come back to learning at school safely,” she said in a statement received here on Tuesday.
She said she hoped the vaccination of children aged 6-11 can be realized promptly even though the Ministry of Health has said that it can only be started next year due to matters regarding the budget and priority groups for vaccination. - AntaraNews.Com