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.
Singapore citizens can enter Malaysia via land VTL from Dec 20
Vaccinated Singapore citizens can enter Malaysia from next week (Dec 20) via the Causeway when the two countries expand a quarantine-free travel scheme at the land borders.
Likewise, vaccinated Malaysians will be able to enter Singapore via the Causeway without quarantine under the expanded land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme between the two countries.
Currently, only citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders of the country they are entering can travel via the land VTL. - Straits Times
97.3 per cent of adult population fully vaccinated
A total of 25,515,074 individuals or 97.3 per cent of the adult population in the country have completed their Covid-19 vaccination as of yesterday.
Based on the Health Ministry's Covidnow portal, 98.6 per cent of the adult population or 23,102,672 individuals have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Meanwhile, 89.8 per cent of the adolescent population or 2,826,872 individuals, aged between 12 and 17 have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 89.8 per cent or 2,726,239 individuals in the group have completed the vaccination. - New Straits Times
Dept warns Omicron could surge after NY
Wary of a potential surge in Omicron Covid-19 cases after the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the Department of Medical Services (DMS) is urging people to strictly comply with preventive measures to keep a lid on the pandemic.
"I must admit the Omicron variant appears to be spreading faster than Delta," DMS director-general Somsak Akksilp said on Tuesday.
If infected people show mild symptoms, they can be treated in isolation at home, Dr Somsak said. - Bangkok Post
AFP forms anti-corruption committee
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has formed an anti-corruption committee to promote transparency and accountability within the organization.
During ceremonies Tuesday, AFP Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Andres Centino, said the committee would complement the AFP Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability (OESPA) on its anti-corruption measures, policies, and programs.
“As public servants primarily mandated to protect the people and secure the state, it is incumbent upon us in the AFP to perform our duties and responsibilities with utmost integrity, accountability, and transparency,” Centino said. - Philippine News Agency
Opening tourism safely contributes to economic recovery
The tourism sector is on the path to recovery after seeing very few travellers during the fourth COVID-19 pandemic wave.
Nearly two months after tourism activities resumed, tourist arrivals to Da Lat City in the Central Highlands of Lam Dong have been on the rise, particularly on weekends. Open space cafes and famous outdoor tourist destinations in the city attract crowds of up to thousands of people daily.
This time of the year is also the best period to visit Phu Quoc Island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang. The cool weather is ideal for sightseeing and recreation activities. Called "Pearl Island", it has been a draw for domestic and foreign holidaymakers. - Vietnam News
Cambodia finds first case of Omicron variant of COVID-19
Cambodia has detected its first case of OMICRON variant of COVID-19 on a 23-year-old Cambodian woman who returned from work in Ghana.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that the 23-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Omicron was born in Bavet City, Svay Rieng Province. She flew from Ghana to Dubai and then from Dubai to Thailand before flying from Thailand to Cambodia.
The woman is reported to be 15 weeks pregnant and had arrived in Cambodia on the 12th of December. - Khmer Times
Three provinces start vaccinations for children aged 6--11
The Indonesian Government simultaneously kicked off COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 6–11 in three provinces with high vaccination coverage on Tuesday.
"We start the vaccination program with a target of around 26.5 million children," Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono said while inaugurating the program at East Cempaka Putih 3 Public Elementary School (SDN), Jakarta.
The school has set a target of vaccinating 175 students, he noted. - AntaraNews.Com
Pfizer for booster shots
Pfizer will be administered as booster shots for the National COVID-19 Booster Programme said Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar at yesterday’s daily press conference.
“The decision has been made after studying the comprehensive data of the effectiveness of the vaccine as booster shots in other countries,” said the minister. - Borneo Bulletin