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 economy grows 5.9% in Q4 and 7.2% in 2021, better than expected: Flash data
Singapore’s economy wrapped up 2021 with its fastest growth in more than a decade, putting behind the Republic’s worst recession the year before when the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
The economy grew 7.2 per cent last year, the most since 2010 and higher than earlier estimates, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said on Monday (Jan 3).
MTI in November last year had predicted that gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2021 would come in at about 7 per cent, the top end of an earlier forecast range of 6 per cent to 7 per cent. The economy had contracted by 5.4 per cent in 2020. - Straits Times
'Poor infrastructure, development to blame'
An inefficient and outdated flood mitigation system coupled with unchecked development and poor drainage led to the massive floods in the Klang Valley and Pahang recently, experts say.
Despite the red alert issued by the Meteorological Department on heavy rainfall in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Pahang, not much could have been done due to the lack of infrastructure.
While the magnitude of rainfall could not be controlled, experts said the floods would not have been as severe had there been proper drainage and sufficient flood mitigation facilities. - New Straits Times
Another year of living with the virus
Scientists seem to agree that Covid-19 is likely to stay with us this year but the symptoms will be less severe than earlier variants. They say this is because the virus needs to prevent the host from death.
The rapidly increasing number of daily infections caused by the Omicron variant is now being seen in many countries in Europe, the United States and elsewhere. In the United Kingdom alone, it is predicted that at least 1.7 million people are infected with the Omicron strain. But much evidence has shown the new variant appears to trigger less severe illness than its viral predecessors.
In Thailand, the Ministry of Public Health made a study of 100 Omicron-infected patients and found that 48% are asymptomatic, 41% show illness and in 11% of cases they are collecting more information. - Bangkok Post
Quarantine violators may face imprisonment under the law
Returning travelers in the Philippines have been warned they may face imprisonment if they are caught violating Covid-19 quarantine protocols, Malacanang said Monday.
Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles reminded inbound travelers and hotels to ensure compliance with all quarantine protocols or face both civil and criminal charges.
“Sa (In the) Notifiable Diseases law it’s not just a penalty, may imprisonment din ito (there is also imprisonment),” he said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart. - Philippine News Agency
Vietnam strengthens measures to care for COVID-19-hit children
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has approved a directive to strengthen measures on care for and protection of children affected by COVID-19.
According to Directive No.36/CT-TTg, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) must work with other ministries and agencies to propose measures regarding care for and protection of orphans in general and orphans caused by the pandemic in line with the law, raise public awareness of the effort to uphold the role of the society and residential community in the process, ensuring comprehensive growth of children.
The MoLISA was also required to regularly report the implementation of the Directive to the Prime Minister. - Vietnam News
COVID-19 Omicron variant in Cambodia: another three infections brings total to 69
Three new Omicron variant of the coronavirus announced yesterday by the Ministry of Health brings the total to 69.
However, the situation remains well under control with no local infections infected since the first case was detected on December 14, 2021.
All of the cases are reported to be imported with the bulk of it being in Phnom Penh and a handful in Siem Reap. - Khmer Times
Don't panic about first case of Omicron: E Java Governor
East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has reminded local residents to not panic and to remain vigilant by applying strict health protocols after the first Omicron case was found in the province.
"Now what we have to do is work together as hard as we can so that Omicron does not spread, and the local transmission stops," she said here on Sunday.
The governor said she has coordinated with Commander of the Military Command V/Brawijaya Major General Nurchahyanto, East Java Police Chief Inspector General Nico Afinta, Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto and Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin in dealing with the Omicron variant case. - AntaraNews.Com
US Donates 799,110 Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine Doses to Laos
The Pfizer BioNTech vaccine has been reviewed for safety and efficacy by WHO and is the first COVID-19 vaccine recommended by WHO for use in individuals age 12 and above. These vaccines will protect lives in Laos and help prevent dangerous new variants from spreading.
This latest shipment consists of 799,110 doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine and is the first of two shipments planned for delivery to Laos.
The combined total of both shipments is 1,698,840 doses, with the second shipment of 899,730 doses set to arrive in mid-January. - The Laotian Times