These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Trade associations, chambers can help industries transform as economy recovers: DPM Heng
Singapore can be cautiously optimistic this year, given how it now has one of the highest vaccination rates against Covid-19 in the world and how it has been gradually reopening its borders.
But while the economy is forecast to grow by 3 per cent to 5 per cent this year, the improvement has been weaker for some sectors, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, as he expressed his hope for a more even recovery and that industries will transform to meet future challenges.
Such transformation requires a whole-of-society approach, and groups like the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) have a part to play, he said on Tuesday (Feb 1).
"To prosper, we must redouble our efforts to prepare our workers and our businesses for the future," he added.
"Transforming our economy needs every one of us to do our part - businesses, workers, and the Government. SCCCI and other trade associations and chambers need to forge partnerships amongst your members, build industry-wide capabilities, and to uplift your respective industries," said Mr Heng, who is also Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies.
Speaking at the launch of a virtual heritage trail by the SCCCI at the trade association hub in Jurong, Mr Heng held up how the organisation has put in the work to encourage such transformation. – Straits Times
Golden Jubilee: KL moving towards becoming sustainable city
Fifty years after becoming the first settlement in Malaysia to be granted city status on Feb 1, 1972, Kuala Lumpur is now moving towards becoming a more sustainable, resilient and prosperous city for more than its two million people.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah said to achieve the aspiration as well as the Kuala Lumpur City For All vision by 2040, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will focus on efforts to strengthen governance, traffic management and flood prevention.
"I hope and am confident that the city will continue to grow rapidly if we focus on the three key aspects and agendas for the next 50 years.
"Public expectations are getting higher and higher. Therefore, DBKL must work harder to increase its efficiency and create a dynamic urban environment, not only in terms of its attractiveness and liveability but more importantly to become the country's economic driver," he told Bernama.
Mahadi said among the aspects that are being fine-tuned is efforts to improve first- and last-mile connectivity which includes pedestrian walkways, to achieve the target of 70 per cent public transport ridership by 2040. – New Straits Times
Test & Go restarts for travellers
The "Test & Go" programme for fully vaccinated travellers resumes on Wednesday with travellers required to take an extra RT-PCR test on the fifth day of arriving and to wait for the test result at their hotel or face tough legal consequences.
The scheme, in which visitors must spend one night in a certified hotel while they wait for the result of their first RT-PCR test taken on arrival, was suspended in response to growing concerns about the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said on Monday the registration for the revised Test & Go programme, which is open to visitors from all countries, will resume on Tuesday with extra measures.
"Travellers must take the standard Covid-19 test on the first and fifth days of arrival and must show proof of hotel bookings for these two nights at any hotel that has a partner hospital," he said.
He also said the sandbox scheme has been designated a contingency plan. – Bangkok Post
'No vax no ride’ policy lifted by Feb. 1 under Alert Level 2
The “no vaccination, no ride” policy for commuters in the National Capital Region (NCR) will be lifted stating Tuesday as Covid-19 Alert Level No. 2 takes effect.
The policy was among the measures implemented by the government to prevent the transmission of the highly-transmissible Omicron variant.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) order was anchored on a Metro Manila Council Resolution and ordinances of NCR local government units and in line with the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to limit the movement of unvaccinated individuals.
The “no vaccination, no ride” policy will be enforced only when NCR is under Alert Levels 3, 4, or 5 as determined by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
“The policy is not perpetual,” DOTr Secretary Art Tugade said in a statement on Monday.
He reminded that minimum health protocols in public transport must still be observed to prevent another surge. – Philippine News Agency
Vietnamese tourism ministry proposed total reopening to international tourism from April
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung has just submitted a proposed plan to the Government for reopening international tourism in safe and effective manner.
According to the plan, after the first pilot period for receiving international tourists, the second phase will last from now until March 30, 2022, with the number of eligible localities in the programme extended to all those who have completed coverage of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots and with contained outbreak (green zone, as per the health ministry’s outbreak assessment criteria).
This is a huge step up from the currently five localities of Phu Quoc Island (Kien Giang Province in the southern region), Quang Nam, Da Nang, and Khanh Hoa in the central region, and Quang Ninh in the northern region, with HCM City and Binh Dinh soon to join the list.
COVID-19 testing can be conducted at the accommodation sites, with no discrimination between domestic and international tourists, and no time restrictions imposed.
From March 31, 2022, Viet Nam will be fully open to international tourism, with inbound and outbound tourists welcomed at all international border gates.
The tourists accepted into Viet Nam must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (with certificates) at least 14 days before entry, or have proof of recovery from COVID-19 within six months prior to entry. (There will be separate requirements for partially vaccinated or young children). – Vietnam News
Cementing succession: Hun Sen introduces Manet to the King as CPP’s PM candidate
Prime Minister Hun Sen has introduced Royal Cambodian Army Commander and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party’s (CPP) Prime Minister’s candidate to King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk as his successor to protect the monarchy. He also highlighted Lt Gen Manet’s efforts to protect the Royal Palace as army commander and also as Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) deputy commander-in-chief.
Mr Hun Sen, the CPP president, also blasted those who criticised his and Lt Gen Manet’s recent visit to the Royal Palace after King Sihamoni and Queen Mother Monineath granted a royal audience to them.
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony of the construction of an overpass in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district yesterday, Mr Hun Sen said Lt Gen Manet has made great efforts to safeguard the Royal Palace and defended the visit against those who spoke badly about it.
In a public speech late last year, the Prime Minister had vowed to safeguard the monarchy from being attacked, saying Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy and insulting the throne or King cannot be tolerated. He was referring to former opposition leader Sam Rainsy who often insulted the King. – Khmer Times
Police flee PDF raid in Myaing, leaving family members behind
Resistance forces who raided a police station in Magway Region’s Myaing Township on Friday said that police left 13 family members behind as they fled the scene after a 45-minute shootout.
According to an officer from the Myaing People’s Defence Force (PDF) who called himself Cross, the relatives of the fleeing police officers were later released.
“We told them not to support the junta and let them go. We didn’t lay a finger on them,” he said, adding that the family members included children and elderly adults.
The attack on the Lin Ka Daw police station, located at a strategic crossroads linking Myaing and Yesagyo townships in Magway to Pale and Salingyi townships in Sagaing, was carried out by an alliance of PDF groups from Myaing, Yesagyo and Salingyi, the Myaing PDF said in a statement released on Friday.
After gaining control of the police station, the resistance forces collected any weapons they could find there and then set it on fire, the statement added.
According to Cross, there were around 20 police officers and soldiers inside the police station at the time of the attack. – Myanmar NOW
Minister advocates health protocol compliance during Chinese New Year
Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has asked communities celebrating the Lunar or Chinese New Year to remain disciplined in complying with the health protocols to prevent an increase in COVID-19 cases.
"The pandemic has not stopped. We should be careful, especially with the increased local transmission of the Omicron variant. Let's celebrate 2022's Lunar New Year with simplicity and health protocols, without lessening its meaning," Qoumas remarked here on Saturday.
He also said that the Lunar New Year in 2022 must be celebrated with care, including by avoiding crowds.
People should keep family gatherings small and not go out of town as the current pandemic situation is considered still threatening with cases increasing due to Omicron, he added. To ensure health protocols are followed properly, he asked all parties to implement the recommendations stipulated in Circular Letter No. 02 of 2022 on the implementation of Lunar New Year 2573 Kongzili.
The circular allows Chinese New Year celebrations in all temples, miao, litang or xuetang, but at a limited capacity of 10 percent and that is also in accordance with the level of public activity restrictions (PPKM) in each area, he said.
The celebration organizers must coordinate with the local COVID-19 Task Force, government, and security authorities to ascertain the status of zoning and prepare health workers for overseeing health protocol observance during events, he added. – AntaraNews.Com