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.
Retirement age to go up to 65, older workers’ CPF rates to be raised
By 2030, older Singaporeans who want to continue working on the same employment terms will have the assurance that they can do so up to the age of 65, instead of 62 now. Central Provident Fund (CPF) contribution rates will also be raised over the next 10 years or so for workers aged 55 to 70, so that they can build up more retirement savings. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday (18 Aug) that these changes, which were recommended by a tripartite workgroup and accepted in full by the Government, “will support older workers to continue working longer and to be more financially independent”. – The Straits Times
High Court postpones Najib’s biggest 1MDB trial
The much-awaited high-profile trial of former Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak, who is facing four charges of having used his positions to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3 billion (US$552 million) in 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same money, has been postponed to next Monday (26 Aug). High Court Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah adjourned Najib’s 1MDB trial which was scheduled to begin today after allowing the application by former Federal Court Judge Gopal Sri Ram, who was appointed as senior deputy public prosecutor, to postpone the trial as the prosecution had just served 15 bundles of documents and witness statements to the defence. – New Straits Times
Netizens say no to govt’s planned censorship of Netflix, YouTube
Indonesian movie and video buffs are balking at the government’s plan to begin censoring movies and videos that are being streamed by popular sites such as YouTube and Netflix. An online petition with more than 88,000 signatures was presented to the Indonesian Broadasting Commission (KPI), the state body that currently monitors all broadcasting content. The KPI, which has the authority to recommend banning TV and radio programs, announced last week that it intended to begin monitoring the content of video-streaming websites, specifically naming YouTube and Netflix among its targets. – The Jakarta Post
Visa waiver proposal under fire
The Foreign Ministry has asked the government to review the economic minister’s proposal to offer a visa waiver to Chinese and Indian tourists as a part of the government’s economic stimulus package. India and China have a population of more than one billion each, and the main concern is whether Thailand is ready to cope with a potentially massive influx of tourists from the two countries entering Thailand freely. Many of them may take the opportunity to escape from hardships, such as natural disasters in their countries in order to settle in Thailand, according to the ministry. – Bangkok Post
Vietnam needs skilled workers for digital transformation
To transition from a natural resources-based labour-intensive economy to a knowledge-based economy, Vietnam should acquire a high-skilled workforce that can navigate the digital transformation, experts have said. Speaking at an economic forum in the city on Thursday, Dr Tran Dinh Thien, member of the National Monetary and Financial Policy Advisory Council, said Vietnam as an open economy should prepare to deal with the risks and impacts of the international economic and technological upheaval. – Vietnam News
Duterte unfazed by Pogo hubs near military camps
The presence of Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) hubs manned by Chinese nationals near military camps is not something to worry about, President Rodrigo Duterte said, even as Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has raised concerns on the country’s national security. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the location of the Pogo hubs does not matter to the President. – Philippine Daily Inquirer