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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First day of Malaysia's chicken export ban: Sellers in S'pore face higher costs, stopping operations
Chicken sellers in Singapore are facing higher costs from suppliers on the first day of Malaysia's ban on its chicken exports on Wednesday (June 1).
Some which are more dependent on Malaysian suppliers are ceasing operations for a month, although there were no long queues at markets visited by The Straits Times.
Chicken rice sellers said they are preparing to sell frozen chicken once their fresh chicken supplies are exhausted in a few days. Mr Vincent Liow, owner of Ken & Vin Fresh Poultry at Ghim Moh Market, said his supplier had increased prices.
"The suppliers increased the price, and with the ban, they won't lower it... But as sellers, we also think it's too expensive (for the customers)," the 47-year-old stall owner said.
"For a chicken leg, last week my prices went up to $4, but I pushed it back down to $3.50 today, to make it cheaper for my customers. We don't want to increase the price so high, so we'll just profit less," said Mr Liow.
Before the ban was announced more than a week ago, one chicken leg was selling for $2.50. Mr H.S. Chng, 58, who owns Ngoh Kia Seafood, said the fresh chicken stocks he has will last until at most tomorrow. "After that, if we cannot get stocks for fresh or even frozen chicken, we would have to stop selling."
This is the case for Mr Peter Toh, owner of Heng Huat Fresh Chicken at Ghim Moh Market. Wednesday would be the 52-year-old's last day before a break.
"My supplier told me no more chicken will come in. And since chicken is not coming in, there's no chicken to give me. I'll only sell fresh chicken, not frozen chicken," he said.
He added that there would likely be stock on Thursday from the chickens that were brought in before the ban, but is unsure of the stock situation, as many sellers would be trying to get their hands on the remaining stock. – Straits Times
River polluters may face mandatory jail
The Environmental Quality Act (EQA) 1974 will be amended in phases to ensure stricter action can be taken against environmental criminals, including those who pollute the rivers.
The Environment and Water Ministry, through the Department of Environment (DoE), said the first phase would involve increasing the maximum and minimum fines and penalties, and mandatory imprisonment to ensure stricter action could be taken against offenders.
The DoE, in a written response to the New Straits Times following its revelation that the majority of Penang's rivers were in Class III, said the amendments to the act were awaiting review and approval from the Attorney-General's Chambers.
"The Phase 2 amendments involve a comprehensive strengthening of the act and are being refined by experts and other stakeholders," it said. Of the seven main rivers in Penang, six are in Class III, according to the Water Quality Index (WQI) readings from 2016 to 2022.
It was also reported that 26 of 33 river tributaries that flowed into the seven main rivers were slightly polluted or polluted based on the WQI. According to the Penang River Quality 2021 (interim) data released by the state DoE, 21 of the river tributaries were slightly polluted, five were polluted and seven were clean.
The department, however, stressed that the issue of river pollution was not solely under its purview and that its jurisdictions were more towards industrial and domestic sewage discharges into the rivers.
"River pollution prevention needs collaborative efforts from all quarters, including the state government, local authorities and the general public.
"Integrated action can increase the effectiveness of prevention strategies, particularly in enforcing the river pollution from point sources and non-point sources." – New Straits Times
Nightspots to reopen today
From Wednesday, entertainment venues such as pubs, bars and nightclubs will reopen in 31 provinces, including Bangkok, with their hours of operation and the serving of alcoholic beverages extended until midnight.
The latest relaxation of public health measures takes effect as the Covid-19 situation has steadily improved. On Tuesday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) issued guidelines for nightspots in the capital in response to the reopening.
The guidelines were signed by city clerk Khachit Chatchawanit at a City Hall meeting. The guidelines stipulate that only venues certified with the Thai Stop Covid 2 Plus certification by the Public Health Ministry and granted permission from local district offices will be permitted to resume operation under a Covid free-setting.
The sale of alcoholic drinks is allowed until midnight. Crowded events on the premises remain prohibited.
Venue owners must ensure all staff have received Covid-19 booster shots and that they wear face masks at all times on the premises and while serving customers. All staff must regularly undergo antigen tests and self-assessment via the Thai Save Thai app developed by the Health Department.
In addition, venue owners must carry out the screening of customers for public health safety. Customers must have received a booster shot and strictly comply with universal prevention measures.
Members of at-risk groups who may develop severe illness from Covid-19 must refrain from entering a premises.
Apart from entertainment venues, other businesses like barber shops, beauty salons, nail salons, massage parlours, tattoo shops, gyms, theatres, folk shows and saunas are allowed to operate under disease control measures, it said. – Bangkok Post
PH sends off 61 Pinoy hotel workers to Israel
The Philippine government is set to send off 61 Filipino hotel workers to Israel, the first deployment of its kind since the latter opened its hospitality sector to foreign workers.
Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said a total of 500 are set to depart Manila, with the first 61 leaving on June 1, 2022.
"Until now the hotel industry was closed, this is the first time that the hotel industry was able to invite foreign labour so for Israel this is very important For the Philippines, I believe it's also important because until now the only Filipinos who were allowed to work in Israel are caregivers," Fluss said during a send-off ceremony at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday.
"We're just exiting the pandemic, I believe there is room for growth for the tourism industry so we're starting with the 61 tomorrow up to 500," he added.
Fluss assured that overseas Filipino workers would enjoy the same treatment as domestic employees in Israel.
"The rights of the employees are very clear and there is no difference in this aspect between foreign workers and Israeli workers," he said.
Asked if there are other industries interested in hiring Filipinos, Fluss said none yet at this point.
Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Abdullah D. Mama-o, meanwhile, described the latest deployment as proof that Filipinos are "quality workers".
"I'm glad that Israel recognized the competence of our Filipino workers. The first batch that we are sending will serve also as an example of the workers that we have in the hotel industry," he said.
"This shall encourage the employment of more Filipino workers in the hotel industry," he added. – Philippine News Agency
Viet Nam rises as magnet for start-up investment
Viet Nam is becoming a magnet in Southeast Asia for attracting investment in start-ups, driven by a convergence of a young consumer and workforce base with increasing demands for digital technology in the post-pandemic period.
According to Vu Quoc Huy, Director of the National Innovation Centre (NIC), Viet Nam saw a robust development of start-up firms last year and was on track to become the next growth driver of Southeast Asia and play a vital role in the region’s start-up golden triangle.
He cited statistics that investment into start-ups hit a record high of US$1.4 billion in 2021 despite the impacts of the COVID-19 with strict social distancing measures in place, breaking the previous record of US$874 million in 2019.
The number of new businesses set up in the first four months of this year increased by 12.3 per cent over the same period last year, which, together with positive growth momentum in foreign investment inflow, demonstrated the country’s large potential for the development of the start-up ecosystem, he said.
He expects that investment in start-ups will double in the next three years.
With a crowd of young consumers and a workforce that has a high demand for digital technology in the post-pandemic period, the start-up market of Viet Nam was predicted to take off in the next few years. About 70 per cent of the population was below 35, and the literacy rate of 95.4 per cent is among the highest in Asia.
Domestic consumption was forecast to grow at an annual rate of 20 per cent, which would make Viet Nam a vital driver of Asia’s consumer market over the next decade. The middle-class population was also growing at the fastest pace in Southeast Asia, accounting for about 40 per cent of the people today, up from just 10 per cent in 2020. By 2030, the middle-class population was expected to make up 75 per cent.
There was also an increase in digital consumers, with more than 8 million added from the beginning of the pandemic to the first half of 2021, with 55 per cent from non-urban areas. – Vietnam News
Vietnam Airline to completely exit Cambodian carrier, Cambodia Angkor Air
Vietnam Airlines has sold a 35 percent stake in Cambodia Angkor Air for US$35 million. It had bought a 49 percent stake in the Cambodian carrier in 2009 and promised to help it expand.
But in 2020 it had expressed its intention to sell of its stake due to COVID-19. It is now set to divest the remaining 14 percent in by the end of this year for an undisclosed amount just when the airline industry is on a rebound due to rising passenger travel by air.
Vietnam Airlines’ accumulated losses climbed to VND21.98 trillion (US$955.6 million) last year, roughly the same as its charter capital.
Cambodia Angkor Air was established in 2009 to be the leading airline offering safe and comfortable air travel within Cambodia, and internationally through its partners after numerous attempts to launch a new national flag carrier floundered repeatedly.
It has two Airbus 320 aircraft and a single A321 Airbus aircraft along with two ATR 72-500. – Khmer Times
Karen army prepares for clashes as junta-allied forces close in on base near Thai border
The Karen National Union (KNU) is anticipating further battles in Karen State’s Myawaddy Township – which borders Thailand – after a large column of troops from the military-backed Border Guard Force (BGF) reportedly entered the region in recent days.
KNU spokesperson Padoh Saw Taw Nee told Myanmar Now that the BGF soldiers were operating south of Myawaddy’s administrative centre and near the town of Lay Kay Kaw, and that their exact numbers were unconfirmed.
“We are taking great caution in handling this. We are also going to practise the right to defend ourselves to the fullest,” he said.
A significant number of BGF troops reportedly withdrew recently from Karen State’s Mutraw District – controlled by Brigade 5 of the KNU’s armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) – and Mon State’s Bilin Township, where the KNLA’s Brigade 1 holds territory.
Those soldiers may be among those now gathering in Myawaddy, according another source within the KNU recently told the organisation’s Mutraw News. Karen State-based media outlet KIC reported that since May 20, the military had been sending reinforcements to the BGF post in Myawaddy’s Hpa Lu Gyi village. The movements were seen as preparation by the junta to regain control of another Myawaddy Township base, Thay Baw Boe, some 40km southeast of Lay Kay Kaw.
Thay Baw Boe has been held by Brigade 6 of the KNLA since they seized it from the military on May 18 accompanied by the allied Cobra Column guerrilla force.
Five junta soldiers, including the base’s deputy commander, were killed in the joint attack on the site. – Myanmar NOW
Quite realistic assumption of 2023 inflation of 2-4 percent: Minister
Next year's inflation rate estimated to be around two to four percent within the 2023 Macro Economic Framework (KEM) and Points of Fiscal Policy (PPKF) is quite realistic, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati stated.
However, the government understands that unforeseen development frequently occurs, she noted during the House of Representatives' (DPR's) plenary meeting here on Tuesday.
The current rise in global commodity prices clearly affects inflation in various countries, such as the United States, with 8.4 percent; England, nine percent; and Europe, above seven percent.
Inflation in various emerging countries also rose above seven to eight percent, even reaching double-digit figures, such as in the case of Argentina, with 58 percent, and Turkey, 70 percent, in April 2022.
The pressure of domestic inflation can be seen in April 2022 when it reached 3.5 percent, though it was still relatively lower as compared to various developed and emerging countries.
On the other hand, various international institutions estimated that commodity prices will start to decline and become lower next year.
Next year's global inflation rate is estimated to be lower as compared to this year due to monetary restrictions to handle demand and the decline of the commodity boom.
In addition, the government strives to maintain the inflation rate, including by providing subsidy, to maintain the selling price of fuel oil, LPG, and electricity.
In this scenario, the state budget acts as a shock absorber, thereby translating to the fact that it protects the people by maintaining their purchasing power and maintains the momentum of economic recovery, Indrawati emphasized.
"To this end, we seek DPR's agreement to add budget for subsidy and compensation, the value of which is estimated to be above Rp520 trillion," she stated. – AntaraNews.Com