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.
Police probe 146 people suspected to be involved in scams that cheated victims of $1.15m
A total of 146 people suspected to be involved in scams - comprising mostly love scams, online purchase scams and loan scams - are assisting the police with investigations. The 97 male and 49 female suspects, aged 16 to 87, are believed to be involved in 375 scam cases costing victims more than $1.15 million. The police said on Monday (May 18) this comes after a two-week enforcement operation between May 1 and last Friday. Data released earlier by the police showed that scammers cheated $41.3 million from victims in the first three months of the year, a 27.9 per cent increase compared with the figure a year ago. Covid-19 related scams made up one in four e-commerce scams, which was the most common ruse by perpetrators in the first quarter. – The Straits Times
Agong opens third term of 14th Parliament
Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah today opened the first meeting, third term of the 14th Parliament, in a single-day sitting amid the Covid-19 pandemic. On hand to welcome the King was Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof and Senate President Tan Sri S. Vigneswaran. Stringent Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are in place as precautionary measures, including the use of thermal scanners to monitor those entering via a single-entry at the main block, usage of hand sanitisers and disinfection prior to the meeting. Meanwhile, media coverage was only limited to RTM and Bernama, with live broadcasts available to the public. The meeting was conducted in accordance with Article 55 of the Federal Constitution which states that only the King can summon Parliament to meet within six months between the last proceeding in the last session and the date for its first proceeding in the next session. – New Straits Times
Big turnout as malls reopen
People rushed back to shopping malls across the country on the first day out of lockdown on Sunday as business operators adopted disease prevention and crowd control measures to mitigate the risk of a second wave of Covid-19 infections. The Covid-19 pandemic forced a shutdown of department stores, community malls and smaller shopping centres for almost two months. With more businesses and leisure activities allowed to resume on Sunday, a mass rush to these premises was expected. Long queues were seen outside several malls in Bangkok and other provinces before opening hours. Shoppers were required to wear masks, asked to register before entering the premises and reminded to keep a safe distance from each other. – Bangkok Post
COVID-19 kills elderly, haunts the young in Indonesia
As Indonesia continues to report hundreds of new COVID-19 cases daily, the government appears to be preparing for the “new normal” by allowing people aged 44 years and below to work outside their homes despite mobility restrictions to contain the epidemic. COVID-19 task force head Doni Monardo triggered criticism after he said last week that the age group in question had a lower fatality rate at 15 percent and was less vulnerable than the elderly. Even so, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir issued a circular days later, setting out an example of a “new normal” scenario that entails a plan to allow SOE employees under 45 years of age to return to their offices starting on May 25, albeit with several precautions. Data updated daily by the task force show that people aged 60 and above account for 44.2 percent of the deaths as of Sunday, followed by people aged between 46 and 59 years old at 39.8 percent, while those aged 45 and below make up the remaining 16 percent. – The Jakarta Post
Virus tests not needed for returning workers
The Department of Health (DOH) has issued guidelines for people who will return to work as Metro Manila gradually eases quarantine restrictions. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Sunday said employees are not required to undergo a coronavirus test prior to returning to work. She said the DOH did not recommend testing for people who did not have any exposure to any suspected or confirmed new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient. “Our protocol is to guide employers. We have emphasized that symptomatic screening is ideal, and test only when symptomatic,” Vergeire said in a Viber message to reporters. “[The] IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) resolution stated that in no case shall testing be a condition for return to work, so we expect that specific agencies shall implement and enforce the IATF resolutions,” she also said, referring to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
Tree-planting campaigns launched to mark President Hồ Chí Minh’s birthday
The southern hub of HCM City and the Central Highlands province of Lâm Đồng on Sunday launched tree-planting campaigns to mark the 130th birth anniversary of late President Hồ Chí Minh (May 19). Authorities and people in HCM City held tree-planting activities across 24 districts on the day. In 2019, the city planted more than 400,000 trees. Meanwhile, Lâm Đồng Province planted 1,500 pines and wild Himalayan cherry trees at the campus sites of some universities. The tree-planting campaign was launched by the late President in 1959 when he wrote an article published by Nhân Dân (People) newspaper, stressing the significance of tree-planting to each person, family and the nation. It has since become an annual festival at the beginning of each Lunar New Year. “Spring is the time for planting trees. Making the country all the more resplendent as eternal springtime,” he wrote, advocating “it doesn’t cost much, yet brings enormous benefits.” – Viet Nam News
First COVID-19 cases detected among repatriates in Tanintharyi, Kayin
The first cases of COVID-19 have been found in Tanintharyi Region and Kayin State, the health ministry said at 7:30 am on May 18. Cases 185-187 involve three male workers who recently returned from Malaysia. One is a 46-year-old from Tanintharyi township in Tanintharyi Region. He tested positive while undergoing quarantine at a government facility and has been admitted to the Dawei General Hospital for treatment. The two other workers, aged 22 and 35, tested positive while completing their mandatory quarantines at a centre in Hpa-an township. They have been admitted to Hpa-an General Hospital. State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has warned that the number of returnees from Thailand and Malaysia since April will exceed 100,000. She said on April 30 that her government will accept the return of Myanmar migrant workers regardless of whether they left legally or not. The National Health Laboratory tested 190 persons suspected of being infected with the virus in its latest round of testing, bringing the total number of people tested since January 31 to 13,999. – Myanmar Times