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.
NDP 2020: Focus on celebrating at home, many segments moved to the heartland and smaller-scale evening show
This year's National Day Parade (NDP) will focus on allowing Singaporeans to celebrate in their homes, instead of at a central location like the floating platform at Marina Bay. Unlike previous parades, Singapore's 55th birthday bash - which features the theme Together, A Stronger Singapore - will see many parade segments moved to the heartland and streamed live over TV as well as Internet platforms, said the organising committee on Wednesday (May 20). For the first time, traditional elements like the state flag flypast, F-15SG fighter jet aerial display, the Red Lions free-fall jump, and mobile column will take place in different locations around the island. These displays will also pay special tribute to front-line workers against Covid-19. The Aug 9 celebrations this year will start with a nationwide broadcast of the Prime Minister's National Day Message and a parade at the Padang reviewed by the President. – The Straits Times
'Use technology to stay connected this Raya'
It is best for Muslims to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri on a small scale and use technology to stay connected with their loved ones on the auspicious day to curb the spread of Covid-19, say experts. Psychologist Associate Professor Dr Siti Aisyah Abdul Rahman said the best way for Muslims to embrace the new normal this Hari Raya Aidilfitri was to reflect on the real meaning of the celebration, which symbolised victory for those who had abstained during Ramadan. "The month of Syawal or Hari Raya Aidilfitri is not only for celebrations, but more to receiving Allah's blessings after a month of abstaining from food and other temptations. "Families can continue performing sunnah (the way of the prophet), such as performing sunnah prayers with family members at home, having breakfast together prior to Hari Raya Aidilfitri prayers, performing takbir and wearing new clothes on the morning of Hari Raya Aidilfitri despite the implementation of the Conditional Movement Control Order. – New Straits Times
Thailand joins hunt for vaccine
Thailand has set itself the ambitious goal of being among the first countries in the world to have a Covid-19 vaccine next year after recent tests yielded promising results. "Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered us to rush development so Thai people will have enough vaccines for Covid-19 disease prevention," Suvit Maesincee, minister of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation, said in a press briefing on Tuesday regarding the development of a homegrown vaccine. Following tests on guinea pigs, key tests with monkeys will begin next week, he said. Mr Suvit said the research team and Thai government had already contacted pharmaceutical manufacturers in the US and Canada to produce the first batch of vaccines for testing on humans. – Bangkok Post
Experts, activists call for heightened public scrutiny of COVID-19 policies, funding
Experts are encouraging increased public scrutiny of the government’s COVID-19 mitigation policies, as the House of Representatives and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) were less critical in their stances. Didin S. Damanhuri, founder of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef), said that large-scale embezzlement could occur if COVID-19 response and spending were not monitored closely. “The public has to keep watch so that there is no the BLBI scandal volume 2,” Didin said on Tuesday during a public discussion held by the KPK. He was referring to the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support (BLBI) that the central bank provided to help failing banks during the 1998 monetary crisis. The recipient banks largely misused the funds, with the KPK estimating in 2019 that Rp 4.58 trillion (US$309.87 million) in state losses remained unrecovered. Didin stressed that public scrutiny was needed, as the House had passed the regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on COVID-19 mitigation with little resistance, forfeiting their chance to challenge the regulation. – The Jakarta Post
42K returning OFWs may overwhelm quarantine facilities – Galvez
National Task Force COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. said Tuesday that the arrival of some 42,000 returning Filipino migrant workers may overwhelm the country’s quarantine facilities. In a meeting with President Duterte and other Cabinet members in Malacañang, Galvez bared that there are already over 27,000 repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) currently in different isolation hubs in Metro Manila. “Meron pa pong dadating na 42,000 this coming May and June so mao-overwhelm po ‘yung ating hotels,” Galvez warned. Earlier, repatriated OFWs have reportedly complained of having to endure a longer stay in the quarantine facilities beyond the mandatory 14-day isolation period due to the delay in their COVID-19 test results. Malacañang has already vowed to act of the OFWs’ complaint. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
Việt Nam brings home hundreds of citizens from India and Thailand
A total of 340 Vietnamese citizens stranded in India returned home to Việt Nam on Wednesday morning on board a specially arranged flight. All passengers were given medical checks and immediately quarantined after the flight touched down at Cần Thơ International Airport in the Mekong Delta. On board from India were a number of Buddhist nuns and monks who had been taking part in a retreat before the country was locked down preventing them from leaving. Many others, including women, pregnant women, children and students had to make long journeys across India to reach New Delhi to board the flight. The repatriation was organised by authorities in Việt Nam as well as the Vietnamese Embassy in India and national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines. – Viet Nam News
Chinese Sugar Company Leases Parts of Cambodian Land Concession to Farmers
A Chinese sugar company with a large long-term land concession in Cambodia came under fire from NGOs Tuesday for leasing parts of the concession to local villagers, collecting rent instead of engaging in the activities stipulated in its contract with the Cambodian government. The Hengfu Group Sugar Industry, the mother company of five local subsidiaries in Cambodia, was awarded a 70-year concession in 2011 spanning 400,000 hectares (1,544 square miles) in Preah Vihear province in return for promising to invest U.S. $1 billion. The Cambodian government held an opening ceremony for a factory on the concession in 2016, where Prime Minister Hun Sen noted that the companies invested $360 million for stage one of the development scheme. – Cambodia Daily