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.
7 charged with offences under Covid-19 regulations in Robertson Quay incident
Six men and a woman, allegedly linked to a group gathering in the Robertson Quay area amid the Covid-19 outbreak, appeared in a district court on Tuesday (June 2). They are accused of flouting circuit breaker measures and were charged with offences under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations. The six men are: Neil Gordon Buchan, Perry Scott Blair, Jeffrey George Brown, Michael Czerny, James Titus Beatt and Joseph William Poynter. The sole woman is Bao Nguyen Brown. Last month, pictures of crowds along Robertson Quay circulated on social media, showing people failing to keep a distance of 1m from one another at the riverside dining enclave. Most of the people pictured were not wearing masks, while some had their masks lowered as they chatted with one another. Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli had said in an earlier Facebook post that such breaches were to be taken "very seriously". – The Straits Times
Malaysians in US feel safe
Malaysian families in the United States are living far from the riots and protests in major cities in the country. Rashli Liyackat Ali, who lives in the suburbs north of Atlanta, Georgia, described the riots as "violent" in the otherwise safe and peaceful city. "The riots that started on May 29 are happening only in the city. Businesses closed earlier and there is an increase police presence," he told the New Straits Times on Sunday. Rashli has been in the United States for 27 years. He and his family of three live in Forsyth County, 65km away from the protests. He said when the fights broke out, he and his family were at home watching the news. He added that the curfew imposed by the Atlanta mayor did not affect them as it applied only to those living in the city. "We don't have to go into the city. – New Straits Times
17.8m meth pills seized, 5 arrests in Chiang Mai
A total of 17.8 million methamphetamine pills were seized and five suspects arrested in three separate actions in this northern province on May 29-30, assistant police chief Pol Lt Gen Wisanu Prasatthong-osot said. In the first action, about 3.30am on May 29, a police-military patrol seized 11 bags containing about 2.1 million meth pills abandoned by smugglers near Ban Hin Taew in tambon Piang Luang in Wiang Haeng district, about one kilometre from the border with Myanmar. The smugglers fled upon seeing the government patrol. On May 29, about 9pm two pickup trucks were stopped for a search at a checkpoint in tambon Mae Ngon in Fang district. Eighteen bags containing 1.7 million meth pills were found in the two vehicles. Two suspects were arrested with three mobile phones and one .38 pistol seized as evidence. – Bangkok Post
Church declared new COVID-19 cluster in Batam
Riau Islands' Batam COVID-10 task force declared HOG Eden Park church a new cluster in Batam on Sunday after 26 of its congregation members tested positive for the virus. According to the task force, 1-year-old twins were the latest among the 26 to test positive. The parents of the twins also tested positive for COVID-19. The task force head, HM Rudi, said there had been eight new cases in Batam as of Saturday. Of the eight cases, seven were related to the HOG Eden Park Church cluster. “The twins, Case 123 and Case 124, were among the eight new cases, and they allegedly contracted the virus from their parents,” Rudi said on Sunday as reported by kompas.com. The parents of the twins are Case 125, the 42-year-old father, and Case 126, the 43-year-old mother. Both babies are currently being treated at Elizabeth Hospital in Batam and they are reportedly in a stable condition. – The Jakarta Post
Chaos as thousands return to work in Metro Manila
They were raring to go back to work on Monday after three months of being cooped up at home. But the lack of public transportation forced thousands on the first day of general community quarantine (GCQ) in Metro Manila to walk to offices, hitch rides on the backs of trucks or, if they were lucky, in private vehicles. Others were stranded. The GCQ allows many businesses to reopen for the first time since mid-March. But many could not get rides in the eastern part of Metro Manila, particularly along Commonwealth and Cubao in Quezon City and Marcos Highway in Marikina City, where there were no trains, buses, jeepneys or UV Express vans. Videos of Commonwealth and Marcos Highway showed several workers walking along the thoroughfares, hoping to hitch a ride with a stray shuttle service or a car with a kind driver. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
Vietnamese from Australia, New Zealand fly home
A total of 343 Vietnamese citizens boarded a specially arranged flight from Sydney, Australia to return home on June 1, according to Vietnam News Agency. The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines is operating the flight, repatriating 243 Vietnamese stranded in Australia and another 100 stranded in New Zealand. A total of 1,800 Vietnamese in these two countries have registered with Vietnamese diplomatic missions to fly home as borders remain close due to COVID-19 pandemic, but priority is given to those above 60 years old, students under 18 years old, those with underlying health conditions such as heart diseases or cancer, and stranded tourists. Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Ngô Hướng Nam was present at Sydney international airport to aid the Vietnamese citizens. – Viet Nam News
Cambodian leader denies China’s navy granted basing rights
Cambodia’s leader declared Monday that China has not been given exclusive rights to use a naval base on the country’s southern coast, and that warships from all nations, including the United States, are welcome to dock there. Prime Minister Hun Sen was responding to persistent news reports and concern expressed by Washington that Beijing had been granted basing privileges at Cambodia’s Ream naval base on the Gulf of Thailand. Speaking at a road construction ceremony in the coastal city of Sihanoukville, Hun Sen said he recently received a message from foreign envoys in Cambodia about the issue. – Cambodia Daily