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.
Coronavirus: Changi Airport sets up new transit holding areas, as SIA travellers from Australia, NZ allowed to fly through S'pore
Changi Airport has set up new Transit Holding Areas (THA) in Terminals 1 and 3 as it prepares for the gradual resumption of transit passenger services, which were suspended when Singapore imposed border restrictions amid the Covid-19 pandemic. This is to ensure the health and safety of passengers and staff, Changi Airport Group (CAG) told The Straits Times, after Singapore Airlines (SIA) confirmed that it has received approval to start operating transit flights. In an update on its website on Thursday morning, SIA said that travellers will be able to transit through Changi Airport from selected cities in Australia and New Zealand, to any destination in SIA's group network operated by SIA, SilkAir or Scoot, from Thursday (June 11). The transit flights are only for outbound journeys from Australian cities Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, as well as New Zealand cities Auckland and Christchurch. – The Straits Times
Malaysian engineer succumbs to Covid-19 in Qatar
A Malaysian, who was serving as an engineer at Qatar Airways, has died from Covid-19. Tengku Endut Tengku Jusoh, from Kampung Air Tawar in Besut, Terengganu, breathed his last at 11am yesterday (4pm Malaysian time) at the Hamad Medical Centre in Doha. The news was shared by Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar on his official Facebook page. "We received a sad news where a Malaysian, from Besut, Terengganu, died from Covid-19 in Qatar. "Condolences to the family of the late Tengku Endut Tengku Jusoh for their loss. "May Allah bless his soul and give strength to his family members. Al-Fatihah," he said. According to Samsuri, the late Tengku Endut had served Malaysia Airlines, before joining Qatar Airways. The Malaysian Embassy in Qatar also confirmed the news on its official Facebook page. – New Straits Times
Further easing in works
Restaurants, hotels and eateries are likely to be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages on their premises in the fourth phase of easing the Covid-19 lockdown under a proposal to go to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday. Also, the night curfew could be lifted for 15 days, as a trial, but the emergency decree will remain in force to ensure containment of the coronavirus disease. Alcoholic beverages will be allowed to be served at restaurants, hotels and eateries. However, the relaxation measure would still exclude pubs, bars and karaoke venues, which are considered to pose a greater danger of coronavirus disease transmission, Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the CCSA, said. – Bangkok Post
Siloam Hospitals in Indonesia now provide COVID-19 serology tests
Hospital operator Siloam Hospitals Group has launched its latest COVID-19 test known as the Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 serology test developed by Swiss multinational healthcare company Roche. "There is a high demand for faster, more affordable tests and bigger testing capacity within the 'new normal' scheme in Indonesia," the group's deputy president director Caroline Riady said in an online media briefing on Wednesday. The serology test -- now available in all Siloam hospitals in Indonesia -- is designed to determine whether a patient has been exposed to COVID-19 and whether they have developed antibodies against the virus. This antibody testing is considered crucial to better understand the true scope of the pandemic. – The Jakarta Post
Marawi City rehab on track amid COVID-19 crisis, says task force chief
Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) chairman and Housing Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario on Thursday assured that the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City would be completed within the target deadline of December 2021 despite the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. In a televised public briefing, Del Rosario said he was assured by the implementing agencies, including Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra that the rehabilitation of the Islamic City continued even as the government-imposed lockdowns to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. “I was assured that we are on the right track despite itong three months na hindi tayo nakapagtrabaho masyado,” Del Rosario said. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
Law expected to better protect Vietnamese guest workers
Clear and detailed regulations are needed to strictly punish those who abuse labour export policies to make illegal profits, National Assembly deputies said on Wednesday morning when discussing in groups the draft revised law on Vietnamese guest workers under contract. They agreed that the revised law must make progress in administrative reform, creating transparency and convenience for labour export companies as well as being an effective tool to punish violators, especially those who sent people overseas for work and irresponsibly left them without any care or support. Deputy Ngọ Duy Hiểu from Hà Nội said that the revised law needs to include costs workers have pay to get a job overseas. In some cases, workers reportedly had to pay a lot to brokers without being aware that the payment was not regulated and even illegal. – Viet Nam News
International travel in the age of COVID-19: Cambodia leads the world with user pays system
In a letter dated June 8 and released to the media on June 9, Cambodian Minister for Economy and Finance, Aun Pornmoniroth, detailed the changes for those entering the kingdom, with the focus very much on providing the maximum health and financial security possible. While the Cambodian government has previously born the costs of screening arriving passengers and the medical treatment for those who test positive after arriving from abroad, the new regulations signal that it is no longer prepared to continue shouldering such costs. To date the majority of Cambodia’s 126 COVID-19 cases have been imported by foreigners. – The Cambodia Daily