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 more worker dorms cleared of Covid-19 patients
Seven worker dormitories have been cleared of patients who test positive for the Covid-19 virus, and now house only recovered individuals and those who have recently tested negative for the virus. The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Wednesday (July 8) that the inter-agency task force has been clearing dormitories through aggressive testing of migrant workers residing in dormitories. The seven dormitories, which are also now closed clusters, are at Tuas South Street 12, 109 Ubi Avenue 4, 11 Defu Lane 1, 12 Kwong Min Road, 18 Woodlands Industrial Park E1, 55 Genting Lane and 6 Tuas View Square. MOH also announced on Wednesday that a 69-year-old Singaporean man who had a history of medical problems, including diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease, died on Tuesday, the same day he was confirmed to have Covid-19 infection. – The Straits Times
AirAsia's future in doubt due to Covid-19; share price tumbles
The future of top regional budget carrier AirAsia is in "significant doubt" after the collapse in travel demand caused by coronavirus, its auditor warned, sending the airline's share price tumbling nearly 18 per cent on Wednesday. The aviation industry is facing its biggest-ever crisis due to the pandemic, with airlines worldwide going out of business or laying off huge numbers of staff to stay afloat. AirAsia, led by colourful chief executive Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, pioneered low-cost air travel across Asia in the early 2000s at a time of growing demand from a fast-emerging middle class. But on Monday, the debt-laden Malaysian airline reported a record quarterly loss of RM803 million (US$187 million) for the first three months of the year, after being forced to ground its fleet due to the virus. Auditor Ernst & Young said on Tuesday that global travel restrictions had dented AirAsia's financial performance, with liabilities exceeding assets by RM1.84 billion. – New Straits Times
Narongpan tipped to be next army chief
Gen Narongpan Jitkaewthae is expected to replace Gen Apirat Kongsompong as army chief during a military reshuffle at the end of September, according to a source in the armed forces. The reshuffle is believed to have dominated a pre-session discussion which took place shortly before a meeting between top military officials and the Royal Thai Police on Wednesday, which was chaired by Defence Forces chief Gen Pornpipat Benyasri. Gen Apirat, navy commander Adm Luechai Ruddit, air force commander Acm Manaat Wongwat and national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda reportedly attended the main meeting, while the pre-session was attended by defence permanent secretary Gen Nat Intaracharoen and army chief of staff Gen Chalermpol Srisawat. The shake-up is part of the annual military reshuffle. The source said this time around the reshuffle will involve high-ranking personnel whose names were brought up during the pre-session discussion. Gen Apirat, Gen Pornpipat, Adm Luechai and Acm Manaat are expected to retire at the end of September, which marks the final month of the fiscal year. Gen Chalermpol is expected to succeed Gen Pornpipat as chief of the defence forces, while Gen Narongpan could take over Gen Apirat's current position as army chief. – Bangkok Post
Health Ministry sets Rp 150,000 price ceiling for COVID-19 rapid tests
The Health Ministry has issued a circular setting a price ceiling of Rp 150,000 (US$10.41) for COVID-19 rapid tests, following numerous complaints over the high prices of such tests. The circular, dated Monday and signed by the ministry’s director-general for health services, Bambang Wibowo, states that all health facilities must adhere to the price ceiling. “The government needs to step in on the issue of rapid test prices so that the public do not feel like they are being taken advantage of for profit,” Bambang said in the circular. Previously, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that he had asked the Finance Ministry to subsidize rapid tests for travelers, especially public transportation users. People seeking to travel by airplanes and long-distance trains are required to submit negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or rapid test results before being allowed to board. – The Jakarta Post
Duterte tags communist rebels as terrorists, cites on-off peace talks
As legal challenges to the Anti-Terrorism Act mounted, President Rodrigo Duterte defended the controversial measure on Wednesday, saying it was not meant for law-abiding citizens but for communist rebels and terror groups responsible for bombings, mostly in Mindanao. He said communist rebels, who have been fighting the government for over 50 years and engaged in on-and-off talks, “think that they are a different breed.” “They would like to be treated with another set of law, when, as a matter of fact, they are terrorists,” he said. Duterte said communist rebels were terrorists “because we – I, finally declared them to be one.” “Why? Because I spent most of my days as a President trying to figure out and connect with them on how we can arrive at a peaceful solution (to the rebellion),” he said, expressing exasperation over the decades-long communist insurgency. – INQUIRER.net
Việt Nam’s labour export market expected to recover soon
Việt Nam’s labour export activities are showing signs of recovery from COVID-19. Vietnamese labourers who have been working in Malaysia have been told they can return to work, but not until the end of August. And moves are being made to allow workers to return to both South Korea and Taiwan in the near future. The Department of Overseas Labour under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has said the Malaysian Government officially announced to end the valid restricted movement order. In a recent meeting, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc assigned the ministry make arrangements to send labourers to countries which are safe and in need of workers. Nguyễn Gia Liêm, the department’s deputy director, said the three markets received more than 90 per cent of the total of Vietnamese labourers in foreign countries. – Viet Nam News
Capital’s Largest Lake to Lose Over 500 Hectares to State, Private Sector
More than 500 hectares, or about 16 percent, of Boeng Tamok, a natural lake in the northwest of Phnom Penh that is key for flood protection, is slated to be filled in and siphoned off to state institutions and private developers, government documents show. Almost 300 hectares of reclaimed land from the lake are set to be handed over to the Defense Ministry to build a Royal Cambodian Armed Forces long-term strategic command base, according to a sub-decree signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen and dated June 22. The decision was made based on a request from Land Management Minister Chea Sophara. Both he and ministry spokesman Seng Lout could not be reached for comment earlier this week. – The Cambodia Daily
Millions of unregistered SIMs may have been disconnected
Myanmar has completed a nationwide SIM re-registration programme, with millions of SIMs being disconnected by the country’s operators. The initiative was launched in February 2020 as Myanmar sought to ensure a safer environment for mobile financial transactions, as well as reducing crime related to mobile and internet services. The country’s Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) and its Post and Telecommunications Department (PTD) have not disclosed the official count of SIMs identified as unregistered or incorrectly registered and subsequently deactivated. – Mizzima (Myanmar)