These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Coronavirus: Travellers from South Korea to serve 14-day SHN at dedicated facilities
The Ministry of Health on Wednesday (Aug 26) announced updated border measures for travellers arriving from South Korea. Those entering Singapore from Aug 29, who in the last 14 days have travelled to South Korea, including transit, will be required to serve a 14-day stay-home notice (SHN) at dedicated facilities instead of their own place of residence. They will also need to undergo a Covid-19 test before the end of the SHN, as is the current requirement, the ministry said. Before the new measure, travellers from "low risk" regions and countries, which previously included South Korea, were allowed to serve their 14-day SHN in their homes from June 18. The change comes amid news from South Korea of clusters of Covid-19 infections at workplaces, after outbreaks at places of worship. In the statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health said: "The authorities in the Republic of Korea have warned of a possible nationwide outbreak." – The Straits Times
Police reject claim of bias in imposing mask fines
Police have rejected claims of heavy handedness and bias in enforcing the mandatory face mask rule, which came into effect on Aug 1. Deputy Commissioner Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, who is Federal Criminal Investigation Department deputy director (investigation/legal), said since the rule came into effect, police had issued only 221 compounds to offenders up to Aug 12. He said there was no truth to allegations that police had been biased or selective in issuing compounds to offenders. "That is not true. We have been fair, in fact lenient, with face mask enforcement at public places and on public transport. "Although there is a gazetted law, which states that it is mandatory to wear face masks properly such as covering the mouth, nose and chin, police still use their discretion to remind wearers to use them properly instead of compounding people." While the 221 compounds were strictly related to face masks, police had also, from March 18 to Aug 12, issued 16,900 compounds for various breaches of the standard operating procedures. – New Straits Times
Four dead in shooting rampage
A man went on a shooting spree, killing his stepson and family, including a five-year-old girl, and wounding another man before taking his own life in Chiang Kham district on Tuesday night. The rampage began about 8.10pm at a house in Ban Nong Ha, in tambon Rom Yen, Chiang Kham district, Pol Col Chalermchart Yawichai, the local police chief, said. The gunman was 51-year-old Yuthana Riewsakulchart, he said. Yuthana went to the house alone, carrying a shotgun, and deliberately shot the four people who were inside. Three people were killed. They were Pongthep Riewsakulchart, 37, his wife Supaporn Sae Chao, 34, and their daughter Kalayaporn Riewsakulchart, 5. Another man in the house, Songpol Kitkaranphit, 40, was wounded. Pongthep was Yuthana's stepson. The gunman had married his mother, Moey. Pol Col Chalermchart said that after the killing spree Yuthana went to a helicopter landing pad, about 300 metres from the house, and shot himself dead with the same shotgun. – Bangkok Post
‘It’s real’: Gravediggers in Surabaya reportedly bury some 1,500 bodies during pandemic
Gravediggers working at two public cemeteries designated for COVID-19 victims in Surabaya, East Java, have reportedly buried some 1,500 bodies since the pandemic started. Munaji, a gravedigger at the Keputih Public Cemetery, said he had helped at approximately 800 burials at the cemetery. Combined with those at the Babat Jerawat Cemetery, he said, the number of burials in Surabaya had reached around 1,500. “It’s real. The number of COVID-19 burials, from the beginning of the pandemic until now, is around 1,500,” Munaji said on Monday, as quoted by KompasTV. Munaji said in the beginning of the outbreak, he helped bury some 35 bodies per day and worked around the clock. Although his worry about contracting the virus persisted, he said it was his call to continue to work in good faith. Munaji urged people to comply with health protocols to stop the transmission and reduce the number of victims. “When will this end? We are tired, we are depressed,” he said. – The Jakarta Post
Time to resign, Duterte tells PhilHealth president
President Rodrigo Duterte has asked Ricardo Morales, president of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), to resign, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday. “The President took note last night of Morales’s on-and-off health situation, and stated that it would be best for the latter and for PhilHealth to give up his post during these critical times for the agency,” Guevarra said. He said Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea “had talked earlier to Morales, and that the latter said he would understand if he had to be replaced.” There was no immediate comment from Morales, who had informed the Senate that he was under treatment for cancer. The President’s move came after the Senate had concluded its latest inquiry into alleged corruption in PhilHealth, particularly those involving funds for a P2-billion information technology project and a P30-billion interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM) to hospitals that had not treated COVID-19 patients, which the emergency measure was intended for. In a televised speech on Tuesday, the President said he would spend the rest of his years in office to prosecuting and punishing those involved in irregularities in PhilHealth. – INQUIRER.net
HCM City seeks investment from US businesses, summit told
HCM City will create the most favourable conditions for US businesses to invest in fields such as transport, urban infrastructure, smart city, agriculture, health, education, trade, and services, a top city official has said. Speaking at the “HCM City-US Business Summit: Driving Partnership and Innovation for the Future” meeting yesterday, Nguyen Thien Nhan, secretary of the city Party Committee, said both Viet Nam and the US should put aside the past and establish partnerships in various fields. “Over the past 25 years since the diplomatic normalisation began, bilateral relations have continued to achieve impressive results. “Viet Nam is the 13th largest trading partner of the US, with two-way trade turnover reaching US$77 billion last year. The first half of this year saw bilateral trade hitting US$38 billion, up 7 percent year-on-year.” With its favourable geographical location, improved infrastructure and attractive financial incentives, the city is a popular investment destination for businesses from countries globally, including the US, France and Italy, according to Nhan. More than 160 US businesses have invested in it over the past 10 years. – Viet Nam News
Guidelines out for school openings
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport released guidelines for schools to follow when they physically reopen in September. Minister Hang Chuon Naron said on August 24, his office discussed reopening kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools. The two approaches laid out in the guidelines include first prioritising the safety and well-being of students and staff. The second covers encouraging blended learning between self-distance learning through electronics and studying from a distance with books. Ministry spokesman Ros Soveacha said on Monday the government supports the reopening of schools and the ministry is prepared to advise about the process. “The ministry will inform schools about any related information later. For now, it calls on administrators to be prepared to organise schools in the Covid-19 context,” he said. Roughly 100 private schools are members of the federation. “This is thoughtful of the ministry in terms of private schools. If the ministry does not allow private institutions to reopen, some will be closed. – The Phnom Penh Post