These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Singaporeans, PRs to get digital push notifications on matters related to identity card, passport from Sept 1
Singaporeans and permanent residents with registered SingPass accounts will receive digital push notifications from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on identity card and passport-related matters from next Tuesday (Sept 1). These notifications will be sent either to their SingPass Mobile application or as an SMS to the mobile number registered in their SingPass account, said ICA on Friday. It reminded Singapore residents to ensure that their contact details in SingPass are updated, so they can receive these notifications. Upon receiving the push, they can click on the link to be directed to the ICA website to begin their transactions or check on the outcome of their applications. The notifications are for matters such as passport renewal and identity card re-registration, and include reminders to collect the documents from ICA. Currently, the notifications are sent in the form of hard-copy letters, e-mails, or both. The ICA website also allows users to log in and check on the status of such transactions. Singapore residents who do not have a SingPass account will continue to receive hard-copy letters or e-mails for such notifications. ICA said more digital push notification services for its other products and services will be progressively rolled out. – The Straits Times
Kamaruddin: Philippines' claim on Sabah baseless
Malaysia will never entertain, let alone recognise, any form of foreign claim on Sabah. Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar said the Philippines claiming Sabah as part of it has always been an issue used by Filipino politicians for their benefit. "This issue has always been politicised by politicians from Luzon on the pretext of patriotism when in reality it is only cosmetic to gain support from the people of southern Philippines. "The matter usually arises when elections in the Philippines are near," he said in Parliament's special chamber yesterday. Kamaruddin described such a political tactic as "useless and irresponsible", adding that it was insensitive and had disregarded the good relations enjoyed by Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as the spirit of camaraderie and cooperation in the ASEAN bloc. He added that the Philippines' claim was not only baseless, but also irrelevant as Sabah is a Malaysian state. Listing several points, Kamaruddin said the people of Sabah in 1962 had determined their right in the exercise of their self-determination for Sabah to be a part of Malaysia, as stated in the Cobbold Commission referendum in its report dated Aug 1, 1962. "Under international law, an individual can exercise self-determination only once in the state's history. Sabah has exercised this right in the Cobbold Commission. – New Straits Times
The Chao Phraya Sky Park, a new landmark for Bangkokians
After the construction was completed and opened in June 2020, the Chao Phraya Sky Park, the first sky park in Bangkok and Thailand, has become a new landmark to present the charms of Bangkok as a modern city. It is universally designed for people at all ages, genders and physical conditions, including wheelchair users who can enjoy the scenery at the park with convenience and safety. The park provides a 360-degree view of the Chao Phraya River, thereby it is a place for relaxation, exercise, architectural learning and activities to be in line with the way of life of people in modern times. The Chao Phraya Sky Park, formerly called Phra Pok Klao Sky Park, was developed by the Department of City Planning and Urban Development, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), which has improved the thoroughfare and landscape of Phra Pok Klao Bridge, or Duan Bridge, by refurbishing the original structure of the Lavalin electric train track that was abandoned for more than 30 years into a beautiful and modern sky park with easy function and maintenance. To add greenery to the park and the city, plants are specially selected and grown for resistance with Bangkok’s weather conditions. – Bangkok Post
Vision of Indonesia 2045 hinges on ‘skilled workforce’
Multiple stakeholders have agreed that collaboration to provide reliable vocational training to produce a skilled workforce is needed more than ever if Indonesia wants to reach its goal of becoming a developed country with an annual income of Rp 320 million (US$21,813) per capita in 2045. As the unemployment rate for graduates of vocational high schools is most alarming, at 8.63 percent according to Statistics Indonesia last year, sociologist from Gadjah Mada University Tadjuddin Noer Effendi cited Germany’s dual vocational education and training (DVET) system as a prime example that Indonesia should follow. “We have a lot of training centers but how many of them are of good quality? The private sector must collaborate with the government, the university and schools, put students into training in companies under the supervision of seasoned mentors,” Tadjuddin told The Jakarta Post on Thursday during the Post’s webinar series Jakpost Upclose: “Human Capital Development and Indonesia’s 2045 vision. – The Jakarta Post
COVID-19 vaccine trials in Cavite to start in 2 weeks
The clinical trials in Cavite for two vaccines being developed against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will start in two weeks, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla said Friday. Remulla said the clinical trials will be spearheaded by the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute in coordination with the provincial government of Cavite. “Cavite will help La Salle HSI in getting people to join the vaccine trial. We estimated that maybe up to 10,000 people will be involved in the trial and it should start in the next two weeks,” Remulla said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel. He said those aged 21 to 45 who are the “spreaders of the disease” will be the primary targets of the trials. Participation in the trials on a voluntary basis. The clinical trials will not just be done for residents in a specific town but in areas throughout Cavite, according to Remulla. – INQUIRER.net
Pandemic derails banks’ capital hike plans
Banks are facing major challenges to carry out their capital increase plans this year due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. To meet the capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of the international banking standard Basel II as required by the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV), many State-owned and private commercial joint-stock banks approved plans to increase capital early this year. However, the pandemic might ruin their plans, especially for banks that didn’t report high profit last year. It has been reported that only a few banks, including ACB and Bac A Bank, have succeeded in their capital increase plans to date. Recently, ACB was among few banks to complete the charter capital hike from VND16.63 trillion (US$713.73 million) to nearly VND21.62 trillion through issuing shares at a rate of 30 percent to pay dividends in 2019. Bac A Bank also increased its charter capital from VND6.5 trillion to VND7.1 trillion by issuing 58.5 million additional shares to pay dividends, with a ratio of 9 percent. Some other banks expect to do the same to increase their capital in the remaining months of this year as it is considered the most feasible method amid the pandemic. – Viet Nam News
Cambodia Distributes New Map of Border With Vietnam
Cambodia on Thursday distributed a newly drawn topographical map of the country’s shared border with Vietnam to local authorities and submitted it to the United Nations for recognition, despite ongoing allegations that the government has allowed Vietnam to encroach on Cambodian territory. The border designation reflects one agreed to in a 1:25,000 scale map exchanged between Cambodia and Vietnam in a ceremony at the Moc Bai International Border Gate in southern Vietnam’s Tay Ninh province, on the border with Cambodia’s Svay Rieng province, on Aug. 1. Speaking at Thursday’s distribution ceremony, Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh called the new map “historic” and of “significant importance” to the country. “These maps are for public use – they are authentic,” he said. “We didn’t have one in the past, but it is real now. We have demarcated the border according to the maps … I am very proud of it. This gives us a strong foundation to resolve our differences.” – The Cambodia Daily