These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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2,500 jobs on offer in retail sector despite Covid-19 impact, with 2 in 5 roles for PMETs
The retail sector may have taken a beating during the Covid-19 pandemic, but there are still some 2,500 jobs on offer as stores reopen and more businesses turn to e-commerce. Nearly two in five of these jobs are for professionals, managers, executives and technicians, said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo in her weekly jobs situation report on Monday (Oct 12). These are roles such as sales, marketing and business development managers, with monthly salaries of between $2,750 and $6,500, with a median of $3,750. Meanwhile, retail and wholesale trade managers typically earn between $2,000 and $3,750 each month, with a median of $2,700. The job roles also include commercial and marketing sales executives, which typically receive between $2,400 and $4,450 monthly, with a median of $3,200. The remaining jobs on offer are non-PMET jobs, such as shop and store salespersons, which typically receive monthly salaries between $1,400 and $1,900, with a median of $1,600. These non-PMET roles are necessary to meet immediate manpower needs for front-of-house operations, as retail stores resumed operations after the end of the circuit breaker, said Mrs Teo. At the same time, retailers are also increasingly looking to hire PMETs who have digital skills to help their businesses grow on e-commerce platforms, she added. Apart from jobs, there are also about 610 company-hosted traineeships and attachments as well as about 430 training opportunities available in the sector. Between April and September, 770 individuals have been placed into jobs, enhanced roles, traineeships and attachments as well as training opportunities in the retail sector, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). – The Straits Times
Guan Eng's corruption trial likely to start next year
The dates for former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's undersea tunnel project-linked corruption trial will be fixed later this month. This follows the prosecution's announcement to Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi that they intend to amend two of the four charges Lim is facing. Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said the prosecution will tender the amendments during the next mention date on Oct 28. He said this would be done when Lim is present in court. Lim was exempted from attending today's proceedings as the Penang state assembly is in session. Azura said the trial dates will be set after the amended charges are read to Lim, who was represented by Gobind Singh Deo, on Oct 28. Lim is accused of using his position as chief minister to ask Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd senior director Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli for a 10 per cut of the profits which would have been made from the tunnel project. He is also charged with seeking a further RM3.3 million kickback to appoint Zarul's company for the project. Lim was also slapped with two additional counts of dishonestly misappropriating RM208.7 million worth of state land for two companies at the Butterworth Sessions Court last month. – New Straits Times
Four illegal border crossers caught in Mae Sot
Four Myanmar nationals were arrested by a government patrol after they waded across the Moei River from Myawaddy in the small hours on Monday. The four were spotted by a joint patrol of military, police and civilian personnel while hiding in forest near Don Chai village in tambon Mae Tao, Mae Sot district. They carried no passports or other travel documents. They identified themselves as Aung Ku, 29, Thana, 24, Ah Jo, 55, and Ah Thu, 50. Ah Jo and Ah Thu tested positive for drug use. Ah Thu also had in his possession 12,349 baht and a mobile phone. They were taken to Mae Sot police station where they were charged with illegal entry. Ah Jo and Ah Thu were additionally charged with using drugs. Patrols along the border have been intensified to block illegal entry from Myanmar, where the number of Covid-19 infections is on the rise. On Sunday, a group of local villagers gathered in front of the border checkpoint at the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge at Ban Wang Ta Khian in tambon Tha Sai Luat. They called for provincial authorities to close all border checkpoints in the province to prevent the spread of Covid-19 across the border until the situation has been resolved, after three Myanmar nationals tested positive for the coronavirus at the Thai border. The villagers submitted their letter to provincial governor Pongrat Piromrat, via district officials, before dispersing. – Bangkok Post
Rights groups criticize police for ‘intimidation’ of jobs bill critics with ‘hoax’ claims
The National Police’s campaign against alleged fake news about the recently passed omnibus law on job creation has drawn criticism from civil society organizations who say that authorities are trying to “intimidate” critics. “The police’s move to tackle hoaxes is a form of intimidation against the public who widely reject the newly passed Job Creation Law,” nongovernmental organizations grouped under the Indonesian People’s Faction (FRI) said in a written statement on Friday. The group called on the police to refrain from hastily labelling public criticism of the law on social media as “hoaxes” and charging anyone who expresses their opposition with criminal acts. The FRI also questioned how police were able to determine what information about the law was false, given that the final draft of the law has yet to be made available to the public. “We invite the police to participate in the open debates regarding the Job Creation Law so that the public will be able to know who is spreading hoaxes,” the statement
said. The FRI also cited a telegram issued by National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis on Oct. 2, which instructed police to carry out “cyberpatrols” on social media and "media management" to propagate negative sentiments regarding workers’ strikes and public protests against the omnibus bill. “These police actions are an abuse of power,” the statement said. The telegram also drew wide criticism, including from the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) who called on the National Police to repeal the telegram as it was against the basic principles of freedom of expression. – The Jakarta Post
Velasco allies confirm plot to unseat Cayetano
A “solid majority” of lawmakers in the House of Representatives will assemble to declare the post of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano vacant and elect Rep. Lord Allan Velasco on Monday, saying that the lower chamber needs a leader “with a heart of a public servant, and not with a heart of a tyrant.” In a manifesto sent by Velasco’s camp to INQUIRER.net, 187 lawmakers cited Section 13 of the Rules of the House which states that “a vacancy is created whenever any of the officers dies, resigns, or is permanently incapacitated, or when the House declares any office vacant.” The said manifesto was confirmed to INQUIRER.net by three lawmakers—Oriental Mindoro 1st District Rep Doy Leachon, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, and Valenzuela 2nd District Rep, Eric Martinez. “Therefore, in accordance with Section 13, Rule 3 of the Rules of the House of Representatives, of the 18th Congress, we call to assemble, move to and cast our vote to declare the position of Speaker VACANT on Monday, October 12, 2020,” the lawmakers said. “Further, also in accordance with the same Section, we will move to and cast our vote to declare Representative Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 18th Congress,” the signatories added. According to House rules, the position of Speaker may only be declared vacant through nominal voting by a majority vote of all the members. The lawmakers pointed out the recent “unceremonious” termination of the deliberations and the eventual approval of House Bill No. 7727 or the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), which contains the proposed national budget for 2021, even if the proposed funding of more than 20 government agencies and executive offices have yet to be scrutinized. – INQUIRER.net
A bittersweet honour for the Heroes of the Armed Forces
October 12 has always been a special day for former staff of the Liberation Press Agency. It’s even more special this year as they have been bestowed a prestigious title by the State for their contribution to the country’s liberation. The designation 'Hero of the Armed Forces' was given to the agency by Party General Secretary and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng at the beginning of September. For former war correspondents who worked at the agency during the American War like Nguyễn Thanh Bền, this State-level recognition means a lot. “First, it means we deserve it. Second, it means our contribution has been recognised by the State,” he said. “It is an honour, and also a motivation for all of us to work harder to live up to it. “And it’s also a consolation for those who died, who never lived to see the country’s liberation – those that lost their lives before April 30, [1975].” The title is awarded to individuals and collectives with outstanding achievements in combat, combat service and work, representing the revolutionary heroism in the cause of national liberation, national defence and the protection of the people. Founded on October 12, 1960, in the southern province of Tây Ninh, the Liberation Press Agency was the Government’s mouthpiece in Southern Việt Nam from 1960 to 1975. It reported on the revolutionary movement during this period, guided by the National Liberation Front of South Việt Nam against the American-aided administration in the south. As many as 240 journalists and staff of the agency died in the war, more than any other media outlet in the country. – Viet Nam News
Floods kill at least 10 and wreak havoc in Kingdom
Flash floods continue to cause chaos in several parts of the Kingdom, especially in Pursat and Battambang provinces, taking at least 10 lives nationwide. National Committee for Disaster Management spokesman Khun Sokha said yesterday the exact number of deaths in each province remains unconfirmed. However, he received information that three people died in Banteay Meanchey province due to drowning. Lao Sampor, deputy director of the Banteay Meanchey provincial information department, confirmed that the three dead were a girl, 10, and two elderly people. Yesterday morning in Battambang province, a pregnant woman was rescued by the Infantry Brigade 53 of Military Region 5 in Phnom Proek district. She delivered the baby on the boat as her house was flooded and she could not access the hospital on time. She was sent to the hospital afterwards. Flash floods have been inundating Battambang, Pursat, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear and Kampong Speu provinces, engulfing schools, administrative offices, other infrastructure and rice fields. The Pursat provincial administration reported yesterday that flash floods have affected at least five districts, destroyed nine bridges, demolished 24 houses as well as damaged thousands of crops, roads and public property. A report from Chea Sambath, Governor of Rukha Kiri district in Battambang province, said that on Friday at least 1,546 families and 2,809 hectares of rice fields were affected and around 3000 hectares of mixed crops were inundated and ruined. In the province’s Bassac commune around 369 families were affected, 216 hectares of mixed crops were damaged, three cows drowned and other property was destroyed by the flood, Sambath said, adding that as of yet there is no danger to the lives of people. – Khmer Times