These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Moderna seeking HSA approval for use of its Covid-19 vaccine in Singapore
American biotechnology company Moderna has asked the authorities in Singapore to approve the use of its Covid-19 vaccine here. If all goes well, the first batch of vaccines could arrive as early as this month. Moderna chief executive Stephane Bancel told The Straits Times on Tuesday night (Dec 1) that the company is in talks with the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in Singapore. "We've started sending to Singapore, all the information that we have, and we're having a very good dialogue with them," he said. "It is of course their decision how long they need to be comfortable with the data, because their (priority) is to ensure safety, but I anticipate that it could be maybe in December, maybe in January." Mr Bancel declined to give details on the number of doses that Singapore would receive, citing confidentiality clauses, but said Moderna will be ready to ship its vaccines here "right away" once approval is given. ST has approached the HSA for comment. Last month, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said Singapore would work on securing a portfolio of Covid-19 vaccines to cater to different segments of the population instead of relying on just one vaccine. Moderna on Monday applied for emergency use authorisation of its Covid-19 vaccine in the United States, following the release of the full results from its late-stage clinical trial. The results of the trial, which involved 30,000 people, had shown that the vaccine was 94.1 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19, and 100 per cent effective at preventing severe disease from the coronavirus. The filing in the US sets Moderna's product up as the second vaccine likely to receive US emergency use authorisation this year. Pfizer and BioNTech - the two firms behind another Covid-19 vaccine front runner - have also applied for emergency use authorisation of their vaccine in the US. Pfizer said final results from the late-stage trial of that Covid-19 vaccine showed it was 95 per cent effective. – The Straits Times
Experts: Do not extend CMCO
Experts believe that there is no need to extend the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO). They said the authorities should instead focus on targeted measures such as eradicating workplace-related Covid-19 clusters and those in high-risk areas. They also believe that fatigue from the standard operating procedures (SOP) in place may result in more harm in the long run. Malaysian Public Health Physicians Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said an extension of the CMCO was not necessary based on the distribution of cases and clusters. This assessment, he said, was also based on the experiences gained through the various phases of the MCO. "The authorities need to focus on workplace-related clusters and high-risk places such as factories and workers' quarters, especially those involving foreign workers. Targeted MCOs should be enforced in these areas and in Covid-19 hotspots." Dr Zainal said the authorities must open up state borders in phases until the end of the year. "For example, an MCO could be enforced only in the Klang Valley and not in areas that are already green zones. They can enact a ban on cross-border travel from red zones in the Klang Valley, as well as boost monitoring and testing in Targeted EMCO areas. "Federal agencies, such as the Health Ministry and the National Security Council, can work with the state authorities in Selangor and Negri Sembilan." He said it was time the public "learn to live with Covid-19" and the authorities switched their focus to this instead. Epidemiology and biostatistics expert Dr Malina Osman said there should be a balance between disease prevention and economic needs. She said the key was in compliance with Covid-19 SOP. "It's very likely that the CMCO in the Klang Valley and Negri Sembilan will be extended to at least another month. – New Straits Times
PM's fate hangs in the balance
The future of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha hangs in the balance pending Wednesday's Constitutional Court ruling on the legality of his continued occupancy of an army residence since his retirement from the military. A ruling against the prime minister would spell the end of his premiership, and also end the term of his current cabinet. Opposition MPs led by the main opposition Pheu Thai Party lodged a petition with the Constitutional Court through parliament president Chuan Leekpai on March 9 after the issue was raised during the opposition's censure debate against the government on Feb 25-27. In the petition, Pheu Thai accused the prime minister of a conflict of interest by continuing to occupy the army residence in Bangkok, in violation of Section 184 (3) of the constitution. It said Gen Prayut, who is also the defence minister, should have vacated the building when he retired as army chief in 2014, and that by staying on free of charge, he had broken army regulations. The prime minister and his family reside in the house in question located at the 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Guard, on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Bangkok. After leading the coup that toppled the Pheu Thai-led administration on May 22, 2014, Gen Prayut retired as army commander-in-chief on Sept 30, 2014. He remained prime minister and was returned to office following last year's general election. The army has explained that the house the prime minister lives in is not a "welfare house" provided for top brass. It was re-designated as a "visitor's house" in 2012. The army has also cited security as the reason why Gen Prayut needs to live inside the army compound. Phichai Ratanatilaka Na Bhuket, a lecturer at the National Institute of Development Administration, told the Bangkok Post that he believed Gen Prayut is unlikely to survive the legal challenge. He cited Section 184 which prohibits a conflict of interest by political-office holders. Mr Phichai added that army regulations cited by Gen Prayut in his defence were not justified because the constitution overrides the regulations. "If interpretation is based on the law, the prime minister would find it hard to survive. But if the case is interpreted according to the power structure in Thai society, he will stand a good chance of survival," Mr Phichai said. If the court rules in favour of the prime minister, the court will likely come under criticism, no matter what the explanation, he said. But if the court rules against him, Gen Prayut must leave office and parliament must find a new prime minister from the list of existing prime ministerial candidates such as Chaikasem Nitisiri of the Pheu Thai Anutan Party or Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party, he said. – Bangkok Post
More governors, including Anies, test positive for COVID-19 amid soaring cases
The governors of Jakarta and Riau, Anies Baswedan and Syamsuar, respectively, have become the latest additions to the long list of government officials who have tested positive for COVID-19, at a time when cases and hospitalizations continue to soar in the country. Anies' polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result came back positive in the early hours of Tuesday morning, he said through an Instagram video. He said he had taken the test on Monday, three days after his deputy Ahmad Riza Patria had taken the test on Friday that eventually came back positive, as announced by the Jakarta administration on Sunday. Anies said he had been in close contact with Riza for some meetings several days prior and he consequently took an antigen test on Sunday, which came back negative. But antigen tests are known to be less accurate than PCR tests, though they produce results faster – hence further confirmation using PCR is necessary. "The Jakarta Health Agency's [contact] tracing team will also be recording, taking notes and reaching out to all [my] close contacts and all related procedures will go ahead," Anies said. He called on all his close contacts in the past few days to self-quarantine and go to community health centres (Puskesmas) to take the PCR test. The governor’s office at the City Hall will be closed, but the City Hall's main building will continue running, he said. Anies said he was not experiencing any symptoms and was isolating alone at the governor's official residence as he would continue working virtually. Jakarta previously lost one of its senior officials to the coronavirus infection when then-secretary Saefullah died in September from irreversible septic shock and acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19. The city went back to the transitional phase from large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) not long after Anies reimposed full PSBB in September, albeit in a less strict form than the restrictions imposed earlier in the outbreak. – The Jakarta Post
With P25M in COVID-19 tests daily, PhilHealth debt to PRC balloons to P623M
With tests for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) chargeable to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) reaching P25 million a day, the state insurer’s standing debt to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has now ballooned to P623 million. “It’s really the non-payment of bills on time that is killing us here because they owe us now, as of December 1, P623 million,” PRC chairman Senator Richard Gordon said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel on Wednesday. “It’s a moving target…We are consuming about P25 million a day in testing, it keeps moving and moving,” he added. As of Nov. 6, PhilHealth has paid P700 million of its debt to the PRC. At the time, the state insurer’s standing balance was at P377 million. Under the original agreement between the PRC and PhilHealth, Gordon said the state insurer should maintain only a debt of P100 million. “We want to compress it (debt) in such a way as in the original contract, they only owe us a hundred million para hindi naman kami nasa alanganin [So we’re not in trouble],” he said, noting that the humanitarian organization is also helping in relief efforts in areas devastated by recent typhoons. Gordon added that both parties have agreed that PhilHealth should pay PRC within three days after a bill on the conducted COVID-19 tests is sent to the state insurance company. “Right now, they’re averaging practically nine days sometimes even 12 days before they pay,” Gordon noted. While PhilHealth president and CEO Dante Gierran has assured Gordon that they would settle their balance, the senator said he could not help but feel worried. “We talked about it and he (Gierran) said ‘We have plenty of money, we’re gonna pay. Don’t worry, we’re gonna pay.’ Well, I’m still worrying,” Gordon said. The senator surmised that the delayed payment of PhilHealth to the PRC is due to the bureaucracy. – INQUIRER.net
Annual textile and garment exports down for first time in 25 years
The total export value of the textile and garment industry is forecast to reach about US$33.5-34 billion this year, a year-on-year decrease of 14-15 per cent, but higher than the forecast of $30-31 billion in April. The Ministry of Industry and Trade said this year was particularly difficult for the Vietnamese textile and garment industry when the market was complex and difficult to forecast. Under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the textiles and garments industry faced great direct losses. Demand for textile products slowed due to COVID-19 when consumers around the world focused on essential appliances and disease prevention and Vietnamese textile and garment enterprises faced many difficulties due to scarce orders. Lê Tiến Trường, general director of Việt Nam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex), said the pandemic broke supply chains and had resulted in declining demand for goods the world over. Though the export turnover of the textile and garment industry this year will decrease after 25 years of continuous growth, Vinatex’s general director said the decrease in Việt Nam's textile and apparel industry was not as large as for other countries. Facing great difficulties from COVID-19, in 2020, textile enterprises implemented a rapid transformation of product structure, from traditional to adaptable products such as switching from high-class suits, shirts to labour protection, knitwear and traditional shirts to maintain production and business activities. Trường also stated that despite the pandemic, the group still maintained jobs for the whole system and no employees had to quit their jobs. The group’s average income expected to be realised in 2020 is VNĐ7.95 million (US$342) per person per month. – Viet Nam News
“Do not panic” says PM Hun Sen as Covid-19 emerges in the community for the first time
Prime Minister Hun Sen sent the right message in every possible way when he called for his people not to panic. It is a pro-active move that fits well when it comes to information flow and crisis communication in government. At times of uncertainty, it is understandable that people become concerned when they learned that a 56-year-old Cambodian lady contracted Covid-19 and travelled to many places. As the nation’s leader, it is his job to put context on the event and prevent uninformed gossip and advise appropriate action. It encourages people to take control by being vigilant, improving protective measures and adapting to the new normalcy. The Premier’s first voice clip, released late evening on 28th November 2020, asked his people to not go outside after he learned that there is a threat of possible spread of Covid-19 in Phnom Penh after the lady, a senior police official’s wife, tested positive for Covid-19 the same day. He told the public that the spread could possibly have occurred at Aeon mall, which the lady visited last week, or the Interior Ministry, where the lady’s husband attended a meeting on 24th November, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister, Sar Kheng, Interior Minister, along with 11 other senior officials. “For the Aeon one mall, we need temporary closure for a short period. I ask our people not to panic, but they must improve their individual protection from the virus”, said the Premier, who added: “they must follow the Health Ministry’s instructions. They must seek consultations with doctors should they suspect they have contracted Coronavirus”. Deputy PM Sar Kheng, Minister of interior, said that he himself has to self-quarantine and called on his interior and police officials to follow the health instruction to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. This is another information management flow, in the sense that the government accepted the facts and at the same time applied measures needed to be taken by the concerned institutions. The seriousness of the female patient of Covid-19 is indicated by the health experts’ assessment that, “the lady’s test showed that it contains high level of the virus”. On the 29th November 2020, the test results also confirmed that five other family members – including her husband, a police official, had Covid-19. – Khmer Times