These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Smart letterboxes to be trialled at two Clementi Housing Board blocks
Residents of Block 202 Clementi Avenue 6 will soon be able to receive notification on their mobile phones when mail has arrived, negating the need to periodically check their letterbox. For the next year in fact, they will not need to check the letterbox at all, as mail will instead be collected from a central vending machine-style unit at the foot of the block. They will be the first in Singapore to try out a smart letterbox system that SingPost envisions may one day replace traditional units. Called PostPal, each machine will store mail for an entire housing block, with items auto-sorted into storage slots. Instead of using a key to unlock their designated letterbox, residents will scan a QR code generated by the SingPost app to retrieve their items from the machine. Using the app, residents can also be notified of mail delivery, check the number of items pending collection and authorise others to collect mail on their behalf. PostPal features significant improvements that will reduce misdeliveries and alleviate the postman's burden, SingPost said on Thursday (Dec 3) in announcing a year-long public trial. PostPal has an autosort function, which means the postmen will only need to load all the mail into the machine without sorting them out individually. The trial will start with two Housing Board blocks in Clementi; residents of Block 202 Clementi Avenue 6 will begin using the system on Dec 18, while those in Block 205 will follow in the weeks ahead. PostPal is a newer iteration of the smart letterbox prototype unveiled by SingPost last year. It was developed in collaboration with PBA Group, a robotics and automation firm headquartered in Singapore. – The Straits Times
Screening ongoing for 127,000 foreign workers in Penang
Penang has started screening some 127,000 foreign workers from various sectors in the state, following the mandatory Covid-19 exercise for all such workers beginning Tuesday. State Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, however, could not provide figures of those who have been screened since Dec 1. Without going into specifics, Jagdeep said some 3,000 foreign workers in a workers dormitory had almost completed the screening process in the past 48 hours. "The (screening) process is ongoing by the respective employers and the state government is monitoring the situation on the ground. "We have been receiving reports on the matter. I was told that at a foreign workers dormitory, nearly 3,000 of them had completed screening. I will be conducting a spot check tomorrow and I hope to deliver news that they all tested negative. "The state government has no issue with the mandatory Covid-19 screening for foreign workers. In fact, it should be done. And we were the first state to have done so in April for foreign workers in the construction sector. "However, our concern is the constraints faced such as the limited facilities at our hospitals and clinics as well as who will be bearing the cost. This is a federal government's decision. By right, the federal government should utilise the allocation set aside in the 2021 Budget for Covid-19 for this purpose," he said at the City Hall Building here today. Elaborating, Jagdeep said the pandemic had affected the country's economy. He added that some sectors hardly registered any business, yet the employers were made to pay for their foreign workers' screening. "Placing the burden on the employers will further aggravate the situation. "By right, this should be done accordingly, starting with the sectors which are high risk before moving down to other sectors," he added. It was reported that from Dec 1, all foreign workers nationwide were required to undergo mandatory Covid-19 screening, with their respective employers bearing the cost of the procedures. – New Straits Times
Ruling incenses students
The Constitutional Court's unanimous vote to clear Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha of a conflict of interest in staying in an army house after his retirement has sparked outrage among anti-government protesters. The protesters, who returned to Lat Phrao intersection in a mass gathering on Wednesday to hear the ruling, have threatened to intensify their rallies. Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, leader of the June 24 Democracy Group, spoke to the crowd, saying nothing was illegal from now on. He added the ruling was not a surprise. "The people will stop Prayut. It won't be long until he is out of office. "People will rise up and end this vicious cycle that keeps Prayut in power," Mr Somyot said. Arnon Nampa, another protest co-leader, told the crowd that calls will be made to reform the judiciary. A new precedent had been set, he added, as an unqualified person remaining in a state-owned house free of charge, which works to the benefit of the occupant, would not contradict the law or regulations. "Thanks to Gen Prayut, this new principle will be adopted regardless of the law," he said. "Next year, the protests will grow in intensity even more," he told the rally. Panupong "Mike" Jadnok, a Ratsadon anti-government leader, also spoke to the protesters, saying the protests have been galvanised and they would continue with even more energy. Shinawat "Bright" Chankrachang, a protest co-leader, compared Gen Prayut's case with that of the late prime minister Samak Sundaravej. Unlike Gen Prayut, Samak did not survive the Constitutional Court ruling over a cooking show he was found guilty of hosting while he held the post of prime minister. In September 2008, the court stripped Samak of his premiership for violating the constitution for accepting payments to host the cooking show on TV. Mr Shinawat said he has lost faith in Thailand's justice system and insisted there could be no unity without justice. Chaithawat Tulathon, secretary-general of Move Forward Party (MFP), said injustices have ensued since the May 2014 coup despite desperate calls for justice and democracy to be restored. "We still think Gen Prayut should resign to douse this fire [of political conflict] and create more trust," he said. On Wednesday, all nine Constitutional Court judges found Gen Prayut not guilty for staying in an army residence while in his role as prime minister. – Bangkok Post
Without govt support, COVID-19 testing remains low in Indonesia
Suspected cases and close contacts of confirmed coronavirus cases, especially those without symptoms, are left to their own means to find out their infection status as the government still lacks the ability to provide testing in many parts of the country. Agustinus Anom Prabowo, a 38-year-old graphic designer and his family of 11 in South Tangerang, Banten, had to pay Rp 9.9 million (US$701.70) for all of them to get tested on Nov. 25, after they came into close contact with confirmed cases several days prior. Anom’s relatives who tested positive were his uncle and cousin, who had visited Anom's family house. Both families live in South Tangerang, but no local health authorities or contact tracers have been by to check on them. Even so, everyone in his family, even those who showed no symptoms, decided to self-quarantine. Not willing to take any risks, with his elderly mother living in the house and with several family members suffering from asthma, Anom and his siblings decided to get tested the week after his uncle and cousin got their results. Only Anom's 6-year-old daughter tested positive, he said, but even after informing local community leaders, there had yet to be any contact-tracing or monitoring efforts made or even clear information from health authorities on when his daughter could be released from self-isolation. "The total cost of the swab tests was quite high – yet still reasonable [...] I think most people would rather take a rapid [antibody tests] because it’s more affordable. But my family wanted [more accurate] and thorough results, so we took the swab test," he said. The government has promised to pay for all COVID-19 treatment, including tests, but there are limitations to what it can cover. The latest COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Health Ministry in July said that close contacts did not need to be tested unless they showed certain symptoms. Those who asymptomatic should only self-quarantine for 14 days under the close watch of local health authorities. This means that even if Anom and his family had asked for free tests, they would likely not have gotten them. The same guidelines also phased out retesting requirements for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients and those with mild to moderate symptoms in order to be discharged from isolation. Some health experts have criticized the criteria. Tonang Dwi Ardyanto of clinical pathologist association PDS PatKlin said it would be hard to implement them in the field. "Because such criteria absolutely require discipline […] It’s certainly not easy.” – The Jakarta Post
No entry for minors in Metro Manila malls – mayors
Metro Manila mayors rejected calls to allow children aged 17 years old and below to step out of their residences and visit shopping malls while the general community quarantine (GCQ)is still in effect, an official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) bared Thursday. “Unanimous po. 17-0 mayors will not allow minors to go out,” MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said in an online press conference. The decision was made after the Metro Manila mayors consulted the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS). “I am not a doctor. In layman’s term, kinausap ko si Doctor [Rosario] Eusebio [of PPS] , ang minor mataas ang resistensiya niyan so asymptomatic iyan. Mahirap i-control ang mga bata, mahawa sila at pag-uwi nila sa bahay pwede mahawa ang lolo niyan so iyon ang iniiwasan,” Garcia explained, when asked about the opinion of the PDS. (Doctor Eusebio said minors have a strong immune system so they could be infected but asymptomatic. It is difficult to control kids. So, if they contract COVID-19, they may spread the disease to other family members at home.) Garcia later clarified that minors can go out but only for essential services and exercise. He said it is up to local government units to enforce laws or orders for minors. “Actually pinayagan na ang exercise. Essential iyan, iyong exercise. It is subject to the interpretation of LGUs. Pero ang exercise allowed iyan, ang hindi lang pwede ay iyong contact sports such as basketball,” said Garcia. (Exercise is permitted for minors. It is subject to the interpretation of LGUs. But exercise is allowed as long as it is non-contact sports.) Penalties against minors who will violate rules is also up to the LGUs, Garcia noted. On Tuesday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año clarified that minors are banned inside malls unless local government units pass an ordinance that would allow children to visit the said establishments. – INQUIRER.net
Drastic measures should be taken to stop COVID-19 infection
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has underlined the need to take drastic measures in tracing the source of infection and zoning while dealing with community infection cases in HCM City. Speaking at the monthly government meeting on Wednesday, he emphasised that strict punishment should be imposed on individuals and organisations who violated COVID-19 prevention rules. He also asked localities nationwide to stay vigilant to prevent the pandemic. The PM said top priority should be given to removing bottlenecks for local production and business activities to push up economic development. Reports from relevant ministries and sectors showed that the Vietnamese economy could expand 2.5-3 per cent in 2020, while many international organisations forecast it could grow 2.5-2.8 per cent in the year, he said. Amidst complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, Viet Nam remains a bright spot in the global economy thanks to its positive growth, according to a report from the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Việt Nam's economy in November continued to maintain its recovery momentum under new normal conditions. Production, trade and consumption kept growing. Inflation was controlled and foreign exchange reserves were high. In the 11-month period, trade surplus swelled to a record of US$20.1 billion, he said, adding 31 groups of commodities joined the over-one-billion-USD club, accounting for 92 per cent of the total export revenue. Disbursement of public capital was pushed ahead, reaching 79.3 per cent of the yearly plan and up 34 per cent compared to the same time last year, he said. The confidence of people, businesses and investors in the country's economic prospects was very positive. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its forecast of Việt Nam's economic growth in 2020 to 2.4 per cent - among countries with the world's highest growth. – Viet Nam News
Poser over whether State of Emergency is needed to stem virus spread
Seven months ago, when Acting Head of State Say Chhum signed the draft law on State of Emergency into legislation after it was unanimously approved by legislative bodies and the Constitutional Council of Cambodia, the possibility of its implementation remains a sensitive question. During the outbreak following the “November 3 incident” and the visit of the Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó to the Kingdom, Prime Minister Hun Sen had hinted that he could request King Norodom Sihamoni to sign a royal decree to put some parts of the country into a State of Emergency, but he did not wish to do so. However, due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and especially the ongoing outbreak of the first-ever community transmission, questions are being raised about the possibility of implementing the law. Government officials and academics have expressed mixed views about the status of the State of Emergency law in Cambodia. Academics have said that although the possibility of a State of Emergency in the Kingdom is “low”, the implementation of the law is possible if the people ignore the government’s measures, especially the Ministry of Health’s to contain community transmission of the virus. Kin Phea, director-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia’s International Relations Institute, on Tuesday said that a State of Emergency is only “likely” if people defy the government’s instructions to prevent the outbreak of COVID-19 in the community. “I think the possibility of declaring a State of Emergency is low because the measures taken by the government to respond to the outbreak are effective. But, it depends on the public’s cooperation and attitude toward COVID-19,” he said. “If the people are not cooperative and ignore the government’s instructions, declaring a State of Emergency is likely,” Phea added. He said it would be good for the government and the people themselves if they work together to fight against the pandemic. “The act of declaring a State of Emergency is not a good idea, it will damage the national economy and livelihoods of the poor,” he said. – Khmer Times