These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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$870m aviation support package to increase wage subsidies to 50% from April to September: MOT
An $870 million support package for the hard-hit aviation sector will increase wage subsidies to 50 per cent for local workers for another six months, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on Wednesday (Feb 17). The Jobs Support Scheme - which would be extended, as announced by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in his Budget speech on Tuesday - provides firms in the sector with wage support of 30 per cent from April to June, and 10 per cent from July to September. The Aviation Workforce Retention Grant, which will cost $330 million, will enhance that to 50 per cent of wages paid to Singaporeans and permanent residents from April to September, said MOT. This means that eligible firms will receive an additional 20 per cent of wages paid to each local employee from April to June, and an additional 40 per cent from July to September. The wage subsidy is subject to a cap of up to $4,600 of gross monthly wages. Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung noted that aviation has been one of the hardest-hit sectors during the pandemic, "if not the hardest hit", as Changi Airport and its stakeholders lost 97.5 per cent of its customers. As at end-January this year, total passenger movements in Changi were only about 2 per cent of pre-Covid-19 levels. "Yet for a city-state like Singapore, the air hub is essential to connect us with the rest of the world and continues to be our lifeblood," said Mr Ong. "This support will help Changi tide through the crisis, while we explore ways to reopen borders safely." In his Budget speech, Mr Heng emphasised the need to position the aviation sector for recovery as part of efforts to deepen Singapore's position as a global-Asia node. The remaining $540 million under the OneAviation Support Package will go to cost relief, said MOT. This includes extending existing rebates on fees and charges at Changi and Seletar airports for another year. The rebate on fees payable by pilots, air traffic controllers and aircraft maintenance engineers will also be extended for another year. "The package will enable aviation companies to preserve core capabilities and tide over the crisis, and preserve Singapore's position as an aviation hub post-Covid-19," said MOT. The funding for the sector comes under the $11 billion Covid-19 Resilience Package announced in the Budget speech. – The Straits Times
High Court decision on Rosmah's corruption case today
The High Court here today will decide whether Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has to answer to charges to corruption relating to the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak, or to acquit her. Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan is expected to deliver his judgment at am on Rosmah, 69, the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Rosmah is facing one charge of soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings former managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin. The bribes were allegedly received through her former special officer, Datuk Rizal Mansor, as a reward for helping Jepak Holdings secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project, as well as the maintenance and operation of diesel gen-sets, for 369 Sarawak rural schools worth RM1.25 billion from the Education Ministry through direct negotiation. The acts were allegedly committed at Lygon Cafe, Sunway Putra Mall, Jalan Putra here; Rosmah's residence at Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta and at Seri Perdana, Persiaran Seri Perdana, Precinct 10, Putrajaya between January 2016 and Sept 2017. The charges framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, provide for imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. The prosecution is led by senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram while lawyer Datuk Jagjit Singh is leading the defence team. Thirty reporters, one from each selected media organisation including foreign press, were given passes to follow the proceedings via a video link in a room. According to the standard operating procedures (SOP) during the Covid-19 pandemic issued by the Registry Office of The Federal Court, media coverage in open court proceedings is not allowed, except for cases involving public interest, where the court may consider providing room for live broadcast or providing media coverage facilities through zoom application. – New Straits Times
'Don't torpedo jabs plan'
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday warned critics of the government's vaccination programme that they would be held responsible if their comments affected the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines. Gen Prayut hit back at an MP from the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) who had questioned the government's delivery of the vaccine, saying the issue should not be politicised. He said: "I am concerned that comments on the vaccines will cause problems. I don't want it to be politicised. You have to be careful. If we cannot get what has been agreed upon because of this, you must accept responsibility." He said the government was trying to solve the economic problems caused by the pandemic and fully appreciated the extent of people's suffering. "This is because we have [real] information. We do not surf on social media alone," said Gen Prayut. "Having power does not mean I can issue any orders [I like]. But I have to listen to doctors and make sure vaccines arrive as soon as possible. I don't want any delay. "However, I insist Thailand has done a better job of controlling Covid-19 than several other countries, and we're still trying to do even better." The premier said he had received information that as many as 80% of Thais wanted to be vaccinated while 10% had doubts and the rest were against it. The vaccines will gradually arrive and the situation will improve when Thailand can produce its own Covid-19 vaccines, Gen Prayut said, stressing those most in need would get the first jabs. He also welcomed news that the first locally made vaccine would enter its first phase of human trials on March 1 and involve 210 participants. The second trial is due to begin by April on 250 participants and the final trial is expected to begin by the end of this year. The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) has been working on the project with its international partners, including the global Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. Together they have developed a pilot NDV-HXP-S vaccine and lab tests have been showing promising results. The GPO and Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University are now working to prepare the pilot vaccine for the human trial, raising hopes the country will soon be able to produce its Covid-19 vaccine at a rate of 25-30 million doses per year, Gen Prayut said. On Sunday, government spokesman Anucha Buraphachaisri responded to reports that Thailand was the only Southeast Asian country to skip the WHO's Covax scheme, saying that as a middle-income country it was not eligible for free or cheap vaccines. If Thailand wanted to join the Covax programme, it would have to pay full price for vaccines and that carried the further risk of the country having to pay in advance without knowing the source of the vaccines or their delivery dates. Thailand decided against joining the programme to pursue its own deals because the government is not allowed to spend money on vaccines which have not been proven to be effective. – Bangkok Post
Hontiveros: China now owes PH P800B in destroyed, stolen WPS natural resources
China now owes the Philippines over P800 billion in terms of stolen marine life and destroyed natural resources in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Senator Risa Hontiveros said Thursday. “Time to pay up. Dati nang umayaw ang Chinese Embassy nang naningil tayo ng mahigit sa P200 billion dahil sa paninira ng Tsina sa WPS mula 2013. Pero ngayon, umabot na sa higit walong daang bilyon ang halaga ng paninira nila sa ating likas-yaman, kaya patuloy ang ating pangangalampag,” Hontiveros said in a statement. (Time to pay up. The Chinese Embassy previously declined to pay over P200 billion in debt caused by China’s aggression in the WPS since 2013. But now, the value of natural resources that were affected has reached over P800 billion, that’s why we continue to call their attention.) The senator cited the P231.7 billion worth of reefs that were ruined for seven years, as published by the international journal Ecosystem Services last year. She said the value per coral reef was pegged at P18 million, which was multiplied by 1,850 hectares of reef ecosystems in Panatag and Spratlys that have been damaged by China. Hontiveros also said that a total of P644 billion fish catch has been looted since 2014, citing recent computations by investigative journalist Jarius Bondoc. The lawmaker noted that Bondoc arrived at the number by multiplying the 1.2 million tons of fish that are usually caught by Chinese vessels in Zamora and Panganiban reefs annually, with Seafdec’s estimated value per ton of fish caught in the South China Sea at P76,710. In April last year, Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution No. 369 urging the Duterte administration to “exert legal and diplomatic pressure” upon China to end its activities in the West Philippine Sea and to pay reparation for the damage it caused to the country’s reefs. In that resolution, she said China owes the Philippines at least P200 billion “for China’s damage to our reef ecosystems for at least six years.” She said the amount should now be updated to include recent computations. “We cannot take back the marine resources that China has destroyed in the WPS. Habulin natin ang Tsina sa utang nila. Huwag nating sanaying naabswelto na lang sila palagi sa mga pang-aabuso nila sa ating bansa,” said Hontiveros. (We cannot take back the marine resources that China has destroyed in the WPS. Let us demand payment for China’s debt. Let us not let them be used to being absolved in their abuses to our country.) “Hinaharass na nga nila ang ating mga mangingisda, sinisira pa ang ating likas-yaman (They are harassing our fishermen and destroying our natural resources). Let’s not allow China to get away with this,” she added. Hontiveros pointed out that Filipinos have the legitimate right to demand reparations, noting the payment made by Japan for the destruction of Manila during World War II and the payment made by the United States in 2015 after the minesweeper ship USS Guardian gashed corals around the Sulu Sea in 2013. “We have to find a way to make China pay. Kung ang ibang bansa nagbayad, bakit ang China, hindi? Dahil sa ‘special relationship’ na naman ba? Huwag na nating hayaang lumobo pa ang kanilang utang dahil sa huli, ang Pilipinas at ang Pilipino na naman ang lugi,” she also said. (We have to find a way to make China pay. If other countries have paid for reparations, why can’t China? Is it because of a “special relationship” again? Let us not let their debts swell further because in the end, the loss will be on the Philippines and Filipinos.) – INQUIRER.net
109 killed on roads in seven days of Tết holiday
A total of 109 people were killed and 123 injured in traffic accidents across the country during seven days (February 10-16) of the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday, the Ministry of Public Security’s Traffic Police Department has announced. This is a reduction of 8 per cent in fatalities, 18 per cent in injuries and 29.3 per cent in accidents compared to the previous year, respectively, it said. There were two serious traffic accidents in the Central Highland province of Gia Lai and central Bình Định Province, killing seven people and leaving three others seriously injured. According to the department, most of the accidents occurred between 12am and 4pm and from 6pm to 10pm when people travel for the gatherings during the holiday. The department also said that the national traffic police force found more than 16,750 traffic violations, seized 101 cars and 4,642 motorcycles, and revoked the driving licences of 1,930 people. In the first four days of the holiday, the number of vehicles travelling on roads in big cities increased, but few traffic jams were reported. In Hà Nội, Ring Road 3, the National Highway No1, No32 and the expressways connecting Hà Nội, Hải Phòng, Quảng Ninh, Lạng Sơn, Thái Nguyên, Lào Cai, were crowded with vehicles moving slowly but no serious congestion. The traffic situation in the inner city was stable. In HCM City, commuters travelling by buses increased but more people were stopped for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Dr Phạm Vũ Hùng from Việt Nam-Germany Friendship Hospital’s Emergency Department said between February 9 and 15, 49 people were treated in hospital as a result of drink-related traffic accidents. Last year’s number was 39. Hùng said only on Tuesday, five cases patients were transferred from local hospitals because of their severe symptoms. “Brain injury victims of traffic accidents are difficult to treat, and even more difficult when patients consumed alcohol and infatuated as it would be unable to determine the extent of damage," he said. Figures from the Ministry of Health showed that hospitals across Việt Nam received 4,001 emergency cases during the first six days of Tết. Of that, 1,855 cases were serious and six deaths were reported. Hospitals and health clinics also announced more than 16,500 new-borns babies over the holiday period. – Viet Nam News
Drive to vaccinate front liners in provinces
The Health Ministry has embarked on a drive to train doctors and health workers from provinces on vaccination procedures so that they can train others to administer jabs to at-risk frontline workers, especially in the border areas. Ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine said yesterday that 90 health staff from the provinces were given training for two days, Tuesday and yesterday, at the Preah Kosomak Hospital and the National Center for Maternal and Child Health in Phnom Penh. “Now we are preparing doctors and medical staff to be able to administer vaccine doses in provinces near the borders,” she said. Vandine said the reason why the Ministry of Health is focusing on the provinces is because COVID-19 cases have been detected among the large numbers of migrant workers returning from abroad. She said the trained health officials will return to their respective provinces and train their colleagues so that frontline workers will be able to be vaccinated. However, Vandine could not provide a timeline on when this would be done and said the ministry would provide more details at a later stage. The Ministry of Health yesterday also assured the public that scientists around the world have declared that vaccines being used to fight the pandemic are effective against new variants such as the United Kingdom strain which was discovered in three foreigners who flew into the country recently. Vandine gave the assurance after two Indians and a Chinese national were found to be infected with the UK strain known as B.1.1.7. The Indians flew into the Kingdom on a transit flight through Singapore last Wednesday while the Chinese national arrived via South Korea on Sunday. Vandine said the UK virus strain can spread much faster and is more virulent that the previous one. “Although the virus has mutated from the older version, scientists have said that vaccines which have been approved for global use are effective against it,” she said. Vandine also urged the public to be wary about new COVID-19 variants and help prevent them from entering or spreading in Cambodia. “This new virus strain is highly infectious and spreads rapidly, so please do not be careless and ignore the possibility of an invasion. We do not know if one day this new virus strain will spread into the community or not,” she said. Vandine said that efforts to stop such an invasion from happening depend on strictly implementing the Health Ministry’s measures. “Although, we require all passengers who enter Cambodia to be quarantined, if there is a positive case the person does not quarantine properly there will be a risk of community transmission,” she added. – Khmer Times
Mandalay region minister charged with incitement for proclaiming anti-coup ‘holiday’
Mandalay region’s ousted minister for natural resources and environmental conservation was charged with incitement on Wednesday for proclaiming every day a holiday until the government elected last year is allowed to assume power. Myo Thit, who like other ministers was forced out of office when the military staged a coup on February 1, was charged under section 505b of the Penal Code at Chan Aye Thar Zan township court in Mandalay, according to his lawyer, Moe Swe. The deputy administrator from the General Administration Department of Chan Aye Thar Zan township opened the case against the minister, he added. The first hearing in the case will be held on Thursday. “Tomorrow, the court will be hearing from the plaintiff. [Myo Thit] will also need to have a medical check-up as part of our application for his release on bail, as he is not healthy,” the minister’s lawyer said, adding that his client suffers from a bone-related condition. Section 505b of the Penal Code makes it illegal to issue “any statement, rumour or report” likely to induce members of the public to “commit an offence against the state”. It is punishable by up to two years in prison, a fine, or both. Since seizing power, the newly installed military junta has issued a number of amendments to the Penal Code and other colonial-era laws, broadening the definition of crimes against the state. The move appears to be aimed at suppressing a growing civil disobedience movement spearheaded by public employees and supported by elected officials. A number of other government ministers have also signed bills proclaiming an indefinite period of public holidays, in an effort to encourage civil servants to continue with their walkouts until the ruling junta gives up power. On Tuesday, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Shan state’s minister for planning and finance, Soe Nyunt Lwin, who is also the spokesperson for the Shan state cabinet, under section 505b. Warrants for incitement have also been issued against 17 lawmakers who formed the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, a parallel government that aims to deny legitimacy to the new regime. – Myanmar NOW
State revenues from Indonesian sailors projected to reach Rp151 T
The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment expects state revenues from Indonesian sailors employed abroad to reach Rp151.2 trillion a year. The figure is based on the average monthly salaries of 1.2 million Indonesian sailors serving on foreign ships and earning US$750 (Rp10.5 million) for a period of 12 months, deputy for maritime and energy sovereignty coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Basilio D. Araujo, said during an online press conference here on Wednesday. "In general, our sailors work for commercial ships where they earn good salaries of above US$500, US$3,000, up to US$5,000. If the average monthly salary of sailors working for commercial ships and fishing ships is US$750, then the contributions from our 1.2 million maritime workers or sailors for 12 months will be an estimated Rp150 trillion," he said. Indonesia is a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council. It is the world's third largest supplier of sailors next to China and the Philippines. In addition, Indonesia is the world's fourth largest supplier of officers. In terms of crew (other than skippers and officers), Indonesia is ranked third in the world. In the fishery sector, Indonesia is listed as the world's largest supplier of fishery workers, including those employed at high seas and those employed in other countries as resident sailors, Araujo said. "With the potential, I think our country has no reason not to pay special attention to our sailors working abroad," he remarked. – AntaraNews.Com