These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.
Stay informed with The ASEAN Post.
Covid-19 has undermined women's progress, says President Halimah, highlighting areas for change
The Covid-19 pandemic has undermined women's progress, and there are three areas that countries around the world can focus on to advance gender equality, President Halimah Yacob said on Monday (March 8). She called for governments to prioritise gender equality and place it at the centre of their development programmes and to ensure women have equal access to education and training and labour market information. There also needs to be greater, measurable improvements in the workplace such as narrowing the gender wage gap, added Madam Halimah, who delivered the opening remarks at the two-day Women of Our Time conference organised by South China Morning Post. Monday also marks International Women's Day. "(The pandemic) has affected women disproportionately and exposed them to greater vulnerabilities. This points to the need for more urgent and coordinated efforts to support women's development," said Madam Halimah. Governments need to establish effective national policies and implement programmes to better integrate women in the economy and society, she said. Widening inequalities weaken the social fabric, undermine solidarity, retard human potential and affect future growth. "It is also important to ensure women are represented at all levels of decision making, so that their voices can be heard, and their needs and aspirations are better reflected," she said. Women also need to be able to participate meaningfully in the economy with the right skills and capabilities and with the right access to jobs and opportunities, she added. Reports have shown how greater gender equality can boost economic growth and enhance productivity, she said. However, women must be trained beyond the traditional sectors where there is greater risk of job redundancy due to technological and structural changes as well as climate change. A key growth area to focus on is to get more women into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, said Madam Halimah. "The continued lack of women in these fields will put them at a disadvantage as they will be excluded from the many good careers, particularly as technology has become an important enabler in practically all aspects of our lives," she said. – The Straits Times
PM outlines measures for women empowerment in conjunction with International Women's Day
To encourage shared responsibility and enable women to increase work productivity, the Public Service Department and the Human Resource Ministry have been urged to look into the possibility of expanding the viability of working from home. Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this could be done by providing full salaries to those in the public and private sector who were caring for ill family members and to support wives with new-born babies. "Apart from that, I also ask that a study is conducted to see whether the facility to allow working from home can be expanded to women or men whose spouses have died. "This is to enable them to manage death related matters which normally takes a long time to be resolved," said Muhyiddin today. Muhyiddin said this in his virtual address to mark the 2021 Women's Day celebration themed "Wanita Bangkit Mendepani Cabaran" broadcasted on RTM 1. Muhyiddin also urged all parties to strive to provide safe work environment for women and to ensure that efforts to deter sexual harassment were in place. "There must be efforts to ensure all aspects of planning, implementation, monitoring and programme evaluation are done using gender analysis through a gender responsive budget. "The government has also provided grants to set up nurseries in the public and private sectors. Therefore, take this opportunity to provide this facility which will give multiplier impacts to many parties. "It is also important for women to be heard at higher levels and given a role as decision makers and rightfully, according to their own expertise to boost women leadership," he said, adding that the call was in line with the UNWomen celebration's theme "Women in Leadership: Achieving An Equal Future in A Covid-19 World. Muhyiddin said to empower women in the business sector, the government would provide an incentive in the form of business capital injection, called MyKasih Kapital. He said the incentive could be utilised in businesses such as e-commerce or dropship with a maximum capital of RM1,000 each for at least 2,000 qualified recipients. "We will also set up Skuad WAJA with the participation of women in the communities to provide psychosocial support and to heighten awareness of crime issues to stop violence against women and to strengthen general knowledge on women's rights," he said. – New Straits Times
Democrats lose stronghold in by-election
The Democrat Party has lost a major stronghold, conceding defeat in the by-election in constituency 3 on Sunday. About 9.45pm, after vote counting was completed, Nuchnapang Limdulpaiboon, director of the provincial election committee, announced the unofficial result. He said Ayasit Srisuphan of the Palang Pracharath Party came first with 48,701 votes. Second was Pongsin Senpong of the Democrat Party with 44,632 votes, followed by Sarawut Suwanrat of the Kla Party with 6,216, and Apirat Rattanapan of the Seri Ruam Thai Party, with 2,302 votes. The result has yet to be endorsed by the Election Commission. The March 7 by-election was held after the Constitutional Court on Jan 27 disqualified the incumbent MP, Thepthai Senpong, dealing a big blow to the Democrat Party. The court's decision followed the Nakhon Si Thammarat Court's ruling in August 2019, sentencing Mr Thepthai and his brother Manote each to two years in prison, with a 10-year ban from politics, for vote-buying during the election for the provincial administration organisation chairman in 2014. Mr Thepthai fought to keep his MP status on the grounds the case was not finalised. He and his brother are on bail pending a ruling from the Appeal Court, scheduled for March 25. The Constitutional Court rejected his argument, saying the ban ordered by the Nakhon Si Thammarat court meant he had not been qualified to stand in the last general election. Mr Thepthai's younger brother, Mr Pongsin, tried unsuccessfully to hold the seat for the party on Sunday. At Mr Thepthai's residence on Sunday night, the Democrat Party's election director, Chaichana Dechdecho, conceded defeat. He thanked constituents for giving Mr Pongsin more than 40,000 votes, considerably more than the 33,000 votes Mr Thepthai received in the 2019 general election. Mr Decho hoped the Democrat Party would make up a comeback in the next general election. Long before the vote-counting was completed, Thamanat Pongpow, a PPRP deputy leader, declared victory, with the party already leading in Chulabhorn, Cha-uat and Chalerm Phra Kiat districts, and trailing only in Phra Phrom district. He was accompanied by Mr Ayasit, the party's candidate. He thanked the people of Nakhon Si Thammarat for their support, before boarding a 7.30pm flight to Bangkok. – Bangkok Post
Gov’t target: COVID-19 vaccination for over 200,000 healthcare workers in 2 weeks
More than 222,000 healthcare workers in the government’s master list for COVID-19 vaccination are expected to be inoculated within the next two weeks, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Monday. “Right now, ang masterlisted sa amin na health workers are 222,783 health workers all over the Philippines,” Nograles said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel. “It looks like we’ll be able to complete this within a week or two. As far as the master listed health workers are concerned, now that we have both Sinovac and AstraZeneca, we’ll be able to complete these lists, names, healthcare workers who have been master listed whether or not they are senior citizens or younger,” he added. The Philippines has so far received a total of 1.1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Of this number, 600,000 doses are Sinovac vaccines donated by the Chinese government and 525,600 are AstraZeneca vaccines from the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility. This month, the country is still expecting to receive 1 million Sinovac vaccine doses procured by the national government. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the government is eyeing to vaccinate all health workers in the country by the end of March or until early April. – INQUIRER.net
Việt Nam issues new national strategy on gender equality
Việt Nam expects to see women holding key leadership positions in 60 per cent of state management agencies and local administrations at all levels by 2025 and 75 per cent by 2030. The target was set in the National Strategy on Gender Equality for the 2021-30 period recently adopted by the government. The strategy also defined a number of new goals for the country to further make progress in gender equality in various areas and fulfil its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The number of paid women employees in Việt Nam will increase to 50 per cent by 2025 and around 60 per cent by 2030, while the percentage of women working in the agriculture sector among all employed women will decline to below 30 per cent by 2025 and less than 25 per cent by 2030. The rate of female directors or owners of businesses is expected to reach at least 27 per cent by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030. The country also aims to reduce the average time women spend doing unpaid housework by 1.7 times by 2025 and 1.4 times by 2030 compared to that of men. By 2025, 80 per cent of women suffering from domestic and gender-based violence will be given access to at least one of basic support services, and the figure is expected to reach 90 per cent by 2030. The sex ratio at birth will be 111 boys per 100 girls by 2025 and 109 boys per 100 girls by 2030. The maternal mortality rate will drop to 42 per 100,000 live births by 2025 and below 42 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Gender and gender equality are planned to be integrated into curriculums at schools and pedagogical universities from 2025. The country will hold a month-long campaign for the promotion of gender equality and gender-based violence prevention and response from November 15 to December 15 every year. The Vietnam Women’s Union, the Institute for Development & Community Health (LIGHT), and the UN Women in Việt Nam jointly organised a virtual programme to celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8) and launch the campaign “For Women’s Smile” in Hà Nội, central Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, and HCM City on Saturday. The campaign aims to honour unyielding efforts of Vietnamese women to overcome difficulties and challenges, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, to contribute to the nation's development and prosperity. With the companionship of scientists, artists and social activists, it hopes to encourage the aspirations to rise up, overcome difficulties, increase the desire to learn and the creativity of women. – Viet Nam News
Some gym operators open their premises discreetly despite closure
After another new slate of gymnasium closures ordered by the government following the February 20 Community Incident, some owners have blatantly defied the directive by continuing to operate discreetly, especially in small streets that are away from the main roads in the capital city. Khmer Times team that went on the ground to investigate found that the operators were defying the COVID-19 order as they were hard hit financially with no other source of income or the outlets were owned by those working in the government such as in the police force. A check at a gym located around street 390-396 looked half-closed but a closer look found someone doing his workout inside the gym. Upon checking, it was revealed that the operator discreetly allows regular members to come in and do their exercise, well knowing it’s in defiance to the government closure order. A man in his 50s who is a frequent customer of the gym said that he is fully aware of the government’s order, especially with the spread of the coronavirus in Phnom Penh. “I am aware of the risk but I am already very used to my routine of coming to the gym to do my workouts and exercise every day. I find it very hard to suddenly stop and stay at home. I tried but the days I stayed home, I felt weak and don’t have energy, so I felt just doing stretching at home was insufficient,” he said, adding the gym operator keeps his premise very clean and only allows one or two people every morning and very strictly adheres to social distancing and taking temperatures. Another gym operator at National Road 2 allows people to come and exercise but the front shutter is only half-opened. Once you enter you can see many men and women using the gym equipment to do their workouts. One of the men at the outlet who identified himself as Eric said: “I am very used to my daily workouts and the order is good but people like me find it hard to stay home without exercising. I fear the closure can run into weeks.” He said that the gym he normally goes to every day, owned by a Chinese person, is closed due to the February 20 community incident. “I don’t think gyms can be as bad as supermarkets and other business outlets where many people frequent daily. I personally think that the government should allow gyms to operate as many of them strictly comply with the COVID-19 SOPs,” he added. He said the people who frequent gyms do adhere to social distancing and all they want is to keep themselves fit and healthy. – Khmer Times
Military deploys troops to public buildings around the country
Military troops were being deployed to hospitals and other public building in cities and towns around Myanmar on Sunday, in the latest move by the ruling junta to consolidate control in the face on ongoing popular resistance. Troops have been seen occupying hospitals, university campuses, and temple compounds in Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Bago, Tanintharyi, Mandalay and Sagaing regions and Mon, Kayah, Kachin and Rakhine states. In some areas, there were reports of public protests against the move, which comes after a week of deadly crackdowns that left dozens of protesters dead around the country. In Yangon, soldiers have occupied the city’s largest hospital, Yangon General Hospital, as well as Gandhi Hospital and Waibargi Specialist Hospital, medical workers said. Hospital officials were said to be in negotiations with military officers following public demands for the withdrawal of the troops by 7pm Sunday. However, it was unclear at the time of writing if this demand had been met. In Mandalay, witnesses reported that security forces were being deployed at Mandalay General Hospital, Yadanarbon University, Mandalay Central railway station, and other major public facilities, including government offices and the local power authority. Military personnel were also sighted at the famous Mahamuni Buddha Temple, one of Myanmar’s most popular Buddhist pilgrimage sites, according to local residents. Attempts to prevent four military vehicles from entering Mandalay Technological University with troops were repelled with tear gas and rubber bullets, leaving several people injured, witnesses said. One of the injured, 35-year-old security guard Kyaw Thu, had to be treated for injuries to his face and another was hit by a rubber bullet in the thigh. “Two teachers were also beaten. Now the soldiers are stationed inside the university. They were still firing shots when we had to leave the scene,” Kyaw Thu told Myanmar Now. – Myanmar NOW
Traditional market traders in Bali's Badung district get vaccinated
The Bali COVID-19 Task Force personnel have begun vaccinating traditional market traders in Badung District to prevent potential spread of COVID-19 among merchants and buyers. The local traders have been inoculated since Saturday as observed in Bualu and Jimbaran markets, Deputy Head of Badung District I Ketut Suiasa told journalists here Sunday. "Traditional market traders are in our priority list for COVID-19 vaccination because they interact with community members at the markets," he said. This vaccination program is expected to halt new clusters of COVID-19 in the district, he said, adding that the vaccination program would be continued in other markets. Indonesia’s Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno has recently highlighted the importance of vaccination program in Bali to revive the island's tourism sector. At his meeting with Bali Governor Wayan Koster on February 11, Uno said vaccinating 1.2 million workers in Bali's tourism sector would boost public trust in the world's most popular tourist destination. "We pray for Bali's immediate recovery. If the tourism sector can get revived, the economy will get back on track. Speaking of Indonesia's tourism, it will never be separated from Bali," he remarked. Indonesia has been striving to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic since the government officially announced the country's first confirmed cases on March 2, 2020. In winning its fight against the coronavirus disease, it has launched a national vaccination program. According the Health Ministry, it would take 15 months to vaccinate around 181.5 million people under the vaccination program. Since January 26, 2021, Indonesia's COVID-19 infection rate has exceeded one million cases. To attain herd immunity and free the nation from the clutches of the pandemic, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has stressed on the need for successfully administering the COVID-19 vaccine to the targeted population. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease has dragged Indonesia into serious public health and economic crises. Tourism has been among the severely-affected economic sectors in the country, and Bali tourism has been badly battered by the pandemic. – AntaraNews.Com