These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Covid-19 measures for foreign workers in S'pore to be tightened after Westlite Woodlands dorm cases
Covid-19 safeguards for migrant workers will be tightened from Friday (April 23), after a new cluster of cases was detected at the Westlite Woodlands dormitory earlier this week. The multi-ministry task force said on Thursday (April 22) that this is to prevent potential "leaks" – involving new variants of the virus from Indian workers who have just arrived - into the migrant worker dormitories, though it stressed that there is no evidence that the recent cases at Westlite Woodlands are linked to the new Covid-19 strain from India. All newly arrived migrant workers from higher-risk countries and regions, including those with a positive serology result, will now have to serve the full 14 days of their stay-home notice (SHN) period at a dedicated facility, Second Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng said on Thursday. After clearing a Covid-19 test, they will be sent to the Migrant Workers Onboarding Centre (MWOC) for an additional seven-day testing regime, and clear another Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction test before leaving. Previously, some of these workers only had to serve their SHN for four days in dedicated facilities before being sent to Quick Build Dormitories serving as MWOCs for the remainder of their SHN period, as well as for the seven-day testing regime. Those with a positive serology result also did not have to serve the 14-day SHN period. Newly arrived migrant workers with a positive serology result will also now have to go through a rostered routine testing (RRT) regime, where they will be tested for Covid-19 every two weeks, he said at a virtual press conference. They were previously exempt from this. From April 29, recovered workers living in dorms as well as workers from the construction, marine and process sectors who are living in Singapore and who have crossed 270 days from the date of their Covid -19 infection will no longer be exempted from prevailing public health measures. They will be enrolled back on rostered routing testing once they cross the 270-day mark. If they have been identified as close contacts of Covid-19 cases, they will also be subjected to quarantine in case of potential reinfection, added Dr Tan. – The Straits Times
Malaysia's first sukuk in five years overwhelmed, asserts status as world's biggest market
Malaysia's first global sukuk issuance since 2016 has been an overwhelming success, with the US$1.3 billion offering oversubscribed by 6.4 times. The offering, which is the world's first sovereign US dollar sustainability sukuk, reflected strong appetite for Malaysian debt and asserted the country's status as a global leader in Islamic finance, economists said. The government initially targeted a size of US$1 billion but due to overwhelming demand, the sukuk was upsized to US$1.3 billion, the Finance Ministry (MoF) said in a statement today. The issuance comprised a US$800 million 10-year Trust Certificates and a US$500 million 30-year Trust Certificates. "The strong demand has also resulted in the lowest ever yield and spread for a US-dollar sukuk issuance by Malaysia, with the 10-year and 30-year Trust Certificates priced at 2.070 percent (T + 50 basis points) and 3.075 percent (T + 80 basis points) respectively," the MoF said. More importantly, the MoF said this demonstrated the market's confidence in Malaysia's economic recovery and growth prospects, despite a challenging past year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Both tranches have been assigned a rating of A3 by Moody's Investors Service and A- by S&P Global Ratings. The MoF said the sukuk was unique as its underlying assets were sustainable assets, being vouchers representing travel entitlement on Malaysia's Light Rail Transit, Mass Rapid Transit and KL Monorail networks. As the first sovereign issuance with such assets in a sukuk structure, the issuance sets a new benchmark and showcases Malaysia's global leadership in Islamic finance, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz said. This reinforced the country's position as the world's largest sukuk market, he added. "We are extremely pleased and honoured by the investors' vote of confidence in our maiden sustainability sukuk issuance, which also reflects their belief in Malaysia's strong economic fundamentals and solid prospects for growth," Tengku Zafrul said. Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd senior economist and head of research Firdaos Rosli said the warm response demonstrated ongoing strong appetite for Malaysian debt despite the spike in yields seen for local currency debt. This was evidenced by the cumulative foreign inflows in the local bond market during May 2020 till March 2021, amounting to RM53.9 billion, the longest monthly streak on record. "Malaysia continues to assert its position as a global leader in Islamic Finance and the world's largest sukuk market. Year-to-date, the total outstanding sukuk issued by Malaysia stood at US$286.8 billion or an equivalent of 39.6 percent of global total outstanding. This put Malaysia well ahead of Saudi Arabia's US$163.7 billion and Indonesia's US$100.5 billion sukuk markets," Firdaos said. Elaborating on the offering, the MoF said it issued via a special purpose vehicle, Malaysia Wakala Sukuk Bhd. Subsequent to a virtual roadshow covering Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the US, the sukuk attracted a diverse group of investors. The allocation was well-spread globally, with 55 percent of the principal amount of the 10-year sukuk distributed to investors in Asia, 33 percent to Europe, Middle-East and Africa (EMEA) and 12 percent to the US. Forty-six per cent of the principal amount of the 30-year sukuk was distributed to investors in Asia, 33 per cent to EMEA and 21 percent to the United States. By investor type, the distribution of the 10-year tranche was 67 percent to fund managers and insurance companies, 18 percent to central banks and governments, 14 percent to banks and one percent to others investors. For the 30-year tranche, 83 per cent was to fund managers, 10 percent to banks, four percent to central banks and governments, and three percent to other investors. – New Straits Times
Exhaustive checks for Phuket arrivals
Authorities on Thursday began screening people wanting to enter the resort island as part of measures to contain the spread of Covid-19. Provincial governor Narong Woonciew inspected the screening process at the Tha Chatchai checkpoint, the main point of entry by land, where authorities are stopping every vehicle. That operation will continue until the end of the month. Mr Narong said there were some problems in the early stages of the operation but reinforcements from the police and local authorities helped smooth the workflow People arriving from the 18 provinces designated red ("maximum control") zones must prove they have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine or have a Covid-free certificate following an RT-PCR test, issued within 72 hours of arriving. Those who have not received two doses of the vaccine or have yet to have the RT-PCR Covid-19 test will be required to take an antigen rapid test upon arrival, Mr Narong said. The test is free of charge for Thais as the National Health Security Office has absorbed the costs but foreigners must pay 500 baht, the governor said. To take an antigen rapid test, visitors must get out of their vehicles and use their ID cards to register, then receive a nasal swab test and wait for the result; the process takes about 45 minutes. If the result comes back negative, they will receive a Covid-free certificate valid for 72 hours. They then will be required to download the "Mor Chana'' mobile tracking app and register on www.gophuket.com before receiving a sticker from authorities. The screening process also applies to visitors who arrive via Phuket airport, Mr Narong said. He went on to say that about 10,000 people had visited Phuket every day during Songkran but the number had since dropped to about 3,000 a day as a result of the latest pandemic restrictions. Those arriving from provinces designated orange ("control") zones will have a body temperature check, must download the Mor Chana app, share their GPS location throughout their stay and register on www.gophuket.com, said the governor. When they reach their final destination on the island, they are required to report to local officials and follow disease control measures strictly, he said. The island has now logged more than 250 new infections since Thailand's third wave began. – Bangkok Post
Nancy Binay: Government’s COVID-19 response a ‘failure’
The response of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to the COVID-19 pandemic is a failure, Senator Nancy Binay said Friday, as she called on the government to admit its inability to solve the problems caused by the health crisis. Binay made this remark when asked if she agrees that the emergence of community pantries shows the government’s supposed failure to properly deal with the pandemic. “Yes. It is a failure. The government response is a failure and I think the government needs to admit na hindi niya kayang bigyan ng solusyon ‘yung problema (that it cannot give solution to the problem),” she said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel. “Tingin ko nga kaya tayo nasa ganitong sitwasyon ngayon kasi there is always that denial that there is a problem, there is always that move to downplay the problem. Paano natin bibigyan ng solusyon ‘yung problema kung hindi natin tinatanggap na may malaki tayong problema?” she added. (I think we are in this situation because there is always that denial that there is a problem, there is always that move to downplay the problem. How can we provide a solution if we are not admitting that there is a huge problem?) Binay said the government should instead “appreciate and welcome” efforts of the public to help with the pandemic response, adding that the country can only solve the problems caused by the pandemic “if we all work together.” But despite calling the government’s COVID-19 response a failure, the senator pointed out that calls for Duterte’s resignation would only further divide the country. “Siguro at the moment ‘yung ganoong panawagan would bring us more, parang it would divide the country more at the moment. Hindi natin kailangan ng ganoong division. Hindi natin kailangan ‘yung ganoong paghiwa-hiwalay. What we need right now is for all of us to work together,” she said. (Maybe at the moment, calls like that would divide the country more at the moment. We don’t need that kind of division. What we need right now is for us to work together.) – INQUIRER.net
Prime Minister leaves for ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his entourage left Ha Noi on Friday morning for the ASEAN Leaders' Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia. Made at the invitation of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, which serves as the current ASEAN Chair, the trip is the first foreign one by Chinh since he was elected Prime Minister on April 5 by the National Assembly. The meeting is set to take place at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on April 23-24, as the bloc is making efforts to build its community, respond to COVID-19, and address non-traditional security issues. Chinh’s entourage includes Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of Viet Nam’s ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Nguyen Quoc Dung. During his trip, apart from attending the meeting to discuss the Myanmar issue, ASEAN Community building, COVID-19 response, and the bloc’s external relations, the Vietnamese PM will join bilateral meetings with leaders of ASEAN member states to boost ties and talk about matters of common concern. – Viet Nam News
Government takes initiative in response to food shortage worries
As the lockdown covering the capital and Takhmao tightens, ensuring food supplies for citizens has taken precedence for the government, which has unveiled several initiatives to solve the issue. Yesterday, the local government issued permission for the Virak Buntham company to mobilise 64 trucks to deliver food throughout the capital. The trucks started operating yesterday and schedules for their stops throughout the city are available on its Facebook page. The company also put out a notice urgently requesting applications for drivers, an indication of how demand for delivery is rapidly rising in Phnom Penh during lockdown. The Ministry of Commerce also launched an e-shop on Wednesday geared towards helping residents living in government-designated Red Zones to receive their daily necessities. As of the time of writing, the e-shop – accessible at https://shop.moc.gov.kh – offers six items: instant noodles, canned fish, 25- kilogramme sacks of rice, soy sauce, fish sauce and water. The prices offered are below market norms, with a case of twelve 1.5 litre bottles of water selling for $4.50. At a typical market, bottled water sells generally at $.50 each for the same quantity. Penn Sovicheat, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson, said the goods are procured from vegetable production and aquaculture associations with assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. When the Red Zones in Steung Meanchey, Por Senchey and Toul Kork districts were announced on Tuesday, the Ministry of Commerce said it would ensure food was delivered to those trapped inside by providing a systematic sales service. Phnom Penh City Hall has said no private companies or transportation services are allowed to sell goods in these zones and only the Ministry of Commerce has the permission to do so. Sovicheat said that essential foods and goods would be sold by the commerce ministry, in cooperation with certain partners and added that the number of available products will be expanded. “The Ministry of Commerce will find the best possible way to coordinate these kinds of deliveries. We expect to find a possible solution soon,” he said. So far, he said the ministry has cooperated with Aeon, Chip Mong, Lucky, Bayon and Makro on procuring goods to supply to those in Red Zones. – Khmer Times
Myanmar’s military ‘a system of monarchs and slaves,’ defector says
An army major who recently broke rank has described Myanmar’s military as an institution rife with rank- and class-based discrimination, a reality that he said had made soldiers consider defecting prior to the February 1 coup. Major Hein Thaw Oo, of the Meikhtila-based Light Infantry Division (LID) 99, was the highest-ranking known defector from the military at the time of reporting. He abandoned the military after 20 years and joined the anti-junta Civil Disobedience (CDM) on March 24. A native of Magwe Region and a 2002 graduate of the 48th intake of the Defence Services Academy, the major had been stationed on the frontline in Lashio, northern Shan State. There, LID 99 – whose soldiers are among the military’s “shock troops” – is known to have engaged in brutal clashes with ethnic armed organisations based in the region. “In the military, for whatever reason, you’re always scared of anyone who has a higher rank than you,” Hein Thaw Oo told Myanmar Now. The major said that the military “alienated” anyone who questioned the institution or its practises. “It’s not just now, it has always been this way. If they don’t get along with you, you’re pushed aside. Not only that, you get in trouble,” he explained. Those who, like him, have defected from the military and police are largely sheltering in areas controlled by ethnic armed organisations. Hein Thaw Oo insisted there are more who want to defect, “from sergeants on upward.” “If you don’t believe it, go ask them. If you ask them if they want to get out, they’d get out, dancing,” the major said. The major said that he planned to undertake a temporary monkhood, and would later join a federal army to fight against the junta’s armed forces. Hein Thaw Oo told Myanmar Now that the suppression of public opposition at these demonstrations has been directly ordered by military strategists from the junta’s Ministry of Defence in Naypyitaw. Military officers consider protest sites to be battlefields, and ignore when lower ranking soldiers loot homes or commit robberies and extortion, he explained. “I assume they’re giving these orders so that they can let the soldiers on the ground just roam freely and do what they want,” the major said, adding that this was how the military treated conflict areas. Captain Htun Myat Aung, a 15-year veteran of Myanmar’s military and another recent defector, said the same. He was among those whom Myanmar Now spoke to who speculated that other soldiers were waiting to see the NUG’s next moves before abandoning the armed forces. “The military has been broken for a while. But they’ve instilled so much fear [in soldiers] that it would take a big spark that could combat this,” he said. – Myanmar NOW
Jakarta police bust child prostitution racket; detain 15
The directorate of general criminal investigation of the Jakarta Metro Jaya Police has uncovered a child prostitution racket run out of a hotel in Tebet, South Jakarta and detained 15 persons in connection with the case. "The Metro Jaya (Police) has detained several underage sex workers, jockeys, and several people who were caught red-handed and are suspected of being, or having committed obscene acts with, the victims, (who are) minors,” spokesperson for the Metro Jaya Police, Commissioner Yusri Yunus, said in a statement issued here on Thursday. Police conducted a raid at the hotel that was allegedly used for the prostitution racket around 11 p.m. WIB (Western Indonesian Standard Time) on Wednesday (April 21, 2021), he informed. "The modus operandi was to offer child prostitutes (to potential customers) by using social media applications," he said. Most of the 15 detainees are minors and are suspected by police of having been employed as prostitutes. "Of the 15 people, they are mostly children," Yunus said. Following the raid, a number of people, suspected of being pimps and customers, were also taken to the Metro Jaya Police office for questioning. Police also confiscated several pieces of evidence, including contraceptives, cash, cell phones, and laptops, during the raid. – AntaraNews.Com