These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Some S'pore firms ask all staff to work from home amid spike in Covid-19 community cases
Some firms are asking all employees who are able to do so to work from home as a precautionary measure amid a spike in Covid-19 community cases here. On Tuesday (May 4), the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19 reduced the cap on employees in the workplace to 50 per cent of those able to work from home from May 8 to May 30, down from the current 75 per cent. The updated guidance comes four days after it told firms last Friday to allow workers to work from home as far as possible. Since Monday, working from home has become the default arrangement for employees of Senoko Energy who are able to telecommute, and all of them are now doing so, said Ms Joey Kwek, the firm's senior vice-president of human resources and corporate services. About a third of Senoko's more than 340 employees can telecommute, while the rest are essential workers who are required to work on-site. Before this, those who can work from home had returned to the office for about three days a week. Changi Airport Group (CAG), which had initially planned to bring staff back to the office for two days a week from this month, has put on hold this requirement till the end of the month, said a CAG spokesman. Instead, staff will be working from home where possible. Last month, staff had been returning to the office on one fixed day per week. In response to queries, the Public Service Division said it will continue to align its guidelines for public agencies' workplace arrangements with the national guidelines. No noticeable drop in crowds was observed on public transport and in Raffles Place on Wednesday when The Straits Times was there around lunchtime. But food and beverage outlets in the Central Business District said they have seen a drop in sales this week, and are bracing themselves for a further slump in business in the coming weeks as more workers remain at home from May 8. – The Straits Times
Kelantan Sultan expresses concern over drastic rise of Covid-19 cases
Sultan of Kelantan Sultan Muhammad V expressed his concern over the drastic increase of Covid-19 cases in the state of late. His senior private secretary Datuk Nik Mohd Shafriman Nik Hassan said the Ruler was worried to see an increase from two digits to 400 cases almost daily since the middle of last month. "The Sultan is really upset upon seeing many locals still taking the matter lightly especially on the Movement Control Order's (MCO) standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the National Security Council. "Sultan Muhammad V urges Kelantan people to adhere to the MCO's SOP accordingly and take this (issue) seriously," he said in a statement. Nik Shafriman said the Sultan had stressed on the role of all quarters in the battle against the pandemic, which he described as important by reminding the people to wear their face masks; always practise physical distancing and maintain good hygiene. "Sultan Muhammad V is also worried after learning that the (bed) capacity at the Intensive Care Units (ICU) in Kelantan has almost reached its maximum and this has impacted the existing ICU's patients, forcing them to be moved to normal wards. "The state government has to open a field hospital at Padang Perdana to cope with the rising number of patients and this reflects the gravity of the Covid-19 situation in the state. "On the spread of the South African variant B.1.351 which was detected in Kelantan as a result of interstate travels, the Ruler urged all quarters especially the people, outsiders, and personalities not to cross the state border unless it is an emergency," he said. Nik Shafriman said Sultan Muhammad V also suggested for traders to prioritise digital platforms to conduct their business. "The Sultan expresses his hope that the Kelantan people will work together in protecting their families and those around them as well as take note of the sacrifice of the Health Ministry's staff to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the state especially with Hari Raya Aidilfitri just around the corner," he said. Nik Shafriman said Sultan Muhammad V expressed his appreciation to all Health Ministry staff who had given their all to fight the coronavirus and treat the sick. "Lastly, the Sultan urges all Muslims to continue praying to Allah in the last week of Ramadan so that the Covid-19 transmission can be curbed as soon as possible," he added. – New Straits Times
Govt unveils B225bn relief plan
The government will hand out 7,000 baht each for four million people with high purchasing power and launch a new phase of "Khon La Khrueng" co-payment scheme as part of a new relief package worth 225 billion baht. The total sum is aimed, through various schemes, to help 51 million people affected by the latest wave of Covid-19 which had claimed 318 lives with cumulative infections of 74,900 as of Wednesday. Under the new package which will go before cabinet next week, the government will launch a "Ying Chai Ying Dai" (the more you spend, the more you get) scheme to give away e-vouchers to people from July to September to encourage them to buy food, products and services through the government's e-wallet. Each person participating in the scheme can spend up to 5,000 baht per day. The e-vouchers can be used from August to December. Four million people are expected to participate. The scheme focuses on middle- and high-income people to increase local purchasing power. In addition, the relief package also consists of the 67-billion-baht extension of the "Rao Chana" scheme, an 18.5-billion-baht new phase of the "Section 33 Rao Rak Kan" scheme and other measures worth around 140 billion baht in total to assist people affected by Covid-19. The measures will likely take place from July until December this year. Under the Rao Chana scheme, an additional 1,000 baht will be given to 32.9 million eligible people each week for two weeks. The handout can be spent until June, 2021. Some 9.27 million members under Section 33 of the Social Security Act will be given an additional 1,000 baht each week for two weeks under the Rao Rak Kan scheme. The handout can be spent through the government's e-wallet app "Pao Tang" until June this year. Apart from insured people, state enterprise employees are eligible for the Rao Rak Kan scheme. The 140-billion-baht budget will be allocated from the one-trillion-baht emergency loan decree. Under this budget, almost 13.7 million low-income earners who hold state welfare cards will receive 200 baht more per person per month for six months (July-December). Another group of 2.5 million vulnerable people who need special assistance will also receive the same amount. For medium- to high-income people, the "Khon La Khrueng" co-pay scheme will be continued in phase 3 to give 3,000-baht handouts to people to buy food and other products with the government paying for half of the purchase. Some 31 million people are expected to participate in the scheme. Water and electricity bill discounts will be given to home owners and small enterprises from May to June. About 90 free units of electricity will be given to houses which use less than 150 units per month. For employees of private companies, the self-employed and farmers, the government will lend them 10,000 baht each with a monthly interest rate of 0.35% for a period of up to three years. The loans, totalling 20 billion baht, will be given through the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives and the Government Savings Bank. Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said about one million people would be eligible for the loan. They must be Thai nationals aged over 20 and must not receive salaries from government agencies or state enterprises. – Bangkok Post
DILG to prevent abuse on enforcement of arrest order for improper mask wearing
To prevent possible abuses by police officers in the enforcement of an order by President Rodrigo Duterte to arrest people who are not wearing face masks properly, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday it will be coordinating with the Philippine National Police and various local government units (LGUs). DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya acknowledged that abuses by police officers may happen as they enforce the President’s order. “That’s why we need to make the necessary coordination with the Philippine National Police and local government units so that we can safely efficiently implement the directive of the President and make the necessary guidelines so this will not also be abused by the police authority,” Malaya said over ANC’s “Headstart.” He said the DILG plans to sit down with the PNP hopefully this Thursday and then coordinate with LGUs given that they have different penalties set for people who wear their masks improperly. “I think the President was serious so we will have to sit down with the Philippine National Police hopefully today to determine the parameters of the national directive,” said Malaya. “We might have to talk to the LGUs, and of course the Philippine National Police, about the presidential directive, and we will have to reconcile, as I said, the presidential directive and the ordinances passed by the local government units,” he later added. Duterte on Wednesday night ordered the police to arrest people who are not wearing their masks properly, amid the recent surges of COVID-19 cases in the country. – INQUIRER.net
Quarantine period extended to 21 days: Health minister
The COVID-19 quarantine period in Viet Nam has been officially extended to 21 days. Mandatory centralised quarantine for entries into the country and direct contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases will be extended from the current 14 days to 21 days, and the new regulation takes effect from Wednesday, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long announced on Wednesday afternoon. The decision was made after consultation with epidemiologists and virologists in light of new variants of the virus prompting revisions to our knowledge of disease incubation time, he said. The new protocol aims to “protect the community from the spread of coronavirus” amid recent cases found positive following the completion of 14-day quarantine, Long said. The health minister requested local health departments and centres for disease control to strictly comply with centralised quarantine protocols to avoid cross-infection within quarantine facilities and transfer people who have completed centralised quarantine to the authorities in their residence. The follow-up medical observation period at home for those who have completed centralised quarantine will be cut from two weeks to seven days. People who return from quarantine facilities should make daily health declarations with local medical workers. If they show signs of fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, tiredness or loss of taste, they must go to the closest health clinic for guidance, a dispatch from the health ministry from earlier this morning, which still put the quarantine period at 14-day but provided tightened regulations, said. They are not allowed to leave their houses or places of residence. If they need to go out for work or other necessary purposes, they must report to local police and medical staff and strictly follow basic prevention measures. Health minister Long also requested all localities to review cases of foreigners entering Viet Nam and screen high-risks groups of people like those in service sectors like at discotheques, bars, karaoke bars, and massage parlours for COVID-19. He also called on the public for strict observance of basic prevention and control measures like 5K – Khau trang (face mask), Khu khuan (disinfection), Khoang cach (distance), Khong tu tap (no large gatherings), and Khai bao y te (health declaration). Previously, in late April, a Vietnamese national returning from Japan has found to be infected with the virus after finishing 14-day centralised quarantine and caused a cluster of infections in the northern province of Ha Nam. Yesterday, an Indian expert in Ha Noi was confirmed to be carrying the virus after 14 days of quarantine. – Viet Nam News
Mandatory face mask use in additional three provinces
The Ministry of Health has made it mandatory for people in Kampong Speu, Takeo and Kampong Cham provinces to wear face masks at all times in public areas following an increase in new COVID-19 cases. In a statement signed and issued by the Health Minister Mam Bun Heng yesterday, it said is also mandatory for people to adhere strictly to social distancing. This new directive came into force effective yesterday until further notice. The ministry has asked competent authorities at all levels to take measures to ensure the mandatory mask-wearing and safety distancing are adhered to at all times to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing were earlier imposed on Phnom Penh and the provinces of Preah Sihanouk, Kandal, Prey Veng, Siem Reap, Svay Rieng and Banteay Meanchey. The mask-wearing mandatory is outlined in the Prakas dated April 22. Ministry spokesman Hok Kimcheng said that the mandatory wearing of masks is applied only in high-risk provinces where the number of community infection cases is increasing. “This is a measure to prevent the transmission of new cases in the communities,” he added. According to the Prakas, those caught not wearing a facemask in a place where there are only two people will initially be let off with a warning but if the same person commits the same offence the second time, then he or she will be fined 200,000 to one million Riel (roughly $50 to $250). Those who do not practise social distancing will also be fined. Kimcheng said that the ministry was closely monitoring the situation in other provinces and if there is an increase in new cases, then that province would also have to adhere to the mandatory facemask wearing. Cambodia registered 16,971 COVID-19 cases of whom 6,019 are still in hospital. There were 110 fatalities. – Khmer Times
ANP chair says party may end its association with junta
One of the few political parties in Myanmar to recognize the regime that was formed after the February 1 coup says it is now reconsidering its association with the ruling military council. The Arakan National Party (ANP) no longer believes that working with the junta serves the interests of the Rakhine people, its chair, Tha Tun Hla, told Myanmar Now on Tuesday. At issue, he said, is the failure of the regime, which calls itself the State Administration Council (SAC), to grant the ANP greater authority in handling Rakhine State affairs. “Our demands were not met. We don’t think associating with them will be in the interests of Rakhine State or its people. So, members of our central executive committee have expressed a desire to end our association with the military council,” he said. One of the party’s senior leaders, policy board member Aye Nu Sein, joined the SAC on February 3, a day after the new ruling council was formed in the wake of the military takeover. The ANP held a central committee meeting later that month and decided to call on the regime to grant the party a leadership role in the state-level administrative council. However, the SAC has yet to respond to that demand, said Tha Tun Hla, speaking after a central executive committee meeting held at the party’s headquarters in Sittwe on Tuesday. He said that the party’s leadership is now discussing whether it should cut ties with the junta and is planning to meet again to make a decision on the matter. While the ANP chair was among those who expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s relationship with the SAC, others were more reluctant to suggest it was time to part ways. ANP spokesperson Pe Than said the party’s stance after the February meeting was simply to wait and see how the junta responded to its request for a more prominent role at the state level. It was not decided at the time that the issue would determine the course of future relations, he added. He declined to comment further on what decision the party might make when it meets again. The ANP was heavily criticized by the public and Rakhine civil society groups after one of its most prominent members accepted a position on the SAC. Days after Aye Nu Sein joined the junta, 47 Rakhine-based civil society organisations released a joint statement urging the ANP to distance itself from Myanmar’s military. The statement said that no political party, organisation or individual should be involved with or support an illegitimate administration formed against the people’s will. As party chair, Tha Tun Hla sought to distance the ANP from Aye Nu Sein’s “personal” involvement with the SAC. “The offer was made to her through an individual who is familiar with the military. The military didn’t make the offer to our party,” he said. However, he added, the ANP considered the offer a chance for Aye Nu Sein and the party to work for the interests of Rakhine people. Aye Nu Sein could not be reached for comment. Days before the military seized power from the elected National League of Democracy (NLD) government, the ANP said one of its MPs should be appointed as Rakhine’s chief minister as it won the most seats in the state parliament in last year’s election. However, the NLD’s vice-chair, Zaw Myint Maung, said it was unlikely that the president nominated by the NLD would appoint anybody from outside the party to be a chief minister. – Myanmar NOW
PEN, vaccination programs, incentives key for sustaining recovery
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, has detailed three aspects that are key for maintaining the momentum of national economic recovery in 2021. “The government has prepared several main strategies (to sustain national economic recovery),” he said in Jakarta on Wednesday. The first is continuing with the national economic recovery (PEN) program as the main instrument for economic growth in 2021, he stated. Under the PEN program, as of April 30, 2021, the government has disbursed Rp155.63 trillion, or 22.3 percent of the total fund, with a big chunk of Rp49.07 trillion flowing into the social protection program, the minister disclosed. The second aspect is accelerating the free COVID-19 vaccination program, which seeks to cover 181.5 million of the population to build herd immunity, he said. The program was rolled out in early January 2021, and covered healthcare workers in its first phase. Under the second phase of the program, which is under way, vaccinations are being provided to senior citizens and public service officers. “The government is also continuing to ensure vaccine stocks,” Hartarto said. The third aspect is that the government will continue to provide incentives to strategic sectors and several other incentives to drive economic growth in the second quarter of 2021, he added. The incentives include the government-borne luxury sales tax (PPnBM) for the automotive industry, and the government-borne value added tax for the property sector, he said. – AntaraNews.Com