These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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With high Covid-19 vaccination rates, sufficient healthcare capacity, S'pore on track to further ease curbs this week
Singapore is on track to further ease its Covid-19 measures this week, experts say, as more people are vaccinated and there are adequate healthcare resources to care for those with severe infection.
Dr Noel Yeo, chief operating officer for healthcare services network IHH Healthcare Singapore, said: "About 75 per cent of our total population has completed full vaccination, while the numbers of new daily cases and hospitalised cases, including patients requiring oxygen and intensive care, are on the decline."
IHH Healthcare Singapore operates hospitals such as Mount Elizabeth and Gleneagles.
Dr Yeo said: "The Covid-19 situation in Singapore appears under control and (the country is) prepared for further increases in event sizes and capacity limits from Thursday."
The raised limits would apply to congregational and other worship services, cinemas, cruises and shopping malls, the Government had said.
Work-from-home requirements will also be eased, with up to 50 per cent of employees now working from home able to return to the workplace.
Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore, noted that public health measures are not being lifted all at once.
Measures such as mandatory mask wearing and border controls will still help to minimise transmissions in the community. - Straits Times
All eyes on Muhyiddin
All eyes are on Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today following reports that he would be resigning.
There is also the question of whether the ruling coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN) would survive past today or unravel in light of an alleged lack of majority support from members of Parliament.
Reporters who had been camped outside his home in Bukit Damansara earlier this morning saw him leaving in a Toyota Vellfire, with police escort at 7.42am.
The vehicle was later seen entering the ingress of the Perdana Putra complex here this morning, where the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is, at about 8am.
Muhyiddin is expected to chair a special cabinet meeting here, in which, the Pagoh member of parliament is expected to meet several top government officers.
It was reported yesterday that Muhyiddin will seek an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur near here to handover his resignation letter.
Members of the media, which have been camping outside of the complex, also spotted a vehicle carrying Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani entering the premises.
Another vehicle ferrying Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun was also spotted entering the complex.
Meanwhile, another group of journalists have been converging outside Istana Negara since 8am although the prime minister is only expected to arrive at about 11am.
Yesterday, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof told several media outlets that Muhyiddin had expressed his intention to resign following the on-going political turmoil triggered by the retraction of support from Umno towards him and the PN government.
Redzuan, who is also the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions), said Muhyiddin expressed his intention to resign during the party's supreme council meeting yesterday morning. - New Straits Times
Opposition targets 5 ministers, PM in no-confidence motion
The main opposition Pheu Thai Party will submit a no-confidence motion against at least five cabinet ministers to parliament, with the government's planned procurement of 8.5 million sets of Chinese-made antigen test kits (ATK) among the issues targeted for censure.
Deputy Pheu Thai leader Yutthapong Charasathien said the ministers are Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on and Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin.
Opposition parties were also discussing the possible inclusion of Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn on the list, Mr Yutthapong said.
However, Gen Prayut will be the primary target for censure over several issues including the planned procurement of two Chinese-made submarines, he said.
The move came after Gen Prayut put the brakes on the navy's controversial submarine procurement plan, citing the urgent need to divert funds to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. - Bangkok Post
32 Pinoys flown out of Afghanistan; more to be repatriated: DFA
A total of 32 Filipinos have been evacuated Sunday night from Afghanistan's capital Kabul while 19 more are set to leave amid the worsening security situation there following the takeover of Taliban insurgents.
In a statement Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it was making arrangements for the repatriation of Filipinos still left in Kabul.
"The Department and its Foreign Service Posts in the region and beyond are exploring all avenues of cooperation and are closely coordinating with governments and international partners to guarantee their immediate and safe passage," the statement read.
The 32 evacuated Filipinos are now in Doha, Qatar waiting for their flights back to the Philippines. - Philippine News Agency
Accelerate testing, detection of COVID-19 cases to end lockdowns soon: PM
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed the importance of accelerating testing and ‘filtering’ all COVID-19 cases out of the community during lockdown period in a bid to soon lift restrictions and restore economic activities.
He made the order on Sunday via a videoconference with cabinet members and leaders of 36 provinces and cities that are currently placed under lockdown in line with Government’s Directive 16, including major urban centres like Hanoi, HCM City, and Danang.
Chinh commended localities who have introduced additional measures “higher than Directive 16” earlier than required to quickly head off a surge of infections, depending on their specific situation.
With the efforts of all stakeholders, the lockdown for the last month has led to some initial positive results that lay the foundation for better outcomes in the future, but overall, the stated objectives have not been accomplished, the Government leader said.
PM Chinh noted that prevention and control measures are unprecedented so it’s better to be learning as we go. - Vietnam News
Area in Phnom Penh blocked after Delta cases detected
Phnom Penh authorities have decided to lock down a stretch of the concrete road in front of Kien Svay pagoda in two villages in Chbar Ampov district after several cases of Delta variant were detected.
The lockdown began on Sunday and lasts until August 24 to stem the spread of the Delta variant in the community.
The measure was taken as the medical team detected about eight cases of Delta variant in Kbal Koh commune’s Yok Bat and Yok Bat 1 villages.
All exit, entrance, and gathering were prohibited except emergency, according to the statement issued Sunday by Phnom Penh governor Khuong Sreng. - Khmer Times
Five police officers shot dead in attack on Yangon train
A group of unidentified attackers shot and killed five police officers on the Yangon circle line on Saturday evening, a striking train worker told Myanmar Now.
The gunmen rode the train and then launched the attack when it stopped at a station near Ahlone Township, the worker said on condition of anonymity, citing a railway police officer who is familiar with the case.
“One of the policemen shot back at the gunmen,” he said, though he added that none of the attackers were killed or captured. “Passengers and other people on the train were safe as they were asked to get off before the shooting happened, I heard.”
Lance-corporal Win Zaw Latt and three privates died at the scene, he added. Two corporals, Myint Htay and Kyaw Zin, were sent to the 500-bed Defense Services Orthopaedic Hospital in Mingalardon Township, he added. Myint Htay later died at the hospital.
Soldiers came to collect the bodies of the four police officers at the station and did not make any arrests, he said. No one has claimed responsibility for the killings. - Myanmar NOW
Religious, prominent figures should be role model in COVID-19 handling
Iwan Ariawan, epidemiologist from the Public Health Faculty of the University of Indonesia (UI), has expressed hope that religious leaders and community prominent figures outside Java Island and Bali would be able to become role models in handling COVID-19 pandemic.
High mobility of residents outside Java and Bali has become one of the factors leading to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the areas.
“Involve religious figures and local community to be role models for public,” Ariawan said here on Sunday.
The COVID-19 handling outside Java and Bali should be adjusted to the social condition and local cultures, according to him.
Hence, communication experts and sociologists who thoroughly comprehend the local community condition should be involved in handling COVID-19 outside Java and Bali.
The religious leaders and local community prominent figures should also be involved in edifying public, he stressed, adding the government should explain to them in advance pertaining to the reasons why public activity restrictions (PPKM) is imposed and the government’s plans in handling the pandemic. - AntaraNews.Com