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.
Household incomes rose in 2021 to above pre-Covid levels as Singapore economy recovered
The median household income grew last year in tandem with Singapore's economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, after it had fallen in 2020 for the first time in a decade, according to new figures released by the Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat) on Tuesday (Feb 15).
Last year, the median household income from work rose by 3.6 per cent in nominal terms, or before adjusting for inflation, to $9,520, from $9,189 in 2020 - surpassing pre-pandemic levels. After taking into account inflation, this works out to a 1.5 per cent increase in real terms.
The household income from work includes employer Central Provident Fund contributions.
Nearly all income groups saw increases in average household income per member, except for top earners, who saw a 1.1 per cent drop in real income.
Meanwhile, household income inequality fell to the second-lowest since 2000, after accounting for Government transfers and taxes. It had hit an all-time low in 2020 with massive Covid-19 reliefs. The median monthly household income increased last year, after it dropped by 2.4 per cent in real terms in 2020, as Singapore struggled to cope with the pandemic.
Last year's household income even exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Total household income stood at $9,425 in 2019, before falling to $9,189 in 2020 and rebounding to $9,520 last year. – Straits Times
More than 200,000 children have received first vaccine dose
More than 200,000 children, from aged five to 11, have received their first vaccine dose since the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) rolled out early this month.
Data on CovidNow showed that the total number increased to 206,748 or 5.8 per cent of the said group after 36,306 doses were administered nationwide yesterday.
Melaka is the state with highest vaccination rate among children at 14 per cent.
Sarawak and the Klang Valley are the other two with a vaccination rate above 10 per cent at 12.4 and 10.9 per cent respectively. The bottom three states with vaccination rates below two-per-cent are Terengganu (1.9 per cent), Pahang (1.6 per cent) and Kelantan (1.1 per cent).
Meanwhile, 56.8 per cent of the adult population or 13,373,479 people have been boosted.
Klang Valley has the highest booster rate at 81.8 per cent (5,016,512) while Kelantan and Sabah are among the states with low booster rates where only 20.8 per cent and 20.7 per cent of the adult population have received their third doses. – New Straits Times
Low birth rate worries experts
Thailand's falling birth rate is poised to wreak havoc on the economy and society, with experts saying the trend will see the country's workforce shrink and more senior citizens adding to the burden of their relatives.
Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha said the declining rate is threatening to unleash a host of problems, especially considering the nation's average life expectancy is set to increase, from between 70-80 at present to 90-100 in the future.
The problems, he said, range from labour shortages to social and economic malaise.
Mr Sathit said the solution may be to encourage people to have more children by promoting childbirth as a way to contribute to society.
"It's a long-term effort that we need to commit to, regardless of who's in charge of the government," he said.
The director-general of the Department of Health, Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoen, said the drop in population numbers can be traced back to a family planning policy which was first launched in 1970.
In 2019, Thailand's population grew by less than 600,000 people for the first time. Last year, the population increased by 544,570, bringing the country's total fertility rate (TFR) down to 1.3 – way below the global average of 2.5.
The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council said if the trend continues unabated, by 2040, children will only account for 12.8% of the total population, with the elderly accounting for 31%.
Dr Suwannachai said the increasing number of senior citizens will have an impact on working-age individuals, the numbers of which are gradually shrinking. – Bangkok Post
PNP intel group uncovers terror plot vs. Israelis in PH
The Philippine National Police-Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) on Tuesday announced that it has uncovered attempts by a known foreign terrorist organization to wage a proxy war in the country by recruiting Filipino subordinates who will carry out terrorist activities targeting Israeli citizens.
In a report to PNP director for Intelligence Maj. Gen. Michael John Dubria, IG chief Brig. Gen. Neil Alinsangan said a local contact of "Hamas", a Middle East-based Islamist militant group that played a major role in carrying out attacks against Israelis and Arabs, tipped them about the alleged plot.
"Our Filipino source identified the Hamas operative as 'Bashir' who was reportedly attempting to establish a foothold in the Philippines with pledges of financial support to some local threat groups including militant extremists with links to the international terrorist organizations," Alinsangan said.
Alinsangan, citing information obtained from coordination with their foreign and local counterparts, disclosed that Bashir’s real name is Fares Al Shikli, who is purportedly the head of Hamas’ Foreign Liaison Section.
"He has also an Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) red notice and is charged with an Offense of Terrorism Logistics Support," he added.
The report also cited that the source made several trips to Malaysia from 2016 to 2018, where he met with Al Shikli to discuss the possibility of mounting attacks against Israeli nationals in the country in exchange for financial assistance by Hamas.
It was in 2016 when Al Shikli started grooming him as a local contact in the Philippines and introduced him to theoretical bomb-making training in one of their meetings in Malaysia.
In late 2017, Al Shikli expressed his intention with the source to recruit Filipinos with links to local threat groups who will be utilized to kill Jews present in the country, conduct rallies at selected embassies, and spread video propaganda in exchange for financial support.
This is not the first time that Hamas has attempted to stage its activities in the country. In January 2018, an Iraqi scientist identified as Mohammad Al Jabori who is affiliated with the group was arrested in Pampanga.
He was later deported by the Bureau of Immigration. – Philippine News Agency
UK pledges support for Viet Nam to achieve COP26 commitments
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested the UK and development partners support Viet Nam in technology, capacity and finance so it can better realise its commitments in climate change and emissions reduction.
He made the statement during a meeting with the President for the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) Alok Kumar Sharma on Monday during his visit to Viet Nam from February 13-15.
The PM said Viet Nam considered climate change adaptation a difficult yet also a key and urgent task. The country has proactively joined the international community in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to climate change and considered this an opportunity to shift to a green, circular and low carbon development model.
Following COP26, Viet Nam has quickly implemented its commitment through various activities and is working to complete its legal framework as well as identify a specific roadmap and mobilise investment for climate change adaptation towards the achievements of the commitments made at COP26.
In the energy sector, Viet Nam is reviewing and completing the power master plan, promoting the strong development of renewable energy, shifting from coal to clean energy sources in an appropriate and sustainable manner, ensuring fairness and justice, he said.
The head of the Government said Viet Nam will have a proper legal framework to realise commitments made at COP26 and would need to mobilise resources due to the need for a huge amount of finance.
He suggested COP26 President Sharma continue to push the cooperation between Viet Nam and the UK and development partners in technology, capacity building and finance so Viet Nam can realise its commitments and global initiatives on emissions reduction, climate change adaptation, contributing to the sustainable development. – Vietnam News
Omicron threatens new normal, PP considers closing some businesses
Cambodia’s Omicron cases have quadrupled in a week of heavy blows and overwhelmed the Kingdom’s capacity to deal with the epidemic as daily cases surge to record highs, leaving authorities scrambling to control the deepening outbreak. Yesterday, official Omicron cases reported by the Health Ministry increased fivefold. Yesterday these jumped to 512 cases daily from around 100 weeks ago.
Experts are concerned that if Omicron still increases because individuals aren’t strictly implementing health measures it will affect the entire recovery plan, while Phnom Penh city officials are looking to close down high-risk businesses.
Health Ministry spokesman Hok Kim Cheng said yesterday that officials are keeping their eyes on the new surge of Omicron.
“Omicron runs wild unlike Delta and Alpha despite the mild health condition once people are infected but this works only for those who are at least fully vaccinated or even received the booster shot. For the unvaccinated, they might fall ill,” he said.
“While the confirmed cases are increasing, it is devastating to what the government has built for the country to recover from the pandemic. It will lead to a big outbreak and lockdowns, several businesses shut down, an unemployment crisis and so on. We were almost there (successfully transitioning to the new normal), but now the surge is happening,” he added.
Kim Cheng said: “For those who are under home treatment, they have to make sure they won’t spread the virus to others by following the SOPs. For those who come into direct contact with the patient, please observe yourselves for symptoms. No quarantine is needed as before for those who are fully vaccinated but for those who aren’t, please do so to prevent spreading the virus to others.” – Khmer Times
Japanese brewer Kirin to withdraw from Myanmar
Japanese beer giant Kirin said on Monday that it is planning to pull out of Myanmar once it has terminated its partnership with a military-owned conglomerate.
The company, which has been at legal loggerheads with its joint-venture partner, the Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL), since late November, had previously said it would remain in the country after ending the venture.
The decision comes more than two months after the two companies went to court over the terms under which they would part ways.
Days after Kirin threatened to take legal action to end the partnership, MEHL filed a petition to dissolve their joint-venture agreement.
Kirin hit out at that move, saying that it was an attempt by MEHL to “to take control of the liquidation process.”
Last month, a Yangon court rejected MEHL’s request.
Kirin announced its plans to terminate its partnership with MEHL soon after last year’s February 1 military coup, saying it was “deeply concerned by the recent actions of the military.”
In a statement released on Monday, the company said it has started discussions with MEHL to complete its exit from the joint venture and the Myanmar market.
“Kirin Holdings has committed to end the matter by the end of June,” said the statement.
The withdrawal will result in an impairment loss of 46.6b yen ($402m) in the year that ended in December, it added. – Myanmar NOW
620,784 children exposed to COVID-19: PPPA Minister
The Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Ministry has said that around 620,784 children, accounting for 13.3 percent of the total confirmed cases, have been exposed to COVID-19 as of February 11, 2022.
In a press release issued here on Monday, PPPA Minister Bintang Puspayoga appealed to the public to tighten health protocols to protect children as one of the vulnerable groups affected by the pandemic.
Children are very vulnerable since they can be easily infected by exposed family members, the surrounding community, and public places, she noted. Moreover, children still have limited knowledge and adherence to health protocols, she said.
Meanwhile, according to the data from the ministry’s Rapid-PRO PPA app, as of February 11, 2022, 35,722 children have been orphaned by COVID-19, an increase of 130 since January 23, 2022.
Temporary or permanent separation from their parents due to the pandemic will greatly affect the future of the children, the minister noted.
Hence, the ministry is ensuring that children who lose one or both parents are assisted by the local PPPA Office and Social Office, including in terms of necessity assessment, long-term care planning, monitoring and evaluation of their new environmental conditions, as well as service referrals, if necessary, Puspayoga said. – AntaraNews.Com