These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Search for Singapore's best customer service providers kicks off
Providing outstanding customer service can really make a difference, whether you are a bricks-and-mortar business or an e-commerce one, noted research firm Statista.
From March 8 to April 14, The Straits Times and Germany-based firm Statista are looking for organisations that provide the best customer service in Singapore.
The survey invites consumers to share their views on the best customer service providers here.
Covering categories ranging from bricks-and-mortar clothing retailers to restaurants, to beauty and wellness services, as well as online services and digital products, the list of eligible companies was the result of extensive research by Statista regarding all sectors that are touch points for customer service.
To qualify for evaluation as part of the survey, companies must have had customers who bought products, utilised their services or researched information on them within the last three years.
For each category, the most relevant brands were included - according to factors such as reputation, the number of stores they have here, and the ability to make orders within Singapore.
"During the pandemic, the retail industry has taken a major hit, especially bricks-and-mortar stores... so in order to get back to business, customer service has proven to be a decisive factor," said Ms Jana Meusel, senior analyst at Statista.
Statista noted that customer service can be provided in several ways, whether it is via a consumer contacting a hotline, searching for a company's website online, or having contact with a staff member at a store.
"According to Statista's Global Consumer Survey 2021, almost one-third of customers in Singapore say they gladly pay for services that make their life more convenient... poor customer service is a relevant driver for consumers to stop doing business, whereas good service sells," said Ms Meusel.
Services with personal contact are preferred by around 30 per cent of consumers here, she added.
"This shows that personal contact is still an important factor, even given the digitally driven pandemic age," she said. – Straits Times
PM Ismail Sabri announces RM500,000 in funds for youth association activities
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today announced RM500,000 in funds for the Malaysian Youth Council (MYC) to organise youth association programmes and activities nationwide.
In announcing this, he said MYC, recognised by the government as the parent body for youth-based organisations in the country, has a big role in helping the government develop Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) youths.
"I am confident that MYC, which represents the voice of youths, is sensitive to their needs in moving together with the government towards enhancing the quality of life and wellbeing of Keluarga Malaysia," he said.
He said this when officiating at MYC's 71st annual general meeting here tonight. Ismail Sabri said youth organisation membership, which currently stands at 1.2 million or only eight per cent of the country's total youth population, should be increased through various activities.
He said the involvement of youths in various activities could encourage a healthier culture, among them through the participation of non-governmental youth bodies in relief missions for flood victims in Kedah, the Klang Valley, Johor and, more recently, the east coast states.
"I believe it is not recognition that they are after but, tonight, I wish to thank and congratulate all youth volunteers… you are all the youth heroes of the nation," he said.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said the government offered over 25 incentives that youths could benefit from under the 2022 Budget, among them the tablet assistance, e-wallet, insurance as well as initiatives such as 'JaminKerja Keluarga Malaysia' and 'PenjanaKerjaya'.
He said the government also provided a clear plan for youths under the 12th Malaysia Plan towards becoming a high-income country by 2025. – New Straits Times
Govt aims to control oil prices
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday urged the public to cut back on energy consumption, especially when using private cars, amid soaring oil prices. Gen Prayut said the government would do its best to cushion the impact.
His call came as the price of Brent crude oil went over US$130 (about 4,200 baht) per barrel in the early hours on Monday, surpassing the record of $128 in 2012.
According to ANI/Sputnik, the price of May futures for Brent was trading up 9.35%, to $129.06 per barrel at 12.28am GMT. At 2.06pm the price reached $130.3, it said.
Gen Prayut said the government has been monitoring the situation, and the soaring prices are a pressing issue the government will address as it finds appropriate measures to cushion the impact.
"We're urging everyone to help save energy as much as possible, especially in the use of private cars," he said. "We've already taken steps to address the rising prices, but what should we do if they continue when we have a limited budget?"
Earlier, the government decided to cut the diesel excise tax by 3 baht per litre, off the current 5.99 baht, until May 20 to alleviate the impact of high energy prices.
Relief measures to help cushion the impact are expected to be proposed at a National Energy Policy Committee meeting tomorrow.
Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the committee, headed by Gen Prayut, will mete out measures and propose them to the cabinet for approval on March 15. – Bangkok Post
French Navy eyes stronger cooperation with PH counterparts
The French Navy has expressed willingness to work with its Philippine counterparts at sea.
"We are ready to work with your forces at sea. We need to protect, we need to defend the freedom of navigation including (on) the West Philippine Sea,” said Rear Adm. Jean-Mathieu Rey, Joint Commander of the French Armed Forces in the Asia-Pacific (ALPACI), during his courtesy call on Philippine Navy (PN) chief, Vice Admiral Adeluis Bordado, on Monday.
PN spokesperson Commander Benjo Negranza, in a statement, said Rey's visit is in line with the scheduled March 8 to 11 port call of French surveillance frigate Vendémiaire (F-734) to the country.
"Rear Admiral Rey was accorded with arrival honours as he paid a courtesy call on the Flag-Officer-In-Command, PN, Vice Admiral Adeluis Bordado. The French Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. (Her Excellency) Michele Boccoz was present during the event together with the Non-Resident Defense Attaché of France to the Philippines, Col. Emmanuel Peltriaux; and military assistant, Lt. Eric Grauliere," he added.
The port call is part of the French Navy's deployment in Asia to contribute to regional stability, promote international rule of law, and develop cooperation among Asian countries.
Among the highlights of the visit were talks on maritime security, protection of natural resources at sea, and possible future exercise engagements, which Rey believes to be "good opportunities to improve the Philippine and French navies’ knowledge and interoperability."
Rey also expressed the French Navy’s intention to increase the level of cooperation with the PN, particularly with the scheduled deployment of their amphibious and training task force in 2023.
He even cited possible conduct of command patrols with partner navies in the region.
Meanwhile, Bordado thanked the French Navy for their continuing support to the PN. – Philippine News Agency
Health ministry proposes halting daily COVID-19 case update
The Ministry of Health has proposed to temporarily stop announcing new COVID-19 cases on a daily basis to the public amid case spike.
Currently, the ministry is releasing a daily COVID-19 update at around 6pm, with the primary focus being on new COVID-19 cases detected in the country with breakdown in localities as well as recoveries, vaccination situation, and death figures.
The proposal halt of the public announcements of the new cases is awaiting the final decision from the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.
As the number of new cases is only one among eight criteria to assess pandemic risk levels – which include criteria like the rate of vaccination coverage, ICU bed capacity, the number of COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen support per 100,000 residents etc. – it does not accurately reflect the actual outbreak situation and could cause public unease, the ministry said.
While new cases have been surging to record-breaking levels in most cities and provinces in the past month, new infections have mostly increased among the unvaccinated, especially those under 12 years old.
Patients in critical condition have also risen 37.6 per cent compared to a month before.
However, COVID-related fatalities remain at approximately 100 cases per day and are still below the healthcare system's capacity.
The ministry’s report also said the Omicron variant had been spreading rapidly, especially in Ha Noi and HCM City, and was overtaking the Delta variant. – Vietnam News
Amazing women: Female frontliners honoured for selfless service in C-19 war
In the more than two years since the deadly Covid-19 struck, women in the Kingdom have been at the forefront in the battle to help save lives, treat patients and control the virus spread. Today, their selfless response to the call of duty will be more than duly recognised as Cambodia joins the world in celebrating International Women’s Day.
Tributes for the sacrifices these women have made in the bitter fight to keep the virus at bay keep flowing in day in and day out from the man on the street to the government and NGOs but today will be a special and well-deserved honour.
Ministry of Health spokesman, Hok Kim Cheng said yesterday said that he is extremely appreciative to all women frontliners who have been fighting strongly against the Covid-19 virus and now the Omicron variant.
He noted that women health care workers are different from men who can travel far from home, stay overnights at hospital without second thought. But it is different for women who can’t travel about freely like men.
“However, amid the Covid-19 outbreak with Delta variant, women health care workers did not hesitate to stay overnight or travel far from home voluntarily,” he said.
He noted that being a frontliner as a woman is really hard, but they embrace the challenge to help people across the Kingdom just as a man would. – Khmer Times
Junta forces torch villages in Myanmar’s north amid internet blackout
A village in Sagaing Region’s Khin-U Township was almost completely incinerated on Saturday as regime forces carried out a series of unprovoked attacks in the area over the weekend, according to local sources.
In a statement released on Saturday evening, the Khin-U Township Information Committee claimed that the military had reduced almost the entire village of Dan Kone to ashes earlier in the day.
Local residents confirmed that around 80 junta troops had been raiding villages as they entered the area from neighbouring Ye-U Township.
“I didn’t hear about any fighting. The soldiers just arrived and started setting fire to houses. Everybody fled,” a resident of Shwe Yamin, the village next to Dan Kone, told Myanmar Now.
“They started by torching three houses at the same time,” he said, adding that Dan Kone was the first village to come under attack.
A member of a local defence force said the junta soldiers also passed through the villages of Ywar Thit Kone, Padat Kone, Kone Thar, Aung Thar and Te Kone Gyi.
“There weren't any clashes, but they kept attacking the villages. We’ve been retreating according to the conditions. We didn’t engage them at all,” he said.
The Khin-U Township Information Committee said it was unable to send photos of the damage because Myanmar’s junta had cut off internet access in the region.
The group, formed by activists opposed to last year’s coup, added that a five-year-old child had been hit by an artillery shell, and that displaced villagers were in need of emergency assistance.
Internet restrictions were imposed on 23 townships in Sagaing last Thursday. At least seven more townships in the region have since lost internet access as the regime moves to isolate areas where it is carrying out operations against resistance forces. – Myanmar NOW
Gov't's role necessary for handling gender discrimination: minister
The government's involvement in tackling gender discrimination is necessary, especially in terms of devising policies, to provide equal opportunities to women and men, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said.
"Economic reformation policy and education policy in a nation have become very important to create equal opportunity," she noted during the Women in Leadership webinar here on Monday.
To this end, the Indonesian Government has been providing free schooling to children up to 12 years to reduce the likelihood of a family with economic limitations having to choose between a girl or a boy to send to school, the minister said.
Social aid is also now mandatory for women family heads to guarantee its orderly utilization and ensure the aid is spent on what a family needs, she added.
"Women family heads tend to utilize social aid money for food or books for their children, so they do not use it to buy cigarettes and others," Indrawati pointed out. Moreover, the Indonesian government’s active role in handling gender discrimination can also be observed from the state budget composition that is currently prioritizing gender equality, she said.
"We create gender tagging to show if our state budget has shown affirmation toward equality," the minister explained.
Indonesia is one of the lucky nations because its government regulations are already paying attention to gender equality, the state treasurer opined.
There are still many advanced nations that do not care about this issue, she said. – AntaraNews.Com