The Diplomat, Indonesia, 10 February 2021 - From February 4-5, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin paid a visit to Indonesia, his first overseas visit since assuming the premiership last year. The interaction highlighted the ongoing efforts by both neighboring Southeast Asian countries to seek to advance their relationship in spite of various ongoing challenges.
Khmer Times, Cambodia, 9 February 2021 - Cambodians of all ages and sexes, crossing illegally or through international border checkpoints to return to Cambodia from Thailand, were accorded all pleasantries and assistance from the Thai border security officials.
Khmer Times, Cambodia, 9 February 2021 - While fears of an explosion of COVID-19 positive cases among migrant workers and other Cambodians returning from Thailand proved inaccurate, the number of positive cases increased by two to 476.
Foreign Policy, China, 8 February 2021 - t a time when every other major economy is shrinking, China announced in late January that its GDP grew 2.3 percent in 2020. Beneath that impressive achievement, however, lies a very unbalanced recovery: As in the past, Beijing relied heavily on state investment and a state-led push for higher industrial production, while private investment and consumer spending remained weak. Easy credit to fuel growth has likely formed even more so-called zombie companies with little prospect of future profitability and filled the books of Chinese banks with even more bad loans.
Khmer Times, Cambodia, 8 February 2021 - Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered all authorities and armed forces to tighten the COVID-19 prevention along the border with Vietnam.
The New Paper, Singapore, 8 February 2021 - Migrant workers are generally contented with their working and living conditions here, though some think their salaries are insufficient due to the high cost of living in Singapore.
Bangkok Post, Myanmar, 8 February 2021 - As a result of a military coup in Myanmar on Feb 1, many migrant workers in Thailand say they are reluctant to go back home, but a student said he and his friends are determined to study and return for the betterment of their homeland.
Radio Free Asia, Vietnam, 8 February 2021 - Cases of COVID-19 infection continue to climb in Vietnam following a new outbreak of the pandemic on Jan. 28, with 45 new cases discovered just in the last day, over 10 of them of them in southern Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, sources in the country say.
Malay Mail, Malaysia, 7 February 2021 - The Palm Oil Refiners Association of Malaysia (Poram) is offering to help the government combat the anti-palm-oil campaign currently waged by members of the European Union (EU) and Australia.
The Edge Markets, Malaysia, 6 February 2021 - Migrant workers might not be the source of cheap labour in Malaysia soon.
Bloomberg, Malaysia, 6 February 2021 - Malaysia’s government has kicked off a plan to temporarily house migrant workers in near-empty hotels across the nation to tackle the worsening spread of Covid-19 cases due to workplace clusters.
Free Malaysia Today, Malaysia, 6 February 2021 - An Indonesian migrant workers group has expressed concern over a possible cluster originating from Malaysia, following the high number of workers entering Indonesia illegally.
Channel News Asia, Singapore, 5 February 2021 - After returning home to Indonesia, former domestic helper Parti Liyani said she hopes her acquittal can inspire other migrant workers who are facing legal problems to never give up if they are innocent.
Malay Mail, Malaysia, 5 February 2021 - President Joko Widodo hopes to ink a new memorandum of understanding with Malaysia to protect Indonesian workers in Malaysia from falling victim to human traffickers.
VN Express, Vietnam, 3 February 2021 - She’s just two hours away, but the young woman is distraught because Covid-19 won't let her go home for Tet, the Lunar New Year festival.