Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Monday (Jan 9, 2023)

Malaysia:

* AGC plans to replace English text of Federal Constitution with BM version

* Najib’s petition to UN ‘entirely up to him’, does not affect the judiciary, says CJ

* Najib’s SRC case review to proceed as planned, says CJ Tengku Maimun

* Malaysia to raise umrah package price increases with Saudi govt

* M’sian Bar wants judges to be allowed to continue to 70, instead of 65

* Bursa Malaysia registers net foreign inflow of RM72.3mil on first week of 2023 trading

* Covid-19: MB urges Johoreans to get second booster, uptake rate still low at 1.9%

* Covid-19: M’sia detects 405 new infections, hospital utilisation rate at 72.8%

* Covid-19: New cases drop by 14.2% last week, says Health DG

* Seizures worth RM130mil made in police ops against contraband, wildlife crime in 2022

* Malaysia to raise umrah package price increases with Saudi govt

* Woman, 78, to spend first CNY with family as a Malaysian after getting citizenship

A dragon dance troupe practice their moves in Bogor on Monday, January 9, 2023, ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations on January 22. – AFP

Singapore:

* Singapore taking moderate approach to Covid-19 border measures; no surge in cases since China border reopening

* Woman who joined daughter in torturing Myanmar maid to death gets 14 years’ jail

* Man armed with knife arrested after taking cleaner hostage in Yishun

* Hong Kong reopening likely to push GDP growth above Singapore’s

* Six weeks’ jail for man in SG who had sexually explicit images, videos of children in his possession

* Tesla offers discount in Singapore on EVs in inventory

* Singapore MMA fighter Victoria Lee dies at 18

* Asian shares up, extending Wall St gains as US wages slow

* Oil rises as Chinese border opening spurs fuel demand optimism

Indonesia:

* Malaysian Govt looking into hiring of Indonesian maids digitally, says PM

* It’s mix and match – The revival of Indonesian traditional fabrics among the youth

* Jokowi flags cabinet changes as Indonesia coalition ties sour

* Malaysia pledges to invest in Indonesia’s new capital

* Indonesia’s Mount Merapi volcano erupts, forcing evacuation of hundreds

* Anwar: Malaysia, Indonesia agree to strengthen protection of migrant workers

* PM Anwar receives ceremonial welcome at Indonesia’s National Palace in Bogor

* Emerging markets – Asian FX gains on optimism over China reopening, smaller Fed hikes

Travellers from a Xiamen Airlines flight are greeted by Thai health and government officials as they arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on Monday, January 9, 2023, as China removed Covid-19 travel restrictions. China lifted quarantine requirements for inbound travellers on Sunday, ending almost three years of self-imposed isolation even as the country battles a surge in Covid cases. – AFP

Thailand:

* With high hopes, Thailand welcomes Chinese tourists’ return

* Thai beauty queen says no bias from new owner of Miss Universe

* Thailand rescinds requirement for visitors to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination

* Thailand reviewing two-jab entry rule after warning from Phuket

* Trawler sinks in Gulf of Thailand sparking navigation warning

* The price of freedom: Thailand’s last gorilla stuck in the horror zoo

* Most Thais expect political chaos to persist as election looms

* Thai exchanges adjust rules before new system launch

Philippines:

* Tens of thousands flock to Manila for Black Nazarene feast as Covid-19 rules eased

* Philippine energy chief vows full support on cooperation with China

* Philippines’ Marcos new defence minister is the man they call the Covid tsar

* Philippines names new defence secretary

* Philippines plans to import 22,000 tonnes of onions after price surge

* Marcos on Feast of Black Nazarene: Faith can conquer looming storms

* Going the extra mile for walk of faith in the Philippines

Catholic devotees raise their hands during mass outside Quiapo Church to celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila on Monday, January 9, 2023. – AFP

Vietnam:

* Air pollution recorded at “very unhealthy” levels in Vietnam; entire population likely affected

* AFF Cup 2022: Favourites Vietnam and Indonesia vie for berth in finals

* Vietnam 2022 trade surplus at US$12.4 billion, says customs dept

* Work started on first public bike service station in Vietnam capital Hanoi

* Vietnam strengthens Covid-19 measures as Lunar New Year approaches

* Down side of wind power harness in Vietnam

Myanmar:

* Myanmar national suspected of killing cousin arrested in Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan

* Asean needs to look beyond Myanmar’s Five-Point consensus: Jakarta Post contributor

* Nearly 200 Rohingya refugees land in Indonesia in latest boat arrival

* Prisoner killed, dozens wounded in jail riot

Vietnam’s Nguyen Quang Hai, celebrates with his teammate during semi final match between Vietnam and Indonesia at the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 semi-final football at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, Malaysia, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. – AP

Cambodia:

* Cambodia rolls out sixth Covid-19 vaccination

* Tax break for Cambodia’s textile-linked industries to stay till 2025

* Cambodian leader warns rivals face ‘legal action or sticks’

Laos:

* Inflation jumps to new high of 39.27 per cent in December

* Laos sees three percent growth in agriculture sector in 2022

Brunei:

* Meat without Halal import permit confiscated in raid by Brunei Customs

* Fallen tree damages parked cars

A woman wearing a face mask walks past a Chinese Year of the Rabbit decoration at a shopping mall ahead of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. – AP

AseanPlus:

* China holds large-scale joint strike drills aimed at Taiwan; 57 warplanes fly toward island

* China welcomes back international travellers on quarantine-free travel

* Almost 90% of people in China’s Henan province infected with Covid: official

* Hong Kong scraps contact tracing app that raised privacy concern

* Japan culls nearly 10 million birds as avian flu rages

* Pandemic cooking boom sharpens Japan knife sales

* Only 48 survivors of Nanjing Massacre remain

* Excitement as borders open between China and Hong Kong

* Australian dollar hits four-month high, breaks major resistance

* CES 2023: Smelling, touching take centre stage in metaverse

* Australia PM pledges aid on visit to flood-ravaged northwest

* Hong Kong stresses pro-crypto stance as industry reels

* Alibaba’s Ant Group changes shareholders’ voting rights

* India to lose fastest-growing major economy title

* Multinationals attracted to evolving Chinese market

* China reopening a boon to Australia economy

* World Bank to warn of global recession risk in coming report

* Kishida to debate government, BoJ roles – PM to address policies with new central bank head

* Falling US satellite sparks emergency phone alert in South Korea

* Tesla faces protests in China from owners unhappy over price cuts