Health
The Singaporean Ministry of Health reported the country’s first deaths from COVID-19 on Saturday morning, including one Indonesian national. Authorities confirmed that as of Saturday there were 385 COVID-19 cases in the country, 254 of which are still active. [The Jakarta Post]
With 89 new cases, Thailand saw its largest daily increase in coronavirus cases, taking the country's tally to 411. While 44 patients have recovered, the country has reported one death. [The Jakarta Post]
On Monday, Myanmar confirmed its first cases of the coronavirus after weeks of increasing scepticism surrounding the southeast Asian nation's claims of being free of the disease. [The Jakarta Post]
Malaysia reported its first two coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, including a man who attended a mass Muslim gathering linked to nearly two-thirds of the country's 673 infections. [The Jakarta Post]
Domestic Politics
Malaysia went into a two-week partial lockdown after becoming the worst-affected country in Southeast Asia. The PM assured concerned citizens that there is sufficient stock of essential goods for the country of 32 million people. Authorities have also restricted internal movement and closed schools, universities, and non-essential businesses. [The Jakarta Post]
The Indonesian government and the House of Representatives agreed to cancel national exams for elementary, junior high and high school students amid the coronavirus pandemic. [The Jakarta Post]
International Relations
Southeast Asian lawmakers urged Myanmar's military, the Tatmadaw, and the insurgent group, Arakan Army (AA), to protect civilians from an ongoing fight between the two factions in the country’s Rakhine and Chin states. The lawmakers demanded that both parties end all violations of human rights and humanitarian laws and allow aid to be delivered to those in need. These calls came amid reports that showed that least 21 villagers were killed and dozens of others were injured during a Tatmadaw aerial attack on villages in the Chin state’s Paletwa township. [The Jakarta Post]
The foreign ministers of Indonesia and Malaysia held a video conference on Friday and discussed the need for the two neighbouring countries to maintain close collaboration amid the pandemic. Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi later said on Twitter, “We agreed on the importance of strong cooperation between the two countries, both bilaterally and within the framework of ASEAN, in addressing COVID 19.” [The Jakarta Post]
On Monday, an Indonesian Air Force plane was shot at by a faction of the armed separatist group, the National Liberation Army of West Papua (TPNPB), while flying over the Serambakon district in Pegunungan Bintang regency, Papua. [The Jakarta Post]
Image Source: The Jakarta Post
