Singapore extends stay-home notice, Malaysia suspends travel bubble
Singapore has decided to lengthen the stay-home notice (SHN) period for travellers from higher-risk countries or regions to 21 days, instead of 14 days, in the context that the COVID-19 pandemic continues developing complicatedly, with the presence of many new variants.
Passengers at Changi international airport in Singapore (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Singapore has decided to lengthen the stay-home notice(SHN) period for travellers from higher-risk countries or regions to 21 days,instead of 14 days, in the context that the COVID-19 pandemic continuesdeveloping complicatedly, with the presence of many new variants.
Accordingly, the extended SHN will apply to travellersarriving from all countries and regions, except Australia, Brunei, New Zealand, China (including Taiwan, Hong Kong andMacau), from May 7 at 11.59pm. They will be required to serve their 21-day SHNat dedicated facilities.
Travellers from Fiji and Vietnam in the past 21 days beforearrival in Singapore will be subjected to a 21-day SHN at dedicated facilities,with the option to serve the last seven days at their places of residence.
The country also decided to tighten safe management measuresfrom May 8-30 to reduce interactions among social circles. One big change isthe reduction of permissible group size in social gatherings, from eightpersons to five persons.
On May 4, the nation recorded 17 new cases, including five locally-transmittedinfections.
Meanwhile, Senior Minister and Defence Minister of Malaysia IsmailSabri Yaakob said on May 4 that the Malaysian government will no longer allowtourists to travel between states that are under the recovery movement controlorder (RMCO).
He also added that the travel bubble for RMCO states will besuspended.
The country reported 3,120 new cases on May 4, raising thetally to 420,632, including 1,574 deaths.
On the day, the Philippines recorded 5,683 new infections –the lowest reported on a day since March 19. The total count reached 1,067,892cases.
Meanwhile, 1,763 new cases were seen in Thailand on the sameday, bringing the total number to 72,788. With 27 deaths reported on the day,the total number of fatalities in the country reached 303./.
The Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand on May 3 reported thousands of new COVID-19 cases, while Indonesia announced that it detected several new infections of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant in Jakarta.
Vietnam’s assistance for Laos in the COVID-19 combat was handed over at a ceremony held at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane capital city on May 4 morning.
Eleven cases of COVID-19 were reported during the past 12 hours to 6pm May 4, including one domestically-transmitted case, according to the Health Ministry.
Cinemas, gyms and stadiums as well as spas and massage parlours in Hanoi will have to close down as from 00:00 hours on May 5 due to complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in the capital city.
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
Passengers at Changi international airport in Singapore (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
