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Jumat, 28 Agustus 2020

PM Lee wishes Japanese PM Abe a 'good recovery' - CNA

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (Aug 28) said that bilateral relations between Singapore and Japan deepened under the leadership of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and wished him a "good recovery".

Mr Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, announced earlier on Friday his resignation, citing ill health.

Mr Abe has battled the disease ulcerative colitis for years and recently made two hospital visits within a week.

"I am sorry to learn that Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has resigned from office for health reasons," Mr Lee said in a Facebook post.

"I have worked well with Mr Abe for close to nine years. Under his leadership, our bilateral relations have deepened ... I wish Abe-san a good recovery as he begins treatment for his condition," he added.

READ: Commentary: Will replacing Abe leave Japan in limbo?

The last time both leaders met in person was in November last year, said Mr Lee. They also met online in April, during a virtual ASEAN Plus Three Summit on COVID-19.

Mr Lee said Mr Abe had also played a "critical role" in concluding the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) after the United States left the original Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.

Singapore and Japan are among the 11 parties to the CPTPP, which was concluded in January 2018 in Tokyo, according to information on the Ministry of Trade and Industry's website.

READ: Who could lead Japan after Shinzo Abe?

Speaking to CNA's Otelli Edwards on News 5 Tonight, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan echoed Mr Lee's comments on Mr Abe's role in the CPTPP.

"When America pulled out, it was Prime Minister Abe's leadership that got the other 11 members of the TPP to proceed. And now today the CPTPP brought into force, ratified by most of its members, is a compliment to the efforts and the leadership of Prime Minister Abe," said Dr Balakrishnan.

Dr Balakrishnan called Mr Abe a "very positive, constructive force" for relations between Singapore and Japan, adding that the Japanese leader got on "very, very well" with Mr Lee.

"We're sorry for his resignation and for the fact that he had to do so under pressure ... because of his health, said Dr Balakrishnan.

"We wish him all the best and hope he makes a full recovery," he added.

With additional reporting by Matthew Mohan.

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2020-08-28 14:03:45Z
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Malaysia to extend movement curbs to Dec 31, says PM Muhyiddin - The Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday that the country’s movement curbs will be extended to Dec 31, as the coronavirus pandemic isn’t showing any signs of ending soon.

In a national televised address, Tan Sri Muhyiddin said the recent worrying emergence of new clusters in several states and number of cases also led him to extend the recovery movement control order (MCO).

“Although we have handled the crisis well... in the interest of everyone, the government has decided that the recovery MCO will be extended to Dec 31, 2020,” he said.

The extension will allow the government to quickly handle outbreaks under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, he said, while Malaysians will continue to adhere to health protocols set by the government.

Under the recovery MCO that began on June 10, most businesses have been allowed to reopen as long as they follow protocols such as recording the temperatures of visitors to their premises and imposing social distancing.

Nightclubs and pubs remained shut under the recocery MCO, with authorities saying it would be impossible to ensure health protocols such as social distancing at such outlets.

The movement restrictions were originally slated to end on Monday (Aug 31).

Malaysia’s borders will also generally remain shut, with those flying into Malaysia mandated to undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine to prevent the spread of imported cases.

“Tourists are still not allowed to enter the country to avoid import cases,” he said.

Malaysia first imposed the movement curbs on March 18, forcing schools and non-essential businesses to shut down. People were confined to their homes except to buy food and essential items, or to seek medical treatment.

The strict stay-at-home rules bore fruit when daily cases began tapering, which led to the government starting the recovery MCO from June 10, gradually reopening many businesses and mass activities such as public worship and contact sports.

Malaysia on Aug 1 made it compulsory for everyone to wear face masks in crowded public places and on public transport, after authorities observed lower compliance to social distancing when it entered the recovery phase of the curbs.

“Due to face masks becoming an essential item in our everyday life, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs is discussing with manufacturers to reduce the price. If it’s fruitful, the price will be more affordable and can ease our burden,” PM Muhyiddin said in his speech.

Malaysia yesterday reported 10 new Covid-19 cases, bringing total infections to 9,306. The total death toll caused by the virus remained at 125.
The

Health Ministry has prposed raising the fine by 10 times to RM10,000, for those who break the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).

“I support the recommendation by the Health Ministry to increase the fine for those who committed an offence (under the Act), at least two or three times more than the amount now. But this needs to be studied first before the Act is amended,” Mr Muhyiddin said.

The proposal by the ministry came just days after Cabinet minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali breached the mandatory quarantine order following his return from Turkey on July 7.

Instead of being quarantined for 14 days like other returnees from abroad, he was seen on his social media postings going about attending functions with others including meeting other ministers.

This raised public anger as other Malaysians had been fined and even jailed, for violating the quarantine.

Malaysia's recovery movement control order extended to Dec 31, tourists still not allowed in: PM Muhyiddin - CNA

KUALA LUMPUR: The recovery phase of Malaysia's COVID-19 movement control order (RMCO) will be extended to Dec 31 and tourists will remain barred from entering the country, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Speaking in a televised address on Friday (Aug 28), the prime minister said even though the number of new cases in the country has fallen, the virus is still raging globally. The RMCO phase was originally scheduled to end on Aug 31.

"I am aware that based on global developments, we will go through a lengthy period before the country can be completely free from the threat of COVID-19," he said.

"For now, the situation is controlled. However, if there is an increase in cases in certain locations, the government will take a targeted approach by implementing enhanced movement control order or targeted movement control order, as previously enforced in several locations."

He added: "This means that the government requires a legal mechanism to continue efforts to curb and control the spread of COVID-19. Hence, for the benefit of you all, the government has decided to extend the recovery movement control order until Dec 31, 2020."

He also emphasised that no individual will be excused from these laws and anyone who breaks the regulations will be punished.

Mr Muhyiddin expressed his support for the Ministry of Health (MOH) to increase the fines for those who break these laws, to twice or thrice the current amounts.

The prime minister also pointed out that the extension will ensure all parties adhere to the standard operating procedures and health protocols that have been outlined.

He added that foreign tourists are still barred from entering Malaysia during this period to prevent the spread of imported cases into the country.

READ: COVID-19 virus mutation that is '10 times' more infectious detected in Malaysia: Health director-general

Almost all sectors have been permitted to resume their operations, except for night clubs and entertainment outlets, the prime minister said.

All sporting activities are permitted, sans the presence of spectators or overseas participants, he added.

As of Friday, Malaysia reported a total of 9,306 COVID-19 cases and 125 deaths. Around 97 per cent of the patients have recovered.

A total of 10 new cases were detected on Friday, the MOH said.

READ: Commentary - With COVID-19 under control, the worst is over for the Malaysian economy

The MCO, first imposed on Mar 18 to control the spread of COVID-19, was previously extended three times until May 12.

It was initially enforced when the number of daily new cases saw an alarming three-figure spike. Under the MCO, domestic and international travel was barred, and people were encouraged to stay at home to break the infection chain.

After six weeks of economic inactivity, Malaysia eased into a “conditional MCO” beginning May 4, allowing almost all economic sectors to reopen.

Subsequently, controls continued to be lifted over time. Daycare centres, hair salons, beauty parlours, open markets and night markets were given the green light to reopen.

Malaysia later entered the RMCO phase from Jun 10, where almost all social, educational, religious and business activities, as well as economic sectors reopened in phases, with standard operating procedures to be adhered to. Interstate travel was also permitted while the country's borders remained closed.

Four months of efforts seemed to have paid off as Malaysia began to report mostly single-digit increase in daily new cases - and even zero local transmission on a few days - until new clusters emerged.

On the back of 13 new clusters detected during the RMCO phase, Mr Muhyiddin had earlier reminded Malaysians to comply with social distancing rules and warned the public not to be complacent.

On Aug 3, Malaysia's Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the wearing of face masks was compulsory in crowded public areas, including markets, supermarkets, tourist areas, cinemas and on public transport.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

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2020-08-28 13:01:21Z
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Japan PM Shinzo Abe unveils new COVID-19 measures ahead of resignation - CNA

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2020-08-28 09:41:36Z
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Japanese Prime Minister Abe resigns over worsening health - CNA

TOKYO: Japan's longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, confirmed his resignation on Friday (Aug 28), citing ill health.

Abe said his health started declining around the middle of last month, and that he did not want his illness to affect important policy-making decisions.

"I have decided that I will step down as prime minister, with the belief that I cannot continue being prime minister if I do not have the confidence that I can carry out the job entrusted to me by the people," Abe, 65, told a news conference.

Abe has battled the disease ulcerative colitis for years and two recent hospital visits within a week had fanned questions on whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term as ruling party leader, and hence, premier, in September 2021.

Abe said he was receiving a new treatment for the condition, which needed to be administered on a regular basis which would not leave him with sufficient time to discharge his duties.

Commentary: Will replacing Abe leave Japan in limbo?

Abe said he had decided to step down now to avoid a political vacuum as the country copes with its novel coronavirus outbreak.

"I apologise from the bottom of my heart that despite all of the support from the Japanese people, I am leaving the post with one full year left in my term and in the midst of various policies and coronavirus," Abe said.

This is the second time Abe has resigned as prime minister because of poor health. He similarly quit in 2007 after one year as premier, citing illness.

[embedded content]

Abe took three days of holidays this month and on Aug 17 made an unannounced hospital visit, staying there for more than seven hours for medical checks.

He made a second visit to the same hospital a week later for additional tests and said at the time that he intended to continue in the job.

As the news of his likely resignation spread earlier in the day, Japan's benchmark Nikkei average fell 2.12 per cent to 22,717.02, while the broader Topix shed 1 per cent to 1,599.70.

READ: Japan's Abe returns from hospital, says to do his best at his job

Abe is expected to stay in office until his ruling Liberal Democratic Party can choose a successor, in an election likely to take place among the party's lawmakers and members.

There is no clear consensus on who will succeed him, with likely candidates including Finance Minister Taro Aso and chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga.

The conservative member of parliament returned as prime minister for a rare second term in December 2012, pledging to revive growth with his "Abenomics" mix of hyper-easy monetary policy, fiscal spending and reforms. He also pledged to beef up Japan's defences and aimed to revise the pacifist constitution.

On Monday, he surpassed a record for the longest consecutive tenure as premier set by his great-uncle Eisaku Sato half a century ago.

Under fire for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and scandals among party members, Abe has recently seen his support fall to one of the lowest levels of his nearly eight years in office.

READ: What happens if Japanese PM Abe is incapacitated, or resigns?

READ: How possible successors stack up if Japan PM Abe resigns

Japan has not suffered the explosive surge in COVID-19 cases seen elsewhere, but Abe had drawn fire for a clumsy early response and what critics see as a lack of leadership as infections spread.

In the second quarter, Japan was hit by its biggest economic slump on record as the pandemic emptied shopping malls and crushed demand for cars and other exports, bolstering the case for bolder policy action to avert a deeper recession.

Abe kept his promises to strengthen Japan's defences, boosting spending on the military after years of declines and expanding its capacity to project power abroad.

In a historic shift in 2014, his government re-interpreted the constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight abroad for the first time since World War Two.

A year later, Japan adopted laws scrapping a ban on exercising the right of collective self-defence or defending a friendly country under attack.

But Abe proved unable to revise the US-drafted, post-war constitution's pacifist Article 9, a personal mission that also eluded his grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, who quit as premier in 1960 because of uproar over a US-Japan security pact.

On Friday, Abe said he believed that whoever succeeds him is likely to tackle the issue of reforming the pacifist constitution.

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2020-08-28 08:48:45Z
52781020748373

Japanese Prime Minister Abe resigns over health concerns - CNA

TOKYO: Japan's longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, confirmed his resignation on Friday (Aug 28), citing ill health.

Abe said his health started declining around the middle of last month, and that he did not want illness to affect important policy-making decisions.

"I have decided to step down from the post of the prime minister," he said at a press conference, saying he was suffering from a recurrence of the ulcerative colitis.

[embedded content]

Abe has battled the disease for years and two recent hospital visits within a week fanned questions on whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term as ruling party leader, and hence, prime minister, in September 2021.

READ: Japan's Abe returns from hospital, says to do his best at his job

Commentary: Will replacing Abe leave Japan in limbo?

Abe took three days of holidays this month and on Aug 17 made an unannounced hospital visit, staying there for more than seven hours for medical checks.

He made a second visit to the same hospital a week later for additional tests and said at the time that he intended to continue in the job.

As the news of his likely resignation spread earlier in the day, Japan's benchmark Nikkei average fell 2.12 per cent to 22,717.02, while the broader Topix shed 1 per cent to 1,599.70.

[embedded content]

Abe's resignation will trigger a leadership race in the LDP, the winner of which must be formally elected in parliament.

On Monday, he surpassed a record for the longest consecutive tenure as premier set by his great-uncle Eisaku Sato half a century ago.

Under fire for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and scandals among party members, Abe has recently seen his support fall to one of the lowest levels of his nearly eight years in office.

READ: What happens if Japanese PM Abe is incapacitated, or resigns?

READ: How possible successors stack up if Japan PM Abe resigns

Japan has not suffered the explosive surge in COVID-19 cases seen elsewhere, but Abe had drawn fire for a clumsy early response and what critics see as a lack of leadership as infections spread.

Abe kept his promises to strengthen Japan's defences, boosting spending on the military after years of declines and expanding its capacity to project power abroad.

In a historic shift in 2014, his government re-interpreted the constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight abroad for the first time since World War Two.

A year later, Japan adopted laws scrapping a ban on exercising the right of collective self-defence or defending a friendly country under attack.

On Friday, Abe said he believed that whoever succeeds him is likely to tackle the issue of reforming the pacifist constitution.

Abe resigned from his first stint as prime minister in 2007, citing ill-health after a year plagued by scandals in his cabinet and a huge election loss for his ruling party. He had since kept his illness in check with medicine that was not previously available.

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Japanese Prime Minister Abe resigns over health concerns - CNA

TOKYO: Japan's longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, confirmed his resignation on Friday (Aug 28), citing ill health.

Abe said his health started declining around the middle of last month, and that he did not want illness to affect important policy-making decisions.

"I have decided to step down from the post of the prime minister," he said at a press conference, saying he was suffering from a recurrence of the ulcerative colitis.

READ: Japan's Abe returns from hospital, says to do his best at his job

Commentary: Will replacing Abe leave Japan in limbo?

Abe took three days of holidays this month and on Aug 17 made an unannounced hospital visit, staying there for more than seven hours for medical checks.

He made a second visit to the same hospital a week later for additional tests and said at the time that he intended to continue in the job.

As the news of his likely resignation spread earlier in the day, Japan's benchmark Nikkei average fell 2.12 per cent to 22,717.02, while the broader Topix shed 1 per cent to 1,599.70.

[embedded content]

Abe's resignation will trigger a leadership race in the LDP, the winner of which must be formally elected in parliament.

On Monday, he surpassed a record for the longest consecutive tenure as premier set by his great-uncle Eisaku Sato half a century ago.

Under fire for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and scandals among party members, Abe has recently seen his support fall to one of the lowest levels of his nearly eight years in office.

READ: What happens if Japanese PM Abe is incapacitated, or resigns?

READ: How possible successors stack up if Japan PM Abe resigns

Japan has not suffered the explosive surge in COVID-19 cases seen elsewhere, but Abe had drawn fire for a clumsy early response and what critics see as a lack of leadership as infections spread.

Abe kept his promises to strengthen Japan's defences, boosting spending on the military after years of declines and expanding its capacity to project power abroad.

In a historic shift in 2014, his government re-interpreted the constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight abroad for the first time since World War Two.

A year later, Japan adopted laws scrapping a ban on exercising the right of collective self-defence or defending a friendly country under attack.

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Jumat, 28 Agustus 2020

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