Indonesia, Malaysia scramble to contain coronavirus
Indonesia and Malaysia are doubling efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 as the numbers of infections and deaths have been increasing in recent days.
Spraying disinfection at a station in Jakarta, Indonesia (Source: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) –Indonesia and Malaysia are doubling efforts to contain the spread of the novelcoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 as the numbers of infections and deaths have beenincreasing in recent days.
Indonesia’s Ministry of State-owned Enterprises (BUMN) is planning to convertcurrent public works into hospitals to treat people contracting the acuterespiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
A BUMN official said theconvertion of an athlete village in Jakarta into an emergency hospital will beexpanded in other localities nationwide, including Bandung in West Java,Semarang in Central Java, and Surabaya in East Java.
Earlier on March 23, BUMNcoordinated with the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing to completethe convertion of four out of the 10 towers of the Wisma Atay Kemayoran athletevillage in downtown Jakarta – which was used in the 2018 Asian Games – into ahospital to meet the surging treatment demand of coronavirus patients in thecoming days.
The number of COVID-19cases in Indonesia has trippled in the past week, from 172 on March 17 to 686on March 24, including 55 deaths. The pandemic has spread to at least 22 out ofthe 34 cities and provinces in the country.
Meanwhile, Malaysia onMarch 24 asked the Chinese government to send medical experts here to help thecountry’s fight against COVID-19.
Malaysian Foreign MinisterHishammuddin Tun Hussein said the ministry is seeking assistance from foreigngovernments to combat the outbreak, based on the good relations betweenMalaysia and these countries.
He said health experts in 26 major hospitalsin Malaysia will hold a video conference with their counterparts in China onMarch 26 to share best practices and strategies in the anti-coronavirus drive.
As of March 24, Malaysiarecorded 1,624 COVID-19 cases, including 15 deaths and 183 recoveries./.
Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Laos have been struggling with the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which has so far killed more than 14,560 people worldwide.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia on March 23 recommended Vietnamese citizens to strictly follow regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control of the host country.
Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has called on Muslim clerics to issue fatwas to regulate the special circumstances that Muslims may find themselves in amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indonesia has decided to put the national exams for elementary, secondary and high school students in 2020 on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives on March 24.
Anti-dumping duties will continue to be imposed on producers from China and Japan while those on relevant exporters from the RoK and Vietnam will be terminated, starting from June 23.
A specialist police unit has acquired a fleet of off-road vehicles to help officers navigate rough, unpaved terrain – and flood waters – to respond more quickly to public security incidents.
The pact covers goods, services, investments, intellectual property rights, customs facilitation, competition policy, sanitary and phytosanitary, trade and sustainable development, government procurement and economic cooperation.
The talent programmes mark another milestone in the technical partnership between PETRONAS and the Energy Institute, which focuses on three pillars: promoting decarbonisation and operational excellence through innovative solutions, enabling informed decision-making with expert advice, and nurturing the next generation of energy professionals.
The firefighters found an active blaze at the lorry depot located in the city of Pasir Gudang near the state capital of Johor Bahru, with flames spreading quickly due to strong winds and igniting a neighboring disused oil storage area.
Investigators believe the operation is part of a broader scam network involving romance scams, where victims are lured into fake relationships and persuaded to transfer money.
Ambassadors, Consuls General, along with staff and their families, joined traditional sports and cultural activities of Southeast Asia and performances bearing regional identity, thus contributing to strengthening unity and the ASEAN community spirit in New York.
In his post on social media the same day, Hun Manet said energy companies would be able to import sufficiently from other sources to meet domestic fuel and gas demands in the country.
The forum, which involves global experts and creative leaders from across 14 cultural sectors, aims to expand Thailand’s presence on the world stage through innovation and cultural exchange.
In his article, Oscar Sanchez Serra highlighted President Ho Chi Minh’s founding of the Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper on June 21, 1925, which marked the birth of Vietnam's revolutionary press rooted in a bold and far-sighted vision.
Several ASEAN meetings are scheduled to take place in Port Dickson this September, including the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) for ASEAN Plus Three (APT), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the 15th ASEAN Maritime Forum, and the 13th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum.
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered the urgent implementation of a national policy to crack down on all forms of call centre scams, online fraud, and illegal gambling, which are now considered threats to national security.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and EAEU Trade Minister Andrey Slepnev jointly declared the conclusion of FTA talks on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025), according to the statement.
The article stressed that throughout his revolutionary career, the founder of modern Vietnam consistently regarded the revolutionary press as a vital part of the Vietnamese Party’s and nation’s revolutionary struggle.
Pichai said the trade talks with the US are important and need to move forward professionally, without regard for any political changes in Thailand, believing that Thailand has clear principles, guidelines and procedures in place.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
Spraying disinfection at a station in Jakarta, Indonesia (Source: AFP/VNA) 
