Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Monday (Feb 13, 2023)

A tourist from Taiwan, dressed in a rented traditional Thai costume poses for photographs at the Wat Arun Buddhist temple in Bangkok. - AFP

Malaysia:

* 'I am the only King to reign with four PMs, four different Cabinets'

* Dewan Rakyat observes moment of silence for people of quake-hit Turkiye, Syria

* Coordinated approach needed to tackle recurring disasters, says King

* King congratulates Anwar on appointment as 10th PM, expresses appreciation to Ismail Sabri for contributions

* King credits 'whole of nation' approach with boosting Malaysia's economic growth

* King welcomes consensus reached among leaders in Unity Govt

* Azmin still has responsibility to serve his constituents, says PKR

* Umno will continue to back Anwar as PM until end of his term, says Ahmad Maslan

* Sports Minister, BAM slam former national trainee shuttlers racist remarks

* Couples in M'sia have one of the highest levels of relationship satisfaction, says survey

* Covid-19: Malaysia records 160 new cases, no deaths on Feb 12 / Covid-19 data to be released weekly

* 30% Malaysians feel their debts are burdensome - BNM survey

Customers browse fresh produce at the Chinatown Complex wet market in Singapore' Singapore will report the budget for the coming fiscal year on Tuesday (Feb 14), will probably reinforce longer-term investment priorities including digitalization, green energy transition, and health services for an ageing society. - Bloomberg

Singapore:

* Stern warning for man with delusional disorder accused of harassing Singapore PM Lee

* Monkeypox now called mpox, in line with WHO guidelines, says Singapore Health Minister

* Most commuters still don masks on first day of eased rules on Singapore public transport

* Singapore maintains 2023 GDP growth forecast, spurred by China reopening

* More minors being sexually abused by their own relatives in Singapore

* Singapore's DBS profit jumps two-thirds, CEO sees rate rises moderating

* Woman in SG jailed for taking S$1mil from employer and giving it to online ‘friend’

* MB: Johor can draw in up to RM15bil in investments from S'pore-based international companies

* Johor, Singapore keen to explore new economic ventures: MB

* Man arrested after scuffle at Scarlett Supermarket in Chinatown

* Oil falls on demand worry as Fed 'make or break moment' approaches

Indonesia:

* Indonesian ex-senior cop gets death sentence for murder of his bodyguard in high-profile scandal

* Indonesia and China agree US$1.2bil cost overrun for high-speed train, says official

* World’s next debt wreck seen brewing in Indonesia builder binge

* Styrofoam waste still not properly addressed in Indonesia

* Man accused of affair with mum-in-law threatens lawsuit

* Maybank IBG expands structured warrants business to Indonesia

* West Sumatra domestic worker wins compensation for abuse in Hong Kong

East Timor's Prime Minister Jose Maria de Vasconcelos, popularly known as Taur Matan Ruak, who is also a former East Timor independence fighter, and Indonesian President Joko Widodo wave to photographers upon their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, Indonesia, on Monday, February 13, 2023. - Reuters

Thailand:

* Thai finance minister says pace of monetary tightening 'reasonable'

* Tourists in Thailand's resort island Phuket warned about jellyfish stings

* Anwar discusses various issues in exclusive interview during official visit to Thailand

* Samui to host Valentine’s marriages above heart-shaped Chaweng beach

* Beware of Valentine sextortion, even by friends, warn Thai police

* Survey finds most Thais unaware of global warming

* British crime boss nabbed in Thailand after years on the run

Philippines:

* Filipinos ‘prized targets’ to work for Chinese crypto scam networks, says Philippine official

* Philippines urges China to halt any "provocative act" after laser aimed at vessel

* Philippines’ Marcos says open to military access pact with Japan

* Philippine activists unhappy with plans of Philippines, Japan and US security pact

* Philippines accuses China of aiming ‘military-grade’ laser at coast guard vessel in South China Sea

A worker plants trees along Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi. - AFP

Vietnam:

* Vietnam’s foreign direct investment powers economy into the future

* Vietnam police probe possible stock market manipulation, say documents

* Vietnam’s tourism makes international headlines; country named Best Culinary Destination in the Bucket List Places in Asia in 2023

* Vietnamese aviation to fully recover by year-end

* Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh preferred location for data centres - City ranks within top 10 for land price category

Myanmar:

* Eight Filipinos rescued from Myanmar syndicate running cryptocurrency scams

* Three major Myanmar cities mark 76th Union Day

* Malaysian Police corporal charged with smuggling 29 Myanmar migrants

* Perks for those ‘loyal to the state’ in Myanmar

Ith Sothoeuth, media director of the Cambodian Centre for Independent Media (CCIM) which oversees VOD, speaks to media at his office in Phnom Penh on Monday, February 13, 2023, after Cambodian Prime Minister said VOD would have its operating licence revoked. Cambodia's strongman leader late on February 12 ordered the shutdown of one of the country's few remaining local independent media outlets after taking issue with a news report about his son. - AFP

Cambodia:

* Protesters and rights groups condemn closure of Cambodian news outlet

* Cambodia officially revokes West-backed Voice of Democracy radio's license over slanderous broadcast

* Cambodian PM embarks on official visit to Laos

* Cambodian leader orders shutdown of independent media outlet

Laos:

* South Korea’s biggest low cost carrier expands flights to Laos and Vietnam

* Four men in custody after another drug bust in Bokeo

Brunei:

* Heavy showers and thunder expected in Brunei over the week

* Hammer wielding robber gets jail and whipping in Brunei

Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets perform during the Aero India 2023 air show at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India, on Monday, February 13, 2023. - Reuters

AseanPlus:

* Single-letter licence plate sells for US$3.2mil in Hong Kong

* China Covid-19 deaths in hospitals drop 72 per cent in a week as wave eases

* Reddit hit by phishing attack but user data unaffected

* Officials call for efforts to promote marriage, childbearing in China

* US has had contacts with China over 'spy balloon': Pentagon

* Asian markets take fresh hit on rate hike worries

* Japan PM Kishida to return to office Monday after sinus surgery - govt

* 15 million people live under threat of glacial floods, says study

* Australia marks anniversary of 'Stolen Generation' apology; promises more funds

* All-male BOJ picks another blow for gender equality in Japan

* ChatGPT gets romantic with some fancy words for these Asian destinations - Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok among most searched

* SMART members in Turkiye to coordinate entry of SAR teams

* China’s inflation signals strong domestic demand and steady recovery

* China's housing consumption to be key economic driver

* Woman pulled alive from rubble in Turkey a week after earthquake

* Bill to ban TikTok in US reflects growing concerns in Congress

* Apple supplier Salcomp to more than double Indian workforce to 25,000

* ChatGPT fervor is so hot that Chinese firms call for caution

* Asian currencies, shares weaken ahead of U.S. CPI data

* Hong Kong-listed brokerages fall on report of mainland China client ban

* As ChatGPT's popularity explodes, US lawmakers take an interest