Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Monday (Feb 27, 2023)

A colourful sky -From snakes, tigers, fish, manta rays, and even a crocodile have been decorating the blue skies of Pasir Gudang during the Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival. — THOMAS YONG/The Star

Malaysia:

* Barisan sends letter of demand to Muhyiddin and Azmin over Wan Saiful claims

* Over 40,000 jobless grads in Malaysia as of 2021, Dewan Rakyat told

* Govt has no plans to hold local council elections Dewan Rakyat told

* “What about income tax for those making more than RM1mil,” Opposition leader asks

* Michelle Yeoh wins Best Actress at the Screen Actors Guild Awards

* Cops acted within the law when arresting SPM students over History paper video

* Only citizens of 10 countries allowed to use KLIA autogates, says Home Minister

* Malaysia, UK to cooperate to ensure migrant workers free from forced labour, says Sivakumar

* Bear with govt while we sort out nation's finances, PM tells civil servants over salary review

* Application of special task force, gov't to quash Tommy Thomas' suit to be heard June 15

* Abu Dhabi firms to pay US$1.8bil to MOF Inc and 1MDB as settlement, says Finance Ministry

* Guan Eng challenges Kedah MB to take legal action over issue of Penang's sovereignty

A tailorbird sits on a mangrove tree at Pasir Ris park in Singapore on Monday, February 27, 2023. - AFP

Singapore:

* Singapore: Man pleads guilty to raping woman in toilet after hitting her head against wall, wash basin

* Singapore seeks stronger regional ties as US-China tensions rise

* ‘Badge Lady’ trial: Phoon claims her image could have been superimposed on CCTV footage

* Maserati driver whose car dragged cop will have luxury vehicle forfeited to the state

* Sambar deer making a return in Singapore, study shows

* Dad makes the weekly trek to Singapore to visit son

* Crude oil prices stay muted in 1H amid altered oil flows tracking Ukraine war

* Oil lower on firm dollar, market shrugs off Russian supply cuts

* Asia stocks feel rate squeeze, dollar gets the lift

Indonesia:

* Indonesia and Japan to further develop cooperation in automotive sector

* Powerboat race in Indonesia's volcanic lake spurs enthusiasm

* Indonesian finance minister orders dissolution of taxmen's big bikes club

* Bali governor wants families to have four children so the names Nyoman and Ketut don’t go extinct

* Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes Sulawesi

* Jakarta’s traffic returns to a crawl

* ‘Turkiye quake a warning for us’, says Indonesia

* Stalker hunts blogger to Bali

A Balinese politician has called on families at the resort island to have more children so that the names Nyoman and Ketut would be preserved. According to Balinese tradition, families name their children according to their birth order. - AFP

Thailand:

* Gambling on animal fights and races set to resume in Thailand

* Thailand sees 2.14 million foreign visitors in January as tourism rebounds

* Prayut’s party ‘at risk of dissolution’ over speech mentioning Rama IX

* Thai sextortion gangs luring kids to send nude photos by offering game items

* Thai exporters eye market of 365 million people under new China, India FTAs

* Drug lord nabbed despite extensive plastic surgery

Philippines:

* Philippines files 10 protests against China in two months over South China Sea row

* As Philippines scraps jeepney buses, operators struggle with costs

* Emerging markets - Philippines peso lead losses Asian FX, stocks pressured after strong US-PCE data

* Philippines joins US in search for Taiwanese fishing vessel

* Inquirer: Sugar smuggling by government?

* Philippine university’s robotic medical aid gets Singapore patent

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, as the PM candidate for the United Thai Nation Party (Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party), poses with his party's members during a welcome ceremony for new members to his party ahead of a general election this year in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday, February 27, 2023. - Reuters

Vietnam:

* A Frenchman's charm as new Vietnam manager Troussier targets World Cup spot

* Vietnam's VinFast slashes lease prices for first US buyers; first model has arrived in the states

* Vietnam parliament to appoint new president this week - sources

* SAG Awards 2023: Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan make history with ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ win

* Vietnam PM launches construction of expressway linking Hoa Binh and Son La

* Vietnamese airlines doing well, challenges ahead

Myanmar:

* Russia in firing line of top UN rights meet; Myanmar human rights issue another big topic

* Cutting off food aid in Cox's Bazar is not the right solution, says Myanmar Rohinya organisation

* Chairman of Myanmar's USDP meets youths in Yangon

Jordan's Dar Tucker (left) and Jordan's Amin Abu Hawwas during their FIBA World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers game at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan province, north of Manila, Philippines on Monday Feb. 27, 2023. Philippines suffered a narrow 90-91 defeat to Jordan. - AP

Cambodia:

* Bird flu risk to humans in Cambodia remains low, confirms WHO

* All hands on deck for ‘Visit Cambodia Year 2023’ drive

* Viruses in Cambodian bird flu cases identified as endemic clade

Laos:

* Laos govt taking measures to stabilise currency exchange rates and inflation in order to revive struggling economy

* Laos-China rail freight transport soars by 500 per cent

Brunei:

* Travellers from Brunei and Singapore among those who can use autogate facilities at Malaysia’s KL airport

* Learning Brunei’s cultural heritage the fun way

A police stands guard outside a village house where part of Abby Choi's body was found in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, February 27, 2023. - Reuters

AseanPlus:

* China says US 'endangered' peace with Taiwan Strait fly-through

* Another gruesome murder - Single mother’s dismembered body found in Japan; married man arrested

* Hong Kong model gruesome murder case: All four suspects placed in custody and denied bail after appearance in court

* Four appear in Hong Kong court charged with gruesome murder of Abby Choi (update)

* Aaron Kwok and wife Moka Fang devastated by brutal murder of HK socialite Abby Choi

* Behind the Birkin bags and luxury coats, HK socialite Abby Choi was mother’s pride

* Police find missing head of dismembered Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi in soup pot

* Dead Hong Kong model Abby Choi’s in-laws face charges in grisly killing

* Top Delhi minister arrested in India liquor probe

* Flu cases surge in China, leaving antivirals in short supply

* More Korean women think marriage, childbirth unneccessary: Survey

* China banking tycoon Bao Fan 'cooperating with investigation'

* Asian markets drop on rate fears as US inflation runs hot

* Nokia redesigns logo because people think it still makes mobile phones

* South Korean gay couple sees court win as breakthrough for equality

* More Korean women think marriage, childbirth unneccessary: Survey

* North Korea's Kim opens key meeting on agriculture

* Plastic consumption on course to nearly double by 2050 - research

* Australia plans to reform cyber security rules, set up agency

* Hong Kong: Airline worker shortage hits city’s push to reopen

* Japan has significant role to play in restoring world order: Yomiuri Shimbun