Asean News Headlines at 9pm on Saturday (Mar 4, 2023)

A butterfly stands on a wild forest flower at Seulimeum in Indonesia's Aceh province on Saturday, March 4, 2023. - AFP

Malaysia:

* Ex-Goldman banker Roger Ng should get 15 years for 1MDB, say US prosecutors

* Heart disease led to 20.7% of maternal deaths between 2012 and 2014, says Health Minister

* Floods: Armed Forces to get additional boat, trucks for relief, rescue work

* EPF declares 5.35% dividend for conventional savings, 4.75% for syariah

* EPF withdrawals larger than GDP of some countries, says fund's CEO

* Over 300 victims lose RM100mil to investment scam, police reports lodged against firm

* Over 180,000 people nationwide affected by floods since November last year

* Sultan Nazrin reminds leaders not to repeat past mistakes, disappoint people

* Malaysia-UAE agree to boost cooperation, says PM

* Low wages must be addressed, 81% of active EPF members earn RM5,000 or less

* Dr M dissociates himself from Mukhriz's political moves

* 'I was not involved in reappointment of A-G', says Azalina

People visit “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience”, a multi-sensorial exhibition featuring over 300 artworks by renowned artist Vincent Van Gogh at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore. - Reuters

Singapore:

* One person injured after tree falls across Singapore's Tiong Bahru Road, damaging walkway and car

* Singapore: Four people taken to hospital after car hits man, crashes into building

* World golf championships - Defending champion Ko holds two-shot lead over Korda before final round at Singapore's Sentosa

* No go, say lawyers - Singapore PM's brother Lee Hsien Yang weighing presidential bid but experts point out court findings affect his eligibility

* Oil settles up on China demand hopes, posts weekly gain

* Singaporean businessman/trader caught for keeping expired meat

Indonesia:

* Pertamina asked to move Jakarta oil Depot after deadly fire; dozens still missing

* Indonesians continue search at charred homes after fuel depot fire, 17 confirmed dead

* Indonesia demands investigation into deadly Pertamina oil depot Fire - 16 dead and over dozen still missing

* Indonesian officials call for audit after Pertamina fire kills 13

* Another illegal settlement uncovered in Malaysia - Community of Indonesians who lived in jungle for years detained

* No to postponing elections in Indonesia

Firefighters and residents in a burnt neighborhood following a fire near a PT Pertamina facility in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Saturday, March 4, 2023. Indonesia has ordered an investigation into a deadly fire at an oil storage depot in Jakarta owned by state petroleum company PT Pertamina. - Bloomberg

Thailand:

* Thailand's unemployment rate falls in Q4; official data now only at 1.15%

* Thai cave boy's ashes arrive home from UK for final farewell

* Two cops dead and one severely injured in bomb explosion in Narathiwat, southern Thailand

* Hatching leatherback turtles get helping hand on Thai beach

* Online guide for foodies and Muslim tourists launched

* Hotspot alert as thousands of fires deepen haze crisis

Philippines:

* Classes, work in Philippines suspended with week-long jeepney strike starting on Monday (March 6)

* US troop expansion near Taiwan revives old debate in Philippines

* Philippines says Chinese navy ship spotted near disputed island

* Philippine president condemns killing of central Philippine province governor and close ally

* Close Marcos ally and governor together with five others shot dead in latest attack on Philippine politicians

* Philippines: Stay home, fishermen told

Policemen man a checkpoint between the border of Tanjay City and Pamplona town in the Philippine Province of Negros Oriental on Saturday, March 4, 2023, hours after the provincial governor Roel Degamo and five others were killed by unknown gunmen. - AFP

Vietnam:

* Vietnam's new President Thuong receives congratulatory message from China's Xi

* Top world brands are looking at Vietnam as alternative as IPhone maker plans US$700 million India plant

* Vietnam’s largest annual trade fair - the Vietnam Expo 2023 - to take place in April; more than 15 countries to take part

* Vietnam lures US$3.1 billion in FDI in first two months of 2023

* Poachers who turned violent arrested in national park

Myanmar:

* United Nations rights office calls for action to end Myanmar 'catastrophe'

* Myanmar junta at war with country's own people, says UN

* Refugees decry ‘devastating’ cuts to food aid to Rohingya people

* Myanmar duo charged with murder after farmer killed

Children play with pigeons in front of Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. - AFP

Cambodia:

* Cambodia's government shrugs off backlash over jailed opposition leader

* Prove yourselves in Cambodia, Choong Hann tells shuttlers as they gear up for the SEA Games

* Two human cases of bird flu in Cambodia but "not human-to-human transmission", confirms official

* Kem Sokha jailed for treason

Laos:

* UN chief condemns rich countries 'vicious' tactics against poor

* On a fiery high in Laos - Champasack man burns down 28 homes in drug-fuelled rage

* South-East Asia's largest wind power plant to be built in Laos

Brunei:

* A weighty issue in Brunei; obese adults in the Sultanate expected to increase by an alarming 33 per cent before 2035

* Brunei expects over 10,000 cruise ship tourists in 2023

This photo from the South Korean Defence Ministry in Seoul shows a US Air Force B-1B bomber (top) flying over South Korea with South Korean Air Force KF-16 fighter jets during a joint air drill in South Korea. - AFP

AseanPlus:

* A busy 100 days for PM Anwar in bilateral and international relations

* The murder of Abby Choi and pots of soup - A grissly tragedy that shocked not only Hong Kong but the whole world

* Japan pledges financial support to help Asean decarbonise

* BBC tax raids shine light on Indian media freedom under Modi, some journalists say

* Hong Kong public hospitals ordered to check all ceiling hoists after cover falls off track in second device safety scare in 2 weeks

* Thieves make off with HK$730,000 worth of valuables, cash in Hong Kong’s second burglary at upmarket estates in 2 days

* US approves new US$619 million sale of missiles and military equipment to Taiwan

* North Korea says US causing international arms control collapse

* China willing to join multilateral debt-relief efforts to help poor nations, Li Keqiang tells IMF head

* Chinese live-streaming operator Kuaishou applies to offer shares in yuan via Hong Kong’s new dual-currency counter

* US House panel approves bill to let Joe Biden ban TikTok

* China’s ‘two sessions’ 2023: how will Li Qiang’s pro-business past and pragmatism help tackle China’s growing pains?

* Michelle Yeoh's 'hot dog hands' in 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' sold for RM246,000 at auction

* As space junk threat grows, government and investors seek solutions

* Massive fire engulfs HK construction site

* Hong Kong court convicts activists behind Tiananmen vigil

* Before fatal collapse, Turkish building had skirted code thanks to Erdogan policy

* Latest bird flu cases raise concerns of potential outbreak

* Meta tweaks its controversial 'cross-check' system for VIPs

* Japanese govt backs use of GPS trackers to prevent suspects from escaping abroad

* International drug bust nets US$677 million of cocaine bound for Australia