The latest from Asean

Hello friends!

Here’s an update for our maritime-ish Asean. Tomorrow we will take a look at where the Mekong states are at.

Towards the end of the week, we’ll be trying something very new and very exciting so please stay tuned for that.

All coronavirus related coverage will remain free during this crisis, but if you would like to continue supporting Dari Mulut ke Mulut and its expansion do so here for $6 a month or $60 for the year:

Asean and Timorese nationals under 30 are always eligible for a free premium membership, just hit that reply.

Please share and encourage friends and colleagues who may be interested to sign up.

Stay safe out there and see you tomorrow,Erin Cook

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The death toll in Indonesia has hit 114, keeping the mortality rate hovering around 8 percent. Jakarta remains the known epicentre of the country’s cases and calls to seal off the city are rising. Regulations to empower provincial governments to announce and enforce their own lockdowns are still in the works, Reuters reports, but where the central government is slow others are moving. Police in Jakarta are preparing for shutdowns and viral photos from across the archipelago show smaller-scale community organising to shut off neighbourhoods and villagers from outsiders. 

I am extremely sympathetic to the argument that a full-scale lockdown in Indonesia will see millions of low-socioeconomic Indonesians ruined and desperate for food. I’m also somewhat sympathetic to fears that there could be social unrest as a result of misguided policy. I am not in any way sympathetic to the argument that the best way to avoid these fears becoming reality is by keeping regular degular Indonesians in the dark of what to expect and I am watching those cracks closely, so stay tuned. 

Jakarta is going to be an important one to keep an eye on this week. As will be the rising death toll and the heightening criticism of handling.

• Why does Indonesia have a high COVID-19 mortality rate? (DW)

Adib Kumaidi, an official at the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), told DW that a number of factors are contributing to a high mortality rate in Indonesia, mainly the lack of data and limited health facilities to conduct coronavirus tests. Kumaidi said the number of cases will increase when the authorities test more people across the country.

The IDI official urged the government to share the medical history of patients with the health staff so that they could receive better treatment. He also said that patients who are brought to hospitals are already in critical condition.

"If the patients arrive at hospital in a poor state, already suffering pneumonia or sepsis, it would be harder for the doctors to help them," he explained, adding that proper medical facilities are needed to lower the mortality rate in Indonesia.

"Indonesian hospitals need ICUs, isolation rooms, as well as ventilators. These facilities are detrimental," Kumaidi added.

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By Sunday, the Philippines reported an additional 343 cases bringing the total to 1,418. The Health Department confirmed three more patients have died with a total death toll of 71. The three new deaths are all community transmissions, but were elderly and believed to have had underlying health conditions.

Much of the country remains in lockdown. But for Metro Manila, the world’s most densely populated city, social distancing doesn’t make any sense. And, much like Indonesia, for the millions living in poverty staying at home isn’t possible. Later in the week, we’ll be taking a look at how Manila can navigate the policy. But for a taste here’s the always brilliant Regine Cabato. 

• 8 Killed After Philippine Plane Bursts Into Flames (New York Times)

Senator Richard Gordon, the head of the Philippine Red Cross, said that medical teams had been dispatched to the airport to respond to the crash involving Flight 5880.

“Eight passengers — consisting of a flight medic, a nurse, doctor, three flight crew, one patient and its companion were onboard,” he said. “The airplane caught fire and exploded as it was taking off the NAIA runway 24, he added, referring to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. “The fire was enormous.”

Lionair Inc. flies charter flights and has contracts with the government. It operates air ambulances too and is helping the government in its anti-coronavirus program, transporting medical supplies.

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Malaysia’s reported cases now sit at 2,470, Asean’s highest, with deaths rising to 34. The huge rate is despite the extension of the Movement Control Order (MCO) which demands Malaysians stay at home and has seen law enforcement and military patrolling streets. Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob says 649 people were detained Saturday alone for violating the MCO. “Some people gave the excuse that they were just going out to buy food. But they were caught outside up to four times a day, to the point at which police recognized their faces... clearly, they were not being genuine,” he said, as reported by Reuters. 

But, much like in the Philippines and Indonesia, not all stay at home requirements are created equally. For the country’s two million labourers — and an estimated four million undocumented migrant workers — low-cost housing hardly lends itself to the conditions laid out in the policy. 

"I'm renting a small room on top of a shop lot in Petaling Jaya with two other friends for RM500 (S$165), the size of the room is roughly 10 sq m. Two other rooms are also being rented by six others, so there are nine of us," wiring technician and Bangladeshi national Shohel Mollah told the Straits Times. Local governments are sounding the alarm, saying if an outbreak of the virus occurs in high-density housing like this it will be near impossible to control. 

• Malaysian men in shopping muddle amid lockdown (BBC)

Saidatul Akhmar Yahya, a 37-year-old banker told BBC Monitoring she normally does the shopping, and that her 30-year-old brother Amirul Shafiq often comes along to help.

As she was working from home this week, however, she gave him a shopping list, which included "green beans" - dried legumes she intended to use to make a sweet soup for tea.

But he returned with long beans. "I am speechless and keep on laughing, in tears," she said.

Amirul said his sister had briefed him on each item but, at the supermarket, "I was also a bit shy about taking out the list... because I saw a few other men also struggling, searching for the items on their list." He just remembered he had to buy beans.

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Sad news in Singapore, which is seeing its death toll climb slowly after managing to avoid tragedy for weeks. The third death was formally announced Sunday following two deaths the week before. A further 42 cases were reported also, bringing the total to 844.

Despite all the lauding from abroad, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong isn’t keen to call the city a ‘success story’ just yet he said in a televised interview last night. He warns that this is probably just the first turn at the rodeo, indicating his government is expecting a protracted battle to get the virus under control. What that means for Tan Cheng Bock’s comments is another thing.

• Daughter of man who died from Covid-19 thanks Singaporeans, healthcare staff (Today)

Writing on Facebook on Sunday, his daughter Ms Ashley Chung said: "We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to those fellow Singaporeans, including PM Lee Hsien Loong who extended your condolences to the Chung family.

"We also wish to thank the medical team in SGH for tirelessly looking after my dad."

On Sunday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wrote on Facebook that he had heard about the death, and expressed his "deepest sympathies" to the family.

"Keeping a safe physical distance apart should not mean social isolation. Give your friends and family a call, and continue supporting one another during this period," said Mr Lee.

Ms Chung reminded Singaporeans to be "socially responsible" and said: "Our dad did not travel to affected countries or clusters.

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Timor-Leste President Francisco Guterres Lú-Olo has declared a state of emergency lasting until at least April 26, while the official toll of cases remains at just one. The move was supported by all in parliament and grants the government extra powers to respond to the crisis. Elsewhere, Interim Health Minister Élia dos Reis Amaral has vowed to respond to complaints that coronavirus quarantine sites are failing basic social distancing requirements. Local media reports individuals in quarantine have complained of two to three in a room. 

I am desperate for a ‘what does this mean for the political nightmare’ piece, so if you come across one please hit that reply. 

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Brunei has recorded its first coronavirus related death after a 64-year-old man died Saturday. The country’s case toll sits at 115. Reuters reports the man who has died had visited Malaysia and Cambodia but had not attended the Sri Petaling Mosque event.