Briefly

JAPAN

Suga's ratings hit record lows, polls find

Public support for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga hit record lows, polls for two major newspapers showed on Monday, turning up the heat on the unpopular leader less than a month before he faces a challenge as leader of the ruling party. The Mainichi newspaper poll showed public support for Suga slid below 30 percent for the first time, to a dismal 26 percent. The Nikkei daily put his ratings at 34 percent, in line with a record low hit in its survey last month. The 72-year-old prime minister also faced rare criticism from writer Haruki Murakami, who said that if the premier was able to see the way out of the pandemic, "he must have very good eyesight for his age". In a radio appearance on Sunday, the author of the 1987 novel, Norwegian Wood, said: "I'm the same age as Suga, and I don't see a way out.

MALAYSIA

PM self-isolates, misses Cabinet swearing-in

Malaysia's new prime minister missed the swearing-in ceremony of his new government on Monday after coming into contact with someone infected with COVID-19, his office said. Ismail Sabri Yaakob has begun self-isolating and will virtually attend Tuesday's official National Day celebrations, according to a statement from his office. It did not say whom he came in contact with, whether he was tested and how long he would remain in self-isolation. Ismail took office on Aug 21 amid public anger over the previous government's failure to control a raging pandemic.

Agencies - Xinhua