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Key Highlights

• Doctors' meltdown
  
  
• Will you pay for Covid-19 treatment?
  
  
• How does the emergency affect you
  
  

Doctors’ meltdown

Public hospital doctors are suffering mental breakdowns from the endless Covid-19 fight. Few dare to voice out in a system that sometimes views dissent as an attack.

Dr Mustafa Kamal, who is on anti-anxiety medication, believes more should speak up. He was reprimanded for taking his first-ever leave during the pandemic after suffering anxiety.

Other doctors have resorted to anonymous letters. One spoke about the lack of proper food during breaks at Sungai Buloh Hospital.

The Selangor Health Department said food donations from the public have dwindled but promised to improve conditions.

HIGHLIGHTS

	'Burnt out' doctor speaks up He is exasperated by the system.
	Muhyiddin pens letter to concerned doctors He responds to an open letter by 46 doctors.
	Anwar: The people are suffering 'Transparency needed in times of crisis'.

Will you pay for Covid-19 treatment?

Malaysiakini detailed the government’s plan to incorporate private hospitals in the fight against Covid-19.

One thing remains unclear - Who pays? The proposals include asking patients or insurance companies to pay.

Your typical insurance doesn’t cover pandemics but Putrajaya can force them to do so with its emergency powers.

There is also the MySalam insurance scheme set up by the previous government. But the decision to extend coverage to M40 income earners was reversed.

A decision must be made soon as beds at public hospitals are running out and we hit a new daily high of 4,029 cases last Saturday.

HIGHLIGHTS

	A glimpse at how private hospitals will be roped in A 'conceptual model' was presented.
	'Questionable Covid-19 decisions beyond reproach' Lim says there is no Parliament for oversight.
	M'sians in Singapore get Covid-19 jab They work in the priority sector.

How does the emergency affect you?

Normally, Parliament makes laws, these are called “Acts”. Under an emergency, the government makes them. These are called “Ordinances”.

The Agong provides consent for both. The first ordinance on emergency powers is out. We simplify it here for you.

1) Use of resources
Putrajaya can take control of any resources including human resources, facilities, utilities and assets (eg. Taking over a private hospital and its staff).

The government has the final say on the charges that can be imposed by those providing these resources.


2) Property seizure
The government may take temporary possession of any land, building or movable property. The compensation cannot be challenged in court.


3) Penalties
Refusal to comply comes with up to 10 years imprisonment or up to RM5 million fine or both.


4) Legal immunity
No legal action can be taken against the government for enforcing the ordinance.


5) Armed forces
They are granted the same powers as police.

For our full article on the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021, read here.

HIGHLIGHTS

	How emergency powers affect you ACB of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021.
	10 ex-Bar presidents speak out against emergency They say govt is setting a dangerous precedent.
	Agong to get appeal letter on emergency today Opposition also mulls legal avenues.

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 3,339 new cases yesterday (Jan 17), second-highest daily gain on record.
  
  
• Covid-19 patients in ICU jump from 205 to 240.
  
  
• The 35 new ICU cases are the highest one-day gain on record. The previous record was 21 new ICU cases on March 30 last year.
  
  
• The death toll crossed the 600-mark.
  
  
• Malaysiakini continues to compile daily locations affected by Covid-19 so you can take precautions.
  
  

What else is happening?

• The rape of a teenage girl in a police lockup sparked outrage. Issues with detention facilities are persistent and many have also died.
  
  
• Police fined Putrajaya Umno after its free chicken event attracted huge crowds in violation of Covid-19 standard operating procedures.
  
  
• Former Lord President of the Supreme Court Mohamed Salleh Abas, one of the judges who in 1988 declared Umno illegal, died after contracting Covid-19.
  
  
• The Sarawak government, which is known to adopt more stringent Covid-19 rules than the federal government, went ahead with a self-imposed conditional MCO today.
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	MOH seeks volunteers for Covid-19 vaccine trial It wants 3,000 volunteers.
	Experts warn against reducing testing The govt had scaled back on asymptomatic patients.
	Annuar explains SOP 'flip-flop' on public parks FT minister says it considered public feedback.

What are people saying?

	MCO: Worst-affected families need urgent help By Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj
	Justice died when Dr M sacked Salleh Abas By Kua Kia Soong
	Heads must roll over child rape in lockup By Kasthuri Patto

KINI LENS

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