Deadliest month

Good morning! Let's update you on what happened over the weekend.

Key Highlights

• Deadliest Covid-19 month
  
  
• Ex-AG's memoir
  
  
• Boy's tragic abuse
  
  

Deadliest month

January was Malaysia’s deadliest Covid-19 month. Deaths in Oct-Dec 2020 was relatively stable at 111-115 fatalities.

But last month saw 289 deaths, making up a third of the 760 total fatalities.

HIGHLIGHTS

	New MCO 2.0 rules: A guide to what's changed The SOP was updated.
	Stories from funeral parlours as Covid-19 deaths soar They share heartbreaking stories.
	Dr Dzul against stiffer MCO punishments  He says rules are unequally applied to VIPs.

Ex-AG’s memoir

Former attorney-general Tommy Thomas’ memoir is out. In it, he reveals behind the scenes details about the short-lived Pakatan Harapan government.

He claimed Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, as the home minister in 2019, tried to exert his influence on him in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) case.

Thomas also revealed then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was reluctant about his appointment as attorney-general but changed his mind after being surprised at PAS’ support for him.

Thomas previously acted for the PAS-led Kelantan and Terengganu governments in their oil royalty claims against the federal government.

He also put the blame on the collapse of the Harapan government squarely on Mahathir.

HIGHLIGHTS

	PAS saved Tommy Thomas' job Dr M was unsure about him.
	Matta laments 'govt knows best' mentality Tourism is languishing.
	Singapore suspends travel bubble with Malaysia Suspension is for three months.

Boy’s tragic abuse

The tragic death of a seven-year-old boy three months after he was taken away from his foster parents sparked a debate about the state’s role in protecting children.

The boy, who had physical injuries, was found drowned in a tub.

Authorities are now trying to take custody of the boy’s siblings.

Former women, family and community development minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her ex-deputy Hannah Yeoh urged the PN Plus government to revive stalled efforts to enhance the child protection services.

Sitting minister Rina Harun said there weren't enough welfare officers and the government is recruiting.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Child abused, drowned His mother took him from his foster parents.
	Mother in abuse case not a mental patient Police says no history of mental illness.
	Police to probe hacker group Anonymous Malaysia threatened Putrajaya.

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 5,298 new cases yesterday (Jan 31), the third consecutive day where cases are above 5,000.
  
  
• Active cases climbed to a new record of 48,150.
  
  
• Johor broke 1,000 cases for the third time during the third wave.
  
  
• Malaysiakini also compiles daily locations affected by Covid-19 so you can take precaution.
  
  

What else is happening?

• Gombak MP Azmin Ali took aim at PKR president Anwar Ibrahim's alleged "immoral sexual practices" in a suit brought against him by voters.
  
  
• The Health Ministry and a steel pole manufacturer contradicted each other over an approval related to Covid-19 vaccines. The contradiction was due to confusion on whether the approval was to pursue talks on the vaccine or actual distribution.
  
  
• The opposition asked for Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa to be charged for allegedly violating MCO rules after he was spotted on an outdoor brisk walk with two other men.
  
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	RM100mil only for referrals to private hospitals It's not enough to cover walk-in Covid-19 patients.
	62 M'sian volunteers in Chinese vaccine trial The first injections administered in Kedah.
	Ex-Terengganu MB recovers from Covid-19 He was tested positive on Jan 19.

What are people saying?

	Thomas revelations bode ill for Dr M's legacy By Terence Netto
	We need leadership in Covid-19 war By Syahredzan Johan
	Are we waving Covid-19 white flag By Malaysiakini readers

CARTOON KINI