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Key Highlights

  • Genting staff vaccinated

  • Exams abolished, cancelled

  • Too steep a fine



Genting staff vaccinated

On Tuesday, rumours emerged on Twitter that some 1,500 staff at Genting Highlands hotels received Covid-19 vaccines, ahead of the more vulnerable groups. It blamed Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy yesterday responded to the allegation, confirming that Pahang decided to vaccinate staff members at 56 hotels, including Genting hotels, without the federal government’s knowledge. He reprimanded them.

He also announced a change in policy in the deployment of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has a rare chance of blood clots among younger people.

It will be offered on a voluntary basis. Those who take up the offer will receive fast-tracked vaccination. Details will be announced in the near future.

The Health Ministry previously decided to use the AstraZeneca vaccine on the elderly but Khairy was worried that, despite the low risk, it could deter people from registering for the overall programme, which includes other vaccines that do not have the same problem.


HIGHLIGHTS

Perak MB under quarantine
He was in close contact with a Covid-19 patient.
KJ defends RM70m for vaccine appointment system
He says the sum was an allocation and not the final cost.
Covid-19 data thoroughly verified - Health Minister
He refutes claims that data were fabricated.

 




Exams cancelled, abolished

The Covid-19 pandemic has not only expedited the digitalisation of businesses but also fast-tracked changes to our examination system as schools face disruptions.

The abolition of the Year Six UPSR examination was mooted in 2016 and the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) had in 2019 complained the government was dragging its feet.

Its abolition is now confirmed, effective this year. Meanwhile, the PT3 examination for Form 3 students was also cancelled, the second year in a row.

The Education Ministry promised more in-class assessments. It has struggled to strike a balance during the pandemic.

Keeping students out of classrooms in favour of e-learning left poorer students without internet access at a disadvantage while keeping them in classrooms left tens of thousands infected.



HIGHLIGHTS

Minister assures thorough probe on rape joke
A teacher has been accused of making the joke.
Teen wants apology for lewd comments
Some were allegedly made by teachers.
Govt told to end 'institutionalised' rape culture
A mechanism is needed to protect victims.

 



Too steep a fine

It has emerged that apart from a burger and rojak seller, a small-time grocer was also slapped with an RM50,000 fine for operating beyond allowed hours under the movement control order (MCO).

De facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan said enforcers should follow the guidelines set by the federal government.

In the case of a licence holder, he said, the fine should be RM10,000 with a 50 percent discount if paid within seven days.

However, former finance minister Lim Guan Eng said even a 50 percent discount was still too steep for a petty trader and called it "inhumane".

In the case of the grocer, he was already struggling before the fine. His car was repossessed and risks losing his home due to unpaid loans.



HIGHLIGHTS

PM urges 'humane approach' when issuing fines
He advises enforcers to use their discretion.
RM50k SOP fines: IGP urges affected traders to appeal
He says they can be reduced or waived.
Small businesses appeal for rental relief
They're struggling to keep afloat.

 


A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 3,142 new cases yesterday (April 28), the first time fresh cases rose above 3,000 since Feb 21.

  • Sixty-two people died from Covid-19 in the last five days.

  • The actual increase of new Covid-19 cases (black line) again surpassed the Health Ministry's latest projection (red area), even though it had last week already revised the forecast upwards.

  • For trends on daily cases, tests, hospital beds capacity, vaccination progress and more, follow our Covid-19 tracker.


What else is happening?

  • A Universiti Utara Malaysia senior lecturer who cast aspersions on the authenticity of Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim's aid to a Foodpanda delivery motorcycle rider and offered RM2,000 for information forced the rider, Anas Mazmi Ahmad, to go public. Anas expressed disappointment at having a reward placed on him like a criminal.

  • Bentong MP Wong Tack asked Putrajaya to cancel Lynas' operating licence after Lynas failed to meet a March deadline to build a facility to store its radioactive waste. However, the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) confirmed it had given Lynas a six-month extension until Sept 2 to meet the condition.

  • Police summoned cartoonist Zunar over an artwork published in January about Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's move to reverse Thaipusam as a special holiday.

  • The police are also investigating an MP and activists who had gathered in solidarity with graphic artist Fahmi Reza when he was arrested over a Spotify playlist named after a comment made by the Queen.

  • Zeti Akthar Aziz is set to step down as the Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) chairperson amid allegations that her family members were also involved in the 1MDB scandal.


HIGHLIGHTS

Azalina questions justification to keep Parliament shut
She takes aim at the de facto law minister.
DAP 'devil' tells how he shed horns in Malay heartland
Yeo won in a Malay-majority seat.
CIJ: Unacceptable to target media for quoting DIGP verbatim
It said such actions caused Malaysia's press freedom ranking to fall.

 


What are people saying?

Are international schools charging too much?
By I Lourdesamy
Troubling cases of the govt criminalising speech
By Linda Lakhdhir
In solidarity with Ain Husniza
By Pegerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia

 


CARTOON KINI