MCO 3.0: What to expect?

Good morning, here's what you need to know today.

Key Highlights

• MCO 3.0: What to expect?
  
  
• Putrajaya's hesitance
  
  
• Anti-fake news ordinance
  
  

MCO 3.0: What to expect?

The government announced a third movement control order (MCO) for Kuala Lumpur, a day after the same measure was announced for parts of Selangor.

Johor Bahru, Kulai and Kota Tinggi in Johor, Taiping in Perak and 14 sub-districts in Terengganu will also be placed under MCO 3.0.

However, MCO 3.0 is less strict than the previous ones. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s allowed and what’s not:

Restrictions:

• No dine-in
• No inter-district travel (exemption: work, education, vaccination, police permission)
• Management staff in office capped at 30 percent
• No social events (eg: wedding, reunion, workshop, conferences, etc)
• No cinemas, karaoke outlets, theme parks, pub, spa, etc
  
  

Allowed (subject to SOP):

• No limit on people in a car
• Places of worship
• Care centres
• Most businesses
  
  

You can find the detailed SOP set by the National Security Council here.

The MCO on six districts in Selangor starts today while the remaining areas will take effect tomorrow (May 7).

HIGHLIGHTS

	Schools in S'gor, KL and Putrajaya to close today This coincides with the MCO in some areas.
	Saudi Arabia considers barring overseas haj pilgrims It'll be for a second year.
	Covid-19 patient runs away from Kedah hospital Police are on the lookout for the man, aged 39.

Putrajaya’s hesitance

Putrajaya, limping from the economic damage from two previous MCOs, is reluctant to impose tough restrictions despite lobbying by state governments.

A second request by the Kelantan government for a stricter form of MCO was rejected by the federal government due to economic concerns.

Meanwhile, Selangor decided to disallow Ramadan bazaars in MCO areas even though Putrajaya’s default position was to allow them to operate.

The federal government agreed to give state governments the final say on the bazaars.

Selangor's closure of Ramadan bazaars in MCO areas will only take effect on Saturday to give traders time to clear their stock.

The prime minister previously said the country was short on money due to the Covid-19 pandemic - that was before the third round of MCOs.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Dr M suggests GE15 in 2023 due to Covid-19 He says the gov't can't afford to hold an election.
	For some, AstraZeneca a ticket to normalcy People explain why they're signing up for the vaccine.
	S'gor to prepare 200 ICU beds for Covid-19 patients It is expecting a surge of the critically ill.

Anti-fake news ordinance

Police invoked the anti-fake news ordinance against a Facebook user for highlighting the arrival of passenger flights from India despite a travel ban.

That was before the Transport Ministry’s clarification that the passenger planes had been converted into cargo flights and were not carrying any travellers.

Cops said they have initiated 12 investigation papers under the emergency powers, which provides for a fine of up to RM100,000, or up to three years imprisonment or both.

Meanwhile, Malaysia expanded the travel ban to cover another four of India’s neighbouring countries - Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

This is to curb the spread of the more dangerous B.1.617 variant which has caused India to record the world’s highest increase in new Covid-19 cases and deaths.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Fahmi Reza made to surrender Twitter account It is now evidence for police investigation.
	NUJ: Screws are tightening on press freedom This is happening under the PN govt.
	Family claims man beaten by cops Police deny the allegation.

 

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 3,744 new cases yesterday (May 5). The country recorded more than 3,000 cases in five out of the last seven days.
  
  
• Selangor recorded 1,548 new cases, the highest since the resurgence which began in mid-April. New infections in Selangor have not been at this level since Feb 10.
  
  
• May is our deadliest month for the Covid-19 cases, with 85 deaths registered in the first five days, the highest on record. This is matched with the first five days of February which also saw 85 deaths - the peak of the third wave before the current resurgence. 
  
  
• For trends on daily cases, tests, hospital beds capacity, vaccination progress and more, follow our Covid-19 tracker.
  
  

What else is happening?

• Malaysiakini takes a look at PR1MA Corporation Malaysia's splurging on events and cash handouts despite the government agency being in the red and several of its affordable home projects are still incomplete, leaving homebuyers in limbo.
  
  
• The Jaringan Prihatin scheme, which provides up to RM300 subsidy to purchase mobile devices for the B40 community, is officially launched. If you are in the B40 income group, check with your telco on how to redeem.
  
  
• Ex-prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's lawyer maintained that the former prime minister is not yet bankrupt amid an RM1.69 billion tax suit against him by the Inland Revenue Board.
  
  
• A man was arrested for allegedly making his toddler smoke on a vaping device.
  
  
• The price of RON97 petrol will increase by two sen to RM2.60 per litre effective today. The price of RON95 and diesel remains unchanged at RM2.05 and RM2.15 per litre respectively.
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	Calls for home minister to be suspended This was for trying to appoint his "boy" in the police force.
	Ain considers offers to change school Her dad says she needs a conducive environment.
	Disgusting - Syed Saddiq on lewd video targeting him Clip alleged a conversation with a schoolgirl.

What are people saying?

	We are here today, gone tomorrow By Rafidah Aziz
	Will a rising tide lift all boats in Malaysia? By Kenneth Simler, Shakira Teh Sharifuddin & Zainab Ali Ahmad
	Why hasn't govt acquired Plus to save billions per year? By Tony Pua

KINI LENS