Good morning, here's a quick rundown of what happened over the weekend.


Key Highlights

  • Lockdown flip-flop

  • More contradictions

  • Revised SOPs



Lockdown flip-flop

The country will upgrade the current third movement control order (MCO 3.0) to 'total lockdown' tomorrow.

The move was announced last Friday, less than a week after Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said it couldn’t be done due to the devastating economic cost.

The flip-flop highlights the constant tussle between different ministries in the government on balancing lives and livelihood.

Although government leaders don’t air their internal tussle publicly, it has become a routine where the lobbying will subtly surface on social media in the run-up to the periodic MCO review.

The routine: Health Ministry officials are careful not to contradict the government but will highlight with increasing frequency the severity of the pandemic on social media.

Meanwhile, ministers in charge of the economy will highlight the devastation a lockdown will have on the economy.

In the latest example, the person in charge of the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti), Azmin Ali, had this to say on Twitter on May 27: “A tightened standard operating procedure under MCO 3.0 is the way to go compared to a full lockdown which gives small businesses no room to breathe.”

Meanwhile, Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham was raising alarm bells on social media.

On May 28, the prime minister, who previously acknowledged that the Health Ministry had recommended a lockdown, finally gave in to the request.

Similarly in February, during a review of the MCO 2.0, a Miti letter about the Health Ministry’s plan for a total lockdown was leaked and the next day, Azmin publicly called for an alternative.



HIGHLIGHTS

Perak mufti dies after Covid-19 infection
The cause of his death was not disclosed.
DG fears health system may collapse
This comes amid heavy traffic out of Klang Valley.
More issues surface over vaccine appointments
Some get appointments in another state.

  



More contradictions

The contradictions within the government are not limited to the MCO.

The Home Ministry is out to arrest undocumented migrants again, despite Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s promise that they won’t be arrested in a bid to convince them to come forward for Covid-19 vaccination.

Following the contradiction, Khairy said he will speak to the Home Ministry on the matter.

Meanwhile, the government made a U-turn just three days after announcing that it was considering allowing people to choose their Covid-19 vaccine.

Khairy said the government decided to abandon the plan as allowing people to choose their vaccine would slow down the vaccination process.

Previously, the government had also urged undocumented migrants to come forward for Covid-19 testing, promising that they won't be arrested - only to change the position later.



HIGHLIGHTS

Prof pours cold water over public sanitisation plans
Adeeba Kamarulzaman cites US' CDC guidance.
Don't dismiss public sanitisation exercise - Zuraida
'No point to comment without any effort to help.'
Pilot drive-through vaccination a success
131 Covid-19 vaccine doses were administered.

 



Revised SOPs

The “total lockdown” will entail standard operating procedures that are largely similar to the MCO 1.0 implemented in March last year.

All outlets in business and social sectors will have to shut down, except for those categorised as essential services.

For households, no more than two can leave their home, although some outdoor exercise in your neighbourhood area is allowed. SOP details can be found here.

Travel will also be significantly curbed with a 10km radius limit to purchase essential goods.

Travelling beyond that can only be for work or emergency, with permission letters.



HIGHLIGHTS

Anti-vaxxers face action under Sedition Act, CMA
Govt says new laws are not necessary.
PKR distances self from video critical of Agong
The party issued a stern warning against its member.
'Israeli plane in M'sian airspace: Where's Umno and PAS?'
'It would become an issue under Harapan govt'.

 


A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 6,999 new cases yesterday (May 30), a slight improvement after the record high of 9,020 new infections a day prior.

  • A total of 480 people died from Covid-19 last week, exceeding the 346 deaths in the prior week.

  • Active cases are now at 78,017, more than doubling from 38,499 in just 20 days.

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


What else is happening?

  • Police are investigating an incident involving Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali over an incident at a roadblock but have not revealed the nature of the offence. PAS said it'll stay out of the matter.

  • Fresh from his sacking as the Prasarana Malaysia Berhad chairperson, Umno's Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman was also detained by the MACC over alleged abuse of power at the firm. He was later released on bail.

  • Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun and his deputy Azalina Othman Said appear to be in a 'cold war', with Azalina pushing to lift the suspension of Parliament under the emergency while Azhar slammed critics of the emergency for being "selective". They have not named each other.

  • Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng questioned why the government has gone silent on the cabotage policy review, which has upset tech giants, when the government was supposed to have come to a decision more than a month ago.

  • A Federal Court decision denying citizenship to a boy born to a Malaysian father and Filipino mother due to being "illegitimate" prompted criticism from both civil society and a minister. The decision was narrowly approved, 4-3, with Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat in the minority.


HIGHLIGHTS

'98 Covid-19 deaths a dark moment for Malaysia'
Health DG worried doctors must choose who lives or dies.
US probes two M'sian glove makers over forced labour claims
They are Hartalega Holdings and a unit of Supermax Corp.
Sarawak not imposing Putrajaya's 'total lockdown'
It previously also rejected MCO3.0 but later implemented it.

 


What are people saying?

Govt must spend more to win Covid-19 war
By Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad
Total lockdown - survive to restart
By Rais Hussin
Halt all the panic-buying
By Yeap Ming Liong

 


CARTOON KINI