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


Key Highlights

  • Loan moratorium returns

  • Medical officers’ strike

  • Another PKR tussle?



Loan moratorium returns

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin unveiled an RM150 billion stimulus package in conjunction with the indefinite extension of the total lockdown.

A key announcement was the reintroduction of a six-month bank loan moratorium for all individual borrowers regardless of income levels.

One main difference is that it will be on an opt-in basis this time. However, Muhyiddin assured the applications will be approved without any conditions or document requirements.

However, applications from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are still subjected to bank approval.

The Small & Medium Enterprises Association appealed for the moratorium to be made automatic for SMEs as many who have missed payments while struggling to keep afloat during the pandemic have a hard time getting approval.

The government will also allow a further RM5,000 withdrawal from the Employees Provident Fund.

A full list of the items in the aid packages can be found here.



HIGHLIGHTS

RM300k for all MPs, including opposition
This is to provide food aid.
World Bank’s downgrading Malaysia's GDP expected - Azmin
He says it's due to the lockdown.
Two-thirds of SMEs see no hope business will recover this year
Some survey respondents only see recovery in 2023.




Medical officers’ strike

Tension has been building up between the Health Ministry and junior government medical officers working on a contract basis who are planning a strike.

While the Health Ministry has denied a witch hunt against likely participants, efforts are being made to discourage their participation.

Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Terengganu held an “engagement session” where the medical officers were told of possible disciplinary action.

The problems faced by contract medical officers has been a long-standing one but reached a boiling point as they toil against the Covid-19 pandemic with little prospects for their future.

Among the issues include a lack of permanent placements and also career development opportunities in the public healthcare system.



HIGHLIGHTS

'Don’t let Hippocratic oath turn into hypocritical oath'
This is over proposed race-based hiring of medical officers.
Deregistered doc resigns as MARii advisor
This comes after flak on social media.
KJ: Vaccines supplied based on data from S'gor MB meeting
He rejects claims of undersupply.

 



Another PKR tussle?

It’s been slightly more than a year since a split in PKR contributed to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government - but another round of infighting appears to be developing.

PKR Youth dissolved the leadership of its Selangor and Perlis chapters and also sacked several of its central leaders.

The official reason given was that it is to prepare for the 15th general election.

However, one of the sacked leaders claims it is a factional battle between PKR president Anwar Ibrahim’s political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak and those aligned with former PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

A previous factional battle between Anwar and his former party deputy Azmin Ali led to an exodus from the PKR.



HIGHLIGHTS

Hardship forces family to live in a deserted goat pen
They had to go hungry from time to time.
Healthcare workers walk 1km to carry Covid-19 dead
They dressed in PPE under the scorching sun.
'Only 5-10pct of Covid-19 cases from manufacturing sector'
Azmin rejects claim economic sector responsible for most cases.

 


A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 5,218 new cases yesterday (June 28).

  • The death toll crossed the 5,000-mark with another 57 new fatalities.

  • The infectivity rate climbed back to 1.0 for the first time since June 5. If it climbs above 1.0, new Covid-19 cases will start to grow exponentially again, reversing the gains that have been made to date.

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


What else is happening?

  • Veteran singer Jamal Abdillah apologised for violating the Covid-19 lockdown with a durian feast and karaoke session.

  • A Royal Malaysian Navy helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in Lumut. All crew survived and an investigation will be conducted.

  • Umno's Arau MP Shahidan Kassim pushed back against attempts to postpone the party polls, insisting that the election is needed to resolve the party's leadership tussle. Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is trying to fend off challenges as he tries to take Umno out of the Perikatan Nasional government.

  • An Oxford University study found that a third booster shot of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine produced a strong immune response. It also found that the first and second dose interval can be delayed up to 45 weeks, which also led to an enhanced immune response. Malaysia at present uses a 12-week interval.

  • The government will grant a one-off three-day permit for lawyers to return to their offices to sort out their administrative work. Law firms are not part of the list of essential services during the total lockdown.


HIGHLIGHTS

Agong's discretion: Don't misconstrue the law
'Don't bend law to fit desired outcomes,' says lawyer New Sin Yew.
Zaid: PM should explain AG's 'disrespectful' behaviour
AG said Agong can't decide on reconvening Parliament.
'Parliament should debate ordinances before emergency expires'
Otherwise, it would render them academic, legal experts say.

 



What are people saying?

Metaphors and kangkong professors
By Sharifah Munirah Alatas
Re-opening Parliament: Who really gets to decide?
By Andrew Khoo
Alarming fears over variants of concern
By Dr Ng Yunn Yiing

 

CARTOON KINI