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

Key Highlights

  • Lockdown week 6, 'situation normal'

  • Parliament rubber stamp

  • Umno undecided



Lockdown week 6, 'situation normal'

Yesterday was the start of week 6 of the "total lockdown", or Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan, and our current status is: Situation normal, all fouled up.

While some states are reporting fewer cases, the situation in the Klang Valley is getting worse despite the prolonged "lockdown".

Kuala Lumpur reported 1,550 new cases, a new record for the territory, while Selangor had 3,260 new cases.

Despite the rising cases, Pakatan Harapan believes the country is still not doing enough Covid-19 testing after Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah shared, in a now-deleted tweet, an unverified article claiming the WHO recommended against widespread screening.

The enhanced MCO in most of Selangor, meanwhile, is running into issues after some non-essential factories were granted permission letters to operate. The government later clarified that the letters are invalid.

HIGHLIGHTS

60pct of Covid-19 workplace clusters from factories
A total of 18,065 factory cases from June 1 to July 1.
'Thefts shift from electronics to fish, vegetables'
Mydin experiencing starvation-related thefts.
Self-testing Covid-19 kits available next month
Health DG said those sold right now are unreliable.

 



Parliament rubber stamp

MPs are worried that the forthcoming Parliament sitting on July 26 may turn into a mere government briefing session.

This comes as Putrajaya has not indicated that the emergency proclamation and emergency ordinances would be debated.

Instead, it looks like the session will focus mainly on approving mechanisms for a hybrid Parliament, while emergency-related laws will only be tabled.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said the five-day sitting arranged for by the government is not sufficient to provide checks and balances.

HIGHLIGHTS

Cops probe Kit Siang statement on Islamic countries
The home minister says the statement could be seditious.
Kit Siang sorry for criticising Hadi’s ‘Kerajaan Allah’ remark
DAP veteran says he misinterpreted the PAS leader's words.
Raub durian farmers released on police bail
They were arrested after a tussle with state authorities.

 



Umno undecided

Despite holding a series of meetings, Umno has yet to make a decision on whether to withdraw support for the Perikatan Nasional federal government.

This is after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's ultimatum to the government to convene Parliament was thwarted by an 11th-hour U-turn by Putrajaya.

Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi, however, is confident that an exit from PN is imminent.

The Umno supreme council will meet tonight.

HIGHLIGHTS

Cops warn political parties against physical meetings
This is after the Umno meetings on Monday.
Cops summon four more activists over animation
Animation depicts alleged police brutality.
Ronnie Liu to be questioned over alleged SOP violation
This comes after a heated argument with cops in Raub.

 


A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 7,654 new cases yesterday (July 6), the eighth consecutive day where cases are above 6,000.

  • The number of patients in ICU are at a record high of 943, surpassing the previous record of 924 on June 16.

  • 507 people have died from Covid-19 in the first six days of this month.

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



What else is happening?

  • Banks will start taking loan moratorium applications today. Bank Negara, however, cautioned that interests will still accrue during the deferment period.

  • The Health Ministry has offered contract doctors a one-off extension to serve from Dec 5, 2021 to Dec 4, 2022. A Malaysian Medical Association representative, however, said this was not a solution to the contract doctor problem.

  • A 20-year-old man was charged for allegedly impersonating a doctor at a vaccine administration centre in Kuching.

  • A house call hotline will be set up for those who are bedridden and unable to travel out to be vaccinated for Covid-19.

  • The National Coalition on Mental Well-being has called on the government to decriminalise suicide attempts as soon as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS

Indoor ventilation guide expected this week
This is according to Dr Jemilah Mahmood.
Private clinic launches 24-hour food bank
SP Care gives goods without any conditions.
M'sia surpasses 300k doses a  day vaccination target
More than 313,000 doses were administered on Monday.

 


What are people saying?

The days for Muhyiddin & Co are numbered
By Francis Paul Siah
Destroying the financial future of the poor
By Paul Selva Raj
Govt should heed US Trafficking in Persons Report
By AG Kalidas



CARTOON KINI