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


Key Highlights

  • Another confidence vote saga

  • CInemas to reopen

  • Putrajaya turns heat on S'gor



Another confidence vote saga

The Muhyiddin Yassin government's refusal to undergo a vote of confidence dogged the administration for the most part of its tenure until its eventual collapse.

But the new Ismail Sabri Yaakob government's refusal to undergo a confidence vote as well is peculiar - considering the situation of 114 MPs backing him is not even disputed by the opposition - and is now threatening to embroil him in controversy.

Trying to justify the government's refusal for a confidence vote, de facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar claimed that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to it.

Wan Junaidi claimed this was informed by Ismail Sabri during the first cabinet meeting, only to see officials scrambling to walk back the comment later, raising questions if the ruler's position was accurately represented.

The revelation was surprising as the Agong had publicly decreed that the new prime minister undergoes a confidence vote. No announcement was made about a change in position.

Critics were sceptical, insisting that Wan Junaidi's claim is hearsay until Istana Negara issues a new decree confirming that it does not want the prime minister to undergo a confidence vote.

For now, the government is firm on not having a confidence vote as no such motion has been listed in the Order Paper ahead of Parliament's reconvening on Sept 13.


HIGHLIGHTS

Parliament can summon AG - civil society groups
This is to explain the confidence vote.
MP proposes Parliament sits for 180 days
The new govt has limited time for reforms.
Kit Siang tells KJ not to ‘tai chi’ Covid-19 death rates
'Give proper answer as to why there are high rates.'




CInemas to reopen

Cinemas nationwide will be allowed to resume operations beginning tomorrow (Sept 9) as part of the relaxation of restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals.

Also allowed to resume operations are indoor performance activities, museums and art galleries.

The entertainment and art industry has been among the hardest hit as they were often one of the last to be allowed to reopen, only to close shortly after due to a new lockdown.

Cinemas were previously allowed to reopen in March only to see a total lockdown in June.

Even before the latest reopening, some cinemas, such as MBO, decided to throw in the towel and it was acquired by Golden Screen Cinemas.


HIGHLIGHTS

Johor to set up bipartisan 'post-Covid' committee
State govt hopes to improve relations with the opposition.
First of 76,400 S'wak teens to get Covid-19 jabs  - KJ
These will begin to be administered today.
Khairy: School opening SOPs to be finalised Thursday
The education and health ministries to meet.

 



Putrajaya turns heat on S'gor

Putrajaya blasted the Pakatan Harapan-led Selangor government for quietly degazetting the Kuala Langat North forest reserve.

Selangor Forestry Department director Ahmad Fadzil Abdul Majid, however, defended the decision, which he said took seven years to make.

Harapan backbenchers had been trying to block the project since the onset.

Several of them roasted the Selangor government during the hearing process and they also initiated a motion urging the government to protect forest reserves in the state - which was unanimously approved in the State Legislative Assembly.

The state government led by PKR's Amirudin Shari, however, did not get the message. His party has since intervened to deal with the public backlash and fallout.

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said the forest reserve issue, along with a separate internal party tussle in Negeri Sembilan, are the top priorities that the top PKR leadership would be working to resolve.



HIGHLIGHTS

N Sembilan MB denies he neglected his party
He says programmes are not organised because of Covid-19.
Time to do away with zoos, CAP tells govt
'Public should watch documentaries for wildlife knowledge.'
FT PKR pushes for party logo to be used in GE15
'The PKR logo is recognised by all Malaysians.'



A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 18,547 new cases yesterday (Sept 7).

  • The national infectivity rate remained under 1.0 for the sixth consecutive day. A sustained figure of under 1.0 means the number of Covid-19 cases is showing signs of declining. It was 0.95 yesterday.

  • However, the infectivity rate for Sarawak remains elevated, at 1.18. Sarawak also reported the most number of new Covid-19 cases for the second consecutive day, suggesting that it may soon become the new epicentre of the pandemic after Sabah and Selangor.

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


What else is happening?

  • The government said the reforms proposed by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, including a term limit for the post of prime minister, are still on the table and being studied.

  • De facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the government will comply with the order of the High Court in Kuching to implement Undi18 by Dec 31 as there is no directive yet to appeal the decision.

  • Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Ahmad Marzuk Shaary said several syariah legislation, including the Control and Restriction on the Propagation of Non-Muslim Religions Bill, are in the pipeline, but Wan Junaidi said they have yet to be brought to the cabinet and must get the consent of all states.

  • A study showed mixing the CanSino and Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines will induce a stronger antibody response.


HIGHLIGHTS

'Hospitals refusing to admit Covid patients who look fine can cost lives'
Boo shares the case of a patient.
How did paedophile evade detection for so long, MP asks cops
The suspect operated in a small town, says Yii.
MACC: Abdul Azeez not acquitted yet in corruption case 
It says what was presented in court was only submissions.

 


What are people saying?

Withdrawal of charges fails to pass the smell test
By R Nadeswaran
A fine-tuned Parliamentary Service Bill should be ready
By Hafiz Hassan
Death penalty: A matter of life and death
By Julian Ong Qi Xuan