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

Key Highlights

  • Molnupiravir - the Covid-19 pill

  • PN says no to a third deputy speaker

  • Malacca rebels plead with palace



Molnupiravir - the Covid-19 pill

The government has decided to buy 150,000 courses of an antiviral pill named molnupiravir to add to its arsenal in the fight against Covid-19.

But what does it do? According to manufacturer Merck, molnupiravir can reduce the chance of high risk individuals from being hospitalised by 50 percent.

Unlike other pills that were previously touted as alternative treatments for Covid-19, molnupiravir is designed to introduce errors into the genetic code of the coronavirus.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the pills would be used to treat symptomatic patients who fall victim to breakthrough infections.

HIGHLIGHTS

Sabah vaccination lagging
MOH to boost outreach programmes.
Booster dose not compulsory
It won't affect vaccination status.
Govt will not arbitrarily open borders - PM
Health authorities advice sought.

 



PN says no to a third deputy speaker

Perikatan Nasional is against amending the Federal Constitution to create a third Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker post.

Creating the post was aimed at placating Umno's "court cluster", as well as Pakatan Harapan.

It would have allowed both Umno's Ahmad Maslan and DAP's Nga Kor Ming to become deputy speakers.

However, PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin said this was not necessary and was not part of the government's memorandum of understanding with Harapan.

PN has 50 MPs, not enough to stop a constitutional amendment if the government gets bipartisan support.

Coincidentally, Ahmad Maslan also withdrew his candidacy for the Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker post - ostensibly to focus on his work as Umno secretary-general. He said it was not related to Muhyiddin's announcement.

HIGHLIGHTS

Anwar continues to push for Pandora Papers debate
He appealed the speaker's rejection.
Wee says he'll not run away from cabotage debate
A date will be arranged once the policy is finalised.
Minister explains MA63 constitutional amendments
It is to remedy the misinterpretation.

 



Malacca rebels plead with palace

Five former Malacca assemblypersons have sent a letter to Istana Negara pleading to have the State Legislative Assembly's dissolution reversed.

Among the signatories were the two former assemblypersons whose defections caused the Malacca government to collapse, as well as former menteri besar Adly Zahari.

The letter was addressed to Deputy Yang di Pertuan Agong Sultan Nazrin Shah, who is currently the acting King.

The group argues that there is nothing preventing Malacca Governor Mohd Ali Rustam from retracting his decision to dissolve the state assembly.

HIGHLIGHTS

Ex-Malacca reps treated as ‘enemies of the state’
PKR veep calls for end to 'bullying'.
MOH to accept cabinet decision on Malacca polls
The necessary procedures will be prepared.
DAP snubs Malacca Umno's advances 
It's not sincere, a source says.

 


A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 9,890 new cases yesterday (Oct 7), the fifth day in a row with fresh infections below 10,000.

  • Perlis had a massive spike in cases, from 42 on Wednesday, to 200 yesterday, a record high for the state. 

  • Health authorities were cited in media reports as pinning the Perlis spike on unauthorised interstate travel and bad quarantine practices.


What else is happening?

  • 'Lain-lain' Malaysians were lumped together with non-citizens in a breakdown of Covid-19 fatalities by race.

  • Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim gave out his phone number for members of the public to report on potholes in Kuala Lumpur - which he vowed would be patched within 24 hours.

  • Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak is annoyed with news headlines that wrongly linked him with the offshore bank accounts recently exposed by the Pandora Papers.

HIGHLIGHTS

12MP passed in Dewan Rakyat
It passed via voice vote.
Rosmah denies assuming FLOM title
'It was for administrative purposes.'
Home Ministry, AGC back decriminalising suicide
Cabinet will deliberate the matter next.

 


What are people saying?

Offshore funds: Shouldn't they be asked to account for it?
By R Nadeswaran
The art of self-leadership
By Ranjit Singh Malhi
Malacca polls could be GE litmus test
By Malaysiakini readers