Good morning! Hope you had a joyous Deepavali.

Here's a quick recap of the last two days.

Key Highlights

• MOH ivermectin trial results are in
  
  
• Sarawak emergency lifted
  
  
• Call for new 'bumi plan'
  
  

MOH ivermectin trial results are in

The results of the Health Ministry's clinical trial on whether ivermectin can treat Covid-19 are in.

The findings are unlikely to change the minds of ivermectin proponents, but for those who want to know, the study found no benefit to treating Covid-19 with the antiparasitic drug.

Instead, study participants who received ivermectin were three times more likely to report side effects compared to participants who didn’t – usually cases of diarrhoea.

It found that the progression of Covid-19 for those who took ivermectin, and the control group, were not statistically significant.

Likewise, ivermectin made no clear difference in terms of ICU admission rate, usage of mechanical ventilators, symptom resolution, blood test parameters and chest X-ray results.

The ivermectin group did have a slightly reduced mortality rate on the 28th day after treatment began, but the finding was also not statistically significant.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Managing trust, expectation key to NIP It contributed to vaccination success.
	600k M40 households now B40 due to Covid-19 Only 14pct of at-risk M40 households qualify for cash aid.
	Britain approves Merck's Covid-19 pill It's the first to approve the pill.

Sarawak emergency lifted

The localised emergency in Sarawak was lifted on Wednesday.

This paves the way for the state election to be held by Jan 2. The term of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly had actually expired in June but the election was put on hold after an emergency was declared.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who assented to lifting the Sarawak emergency, had expressed concern on the risk of Covid-19 spreading due to an election, but that a nod was given to fulfil "the needs of democracy".

Critics have accused the incumbent Sarawak state government of lifting the emergency early and putting lives at stake to avoid Undi18 voters from participating in the state election.

Undi18 is slated to take effect on Jan 1. Even if polls are held on Jan 2, the Election Commission may likely use an electoral roll before Undi18 is implemented.

HIGHLIGHTS

	125k youths can't vote if S'wak polls is held this year 'Youth voting rights ignored.'
	Muda worried about flights for S'wak polls Ticket prices have skyrocketed.
	'Twin state polls aimed at wiping out DAP' Kit Siang blames govt hardliners.

Call for new 'bumi plan'

Budget 2022 allocated RM11.4 billion for bumiputera empowerment.

However, Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman is of the opinion that the government must also come up with a new economic policy for bumiputeras to replace the National Development Policy (NDP) and New Economic Policy (NEP).

He said Malays were still left behind at all levels of the economy and steps were needed to ensure they can catch up.

However, Tajuddin added, the help provided should not focus on welfare handouts.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Govt: Bumi firms will benefit from 5G rollout Qualified firms will be given a greenlane.
	Peneraju to upskill 10k new bumi workers This is to get the workforce ready for post-pandemic.
	Ministers now use Vellfire as official cars Najib says don't blame him for this.

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 5,713 new cases yesterday (Nov 4).
  
  
• 64 deaths bring the death toll to 29,155.
  
  

New cases by state:

Selangor (1,344)
Sabah (655)
Sarawak (527)
Kelantan (484)
Johor (429)
Kedah (355)
Penang (340)
Pahang (310)
Kuala Lumpur (275)
Malacca (250)
Terengganu (234)
Perak (210)
Negeri Sembilan (188)
Putrajaya (55)
Perlis (38)
Labuan (19)

What else is happening?

• Unicef says climate change and environmental degradation could have adverse effects on the healthy growth, development and well-being of children in Malaysia.
  
  
• The government says it is determined to criminalise stalking by this year, with a bill expected to be ready in December.
  
  
• Muda pro-tem president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman lamented that Pakatan Harapan would prioritise 'political frogs' over their own allies.
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	Govt can raise RM5b on prosperity, foreign income taxes 240 companies will have to pay prosperity tax.
	Bukit Aman verifying Nur Sajat's molest claims They're checking with Jais.
	M'sian pen drive pioneer faces two-year jail in Taiwan He was convicted over financial misrepresentation.

What are the people saying

	This Deepavali, a tale of two mothers - Panchalai and Rosmah By S Thayaparan
	May light of inclusion conquer darkness of insecurities By Wilfred Madius Tangau
	Zaid, the old will not go away on their own By Malaysiakini readers

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