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

Key Highlights

  • 'Vaccinated' imposters among us

  • MACC advisor on the defensive

  • The ire of the tiger



'Vaccinated' imposters among us

The authorities are on the hunt for imposters among us who have allegedly procured fake vaccination certificates.

A doctor in Terengganu has been remanded after he was accused of selling fake Covid-19 vaccination certificates.

Health authorities are tracking down clients. The doctor is said to have dealt with 1,900 individuals but it is not clear how many he sold fake certificates to.

Previously, the Health Ministry said 17 imported cases of Omicron were detected in patients who had no vaccination records.


HIGHLIGHTS

Hisham wants full force of law on vaccine cert forgers
He warns safe reopening will be jeopardised.
Covid-19: 16 umrah clusters so far, 13 with Omicron
Clusters in nine states and FT.
Primary school pupils can do Covid-19 self-tests at home
Minister says schools will provide kits.

 



MACC advisor on the defensive

MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) chairperson Abu Zahar Ujang blamed the media for misrepresenting his remarks on embattled MACC chief Azam Baki.

He stressed that he is aware the board doesn't have the power to investigate criminal misconduct and that he is not opposed to an independent probe on Azam.

Abu Zahar previously said the ACAB was satisfied by the MACC chief's explanation on his shareholdings controversy and found no conflict of interest.

The other ACAB members, however, disputed this publicly. Abu Zahar wished they had talked to him about their views first.


HIGHLIGHTS

Independent probe needed to restore MACC's credibility
NGOs urge PM to act.
Cops summon PKR Youth leaders over Azam Baki protest
They will be probed under the Peaceful Assembly Act.
Kit Siang pans Putrajaya's refusal to debate MACC fiasco
Parliament will convene next week for a special sitting.

 



The ire of the tiger

A battle between man and beast is shaping up in the interiors of Gua Musang, Kelantan.

Last week an Orang Asli man was mauled to death by a tiger.

Now at least two Orang Asli schools are under threat from the king of the jungle.

The Temiar community believe the conflict is the result of unchecked deforestation in Gua Musang, which is threatening the Orang Asli and all wildlife in the area.

They have submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office, calling for the deforestation to be put to a stop.

The previous Pakatan Harapan government had tried to sue the Kelantan government on behalf of the Temiar over alleged land encroachment in Gua Musang.

However, the suit was struck out by the Court of Appeal and the Perikatan Nasional government decided not to pursue the matter.


HIGHLIGHTS

Forestry Dept instructed to identify areas prone to natural disasters
The dept must submit a report within a month.
Repairs at 987 flood-hit locations to cost RM1.4bil
Clean-up work has been completed at 928 locations.
NGOs urge Perak MB to act on illegal sand mining
'Irresponsible parties have no respect for the law.'

 


A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 3,175 new cases yesterday (Jan 11).

  • 27 fatalities put the death toll at 31,723.

New cases by states

Selangor (662)
Kelantan (393)
Johor (318)
Kuala Lumpur (290)
Kedah (260)
Sabah (253)
Penang (197)
Malacca (186)
Pahang (178)
Negeri Sembilan (151)
Perak (113)
Terengganu (88)
Putrajaya (46)
Sarawak (22)
Perlis (12)
Labuan (6)



What else is happening?

  • Police are investigating a senior judge accused of stripping naked at the home of a married woman, whose husband is bedridden.

  • Images of students having to cross a 300-metre dilapidated bridge over a river in Sandakan raised public concerns, prompting the local representatives to promise immediate repairs.

  • Muda denied forging its membership after a PKR member complained he was registered as a Muda member without his knowledge. Muda said the party's simple registration process may have been abused and pledged to improve the process.


HIGHLIGHTS

PPIM submits memo to Najib asking for EPF withdrawal
This is to be passed on to PM Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
EPF's investment income up 7.7pct in first 9 months of 2021
CEO says Q3 2021 has been volatile for equities.
'Muhyiddin can wear party colours, but I can't?' - PKR leader
Napsiah says her PKR colours barred her from flood relief work.

 


What are people saying?

Class struggle in the face of environmental disasters
By Huei Ting & Audrey Chan
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By Lufti Hakim Ariff