Good morning, here's what you need to know today.
Key Highlights
Can Muda bring new politics?
Najib: I don't have RM2.6bil
Pharmaniaga reprimanded
Can Muda bring new politics?
The entry of Dian Lee into Muda, the daughter of property tycoon Lee Kim Yew, sparked a debate if the recruit is a boon or bane for the party.
Critics expressed concern if elites in the party will be able to champion working-class causes but others say Lee should be judged by her deeds and not the family she is born into.
Despite the ambivalence, Pakatan Harapan, particularly DAP and Amanah, believe Muda is the way forward and have given up six seats for the youth-based party to contest in the Johor polls.
However, this irked Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi, who accused Harapan of trying to ride on Muda's youthful image.
Muda's negotiations with PKR, however, have not been as smooth sailing, with PKR only willing to give up seats that are Umno strongholds.
Muda is eyeing Gambir, for which the incumbent is Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.
HIGHLIGHTS
Najib: I don't have RM2.6bil
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak maintained he can't return US$681 million to 1MDB and its subsidiaries because he didn't have the money.
This was after 1MDB obtained a court order to freeze Najib's assets.
Najib had claimed the US$681 million, colloquially referred to as RM2.6 billion based on the exchange rate when it was first exposed in 2015, was an "Arab donation".
The money was deposited into Najib's bank accounts shortly before the 2013 general election. Najib claimed he had "returned the donation".
The High Court in Kuala Lumpur gave Najib 14 days to make a written disclosure over the US$681 million.
HIGHLIGHTS
Pharmaniaga reprimanded
The Health Ministry took Pharmaniaga Berhad to task for misrepresenting the effectiveness of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine.
This was after Pharmaniaga cited a Yale University study that a Sinovac-Sinovac-Pfizer regime was insufficient to protect against the Omicron variant, then went on to cite Sinovac's own research that a Sinovac-Sinovac-Sinovac regime was effective against Omicron.
However, the Yale research was not suggesting that a Pfizer booster was ineffective but rather recipients of double Sinovac would need two booster shots instead of one.
Pharmaniaga is the designated importer of the Sinovac vaccine and is in charge of its sales.
The Health Ministry's Institute of Clinical Research later released an infographic to show that recipients with double Sinovac doses face a 76 percent higher risk of infection compared to those with double Pfizer doses.
However, those who are boosted, regardless of brand, will be better than those who have taken double doses of Pfizer, although a Pfizer booster still provides better protection than a Sinovac booster.
Sinovac is, in fact, effective against Covid-19 but faces the problem of rapidly waning protection, thus requiring more regular shots.
HIGHLIGHTS
A daily glance at Covid-19
19,090 new cases yesterday (Feb 10), the highest since Sept 15.
The national infectivity rate continued to climb steeply to 1.47.
New cases by state
Selangor (3,779)
Sabah (2,969)
Johor (2,837)
Kedah (1,956)
Kelantan (1,439)
Penang (1,267)
Kuala Lumpur (1,005)
Negeri Sembilan (997)
Pahang (795)
Malacca (728)
Perak (373)
Terengganu (324)
Sarawak (226)
Putrajaya (183)
Perlis (106)
Labuan (106)
What else is happening?
Graphic artist Fahmi Reza was charged under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for allegedly insulting a minister with his artwork.
Human rights groups expressed alarm at Malaysia's arrest of a former Bangladeshi diplomat who has refugee status. Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin, however, maintained that the arrest is lawful.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced a breakthrough for contract doctors who have been fighting for permanent positions, stating that Putrajaya has agreed to create some 8,600 such positions.
HIGHLIGHTS
What are people saying?
