Good morning. Let's update you on what happened over the weekend.

Key Highlights

  • Parcel rage

  • SOP confusion

  • Covid-19 priorities



Parcel rage

Netizens were up in arms after a video showed disgruntled workers of a logistics company tossing customers’ parcels around.

The firm apologised. There were claims that workers’ commission were slashed but the firm cited bonus disputes.

The incident highlighted a booming industry that is not yet properly regulated. For example, some part-time personnel use private vehicles and do not deliver in uniform.

The government indicated plans to regulate parcel hailing, but no timeline yet.

In 2019, the Transport Ministry pushed through new licensing conditions for e-hailing drivers despite strong resistance.



HIGHLIGHTS

From IT to kuih nyonya
How an IT professional made the switch.
Convicted magistrate tells how corruption works
He seeks redemption.
Johor police receive 16 reports against ex-AG
This is over his memoir.

 



SOP confusion

The National Security Council updated the Chinese New Year SOP again, relaxing family reunion and prayers rules under the MCO.

The initial criticism wasn’t so much about strict SOP, but because they didn’t make sense.

For example, the original SOP banned visitations but unnecessarily set a gathering cap of 20 people and advised not to “visit” the elderly.

It also set dates for the SOP on the first and second day of Chinese New Year when reunion dinners take place on the eve, prompting criticism of cultural ignorance.

Another SOP fiasco also unfolded in Perak as car accessories shops were ordered shut but not similar businesses in other states.

A senior police officer admitted that even enforcers were confused by the MCO SOPs and may have wrongly issued fines.



HIGHLIGHTS

Family reunion rules relaxed
SOP updated after brickbats.
EMCO on Bentong and Taiping prisons extended
They will last until Feb 22.
Couple flee after baby tested positive for Covid-19
Police managed to track them down.

 



Covid-19 priorities

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s first overseas visit to Jakarta included discussions to set up a travel bubble between Malaysia and Indonesia.

At home, the plan courted criticism of misplaced priorities as Covid-19 is still raging in both countries and Malaysia’s borders are still mostly closed.

Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang said Muhyiddin should instead focus on setting up the bipartisan committee to advise the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on the emergency and Covid-19, which had yet to materialise after almost a month.

Muhyiddin promised the independent committee after revealing on Jan 12 that he had secured an emergency proclamation from the Ruler, resulting in the suspension of Parliament.

The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry too had some unusual priorities as it lobbied for dine-in to resume amid the raging pandemic.



HIGHLIGHTS

Netizens pooh-poohs M'sia-Indonesia travel deal
They can't leave the country.
From pioneer in Covid-19 fight to patient
How a frontliner falls victim.
Explainer: How ministry decides on Covid-19 tests
We explain when RT-PCR and RTK are used.

 


A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 3,731 new cases yesterday (Feb 7).

  • Active cases hit a new record-high of 51,241 although infectivity rate showing early signs of going down.

  • Three out of 15 new deaths were brought in dead, including an 18-year-old girl at Selayang Hospital.

  • Malaysiakini also compiles daily locations affected by Covid-19 so you can take precaution.


What else is happening?

  • More than 100 Petronas workers are stranded off-shore after the coup in Myanmar.

  • Environmentalists speak out against a planned reclamation project in Langkawi.

  • Opposition MPs want more information after Putrajaya revealed it will allocate RM100,000 to each of them.

  • Physical classes for SPM classes end today.



HIGHLIGHTS

'Govt must allow stateless children in schools'
This is based on a UN convention it signed.
MP urges telcos to provide student packages
Cheaper internet access needed during MCO.
Possible Covid-19 re-infection case in S'pore
Involves a migrant worker.

 


What are people saying?

Covid-19 - improve management of mild cases
By Dr Subramaniam Muniandy
Religion case: is Federal Court wrong?
By Sepang MP Hanipa Maidin
Covid dilemma: The economy or our health?
By Malaysiakini readers

 


KINI LENS

Visitors thronged the pasar malam in Taman Bukit Anggerik in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. The government had allowed night markets to operate under revised SOPs on Jan 27.