Good morning. Here's what you need to know today.

Key Highlights

  • Dine-in under MCO

  • Quarantine controversy

  • Umno rebels



Dine-in under MCO

MCO relaxed further. Starting today, you can enjoy meals at eateries. Other retail outlets will also reopen today.

This was amid signs of improvements. Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah believed the Covid-19 pandemic had peaked.

Yesterday saw 2,764 new Covid-19 cases, the first time it dipped under 3,000 in 27 days.

The national infectivity rate also dipped under 1.00 on Dec 5 and declined to 0.91 on Dec 8. Under 1.00 means reduced cases, above 1.00 means exponential growth.

However, the infectivity rates in Selangor, Penang, Johor, Malacca and Kuala Lumpur are still above 1.00.

Watch out for this indicator in the next weeks to see if we can hold the gains amid reopening. We’ll keep you updated.



HIGHLIGHTS

Dine-in allowed, fashion and retail can open
They must abide by strict SOP.
Covid-19 backlog: Why delays happen
Experts explain the problems and solutions.
DG Hisham: The worst is behind us
He expects infectivity to drop.

 



Quarantine controversy

The decision to allow ministers a shorter quarantine time of three days prompted criticisms of double standards.

A more pertinent question experts have asked: “What was the scientific basis”.

An under fire Health Minister Adham Baba gave assurances and a mostly non-scientific explanation.

Fending claims of double standards, Adham suggested the same three-day quarantine could be offered to the public in future.

Barring outliers, the WHO puts the normal Covid-19 incubation period at between two to 10 days. Malaysia practises the 10-day quarantine rule, at least for ordinary citizens.



HIGHLIGHTS

3-day quarantine may be expanded
He says long quarantine drives away investors.
'Foreign minister may need to quarantine longer'
This was amid backlash over leeway for ministers. 
Speaker urged to allow written questions
Only way for answers while Parliament suspended.

 



Umno rebels

The PN Plus government is seeing increasing friendly-fire from Umno.

Umno supreme council leader Mohd Puad Zarkashi jumped on the quarantine controversy, alleging the 3-day rule for ministers was due to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s entourage refusing to quarantine for 10 days.

This prompted a denial from the Prime Minister’s Office which also threatened him with legal action.

Meanwhile, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi took aim at Muhyiddin’s lieutenant Azmin Ali, alleging that he violated MCO SOPs and should be fined.

Umno’s Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz also accused Muhyiddin of punishing his constituents after the Padang Rengas MP’s government allocation was slashed.




HIGHLIGHTS

PMO threatens legal action
It says Umno leader made false claims about PM.
Sabah gives opposition funding
31 opposition assemblypersons to get RM100k each.
Cybertroopers targeting Lee Chong Wei
He had contributed to a campaign to help students.



A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 2,764 new cases yesterday (Feb 9).

  • Death toll breached the 900-mark.

  • Active cases declined to 50,841 after three consecutive days of record highs.

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


What else is happening?

  • Two police officers were charged with negligence over the rape of a 16-year-old girl in lockup. They are now represented by the same lawyer acting for the alleged rapist who withdrew his guilty plea.

  • The bipartisan committee to advise the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on the emergency proclamation was finally set up and will be headed by former chief justice Arifin Zakaria.

  • PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang volunteered to be among the first to receive the Covid-19 vaccine amid a survey suggesting only 67 percent of Malaysians are willing to take the vaccine.


HIGHLIGHTS

In the shoes of a transgender person
A special report on their medical woes.
Rafidah speaks out against book banning
This is over ex-AG's memoir.
Jho Low had power to appoint 1MDB CEO - witness
Court told during Najib's graft trial.

 


What are people saying?

#AntaraDuaDarjat in the letter of law
By Syahredzan Johan
Poor and you’ll get a fine, rich and you’ll be fine
By James Chai
Testing on foreign workers not well thought out
By ex-health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad

 


KINI LENS