Covid-19 scramble

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

Key Highlights

• Covid-19 scramble
  
  
• Threats to vaccines
  
  
• Fasting controversy outs gangsters
  
  

Covid-19 scramble

Limping from the financial damage from two rounds of nationwide movement control orders (MCO), Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Putrajaya has no intention for a third one.

This was amid the threat of a new Covid-19 wave. Fresh infections yesterday breached 2,000 for the first time in 41 days and the infectivity rate of 1.14 is the highest since Feb 1.

Authorities scrambled to tighten SOP with the government promising more "orderly" Ramadan bazaars.

The recent spike is not related to Ramadan bazaars which started on Tuesday as Covid-19 has an incubation of around two weeks. However, experts worry they could accelerate an already deteriorating situation.

Police moved to tighten the criteria for granting special permission to travel interstate although Putrajaya said those who need to travel interstate to bring their dependants for vaccination will be allowed to do so.

The Health Ministry also asked for plans to allow interstate travel for Hari Raya next month to be postponed.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Dr M: PN still trying to get me on board Former PM says he is unwilling to work with the 'court cluster'.
	RM4bil SRC investment funds a 'sham', court told 'Ex-PM Najib also did not try to recover the funds.'
	Ex-AG's testimony for Najib didn't help - prosecutor 'The evidence was instead used to convict Najib.'

Threats to vaccines

Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah announced the discovery of yet another more virulent Covid-19 variant in the country.

He said there was a high probability that at least one case had caught the UK B.1.1.7 variant locally.

The variant is blamed for the more rapid spread of Covid-19 (but not more deadly) in the UK.

This is on top of the South African B1.351 variant spreading in limited parts of Selangor, which Immunisation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin expressed concern it may render certain vaccines ineffective.

Both Noor Hisham and Khairy called for tougher compliance and warned the spread of these variants could have serious consequences.

HIGHLIGHTS

	King congratulates students on admission to Harvard They were admitted to the class of 2025.
	High Court to rule on coroner's move to 'withhold' docs This is over a custodial death case.
	Bersatu man refutes claims he crossed the state line Afif Bahardin said he stopped at the barricade.

Fasting controversy outs gangsters

Two bodyguards were allegedly beaten by their employer and threatened with a gun for fasting during Ramadan.

Police investigating the employer over the incident ended up discovering an illegal gambling and loan shark syndicate.

Cops found 100kg of gold bars and 12,500 pieces of US$100 notes totalling RM28.25 million.

Meanwhile, cops also urged the public not to turn the incident into a racial issue as some cyber troopers take to social media to drum up communal sentiments.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Administrative directive on 'Allah' word soon Home Minister says it'll give a better understanding.
	DAP leaders, grassroots affirm party 'is for all' This was amid a factional clash over multiculturalism.
	May 31 for Pejaung to challenge ROS On the refusal of ROS to register the party.

 

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 2,148 new cases and 10  deaths yesterday (April 15).
  
  
• Kelantan recorded more than 200 new cases for two consecutive days. The last time it recorded more than 200 fresh infections was on Feb 20.
  
  
• A resurgence is also happening on the East Coast of Sabah. The state recorded 202 new cases, the highest since Feb 6.
  
  
• Sarawak topped the list with 512 new cases. The state's seven-day average is at 465 cases, higher than the average of 445 cases for Selangor, which was the Covid-19 epicentre.
  
  
• For trends on daily cases, tests, hospital beds capacity, vaccination progress and more, follow our Covid-19 tracker.
  
  

What else is happening?

• Putrajaya invoked its emergency powers to allow those convicted of crimes and face up to three years' imprisonment to perform community service instead. This rule was previously only for those facing up to three months in prison.
  
  
• Citigroup Inc announced it is exiting its consumer banking franchise in Malaysia and 12 other markets.
  
  
• Police questioned Tawfiq Ayman, the husband of ex-Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, for three hours over his purportedly links to fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho.
  
  
• MACC chief Azam Baki acknowledged that politicians query about cases the graft buster investigates but assured that they were not to the extent of political interference.
  
  
• Star secretary-general Guan Dee Koh Hoi is expected to be sworn in as the new deputy tourism minister today. He replaces Jeffrey Kittingan who resigned to serve in the Sabah government.
  
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	'Low pay not always motivator for corrupt officials' MACC chief says greed also plays a factor.
	Cabotage: Why PN can't decide swiftly, like Loke? Ex-finance minister asks why the need for six ministries to decide.
	PKR woman vexed by C4's anti-graft report She says it creates a false perception.

What are people saying?

	Malaysians vs the Putrajaya megalomaniacs By Syed Rifqi Najmuddin Syed Azidi
	In defence of political satire By Benjamin YH Loh
	Don't ignore common sense in Covid-19 battle By Quah Say Chuan

KINI LENS