Is the government tracking you?

Good morning, here's a quick rundown of what happened over the weekend.

Key Highlights

• Is the government tracking you?
  
  

• Dipping into retirement savings
  
  

• PAS nudges Umno
  
  

Is the government tracking you?

Since the government began to roll out an optional tracking feature on the MySejahtera app to improve contact tracing, a key concern has been privacy.

The feature, called MySJ Trace, uses Bluetooth to log interactions with nearby mobile phones so when someone tests positive for Covid-19, it will be easier for their close contacts to be traced and notified.

Acknowledging such privacy worries, the government had assured that the interactions are only stored on your phone for 14 days and only anonymised data will be shared.

However, concerns were raised again after a user questioned why the app was recording interactions even when she was at home.

A Health Ministry official explained that this was because Bluetooth signals have up to 10 metres range and the device could be interacting with the mobile phones of their neighbours.

The technology has become commonplace during the Covid-19 pandemic, with Google and Apple also jointly developing a similar feature using Bluetooth. They've explained how it works here.

Distrust of the government has put extra scrutiny on the MySJ Trace feature but there are many other mobile phone applications that unnecessarily track your location or worse - access your entire contact list.

If you're wary about tracking at home, you can always turn off your Bluetooth and location services while at home for peace of mind across all apps and turn them on when you're outdoors.

Both Android and iOS have in recent years also created a dedicated section to review the permissions granted to various apps on your phone and it's always good to review them from time to time to ensure you don't give away more information than necessary.

HIGHLIGHTS

	MOH studying if Sinovac-Pfizer recipients need a fourth shot This is in light of the Omicron variant.
	Putrajaya suspends pilgrimage trips amid Covid-19 surge Umrah returnees must isolate at a quarantine centre.
	Dr M warns of climate change, govt incompetence Ex-PM criticises govt for poor emergency response.

Dipping into retirement savings

The government's allowing of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributors to dip into their retirement savings have set a precedent, prompting calls for another round of withdrawals to be used as relief during the ongoing flood season.

The move is being pushed by Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who pointed out that this is the party's position and should serve as a guide for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also the Umno vice-president.

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz maintained that there won't be further withdrawals, stating that it will burden the future generation that will have to support the elderly who cannot afford retirement.

He added that some six million out of 14 million contributors have less than RM10,000 in their EPF savings and allowing further withdrawal will increase this to almost seven million. RM240,000 is needed to support 20 years of retirement.

Meanwhile, the government upped the cash aid for flood victims to RM2,500 and also announced a home repair subsidy of up to RM5,000 for those not significantly damaged by the floods while those that suffered major damage will be subsidised up to RM15,000 for repairs.

HIGHLIGHTS

	T'ganu PAS flayed for 'competing with Bangladesh' Amanah leader points to  local jobs shortage.
	Harapan must resolve communication failures - Kit Siang Otherwise, the coalition will suffer.
	MCA also wants probe against MACC chief MACC chief allegedly owns large stake in a firm.

PAS nudges Umno

PAS continues to play a wait-and-see game in the hope that the pro-PN faction in Umno will emerge victorious.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said he wants to keep the Islamist party's pact with Umno under Muafakat Nasional but at the same time he maintained that it won't abandon PN, which is led by Bersatu, a splinter party that the anti-PN faction in Umno is bent on destroying.

Hadi also urged Umno to heed the majority of its supreme council leaders who want to cooperate with Bersatu instead of its division leaders at the grassroots level who prefer to fight Bersatu in the next general election.

The apparent attempt by PAS to influence Umno prompted anti-PN leaders in the Malay party to hit back at Hadi, accusing him of trying to cajole Umno.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Mokhtar Senik on treachery, Hadi and goats He warns dissenters to toe the party line.
	Khairy sees Muda as a serious rival This is over the battle for young voters.
	Govt axes Zuraida-era 'community mobilisers' unit The budget will be reallocated.

 

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 2,882 new cases yesterday (Jan 2).
  
  
• The infectivity rate is inched closer to the 1.0 threshold. It stood at 0.99 on Jan 1, up from 0.88 on Dec 25 last year. The value must be kept under 1.0 to prevent exponential growth in new cases.
  
  
• The Health Ministry is also keeping a close eye on the flood situation, particularly at relief centres, for signs of Covid-19 clusters. To date, 460 flood victims have been infected, with one cluster at a relief centre.
  
  

What else is happening?

• The ongoing flood season that has devastated infrastructure in parts of the country will cost up to RM1 billion to repair, according to the Works Ministry.
  
  
• Pakatan Harapan called for Parliament to convene over the deadly floods and also for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI), which received backing from some within the government, including Umno supreme council Mohd Puad Zarkashi.
  
  
• The whole country is in Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan beginning today with the progression of Kelantan and Sarawak. This means there will no longer be a "negative list" that forbids certain businesses from operating due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
  
  
• Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon, who is also the Batu Pahat MP, defended his Vienna trip during the floods in Malaysia. The Bersatu MP explained that he was on a working trip.
  
  
• The Olympic Council of Malaysia expressed concern that Malaysia could lose the right to host international sporting events after the country barred Israeli athletes. Pro-Palestinian NGOs criticised the council for a hasty reaction to what they described as Israeli propaganda.
  
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	'Why approve affordable homes in flood-prone areas?' MP says low-income earners deserve dignity.
	Fourth apartment complex in Klang Valley evacuated This follows another landslide.
	Woman's decomposed body found in Putrajaya lake Cops urge those with missing relatives to come forward.

What are people saying?

	Where to, Malaysia? 2021: A painful transition By Bridget Welsh
	Should Penang be returned to Kedah? By Ranjit Singh Malhi
	Despite floods, these doctors soldier on By Zan Azlee

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