Tajuddin scolded over ‘Tanah Melayu’ claim
A statement from a Perikatan MP that Malaysia was “Tanah Melayu” has, predictably, rankled people from East Malaysia, with Sabah’s No. 2 man saying yesterday that the statement was dangerous and, also, just incorrect.
In other news, a DAP MP has proven government MPs wrong by providing proof that his illustrious father has once played an audio recording in the Dewan Rakyat; the war of insults between two former PMs continues; and, two new clusters have been identified as the number of active Covid-19 cases continue to climb.
‘Improving’ Sedition Act and SOSMA
Our beloved government wants to “improve” two controversial acts, but we don’t really know what these improvements could be or whether they are even improvements to begin with.
In other news, the PM must have been left red-faced after his office admitted supplying him with the wrong figures for a televised Covid-19 address; home quarantine will no more be allowed for those returning to Malaysia; our Covid-19 numbers keep climbing; a former PM makes a silly claim which is the complete opposite of what he usually says; and, apparently, having more baby hatches will lead to more baby dumping.
Is a second Covid-19 wave coming?
Malaysia’s Covid-19 numbers are getting worrying again, and PM Muhyiddin Yassin’s government is now mulling making it compulsory for masks to be worn in public.
In other news, recognition of the United Examination Certificate’s become an issue again, certain GLC heads claim they ain’t making as much dough as rumoured, and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Art Harun’s actions get scrutinised again.
Active Covid-19 cases breach 100 mark again
Even though Malaysia’s done really well in battling Covid-19, the past couple of days have seen the number of active cases here go up. Not just that, we’ve recorded a new death and more infection clusters.
Elsewhere in today’s newsletter, trouble appears to be brewing between Azmin Ali and his new BFFs; the cops aren’t too sure where a certain editor is; another MP gets kicked out of Bersatu, and Parti Warisan Sabah considers letting Dr Mahathir Mohamad join as a member!
A trio of wonder-ful statements
It was an odd day yesterday – there were a lot of interesting little nuggets of news, but not really one huge main headline or overarching story. The closest we have is probably the Election Commission’s announcement that it is hot to trot for early polls.
But the winner of place of pride in our lead story section goes to Najib Razak, Hishammuddin Hussein and Abdul Hamid Bador for their statements which left quite a few people scratching their heads.
Oh, and the Health Ministry is mulling making it mandatory for those returning from high-risk Covid-19 countries to be placed in quarantine centres. All these and more in your Friday edition of BTL. Read on for the deets!
Coming down hard on drink driving
If you’re in the habit of getting smashed and then getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, you’re not gonna love our lede today. The government is expected to table a bill to amend the Road Transport Act to include harsher penalties for drink driving. And, they will also lower the alcohol limit.
In other news, old man Maddey takes a swipe at the Perikatan gomen and the new Dewan Rakyat Speaker; opposition leaders take a swipe at the old man, supposedly, for a racist statement he recently made; a YouTube vlogger gets on a high horse about the Al Jazeera kerfuffle; and, schools reopen after months “off” during the MCO.
Horrifying tales of government mismanagement
The Auditor-General’s Report has again given us an insight into just how efficient our government ministries, departments and agencies are (sarcasm mode fully on). Released in Parliament yesterday, the report includes a passage that details that nearly 1,000 our roads may be ticking time bombs.
In other news, an MP has retracted an offensive remark made in the Dewan Rakyat but is still being lambasted for it (and rightly so); the opposition is still pissed about the appointment of the new Speaker of the House; there may be a new political party soon; and, we’re back to having no local transmissions of Covid-19.
Muhyiddin’s majority is still slim … but it may be enough
As predicted, it was an explosive affair in Parliament on Monday. However, through the commotion one thing was clear – for now at least, PM Muhyiddin Yassin has the numbers to stay in power.
In other news, we have a new Speaker of the House, the PM promises that his Finance Minister will table the government’s stimulus packs in the Dewan Rakyat, and the Federal Court reserves judgment in Malaysiakini’s contempt case. Oh, and our active Covid-19 cases have gone up again.
Poverty threshold gets revised
Malaysia’s poverty benchmark gets a much-needed revision. But does the new estimate mean we’re no longer poor?
Elsewhere in today’s newsletter, the transgender community warns of hate and violence following a minister’s remark, PM Muhyiddin Yassin gets ready to test his support in the Dewan Rakyat, and we register our first Covid-19 death in over three weeks.
Get ready to rumble
Monday will finally see the first full sitting of the Dewan Rakyat and you can bet it’s going to be an explosive affair. Just what will be in store? We take a look at the expected highlights.
There’s also a battle brewing over the Perikatan move to realign the East Coast Rail Link; Barisan has drawn its battle lines with supposed partner Bersatu over seat allocations for the next election; and, we’ve had no local Covid-19 transmissions for the second day in a row.