End of a big, bad cluster
There was good news all round yesterday as the country’s largest cluster of Covid-19 infections was declared closed after four very long months, while for the second time in a week, there were no local transmissions.
In other news, universities and colleges will begin reopening this month, an Umno vet (not the animal doctor kinda vet) has made an unusual suggestion about PM Muhyiddin Yassin and there were contrasting (terribly so) news about the two biggest national airlines.
Al Jazeera investigated for sedition?
The police are apparently thinking of using the Sedition Act against Al Jazeera over its documentary criticising the government for the alleged mistreatment of migrants in raids conducted during the MCO. Cos, you know, it’s seditious to say anything bad about Malaysia.
In other news, we can expect the poverty rate to go up; the OPR has been slashed for the fourth time this year for a 16-year low; our Covid-19 numbers are still low; and, despite Muhyiddin Yassin and Anwar Ibrahim being declared top dogs in their coalitions, things are not as stable as they seem.
Anwar is Pakatan’s pick for PM. Yes, really!
After weeks of squabbling, Pakatan Harapan’s finally given Anwar Ibrahim the backing as its PM candidate. It’s anyone’s guess though if this is all a show and more importantly, what Dr Mahathir Mohamad thinks about the latest turn of events.
In other news, Al Jazeera is being probed over a report on the treatment of migrants in Malaysia during the Movement Control Order (MCO), only one active case remains from the Seri Petaling Tabligh cluster, and taps are set to go dry in 290 areas in the Klang Valley.
BN scores huge victory
Barisan Nasional registered a thumping win in Chini over the weekend. But what exactly does the coalition’s sixth by-election win since May 2018 mean for Malaysia?
Elsewhere in today’s newsletter, participants of the youth-led Parlimen Digital get questioned by cops, Malaysia’s Covid-19 infection rates keep on improving, and our Environment Minister says it’ll take three decades at least to solve Kelantan’s water problems.
Covid-19: When A Pandemic Collides With Xenophobia
In this special report, Between The Lines looks as the racialisation of Covid-19 and how the illness has brought out the worst in us.
Muhyiddin the man for Perikatan
While Pakatan Harapan Plus remains a house divided (three ways, no less), Perikatan Nasional is showing the country that their yet-to-even-be-formalised coalition is as united as conjoined twins.
In other reports, a news portal has failed in its bid to have contempt proceedings against it thrown out; and, the number of active Covid-19 cases has dropped to just double digits for the first time in what seems like forever.
Dates set for schools to fully reopen
Schools in Malaysia will be fully reopened by July 22, the government announced yesterday. But anyone worried about how social distancing will be applied can rest assured as schools will be given the choice of three different models to follow, depending on availability of space to allow for SOPs to be followed.
Meanwhile, the country reached a new milestone in its Covid-19 management; and, Perikatan Nasional is strengthening power even as Pakatan Harapan seems to be imploding.
Surprise name in the hat for Speaker’s post
PM Muhyiddin Yassin is said to prefer an outsider to be the next Dewan Rakyat Speaker, with one surprising name in particular believed to be the top choice for the position.
In other news, we’re still no closer to finding out just which of three old men – a sexagenarian, a septuagenarian and a nonagenarian – will be Pakatan Harapan Plus’s choice as PM candidate; the nation’s unemployment rate has gone up like some people’s blood pressure; and, the snail’s pace of a certain former PM’s trial could see it drag on for another year.
Is Shafie Apdal an option for PM?
A third name’s been put forth as a potential Opposition PM candidate. But is Shafie Apdal truly a contender? Or is his entry into the race just another attempt by Dr Mahathir Mohamad to screw frenemy Anwar Ibrahim over?
In other news, two motions, one of which is aimed at testing PM Muhyiddin Yassin’s support in the Dewan Rakyat, get submitted to Parliament; the Education Ministry fixes new dates for the SPM and STPM exams, and a GE13 candidate is arrested over the kidnapping and murder of a “Datuk Seri” businessman.
The ‘New Normal’: What It Means For Malaysians – Part 2
In the second of this two-part series, we take a look at how the ‘new normal’ will affect our social interactions – how we eat, play and pray.