Covid-19 screws up school exams
Did you hear a huge sound of cheering yesterday? That was probably the sound of the nation’s kids rejoicing, after the government decided to cancel or postpone a whole bunch of major exams, thanks to that pesky coronavirus that’s messing with us.
In other news, for the first time since before the movement control order (MCO) was put in place, the number of new Covid-19 cases daily has dropped to double digits. The number of recoveries was also higher than new cases, bringing the total recovery rate to more than 50%.
More lockdowns, tougher measures
Today is the first day of the latest phase of the MCO. The enhanced movement control order (EMCO) has been lifted in one area (well, most of it anyway), but another area, right in the beating heart of our federal capital, has been added to the growing list.
Nationwide, the number of recoveries from Covid-19 is nearly 50% of the number of cases. But is this really cause for relief, or are we just not detecting enough cases?
And, it looks like politics joins death and taxes as some of the only things that are certain in life in Malaysia.
The MCO hits refugees hard
Like foreign workers, refugees in Malaysia have been hit badly by the Movement Control Order. But will the powers-that-be step in and give them the help they need or let them risk starvation?
Elsewhere, the signs suggest that Covid-19 is helping PM Muhyiddin solidify his position as premier, and Putrajaya makes a hair-raising U-turn as Miti’s website goes crash, boom, bang.
Also, today is the Tamil New Year, and we’d just like to wish Chittirai Puthandu Vazhthukkal to all our Tamil friends!
MCO extension brings confusion… especially about haircuts
The Movement Control Order is being extended yet again. However, once more, instead of crystal clear guidelines, what we seem to be getting is more confusion.
In other news, the glorious days of the Anti-Fake News Act appear to be returning, and the Health Ministry has started screening more people in more places.
Also, we’d like to wish all our Sikh friends a very Happy Vaisakhi!
Extension of MCO on the cards?
It’s D-Day yet again. Will we have to go through a further period of movement control order (MCO), or will this second phase end on April 14? PM Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to announce this today, after he is briefed by Health DG Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in the morning.
Muhyiddin will have lots of things to consider, and not just whether the number of Covid-19 infections have come down enough to lift the MCO. We take a look at some of the things he will have to think about, and what alternatives are left to him.
Also, we’d like to wish Christians a Happy and Blessed Easter in advance.
Have a heart, Mr Minister
Reports have emerged that foreign residents of two buildings in KL under enhanced movement control order (MCO) regulations will not be getting food, like others on lockdown are. Instead, the foreign missions in Malaysia are expected to provide food for their citizens. Just where is the compassion from the federal government?
Meanwhile, the state of some quarantine centres have been criticised by those placed there; the Health DG has come under fire for not protecting medical frontliners enough – a claim he has denied; and two more deaths were recorded as of noon yesterday.
Nine months of social distancing await
We’re in this for the long haul, it would seem. If the PM’s new public health adviser has her way, Malaysians will have to avoid mass gatherings and continue to practice social distancing for between six and nine months after the movement control order (MCO) is lifted.
This comes as two more buildings are placed under enhanced MCO and three more districts join the red zone list, while the government is mulling different rules for different zones after the MCO is relaxed.
The whole of KL is a Covid-19 red zone!
More lockdowns are a real possibility now that all four Kuala Lumpur health districts have been declared coronavirus red zones.
Elsewhere, permission for a brewery to operate gets revoked, and PM Muhyiddin Yassin announces extra (financial) stimulation for SMEs.
Is it time to stop jailing MCO offenders?
With more people being thrown into jail for breaching the MCO, there’s legit concern that it’s only a matter of time before Covid-19 rears its ugly head in prisons here.
In other news, the country records more coronavirus cases and deaths while the Health Ministry worries about returning Malaysians importing new infections.
Is it really worth deferring your loans due to Covid-19?
We won’t ask you how your weekend is going, because chances are that like us, you’re looking forward to another couple of days of memorising the exact position of the cracks on the walls of your home.
For those of you on the frontlines, thank you. We appreciate your sacrifice.
Today’s newsletter special is a very brief one – basically a PSA.