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Monday, June 8, 2020

Covid-19 Recovery countdown Malaysia conditional movement control order will be replaced with recovery movement control order from June 10 to Aug 31, 2020

Activities that are allowed, not allowed and pending during the recovery movement control order period.

Conditional MCO to be replaced with recovery MCO from June 10 - Aug 31, says PM

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Sunday announced that the conditional movement control order will be replaced with recovery movement control order, which will begin from June 10 to Aug 31.

The Prime Minister said that this phase from June 10 to Aug 31 is part of the exit strategy, as Covid-19 cases were under control in Malaysia.

https://youtu.be/Zx_FHZ8eZtk

PM announces 'recovery mode' MCO from June 10, cross-state travel allowed

https://youtu.be/OrUlBvbH6jQ

ALLOWED

• Interstate travel

• Home quarantine for returnees

• Normal business hours

• Domestic tourism • Meetings, workshops

• Recreational fishing<

• Barbers, hair salons, beauty parlours

• Self-service laundrettes

• Museum visits

• Indoor busking

• Cycling

• Motorcycle convoy

• Commercial fishing ponds

• Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration based on SOP

NOT ALLOWED

• Overseas travel

• Pubs, nightclubs, karaoke centres, entertainment outlets, theme parks

• Reflexology centres

• Feasts, open houses

• Spectator sports

• Public swimming pools

• Close-contact sports: rugby, wrestling, boxing, football, basketball, hockey

• Big religious processions

PENDING

• Schools to reopen in stages

• More congregants to pray at mosques based on size of premises

• Sports SOP

More relaxation on public activities

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/06/08/more-relaxation-on-public-activities?jwsource=cl

There will be more relaxation on public activities with the government replacing the conditional movement control order (MCO) with the recovery movement control order from Wednesday.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the new phase, which would take effect from June 10 until Aug 31, was part of an exit strategy after the government successfully contained the spread of Covid-19.

“During the implementation of the recovery MCO, more restrictions will be relaxed to allow the public to carry out their daily activities while complying with the standard operating procedure (SOP), ” the Prime Minister said in a special televised address yesterday.

The MCO was first put in place on March 18 to break the chain of Covid-19 infections.

Muhyiddin explained that statistics from the Health Ministry showed that the infection rate was on the downward trend, remained low and under control.

“Most of the cases recently involved imported cases involving illegal foreign workers in the Immigration depots.

“We are thankful with the swift action taken by our frontliners, who successfully curbed the spread of Covid-19 among the detainees, ” he said.

This is the second phase of easing up on rules after the first round of relaxation under the conditional MCO which began on May 4 and which was later extended to June 9.

Under the recovery MCO, interstate travel has been allowed except for areas placed under enhanced MCO.

“Those who want to visit their parents who are currently living in other states will be able to do so.

“My advice is just to take care of personal hygiene in public places and avoid crowded areas while you are in your hometown.

“Please remember, if your parents are senior citizens, they are in the high-risk category and can be easily infected. So, although we are happy to visit them, it is our main responsibility to protect them from being infected, ” he said.

However, overseas travel is still not permitted as the country’s borders remain shut.

Muhyiddin also pointed out that almost all social, education, religious, business and economic sectors would be operational again in stages with strict adherence to the SOP.

This includes open-air market, morning market, pasar malam (night market), tamu (market), bazaars, food court, food stalls, food trucks and restaurants which have been given the green light.

Muhyiddin also noted that domestic tourism would be allowed and encouraged.

Restrictions on leisure activities, including visiting museums, entertainment and creative outlets will also be eased, while indoor busking and filming will be permitted to operate.

Muhyiddin said the recovery MCO would be implemented based on seven strategies.

They comprise fortifying public healthcare, law and enforcement, strengthening border control, fully reopening the economic sector, inculcating new normal culture, empowering community responsibility and protecting the high-risk group.

Businesses that are still not allowed to operate include pubs, night clubs, entertainment centres, reflexology centres, karaoke centres and theme parks.

Religious gatherings, open houses, and feasts involving large crowd are also not allowed.

He also warned that the government would not hesitate to impose enhanced MCO at localities where a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases was detected.

Therefore, he said people should strictly observe the conditions imposed by the health authorities to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

Muhyiddin said the public could visit the National Security Council website to get the full list of activities that were allowed and not allowed.

“If all of you are disciplined and remain steadfast, Insya-Allah, it will remain under control.

“We will enter the normalisation period after Aug 31 until a vaccine for Covid-19 is found, ” he said.

He also urged the public to download the MySejahtera mobile application developed by the government to self-assess their own health.

Meanwhile, the Penang government will be holding a state security council committee meeting on Wednesday before implementing the recovery MCO. Bernama reported that the Melaka government was not ready to allow barbershops, hair and beauty salons, the morning open markets, pasar malam as well as bazaars to operate on the date announced by the Federal Government.

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Sunday, June 7, 2020

Amercan CIA destabilizes other countries, plot backfires!

Left vs right: intensified social confrontation in the US

Conflicts between the left-wing and right-wing activists in the US have intensified in recent years. Expert warned that the two ideologies could undoubtedly intensify social confrontation amid pandemic, riots the 2020 US presidential election.

https://youtu.be/SXlMUXW7A1M

Protesters hold up their phones during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd, outside the White House on Wednesday in Washington, DC. Photo: AFP

Washington Post published an article on Wednesday titled "CIA veterans who monitored crackdowns abroad see troubling parallels in Trump's handling of protests", in which current and former US intelligence officials pointed out the similarity between the events in the US and the signs of decline or democratic regression they were trained to detect in other nations. Likewise, former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos tweeted on Tuesday that "It reminded me of what I reported on for years in the third world."

In many cases, the so-called democratic regression in other nations and the third world was caused by the US intervention. Again, the US has shot itself in the foot.

The spreading unrest in the US shows that the US political system is not immune to social instability. Many people are using the hashtag #AmericanSpring on Twitter, comparing the social movement Arab Spring with the violent protests triggered by the death of George Floyd.

Some have also raised the question: Is a color revolution taking place in the US?

The US government manipulated color revolutions in some Central Asian and Eastern European countries from the 1980s. It has also tried to provoke color revolutions in many more places, including China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Washington has created instability in and around many countries it considers geopolitical opponents.

Under the disguise of protecting democracy, liberty and human rights, the US government aims at subverting opponents and shaping international environment in favor of US strategic interests. The subversion plots, often carried out by CIA, left many countries struggling in a chaotic situation for a long period of time.

And now, the US' wanton destruction of social order in other countries has backfired and put itself in a moral dilemma.

Facing unabated protests, American political elites are now debating how to put the spreading chaos to an end, whether the police should get tough and whether troops should be deployed to stabilize the situation.

The importance of maintaining order and stability is laid bare as Washington is struggling to deal with the angry masses. The chaos in the US shows that simply shouting slogans of democracy and freedom will never work.

By trying to manipulate other countries' affairs, Washington is harming others as well as itself. As the US still provokes instability worldwide, other countries need to insist that the US should not meddle in their internal affairs.

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Friday, June 5, 2020

Malaysia announces RM35b Penjana plan for economic regeneration

PM unveils short-term economic recovery package https://youtu.be/fwoFzzuaRNo

https://youtu.be/1ZKFzQP5_0o

Perutusan Khas: Pelan Pemulihan Ekonomi Jangka Pendek (5 Jun 2020)

https://youtu.be/9evJFXr_Z7Y

Saving jobs, rebooting the economy

Subsidies, tax exemptions among measures amid pandemic

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced a RM35bil allocation for 40 initiatives to empower the people, propel businesses and stimulate the economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. From saving lives to saving jobs, and ensuring that we, as a nation, bounce back.

PUTRAJAYA: The economic recovery plan that is meant to empower the people, propel businesses and stimulate the economy, actually addresses the most fundamental of the rakyat’s concerns: possible unemployment and the loss of income.

Of the RM35bil allocated for 40 initiatives, RM9bil has been set aside to aid three million workers via various schemes.

Announcing this, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the plan, known as Penjana, is one of the six strategies to tackle the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said RM10bil of that RM35bil allocation would come via a direct fiscal injection by the government.

The Prime Minister said he is aware that people are worried about losing their jobs and source of income following the closure of many economic sectors and activities during the movement control order (MCO) period.

“I understand that it will take some time for the economy to recover and that there are those in the community who still need help during the recovery period,” he said in a special address that was broadcast live.

Among incentives he announced were the extension of the wage subsidy programme for another three months, as well as an employment incentive programme and apprentice programme.

These are in addition to a host of training and upskilling programmes, including those for youth and the unemployed.

Muhyiddin also announced tax exemptions and insurance protection for employers, to encourage more companies, especially small and medium enterprises, to adopt work-from-home policies.

“I do understand your need to use public transport for work and other activities. To lessen the burden on transportation costs, the government will introduce the MY30 programme,” he said.

This particular initiative would allow consumers to have unlimited rides on public transport under Prasarana around the Klang Valley for RM30 a month, from June 15 until the end of the year.

Muhyiddin also said that Penjana will announce a few investment packages, programmes, tax exemptions, and finance facilities to attract more investments.

He pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic has changed how economies operate.

“For Malaysia to remain an important investment destination, we need to tell the world we are competitive and open for business,” he said.

The Prime Minister also announced that a sukuk worth RM500mil would be raised in the third quarter of the year.

Themed “from the rakyat, to the rakyat”, the funds from the sukuk would be channelled to help finance micro-enterprises and businesses, especially those run by women.

“It will also be used to improve Internet broadband coverage at schools, especially in rural areas, and as grants for research work on communicable diseases,” he said.

EMPLOYMENT

> RM9bil to benefit three million workers to curb unemployment.

> Three months’ extension for Wage Subsidy Programme.

> RM600 monthly incentive for apprenticeships for school leavers and graduates for up to six months.

> RM800 monthly incentive for hiring unemployed person below age 40 for up to six months.

> RM1,000 monthly incentive for hiring unemployed person above age 40 for up to six months. > RM4,000 training allowance for those retrenched but not covered under the Employment Insurance System.

DIGITAL

>1GB free Internet per day for learning and productivity activities until December.

> RM50 in e-wallet credits for adult Malaysians earning less than RM100,000 annually.

> Up to RM5,000 personal income tax exemption for employees who receive handphone, notebook and tablet from employer, effective July 1.

> Up to RM2,500 personal income tax relief on the purchase of handphone, notebook and tablet, effective June 1.

BUSINESSES

>50% remission of penalty for late payment of Sales and Service Tax payable from July 1 to Sept 30.

> Tax deduction for employers who implement flexible work arrangements, effective July 1.

> Tax incentives for Covid-19-related expenses for companies. > Investment fund to drive digitalisation of businesses.

TOURISM

> RM1bil tourism financing scheme to assist tourism sector.

> Personal income tax relief of up to RM1,000 on local travel expenses extended to Dec 31, 2021.

> Tourism tax exemption from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021.

> Extension of service tax exemption for hotels to June 30, 2021.

CHILDCARE

> Up to RM3,000 income tax relief for parents on childcare services expenses.

> One-off grant of up to RM5,000 per childcare centre registered with the government.

> E-vouchers worth RM800 per household for mobile childcare services.

HOUSING

> Home Ownership Campaign to be reintroduced, with stamp duty exempted for the purchase of residential homes priced between RM300,000 and RM2.5mil.

> Exemption of Real Property Gains Tax for disposal of residential homes until Dec 31, 2021.

SMEs

> RM700mil to assist and incentivise SMEs to digitalise operations.

> Banking sector offers RM2bil to assist SMEs with a threshold of RM500,000 per SME.

> RM400mil to help fund micro-enterprises.

CARS

> 100% tax exemption on purchase of locally assembled passenger cars from June 15 until Dec 31.

> 50% tax exemption for imported passenger cars from June 15 to Dec 31.

PM: Govt targets SMEs and mid-tier firms in short-term economic recovery package

In his special address on Friday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin introduced “PENJANA” or the National Economic Recovery Plan, the latest initiative by his administration, targeting small-and-medium and mid-tier enterprises as well.

The plan, dubbed as a short-term stimulus package, is to help the nation’s economy recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among the initiatives are:

- Banking sector allocates RM2bil to assists SMEs with a threshold of RM500,000 per SME

- RM400mil to fund Penjana microcredit by Tekun and Bank Simpanan Nasional with RM50mil allocated especially for female entrepreneurs

- RM600mil to drive the process of digitalisation of businesses and innovation. A matching fund will be matched by local and international investors

- RM1bil for the tourism industry

People watch the live telecast of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin giving his speech, June 5, 2020. ― Picture by Miera Zulyana

KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 ― The federal government is introducing an economic recovery plan dubbed Penjana that will put RM35 billion into the Malaysian economy via various initiatives and direct benefits.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the plan was necessary as Malaysia, along with the rest of the world, was about to face the worst economic conditions since The Great Depression due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Of the sum announced, the PM said RM10 billion would be direct fiscal injections from the government.

“We are introducing the new plan to restart the economy which we are calling Penjana.

“It will benefit up to three million workers who have lost their jobs and income during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Muhyiddin said during his special address today.

MORE TO COME - see details above

Saving jobs, rebooting the economy

Encouraging worker retention

Sales tax boost for auto sector

RM5,000 allocation to help nurseries carry out new SOP...

Apply for childcare centre funds, agencies told

Childcare centres: DPM urges govt agencies to ...

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Read more:Building the Economy Together

https://penjana.treasury.gov.my/index-en.html

Malaysia's Schools gear up for new normal

Dormitories

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/06/05/schools-gear-up-for-new-normal?jwsource=cl

Temperature screening before entering the school compound and eating in the classroom during recess time are among new normal practices that students need to adapt to when schools reopen.

Education Minister Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said the guidelines stipulated that teachers would have to carry out body temperature checks when the students entered the school compound and if they showed any symptoms, then further action would be taken.

“We are also aware that some students walk or cycle to school and the temperature would be slightly above 37.5ºC ... so these students will be asked to rest first to ensure that their body temperature returns to normal before it is checked again.

“Each school will have an isolation room. If the student shows any symptoms, they will be brought here and the school, besides contacting the parents, will also contact the nearest health centre for further action,” he said after a visit to see the preparations for schools reopening at SMK Engku Husain, Semenyih here recently.

Also present were Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, National Security Council (MKN) director-general Mohd Rabin Basir and Education director-general Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim.

The new normal practices are among the Education Ministry’s school reopening management guidelines to be distributed to schools.

The 34-page detailed guidelines were developed in collaboration with the Health Ministry and MKN.

Meanwhile, Radzi said parents did not have to worry about physical distancing during school recess as the children would only be allowed at the canteen area in stages and they would eat their meals in the classroom.

“Students who need to buy packed foods will be queuing with a one-meter gap between one person and another before returning to their classroom to eat.

“Hence, the situation at the canteen will be in an orderly manner and the parents don’t have to worry about the kids jostling to buy food as recess time will be carried out in stages to ensure that not all students would gather at the canteen at any one time,” he said.

In order to maintain physical distancing, he said the tables in the classroom must have a one-metre gap and the surplus students would be placed in another class.

Radzi added that school laboratories would also share similar settings to ensure learning would be carried out in an orderly and safe manner.

Commenting on the movement of students within the compound, he said the direction of the students would be marked with arrows to avoid crowding.

He said the guidelines also emphasised on teachers’ well-being, safety and health.

He said teachers did not have to worry about being placed in a cramped teachers’ room as physical distancing applied there too.

The ministry has issued similar guidelines for students in dormitories where their beds would be spaced one metre apart and the dining hall would emphasise on physical distancing, he said.

Radzi said once schools reopen, the ministry would see how the guidelines were being implemented and if there was room for improvement. — Bernama

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COVID-19's neurological symptoms; the next hotspots; COVID modelling

COVID-19 can affect the brain. How it happens and what to watch for. ⇒ Explore: COVID-19 ...

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Covid-19 CMCO: daycare centres SOP. One-off grant of RM5,000 for childcare centres

Childcare centre operators are advised to refer to the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and Social Welfare Department’s websites for information on the updated SOPs. — Bernama pic

CMCO: Updated SOPs for daycare centres tabled yesterday, says Ismail Sabri

PUTRAJAYA, June 2 — The government will update the standard operating procedures (SOP) for childcare centres, thereby enabling the vast majority to resume their activities.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry tabled the updated SOPs earlier today during the ministerial meeting on implementing the conditional movement control order (MCO)

“Before this, 304 out of 7,000 childcare centres nationwide were allowed to operate per the government’s SOPs. The update will enable the remaining 6,696 centres to operate immediately,” he said during his daily press briefing.

Childcare centre operators are advised to refer to the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and Social Welfare Department’s websites for further information.

Ismail Sabri added the SOPs for pre-schools and kindergartens will be finalised by the Education Ministry before they are allowed to resume operations, as their management falls under the purview of several other ministries.

As of yesterday, the Housing and Local Government Ministry has conducted 7,426 public sanitation operations in 132 zones since efforts began on March 30.

Approximately 10,956 premises have been sanitised, including 2,642 business centres, 4,056 government buildings, 1,581 housing areas including public housing, 2,325 public areas, and 352 supermarkets.

Yesterday alone saw 47 sanitation operations conducted covering 31 zones in 10 states, including 14 in Sabah, and seven in Johor and Melaka.

As of 8am today, 185 Covid-19 quarantine centres are in operation compared to 186 the day before. Currently 14,365 individuals are undergoing mandatory quarantine.

Approximately 168 Malaysians were brought back yesterday from Thailand, Singapore, China, Australia and the Netherlands, and placed in quarantine.

Since April 3, 48,773 Malaysians have been brought back from abroad and quarantined, with 38,021 individuals having since completed their mandatory 14-day quarantine period and allowed to return home.

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RM5,000 allocation to help nurseries carry out new healthcare SOP

Welcome help: the government subsidy will allow childcare centres to carry out daily sanitisation and cleaning activities so parents are more comfortable with the idea of bringing their children back to the centres.

The childcare subsidy in the Pelan Jana Semula Ekonomi Negara (Penjana) will help support working parents and nurseries in adapting to the new normal.

Association of Registered Childcare Providers Malaysia president Anisa Ahmad said the one-off grant of up to RM5,000 per registered childcare centre (taska) would help them carry out important new healthcare standard operating procedure (SOP).

“The grant will help a taska carry out daily sanitisation and cleaning activities, making parents more comfortable in sending their children to nurseries due to the enhanced safety procedure.

“Many parents were asking for taska to open up but when we reopened recently, not many children were sent there.

“Parents are still wary of Covid-19 but it’s also expensive for us to operate and pay rental and staff salaries if we are unable to collect enough monthly fees.

“So we hope that the new initiatives will restore their confidence and encourage parents to send their children to nurseries again, ” said Anisa yesterday.

The fact that early childhood education was given a mention by the Prime Minister in his short-term economic revival package and included in Penjana was “very refreshing”, she added.

The government is providing incentives to train new practitioners for childcare and early education courses under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

“We understand that it is an incentive of RM900 for the Permata programme and we’re happy that early childhood education was given a focus, ” Anisa said.

On the RM800 e-vouchers per household for mobile childcare services, Anisa said: “As far as I know, online childcare services are not licensed or certified by the Welfare Department. More clarity is needed on this.”

About 8,000 childcare centres, 5,000 households and an estimated 10,000 new early education practitioners will benefit from the government’s childcare subsidy programme.

Parents like Sheikh Rahim, 30, welcomed the increase in income tax relief for parents on childcare services expenses from RM2,000 to RM3,000 for the year assessment of 2020 and 2021.

“It’s a relief especially since we are halfway through the year and taska usually ends by November, ” said the executive at a travel company.

Asked if he would be confident enough to send his three-year-old child back to taska soon, Sheikh said this would depend on the compliance of the operator.

Nurhidayah Rahman, 27, who is eight months pregnant and looking to continue working after her maternity leave, gave the thumbs up to the increase in income tax relief.

“Monthly expenses for taska in Kuala Lumpur range between RM1,000 for basic and RM1,800 for more upscale care.

“So any offset is welcomed as it puts more money into the pocket of parents but the government will also have to play its role by having stringent approval for nurseries, ” she said.