Malaysia Morning News For April 2, 2020

Covid-19: 108 recoveries recorded on Wednesday (April 1), highest in a single day
Malaysia has discharged 108 Covid-19 patients on Wednesday, which is the highest number of recoveries in a day so far since the outbreak.
— The Star Online

Malaysia sees early signs of effectiveness for COVID-19 measures: Health ministry
Malaysia on Wednesday (Apr 1) reported 142 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases to 2,908.
— Channel NewsAsia

142 new cases, two deaths recorded
A total of 142 new positive Covid-19 cases were recorded in the country as at noon today, bringing the total to 2,908.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Sabah govt-owned financial institutions urged to offer loan repayment moratorium
Umno Sabah has called on state government-owned financial institutions to allow all their customers to defer their monthly instalment payments.
— The Sun Daily

Airlines facing rapid cash burn
Airlines may burn through $61 billion (RM266 billion) of their cash reserves during the second quarter (Q2) of this year and post a quarterly net loss of $39 billion (RM170 billion) if severe travel restrictions related to Covid-19 last for three months.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Malaysia sees early signs curve is flattening in war against Covid-19, says Health DG
With the end of the first phase of the movement order control (MCO), Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has expressed hope that numbers of Covid-19 cases so far may have shown that the restrictions have.
— Malay Mail

Enforcement officers seize overpriced face masks
The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry office in Kedah has seized 3,450 face masks valued at RM6,900 in a raid on a house in Taman Kempas, Sungai Petani.
— The Sun Daily

Commentary: Malaysia’s latest stimulus package provides huge relief but is only enough until May
The new economic stimulus measures will bolster household incomes and boost companies’ cash flow but the challenge is most of the package would have been disbursed by May, says Cassey Lee.
— CNA

Malaysia makes massive seizure of pangolin scales
Malaysian authorities seized about six tonnes of pangolin scales and smashed a smuggling syndicate, officials said Wednesday, as the country clamps down on rampant wildlife trafficking.
— CNA

Selangor Zakat Board’s Covid-19 special aid for 29,000 recipients to be fully distributed by Friday
The RM14 million Covid-19 special charity aid which had been distributed by the Selangor Zakat Board (LZS) since March 27, for the benefit of 29,000 eligible recipients will be fully distributed by this Friday.
— Malay Mail

Lend a Helping Hand with 7-Eleven Malaysia
7-Eleven Malaysia, the nation’s leading convenience chain store, carries on its goodwill by launching the ‘Lend a Helping Hand’ campaign to provide relief and help ease the burden of beneficiaries whom are impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic in the country, as well as to our heroic front-liners that are working tirelessly to keep us all.
— The Sun Daily

Putrajaya mulls using hotels, resorts as Covid-19 quarantine centres
The government is looking into the possibility of utilising hotels and resorts, which have been temporarily closed down due to the movement control order, as quarantine centres for Covid-19 patients.
— Malay Mail

Amid Covid-19, MOH says let’s consider Ramadan bazaars online, or drive-thrus
Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has suggested today for Malaysians to hold Ramadan bazaars online or as a drive-thru, amid debate whether the annual practice should go one amid Covid-19.
— Malay Mail

Ripple effect of stimulus package to local economy
The Covid-19 outbreak started as a health crisis in China before turning into a global pandemic, which is now wreaking havoc on economies, including Malaysia’s, damaging supply chains and causing businesses to face prospects of closures and job losses.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Affin Bank appoints Wan Razly as group CEO
Affin Bank Bhd has appointed Wan Razly Abdullah Wan Ali as its new group CEO effective tomorrow.
— The Sun Daily

Kuching categorised as Covid-19 red zone as positive cases hit 118
The National Security Council (NSC) has listed Kuching as a Covid-19 red zone as it has the highest number of positive cases at 118, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
— The Borneo Post

Sarawak reports 32 new Covid-19 infections
Sarawak recorded another 32 new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases today, bringing the state’s total number to 188, state Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said in his daily media briefing.
— Malay Mail

MCO: ESSCom working closely with Philippine forces to protect Sabah east coast
The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) is constantly working with Philippine security forces to tighten security and curb cross-boundary criminal threats, especially during the ongoing movement control order (MCO) period.
— Malay Mail

Selangor launches second stimulus packages worth RM272mil
Selangor has launched its second stimulus package worth RM272mil, as well as announced a Covid-19 aid fund.
— The Star Online

Covid-19: 108 recoveries recorded on Wednesday (April 1), highest in a single day
Malaysia has discharged 108 Covid-19 patients on Wednesday, which is the highest number of recoveries in a day so far since the outbreak.
— The Star Online

Megah Port Managment takes over Labuan Port, allocates RM10m for upgrades
Straits Inter Logistics Bhd’s 51%-owned subsidiary, Megah Port Management Sdn Bhd has taken over the management of Labuan Liberty Terminal effective today, for the next six years Megah Port will be handling the operation and facility management of the port, with an allocation of RM10 million for upgrading works.
— The Sun Daily

510 homeless people provided shelter: KL mayor
Some 510 homeless people have now been homed in two transit and four community centres around the capital under a Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) mission to track them down and keep them safe while the Movement Control Order (MCO) is in place.
— The Sun Daily

Pahang asks suppliers to boost stock of PPE materials
The Pahang government has appealed to suppliers and factories to help boost its stock of materials for making personal protective equipment (PPE) used by frontliners in the battle against Covid-19.
— Malay Mail

LZS Covid-19 special aid for 29,000 recipients to be fully distributed by Friday
The RM14 million Covid-19 special charity aid which had been distributed by the Selangor Zakat Board (LZS) since March 27, for the benefit of 29,000 eligible recipients will be fully distributed by this Friday.
— The Sun Daily

Cleaning companies urge public not to litter with used face masks, rubber gloves
Cleaning service contractors here are urging the public to be more responsible and not to dispose of their used face masks and rubber gloves indiscriminately during the Movement Control Order period.
— The Borneo Post

Govt bungalows, transit homes serving as lodgings for frontliners
The Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) through its Property and Land Management Division (BPH) has extended the government’s boarding facilities and premises for use by frontline workers.
— Malay Mail

EMCO not the same as MCO: Health Ministry
The enhanced movement control order (EMCO) should not be confused with the second phase of the existing movement control order (MCO), which will be enforced today until April 14.
— The Sun Daily

Rebuilding economy will take a long time, says Mahathir
The Covid-19 pandemic will have a “terrible impact” on the world economy, and it will take a very long time before affected countries can fully recover, says former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pix).
— The Sun Daily

MCO: Malaysians stuck at home give Netflix, Tonton biggest traffic growth rates against competitors
Video-streaming platforms Netflix and Tonton enjoyed the highest traffic growth rates among other rivals recently, as Malaysians heavily spurred demand for online entertainment while being stuck at home to slow the Covid-19.
— Malay Mail

Sime Darby urges Sabah govt to rethink closure of palm oil plantations during MCO
Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (SDP) have now joined the Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) and the Malaysian Estate Owner Association (MEOA) in asking the Sabah state government not to order the closures of palm oil.
— Malay Mail

Study: Under MCO, Malaysians flood websites offering online grocery shopping, deliveries
Local websites of companies offering online shopping and deliveries of groceries have experienced an exponential growth in traffic from Malaysians during the movement control order (MCO) during which the public have been.
— Malay Mail

Application for EPF i – Lestari withdrawal via i-Akaun starts today
Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members may apply for the i-Lestari Account 2 Withdrawal Scheme starting today, via i-Akaun (Member), in light of the government’s extended movement control order (MCO).
— New Sarawak Tribune

Travel limited to 10km of one’s home
Travel has been limited to 10km of one’s home, according to a new federal gazette on the movement control order (MCO).
— The Sun Daily

In Penang, 24 college students arrested for playing football despite MCO
Police arrested 24 tertiary students yesterday after they were found playing football in Tanjung Bungah in violation of the movement control order.
— Malay Mail

MCO: 510 homeless people provided shelter, says KL mayor
Some 510 homeless people have now been homed in two transit and four community centres around the capital under a Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) mission to track them down and keep them safe while the movement control order.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia charts highest number of recoveries, as discharged cases reach 600 mark
Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah announced that Malaysia recorded 108 Covid-19 recoveries today, the highest number so far. In total, 645 cases have been discharged.
— Malay Mail

QSR Brands appoints new chairman, MD
QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd (QSR Brands), the food chain brand that operates KFC and Pizza Hut Malaysia, has appointed Datuk Mustafha Abd Razak as chairman and Nehchal Khanna as managing director, effective April 1, 2020.
— The Sun Daily

Medical group urges FT Ministry to take Ramadan bazaars online
The Academy of Medicine of Malaysia urged the Federal Territories Ministry to cancel Ramadan bazaars in its jurisdiction to reduce the public’s risk of exposure to Covid-19.
— Malay Mail

Large-scale disinfection exercise to begin mid April: DBKK
A large-scale disinfection exercise to address the spread of Covid-19 in areas under the jurisdiction of the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) is scheduled to be conducted in the middle of this month, said the director of its Landscape Department, Robert Lipon.
— The Sun Daily

AWER lays out recommendations for water, energy sector
Due to the magnitude of Covid-19’s impact to the global economy and the slump in crude oil market, the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (AWER) has put forth a number of recommendations to the federal government, urging it to prepare for a worst case scenario.
— The Sun Daily

‘Bantuan Prihatin Nasional’ applications can be made until April 30, says IRB
The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) today gave an assurance that members of the public have until April 30 to check on their eligibility and make applications for ‘Bantuan Prihatin Nasional’ cash assistance.
— The Borneo Post

Bursa Malaysia falls 2.09% to close at intra-day low
Bursa Malaysia finished at an intra-day low today as investor sentiments were affected by the weaker manufacturing data amidst straggling crude oil prices.
— The Sun Daily

Feature photo Wenjay Tew

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo focuses on COVID-19 in Asean.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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