Malaysia Morning News For May 7, 2020

COVID-19: Malaysia reports 45 new cases and 1 death; authorities to step up testing of some foreign workers
Malaysia reported 45 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday (May 6), taking the cumulative total to 6,428 infections.
— CNA

Ministry taking stern action against polluting rubber-based factories
The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) views seriously and will not compromise with manufacturers, who flouted the rules, especially those who were allowed to operate during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
— The Borneo Post

Public Bank, RHB cut base rate by 50bps
Public Bank Bhd and Public Islamic Bank Bhd will reduce its base rate (BR) and base lending rate (BLR)/base financing rate by 0.50% effective May 12, 2020, in line with Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) Overnight Policy Rate cut by 50 basis points (bps) to 2.00% yesterday.
— The Sun Daily

CM announces formation of Sarawak Economic Action Council to aid state economic exit strategy post Covid-19
Sarawak has formed a Sarawak Economic Action Council to facilitate the state government’s post Covid-19 exit economic strategy up to 2030, says Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
— The Borneo Post

Federal special stimulus package for SMEs welcomed
Sarawak Manufacturers Association (SMA) welcomes the federal government’s special stimulus package for small and medium enterprise (SMEs) announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Malaysia will be crucial to Asia’s Covid-19 damage control
Asia has a new public emergency: breathing life into moribund economies.
— India Times

Malaysia ranks 26th in talent development
Malaysia has moved up to the 26th position out of 88 countries in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2020 (GTCI 2020), which is two spots higher than its 28th ranking last year.
— New Straits Times

EU citizens praise Covid-19 treatment in Malaysia
European citizens treated for Covid-19 in Malaysia have shared positive words about their experience, says Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the EU to Malaysia, Maria Castillo Fernandez.
— The Star Online

Don’t delay implementation of Section 17A of MACC Act
The government has been urged not to delay the gazetting and implementation of Section 17A of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act, which provides strict liability offence to commercial organisations for failing to prevent corruption.
— The Sun Daily

IATA supports wearing of face coverings, masks on board of aircraft
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) supports the wearing of face coverings for passengers and masks for crew while on board aircraft as a critical part of a layered approach to biosecurity to be implemented temporarily when people return to travelling by air.
— The Borneo Post

Traders urge authorities to reopen road leading to Air Itam wet market under CMCO
Traders today urged the authorities to reopen the stretch of road leading to the Air Itam wet market under the conditional movement control order (CMCO).
— Malay Mail

Tour bus operators seek govt’s assistance
The Covid-19 pandemic not only threatens the health and lives of the people, but also affects the economy and sustenance of various sectors of the economy.
— The Sun Daily

1.3 million users downloaded Gerak Malaysia app – Bukit Aman
The Gerak Malaysia application has been downloaded 1.3 million times, with over 600,000 requests for inter-state travel permits received by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) since yesterday (midnight, May 4), said Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Huzir Mohamed.
— The Borneo Post

Malacca gov’t allows hawkers, small traders to operate within housing areas
The Malacca government has allowed hawkers and small traders to conduct business within their housing areas during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in an effort to assist the low-income group affected by the Covid-19 situation.
— The Sun Daily

IBS technology can reduce Covid-19 outbreak in construction sites – Fadillah
The use of the Industrialised Building System (IBS) technology is seen as the best way to reduce the risk of Covid-19 outbreak in the construction sector, said Senior Minister (Infrastructure Cluster) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (pix).
— The Sun Daily

Covid-19: Sabah to take practical measures in tourism recovery plan, says deputy CM
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry together with its six agencies will implement the Sabah Tourism Recovery Plan once the Covid-19 pandemic is over, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew.
— Malay Mail

ESSCom updates wanted list of kidnap for ransom
The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) today updates a list of foreign national suspects who are wanted for involvements in cross-border crimes in the waters of the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).
— The Sun Daily

Tariff hike boosts Westports’ Q1 earnings by 9%
Westports Holdings Bhd’s net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 (Q1) jumped 9% to RM152.81 million from RM139.90 million a year ago mainly contributed by the container tariff hike in March 2019.
— The Sun Daily

Johor Health Dept denies Covid-19 positive case at Sentral Clinic, Bandar Utama Segamat
The Johor Health Department today denied that there was a Covid-19 positive patient at the Sentral Clinic, Bandar Utama Segamat, as being viralled on the social media.
— The Sun Daily

‘Cashflow woes may force 49% of businesses to close shop’
Businesses need to monitor changing customer demand patterns and re-evaluate their sourcing strategy.
— The Sun Daily

Sedania Innovator expands esports footprint in Latin America
Sedania Innovator Bhd, through its special purpose vehicle Esports Players League (ESPL) is expanding its footprint into Latin America through its partnership with Mexico’s premier experience brand Arena Esports Pro Gaming, Panama’s and Columbia’s vibrant esports community Versus Esports and Ecuador’s grassroots esports community.
— The Sun Daily

NUJ demands explanation from court after reporters barred from covering Zahid’s daughter, son-in-law’s MCO violation proceedings
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) today demanded an explanation from the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court for abruptly ejecting reporters from one of its courtrooms, before the hearing of Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad.
— Malay Mail

Tour operators struggle to stay afloat
The tourism industry was the first to suffer when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and it will be the last to recover.
— The Sun Daily

Sarawak police focus on advising public to practise social distancing
The Sarawak police are continuing their efforts to advise the public to practise social distancing in places such as markets, supermarkets and banks.
— The Borneo Post

TNB subsidiary to digitalise ops of largest solar power project in Malaysia
Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) wholly-owned subsidiary TNB Renewables Sdn Bhd (TRe) is deploying big data analytics applications in its large scale solar (LSS) farm in Sepang, Selangor in Malaysia to improve energy productivity and operational efficiency.
— The Sun Daily

Malacca Health Dept denies ordering Covid-19 screening in Masjid Tanah
The Malacca Health Department has denied issuing an order for members of the public who have been to a supermarket in Masjid Tanah in Alor Gajah near here to go for Covid-19 screening as viralled on the social media and the WhatsApp application yesterday.
— The Sun Daily

Social visit pass holders allowed to return home – Immigration
Foreign citizens who have overstayed with social visit pass (PLS) between Jan 1, 2020 and up to 14 working days after the expiry of the Movement Control Order (MCO), is allowed to return to their home country without having to obtain a special pass (SP) at the Immigration office.
— The Borneo Post

2,362 central zone university students return home in the south
A total of 2,362 students from seven central zone universities returned home in the south in Negri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor starting from 10pm in a movement managed by Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM).
— The Sun Daily

Azmin: Keeping economy locked down unfair to businesses in green zones
The government put in a lot of effort and tabulated data and research findings before deciding to open up the country for business, International Trade and Industry (Miti) Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said.
— Malay Mail

62 individuals in KL jailed, fined for defying MCO
Sixty-two individuals including 12 women were jailed for two to four weeks or fined between RM600 and RM1,000 at two Magistrates’ Courts here yesterday after pleading guilty to moving from one place to another over a distance of 10km from their respective residences..
— The Sun Daily

Malayan Mansion, Selangor Mansion residents decry first Immigration raid in three years conducted under cover of EMCO
For about three years, the authorities had refrained from raiding Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion here, a migrant worker said.
— Malay Mail

What a pathetic explanation from Azmin, says Kit Siang
How many Malaysians took the threat issued by Senior Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali of possible legal action against the nine state governments on their refusal to comply with the conditional movement control order (CMCO) as a gentle reminder?
— The Sun Daily

UN should help resolve Rohingya refugees issue at its core
The United Nations (UN) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) should help resolve the Rohingya refugees issue at its core.
— The Sun Daily

Ensure foreign workers’ welfare rather than testing them en masse, doctors tell Putrajaya
The testing of all foreign workers may not be a practical approach for now, and may turn into a logistical nightmare as businesses begin to resume operations, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said today.
— Malay Mail

CMCO: Police to increase personnel for task force on SOP compliance, says IGP
The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will increase the number of personnel in its Compliance Operation Task Force in public areas following the implementation of the conditional movement control order (CMCO) since yesterday.
— Malay Mail

SC to drive distribution of capital market products via e-service platforms
The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) announced today that it will facilitate the online distribution of capital market products such as unit trusts, through e-services platforms like e-wallet or e-payment service providers.
— The Sun Daily

May 15 court date for Shahrir’s RM1mil tax case
The case of former Felda chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Ab Samad, who is charged with failing to declare RM1mil that he received from Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), has been rescheduled for case management at the Sessions Court here on May 15.
— The Star Online

Businessman loses RM56,560 to Macau Scam
A businessman lodged a police report claiming that he lost RM56,560 in savings, after being deceived by a Macau Scam for alleged involvement in money laundering.
— The Sun Daily

Health Ministry lodges police report over slander on social media
The Ministry of Health (MOH) today lodged a police report over alleged statements on social media claiming five officials from the ministry had been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
— The Sun Daily

Impractical to test all foreign workers: MMA
The Covid-19 test on all foreign workers may not be a practical approach for now and may turn into a logistical nightmare as businesses begin to resume operations, said the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).
— The Sun Daily

Feature photo Shorebirds Peninsular Malaysia Project
This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo focuses on World Migratory Bird Day, May 9, here, Brown and Black headed gull.

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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