Dear Diary,
I agree with the old saying ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’. It’s good to collaborate and share recipes but there has to be one head chef to dictate what goes into the pot.
Similarly, too many laws and rules will confuse us normal folks.
Take the Confusing, oops, Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) which begins tomorrow for example.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the loosening of Movement Control Order (MCO) rules and this included opening up several economic sectors.
But at the time of writing, Penang, Kelantan, Kedah, Sabah, Sarawak, Negri Sembilan and Pahang have said they won’t “open for business” tomorrow while Selangor will do so in stages.
While the prime minister says dining in would be allowed, some states are against it. McDonald’s took the initiative last night by announcing it will not allow dine-ins at its restaurant for the time being.
And what about running and jogging? It was only supposed to be allowed from tomorrow but former colleague Sabrina Bahari said her husband saw many groups jogging yesterday. He tried to take a picture and was scolded instead.
Who do we listen to?
Anyway, Happy World Press Freedom Day to journalists everywhere.
Here’s how Day 47 of MCO unfolded.
9.14am: MARKET CLOSED – The Seremban wet market, home to some of the best food in the world, will be closed until further notice for cleaning and sanitising after two traders tested positive for Covid-19.
10.45am: LEAVE THEM KIDS ALONE? – Association of Registered Childcare Providers Malaysia president Anisa Ahmad says daycare centres may only reopen next month to ensure the safety of the little ones.
12.01pm: ALWAYS VERIFY – A tweet by a Malaysian student who allegedly received a NASA scholarship was picked up by several media organisations – print and TV – and he was even congratulated by the prime minister, and the science and higher education ministers. After being called out by many on Twitter, he claims he may have been scammed.
1.13pm: SWEET REVENGE – Bawangmana (@bawangmana), an account for satire and parody news, with a valuable lesson for Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Khairy Jamaluddin meminta rakyat berhati-hati dengan portal berita parodi, BawangMana, yang kerap menyebarkan berita yang mengelirukan.
“Tolong baca laporan berita sebenar sahaja untuk elak ditipu”, kata beliau selepas memuji kejayaan anak Malaysia mendapat biasiswa NASA. pic.twitter.com/GlOVnPe6he
— BAWANGMANA (@bawangmana) May 3, 2020
1.33pm: NO MORE EXCUSES – The Education Ministry says TV Pendidikan (Educational TV) programme will be aired on Astro’s Tutor TV tomorrow, allowing students with no or limited access to the Internet to continue with their learning.
1.47pm: SMOOTH SAILING – Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal says nine roadblocks will be removed tomorrow.
2pm: FULL STEAM AHEAD – Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob says public transport services will revert to their pre-MCO timetable from tomorrow but urges the public to practise social distancing.
He adds four family members can travel in a private vehicle together. Bad news for parents with three kids.
2.17pm: GETTING READY
Ini merupakan sedikit gambaran situasi yang anda akan lalui ketika menggunakan perkhidmatan tren pada hari esok. pic.twitter.com/kOiJB7O9e3
— RapidKL 03-78852585 (@MyRapidKL) May 3, 2020
2.21pm: DIY – Wife starts a new project – ‘refurbishing’ our parquet flooring with these self-adhesive PVC flooring.
3.01pm: COME HOME – Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman invites Muhyiddin to return to the party that sacked him four years ago.
4.48pm: WORRYING – There are 122 new cases, taking the total to 6,298. Of that number, 70 per cent or 4,413 have been cured, including 87 who were discharged today. Two more deaths make it 105 fatalities.
5pm: LISTEN TO ME – Muhyiddin should have sent this song to the states who won’t follow his order.
