Dear Diary,
It’s June already. The first five months have breezed by quicker than you can say Covid-19 pandemic but Malaysia is handling it well as today is the 10th consecutive day there are no deaths from the disease.
It is also a year since Liverpool won the Champions League title (although technically, for us in Malaysia, it happened at around 4.50am on June 2).
Today is also TV3’s 36th birthday as well as the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s 62nd anniversary. Congratulations.
It is also better late than never as two technicians from Telekom Malaysia came over to fix my Wi-Fi router. Both were efficient, polite and funny as they presented me a gift – two empty boxes!
They even took the trouble to snap pictures of a message I received in September which purportedly came from TM claiming I had received a new router – complete with a forged signature.
Over in the United States, reports emerged that President Donald Trump was rushed into the White House bunker on Friday as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the executive mansion. It resulted in #bunkerboy trending on social media.
The nationwide protests were triggered by the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after he was pinned at the neck by a white Minneapolis police officer.
Here’s how Day 76 of the Movement Control Order (MCO) unfolded.
8.30am: SWEET MEMORY – Been watching this the whole day.
9am: NO STOPPING IT – Worldwide cases surpass six million with nearly 375,000 deaths.
10.36am: SILENCE ISN’T GOLDEN – Six-time Formula One motor racing champion Lewis Hamilton criticises his sport for its silence on the killing of George Floyd.
11.15am: FRESH CASE IN HK – Hong Kong confirms its first locally transmitted coronavirus cases in more than two weeks, fuelling concerns over its spread as restrictions on movement are relaxed. It now has 1,085 infections and four deaths.
12.01pm: BANTER – One of the Telekom Malaysia technicians who helped set up the router is a Manchester United fan. He asks if I want my Unifi password to be LIVERFOOL. He says no one will be able to guess it! Apart from that remark, he and his partner did a great job and now I have super speed. Thanks, guys. I’ll Never Unifi Alone!
1.05pm: NO SENSE OF DIRECTION – I head to my favourite Indian restaurant in Subang for lunch after buying some groceries. As I’m coming from a hypermarket, I use a different route and lose my way. It has been that long since I’ve been there.
2pm: WE’RE WATCHING YOU – Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob warns food operators they have to close by 10pm or face the law. Owners must ensure there is proper physical distancing for dine-in customers.
He also says barbers and hair salons are still not able to open and this includes personal service at home.
Meanwhile, the RM1 fee exemption for cash withdrawals is still on despite ATMs reverting to normal working times.
Ismail Sabri, who is also Defence Minister, says the Royal Malaysian Air Force today celebrated its 62nd anniversary in the new normal way via social media platform due to the Conditional MCO.
3pm: ONE-MONTH COUNTDOWN – Thai government to lift all business and activity lockdowns on July 1.
4.30pm: GOOD IDEA – Gerakan wants drunk drivers’ licences revoked for life.
5pm: PERFECT 10 – For the 10th day in a row, there are no deaths, fatalities remain at 115. There are 38 new infections which make it 7,857 cases while 51 patients are discharged which means 6,404 people have been cured.
6.11pm: SPIKE – Iran says Covid-19 cases jump by nearly 3,000 in a day, the highest in two months
7pm: LILING – Since it’s Gawai here’s a number from Alena Murang which incorporates several ethnic dialects.