All employees in the manufacturing (essential services) sector in Selangor would now have to undergo RTK Antigen swab tests twice a week throughout the ongoing Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) period.
The latest standard operating procedure (SOP) by the National Security Council stated that only employees who tested negative would be allowed to work.
Companies would have to bear the cost of the health screening, as well as the cleaning and disinfecting of the premises upon the discovery of a Covid-19 positive case.
The latest ruling came as the nation recorded 8,868 new Covid-19 cases today, bringing the total number of cases to 808,658.
Selangor breached the 4,000 mark, with 4,152 cases. This was followed by Kuala Lumpur (1,133) Negeri Sembilan (897), Perak (543), Kedah (360), Johor (336), Sarawak (281), Sabah (279), Penang (237), Melaka (183), Pahang (152), Kelantan (135), Terengganu (68), Labuan (64), Putrajaya (47) and Perlis (1).
Here are Twentytwo13’s news highlights.
KIT SIANG CALLS FOR SETTING UP OF COALITION GOVT TO COMBAT COVID-19
DAP’s Lim Kit Siang said Malaysia needed a “War against Covid-19 Pandemic” coalition government whose sole task was to win the war against the pandemic.
The Iskandar Puteri MP said right now, the country needed a national coalition encompassing the executive, parliament, and all sectors of Malaysian society for an “all-of-government” and “whole-of-society” strategy and approach to win the war against Covid-19.
He said Umno Supreme Council’s decision to withdraw support for the Perikatan Nasional government had led to the emergence of a new political scenario.
“No one seems to be able to command a clear majority of support of MPs and this calls for an agile and creative solution based on a national coalition to win the war against the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Lim.
He said this could take various forms, including the continuation of the present government but mindful of the need for an agreed consensus to form a national coalition, or a new government with the consensus for a national coalition or a new government, with representatives from all parties represented in Parliament.
“This is the time for Malaysians, guided by the Constitution and the five Rukun Negara principles of nation-building, to put on their thinking caps and come up with ideas as to how Malaysians can win the war against Covid-19, before more damage is done to the economy and society,” he said in a statement.
NUBE LODGES POLICE REPORT AGAINST HSBC CEO
The National Union of Bank Employees has lodged a police report against HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd chief executive officer Stuart Milne over claims that workers were allegedly laid off under the guise of voluntary and mutual separation schemes (VSS/MSS).
In a statement, NUBE’s general secretary J. Solomon claimed the VSS/MSS retrenchment scheme announced by HSBC on June 3 was made as a result of arbitrary outsourcing/insourcing of the non-executive function, closure of profit-making branches, and was done without any negotiations with NUBE.
“The obligatory objective for an employer to negotiate with the union is to avoid an irresponsible employer from cheating the workers,” Solomon said.
“Clearly ,the HSBC CEO showed no care or concern for its workers when he announced the retrenchment plan during these deeply challenging times,” he added.
CHARRED REMAINS OF WOMAN FOUND IN GOMBAK
The remains of a woman were found in a burning car in Bandar Baru Selayang, Gombak, early this morning.
The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department was alerted to the incident at 4.25am and upon arrival, they found a Perodua Kancil, bearing the registration plate WKB 2786, on fire.
The fire was put out within 15 minutes and the charred remains of the victim, who has not been identified, were found in the driver’s seat.
2021 VIETNAM SEA GAMES WILL NOW BE HELD NEXT YEAR
The 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam will be postponed to 2022, the latest sports event disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The SEA Games Federation met earlier today and agreed to postpone the event which was originally scheduled for Nov 21-Dec 2.
A new date will be determined by the Federation.
