Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin addressed the nation yet again this afternoon with most of what he said had already been made public by the government earlier.
Muhyiddin said the government did not impose a total lockdown in a bid to get the economy moving. He also urged Malaysians to comply strictly with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) so that businesses can continue and to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission in the workplace and community.
“The government listens to your views by not shutting down the economy during the Movement Control Order period,” he said.
“So, please reciprocate this gesture by complying strictly with the SOPs so that we can ensure business and trade will continue to operate while at the same time help break the chain of Covid-19 transmission at the workplace and in the community.”
He said the third wave saw a spike in Covid-19 cases at factories, construction sites, dormitories and workplaces – something the Health Ministry had already mentioned in the past.
Muhyiddin provided a breakdown of Covid-19 cases:
- 59 per cent from workplaces.
- 19 per cent from detention centres.
- 14 per cent from homes.
- five per cent from places of worship; and
- two per cent each from imported and high-risk groups.
This adds up to 101 per cent. He, however, did not reveal the number of cases recorded throughout the third wave.
Muhyiddin also said the Covid-19 immunisation programme is on track and will be rolled out later this month.
He said the government targeted 80 per cent of the population or 26.5 million individuals will receive the vaccine for free. The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme will have three phases:
- Phase 1 (late Feb – end of April) – involving 500,000 frontliners (medical and non-medical).
- Phase 2 (April – August) – involving 9.4 million high-risk individuals (those aged 60 and above suffer from heart diseases, obesity, diabetes or high blood pressure) and special needs individuals.
- Phase 3 (May – Feb 2022) – individuals aged 18 and above.
“To ensure this programme runs smoothly, in an orderly manner and to make it easy for the public, over 600 storage and vaccination facilities will be opened nationwide,” he said.
Muhyiddin also defended the proclamation of emergency – a move that has been questioned by various quarters.
“I take this opportunity to remind all parties to stop making baseless accusations against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for consenting to the emergency. The government got the Agong’s consent as he felt the spread of Covid-19 in the country was critical and an emergency, in line with the Cabinet’s decision, was necessary,” he added.
Here’s the round-up of The News Normal today.
PRASARANA TO LODGE MACC REPORT OVER SAUDI TRAIN PROJECT
Prasarana Malaysia Bhd will lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Companies Commission over the Makkah Metro rail project in Saudi Arabia.
This comes following Prasarana’s recent audit and forensic investigations into the company’s involvement in the maintenance and operation of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Makkah Metro Southern Line project.
Prasarana said the project had caused it to incur losses amounting to 417 million Saudi riyals (RM451 million) for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2019.
HEALTH DG: DON’T WAIT, GO FOR EARLY CANCER SCREENING
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah is urging the public to go for early screening for cancer.
He said it was important to know the early signs and symptoms for a better chance of recovery.
Speaking in conjunction with World Cancer Day today, Dr Noor Hisham said cancer is one of the most feared chronic diseases with breast cancer being the most common, followed by colorectal or colon cancer and lung cancer.
He added one-third of cancer deaths is associated with, among others, being overweight, low intake of fruits and vegetables, poor physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption.
BRACING FOR A QUIET CHINESE ‘NIU’ YEAR
While it will be a quiet Lunar New Year minus the major reunion dinner gatherings this time around, everyone has a role to play in breaking the chain and flattening the curve, writes Rita Jong.
