(PUTRAJAYA, MAY 31) Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin held a press conference to announce a new MCO 3.0 stimulus package called PEMERKASA+. It is a continuation of the initiatives that were previously introduced, including PRIHATIN and PEMERKASA.
He started by mentioning that the closure of the business sector will bring great impact to society, but the government will try their best to balance the lives and livelihood of the rakyat.
He mentioned that RM340 billion aid has been provided to the citizens during this pandemic. With an additional support fund, a total of RM322.5 billion will be channeled to further assist the citizens and the economy sector.
He then announced PEMERKASA+ aid package that is worth RM40 billion as the new initiative to help the rakyat that were impacted by the lockdown and the pandemic. It will be executed with 3 objectives:
Increase the capacity of the public healthcare system
Continue the ‘Prihatin’ Rakyat agenda
Support the business sectors
He also mentioned that another RM1 billion will be allocated to increase the capacity of the public health sectors and to extend the contracts of health personnel until 2022. RM450 million will be used to increase the amount of beds as well as ICU equipment in both the government and the private hospitals.
He has urged the authorities to expedite the national vaccination program, such as increasing vaccination centres and the drive-thru vaccinations.
He also urges the citizens to attend their vaccination appointments according to the schedule in order to achieve our targeted herd immunity.
He mentioned that the government will continue to provide ‘prihatin’ to the rakyat and as much support as possible. Therefore, an additional RM2.1 billion will be allocated to Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) from end June, where RM500 will be provided to those with household income less than RM2500 and RM300 for households with monthly income between RM2,501 and RM5,000.
One month wage subsidy worth RM1.5 billion for eligible employees and employers will also be provided.
A three-month automatic loan moratorium or 50% payment reduction for six months will be given to B40 group, eligible SMEs that are not allowed to operate during the MCO, and those who lost their jobs.
He promises that the government will continue to support the economic sector, making sure cash flows of businesses are smooth – including microcredit by BSN and others.
Taxi drivers, school bus drivers, ride hailing drivers and tour guides who are affected during this lockdown period will be given a one-off RM500.
Electricity bills are given a 10% discount for the travelling sector, shopping malls, convention centers, theme parks and local airline offices from July to September 2021.
Stamp duty exemptions under the HOC campaign for property buyers will also be extended to 31 December 2021.
Sales tax will also be waived for new CKD and CBU passenger vehicles from Jun 30 till Dec 31, 2021.
He also announced that all ministers and deputy ministers will not be taking salaries for 3 months starting June 2021. All the salaries will be channeled back into the support fund.
(KUALA LUMPUR, May 31) Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will address the nation at 9pm tonight to announce the MCO 3.0 stimulus package.
The special address will be broadcasted live on RTM, Bernama, TV3, Astro and TV Alhijrah at 9pm.
The aid package will be provided with the intention to help the rakyat get through the FMCO, a full-scale total lockdown which will take effect from tomorrow onwards for the next 14 days from June 1 – June 14. Just recently, Malaysia recorded a new high of over 9,000 cases alone on Saturday.
Banyak juga kilang-kilang yang terbuka semasa lockdown penuh.
Misalnya sektor elektrikal dan elektronik yang merupakan antara sektor terbesar negara dengan 600,000 pekerja secara langsung dibenarkan beroperasi.
Jika sektor ini dibenarkan beroperasi maka banyak lagi kilang-kilang pembekal secara langsung dan tidak langsung serta sektor berkaitan seperti pengangkutan dan pelabuhan juga perlu dibenarkan untuk beroperasi seperti biasa.
Dijadikan pula sebagai sektor perkhidmatan perlu dengan alasan untuk menjaga “kepentingan rantaian ekonomi global”.
Jadi, siapa pula nak jaga kepentingan negara dan kepentingan ekonomi Rakyat yang tuntut lockdown penuh untuk memberi impak maksima kepada keadaan Covid amat kritikal sekarang dalam tempoh tersingkat?
Siapa pula yang akan menegakkan keadilan bagi jutaan rakyat biasa serta peniaga kecil yang perlu berkorban dalam tempoh lockdown penuh ini manakala kilang-kilang besar yang dimilik syarikat asing MNC dan syarikat besar yang kaya terus menjana keuntungan tanpa sebarang gangguan?
Jika perlu berkorban, kita sama-sama berkorban.
Bukan ramai yang berkorban sehingga terkorban manakala ada pula yang langsung tidak terkesan.
Saya tak percaya syarikat MNC dan syarikat besar yang kaya ini akan bankrap, membuang pekerja atau akan pindah kilang ke negara lain jika tidak dibenar beroperasi untuk 14 hari sahaja.
Bagi sektor-sektor yang lain pula, kita perlu pantau jika produk yang dikeluarkan mereka benar-benar kekurangan stok dalam pasaran.
Jika stok sedia ada adalah cukup untuk memenuhi keperluan bagi tempoh 14 hari maka kilang itu sepatutnya ditutup.
PKP sudah dua kali separuh masak. Janganlah TOTAL Lockdown juga menjadi Tiga Suku Lockdown.
14 hari sahaja.
*Kandungan di atas hanya mewakili pandangan penulis sendiri. Sekiranya anda mempunyai pertanyaan mengenai kandungan karya, hak cipta atau masalah lain, sila hubungi Newswav.
Catatan ini pertama kali muncul di laman Facebook Najib Razak.
There is no time to lose. Malaysia is at the top in the world in terms of new cases per million of population and the number keeps rising. The recovery rate is falling and the number of people dying is increasing.
New variants of the virus have mutated which are challenging the full effectiveness of available vaccines. Hospitals are full, frontliners stretched and stressed.
We are in a desperate situation. Yes, a full lockdown comes into force tomorrow but it is uncertain whether the ravages of the pandemic can be brought under control. The economy will certainly suffer. The people will suffer even more, those who live. Many are dying and will die.
The nation, the people and the government should move together to face this crisis which threatens to break the country. We are staring at the abyss. Three things must be done quick.
FIRST, the prime minister should form a government of national unity to manage this crisis. He has been urged by many for some time now to set up that emergency government, but has chosen to ignore such advice. He may feel his bargaining position may have been eroded by seeking to form such a government at this time with his back against the wall.
But this is not the time for political calculation, party or personality. This is a matter of national survival at so many levels. In any case, he will still be prime minister and, by riding above narrow politics, he would be doing himself a world of good showing statesmanship at the time of greatest need.
The national unity cabinet should comprise representatives from all political parties represented in Parliament, of course, but could include non-partisan competent professionals.
Yes, there is the risk of political parties and leaders double-crossing the prime minister but they will be exposed for all to see. If the national unity government is brought down, there is every justification to, indeed, declare an emergency, which will be a different ball game, with full powers in his hands, for there is no way a general election can be held. Holding one would be suicidal.
SECOND, end the state of emergency such as it is and reconvene Parliament. Parliament is the right and proper forum to discuss policy issues and to pass the necessary legislation. The present emergency has not got widespread support and its end will help the process of forming a common national purpose at this time, yes, of grave emergency.
There will be some grandstanding and idiots, in Parliament, but the speaker’s more active and intelligent role should help to contain such twits.
Indeed a People’s Advisory Council should be established to also give advice to the government — comprising representatives of civil society, business and professional bodies. It will be a source of sanity and objectivity — which could also highlight shortfalls and failures in parliamentary discussions.
The role of conventional and social media is critical to highlight the good and to differentiate it from the bad, whether people or policies, but reporting should be accurate and committed to the urgent common national good — containment of the virus and management of the risks.
With Parliament back in session, it should re-examine the statutory debt limit of 60 per cent of GDP, so that the government can issue Covid Recovery Bonds and take on other debt to help people and businesses under lockdown. It could be examined whether such bonds could be excluded from the calculation of government debt as it is an emergency that we are facing. Developed countries have bust all limits and are masters of quantitative easing.
With a national unity government and a Parliament making it accountable, the people and others would have the confidence to take up the special purpose bonds. There are other ways for the government to raise money that can be scrutinised, such as through agencies whose liabilities are not in the calculation of total debt.
THIRD, the people must adhere to SOPs strictly. However, they see double standards where big names and politicians flout the law and get away with it. This does not make for a successful regime of SOPs. When they see a government which is united of purpose and a Parliament fit for purpose and a People’s Advisory Council suited to the purpose — and the end of double standards — there will be national commitment and buy-in.
The people also see events which have caused spikes in Covid-19 cases which are irresponsible and entirely avoidable. Starting with the Tabligh cluster from February last year, to the Sabah election also last year in September and the Ramadan/Hari Raya surges this year, which showed laxity of enforcement and couldn’t-care less non-adherence by religious and political leaders and big shots, the people see the SOPs as an imposition only on them that do not contain the spread of the virus at all.
These cycles cannot continue. Otherwise, we are headed for Armageddon. We do not want to become a country and economy of grave-diggers.
The people are also angry with the slow speed of the vaccine roll-out. There has to be greater accountability and transparency. Right now, they are very angry, with many explanations they cannot accept.
There are many intricacies and power political play in the access to vaccines in the world. These should be explained with clarity and consistency. At the moment they only see moving targets which are not hit. They also see systems for applications for vaccination which do not work 100 per cent.
Whether 150,000 vaccines administered daily will achieve herd immunity by the end of this year, with previous targets and timelines not met, is a source of grave scepticism.
And the challenges will not end. Afterwards, there will be the issue of booster vaccinations. Of testing for antibodies. Even now of mass testing and a regime of efficient contact tracing. Of opening up social and economic life but not letting the guard down. Not easy, but the people — and the government and political leaders — must understand the change, some would say nature’s epochal correction, that has taken place.
With a national unity government, a functioning Parliament, further people representation to offer advice, no double standards and greater transparency there will be, if not a feel-good factor (how can there be given the enveloping pandemic), greater belief and hope among the people that the country is not running into the ground.
*The views expressed are those of the author. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
(PUTRAJAYA, MEI 30) Pada jam 5 petang tadi, Menteri Pertahanan Ismail Sabri dan Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan Dr Noor Hisham mengadakan sidang media bersama untuk mengumumkan SOP terkini untuk ‘total lockdown’.
Sabri bermulai dengan menyebutkan bahawa kerajaan memutuskan pelaksanaan ‘total lockdown’ dua hari yang lalu sebab peningkatan kes yang mendadak. Pada 29 Mei, Malaysia mencatatkan lebih daripada 9,000 kes harian.
Beliau juga menyebutkan bahawa unit-unit ICU di hospital telah mencapai kapasiti maksimum. Jika ‘total lockdown’ tidak dilaksanakan, sistem kesihatan negara mungkin runtuh disebabkan jumlah kes yang makin meningkat.
Beliau menekankan bahawa ‘total lockdown’ selama 2 minggu ini amat penting. Ini adalah pengorbanan yang harus dilakukan untuk membendung wabak Covid-19. Beliau menggesa rakyat supaya tidak meninggalkan rumah kecuali untuk perkara penting sahaja.
Kesemua aktiviti sosial dan ekonomi adalah tidak dibenarkan, kecuali:
Makanan dan Minuman
Perubatan dan kesihatan
Air
Tenaga
Keselamatan
Pengurusan Sisa Pepejal
Pengangkutan
Perkhidmatan Pelabuhan
Komunikasi
Perbankan
Perkreditan
E-dagang
Pengeluaran Bahan Api
Hotel & Penginapan (Kuarantin)
Pembinaan & Penyelenggaran
Perhutanan
Logistik
Semua sektor perkilangan dihadkan, kecuali 12 sektor berikut:
Aeroangkasa (komponen dan maintenance, repair and overhaul – MRO)
Makanan dan minuman
Bahan pembungkusan dan percetakan hanya berkaitan bahan makanan dan kesihatan
Barang-barang dan penjagaan diri, dan bahan pencuci
Keluaran penjagaan kesihatan dan perubatan termasuk penokok diet
Barang penjagaan diri, peralatan perlindungan diri (PPE) termasuk sarung tangan getah dan peralatan keselamatan kebakaran
Komponen bagi peranti perubatan
Elektrikal dan Elektronik (kepentingan rantaian ekonomi global)
Minyak dan gas (Oil and Gas) termasuk petrokimia dan produk petrokimia
Mesin dan peralatan hanya berkaitan kesihatan dan makanan sahaja
Tekstil untuk pengeluaran PPE sahaja
Pengeluaran, penyulingan, penyimpanan, pembekalan dan pengagihan bahan api dan pelincir
Semua pusat membeli-belah diarahkan ditutup kecuali bahagian penjualan barang-barang keperluan.
Hanya 2 orang dari satu isi rumah dibenarkan keluar untuk membeli barang keperluan dalam had 10km.
Sepanjang tempoh sekatan pergerakan penuh ini, hanya joging dan senaman dibenar hingga jam 8 malam.
Semua SOP yang dinyata di atas akan dikenakan di seluruh negara, tiada negeri yang dikecualikan.
Sabri juga menambah bahawa dengan penutupan sebahagian besar kilang, ia akan menyumbang kepada penurunan jumlah kes positif.
Semua sekolah dan pusat pendidikan juga diarahkan untuk tutup.
Surat MITI yang dikeluarkan sebelum ini hanya sah hingga 31 Mei, dan hanya surat yang dikeluarkan oleh kementerian akan sah untuk perjalanan untuk tujuan kerja selepas 1 Jun.
(PUTRAJAYA, MAY 30) Our Minister of Defence Ismail Sabri held a joint press conference with Director-General of Health Dr. Noor Hisham at 5pm today to address the latest Covid-19 situation and announce the latest SOPs for FMCO.
Sabri started by mentioning that the government had decided to initiate a total lockdown two days ago due to the significant increase in cases. Just yesterday, Malaysia recorded more than 9,000 daily cases alone.
He also mentioned that ICU units in hospitals have reached their maximum capacity, and if a total lockdown had not been initiated, the healthcare system would have collapsed due to the overwhelming number of daily confirmed cases.
He added that the next two weeks of total lockdown will be critical and a sacrifice needed to be made in order to curb the pandemic. He strongly urged the rakyat to stay home if there is no urgent matter to attend to outside.
With this total lockdown, all social & economic activities are not allowed except the following:
Food & beverages: Takeaway only
Medicine & health
Water
Energy
Security
Solid waste management
Transportation
Ports & airports
Communication
Banking
Credit community
E-commerce
Fuel Production
Hotels and accommodation: For quarantine purposes only
Construction and maintenance
Forestry
Logistics
All manufacturing sectors are not allowed to operate, except the following sectors:
Aerospace
Food & beverage production
Printing & packaging for food and health products, sanitization products, and medicinal products
Personal care & laundromats
Medicine and health
All Shopping Malls are ordered to close except for essential item retails.
Only 2 people from one household are allowed to go out for essential item purchases within a 10km radius. If the services are not within that radius, movement to the closest place to the residence is allowed.
Same goes to the capacity of private vehicles: 2 people from the same household, and 3 (including the patients) for health and medical purposes.
Jogging and non-contact individual exercises are allowed from 7am to 8pm within respective residential areas only. Other sports and recreation activities are not permitted.
Child care centres and kindergartens can operate only for frontliners and households with both parents working.
SOPs mentioned above will be applied to the entire country.
Sabri also mentioned that by shutting down the majority of factories, this will significantly contribute to a decline in the number of positive cases.
All school and education centers will be closed as well.
All MITI letters that were issued previously are only valid until 31 May, and only letters issued by the ministry will be valid for travel after 1st of June.
