Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: Business groups are hoping that Malaysia will follow Indonesia’s lead and encourage companies to buy Covid-19 vaccines for their workers in an effort to boost the economy. Indonesia, which intends to vaccinate 70% of its population (181.5 million) by the end of the year to achieve herd immunity, revealed last week a health ministerial rule allowing businesses to …

PUTRAJAYA: MCA filed a defamation suit against Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, claiming that the party never used its own funds to send allocations to Chinese schools and instead pocketed public funds. The Federal Court dismissed the claim today. Lim’s appeal was allowed, and the single question of law asked “is answered in the negative,” according to a seven-member bench …

KUALA LUMPUR: To help kickstart the international air travel industry, AirAsia has joined aviation and tourism experts in calling for a standardised approach to travel protocols. Bo Lingam, president of AirAsia Group (Airlines), said that for cross-border travel to resume effectively and safely, a mutually agreed global framework approach is needed. “Travel requirements in the region are currently complex and …

PETALING JAYA: According to de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan, the fine for violating Covid-19 laws is not set at RM10,000. Takiyuddin said the fines range from RM100 to RM10,000, depending on the severity of the crime, during a live-streamed press conference. “The authorities will use their discretion; there are guidelines,” he said, despite the fact that the Emergency Ordinance …

PETALING JAYA: Former Barisan Nasional secretary-general Annuar Musa has asked Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to clarify if he wrote to Muhyiddin Yassin about the party’s position on the PPBM. He said that Zahid wrote Muhyiddin a letter on February 26 informing him of the outcome of the Umno Supreme Council meeting in Janda Baik, Pahang, on February 19. The …

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian private hospital association has urged the government to allow its members to purchase and administer Covid-19 vaccines on their own. This comes after Khairy Jamaluddin, the minister of science, technology, and innovation, was quoted by CodeBlue as saying that private hospitals will not be able to buy and operate their own vaccination programs in the near …

MELAKA: The Melaka state government has refuted claims that in the first phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, more than 100 state politicians were given preference over frontliners for vaccination. In response to accusations made on social media, executive councillor Rahmad Mariman claimed that the state Health Department decides the list of qualified people without the participation of any …

PETALING JAYA: The government should strongly consider opening its borders to tourists and business travelers who have obtained the covid-19 vaccine, according to bukit gasing assemblyman rajiv rishyakaran. The dap man suggested that Malaysia be the first solely Asian country to do so, citing a report that showed that many nations, including Iceland, Poland, and Romania, had expressly allowed entry …

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin reiterated on Monday (Mar 1) that once the COVID-19 pandemic is over, he will dissolve parliament. “The key priority of this government at this time is to steer this country out of the double whammy of health and economic crises,” he said in a speech focusing on his first year in office. I …

KUALA LUMPUR: Brian McFeeters, the current U.S. ambassador to Malaysia, arrived on Friday to take on his new diplomatic appointment. The new ambassador is delighted to be returning to Malaysia, where he previously worked as a Political Advisor from 2009 to 2011, according to a statement from the US Embassy. “It is wonderful to be back in Malaysia. During my …