Malaysia Morning News For April 1, 2020

Covid-19: Six more deaths, 140 new cases but 58 recoveries
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah announced six new deaths from Covid-19 in Malaysia today.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia’s stay-at-home order preventing major spikes in COVID-19 cases, says government
Malaysia’s stay-at-home order has prevented major daily spikes in coronavirus infections, the government said on Tuesday (Mar 31), but the World Bank warned the trade-reliant country’s economy would shrink this year for the first time in more than a decade.
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysia apologises for telling women not to nag during lockdown
The Malaysian women’s ministry apology came after online posters on how to act at home sparked a public outcry.
— Aljazeera

48 face mask fraud cases in Perak throughout MCO: Police
A total of 48 fraud cases involving the sale of face masks with estimated losses of RM39,322 have been reported in Perak during the Movement Control Order, which began on March 18.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia’s reserves at $103.396 bln as at end-Feb 2020
Malaysia’s reserves remained usable as at end-Feb 2020, with official reserve assets at $103.396 billion, in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (IMF SDDS) format.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Malaysia Braces for First Recession Since Global Financial Crisis
The ever-deepening coronavirus crisis is pushing Malaysia toward its first recession since the global financial crisis.
— Bloomberg

Fitch Solutions sees Malaysia’s reliance on banks, pension savings in stimulus as risk to long-term growth
Fitch Solutions warned today of risks to Malaysia’s long-term growth and social security from financing its Covid-19 stimulus by drawing on pension funds and relying on the private banking sector to absorb the economic shocks, as fallout from the outbreak continues to bite.
— Malay Mail

Singapore to help retrenched Malaysian workers find jobs
The Singapore government is assisting retrenched workers including Malaysians whose employers’ businesses have been badly hit by the Covid-19 crisis, the ministry of manpower said.
— FMT

14-day compulsory quarantine for Malaysians returning from overseas
All Malaysians returning from overseas have to undergo a compulsory 14-day quarantine at designated centres around the country, starting from April 3.
— The Sun Daily

From April 3, Malaysians returning from abroad to be sent straight to quarantine centres
Beginning April 3, Malaysians returning from abroad will be brought by the authorities straight to quarantine centres from the airport to undergo their compulsory 14-day quarantine at designed centres.
— Malay Mail

World Bank cuts Malaysia’s GDP forecast to -0.1%
The World Bank Group has significantly lowered its 2020 GDP growth projection for Malaysia to -0.1% from 4.5%, against the backdrop of growing uncertainty over the duration and overall impact of the Covid-19 outbreak.
— The Sun Daily

Embassy to help Malaysians in Indonesia return home
The Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia is cooperating with Malaysia Airlines (MAS), Garuda and the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel to help Malaysians in the republic return home.
— Malay Mail

Govt to set up regulated markets for fresh and wet groceries nationwide
There will be more choices on offer for all Malaysians as the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) will set up its regulated markets for fresh and wet groceries nationwide, Senior Minister (Defence), Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pix) said today.
— The Sun Daily

MCO: Sabah security forces maintain stepped-up vigilance against illegal entry
As the Movement Control Order (MCO) over Covid-19 enters its second two-week period at midnight tonight, the security forces have vowed to maintain stepped-up vigilance to prevent people from entering Sabah illegally.
— The Sun Daily
Ramadan bazaars may proceed if SOP followed: Malaysian health ministry
Ramadan bazaars will be allowed to operate during the fasting month provided that vendors and customers adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP), such as safe distancing and crowd control.
— CNA

Nine foreigners, among 11 joggers fined RM1,000 for flouting MCO
Eleven men, including nine foreigners, who were caught jogging along Jalan Mont Kiara and Jalan Desa Kiara here, were fined RM1,000 each, in default four weeks in jail, by the magistrate’s court here today for flouting the Movement Control Order (MCO).
— The Sun Daily

MIC urges govt to reinstate Anti-Fake News Act after influx of false news related to Covid-19
The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has urged the government to reinstate the repealed Anti-Fake News Act, after a series of arrests involving those who spread disinformation about the Covid-19 outbreak.
— Malay Mail

Penang tour guides need to register online for one-off payment of RM500, says exco
Registered tour guides in Penang will need to apply online for the state’s one-off financial aid of RM500 from today onwards, said state exco Yeoh Soon Hin.
— Malay Mail

Johor to commence district public sanitisation today
Public sanitisation or decontamination operation on Covid-19 in all districts in the state will start with Batu Pahat from today until April 14.
— The Sun Daily

Covid-19: Don’t let what happened in Italy happen in Sarawak, Dr Sim warns
Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian gave Sarawakians a grim warning, urging them to learn from Italy’s experience with the Covid-19 outbreak after the death toll in the country surged past 11,000.
— The Borneo Post

Wisma Putra: More than 3,000 Malaysians brought home so far
A total of 3,201 Malaysians stranded overseas have been brought home so far via government-funded repatriation missions or using political and private donations, says Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar.
— The Star Online

More than 4,300 M’sians still stranded overseas, says deputy minister
There are 4,374 Malaysians currently stranded abroad after various countries imposed travel restrictions to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
— The Sun Daily

Kumpulan Powernet bags RM354m hydropower plants contract
Kumpulan Powernet Bhd (KPower) has bagged a RM354 million job from Kangsar Hidro Sdn Bhd to undertake, amongst others, the preliminary study, design, supply, construction, commissioning and completion of five mini hydropower plants with total capacity of 32.47MW, all in Perak.
— The Sun Daily

Covid-19: S’wak records 21 new cases, 1 death on March 31
Sarawak recorded 21 new positive Covid-19 cases and another death on Tuesday (March 31), bringing the total number of cases in the state to 156 and eight fatalities.
— The Star Online

Covid-19: Malaysia records six more deaths, 140 new cases – Health DG
A total of 140 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the country as at noon today, bringing cumulative cases to 2,766.
— The Borneo Post

New stimulus measures unlikely to boost FBM KLCI company earnings
The second round of fiscal measures announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last Friday is not expected to lift FBM KLCI company earnings as large corporates are pitching in to combat the impact of Covid-19.
— The Sun Daily

Stolen Gardenia van recovered by authorities
Crime rates may have sharply declined as a result of the movement control order (MCO) but not all criminals are taking it easy.
— The Sun Daily

Pakatan urges extra help for SME workers, firms facing Covid-19 including bigger wage subsidies
While the recently announced economic stimulus package includes welfare aid for the next two months, it does not explain a viable fiscal plan, Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretariat council today said.
— Malay Mail

MCO: Several roads in Klang to close from tomorrow
Several roads in Klang will be closed from tomorrow until April 14 to reduce the people’s movement as part of the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
— The Sun Daily

Armed forces to transport food, necessities to rural Sabah & Sarawak
The Malaysian Armed Forces will deploy its assets to transport food supplies and necessities to the rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak throughout the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
— The Sun Daily

Dr Sim: Sarawak to stick with 7pm to 7am time restriction for MCO
Sarawak will not be following the new nationwide time restriction of 8pm to 8am for all businesses during the second phase of the Movement Control Order (MCO), said Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
— The Borneo Post

Wisma Putra: 4,375 Malaysians marooned abroad; 2,156 in India alone
A total of 4,374 Malaysians were stuck in 56 countries and waiting to be repatriated amid increasing global travel restrictions imposed to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed today.
— Malay Mail

MACC receives complaints on former minister
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has received complaints on the possession of a large sum of cash money believed to belong to a former minister as reported by the media yesterday.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Sabah screens 65.6% of Pulau Gaya residents
The Sabah Health Department has screened about 65.6% of Pulau Gaya residents near here, collecting 1,600 samples in a three-day Covid-19 control and prevention exercise which ended yesterday, said its director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi.
— The Sun Daily

MCO: Armed forces to deliver food, essential items to hard-to-reach rural areas in Sarawak, Sabah – Ismail Sabri
The National Security Council (NSC) has agreed to let the armed forces to make use of its assets like helicopters to deliver food and essential items to the hard-to-reach rural areas in Sarawak and Sabah during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period, said Senior Minister Daruk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
— The Borneo Post

Kampung Baru development: Malay identity will be maintained, says Annuar
The identity of the Malays in Kampung Baru will be maintained even if the area is developed as a modern commercial centre, according to Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
— The Sun Daily

Over 30,000 dengue cases reported since Dec 29, 2019: CPRC
A total of 34,238 dengue cases were reported from Dec 29, 2019 until March 28 this year, according to the Current Situation of Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika in Malaysia for the Year 2019 and 2020 Report.
— The Sun Daily

OKI chips in for frontliners through police
OKI Data (S) Pte Ltd Malaysia Branch Office is supporting frontliners against the Covid-19 outbreak by contributing medical supplies to the police.
— The Sun Daily

46 more individuals nabbed for violating MCO in Sarawak
Forty-six more individuals were detained for breaching the movement control order (MCO) throughout Sarawak in operations conducted from 8 am yesterday to 8 am today.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Covid-19: Sanitisation of major areas in Kuching enters second day (Video)
The authorities were seen carrying out the sanitisation of public places at major areas around the city today to curb the spread of Covid-19.
— The Borneo Post

RAM Ratings: Debt, sukuk markets can serve as avenue to raise funds for aid packages
In the wake of global equity market meltdown driven by the uncertainties from the Covid-19 pandemic, the debt and sukuk markets will serve as a bulwark to shore up a country’s financial standing, according to RAM Ratings.
— The Sun Daily

Cancellation on the cards for annual MBKS Ramadan Bazaar due to Covid-19
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) is deliberating the cancellation of the annual MBKS Ramadan Bazaar in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic.
— The Borneo Post

MCO: Pahang police to tighten state borders from midnight tonight
The Pahang police will tighten the state borders from midnight tonight under the second phase of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
— The Sun Daily

Minister: FAMA to set up fresh goods markets across Malaysia to prevent crowding during MCO
The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) will set up markets for fresh and wet goods nationwide, so as to overcome the problem of congestion and crowds at wet markets during the ongoing extended movement control.
— Malay Mail

Ringgit trades slightly higher at opening
The ringgit opened slightly higher against the US dollar today amidst mixed market appetite.At 9.01am, the local note stood at 4.3200/3350 compared with yesterday’s close of 4.3250/3400.
— The Sun Daily

Feature photo Wenjay Tew

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo focuses on COVID-19 in Asean.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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