Malaysia Morning News For May 15, 2020

Malaysia to recover US$107.3 million after settling 1MDB case against Wolf of Wall Street producer
Malaysian prosecutors on Thursday (May 14) dropped money laundering charges linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal against one of the producers of Hollywood hit The Wolf of Wall Street after he agreed a settlement with the government.
— Channel NewsAsia

COVID-19: Majority of infected patients linked to religious schools in Malaysia were asymptomatic, says health ministry
The majority of COVID-19 patients linked to tahfiz, or religious schools, in Malaysia were asymptomatic, said the Ministry of Health on Thursday (May 14), cautioning against a potential spread within the local communities if preventive measures are not taken.
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysia Postpones No-Confidence Vote Against Prime Minister
A parliamentary no-confidence vote against Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will not take place next week as previously scheduled.
— VOA

More than 50,000 foreign workers in Penang to be screened for Covid-19
Penang has a total 51,208 foreign workers in factories and on construction sites who will need to undergo Covid-19 screening, said state exco Jagdeep Singh Deo.
— Malay Mail

Johor govt aims to set up company in Singapore
The state government is planning to set up the Johor Investment Company (Jico) in Singapore soon in an effort to boost bilateral relationships with its neighbour across the Causeway.
— The Star Online

Sabah orders mandatory quarantine for local returnees after spike in Covid-19 cases
The detection of Covid-19 cases among students returning here has prompted the Sabah government to implement a mandatory 14-day quarantine at gazetted centres for all returnees.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia sixth preferred destination for Chinese property buyers
Malaysia has maintained its ranking as the sixth most-preferred destination in the world for Chinese property buyers for the second consecutive year.
— The Star Online

Alibaba.com to help local SMEs navigate post-Covid-19 via online summit
Alibaba.com, a leading business-to-business (B2B) platform for global trade, will be organising its first one and a half-hour online summit aimed at helping Malaysia’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) prepare for post Covid-19 recovery, on May 21 from 2 pm.
— The Sun Daily

Govt to launch short, medium term economic recovery plan
The government will be implementing a short- and medium-term economic recovery plan to rejuvenate the country’s economic growth soon, said Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
— The Borneo Post

Finance minister: Govt to launch short-term economic recovery plan
The government will be implementing a short- and medium-term economic recovery plan to rejuvenate the country’s economic growth soon, said Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
— Malay Mail

Covid-19: TM ONE unveils TM ONE PASS health screening solution for Covid-19
TM ONE, the enterprise and public sector business arm of Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) today unveiled a smart digital health screening solution — TM ONE Predictive Analytics Screening Solution or ONE PASS — to screen the.
— Malay Mail

Ministry: Special task force to discuss internet access, quality and telco charges
The special task force on Digital Malaysia, chaired by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (KKMM), will hold discussions on Internet access and quality as well as charges imposed by telecommunication companies.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia and Iran to cooperate in fight against Covid-19: Muhyiddin
Malaysia is prepared to cooperate with Iran to harness the two countries’ strengths in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
— The Sun Daily

Get locals to fill jobs left by foreign workers: MEF
Measures must be taken to attract locals to take up jobs left behind by illegal migrant workers.
— The Sun Daily

PN federal govt has failed its first test of legitimacy, says Selayang MP
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal government has failed its first test of legitimacy by shutting out the voices of the people, Selayang MP William Leong Jee Keen said today.
— The Sun Daily

Some pawnshops taking advantage of consumers -FOMCA
The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) has received complaints that some pawnshops are pressuring people who are not so familiar with the moratorium by imposing charges even during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) period.
— The Sun Daily

Health D-G: Govt action, people’s compliance brought down Malaysia’s ‘R-nought’
The Ministry of Health (MOH) managed to reduce the ‘R0’ or ‘R-nought’ for the Covid-19 outbreak in the country because of the positive steps taken by the government and the compliance of Malaysians, Health.
— Malay Mail

Star Media Group confirms CEO’s resignation
Star Media Group Bhd has confirmed the resignation of its CEO Andreas Vogiatzakis.
— The Sun Daily

Sapa has no qualm with president Dominique Ng rejoining PKR
Sarawak Association for Peoples’ Aspiration (Sapa) has no qualm with its president Dominique Ng rejoining Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
— The Borneo Post

Researcher urges govt to distributes resources more fairly
The federal government has been urged to distribute resources fairly, regardless of political affiliation.
— The Sun Daily

MB: Johor govt forming company in Singapore to boost bilateral trade, ties
The Johor government will establish an investment, culture and friendship company in Singapore to improve trade and diplomatic links between the state and the republic, said Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad.
— Malay Mail

Too much reliance on food imports: Expert
Malaysia is relying too heavily on food imports, to the tune of RM54 billion yearly.
— The Sun Daily

Investors confident Sabah Govt can contain Covid-19
Taiwanese investors in Sabah are confident in the State Government’s ability in managing and controlling the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic here.
— The Borneo Post

(Video) PN federal govt is illegitimate, says Mahathir
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pix) has called the Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal government “illegitimate”.
— The Sun Daily

Veterinary Dept: Poultry from Negri processing plant safe for consumption
The Veterinary Department confirmed that a poultry processing plant in Negri Sembilan is free of the Covid-19 virus after testing.
— Malay Mail

State indeed has contingency funds: SFS
The state government indeed has contingency funds stowed away and to be used during times of emergency, said the State Finance Secretary’s (SFS) office.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Another positive Covid-19 case in Sibu
Sarawak recorded another positive Covid-19 case yesterday from Sibu – a student who had returned from Temboro Karas Magetan, East Java, Indonesia.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Visits allowed only on first day of festivals
The National Security Council (NSC) has decided to limit visits in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Pesta Kaamatan and Hari Gawai to only the first day of the festivals in view of the conditional movement control order (CMCO).
— New Sarawak Tribune

Aidilfitri, Pesta Kaamatan, Hari Gawai gatherings subject to directions of health DG
Members of the public may gather or be involved in a gathering for Aidilfitri, Pesta Kaamatan and Hari Gawai Dayak during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) period subject to directions of the Health Director-General.
— The Borneo Post

Traffic spike back to near 80pct capacity
The relaxation of the movement control order (MCO) along with reopening of economic sectors saw traffic data spiral to almost 80 percent of the traffic capacity prior to the MCO, on March 17.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Perak exco clarifies commotion in state assembly due to Speaker’s refusal to resign voluntarily despite losing majority
Perak state executive councillor (exco) Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya today clarified that the commotion in the Perak state assembly sitting yesterday was due to the refusal of Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham to resign voluntarily as the state.
— Malay Mail

Caution over 2Q growth, despite 1Q GDP surprise
Despite the better-than-expected 0.7% growth recorded by the Malaysian economy for the first quarter of the year, economists shared Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) caution over the country’s performance in the second quarter.
— The Sun Daily

Minister: Covid-19 screenings focus on foreign workers in two sectors
Effective tomorrow, the Covid-19 screening under the Social Security Organisation (Socso) Prihatin Screening Programme (PSP) will give priority to foreign workers in the construction and security guard service industries.
— Malay Mail

Cuepacs: Aidilfitri aid also beneficial for private sector
The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has urged all parties to stop questioning the government’s decision to provide special Aidilfitri assistance to the civil servants.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia’s parliament sitting on May 18 will only feature royal address: Speaker
Malaysia’s parliament sitting on May 18 will only convene for a speech by the Malaysian king, speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff said on Wednesday (May 13).
— CNA

Hearing of teenager charged with murder of 23 people in tahfiz fire continues on June 11
The defence proceeding of a teenager charged with killing 23 occupants of Pusat Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah three years ago will continue at the High Court here on June 11 and 12.
— The Sun Daily

1Q job vacancies drops to 1.9%
The rate of job vacancies for the first quarter of the year fell to 1.9% after registering 2.3% in Q4’19, due to the cautionary steps taken by the industry amid slower economic performance of the country.
— The Sun Daily

Educate, not penalize business operators over SOP breach – MP
Democratic Action Party (DAP) Member of Parliament for Kota Kinabalu Chan Foong Hin in a statement yesterday urged leniency for businesses that had resumed recently after the enforcement of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in the state.
— The Borneo Post

Long lines outside pawnshops show many Sarawakians haven’t received aid
The long queues for pawnshops here on Tuesday (May 12) reflect the financial situation of the poorer sections of society, said the Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi).
— The Sun Daily

Covid-19: Reopening of borders low priority – Health DG
Reopening the country’s borders is the last thing Malaysia will do as it gradually eases restrictions imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
— The Borneo Post

Covid-19: Muallim health office confirms positive cases among students of IPT
The Muallim District Health Office has confirmed that there are students from an institution of higher learning (IPT) in the district who have tested positive for Covid-19 after undergoing screening during an operatio.
— The Sun Daily

MyEG clarifies that Socso not partner in Covid-19 screening initiative
MY E.G. Services Bhd (MyEG) has clarified that it has not entered into a collaboration with the Social Security Organisation (Socso) for the launch of its one-stop portal for employers to manage Covid-19 screening for the workforce.
— The Sun Daily

Excluded from CMCO, advertising film industry says daily wage workers starving
The advertising film industry is appealing for the government to lift Covid-19 curbs immediately, citing the need to put money into the pockets of most of its daily-paid workers now rendered impoverished by the movement.
— Malay Mail

UTC reopens Sarawak Service counters
The general public can heave a sigh of relief as the Sarawak service counters at their nearest Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) will reopen tomorrow.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Public allowed out from 7am to 10pm
The public is permitted to be out from 7am to 10pm, in line with the operating hours for businesses in Sarawak during the conditional movement control order (CMCO) period.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Online application for appointments at Sabah Immigration Dept
Members of the public who plan to get over-the-counter services at Immigration Department offices throughout Sabah are required to apply through its Online Appointment System (STO).
— Malay Mail

Johor Sultan wants assemblymen to work together in helping people amidst Covid-19
The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar today decreed that all Johor assemblymen work together to help the people who are struggling amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
— The Sun Daily

Stamp duty counter at IRB opens from 8am to 1pm
The stamp duty counter at the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) will only open from 8 am to 1 pm on working days depending on the respective states..]
— The Borneo Post

PKR lawmaker says one-day Parliament meeting shows lack of political will
Parliament is meeting for only a single day next week due to the government’s lack of political will, and not any genuine technical difficulty arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, Selayang MP William Leong asserted today.
— Malay Mail

Feature photo UNICEF Malaysia
This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo focuses on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, May 17.

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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