Travellers being screened by Health Ministry officials at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport January 24, 2020. Sabah has issued new restrictions today including a 14-day quarantine at the nearest quarantine centres for all individuals arriving from abroad. — Picture via Facebook/ Noor Hisham Abdullah
KOTA KINABALU, March 21 — In a bid to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the Sabah government has issued several new restrictions today including a 14-day quarantine at the nearest quarantine centres for all individuals arriving from abroad.
State Secretary Datuk Safar Untong said in line with the decision of the National Security Council yesterday, the state government would implement the move from tomorrow until March 31 for all individuals entering the state by air, sea, river and land.
“In addition, the inter-district public jetties will be closed to the public.
“The state government has decided that inter-district public jetties in Kudat, Sipitang, Kota Kinabalu, Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Tawau will be closed from March 22 to 31, except for emergency cases,” he said in a statement here today.
He said the state government had also ordered all districts to impose roadblocks with immediate effect.
“Thus far, only 17 districts have implemented roadblocks to reduce the movement of vehicles carried out by the Royal Malaysia Police and the Road Transport Department,” he said. — Bernama
Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah speaks to reporters during a press conference at the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia in Putrajaya March 12, 2020. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
PUTRAJAYA, March 21 — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has begun to take action against irresponsible parties who spread fake news on Covid-19, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
He said to date, the MCMC had carried out 42 investigations related to Covid-19 and six people would be charged in court under the Penal Code.
“I was also informed by Inspector-General (IGP) of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador this morning that police have arrested an individual for using a ‘not so nice word’ (on Covid-19), even I feel a little embarrassed to repeat it,” he told a news conference with Bernama and RTM today.
“I also received a video clip on WhatsApp, showing a group of people praying on a rooftop of a house, however, IGP said it happened in Bangladesh, not here,” he added.
Therefore, said Saifuddin, he hoped that people would not simply spread unverified matters that could lead to chaos in the community.
He said members of the public could obtain verified information on Covid-19 by calling the National Security Council (MKN) hotline which was assisted by MCMC.
“The hotline currently has 150 lines which enable MKN to handle calls from the people,” he said.
At the same time, he said the ministry also provided a platform Sebenarnya.my for people to refer to with regards to viral fake news.
Besides that, he said the ministry was also coordinating information between the government agencies and ministries to ensure the government official information could be issued at the right time.
“The official broadcasters such as Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and National News Agency (Bernama) and Information Department have been issuing similar information. We also would like to thank private broadcasters which have been extending good cooperation in terms of Covid-19 management.
“All of them have been delivering the same message that is — ‘stay at home, frequently wash your hands and keep your distance from other people’ — with different variations, so that the message is understood by all of the groups in society,” he said. — Bernama
A TOTAL of 24 healthcare workers have been tested positive for Covid-19, of which 19 are from the public health sector, Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.
He said the 19 cases are linked to the tabligh cluster.
SIX private hospitals in Negri Sembilan have banned visitors from entering their premises effective today to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The hospitals involved are Columbia Asia Seremban Hospital, KPJ Seremban Specialist Hospital, Mawar Medical Centre, Nilai Medical Centre, NSCMH Medical Centre and SALAM Senawang Specialist Hospital.
Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan Zuraida Kamaruddin berkata, PBT perlu memastikan pasar raya dan kedai runcit mengamalkan penjarakan sosial, pemakaian topeng, penggunaan pensanitasi serta pembersihan troli dan bakul barangan.
PETALING JAYA: Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan (KPKT) mengarahkan pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT) memastikan semua pasar raya dan kedai runcit mempraktikkan penjarakan sosial dan mengambil langkah pencegahan lain di premis masing-masing bagi mencegah penularan wabak Covid-19.
“Semua pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT) harus memastikan semua supermarket, hypermarket, kedai runcit mempraktikan penjarakan sosial, memakai topeng, ‘sanitizer’ pada laluan masuk keluar dan kerap membersihkan pemegang troli dan bakul barangan,” kata menterinya Zuraida Kamaruddin di Twitter, hari ini.
Dalam pada itu katanya, KPKT juga akan memberikan pengecualian sewa untuk tempoh 1 bulan kepada penghuni rumah PPR di bawah pengurusan kementerian itu yang melibatkan sebanyak 9,187 unit.
Zuraida berkata, keputusan berkenaan dibuat bagi meringankan beban rakyat yang terkesan dengan perintah kawalan pergerakan selama 2 minggu yang diumumkan Perdana Menteri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Tambahnya, KPKT menerusi PBT juga akan bekerjasama dengan Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat bagi memantau dan memastikan pusat jagaan warga emas swasta mempunyai cukup bahan keperluan sepanjang tempoh perintah kawalan pergerakan.
“Kami akan sentiasa memberi yang terbaik buat semua rakyat Malaysia. Kita berharap semua rakyat Malaysia terus duduk di rumah diam-diam dan jangan keluar,” katanya.
Pada 16 Mac, Muhyiddin menggesa rakyat supaya bertenang dan bersabar selepas beliau mengumumkan pelaksanaan perintah kawalan pergerakan bermula 18 hingga 31 Mac 2020, di seluruh negara.
Dalam satu perutusan khas yang disiar secara langsung, beliau berkata perintah kawalan itu dibuat di bawah Akta Pencegahan dan Pengawalan Penyakit Berjangkit 1988 dan Akta Polis 1967.
Menurutnya, tindakan itu merupakan langkah tunggal yang diambil untuk mengelakkan lebih ramai rakyat negara ini dijangkiti wabak yang boleh meragut nyawa itu.
Beliau juga memberi jaminan bahawa bekalan makanan, keperluan harian dan penjagaan kesihatan, termasuk topeng adalah mencukupi sepanjang tempoh sekatan berjalan.
The occupants of PPR units will not have to pay rental for this month.
PETALING JAYA: Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin has announced that residents of People’s Housing Projects (PPR) low-cost apartments need not pay rent this month.
This will involve those living in 9,187 PPR units under the management of the ministry.
In a Twitter thread, Zuraida also said all local authorities must ensure that supermarkets, hypermarkets and sundry shops implement the social distancing rule under the movement control order (MCO).
They must also ensure that workers wear face masks, and supply hand sanitisers at entry and exit points.
Zuraida Kamaruddin
She also urged councils to ensure shops disinfect the handles of trolleys, shopping baskets and handrails.
She said the ministry, through local governments, would also work with the Welfare Departments to ensure that private old folks homes have enough essential supplies throughout the MCO period.
The total number of cases in Malaysia is now 1,030 with three deaths recorded.
THE government will permit the import of face masks to meet a shortage in the domestic market as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said today.
He said this came into force yesterday after the ceiling price of masks were raised from 80 sen to RM2 per piece.
A Malaysian health quarantine officer waits for passengers at a thermal screening point at the international arrival terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang January 21, 2020. — Reuters pic
KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 — A total of 11 Malaysians who were reported to be stranded in Vienna, Austria, as a result of the travel restrictions imposed to curb the Covid-19 pandemic has safely arrived in Malaysia, says Head of Chancery of Embassy of Malaysia in Vienna, Mohd Yunus Ibrahim.
He said the mission has assisted the group by providing necessary advice, based on confirmed and up-to-date information obtained from the appropriate authorities in Austria.
“The group of 11 Malaysian that was reportedly stranded on March 17 in Vienna, has safely arrived Malaysia at 1425hrs, March 19 via MH0785 from Bangkok.
“The group took Finnair Airways via Helsinki to Bangkok on March 18,” he said via an email reply to Bernama.
Mohd Yunus said as of now, no other Malaysians are reported to be stranded in Austria nor Slovakia.
Meanwhile, in a related development, First Secretary of Embassy of Malaysia in Uzbekistan Aneurin Ignatius said as of March 19, the total number of Malaysians stranded in Uzbekistan is 220 people.
Ignatius said majority of these Malaysians are tourists who were not given enough notice to leave Uzbekistan because of the immediate travel ban instituted by the Government of Uzbekistan on March 16.
“The government of Uzbekistan has announced that they will assist in providing a special chartered flight to send all stranded Malaysians and Singaporeans back to Kuala Lumpur.
“However, thus far, no concrete details have been provided on the date and time of the said chartered flight. The Embassy is engaging at the highest level with the Uzbekistan government to get further information on the said assistance,” said the diplomat.
He also advised family members of the stranded Malaysians in Uzbekistan to remain calm, considering that the situation of Covid-19 in Uzbekistan is still relatively low (23 cases as of March 19).
“The embassy is putting every effort to ensure the safety and comfort of all Malaysians in Uzbekistan,” he said.
Ignatius said the embassy has taken several drastic measures in view of the ongoing Covid-19 like establishing Covid-19 Task Force to monitor the situation of the stranded Malaysians besides assisting Singaporean business travellers who do not have a representation in Uzbekistan. — Bernama
ELEVEN Malaysians who were reported to be stranded in Vienna, Austria, as a result of the travel restrictions imposed to curb the Covid-19 pandemic have safely arrived in Malaysia, said the Malaysian Embassy in Vienna’s head of chancery, Mohd Yunus Ibrahim.
Yunus said the embassy assisted the group by providing advice based on confirmed and up-to-date information obtained from local authorities in Austria.
Commuters wearing face masks are pictured at the KL Sentral public transportation hub in Kuala Lumpur March 18, 2020. — Picture by Hari Anggara
PUTRAJAYA, March 20 — The government now permits the import of face masks to meet a shortage in the domestic market as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi said today.
He said the permission to allow imports came into force yesterday after the ceiling price of the mask was raised from 80 sen to RM2 per piece.
The ministry hopes that this measure will encourage traders to import masks soon, he told reporters after a meeting with 12 retail industry players at the ministry here today.
“If the ministry maintains the 80 sen ceiling price, the entrepreneurs and manufacturers will be unable to produce the mask,” he said, adding that the cost of production has gone up.
He said the ministry had prohibited export of the masks earlier to increase domestic supply. — Bernama
.JPG "Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah speaks to reporters during a press conference at the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia in Putrajaya March 12, 2020. — Picture by Miera Zulyana")
.JPG "Commuters wearing face masks are pictured at the KL Sentral public transportation hub in Kuala Lumpur March 18, 2020. — Picture by Hari Anggara")