Special panel to address economic fallout of MCO
The government said it will establish a special cabinet committee to develop strategic measures to safeguard Malaysia’s economy and labour market impacted by Covid-19. The committee’s aim is to strike a balance between the nation’s economic priorities and the effective enforcement of the movement control order (MCO), the ministry of international trade and industry (Miti) said. The move comes amid calls by business groups for the government to provide incentives to companies, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to counter the losses faced by them during the MCO. The committee will be co-chaired by Senior Minister and Miti Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali as well as Senior Minister and Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Members of the committee will also comprise those involved in the nation’s economy and security. The first scheduled meeting is today with the second one this Sunday. (The Edge)
End of April to submit EPF application
Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members have up to the end of this month to submit their applications for the i-Lestari Account 2 Withdrawal Scheme. After the submission deadline, payments under the scheme will start in May. Members can choose to log in or transact via the EPF i-Akaun app or email to ilestari@epf.gov.my for any queries on the scheme. From April 1, EPF members can apply for a RM500 monthly withdrawal to boost private consumption due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (The Star Online)
Experimental Covid-19 drug to be introduced in Malaysia
The experimental drug Remdesivir will be introduced in Malaysia soon as part of efforts to tackle the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry has approved the usage of several applications of the United States-made drug in Malaysia. Dr Noor Hisham said hospitals are currently using Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine, which are used primarily in the treatment of malaria. He added that hospitals have also been using a combination of other off-label antiretroviral (ART) medicines, Lopinavir and Ritonavr, which are more commonly used as an antiviral for HIV patients. Remdesivir is made by American biotechnology company Gilead. The antiviral drug was first developed to fight against Ebola. (NST Online)
Health Ministry braces for possible peak in Covid-19 cases in mid-April
The Health Ministry is bracing for the possibility of Malaysia’s Covid-19 cases peaking in mid-April as projected by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry shares the same prediction with WHO and has taken mitigating measures to prevent such eventuality. Besides the MCO, he said that another preventive measure to be implemented by the government is to force all arrivals in the country beginning Friday (April 3) to be housed at quarantine centres for two weeks. Dr Noor Hisham pointed out that China continues to enforce quarantine instructions on their citizens who return to their country. WHO head of mission and representative to Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore Ying-Ru Lo said that although there are initial signs of flattening of the curve, this could bounce back if control measures are lifted and if people don’t continue to take protective measures. (The Star Online)
Gamuda Land partners Shopee to sell houses
Gamuda Land has partnered with Shopee, an e-commerce shopping platform, to sell houses online, amid the current Covid-19 pandemic. Its chief operating officer Aw Sei Cheh said through this exclusive promotion, customers will be able to browse and purchase selected Gamuda Land properties through Shopee, anytime and anywhere and discover attractive packages that the developer is currently offering. Purchasers can speak to Gamuda Land’s representatives through a live chat function for property information and terms and conditions of the promotion before deciding to purchase. The properties available during this sale range from serviced apartments to landed homes. Aw said limited units are allocated for this campaign and availability is based on a first-come, first-served basis. The properties include Gamuda Cove, Gamuda Gardens, twentyfive.7, Kundang Estates, Jade Hills, HighPark Suites and The Robertson which are in the Klang Valley; Horizon Hills in Iskandar Puteri, Johor; and Bukit Bantayan Residences in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. (NST Online)
