Aidilfitri Price Control Scheme to be announced soon
The Festive Season Price Control Scheme in conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration will be announced very soon, this despite the country still mostly being subjected to the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO). Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi said the ministry had studied about 11 items to be locked with ceiling prices that must be adhered to by traders during the festive period. Among these items are chicken, eggs, beef, while the rest will be announced later. To date, more than 47,000 inspections have been conducted on retailers, wholesalers and producers nationwide throughout the MCO period to monitor prices and supply of goods, Nanta said. (Bernama)
COVID-19 effects won’t impact 12th Malaysia Plan – Tengku Zafrul
The 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) is not currently seen as being negatively impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. He said this was because the 12MP, which covers the 2021-2025 period, was a long-term economic plan and the government was also studying a targeted economic recovery plan which would be tabled at the end of this month. “Nonetheless, the 2021 Budget, which is expected to be announced in October or November, should take into account current economic factors,” he said. He said in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government had drafted a six-phase plan (6R) to improve the economy, and during the tabling of the Budget, the economy would be in the Revitalise phase. After the fifth phase (Revitalise) that comes next, the plan will end with the Reform phase. The past four phases include Resolve (1st), Resilience (2nd), Restart (3rd), and Recovery (4th). (Bernama)
Asia Pacific nations further ease COVID-19 measures
The governments in the Asia Pacific region have eased lockdown restrictions as coronavirus cases slow down, a report by Turkey’s Anadolu Agency (AA) said. It said Vietnam’s government had on Thursday resumed all non-essential services except for clubs and karaoke bars. Meanwhile in Thailand, the government is planning to further ease restrictions by reopening public spaces from May 17, according to AA. In Hong Kong, the authorities have decided to ease restrictions on gatherings from Friday. Under new regulations, people in groups of up to eight can now move out. Successfully combating coronavirus, Taiwan is mulling to relax restrictions imposed on restaurants. Taipei has not reported any local case of the coronavirus for 25 consecutive days. The virus was first detected in China’s Hubei province last December and has since spread to 187 countries and region affecting more than 3.7 million people. (Bernama)
Wee: Too early to decide on interstate travel
It is too early to decide whether interstate travel will be allowed in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. He said that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had already announced there will be no house visits or balik kampung trips for the upcoming celebration in order to curb the spread of Covid-19. “We need to see whether the movement control order (MCO) that runs until May 12 is adequate, and whether there is any need to extend or modify the MCO,” he said. Dr Wee said that the government is considering the opinion of Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah on the matter of interstate travel for Hari Raya Aidilfitri. “It’s too early to predict the situation because in these two weeks before Hari Raya, we still need to look at the pattern of Covid-19 cases,” he said. (The Star Online)
US announces RM211.9 million settlement in 1MDB scandal
US authorities have reached a deal to recover another US$49 million (RM211.9 million) in assets bought with money looted from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state investment fund and laundered through the global financial system. The US Justice Department says it has now returned or helped Malaysia recover nearly US$1.1 billion in funds and assets. The latest tranche comes from the settlement of a civil case against Khadem al-Qubaisi, an Emirati businessman accused of helping siphon 1MDB funds out of Malaysia. More than US$4.5 billion originally meant to fund state investments was looted from 1MDB between 2009 and 2015 by high-level officials of the fund and Jho Low, according to US investigators. The Justice Department seized most of Low’s assets and has been slowly liquidating them for return to Malaysia. (NST Online)
