Entire Kuala Lumpur under MCO from 7 May
More people will celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri under the movement control order after authorities placed the entire Kuala Lumpur and several localities in Johor, Perak and Terengganu under MCO for 14 days beginning tomorrow until May 20. This comes after six districts in Selangor went under MCO beginning today until May 17. Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said existing standard operating procedure would apply, including a prohibition on social events and eatery dine-ins. He said the decision to impose MCO in Kuala Lumpur was made after health authorities reported the emergence of 17 new clusters between April 1 and 27 and the spike in the number of daily cases. A temporary travelling ban will also be imposed on Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal to prevent new Covid-19 variants from entering Malaysia. Malaysia has already temporarily banned flights to and from India to stop a new Covid-19 variant from entering the country beginning April 28. (The Star)
MCO 3.0: 30% management allowed in office, other staff based on employers’ discretion
Companies in six districts in Selangor that will be under the movement control order (MCO) 3.0 from tomorrow onwards will be allowed to have 30 per cent of management staff present at the workplace, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry said. The government has agreed to allow all economic sectors including factories or manufacturers to continue operating here, except for certain activities listed under the negative list under the MCO 3.0 general standard operating procedures. “Companies have to comply with the MCO 3.0 general SOPs and are subject to the existing Work From Home (WFH) procedures, which is only 30 per cent of management staff can come to the office as usual without restrictions in working hours, while the attendance of operation/support staff is to be determined by the employer according to discretion,” it added. (Malay Mail)
Mah Sing plans RM618mil mixed development in Setapak
Mah Sing Group Bhd has acquired five acres of land in Mukim Setapak here for RM89mil for its M Astra mixed development project which will have a gross development value of about RM618mil. It had acquired the prime land from Teratai Constructors Sdn Bhd which has three frontages facing Jalan Usahawan 5, Jalan Kilang and Jalan Usahawan 6, and is just 600 meters off Jalan Genting Kelang which is a major trunk road in Kuala Lumpur. This new acquisition to be named as M Astra is about 3km from the group’s M Adora in Wangsa Melawati and is targeted for registration of interest in the third quarter of 2021. Mah Sing said M Astra will be a mixed development comprising two blocks of serviced suites. This proposed mixed development also features some retail lots with plans to accommodate drive through F&B outlets. In the recent years, the group has been making steady progress in increasing its presence in Klang Valley through acquisitions of strategic lands for affordable high rises in CBD areas. (The Star)
Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal almost ready
Johor’s latest international entry point in Desaru is about 95% completed and is expected to be ready by July this year. Desaru Development Holdings One Sdn Bhd managing director and chief executive officer Roslina Arbak said this would be the only Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex in south-eastern Johor. “We are supposed to connect with a ferry terminal in Singapore. As an international entry point to the country, the new ferry terminal will allow guests from Changi Airport to be brought here directly. However as the borders with Singapore are still not open, my team will be looking at other options including local excursions, day trips around the east coast, island-hopping, sea activities and even yacht cruises,” she said. Roslina added that besides Singapore, they also hoped to connect with Indonesian islands such as Bintan and Batam once borders reopen. Desaru coast spans over 1,578ha along a 17km unspoiled beachfront. Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal would be the state’s ninth international ferry terminal. (The Star)
Pandelela wins Malaysia’s first-ever Diving World Cup gold medal
Pandelela Rinong has etched her name into the history books by clinching Malaysia’s first-ever gold medal in the Diving World Cup. The two-time Olympic medallist showed strong character and composure to beat her rivals with a 355.70 total to win the women’s 10m platform individual event at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. In the absence of China, Australia and North Korean divers, the opportunity was there for the 28-year-old to grab a first-ever podium win in diving. Japan’s Matsuri Arai finished strongly with 342.00 for the silver, while Canada’s Caeli McKay snatched bronze with a huge effort in her last dive for a 338.55 total. (NST Online)
PM Muhyiddin chairs inaugural Bumiputera Prosperity Council meeting
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin chaired the first Bumiputera Prosperity Council (MTKB) meeting. The MTKB comprises 21 Cabinet ministers; four department heads; two Government Linked Investment Company (GLIC) heads; three representatives from the Malay, Chinese and Indian Chambers of Commerce and leaders in the economic, education and social services sectors. “The role of the MTKB is to determine the policies and strategies for the implementation of the Shared Prosperity Vision (SPV) 2030. This includes setting targets, macro indicators and key performance indicators (KPIs) for key sectors for the development of the country, which will be formulated through an inclusive and comprehensive manner, to achieve the objectives of SPV 2030.” The Shared Prosperity Delivery Unit (Sepadu) under the Prime Minister’s Department will act as MTKB secretariat, it added. (Malay Mail)
