Health DG: Daily Covid-19 cases rising in tandem with increased screenings
The number of Covid-19 cases logged on Tuesday (July 13), which breached the five-figure mark for the first time in the country, was in tandem with the increased number of screenings carried out beginning last week, says the Health Ministry. Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the more than 11,000 cases recorded was in line with increased screenings from July 6 to 12, which saw a total of 825,373 overall tests done, a higher number than usual. The total use of the RTK-Ag test on July 12 increased by 56.4% from the daily overall tests as some states which had Covid-19 positivity rate exceeding 10% for seven consecutive days were allowed to run the RTK-Ag test to confirm cases such as seen in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, he said. “It is possible that the level of awareness among the community has increased following the call by the Health Ministry to undergo tests for those who are symptomatic or are close contacts to those infected,” he said. Dr Noor Hisham added that a total of 76 new Covid-19 variants cases have been detected in Malaysia, with 75 involving Variants of Concern (VOC) and another, a Variant of Interest (VOI). (The Star)
New national security policy covers Covid-19 threat, says PM
The national security policy will have better strategies to face the latest form of security threat – the emergence of Covid-19 worldwide, says Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. “The spread of the Covid-19 pandemic on a global scale beginning in March 2020 brought a different kind of threat to the nation and the National Security Council (NSC). As such, the new national security policy 2021-2025 had taken into account the Covid-19 threat and strategies to overcome it,” Muhyiddin said. He said the NSC had introduced a new approach that encompassed total security known as Comprehensive Security (Comsec). He noted that Comsec was a new doctrine which replaced the concept of Comprehensive Defence (Hanruh). The new concept, he added, would merge elements of internal security, defence, public peace, politics, economy, social, public health and environment. He said the council took the lead in managing national security and was constantly playing a role in the background as “a silent strategist, a silent thinker and silent doer”. Further transformation of the National Security Policy was done for the first time in 2017 and was reviewed again to produce the National Security Policy 2021-2025. (The Star)
Govt forms ‘Greater Klang Valley’ task force to make quick decisions
The federal government today set up a special task force to make quick decisions for Covid-19 cases in the Greater Klang Valley. Malaysia’s most developed state Selangor and Kuala Lumpur have persistently accounted for the majority of the cases in the country. “The task force is to make sure there is a safe bubble to work and there must be a system in place to identify those who are ill,” Public Health deputy director-general Datuk Dr Chong Chee Kheong said. Dr Chong said that the only other solution to the Covid-19 crisis is vaccination and urged those who have yet to register for it to do so. Health secretary-general Datuk Mohd Shafiq Abdullah said more medical personnel will be sent to Klang Valley to handle the growing number of new infections. He said 417 staff will be moved from other states to the Klang Valley to boost the existing team of 1,190 medical personnel for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Negri Sembilan. (Malay Mail)
Malaysia moves up ‘world’s most powerful passport’ ranking amid pandemic
The Malaysian passport has been ranked the 13th most powerful passport in the world, up one place from last year. Malaysian passport holders currently have visa-free access to 177 countries, according to the newest edition of the Henley Passport Index. Within South-East Asia, the Malaysian passport still retains its position as the second most powerful passport in the region, behind Singapore. Asian countries – like in last year’s ranking – continue to top the list with Japan, Singapore and South Korea taking first, second and third place respectively. The latest index came as the world continues to grapple with the devastating effect of the Covid-19 pandemic. Research and analysis revealed that while advancements have been made to restore international mobility levels to pre-pandemic levels, progress has been slow. Travel, according to Henley & Partners, is primarily limited to business or emergency purposes. The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations holders could access without a prior visa. The ranking is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). (The Star)
Impiana Hotel to jointly develop RM189 mil luxury resort in Tioman
Impiana Hotels has entered into a deal to jointly develop a luxury resort in Tioman island valued at RM188.6 million. The group said the luxury resort will consist of villas and other facilities on five contiguous parcels of land measuring 5.089 hectares (12.58 acres). Impiana said the joint development agreement was signed with Impiana Tioman Sdn Bhd (ITSB), Selo Tioman Resort Holdings Ltd (STRHL) and Impiana Selo Tioman Resorts Sdn Bhd (ISTR). ITSB is the owner of the land, while STRHL is involved in property development. ISTR will be the joint venture vehicle for the project. Under the deal, STRHL will commence sales activities for Phase 1 of the project (comprising the sale of four land plots or total sales of at least RM10 million, whichever is higher) and Phase 2 (the sale of the remainder of the land plots) to prospective buyers and continuously source for prospective buyers to purchase the land plots. Impiana expects the project to be completed within 24 months from the date of commencement of the construction works. (The Edge)
