PM: Dine-in, sports, tourism allowed for fully vaccinated in Phase Two, Phase Three states from Aug 10

The government has decided that those who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will be allowed to dine in again in states and federal territories that have already moved on to at least Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this dine-in is among benefits only for those who have fulfilled the criteria for full vaccination. But he also advised the public to only dine in if required, and still opt to take away if possible. States that are already in Phase Two now are Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Penang and Sabah, while those which already transited to Phase Three are Perlis, Labuan and Sarawak. Those fully vaccinated in Phase Two and Phase Three states can enjoy non-contact sports that are not group sports, and are allowed the benefits of staying as travellers at homestays and hotels within the same state they are in, but with such homestay and hotel operators required to ensure that individuals must show their digital certificate. Those who are fully vaccinated in Phase One locations still cannot dine in. Muhyiddin however made it clear that the government’s definition of fully-vaccinated individuals is only for those who have passed a 14-day period after receiving the second dose for double-dose vaccines (Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinovac) and those who have passed the 28th day from the day they were injected with single-dose vaccines (Johnson & Johnson and CanSino). All the benefits announced today for fully-vaccinated individuals will kick in on August 10. (Malay Mail)

Azizulhasni wins silver for Malaysia in men’s keirin at Tokyo Olympics

National track cycling ace Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang took home a silver medal for Malaysia in the men’s keirin event at the Izu Velodrom in Shizuoka, Japan. The 33-year-old former world champion finished second behind Great Britain’s Jason Kenny who took his seventh Olympic gold in this event, and ahead of Harrie Lavreysen of the Netherlands. This will be the fourth straight Olympic outing for Azizulhasni since the 2008 Beijing edition. Azizulhasni, nicknamed the Pocket Rocketman, and also known as the “showman of the event” has improved from bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympic (his first medal) to silver this time around. He failed to qualify for the keirin final in Beijing while he finished sixth at the 2012 London Games. (Malay Mail)

Azizulhasni wins keirin silver [NSTTV]
(Source: NST Online)

Green light for home quarantine; interstate travel for spouses

The government has approved travelling and home quarantine for both Malaysians and permanent residents who have completed their vaccination, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced. Muhyiddin said that this applies to all residents nationwide and regardless of any phase of the National Recovery Plan (NRP). “Malaysian travellers and non-Malaysians who have residences in Malaysia (including permanent residents and Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) participants who return or arrive from overseas and have received their complete vaccination, are allowed to undergo mandatory quarantine at home and will be given the digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO),” he announced. He also announced that long-distance married couples who are fully vaccinated can also make inter-district and interstate travel to meet their spouses, while parents who are fully vaccinated can cross-district and state borders to meet their children who are below 18-years old. The relaxation on the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the economic sector would be announced soon, as it is still being discussed and assessed by the National Security Council (NSC). (Malay Mail)

Health experts urge caution as nation’s transmission rate still high

Health experts are still urging a “wait-and-see approach” as the Covid-19 virus is still mutating and the country’s transmission rate is still high. Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia president Dr Raj Kumar Maharajah said present restrictions could not be completely lifted as the virus was still mutating. I think it’s still early to lift restrictions for the fully vaccinated. “I propose a wait-and-see approach for the moment,” he said. Similar sentiments were echoed by Prof Dr Moy Foong Min from Universiti Malaya, who pointed out that the current transmission rate stood at a high of 1.1 with Covid-19 daily cases in the five figures. She said interstate travel should not be allowed yet as infection rates varied in each state. Dr Moy said the relaxation of SOP for those who had received their two doses should only be considered when the national rate of those fully vaccinated had gone above 50%. (The Star)

Report: More Malaysians may go bankrupt when loan moratorium ends, economists say

The number of Malaysians becoming bankrupt and the number of companies closing down or winding up may increase when the current moratorium on bank loans ends, two economists said. Sunway University economics professor Yeah Kim Leng said that the loan moratorium allows financially-distressed borrowers to avoid becoming bankrupt by postponing loan repayments, but said this would mean that there could be more bankruptcies once the moratorium period ends. “A spike in bankruptcies could therefore occur at the end of the period especially if the borrowers suffer permanent losses in employment or business income,” Yeah said. According to AmBank Group chief economist Anthony Dass, the closure of courts and insolvency offices in 2020 due to the movement control orders (MCO) also slowed bankruptcy filings. “What can happen going forward is that those who are not eligible for the moratorium are likely to fall into the bankruptcy category if their outstanding balance is more than RM100,000,” he said. Yeah said businesses would have smaller hopes of recovering if the lockdowns continue longer due to their working capital and reserves being depleted and core staff possibly being let go. Dass suggested the government help companies that are looking for working capital to sustain their businesses to prevent them from being wound up, and that this would also help save jobs for Malaysians. (Malay Mail)

Pos Malaysia to resume road tax, driving licence renewals from Aug 9

Pos Malaysia will resume road tax and driving licence renewals at all its post offices from Monday (Aug 9) by appointment. It said that customers can book an appointment through the Outlet Finder feature at www.pos.com.my or Pos Malaysia’s mobile application starting Sunday (Aug 8), adding that the appointment was necessary to avoid overcrowding at their premises. “A customer is permitted to book only one appointment slot per day and perform a maximum of three transactions per appointment,” it said. (The Star)

Tiong Nam subsidiary buys land from Senai Airport City for RM136m

Tiong Nam Logistics Holdings Bhd’s subsidiary Tiong Nam Logistics Solutions Sdn Bhd (TNLS) is buying two plots of vacant land measuring approximately 20ha and 5ha respectively in Johor Bahru from Senai Airport City Sdn Bhd for a collective RM136.38 million to construct a warehouse. TNLS had entered into two sale and purchase agreements with Senai Airport City for the purchase of the two plots of industrial freehold land within Senai Airport City’s Free Commercial Zone. The two plots of land are being purchased for RM108.9 million and RM27.48 million respectively. “The acquisition is expected to be completed before Aug 5, 2022,” Tiong Nam said. (The Edge)