King wants confirmation of support
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has asked the 114 Members of Parliament who have signed statutory declarations in support of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the Prime Minister to be present at Istana Negara today to verify their stand. The lawmakers will meet the King in groups at the palace here from 10am until 5pm. Royal sources said the MPs would be from Perikatan Nasional, Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) from Sabah, and Independents who have backed the Umno vice-president. All the MPs submitted their statutory declarations (SDs) by the 4pm deadline yesterday to Istana Negara. On Tuesday, all 220 MPs were told to submit their SDs directly to the King, on their choice of prime minister following the resignation of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday. The information would be conveyed to the Rulers who will be holding a special meeting with the King at the Istana Negara tomorrow. The King has also decreed that the new PM must seek a vote of confidence as soon as possible to determine his legitimacy and majority support in the Dewan Rakyat. (The Star)
73% Malaysians looking to renovate, own or move house
A survey has found that 73% of Malaysians are looking to change their home situation after spending more time indoors due to Covid-19. Of those surveyed, 38% want to renovate or repurpose certain areas of their home, while 35% are starting to think more about owning a home or moving out of their current location. A property portal’s recent survey found that the pandemic has impacted Malaysians’ perception of space at home, as more than three in four people (77%) now consider it important for new properties to have an additional room at home that can be used as a home office. The increasing desire to own a home or move into a property that can meet their needs is especially high among renters (74%), individuals who live with their parents (63%), and those in the low-income group (50%). Among all Malaysians surveyed, regardless of demographic and current living situation, the need for more personal space (26%) is ranked as the third reason for wanting to purchase a property, while the top two reasons are investment (43%) and to take advantage of the low interest rates available now (27%). Malaysian home seekers also cited inability to afford down payment and unstable job or salary as their top two barriers to taking a home loan in H2 2021. (The Sun Daily)
More businesses in Phase 2 states allowed to operate
All trade and distribution sub-sectors in states under Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) can resume operations even if the number of fully vaccinated individuals in those states has yet to reach 50% of the adult population. The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry said the states involved are Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Penang and Sabah. “Industry players and premises owners can operate without having to wait for approval from the ministry. All proof of application through CIMS must be kept to be presented when needed,” it said in a statement. Caretaker Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Sunday announced that 11 types of business activities in the trade and distribution sectors in the Phase 2 states could resume operations effective Aug 16. Among them are photography shops and services, shops selling second-hand items, florists and nurseries, handicraft and souvenir shops, antique shops, toy stores, carpet shops and creative content and creative industry equipment stores. Premises owners must ensure customers who enter their premises show their digital Covid-19 vaccination certificate as proof. (The Star)
Mosti, Health Ministry assure control, vaccination efforts will continue smoothly
The Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV), jointly managed by the Health Ministry (MOH) and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti), will continue to implement all national pandemic control efforts and vaccination as planned. According to a joint statement issued by Mosti secretary-general Datuk Siti Hamisah Tapsir and MOH secretary-general Datuk Mohd Shafiq Abdullah, the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (PICK) is currently on track to achieve the desired protection by October. As of August 16, 47.2% of the adult population in Malaysia had completed their vaccinations while over 73% have received at least the first dose. The joint statement also mentioned that strategic measures that had been planned to optimise public healthcare and medical treatment throughout the country would continue to be implemented. (Malay Mail)
Mercury Industries inks deal to develop RM152m GDV project in Melaka
Construction group Mercury Industries Bhd has signed a deal to develop houses on a freehold land in Melaka. The deal was signed with Aturan Prisma Sdn Bhd, which has obtained approval from the relevant authority to take over as the registered proprietor of the land from Perbadanan PR1MA Malaysia (PR1MA). the 17,237 sq metre-land in Pekan Tanjong Kling is proposed for a mixed development, including one block of service apartments with 648 units comprising four apartment towers on top of a three-story podium car park. “The estimated total GDV of the project is approximately RM152.3 million with an estimated total gross development cost of RM105.6 million,” said Mercury. The project is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2021 and will be developed over an estimated period of five years. (The Edge)
