PM: Interstate travel, tourism OK once 90% adults in Malaysia vaccinated
The government has decided that interstate activities and tourism-related pursuits will be allowed if 90% of adults in Malaysia are vaccinated against Covid-19, the prime minister announced. Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who chairs the special committee managing the Covid-19 pandemic, said this was among six decisions made yesterday. He also announced that the special committee had decided that three states will move into new phases of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) from September 24, with Johor moving from Phase One to Phase Two, Pahang moving from Phase Two to Phase Three, while Negri Sembilan will be moving from Phase Three to Phase Four. (Malay Mail)
New SOP: 6am to midnight for food, groceries, fuel
All petrol stations, mini markets, grocery shops and convenience stores nationwide will be allowed to operate from 6am until midnight starting today. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the easing of restrictions for these sectors was approved by the Special Committee on Covid-19 Pandemic Management. The committee, he said, also allowed tourism centres, tourism premises or tourism products such as zoos, farms, aquariums, snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing tourism and forest parks (taman rimba) to operate in all phases of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) from October 1, 2021 onwards, with the requirement for all operators and visitors to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. He also said the special committee decided to also allow spa businesses, wellness centres and health massages from October 1 onwards, but also with the requirement for both operators and visitors to have already been fully vaccinated. (NST Online)
580,000 M40 households fall into B40 category, absolute poverty rises to 8.4%
Around 580,000 households, which were previously in the M40 category, slipped into the B40 group owing to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the nation’s economy, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said. He said that this translates to 20% of M40 households, adding that the absolute poverty rate had also risen to 8.4% from 5.6%. “The government will update the Poverty Income Line (PGK) in 2022 simultaneously with the Income Survey, Household Expenditure and Basic Amenities (HIES & BA) 2022. The 2019 PGK which is used and the latest one is based on the 2019 PGK methodology and the 2019 HIES and BA. For the information of members of Parliament, the HIES & BA is conducted twice every five years,” he added. Ismail Sabri said that the determination of the PGK, the unemployment rate and the total number of B40 households use different methodologies which are linked. (Malay Mail)
TAFI signs JV for five property projects worth RM621.5m in Pahang
TAFI Industries Bhd, the furniture maker which has diversified into property development, has entered into five joint-venture (JV) agreements to develop mixed housing projects in Pahang with an estimated total GDV of RM621.5 million. For all five JV projects, TAFI’s wholly-owned subsidiary Gerak Mahir Sdn Bhd (GMSB) will be bearing the cost of the development, while the JV partners will be providing the project land. The projects include developing semi-detached houses, terrace houses, shops and commercial plots in Kuantan. TAFI made its debut on the property development scene in 2020 through a mixed development property development project in Habu, Cameron Highlands. (The Edge)
HR minister: Govt intensifying efforts to improve marketability of graduates
The government will continue to intensify its efforts to improve the country’s young talent ecosystem and the marketability of graduates through various programmes, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan. He said the unemployment rate among youth aged between 15 and 24 has declined from 12.5% in the second quarter of 2020 to 11% in the same period this year. “In facing the unemployment situation, including among graduates, the government has introduced the Apprenticeship Programme which opens up employment opportunities for graduates through upskilling and reskilling training,” he said. (Malay Mail)
Public Bank clinches record “Best Bank in Malaysia” award for 15 years
Public Bank’s commitment to excellence saw it clinching a 15-year consecutive recognition as the “Best Bank in Malaysia” by Alpha Southeast Asia. The recognition was accorded at the 15th Annual Financial Institution (FI) Awards recently, where it also won the “Best Retail Bank in Malaysia” award for the third year with the past two awards won in 2020 and in 2018 when they introduced the award. Public Bank said unlike most mainstream financial magazines, the winners of the annual FI awards are not necessarily the biggest banks by asset size but awarded on the basis of performance and growth over the past one year. The awards are also exclusively and categorically open to only locally incorporated banks and financial institutions or banks headquartered in Southeast Asia. In their report, Alpha Southeast Asia said despite intensifying competition from government-linked banks as well as other private sector banks in the country jostling for a position near the top, Public Bank has remained steadfast and focused when it comes to the country’s burgeoning retail segment. (The Star)
