All eyes on tabling of 12th Malaysia Plan in Dewan Rakyat today
The tabling of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will be the main focus at today’s Parliament sitting. According to the Order Paper of the Dewan Rakyat, Ismail Sabri is scheduled to table the motion for the country’s five-year (2021-2025) development roadmap at 11.30am. The Dewan Rakyat sitting calendar states that the debate on the 12MP is scheduled to go on for four days beginning Tuesday (Sept 28). In line with the Malaysian Family theme, 12MP is expected to prioritise the people’s welfare, social protection and people-centred projects. Meanwhile, the International Trade and Industry Ministry’s strategic plans to continue making Malaysia an investor-friendly country post-Covid-19 and attract investments from giant international companies will be among the issues to be discussed at the sitting. The current Dewan Rakyat will sit for 17 days, until Oct 12. (Malay Mail)
Hishammuddin: Permission for interstate travel expected to be finalised in three weeks
Permission for interstate travel is expected to be finalised in three weeks’ time after the country has hit its target of fully vaccinating 90% of the adult population against Covid-19, said Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. He said today that several measures would be taken to speed up the vaccination rate among adults. “So, before it is announced, many matters need to be thought out in terms of the standard operating procedure (SOP) and the responsibilities of agencies involved in monitoring. We will unveil the interstate SOP before announcing the permission for interstate travel, and it will be scrutinised at the Special Committee on Pandemic (Management) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob next week,” he said. Yesterday, the prime minister hinted that permission for interstate travel could be granted in a few weeks. Hishammuddin also said it is important for the public to maintain discipline even after interstate travel is allowed. (Malay Mail)
Malaysian Family Housing Initiative eases rental woes of those affected by Covid-19
The first group of beneficiaries of the Malaysian Family Housing Initiative, or “Rumah Ikram Keluarga Malaysia”, can now breathe easy as they have finally received much-needed help for their rental and housing woes. The government’s newly-launched housing initiative aims to provide assistance to those who are struggling with rent and housing-related issues following the COVID-19 pandemic, with recipients being exempted from rent for six months and the waiver starting from the date they received the keys to their units. All five beneficiaries will live in houses located at the Lembah Subang 2 People’s Housing Project (PPR). The initiative, managed by the Housing and Local Government Ministry, will act as a sanctuary for those who lost their jobs and also those whose income has been reduced to a point that they could no longer afford rentals. Houses under the Rumah Ikram Keluarga Malaysia initiative are available in PPR areas around Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kedah, Kelantan and Johor with a minimum monthly rent of RM124 for a maximum duration of two years. (The Edge)
KPKT planning two PPR in Penang
The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) plans to implement two People’s Housing Projects (PPR) in Penang under the 12th Malaysia Plan, said its minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican. He said compared with others states, the number of PPR houses in Penang was still very low, with the last PPR project by the ministry in Penang was the Tok Suboh PPR in Bukit Minyak, Simpang Ampat. The state government, he said, has submitted five proposed locations. One will be built on the mainland and the other on the island. Meanwhile, Reezal said the ministry would take note of a suggestion raised by Jagdeep on the issue of developing new townships to spur the state’s growth. He said new guidelines would be formulated and the ministry would discuss with all stakeholders on the matter. (Malay Mail)
Senior education minister: Teachers refusing Covid-19 vaccination may be transferred
Teachers who refuse to be vaccinated against Covid-19 may be transferred elsewhere if their actions cause the Teaching and Learning (PdP) process of students to be affected. Senior Education Minister Datuk Radzi Jidin said one of the solutions being mulled in the interest of the students’ safety was to transfer the teachers out. He said this issue should not be allowed to prolong and transfers, including interstate, might be carried out to resolve it. Radzi said that even in the early stages, teachers who refused to be vaccinated had been advised and given sufficient time to get their vaccine jabs. “Of the 2,500 teachers who refused to be vaccinated, now there are only about 2,000 of them. This may look like a small number but we cannot let this go on and we must take immediate action,” he said. (Malay Mail)
Singapore tightens Covid-19 restrictions as cases continue to rise
Singapore has made work-from-home the default and tightened other rules as it again broke a daily record for infection. The city state announced 1,650 new infections on Saturday night (Sept 26), almost all locally transmitted among residents, and nearly 1,100 people were hospitalised. In addition to the renewed work-from-home order, Singapore limited gatherings to two people in restaurants and other social settings, an effort to contain the spread of the virus and preserve hospital capacity for the most severe cases. The Straits Times, reported that from Monday (Sept 27), people will be allowed to gather in only groups of two, as Singapore tightens restrictions to slow the exponential rise in Covid-19 cases. These measures will last a month and will be lifted on Oct 25, with the rules reviewed in two weeks and adjusted, depending on the community situation. (The Star)
