Govt-PH MoU: No general election until Aug 2022 earliest
Malaysia may not see the 15th general election until August 2022 at the earliest, based on the historic memorandum on political transformation and stability inked between the federal coalition and Pakatan Harapan (PH) opposition yesterday. One of the details underlined in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) is for the parliament not to be dissolved from now until July 31, 2022, according to a tweet by PH communications director Fahmi Fadzil. It should be noted, however, that this detail was absent from the statement issued by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob earlier. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, accompanied by several members of his administration, inked the deal with PH, led by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Anwar Ibrahim, at a signing ceremony in Parliament. The deal, which is called the Memorandum of Understanding for Transformation and Political Stability, covered six main areas. Among the key areas of reform is to transform administration, empower Parliament and strengthen the independence of the judiciary. A copy of the MoU will be uploaded to the parliament’s official website today. (The Edge)
Delta variant threatens Asean-5 recovery
In the first half of 2021, Asean-5 countries, comprising Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines experienced strong, export-driven growth. However, renewed lockdowns amid significant outbreaks of Covid-19 Delta variant cases have dampened business sentiment and consumer spending in this region. According to the Institute of International Finance (IIF), recovery will likely slow markedly in the second half of 2021 for Asean5. The IIF said it would likely cut its GDP growth forecast for region. In May, it forecast a GDP growth of 5.2% for 2021 and 5.4% for 2022. “Most of the countries are still experiencing inflation within the respective target ranges, except for the Philippines,” the IIF said. “Looking ahead, the next stage of the global recovery will likely benefit services rather than goods and, thus, provide less of a boost to Asean-5 economies,” it said. “Furthermore, the recovery in tourism in the five countries has been slower than our already-cautious forecast in the spring, with the Delta variant posing a new challenge to the sector,” it added. (The Star)
Singapore committed to constructive ties with new Malaysian government
Singapore is committed to maintaining a constructive relationship with the new Malaysian government and keeping up good relations, said its Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. He said Singapore will continue to engage and cooperate with Malaysia’s leaders to seek win-win outcomes for both countries in the long term. “We have enjoyed good relations with successive Malaysian governments and leaders, and we have cooperated well with them across a very wide range of areas,” he said. This included contributing medical supplies and test kits, and setting up a special working committee on the pandemic. Both sides had also launched several special travel arrangements to minimise disruptions to companies, workers and citizens. On the Singapore-Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System, he said both sides have started construction of the cross-border link and made good progress. Discussions are ongoing to resume cross border travel in a safe and gradual manner as Singapore enters the endemic phase of the disease, he added. (The Star)
Mah Sing shares budget 2022 wish list, targets first-time home buyers
Mah Sing Group Bhd hopes the government could introduce additional initiatives to ease the homeownership journey for first-time home buyers and expedite the recovery of the property industry as part of its wish list for Budget 2022 which will be tabled next month. The property developer said enhanced measures to ease homeownership for first-time home buyers, review Malaysia My Second Home programme’s (MM2H) new criteria, and lower minimum threshold for foreign property ownership to RM600,000 are among the items on its wish list. Founder and group managing director Tan Sri Leong Hoy Kum proposed that the government offer more measures targeting first-time homebuyers, specifically in home financing to boost homeownership. Leong also said that the government could consider the possibility of implementing the developer interest bearing scheme (DIBS) for first-time homebuyers, as this would allow them to have the option to not service their loan interest and rentals at the same time during the construction period. Other items on the wish list are to extend the Home Ownership Campaign (HOC), terminate the real property gains tax (RPGT) on properties sold after five years to boost the secondary market, reduce compliance cost to lower house prices, as well as introduce incentives for developments incorporating green features. (The Star)
Illegal home-sharing worries hotels
With domestic tourism allowed in the Klang Valley after it moved into Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), hotels are ready for fully vaccinated guests but are concerned about unregulated home-sharing businesses hampering recovery efforts. Malaysian Association of Hotels chief executive officer Yap Lip Seng said licensed hotels were well prepared with contingency and isolation plans in the event that Covid-19 cases were detected. “Hotels are prepared to foot the higher operational costs to assure guests of their safety and health,” he added. Yap, however, said unregulated home-sharing businesses would have a negative impact on efforts to control the pandemic as they were operating without their SOP compliance being monitored. This concern was echoed by Malaysia Budget and Business Hotel Association deputy president Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel, who called upon the government to immediately enforce the short-term rental accommodation (STRA) guidelines that have long been postponed. He said without solving the problem of unregulated home-sharing businesses, the hospitality industry would not be able to make any meaningful economic recovery and unlicensed home-sharing operators would be able to flout the Covid-19 SOP. (The Star)
WHO declares polio outbreak ended in Malaysia
The polio outbreak in Malaysia has been declared ended following an official notification by the World Health Organisation (WHO) representative office for Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore to the Health Ministry (MOH). Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the declaration was made following findings by an evaluation team comprising a panel of international experts who had carried out a comprehensive assessment of polio control and prevention measures carried out in Malaysia. Polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system which can cause permanent paralysis. It can also cause respiratory failure and can be fatal. Khairy said at the end of 2019, Malaysia was hit by the shocking return of the disease when one polio case was detected in Sabah, the first in the country after 27 years. (The Star)
