Editor’s Note: Our nation’s PM under 14-day quarantine

By Sharon Chang

Happy Friday to our readers out there!

It is now over two months of social distancing and mask-wearing to navigate a new way of living, due to the pandemic. What more can we say on Covid-19 which has not been covered daily in the news?

We hope the news sources are keeping you up to date and not too overwhelming.

Anyways, as usual let us round up the week.

On the local front, we have MATTA calling for government initiatives to resuscitate the tourism industry by developing and implementing health accreditation. According to MATTA President Tan Kok Liang, no amount of digitalisation, promotions, incentives or freebies can directly help to create demand except to boost the much-needed confidence that it is safe to travel through coordinated efforts with the relevant authorities.

He said the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Health may consider initiating a health accreditation mark programme for the tourism value chain, otherwise, Malaysian tourism industry will be trailing behind neighbouring countries.

Furthermore, in a survey by Airbnb has also shown that 92 percent of hosts are keen on hosting as often as before the pandemic once travel resumes.

Genting Malaysia, the casino operator had faced more than two months of closure due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak and Movement Control Order (MCO) that was implemented on March 18, is reportedly undertaking an “unprecedented” retrenchment exercise to cut 20 percent of its staff force, according to a news report by the Edge Markets.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhiyiddin Yassin is currently under a 14-day quarantine despite being tested negative. This comes after an officer who attended the post-Cabinet meeting yesterday at the PM’s office was tested positive for Covid-19.

In international news, a passenger plane with over 100 people onboard near Karachi airport in Pakistan had crashed, leaving no survivors.

Recent news has also shown that India will  be resuming purchase of Malaysian palm oil after a 4-month gap.

And with Raya celebrations nearing, cars have been crowding the highways despite the ban on interstate travel, prompting fear that we might face another wave after news of a positive pregnant mother who travelled to Kuantan arose. Do you think there should have been better policies and regulations in place by the Government to tackle this issue? Let us know in the comments below!

Goodnight and Selamat Hari Raya!

 

 

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