RESIDENCES

– Residensi Kiara Jalil 1, Kuala Lumpur

The management said in a notice to residents dated Feb 17, sighted by Malaysiakini, that a resident from Block C had tested positive for Covid-19.

The management has since carried out intensive cleaning on the premises

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MARKETS

– Pasar Sg Plan, Bintulu, Sarawak

According to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, a customer who later tested positive for Covid-19 had visited this location on Feb 21 from 10.45am to 11.15am.

– Pasar Taman Rejang, Sibu, Sarawak

According to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, a customer who later tested positive for Covid-19 had visited this location on Feb 20 from 6.01am to 6.35am.

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GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

– Mahkamah Samarahan, Sarawak

According to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, an individual who later tested positive for Covid-19 had visited this location on Feb 22 and 23 from 9am to 11am.

– Samarahan police district headquarters (IPD), Sarawak

According to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, an individual who later tested positive for Covid-19 had visited this location on Feb 22 and 24 from 8am to 5pm.

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OTHERS

– Various localities in Kelantan

Covid-19 cases were detected at the following localities yesterday, the Kelantan Health Department said.

Bachok:

• Kampung Kuau Besar
• Kampung Pohon Nenas
• Kampung Kok Lintang
• Taman Seri Lalang
• Kampung Beris Tengah
• Kampung Pengkalan Chengal

Kota Bharu:

• Hadapan SK Tegayong
• Kampung Belukar Padang Tengah
• Taman Sri Keranji
• Penjara Pengkalan Chepa
• Kuarters Penjara
• Kampung Pauh Lima
• Taman Putra Kota Jembal
• Cabang Tiga Hj Musa
• Jalan Taman Jaya
• Taman Puteri Lagenda
• Kampung Bukit Marak
• Kampung Guchil
• Kampung Telok Chengal
• Kampung Paya Permai
• Jalan Hilir Istana
• Kampung Seterpa
• Kampung Setek
• Kampung Tok Ku
• Kampung Dendang
• Kampung Cabang Empat
• Kampung Pasir Jelatang
• Kampung Kukang

Gua Musang:

• Aring 6

Kuala Krai:

• Kampung Telekong
• Kampung Bechah Batu Besar
• Kampung Batu Jong

Machang:

• PPA Machang
• Kampung Pangkal Meleret
• Kampung Kerila

Pasir Mas:

• Kampung Binjal

Tumpat:

• Kampung Bendang Kerian
• Kampung Menjual
• Kampung Alor Pasir
• Hadapan SK Kutan
• Kampung Jubakar Pantai
• Kampung Kubang Batang

Tanah Merah:

• Taman Barakah

 – Various locations in Kedah

Below are the locations where Covid-19 cases were detected yesterday, according to the Kedah Health Department:

Source : Malaysiakini

The Health Ministry today reported 2,437 new Covid-19 infections with all but two were locally transmitted.

Of the locally transmitted cases, 1,226 are Malaysians while another 1,209 are non-citizens.

Today also marked a milestone as the cumulative Covid-19 cases in Malaysia crossed the 300,000-mark. 

Cumulative cases now stand at 300,752 against 273,417 cumulative recoveries.

• Active cases: 26,205
• Patients in ICU: 202
• Intubated: 93

Recoveries outpaced new cases today, helping to bring down the number of active cases, a critical measure of the strain on hospitals treating Covid-19 patients.

Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said there were 3,251 recoveries today.

Deaths

A total of nine deaths were reported today, comprising eight Malaysians and one non-citizen.

The deaths were from Selangor (3), Sarawak (2), Malacca (1), Johor (1), Perak (1) and Kelantan (1).

The youngest today was a 57-year-old man at Selayang Hospital.

The remaining casualties were all aged 60 and above with the oldest being a 102-year-old stateless woman.

Cases by state

Selangor (914)
Existing clusters: 123
New clusters: 307 (Perusahaan Jalan Bukit, Industri Waja, Jalan Selisik clusters)
Close contacts: 393
Imported: 1
Other screenings: 90

Johor (340)
Existing clusters: 148
New clusters: 44 (Batu Empat, Jalan Timah Tiga, Jalan Tanjung Empat, Jalan Desa Tropika clusters)
Close contacts: 69
Other screenings: 79

Kuala Lumpur (337)
Existing clusters: 47
New cluster: 180 (Bukit Kiara construction site cluster)
Close contacts: 59
Other screenings: 51

Perak (287)
Existing clusters: 279
Close contacts: 5
Other screenings: 3

Sarawak (171)
Existing clusters: 44
Close contacts: 70
Imported: 1
Other screenings: 56

Sabah (134)
Existing clusters: 71
Close contacts: 48
Other screenings: 15

Penang (105)
Existing clusters: 15
New cluster: 16 (Jalan Sungai Baong cluster)
Close contacts: 20
Other screenings: 54

Negeri Sembilan (65)
Existing clusters: 39
Close contacts: 11
Other screenings: 15

Kelantan (33)

Existing clusters: 7
Close contacts: 24
Other screenings: 2

Kedah (13)
Existing clusters: 4
Close contacts: 4
Other screenings: 5

Terengganu (12)

Existing clusters: 7
Close contacts: 3
Other screenings: 2

Pahang (11)

Existing clusters: 4
Close contacts: 5
Other screenings: 2

Malacca (10)
Existing clusters: 3
Close contacts: 6
Other screenings: 1

Putrajaya (3)
Existing clusters: 1
Other screenings: 2

Labuan (2)
Close contacts: 1
Other screenings: 1

No new Covid-19 cases were reported in Perlis today.

Clusters

A total of 491 out of 1,138 Covid-19 clusters are still active, and 89 of these clusters contributed to the new infections reported today.

Three clusters were declared resolved but nine clusters have emerged.

The clusters declared over are Jalan Rami Tiga, Lingkaran Maluri and Sri Plentong clusters.

As for the new clusters, four were in Johor, three in Selangor and one in Kuala Lumpur and Penang respectively. Details are as follow:

Jalan Timah Tiga cluster

District(s): Johor Bahru, Johor
Locality/Source: A factory along Jalan Timah 3, Pasir Gudang Industrial Estate
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 21
Total infected: 31 out of 255 screened

Jalan Tanjung Empat cluster
District(s): Johor Bahru, Johor
Locality/Source: A factory along Jalan Tanjung A/4, Gelang Patah
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 23
Total infected: 28 out of 66 screened

Jalan Desa Tropika cluster
District(s): Johor Bahru, Johor
Locality/Source: A factory along Jalan Desa Tropika 1/1, Taman Perindustrian Tropika
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 28
Total infected: 10 out of 21 screened

Batu Empat cluster
District(s): Batu Pahat, Johor
Locality/Source: A factory at Batu 4, Jalan Kluang
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 22
Total infected: 8 out of 55 screened

Perusahaan Jalan Bukit cluster
District(s): Hulu Langat, Selangor
Locality/Source: A factory at Kawasan Perusahaan Bukit Angkat, Kajang
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 28
Total infected: 262 out of 699 screened

Industri Waja cluster

District(s): Kuala Langat, Selangor
Locality/Source: A factory along Jalan Waja 16, Kawasan Perindustrian Telok Panglima Garang
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 26
Total infected: 45 out of 248 screened

Jalan Selisik cluster
District(s): Petaling, Selangor
Locality/Source: A factory along Jalan Selisik, Shah Alam
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 1
Total infected: 17 out of 32 screened

Bukit Kiara construction site cluster
District(s): Kepong, Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: A construction site along Jalan Bukit Kiara 1
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 25
Total infected: 181 out of 250 screened

Jalan Sungai Baong cluster
District(s): Seberang Perai Selatan, Penang
Locality/Source: A factory along Jalan Sungai Baong, Furniture Industrial Estate
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 24
Total infected: 40 out of 93 screened

Source : Malaysiakini

I do not have a good opinion of our leaders. Usually, they are quite self-serving good in accruing privileges and benefits to themselves.

The national vaccination programme for Covid-19 is now on. As usual, how do we decide who shall get the vaccination first?

Already I am seeing all the VIPs getting vaccinated ahead of many who are more deserving. Similarly, I heard hospital administration personnel are also given preference.

When we are VIPs or decision-makers, we can easily justify why we should be given the vaccination first. When the prime minister got his jab, it is probably to set an example that the vaccination is safe. Beyond that, I don’t see the need for pecking order in vaccination.

Why must menteri besar get it ahead of excos and why must excos get it ahead of state reps? Have we not had enough of hierarchy and feudalism in this country?

Of course, the VIPs and those with authority can always come up with reasons why they should be vaccinated first. But I believe if leaders are benevolent, they will also yield to others who are more deserving. After all, VIPs are not having the riskiest jobs. Even if they infected, I believe they have better access to medical treatment and care.

Most leaders can talk very well. But I would prefer that they show example rather than talk.

Leaders showing magnanimity and setting a good example could go a long way to soothe the feeling of the people.

In this regard, I am really touched by the statement of the Sultan of Selangor who has asked that his turn for the Covid-19 vaccination will only come after all frontline workers including teachers have received their shots.

This is what leadership is all about. The vaccination programme should not be based on status and position. It should be based on risk and exposure to different professions, age and morbidity.

I hope the sultan’s statement will provide the impetus for us to look at ourselves more rationally and professionally. I refuse to accept that everything in this country should be based on the pecking order. Have the privileged not enjoyed enough?  

Source : Malaysiakini

HONG KONG: Forty-seven Hong Kong democrats and activists were charged on Sunday (Feb 28) with conspiracy to commit subversion, in the largest single crackdown on the democratic opposition under a national security law.

Sam Cheung, a young activist and a participant in an unofficial primary election last summer, was charged after reporting to a local police station, dressed in a black mask and accompanied by his wife.

“Hong Kongers have a really tough time these days,” he told reporters before entering the station. “I hope everyone won’t give up on Hong Kong … (and) fight on.”

Cheung was arrested in a dawn raid along with more than 50 other democrats on Jan 6, in the largest national security operation since the law’s passage last June.

READ: Top Hong Kong university cuts ties with student union over national security concerns

They were accused of organising and participating in an unofficial “primary election” last July aimed at selecting the strongest candidates for a legislative council election.

The Hong Kong police said in a statement they has charged 47 people, each with a count of “conspiracy to commit subversion”. They will appear in court on Monday morning, the statement added.

The democrats were detained at the time, questioned, and some had their mobile phones and computers confiscated, then released pending further investigations.

“My chance of bail won’t be too great,” wrote Benny Tai in an earlier social media post. He was also charged and accused by Chinese authorities of being a key tactician for the movement in the former British colony.

Those also called in by Hong Kong police include a group of younger “resistance camp” democratic activists including Lester Shum, Sam Cheung, Ventus Lau and Fergus Leung.

READ: Hong Kong crafting ‘patriotic’ oath for local councils, Beijing wants loyalists in charge

The democrats denounced the arrests as political persecution for the informal, peaceful poll that drew 600,000 votes in a city of 7.5 million.

A rights advocacy group, called Power for Democracy, that co-organised the primary elections, said in a Facebook post it has disbanded.

The Hong Kong police say 99 people have been arrested for suspected violations of the security laws so far.

Some of these have been denied bail, including media mogul and prominent China critic Jimmy Lai, despite protracted legal appeals.

The sweeping national security laws – seen by critics as a threat to Hong Kong’s freedoms and autonomy – punish acts of subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorism with possible life imprisonment. Source: AFP/CNA/mi

‘By increasing the fines, the govt is pushing the blame on the people.’

MCO: Stiffer penalties and warrant-less arrests under emergency rules

Suria: Almost a year had passed since the first lockdown on March 18, 2020. Instead of seeing an improvement to the situation, we are constantly taken on a rollercoaster ride of the government’s flip-flopping policies on the standard operating procedures (SOPs), the movement control order (MCO), enhanced MCO, and what have you!

Now a year down the road, what we have are stiffer penalties and on-the-spot arrest.

Seriously, all these penalties speak of one message, loud and clear to us – instead of doing soul searching on where it has failed, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government decided to punish the rakyat with heftier fines and even threatening us with jail sentences. Sigh!

Apa Nama: While the PN government could not competently control the pandemic as it should, it is sending a strong message with this amendment that it is the public and the companies that are at fault.

“It is not my fault as I am doing my job. You people do not follow my SOPs, so I need to be stricter now.”

This is what they are trying to tell us. What an easy way to push the blame to us. Sometimes I wonder, is it that easy to run a country? Simply blame the general public for their shortcomings.

Even incompetence and stupidity should have some limit, but here we see them pushing it beyond the limit. I am lost for words.

Man On The Street: While the struggling rakyat are severely and more heavily punished, where is the punishment and accountability when government institutions like detention centres, prisons and educational/training centres develop Covid-19 clusters?

Why the harsh penalties when the double standards continue? Don’t they feel ashamed of going after the ordinary man on the street when those in power are excluded and seemingly immune to punishment?

Has the Health Ministry done its best to educate the rakyat? Is this a “copycat” move by the Health Ministry to have similar penalties like Singapore? But Singapore has clear SOPs, and it is consistent with its enforcement.

I will remember the injustice when it’s time to vote.

Flabber Pro: An average Malaysian may not even have RM1,000 in their savings account, let alone pay a RM10,000 fine for the smallest and slightest offence.

I would imagine the eight passengers who travelled from Tenom to Kota Kinabalu town to buy essential items would need to work for years and years just to pay the government a fine of RM10,000 each. That comes up to RM80,000.

This amount is beyond the reach of ordinary Malaysians who are struggling to survive today. Are these lawmakers aware of what we are going through daily?

This will definitely give the police personnel manning roadblocks a gala time to check each passenger/vehicle thoroughly since so much is at stake now. This, too, will give room to possible corruption.

Gazza: How can the compound be increased 10 times to RM10,000 and be justified? RM1,000 was bad enough, but RM10,000? What is the country coming to? Is this done to bankrupt the people?

And let us be honest, only members of the PN government can escape, and they escape without any explanation. And yet, we are told there are no double standards.

Oscar Kilo: RM10,000 fine? Our dear ‘opposition’ politicians, please be careful. Any fine above RM2,000 and you lose your seat, right?

Harimau_Arif: Increasing the fine to only punish the ordinary people doesn’t make any sense as we continue to see very important persons (VIPs) flouting the rules, and rules are being changed to suit their needs, such as the so-called three-day quarantine.

It has been more than a year of dealing with the pandemic, and there is no end in sight with PN’s flip-flopping SOPs, policy U-turns and half-past-six enforcements.

The rakyat has to work to survive, unlike the politicians. The only hope left is the vaccine.

Dr Raman Letchumanan: Indeed, what about VIPs who break the law? So now they will be arrested immediately since this is a seizable offence?

What about the enforcers who wrongly apply the SOPs, like in the case of mistaken police districts. Shouldn’t that be a seizable offence too?

Well, I guess double standards will prevail. Let the voters judge in the 15th general election and not complain thereafter.

Iphonezours: There is already so much confusion in the implementation of SOPs. Even the police can’t get jurisdiction boundaries correct. They are also fining even young children, etc.

All these just show how incompetent this government is in managing the pandemic, and yet they are increasing the fines. People are angry and will vent their anger at the next GE.

Just A Malaysian: Increasing fines and adding jail terms for violating MCO is a desperate move.

Many are confused over the definition of “districts”, including the police. Shah Alam is listed under both Petaling and Klang. And there are many more confusing definitions and uneven implementation of the MCO.

Instead of clarifying and making the SOPs easier to follow, they make it even more costly for those caught violating them. Rakyat already derita (suffer). Please, give us a break.

Oscar Kilo: Before you impose such high penalties, make sure the police understand the rules. We know that different officers interpret and enforce the rules differently.

2 Cents: While I have no objection to the increased penalty, I’m concerned about the frequent cases of wrongful compounding of alleged offences.

Can we also extend the same level of penalty to the enforcement officers who failed in their duties? For example, if the enforcement officer issues a fine but the alleged offender is able to prove that he/she did not breach SOP, then the enforcement officer is liable to pay RM10,000 as a penalty for his/her error in issuing the fine.

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Source : Malaysiakini