KINI ROUNDUP | Here are key headlines you may have missed, in brief.
1. Malaysia’s Covid-19 vaccination plan comes in three phases involving 600 centres nationwide, and the government will also deploy vaccines "tactically" to contain sudden outbreaks of the disease.
2. The Health Ministry has signed deals to acquire Covid-19 vaccines developed by China’s Sinovac and Russia’s Gamaleya Institute through local firms, pending regulatory approval.
3. Pejuang is considering taking over an existing political party due to the Registrar of Societies’ refusal to approve its registration, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.
4. The Selangor government plans to spend RM200 million on vaccines, which would include one million migrant workers in the state to help achieve herd immunity.
5. In a soon-to-be-published memoir, former attorney-general Tommy Thomas revealed that then Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had wanted him to resign just one day after he was appointed to the post.
6. A Covid-19 patient complained of being left in the dark after being diagnosed, while those who end up in private hospitals would have to foot the bill on their own while the government negotiates payment options with insurers.
7. Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry would share its Covid-19 treatment guidelines after general practitioner Dr Boo Cheng Hau highlighted the lack of guidance on monitoring patients and their post-discharge care.
8. As the government mulls its next move after the current movement control order expires on Feb 4, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob pointed out that about 2.8 million people could lose their jobs if a total lockdown is imposed.
9. The Ministry of Higher Education has distributed thousands of devices and data plans to facilitate remote learning, but needy students who can’t wait for government assistance are turning to MPs for help.
10. The National Unity Ministry has granted special permission for a chariot procession to Sri Subramaniam Temple in Batu Caves today in conjunction with Thaipusam celebrations, but the Penang Hindu Endowment Board is adamant that a similar procession will not take place in Penang due to public health concerns.
