Good morning, here's what you need to know today.

Key Highlights

• Why are prices of goods rising?
  
  

• Pause on Covid endemic phase
  
  

• Harapan's soul searching
  
  

Why are prices of goods rising?

The surging prices of goods, particularly food items, is a highly political topic in Malaysia.

The public reaction is normally to blame "unscrupulous" traders and the government's natural response is to deploy enforcement officers to show that they're doing something to control the prices.

But one of the reasons for the current surge has a lot to do with a spike in global fertiliser prices, which have created a domino effect across the supply chain.

The World Bank's blog noted that fertiliser prices have risen to the highest level since the 2008 global economic crisis, driven by energy cost, supply constraint and trade policies.

In Malaysia, this is compounded by several other factors, including a lack of migrant labour since the Covid-19 pandemic, the monsoon season, a surge in demand from the economic reopening and the coming festive season.

In response, the government allocated RM262 million to subsidise the price of fertilisers in the hope that it can contain the prices of farm produces.

In the political arena, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi is facing pressure to resign, while Umno is complaining that the issue is being used by Bersatu to undermine its Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

BN advisory board chairperson Najib Abdul Razak blamed Bersatu for the rising prices of goods, noting that many of the key ministries responsible for the supply chain are helmed by Bersatu ministers.

Bersatu shot back, stating that the current economic situation, which is already challenging due to Covid-19, would not have been as bad if not for the crushing 1MDB debt left behind by Najib.

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	Guan Eng trial: Defence claims deceased's statement 'fabricated' Lawyer claims inconsistencies.
	Syed Saddiq's CBT case transferred to High Court He is accused of misappropriating Bersatu Youth's funds.

Pause on Covid endemic phase

Putrajaya hit the pause button on plans to shift towards the endemic phase where people are expected to live with Covid-19 like other persistent diseases such as dengue.

This follows the emergence of the Omicron variant. Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said indications are that the new variant is more transmissible than the Delta variant, which has already spread across the globe.

Vaccine makers such as Moderna have warned that current Covid-19 vaccines are likely to be less effective against the Omicron variant.

More countries, including many in Europe, have reported new Covid-19 cases involving the Omicron variant which was first reported in South Africa.

However, the rumour that the Omnicron variant has arrived in Malaysia is untrue, the Health Ministry said.

Meanwhile, 25 new Covid-19 cases were detected in Parliament, bringing the total to 84 for this session which started on Oct 27. The Health Ministry said they were likely the Delta variant.

In a related development, ProtectHealth Corporation which is facilitating the administering of Covid-19 vaccines said it will increase the number of vaccination centres offering Sinovac as booster shots.

Most of the vaccination centres now offer Pfizer as a booster shot, in accordance with the Health Ministry's recommendation. 

Health Ministry data shows the effectiveness of the Sinovac vaccine wanes faster compared to Pfizer and AstraZeneca, but some Sinovac recipients are worried about mixing vaccines for their booster shot.

The Health Ministry's position is any booster shot is better than none at all.

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	Ain, father sued for defamation over lewd joke claim The teacher was accused of making rape jokes.
	Police prevent Kg Gatco settlers from meeting MB The settlers were forced to return to their village.

Harapan's soul searching

Pakatan Harapan is still trying to determine its future direction amid repeated electoral setbacks since the Cameron Highlands by-election in 2019.

Amanah grassroots leaders suggested that the Harapan leadership ropes in Pejuang, Muda and Warisan to form a united opposition.

A PKR leader also backed a proposal to merge with Amanah, noting that it can fill the leadership vacuum left behind by a series of defections from PKR to Bersatu.

However, friction between PKR and DAP continued to build. In Pahang, PKR members protested at a DAP service centre over Bilut assemblyperson Lee Chin Cheh's call for PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to step down as the Harapan chairperson.

Pahang DAP Youth shot back, describing the PKR members as "Umno thugs".

In Sarawak, DAP and PKR are still unable to resolve their differences, less than a week away from the Dec 6 nomination day for the state assembly election.

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	'Didn't Muhyiddin promise to defend vernacular schools?' A Muda leader tells Bersatu Youth to be fair in its criticism.
	Hundreds of testimonies reveal patterns of abuse in schools Awam renews its call for action against sexual harassment.

 

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 4,879 new cases yesterday (Nov 30).
  
  
• 55 new deaths put the total fatalities at 30,425.
  
  

New cases by state:

Selangor (1,097)
Kelantan (574)
Johor (494)
Kedah (412)
Sabah (401)
Kuala Lumpur (388)
Pahang (321)
Penang (311)
Perak (210)
Terengganu (200)
Negeri Sembilan (148)
Malacca (139)
Sarawak (98)
Perlis (44)
Putrajaya (40)
Labuan (2)

What else is happening?

• The spire for the Merdeka 118 tower, the country's new tallest building, is completed, but there is still some work left to do as the construction is at 85 percent completion. The floors for all 118 levels are completed while glass panel installation has reached floor 114.
  
  
• The men's World Team Squash Championship in Malaysia has been called off after Malaysia refused to admit Israeli athletes on top of concerns over the new Omicron Covid-19 variant.
  
  
• Kuala Lumpur FC defeated reigning champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) 2-0 in the Malaysia Cup Final.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Malaysiakini's Wong bags Young Journalist Award She stood above 200 entrants.
	Malaysiakini bags best multimedia award at MPI It won the category for second year in a row.
	Family of Ruth Sitepu desperate for closure It's been five years since she disappeared.

What are people saying?

	Ministers who agreed to HSR compensation should resign By Lim Guan Eng
	Whistleblowers must be genuinely protected By Syahredzan Johan
	Inflation is a monetary phenomenon By TK Chua