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Petronas evacuates employees from Iraq amid Covid-19 pandemic

KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas has safely evacuated all 80 of its Malaysian employees from Petronas Carigali Iraq Holding B.V. (PCIHBV), located at the Garraf Contract Area in Iraq’s Thi Qar province in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The move is a precautionary measure to ensure the health, safety and well-being of its employees, it said.

“This is certainly an unfortunate and unforeseeable event that is not within PCIHBV’s control. PCIHBV had accordingly issued the necessary notice in accordance with the provisions of the development and production service contract and engaged with the host authority prior to the suspension of operations and evacuation of our employees,” it said in a statement, here today.

Operations at the Garraf Contract Area are now temporarily suspended until further notice, Petronas said.

“We are also closely monitoring the situation,” it added.

According to news reports, Iraq has recorded 164 Covid-19 cases, with 12 deaths. – Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/petronas-evacuates-employees-from-iraq-amid-covid-19-pandemic-XA2147437

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March 18, 2020
Talian Kasih 15999 operating as usual

PUTRAJAYA: The Talian Kasih 15999, coordinated by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) will operate as usual during the movement control order, according to minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun (pix).

In a statement today, she said the line was reactivated after taking into consideration the needs of women, children, the disabled and senior citizens.

“Talian Kasih will continue to entertain to complaints from women, families and the community particularly in attending to emergency incidents involving welfare and the community,” she said.

Former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who was also KPWKM minister, was reported to have urged the ministry to reactivate Talian Kasih, which was stopped following the movement control order effective today until March 31.

Rina said the Talian Kasih hotline 15999 and WhatsApp service at 019-2615999 will be operating at all times. – Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/talian-kasih-15999-operating-as-usual-BA2147322

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March 18, 2020
Malaysia-Singapore working committee to be set up following movement control order

JOHOR BARU: A special working committee will be set up to formulate mitigation plan to address the issues of the movement of people, goods and services between Malaysia and Singapore, said Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad (pix).

He said following the latest development of the Covid-19 outbreak and the announcement of the Movement Control Order yesterday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today agreed that the committee be set up.

“The committee will be jointly-chaired by Senior Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, myself and a Singaporean cabinet representative,” he said in a statement today.

He said the committee would be tasked with formulating mitigation plan for managing common interests between Malaysia and Singapore, particularly in ensuring the smooth and safe movement of Malaysians working in Singapore.

Hasni said the committee would then present recommendations to the prime minister of both countries for further action.

He said the committee also would notify the progress of related issues from time to time. – Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/malaysia-singapore-working-committee-to-be-set-up-following-movement-control-order-BC2141614

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March 17, 2020
Chief Secretary apologises over Covid-19 meeting invitation error

KUALA LUMPUR: Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Mohd Zuki Ali today apologised for an error pertaining to invitations for the Special Meeting of Mentris Besar and Chief Ministers to address the Covid-19 outbreak.

In a statement, Mohd Zuki on behalf of the secretariat of the meeting apologised over the misunderstanding with regard to invitations only being sent to Mentris Besar and Chief Ministers from parties that were part of the federal government coalition.

“For the states of Penang, Kedah, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Sabah, only State Development directors were invited to attend,“ he said.

He said that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had instructed for all Mentris Besar and Chief Ministers to be invited to the special meeting held in Putrajaya today, without any exceptions.

“It’s stressed once again, that the Prime Minister takes this matter seriously and expressed his clear intention to cooperate with all State Governments irrespective of political affiliations, especially on matters of national interest such as the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak,“ he added.

Zuki said Muhyiddin had also issued an order for all Mentris Besar and Chief Ministers to be invited to attend the special meetings on Covid-19 in the future. – Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/chief-secretary-apologises-over-covid-19-meeting-invitation-error-MC2141529

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March 17, 2020
Some universities have closed their campus, switched to online lecturing

PETALING JAYA: A number of universities have closed their campuses and instructed their staff to give lectures online to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Among them is Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), which closed its branch campus in Pagoh from today for decontamination after a UTHM staff tested positive for novel coronavirus.

According to a circular from UTHM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Wahid Razzaly, which was uploaded on the university’s official Facebook page on Sunday night, the branch campus will be closed until March 19 to facilitate comprehensive decontamination of the premises.

He said the closure involves the entire academic and non-academic staff, except for employees of the university’s health centre, development and maintenance office, including the security and college residence division.

Quarantine and screening operations will continuously be conducted in line with existing procedures.

“All academic and administrative staff are allowed to work from home and attendance will not be recorded at the campus. The attendance record for all staff involved will be updated automatically by the Registrar’s Office,” Wahid added.

In George Town, Universiti Sains Malaysia announced that it is conducting all lectures online from Sunday.

Its vice-chancellor Prof Dr Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan said the dean will inform students on the online learning process.

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/some-universities-have-closed-their-campus-switched-to-online-lecturing-CC2136532

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March 16, 2020
830 more nurses for government hospitals, says Health Minister

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Health (MOH) will place 830 nurses in government hospitals to tackle the spread of Covid-19 in this country, according to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.

He said their appointments on a contract basis was to beef up the manpower capacity at 135 government hospitals across the country in view of the spike in Covid-19 cases since last week.

“They, comprising nurses who have completed their studies at the ministry’s nursing colleges, will serve for two years,“ he said at the daily media conference on Covid-19, here today.

Dr Adham said Malaysia had sufficient medical manpower including more than 60,000 doctors in the public and private sectors.

“We have enough (professional medical practitioners) in every state at this moment but what we need now is (more) infectious disease physicians,“ he added.

Besides that, he said the MOH had 926 medical ventilators including 152 non-invasive ventilators and 142 transport ventilators.

“The ministry is ordering 800 more ventilators to meet the current need,“ he added.

On a related development, Dr Adham said of the attendees at the recent four-day Tabligh Assembly held at Sri Petaling Jamek Mosque, more than 7,000 had come forward for Covid-19 screening.

However, he said, the MOH did not know yet the number of positive cases. – Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/830-more-nurses-for-government-hospitals-says-health-minister-DC2136476

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March 16, 2020
A stretchable, compressible sensor for wearable electronics and soft robots

Recent technological advances have enabled the development of increasingly sophisticated electronics. Some of these new tools, particularly wearable devices and soft robots, require or can greatly benefit from flexible electronic components, including sensors, actuators and supercapacitators.

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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-03-stretchable-compressible-sensor-wearable-electronics.html

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March 16, 2020
Malaysia gets special consideration in Singapore’s new travel restrictions

SINGAPORE: The new border restrictions on travellers including those from Asean do not include Singapore’s sea and land crossings with Malaysia, meaning Malaysians and Singaporeans can commute from both sides as usual.

Singapore’s Co-chair of the Multi-Ministry Taskforce on Covid-19, Lawrence Wong, said while the order applies to the whole of Asean, a separate arrangement has been worked out for Malaysia through the bilateral joint working group.

Special considerations have been put in for Malaysia because of the close proximity and high interdependency between both countries.

“We do need precautions to be taken, given the high volume of people and vehicles moving in and out of these checkpoints,” he said today when announcing the additional measures that Singapore would be taking on the Covid-19 situation starting midnight on Monday.

Effective March 16, 2020, 2359 hours, all travellers entering Singapore with recent travel history to Asean countries, Japan, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom within the last 14 days will be issued with a 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN).

Wong, who is also the National Development Minister, said that on land crossing alone 200,000 people move across the checkpoints daily and the imposition of a 14-day SHN requirement would be very difficult and very disruptive for both countries.

“So the 14-day requirement will not be practical for these travellers and we need to look at other precaution like checking their health. So discussions are ongoing between the two sides,” he said.

The latest travel order applies to Singapore residents, long-term pass holders, and short-term visitors as well but not those transiting in Singapore without leaving the transit area.

In addition, they will have to provide proof of the place where they will serve the 14-day SHN, for example a hotel booking covering the entire period, or a place of residence they or their family members own.

They may also be swabbed for testing for Covid-19, even if asymptomatic because of the risk of community transmission in the countries of their origin and evidence of cases that have been imported from these countries into Singapore.

In addition to the SHN requirement, from March 16, 2020, 2359 hours, all short-term visitors who are nationals of any Asean country will have to submit requisite information on their health to the Singapore Overseas Mission in the country they are resident before their intended date of travel.

The submission will have to be approved by Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) before travel to Singapore, and the approval will be verified by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at the Singapore checkpoints.

Short-term visitors who arrive in Singapore without the necessary approval will be denied entry into Singapore and they are therefore advised to secure the approval before making definitive travel bookings. — Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/malaysia-gets-special-consideration-in-singapore-s-new-travel-restrictions-BI2129074

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March 15, 2020
Covid-19: 41 new cases reported, tally now 238

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 41 new COVID-19 cases were reported as at noon today, bringing cumulative cases in the country to 238, Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.

He said all 41 new cases were linked to the tabligh religious gathering, and they involved 37 patient under investigation (PUI) cases while four more are close contact cases.

“To date, a total 203 cases are still being treated, with five in the intensive care unit (ICU) and requiring ventilator support. The five are also being given anti-viral treatment.

“Also, as of today, a total 1,321 samples from influenza-like-illnesses (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) have been tested at the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), all public health laboratories and hospitals. Of those, three samples tested positive for COVID-19,” he said in a statement, here today.

In another development, two earlier cases (case 35 and 61) have recovered and have been discharged from the Sungai Buloh hospital, he said.

This brings the number of recovered cases to 35 so far.

Dr Noor Hisham also advised the public to remain calm and not to spread inaccurate information with regard to the tabligh religious gathering that took place from Feb 28-March 1.

Also, to prevent risk of infection on those from the vulnerable communities and those prone to infection, especially the Orang Asli community, the Health Ministry (MOH) is advising organisations or groups who have plans to conduct activities with these communities to postpone them, he said.

Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry will continue to provide health services to rural communities through outreach activities.

“The ministry also welcomes any form of medical aid, contributions or collaborations from any party, including non-governmental organisations,” he said, adding that offers or inquiries can be submitted through the ministry’s email cprc@moh.gov.my.

Meanwhile in an updated statement issued at 7pm, the MOH said a total 4,942 participants from the tabligh event at the Sri Petaling mosque have been identified.

Of these, 3,069 reported themselves in at Health Clinics for examination and screening while another 137 were referred to hospitals.

“Only 1,634 of them experienced respiratory tract infection symptoms and samples were taken, while 2,932 of them were asked to undergo home surveillance for 14 days from the last day of the gathering. Investigations and tracking of the event participants is ongoing,” the statement read. — Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/covid-19-41-new-cases-reported-tally-now-238-EC2127446

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March 14, 2020
Covid-19: Affected sectors to get electricity bill discounts

KUALA LUMPUR: Sectors affected by the Covid-19 outbreak will be given electricity bill discounts, said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.

In a statement today, he said it was one of the measures that would be implemented under the 2020 Economic Stimulus Package announced in February.

“I will also ensure that the country’s electricity supply industry supports the government’s efforts to implement the economic stimulus package by accelerating the implementation of renewable energy projects as well as the development of the country’s electricity supply infrastructure,“ he said.

Meanwhile, Shamsul Anuar said his ministry was currently reviewing plans made in the energy sector to ensure that the initiatives were in line with the new government’s desire and policies.

He said the direction of the country’s power generation industry under the new government would also be announced after he received detailed input over the matter.

Shamsul said the agenda to boost renewable energy growth would also continue in line with the government’s aspirations under the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030. — Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/covid-19-affected-sectors-to-get-electricity-bill-discounts-CC2127523

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March 14, 2020