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Work together, practise social discipline to curb Covid-19: Health DG

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians must work together and practise social discipline in order to flatten the Covid-19 infection curve, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said that in the past two weeks Malaysia had recorded around 150 to 200 positive Covid-19 cases daily and the Ministry of Health (MOH) had been monitoring the trend closely to ensure there is no exponential spike.

“Now we have completed two weeks, so another two weeks to go. It is up to us and if all of us come together and we practise and embrace (the advice) that you stay at home, and we, MOH, will continue our public health activity like active case detection, increase testing, finding targeted groups and isolate them early, then we can actually break the chain of Covid-19 transmission in this country.

“So the next two weeks is all up to you and me; if we can all have a social discipline, I am sure that we can actually flatten the curve to avoid the exponential spike. If not, we may see a surge in Covid-19 positive cases in mid-April like (that) predicted by JP Morgan and the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research,“ he said at a press conference on Covid-19, here today.

Dr Noor Hisham said that thanks to MOH’s active case detection, Malaysia had not recorded any exponential spike like 900 to 1,000 cases in one day.

“That means we continue to go to the community identified as a high-risk group through targeted approach and then test them. There will be some cases that will be detected as positive; our detection of positives is about 8%,“ he said.

Dr Noor Hisham also urged all Malaysians returning from overseas to home-quarantine for 14 days.

“We fear that the second wave is all imported cases. Malaysians coming back from overseas, that is the group that we are worried about as we fear they may bring back the Covid-19.

“Although they are negative, we still have to quarantine them for 14 days. Those positive we isolate them in our hospitals,“ he said.

He said MOH was aware that some Malaysians who returned from overseas broke the home quarantine rule.

When asked about the possibility of the MCO being extended until Ramadan, he said it was too early to make any conclusions now.

“We will only know after the first week of April. If we continue to flatten the curve or there is no exponential increase, then I think we can safely make a decision.

“In terms of the Ramadan bazaars, they need to follow MOH standard operating procedure or guideline and have to take all precautionary measures to break the Covid-19 infection chain,” he added.

Asked on calls for the imposition of Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in red zones, he said this would be done if there is a rapid increase in positive cases in these areas.

The government enforced the EMCO in the area from Batu 21 to Batu 24 Sungai Lui, Hulu Langat, Selangor, yesterday, the second area to be placed under such restrictions after Simpang Renggam, Johor where Kampung Dato’ Ibrahim Majid and Bandar Baharu Dato’ Ibrahim Majid were subjected to similar curbs for 14 days beginning Friday. – Bernama

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March 30, 2020
COVID-19 Pandemic: A Hungry Man Is Not A Free Man By Adekunle Adeyemi (Scotty Aluta)

According to John F. Kennedy, “The war against hunger is truly mankind’s war of liberation.” It is no longer news that Coronavirus (Covid-19) is quite alarming and far spreading while food prices have risen dramatically around the country in recent days, fuelling widespread concern and social unrest in communities confronted with devastating price increases when buying provisions and food stuff. Exactly what accounts for this wild upswing in market prices and what do these trends hold for those already living in precarious conditions?

Hunger and malnutrition are self-perpetuating issues that affect a person’s mental ability, health, work and productivity. They constitute the world’s greatest public health risk, more pressing than corona virus (Covid-19).

There will be restrictions of movement due to the outbreak of Covid-19 (Corona Virus) and yet the government have no plan for its citizen during the sit at home period while other countries made provisions for their citizen so as not to lose their lives to hunger because hunger kills faster than a virus. At least 70 per cent of Nigerians are living on stipend even when they go out to hustle to put food on their tables, what will be their fate staying at home for a longer period without having an alternative? How do they survive? If they eventually survive the virus, will they survive the hunger?

The Nigerian government should put a proper measure in place so our case won’t end up like that of Italy, Spain and America respectively or even worse. Nigerians cherish their lives and am very sure the whole of the cities will be empty like a grave yard if the government can roll out an economic stimulus package to its citizen or better still give out relief funds to every individuals.

Influential individuals and organizations are not left out, I personally go against the act of tokenism portrayed by our banking sectors as i see it as policy or practice of making only a symbolic effort. 80% Nigerians are bank users and as well have a BVN (Bank Verification Number), relief funds can be disbursed to Nigerians via their BVN numbers irrespective of where they are. Billions of naira have been paid to the government account by individuals, organizations as well as the banking sectors to support during this pandemic while its citizens are languishing. I hope mosquitoes don’t swallow all the billions as we will be left with no choice as usual to believe it was swallowed by mosquitoes.

The government should put in place an alternatives for its citizen not just to tell us to sit at home and die of hunger as majority of Nigerians lives on hand to mouth on daily basis.

Education and awareness are the first steps to understanding and solving any issue and hunger is no different, while malnutrition is the single largest contributor to disease.

You pray for the hungry, then you feed them. This is how prayer works. – Pope Francis.

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March 30, 2020
RM200 monthly assistance for firefighters during MCO: Zuraida

KUALA LUMPUR: Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin (pix) today announced that Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) personnel will receive RM200 per month throughout the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

She said the incentive was an appreciation of their roles and services as front liners as the country sought to combat the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak.

“In recognition of the roles of JBPM personnel as front liners, the government through the ministry will provide RM200 per month throughout the MCO period,” she said in a public service announcement which was broadcast on all television stations today.

She said the incentive was part of her ministry’s initiatives implemented under the RM250 billion people-centric economic stimulus package (Prihatin) announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Friday.

The Prihatin package covers all walks of life and also focuses on the B40 group, including those living in low-cost flats across the country, small traders and factory workers.

Zuraida said several other initiatives implemented by her ministry under the Prihatin package include the six months rental payment exemption for the People’s Housing Projects (PPRs) under the ministry’s management, involving 3,636 units of housing and costing the government RM3 million.

“There is also a six-month deferment of monthly repayment from April to September for the Rent to Own (RTO) of PPR units under the ministry’s management involving a total of RM5.7 million and 4,649 units of houses,” she said.

Zuraida, who is also Ampang MP, said to ease the burden of borrowers, all pawn brokers registered under the ministry were directed to extend the redemption period without charging interest during the MCO period. – Bernama

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March 29, 2020
Is Your Business or Career Still Relevant?

Hundreds of thousands of businesses have failed this year. Millions of people are struggling with career decisions/changes and often remain stuck causing economic chaos for them now and in the future. Next year these numbers will likely be the same or become even higher and why? Simple ? they are no longer relevant ? to their customers or the marketplace…

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March 29, 2020
Stimulus package will flow over the three months, says Azmin

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (pix) said today that the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package is to cushion the adverse impact caused by Covid-19 on the population’s well-being.

The Prihatin Rakyat package was announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday (Friday).

According to the senior minister, the situation would simply deteriorate without any form of assistance: “Companies won’t be able to operate and have no choice but to retrench their workers. We have to resort to this (stimulus), to save these workers and help employers not to dismiss them.”

“But I am confident that this package is not just about three months but will bring about manifold benefits for the future in economic activities and growth,” he said.

He said this in a programme, Bicara Naratif Pakej Rangsangan Ekonomi that was telecast live today by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM).

“As we are aware, the world is facing a difficult situation and Malaysia is no exception in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and global economic slowdown.

“Malaysia as an oil producing country is also impacted by falling oil prices. Hence, why we must restructure the country and take the bold step of introducing the RM250 billion stimulus package.

“Our hope is that when the movement control order (MCO) period is over, we can see a situation that is more reassuring,” he said.

Azmin revealed that the Finance Ministry has prepared a module and specifics to all the ministries, in line with their respective responsibilities, on the disbursement of assistance to the target groups, which would be monitored by the Economic Stimulus Package Implementation and Coordination of National Agencies Unit (Laksana).

“We have complete data on the recipients from the B40 and small and medium enterprises (SME).

“As for the M40, we have some setbacks as I mentioned earlier, the government had given less priority to the category. That’s probably the reason why we do not have the complete data but this will be seen to so they too can have their right to assistance,” he added. — Bernama

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March 28, 2020
Our CIO talks expectations, interest rates, and blockchain

An interview with Greg Davis about investment and economic conditions, investor expectations, and technology’s effects on the financial markets.

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March 28, 2020
How to budget for COVID-19 response?

The COVID-19 pandemic requires sufficient public funding to ensure a comprehensive response. Reprioritizing public spending toward bolstering the economy and the health system requires timely action from government leaders and a supportive public finance environment. Highly-affected countries have taken various approaches to budgetary allocation, depending on their public financial management (PFM) and regulatory systems. Adjustments are required on the revenue side of budgets (e.g. loans) to account for these new economic and fiscal constraints. Quick decision-making on the expenditure side is also needed. That will be the focus of this blog. Every country must develop specific processes for allocating budget funds to the response. To inform budgetary response in countries where the pandemic may spread in the near future, a summary of observed budgetary practices in some highly-affected countries is provided below, with the aim of informing other countries about responses to three key questions:

1) What are the immediate spending actions that can be taken with existing budgets?

2) How to secure budget for COVID-19 response through revisions in finance laws?

3) What can be done to accelerate budget execution and funds release to the frontlines?

Please click here for the full article.

Authors: Hélène Barroy, Ding Wang, Claudia Pescetto, Joseph Kutzin

The authors acknowledge inputs received from Tomas Roubal (WHO Western Pacific Regional Office), Tsolmongerel Tsilaajav (WHO South East Regional Office), and Agnès Soucat (WHO Headquarters).

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This online network is a place to share information, find updates on new materials or events related to WHO’s work on health financing policy.

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https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/25-03-2020-how-to-budget-for-covid-19-response

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March 28, 2020
BREAKING: Lagos Government To Provide Food For Residents Over Coronavirus Lockdown

The Lagos State Government has set up food banks across the state to cater for 200,000 households in 377 wards in the state to cater for the most vulnerable during the mandated lockdown to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

Residents, who cannot afford meals during the lockdown will receive food provided by the state.

A statement by the Lagos State Government on Friday reads, “Few days after LASG issued a stay-at-home directive to residents, in order to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unveiled economic stimulus package for the indigent and the most vulnerable in the society.

I am happy to announce an economic stimulus package to help our residents cushion the effects of our #StayAtHome directive to stop the spread of #COVID19.

This first stage is targeting 200,000 households at an estimation of 6 people per household. We hope to ramp it up quickly. pic.twitter.com/QiqeaM9eSJ

— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) March 27, 2020

“The stimulus, which comes in food packs to be distributed to every local government in the state, is aimed at cushioning the effect of the 14-day stay-at-home directive.

“The food packs, which were put together by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will reach the most vulnerable communities and households across Lagos.”

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March 28, 2020
6-month rental waived for LPJ, PAK tenants: Wee

PUTRAJAYA: Residents of housing projects under the Johor Port Authority (LPJ) and Perbadanan Aset Keretapi (PAK) will enjoy a six-month waiver on rent, beginning next month.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pix) said the initiatives of the two bodies would benefit 2,343 tenants.

“A total of 143 tenants of LPJ will benefit from this initiative, involving RM370,425 in rentals, while under PAK, the waiver will involve 2,200 unit of houses that will cost the corporation RM15 million in rentals,” he said in a statement.

Wee said the initiative would help ease the burden of the B40 and M40 families.

He said the initiatives were to complement the people-centric economic stimulus package (PRIHATIN), announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today. — Bernama

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March 27, 2020
Sabah, Sarawak not excluded from Prihatin

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal government will cooperate with state governments, specifically in Sabah and Sarawak, to ensure all assistance announced under the people-centric economic stimulus package (Prihatin) reaches them as quickly as possible.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pix) said he was aware that those living in longhouses in Sarawak, Orang Asal settlements and in remote areas in every part of the country might worry that aid would reach them late.

“The Federal government will cooperate with state governments, specifically in Sabah and Sarawak, to ensure all assistance provided by the government will reach them fast,” he said in announcing the RM250 billion package on live television today.

Muhyiddin said besides ensuring the country’s economic activity continued, the government will also pay attention to domestic investment activities that had high multiplier effects and maintained employment.

For that purpose, the government has identified several small-scale projects such as improving road conditions, upgrading dilapidated schools in Sabah and Sarawak, cleaning places of worships and police stations as well as enhancing tourism facilities that would benefit G1 to G4 Grade contractors.

“For that, an allocation of RM2 billion has been set aside,” he said, adding that small-scale projects worth RM2 billion as announced in the previous package would be implemented this April.

He said these included the RM600 million infrastructure projects in Felda and other areas, RM350 million upgrading of dilapidated schools in Sabah and Sarawak and RM150 million upgrading of public housing for the hardcore poor. — Bernama

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March 27, 2020