Malaysian PM Muhyiddin visits Istana Negara; King set to meet political leaders - The Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR - Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin arrived at the palace early on Wednesday (June 9), in what appeared to be the first of a series of audiences that the King is granting to party chiefs to discuss Malaysia's Covid-19 and political crises.

However, the palace clarified later that the King, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, met the Premier for their regular pre-Cabinet briefing on Wednesdays, and Tan Sri Muhyiddin, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president, left after an hour.

"The pre-Cabinet meeting is among weekly activities or main routine for Sultan Abdullah to discuss and exchange views with the Prime Minister concerning matters and issues relating to government," the palace said in a short statement on its Facebook page.

It is unclear if Mr Muhyiddin will meet the King, who is also ruler of Pahang, again later.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was next to enter the palace gates, the first among opposition party heads who have audiences on Wednesday, although former premier Mahathir Mohamad is slated for Thursday.

Datuk Seri Anwar, who is also Parti Keadilan Rakyat president, said he pleaded for the King not to extend the state of emergency due to expire on Aug 1, as the move has not helped poorer Malaysians.

“I gave my view that continuing the Emergency will cause losses to the country, and does not aid in tackling the Covid-19 problem. All the steps that can be implemented do not need for an emergency to be in place."

He added that the King has also been consulting experts on the pandemic.

When reporters asked if there were discussions about forming a new government, Mr Anwar said: “That question does not arise at this point.”  

Democratic Action Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, whose party has the most Members of Parliament, also had an audience on Wednesday afternoon.

The government had said the emergency proclaimed in January was to fight the coronavirus pandemic, yet the nation is in the throes of another lockdown after record highs of cases and deaths were reported in recent weeks.

Political and government sources, as well as media reports since Monday, have indicated that the constitutional monarch is meeting party chiefs across the political divide over the rest of the week.

Opponents of PM Muhyiddin have called for Parliament, which last sat in December to pass this year's budget, to be reopened so that the worsening outbreak - which in May alone claimed nearly half of Malaysia's total pandemic death toll of 3,000 - can be addressed.

The state of emergency suspends the requirement for Parliament to reconvene within six months of its last sitting and also secures the Muhyiddin administration in power.

A member of the opposition's committee lobbying for an end to the emergency, Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan, had earlier said the meetings with the King would be on "uniting the country".

The Council of Rulers, made up of the nine state monarchs, is also expected to meet on June 16, amid speculation that the King is seeking views on the emergency and solutions for the pandemic, such as forming a bipartisan body.

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2021-06-09 05:44:58Z
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Malaysian king kicks off meetings with party leaders, political situation likely on the agenda: Reports - CNA

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah is granting an audience to leaders from both sides of the political divide, with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin being the first to arrive at the palace on Wednesday morning (Jun 9). 

Mr Muhyiddin's official vehicle was seen entering the main gate of Istana Negara at 7.50am, according to Bernama. His official car later left the palace grounds at 8.56am. 

Malaysian media reported that other political leaders have also received an invitation to meet the ruler. 

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was seen entering the palace at 10.37am, Astro Awani reported.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is the chairman of Parti Pejuang Tanah Air, would be called for an audience with the king on Thursday, while Parti Islam Se-Malaysia confirmed that its president Abdul Hadi Awang had received the invitation letter on Jun 4. 

Democratic Action Party's national organising secretary Anthony Loke confirmed in a Facebook post that party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng would meet the king on Wednesday afternoon.

READ: Commentary - Malaysia's government rests on an uneasy pact

Discussions on the current political landscape are likely to be on the agenda, according to the Star. 

Malay Mail, citing an anonymous source earlier this week, reported that the COVID-19 situation will also be discussed. 

In January, the king had declared a state of emergency across the nation to curb the spread of COVID-19. It is set to end on Aug 1 or earlier depending on the state of the pandemic. 

The state of emergency has put parliamentary sitting and state assemblies as well as elections on hold, while economic activities were allowed to continue. 

READ: Parents in Malaysia fret over academic progress amid prolonged school closure, online learning

Opposition MPs and activists set up a Committee for Ending the Emergency Declaration in March and launched a petition to appeal for an end to the state of emergency. 

Mr Muhyiddin, who is under pressure from the opposition parties as well as coalition partners to prove the parliamentary support he commands, has reiterated that he would advise the king to dissolve parliament once the COVID-19 pandemic is under control. 

Malaysia is currently under renewed movement restrictions as record high daily new infections and deaths were recorded. 

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2021-06-09 02:57:04Z
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US eases travel recommendations on 110 countries, territories including Singapore - CNA

WASHINGTON: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has eased travel recommendations for more than 110 countries and territories, including Singapore.

The CDC's new ratings, first reported by Reuters and posted on a CDC website on Monday (Jun 8), include 61 nations that were lowered from its highest "Level 4" rating that discouraged all travel to recommending travel for fully vaccinated individuals, the agency confirmed on Tuesday.

An additional 50 countries and territories have been lowered to "Level 2" or "Level 1", a CDC spokeswoman said. Countries ranked lowest for COVID-19 risks now include Singapore, Israel, South Korea, Iceland, Belize and Albania.

Among those now listed at "Level 3", are France, Ecuador, the Philippines, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Honduras, Hungary and Italy.

The US State Department said it had updated its recommendations to reflect the recent methodology update, but noted not all ratings were revised because of other factors including " commercial flight availability,  restrictions  on US citizen entry, and impediments to obtaining COVID test results within three calendar days".

READ: Top Japanese virologist warns of risks of Tokyo Games during COVID-19 pandemic: Report

The State Department eased its ratings on 85 countries and territories, including Japan.

On May 24, the State Department had urged against travel to Japan, citing a new wave of coronavirus cases before the Tokyo Olympics are set to begin on Jul 23.

The State Department warning raised concerns and prompted the White House to reaffirm its support for Tokyo's plan to hold the Games this summer and for US athletes competing there despite a new wave of infections and a low vaccination rate in the host country.

Foreign spectators have been banned, and organisers are expected to make a decision late this month on domestic spectators.

REVISED CRITERIA

The CDC said the change came after it revised its criteria for travel health notices. The CDC said it also revised its rating for the United States to "Level 3" from "Level 4".

The agency said the new criteria for a Level 4 "avoid all travel" recommendation has changed to 500 cases per 100,000 from 100 COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

The agency added that many countries have lower ratings "because of the criteria changes or because their outbreaks are better controlled". The CDC said it expects more countries to get lower, more favourable travel ratings.

Other countries being lowered to "Level 3" include Honduras, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, Panama, Poland, Denmark and Malaysia.

READ: Blinken casts doubt on methodology of COVID-19 lab-leak report

Many of the countries that now have lower ratings remain on the US government's list of countries subject to severe travel restrictions - and most have been subject to the restrictions since early 2020.

The United States bars nearly all non-US citizens who have within the previous 14 days been to China, the United Kingdom, Ireland, India, South Africa, Brazil, Iran and the 26 Schengen nations in Europe without border controls.

Asked why the United States is maintaining the restrictions even though some countries that now have low infection rates are subject to them, while others with high rates are exempt, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Tuesday the issue was subject to "an interagency conversation, and we are looking at the data in real time as to how we should move forward with that".

Reuters reported on Tuesday the Biden administration is forming expert working groups with Canada, Mexico, the European Union and the UK to determine how best to restart travel safely after 15 months of pandemic restrictions, citing a White House official.

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2021-06-08 20:57:42Z
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Blinken casts doubt on methodology of COVID-19 lab-leak report - CNA

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cast doubt on Tuesday (Jun 8) on the methodology of a report on the origins of COVID-19 cited by the Wall Street Journal that concluded the hypothesis of a virus leak from a Chinese lab was plausible.

"I saw the report. I think it's on a number of levels, incorrect," Blinken told a Senate committee hearing on the State Department's budget request when asked about the Journal article.

The Journal on Monday cited people familiar with a classified report by a US government national laboratory as saying it concluded that the hypothesis of a virus leak from a Chinese lab in Wuhan was plausible and deserved further investigation.

READ: Why scientists are concerned about leaks at biolabs

The report said the study was prepared in May 2020 by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and referred to by State when it conducted an inquiry into the pandemic's origins during the final months of former President Donald Trump's administration.

Blinken said that to the best of his understanding, the report originated after the Trump administration asked a contractor to look into the origins of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, with a particular focus on whether it was a result of a lab leak.

"That work was done, it was completed, it was briefed, to relevant people in the department. When we came in, we also were made aware of the findings," Blinken said.

"The Trump administration, it's my understanding, had real concerns about the methodology of that study, the quality of analysis, bending evidence to fit preconceived narrative. That was their concern. It was shared with us."

READ: What we know about the origins of COVID-19

Blinken said the report was the work of one officer and a few individuals and not the "whole of government effort" President Joe Biden has ordered, led by the intelligence community, to look into the origins of the virus.

Asked whether he supported declassifying information as to the origins of the virus, Blinken said there should be "as much transparency as we possibly can with whatever information we find" subject to the need to protect intelligence sources.

In announcing his 90-day probe, Biden said US intelligence was considering two likely scenarios - that the virus resulted from a laboratory accident or that it emerged from human-animal contact - but had not come to a conclusion.

A still-classified US intelligence report circulated during Trump's administration alleged that three researchers at China's Wuhan Institute of Virology became so ill in November 2019 that they sought hospital care, US government sources have said.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

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2021-06-08 18:56:48Z
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China to offer COVID-19 vaccine to children as young as 3 - CNA

BEIJING: China has approved the emergency use of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for those as young as three, the drugmaker confirmed on Tuesday (Jun 8), making it the first country to offer jabs to young children.

Since the coronavirus first emerged in central China, Beijing has mostly managed to bring the country's outbreak under control, and has administered more than 777 million vaccine doses after a sluggish start.

A spokesperson for Sinovac told AFP its vaccine had been approved for use on children.

"In recent days, the Sinovac vaccine was approved for emergency use in three- to 17-year-olds," the spokesperson said.

READ: Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine gains China approval for emergency use in children, adolescents

But he did not confirm when the young children would be able to start receiving the shots, saying the schedule for the roll-out will be decided by the National Health Commission "according to China's current epidemic prevention and control needs and vaccine supply".

The company has completed early phase trials of the vaccine in children and adolescents, with results to be published shortly in the Lancet scientific journal, the spokesperson added.

State broadcaster CCTV reported over the weekend that an unnamed official in the State Council's epidemic response task force had said vaccines had been approved for children, and "the safety and effectiveness" had been proven.

READ: WHO approves China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine

A spokesperson for China's other major vaccine, Sinopharm, said that experts had demonstrated the effectiveness of its vaccine in children, but did not confirm whether it had been approved for use.

Chinese officials have said they are aiming to inoculate 70 per cent of the population of 1.41 billion by the end of this year.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved both the Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines for emergency use in adults aged 18 and older, and both jabs are being administered in several countries around the world.

While the WHO does not currently recommend vaccinating children against coronavirus, the United States, Britain, Singapore and the European Union have approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for those as young as 12.

China reported 33 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, including 19 in southern Guangdong province where authorities have been battling a local outbreak.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its developments

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2021-06-08 08:40:50Z
CBMiaGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy9hc2lhL2NoaW5hLXNpbm92YWMtY292aWQtMTktdmFjY2luZS1jaGlsZHJlbi0zLXllYXItb2xkLTE3LTE0OTcxNjU00gEA

Chinese students with Covid-19 take university entrance exam in hospital isolation ward - South China Morning Post

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2021-06-08 06:30:36Z
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Australia's Melbourne eyes way out of COVID-19 lockdown as cases ease - CNA

SYDNEY: Australia's Victoria state authorities said plans to ease COVID-19 restrictions in state capital, Melbourne, this week remained "on track" as new locally acquired coronavirus cases fell on Tuesday (Jun 8).

Victoria, Australia's second-most-populous state, was plunged into a snap one-week hard lockdown on May 27 to contain a virus outbreak, forcing its 7 million residents to remain home except for essential business.

The lockdown was extended in Melbourne until Jun 10, while some restrictions were relaxed in other regions in the state.

Two new locally acquired cases, both linked to existing clusters, were reported on Tuesday, down from 11 a day earlier.

READ: Australia's Victoria reports biggest rise in COVID-19 cases in a week

"While we never want to see new cases, it is reassuring that we are again seeing these cases with clear links to existing outbreaks," Victoria state Acting Premier James Merlino told reporters in Melbourne.

Merlino said contact tracers have linked the source of the highly infectious Delta virus variant to an overseas traveller who entered hotel quarantine in Melbourne on May 8.

But officials said that it was still unclear how the Delta variant was transmitted into the community and that further tests would be needed.

Though case numbers remained in single digits on almost all days through the lockdown, the emergence of the highly contagious Delta variant, first detected in India, late last week had stoked concerns of a major spike in infections.

READ: COVID-19: Australian court upholds ban on most international travel 

The Delta variant has been classified by the World Health Organization as among the four COVID-19 variants of concern because of evidence that it spreads more easily, and that it most likely caused the latest devastating wave of COVID-19 in India.

Australia has fared better than many other developed countries in containing COVID-19, largely with snap lockdowns, regional border restrictions and tough social distancing rules. 

It has reported just under 30,200 cases and 910 deaths since the pandemic began.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its developments

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2021-06-08 02:41:56Z
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