Umno move to tackle Malaysia's Covid-19 crisis, not power grab: Zahid - The Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR - Umno chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi insisted on Friday (July 9) the party's decision to withdraw support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was not a power grab, but a move to address the government's mishandling of Malaysia's Covid-19 pandemic that has continued to set record highs despite a nationwide lockdown.

The former deputy premier pointed out that total cases "are nearing a million and the utilisation of ICU (intensive care unit) beds have nearly hit full capacity". He said in a Facebook post: "The result is a declining economy. Many have lost their source of income.

"Yet, the pandemic continues to surge. More lives are lost. There is not even a hint it will ease. Does Umno not know of this? Umno understands all this. Umno knows the people cannot bear it anymore. The nation must recover immediately."

Umno, which has 38 MPs, is the largest party in Tan Sri Muhyiddin's ruling pact Perikatan Nasional (PN) and is represented by 17 ministers and deputy ministers in his administration.

Umno's announcement on Thursday urging Mr Muhyiddin to resign over alleged failures of his government has come under growing criticism, even from its allies in the once dominant Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

Both the Malaysian Chinese Association and Malaysian Indian Congress have said they would maintain their support for the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Umno itself appears split, with senior lawmakers continuing to claim that the lion's share of the party's MPs remain steadfast to the PN administration, so that they can focus on tackling the country's deadliest coronavirus wave.

Zahid, who is facing dozens of graft charges brought after the party lost the 2018 election, acknowledged that "Umno has been accused of playing politics... speaking like the opposition and acting on the president's personal agenda".

"It is completely untrue that Umno's decision yesterday was due to a thirst for power. If that were so, it would be better to cling on to power now. Umno cannot be the 'pak sanggup' (enabler) for the PN government's failures," he added.

Zahid's ally Najib Razak, the former premier who is appealing a graft conviction in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal, also alleged on Friday "the PN government's handling of Covid-19 has gotten worse with various mistakes being repeated even though it is obvious these huge errors will block an election... it is as if these mistakes were done on purpose".

But the Muhyiddin administration continued to operate as normal on Friday, despite continued uncertainty over its legitimacy.

The Muhyiddin administration continued to operate as normal on Friday, despite continued uncertainty over its legitimacy. PHOTO: AFP

Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob clocked into the Deputy Prime Minister's Office having been promoted by Mr Muhyiddin on Wednesday.

Mr Muhyiddin had on the same day promoted another Umno veteran, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, to senior minister for foreign affairs and assigned him Datuk Seri Ismail's former security cluster portfolio, which focuses on the pandemic.

Umno veterans Ismail Sabri Yaakob (left) and Hishammuddin Hussein were promoted. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

The promotions were widely seen as undermining Zahid's faction in Umno, as the two elevated ministers are part of a rival faction in Umno comprising lawmakers who want to stay in government until fresh polls can be held. The "remain" camp claims their numbers range from 30 to 32 MPs.

Nevertheless, Mr Muhyiddin's detractors say Umno's withdrawal of support could still leave him shy of a parliamentary majority.

The reopening of the Lower House on July 26 could test this, but critics have pointed out how the stated agenda leaves out significant debates on the government's Covid-19 response and the state of emergency that expires on Aug 1.

The five-day sitting is set to see a briefing on the National Recovery Plan for lawmakers, as well as amendments to allow for hybrid meetings in the future, while emergency ordinances will only be "laid before the house", meaning they will be tabled for elected representatives to study before debate at a yet to be specified date.

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2021-07-09 06:53:16Z
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Bangkok and 9 provinces in lockdown from Jul 12 as COVID-19 cases surge, curfew imposed from 9pm onwards - CNA

BANGKOK: Bangkok and nine provinces will go into lockdown from Monday (Jul 12) as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Thailand, the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced on Friday.

Residents in Bangkok and its nearby provinces of Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon, as well as those in Narathiwas, Pattani, Songkhla and Yala in the far south have been advised to stay at home from Monday and only go outside when it is necessary. 

According to CCSA assistant spokesperson Apisamai Srirangsan, a curfew will be imposed between 9pm and 4am in these ten provinces as the government tightened restrictions in high-risk areas. However, residents will still be able to leave their homes in case of emergency, work or medical visits.

Educational institutes in these provinces are required to conduct online classes only, Ms Apisamai said, adding that checkpoints and patrols will be set up by security units to ensure public movement is minimal.

For Bangkok and its nearby provinces, convenience stores and markets will need to close from 8pm to 4am. The government also ordered temporary closure of department stores and community malls in these six provinces, except the supermarket and pharmaceutical sections, restaurants and cafes, banks, as well as areas designated for the national vaccination programme, which will be able to operate until 8pm.

“Eateries can stay open until 8pm but it needs to be stressed that these venues won’t be allowed to offer dining-in services or alcohol. Only takeaway services will be permitted,” said Ms Apisamai.

“Venues reportedly prone to infection will need to close. These include massage and spa businesses and beauty centres,” she added.

From Monday, both public and private sectors in Bangkok and nearby provinces are required to implement maximum work-from-home rules while public transport will see restricted services. Social gatherings will also be limited to five people in these areas.

READ: Phuket reports first overseas visitor with COVID-19 after reopening without quarantine requirements

NEW VACCINATION PLAN FOR AT-RISK GROUPS

Thailand is facing the worst wave of COVID-19 infections, which has put an enormous strain on its healthcare system and medical personnel. The daily case numbers have been in the thousands for several weeks amid reports of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.

The country has recorded 288,643 cases and 2,440 casualties since a third wave of infections began in April, when a cluster was found at high-end nightclubs in Bangkok. 

On Friday, CCSA reported 9,276 new cases and 72 new deaths. Bangkok and nearby provinces alone accounted for 4,754 cases or 51 per cent of the new infections, excluding those in prisons.

The national tally is now at 317,506, with 2,534 deaths. 

According to Ms Apisamai, the Public Health Ministry will adjust its vaccine distribution plan to better cover at-risk groups in Bangkok and surrounding areas, such as individuals above 60 years old and those with chronic diseases. 

“One million doses are expected to be administered within two weeks,” she said. 

More locations will also be set up to carry out COVID-19 tests and speed up disease detection in communities, she added.

On Friday, CCSA reported 74,895 patients are receiving medical treatments for COVID-19 in medical facilities nationwide and 2,685 of them are in critical condition.

DELTA VARIANT ON THE RISE IN THAILAND

Thailand is monitoring three coronavirus variants of concern, including Alpha, Beta and Delta. They were first documented in the United Kingdom, South Africa and India respectively.

Based on data from the Public Health Ministry, the Delta variant is fast spreading in the country, especially in Bangkok, where it made up 52 per cent of new infections between Jun 28 and Jul 2. 

Although most domestic cases in the latest wave carry the Alpha variant, Thai health officials at the Medical Sciences Department found its transmission is in decline while that of the Delta strand increases every week.

In a press briefing on Thursday, public health permanent secretary Kiattiphum Wongrajit said the infections are increasingly spreading from Bangkok and its vicinity to other parts of Thailand. Growing demand for COVID-19 tests as well as medical treatments in hospitals have also resulted in exhaustion among healthcare professionals, he added.

“The Public Health Ministry is trying to come up with measures that would best control the disease,” Kiattiphum told reporters.

Besides the partial lockdown, the ministry also proposed rapid antigen testing and home isolation. 

According to Mr Kiattiphum, COVID-19 tests in Thailand are usually carried out with the RT-PCR method, which requires longer evaluation time. Moreover, he added, potentially infected patients could spread the disease to others while waiting for the test result. 

“We’ve reached an agreement that we’ll use rapid antigen tests to support the disease examination. Initially, we’ve approved its use at registered medical facilities,” said Mr Kiattiphum, adding they would also be available for home use too.

As the new wave of COVID-19 spreads across Thailand, a shortage of hospital beds has posed a great challenge for its public health system. 

Many infected patients have not been able to access medical treatments at hospitals and some of them lost their lives while waiting for hospital beds.

The COVID-19 pandemic situation in Thailand has raised questions about the government’s plan to reopen the country to international travellers in October. 

The target was set by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who said at least 50 million people in Thailand should already have received their first dose of a vaccine by early October. 

So far, about 8.8 million people have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 3.18 million have been fully vaccinated, according to the Disease Control Department.

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

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2021-07-09 10:48:48Z
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Countries using Chinese, AstraZeneca Covid-19 shots increasingly eye boosters - The Straits Times

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - Growing concern that Covid-19 vaccines being deployed across much of the developing world aren't capable of thwarting the Delta variant is prompting some countries to look at offering third doses to bolster immunity against more-infectious virus strains.

Though definitive evidence is yet to emerge backing the need for so-called "booster" shots, health officials from Thailand to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have already decided to offer the extra doses to some people already inoculated with vaccines from Chinese makers Sinovac Biotech Ltd, Sinopharm and from AstraZeneca Plc.

Officials are being motivated by concerns that Delta and other variants appear to be breaking down defences of vaccines not made from the super-effective messenger RNA technology, or mRNA.

In places like Mongolia and the UAE, high levels of coverage with Chinese shots using the older, less effective inactivated vaccine platform hasn't stopped a surge in cases. In the Seychelles, five people fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca's shot have died.

Research shows that the Delta mutation is powerful enough to make even mRNA shots from BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc less effective, bringing down protection to below 90 per cent.

The effectiveness of AstraZeneca's viral vector vaccine against symptomatic infections caused by the variant was lower at 60 per cent, a study showed, though it can still prevent more than 90 per cent of hospitalisations.

Countries are hoping a booster - either mRNA or a dose of another shot previously taken - could bolster protection ahead of the return of colder weather that's optimal for the virus's spread.

Unlike western developers, Sinovac and Sinopharm have shared little about how their vaccines could protect against variants.

Dr Shao Yiming, a researcher with the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, said in May that preliminary studies indicated Chinese vaccines were still protective against variants emerging from India, without elaborating.

The two inactivated vaccines produced by Sinopharm were 73 per cent and 78 per cent effective against symptomatic Covid in phase III trials.

Various results from Sinovac's clinical trials across Brazil, Indonesia and Turkey put efficacy at a wide range of 50 per cent to over 80 per cent, which has fuelled uncertainty about how well it works.

"We recognise that the weaker vaccines in particular seem to lose their ability to protect against Covid-19 relatively quickly, particularly against the variant strains," said Professor Nikolai Petrovsky from the College of Medicine and Public Health at Australia's Flinders University. "Even the better vaccines seem to be showing increasing levels of vaccine failure due to variant infections."

Yet any plans by wealthier nations to acquire additional shots stands to further strain global supply and exacerbate the inequality gap that has left poor countries with fewer inoculations.

The World Health Organisation has called on richer countries to share doses to help meet a goal of vaccinating at least 40 per cent % of every country's population by the end of the year. Global deaths passed 4 million this week, as the disparity leaves poorer places exposed to outbreaks.

Giving extra doses "could easily divert one to two billion doses of vaccines over the coming 12 months to boost people already immunised that might otherwise go to developing countries where people have yet to receive their first immunisation," Prof Petrovsky said.

Pfizer Inc. CEO Albert Bourla tweeted Thursday that the company believes a booster dose "will likely be necessary to maintain highest levels of protection" against Covid, with initial data from its booster study demonstrating that the added dose was eliciting five-to-10 fold higher antibody response.

The drugmaker plans to request US emergency authorisation in August for a third booster dose of its shot, based on early data showing it can increase immune protection from Covid.

Great unknown

The US Centres for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration said in a joint statement Thursday that people who are fully vaccinated don’t need a booster shot at this time, adding that they were engaged in a science-based process to consider whether or when such doses might be necessary. 

The WHO has expressed caution in encouraging third doses. Chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said in June that such a recommendation was unnecessary and premature given the paucity of data on booster shots and the fact that high-risk individuals in much of the world still haven't been fully vaccinated.

But governments are racing ahead as the Delta variant spreads to more than 100 countries after devastating India, where it was first identified. The concern is particularly acute in places which had earlier relied on Chinese vaccines, which are available in nearly 100 nations.

In the Middle East, some countries have already started offering booster shots - including Pfizer and Sinopharm - for people who completed their vaccinations months ago, mostly with Sinopharm.

Thailand plans to use vaccines from AstraZeneca and Pfizer as boosters for healthcare workers who earlier received Sinovac shots. The Indonesian Doctors Association this week also called for booster shots for health workers, after some medical staffers died despite being fully inoculated with Sinovac and AstraZeneca.

Preliminary studies from Thailand show that a first dose of Sinovac followed by an AstraZeneca shot three to four weeks later can elicit a stronger immune response than two doses of the Sinovac vaccine.

Even China, which has fully immunised more than a third of its 1.4 billion people with homegrown vaccines, has a study underway to evaluate the benefit of booster shots.

Sinovac CEO Yin Weidong has said a third shot of the company's vaccine, given three to six months after full inoculation, could raise antibody levels by as much as 20 times.

China is currently reviewing the BioNTech vaccine for approval. A few options are being considered by officials, including using it a booster shot for people already fully inoculated with local vaccines, according to people familiar with the matter, asking not to be named as the talks are not public.

No decision has been made, and adding the mRNA shot as another option in China's general rollout is also being discussed, the people said.

"If you can explore different combinations, there frequently is a combination where you get a better outcome than just using the same vaccine twice in a row," said Prof Shane Crotty from the Centre for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research at California's La Jolla Institute for Immunology. "I do think that'll happen for Covid vaccines."

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2021-07-08 22:40:48Z
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South Korea puts Seoul under tightest COVID-19 curbs amid new case records - CNA

SEOUL: South Korea will from Monday (Jul 12) tighten COVID-19 curbs to the strictest level possible in Seoul and neighbouring regions, as alarm spreads with new COVID-19 cases setting a second consecutive daily record nationwide.

South Korea, which has so far fared better than many industralised nations in case numbers and deaths, reported 1,316 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight Thursday, up from Wednesday's previous record of 1,275.

Helped largely by vaccinations of older people, there has yet to be a significant increase in hospitalisations or deaths, with a mortality rate of 1.23 per cent and the number of severe cases at 148 as of Thursday remaining far below levels seen during the previous peak in late December.

But on Thursday a top health official warned the new case numbers may nearly double by the end of July and Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced two weeks of tougher curbs - level 4 is the most severe on South Korea's scale, short of a full lockdown - during a televised government meeting.

READ: Israel, South Korea agree COVID-19 vaccine swap

Experts said the government's COVID-19 strategy is to avoid the hit to the economy that has been seen in full lockdowns elsewhere.

"The government strategy is to steer away from lockdown fearing negative impact on the economy. Level 4 is the harshest it can get," said Kim Dong-hyun, former president of Korean Society of Epidemiology.

Under the new curbs, people are advised to stay home as much as possible, schools are recommended to switch to remote learning, social gatherings are restricted to two people after 6pm from four earlier in the day, and rallies are banned.

No spectators are allowed to attend sports matches, while hotels can only operate at two-thirds of full capacity. Movies and concerts are not allowed after 10pm, and nightclubs and bars are to shut, while restaurants and cafes would be allowed limited seating and only take-out services after 10pm.

Employers are advised to increase flexible staffing with 30 per cent of staff working remotely.

COMMENTARY: South Koreans wring hands over removing mask rules for the vaccinated

500 CASES A DAY IN SEOUL

South Korea's total COVID-19 infections to date stand at 165,344, with 2,036 deaths. It has only given both shots in the dual vaccination process to just over 10 per cent of its 52 million population, while 30 per cent have received at least one dose, the majority of whom are aged above 60.

The country aims to reach herd immunity before November by inoculating 70 per cent of the public with at least one shot by September.

"Seoul alone saw 500 confirmed cases for the third day," Prime Minister Kim said during Friday's government meeting. "Four out of five infections are from the metropolitan Seoul area."

While the new will be imposed on Monday, Kim also advised the public to refrain from any private gatherings starting Friday.

He also said that during the two-week semi-lockdown the government will suspend a programme introduced earlier this year that allowed mask-free outdoor gatherings for citizens vaccinated with at least one COVID-19 shot.

Of the locally acquired cases, 78 per cent were concentrated in the greater Seoul area, and the detection rate of highly transmissible Delta variant surged nearly three-folds in a week, Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol said in a briefing on Friday.

Kwon did not provide the number of cases believed to be linked to the Delta variant.

President Moon Jae-in on Monday will convene a meeting with top officials of the greater Seoul area to address the measures, presidential spokeswoman Park Kyung-mee told reporters.

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

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2021-07-09 05:12:09Z
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Explainer: Umno asking PM Muhyiddin to resign and what this means for Malaysia's political scene - TODAYonline

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1. Explainer: Umno asking PM Muhyiddin to resign and what this means for Malaysia's political scene  TODAYonline
2. Malaysian PM Muhyiddin digs in after Umno pulls support  The Straits Times
3. Key Malaysian party withdraws support for embattled PM  The Online Citizen Asia
4. Commentary: UMNO's withdrawal of support shows Malaysia's political establishment is losing the plot  CNA
5. PM Muhyiddin and Cabinet can still exercise executive powers despite UMNO's withdrawal: Attorney-General  CNA
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2021-07-08 15:05:38Z
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Royal role back in spotlight as Malaysia PM Muhyiddin's majority in doubt - The Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR - The move by Umno to withdraw its backing for the Muhyiddin Yassin-led government has once again cast the spotlight on the role of Malaysia's royal households in the country's shifting political scene.

The immediate challenge facing the Muhyiddin premiership is to demonstrate to Malaysia's King, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, that he still commands a simple majority in Parliament to stay in office.

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2021-07-08 14:45:12Z
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Malaysian PM Muhyiddin digs in after Umno pulls support - The Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's party said on Thursday (July 8) that his government would continue to function despite Umno withdrawing its backing.

Amid uncertainty over whether Tan Sri Muhyiddin continues to command majority support without Umno, the largest party in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) ruling pact, his Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia said Umno's decision "had no effect on the workings of government".

"In the Westminster system of democracy, a government is formed by a Prime Minister based on his majority support of the members of Parliament," said Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced in the early hours of Thursday that the party's Supreme Council had resolved to withdraw its support for the Premier and call for his resignation, alleging numerous failings by his administration in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and reviving the economy.

However, it remained unclear if all 38 Umno lawmakers would toe the party line.

Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the council agreed that MPs could vote in Parliament using their own discretion, but should stay guided by the party's decisions.

An unsigned statement said to be issued by MPs from the Umno-led Barisan Nasional alliance said they would continue supporting PN, although former premier Najib Razak has questioned its veracity.

Veteran Umno lawmaker Nazri Aziz, however, has claimed at least 32 of the party's MPs would not desert Mr Muhyiddin.

Political pundits say Umno's move is not enough to unseat the Muhyiddin administration.

Malaysian Attorney-General Idrus Harun said that there were no clear facts to show that the Premier no longer enjoys the majority support of lawmakers in the 222-seat Parliament.

"Based on Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution, the determination of whether someone has the confidence of the majority of the Lower House members must be determined by the members of the Lower House themselves, and not through any announcement by a political party or any political leader," said the country's legal adviser in a statement.

Sunway University political scientist Wong Chin Huat said that allowing Mr Muhyiddin to stay in power as a minority government is the most "reasonable solution", as Malaysia cannot go without a government or hold an election now.

This is because Malaysia is currently in a state of emergency and Parliament has been suspended.

"Without a formal defeat in the House, the only way to change the government is to present an alternative positive majority to the Palace, effectively a 'constructive vote of no confidence'," he said.

Democratic Action Party (DAP) leader P. Ramasamy said Umno's decision might not have the desired effect as it is evident that a faction of its MPs do not share party president Zahid's view.

"As long as a sizeable number of Umno MPs, especially those holding positions in the government, are with Muhyiddin, the government might not be toppled that easily," he said yesterday.

MPs within Umno itself appeared split over the Supreme Council decision, with Ketereh MP Annuar Musa claiming some council members had informed him that Zahid's statement on withdrawing support did not fully reflect the council's views.

But this claim was contradicted by Pengerang MP Azalina Othman, who said that the council's decision was unanimous.

Zahid has said a new prime minister should be installed to manage the pandemic until an election can be called, and that his party would not back opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for the post, nor support any administration led by his Pakatan Harapan (PH) pact, which has 88 MPs.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said a new prime minister should be installed to manage the pandemic until an election can be called. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

PH has called for Mr Muhyiddin to resign, saying he no longer had legitimacy as prime minister.

Dismissing a partnership with PH, however, leaves Umno with limited avenues to form government.

Umno has simply "shot itself in the foot", said Dr Wong.

"The move can only make the PN government officially a minority one, but cannot end the latter's tenure," he added.

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2021-07-08 14:12:59Z
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