Many sectors 'not involved' in work-from-home order, and other news you may have missed

KINI ROUNDUP | Here are key headlines you may have missed, in brief.

1. Senior Minister (Defence Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob clarified that only industries under the International Trade and Industry Ministry’s purview, and civil servants under the Public Service Department’s purview, are affected by the government’s work-from-home order, which takes effect from today (Oct 22) in areas under conditional movement control order (CMCO). Many other sectors, such as the services sector, are not affected.

2. Ismail Sabri also said Covid-19 testing for workers who continue to report to their workplace in ‘red zones’ would not be mandatory, except for foreign construction workers and security guards, but it is still highly recommended for other workers. He chuckled over the public confusion that ensued after his work-from-home announcement on Tuesday.

3. The Attorney-General’s Chambers said it would not press charges against Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali over his alleged quarantine breach, because the minister was not issued the relevant paperwork to instruct him to undergo quarantine. As many decried ‘double standards’, Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said this serves as a reminder for medical frontliners to stick to standard operating procedures.

4. In an apparent change of heart, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has unilaterally declared a “political ceasefire” and said his party will strengthen its relationship with Perikatan Nasional. PKR said “it 'respects'” Zahid’s announcement but will continue to work to ‘restore the people’s mandate’.

5. While water supplies have gradually been restored after yet another round of disruption in Selangor, the state government has reiterated its call for stiffer penalties against those who pollute rivers.

6. Enhanced MCO has been declared at the Seberang Perai Prison and adjoining quarters in Penang, as well as the Taman Harmoni People's Housing Project (PPR) in Sandakan, Sabah. Meanwhile, 26 districts nationwide have been classified as Covid-19 “red zones” over the past 14 days.

7. An informal poll by the National Security Council has found much support for tighter restrictions for social activities in the Klang Valley, with 91 percent of respondents voting in favour of such measures.

8. Two pet shop workers have tested positive for Covid-19, including one at an outlet at the 1 Utama shopping centre that was previously declared clear of the coronavirus.

9. Malacca Umno Youth treasurer Mohd Noor Helmy has been ordered to pay Putra Specialist Hospital’s former CEO Chong May Lee RM150,000 after the latter won a defamation suit against him.

10. The government now says that its contract for the Klang Valley Double Tracking (KVDT2) rail project is yet to be cancelled.