MCO 2.0 expanded and other news you may have missed

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

1. The MCO 2.0 will be expanded to the rest of the country, except for Sarawak, beginning Jan 22.

2. The government gave its assurance that while the military now has similar powers to the police under the state of emergency, their arrest powers will only be directed at undocumented migrants at the border.

3. Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government will seek guidance from the Health Ministry on extending the opening hours of eateries after netizens complained they couldn't get food after work.

4. National Unity Minister Halimah Mohamed Sadique became the fifth minister to be infected with the coronavirus.

5. Other high profile figures who are down with the virus include former minister Nazri Abdul Aziz and former Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Said.

6. Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reminded everyone, regardless of their position, to stay home if they do not need to be outdoors.

7. He also revealed that severe Covid-19 cases have risen by almost double in just two weeks.

8. Umno moved to rally its MPs to call for a special Parliament sitting during the emergency, while DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang also voiced support for such a move.

9. However, Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Azalina Othman Said rejected the special sitting proposal.

10. The top leaders of Umno and DAP also criticised the MCO 2.0 aid package, which they said fell short.

11. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Ahmad Marzuk Shaary said the government may amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 to provide for harsher punishments, particularly against the LGBT community.

12. Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister Masidi Manjun said the state government will investigate an incident where people at a Covid-19 quarantine centre were drinking beer.