KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 — Malaysians reacted with frustration to the government’s announcement of a renewed lockdown to contain Covid-19 yesterday, which was delivered without any financial support or clarity over what rules will apply from tomorrow.

While most were resigned to the return of the movement control order (MCO) that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced, many noted the change in the tone of his delivery as well as the absence of assistance for those who could be left with no income for the duration of the lockdown.

Online, Malaysians pointed out that Muhyiddin eschewed the use of fictional characters such as Makcik Kiah, Pak Salleh, Kak Radziah and others that he previously peppered throughout his frequent special addresses last year.

More notably, however, they expressed concern over the lack of financial support to accompany what has been dubbed “MCO 2.0” even when consequences could be more severe now as Malaysians and businesses have exhausted their savings.


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Nak cerita dua hari lepas baju terkena minyak, tak sure minyak apa, mcm minyak hitam, bila basuh tak hilang.
Macam mana nak eh? Baju kesayangan ni.

PETALING JAYA: A political analyst says Umno will lose its relevance to its supporters the longer it dithers on cutting ties with PPBM.

Lee Kuok Tiung of University Malaysia Sabah said the party’s grassroot members are clear about what they want the party leadership to do. Although most divisions do not want Umno to work with PPBM at the next general election, the Umno Supreme Council was still weighing the pros and cons of cutting ties with PPBM.

The council, Umno’s highest decision-making body, has deferred any decision until its annual general assembly at the end of this month.

Lee said it was the Barisan Nasional lynchpin that had the most to lose in an Umno-PPBM-PAS collaboration.


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