Malaysia to extend COVID-19 control order to year’s end

Malaysia’s Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), which is applied to fight COVID-19 in the country, has been extended to December 31.
Malaysia to extend COVID-19 control order to year’s end ảnh 1Collecting samples for COVID-19 test in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia’s Recovery MovementControl Order (RMCO), which is applied to fight COVID-19 in the country, hasbeen extended to December 31.

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced the decision in arecent televised speech, adding that based on latest developments,more time would be needed to free Malaysia from the pandemic. The RMCO phasewas originally scheduled to end on August 31.

He said even though the number of new cases in the countryhas fallen, the virus is still raging globally.

The PM noted if there is an increase in cases in certainMalaysian locations, the government will take a targeted approach byimplementing enhanced movement control order as previously enforced in severallocations.

Muhyiddin expressed his support for the Ministry of Health toincrease the fines for those who break these laws, to twice or thrice thecurrent amounts.

The Malaysia government imposed the Movement Control Order (MCO) onMarch 18 after it reported a spike of 125 new COVID-19 infections, makingMalaysia the worst hit in Southeast Asia at the time. The stringent phase ofthe MCO then transitioned into a conditional phase on May 1 before the RMCO beganon June 10./.
VNA

See more

At Pulau Seraya power station (Photo: Straitimes)

Singapore begins construction on hydrogen-fueled power plant

Singapore on October 23 began the construction of an 800 million USD power plant that has the capability to use hydrogen to generate electricity, as part of a push to utilise the fuel to reach Singapore’s net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

Delegates at the event (Photo: VNA)

125th anniversary of Permanent Court of Arbitration celebrated

The Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations and missions of the Philippines, Australia, Egypt, Guatemala, Hungary, Thailand, France, Eritrea and Austria, organised a ceremony on October 22 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), as part of the International Law Week at the UN General Assembly's Legal Committee (Sixth Committee).

CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Anuar Fariz Fadzil (Photo: focusmalaysia.my)

Malaysia continues placing emphasis on digitalisation

The Budget 2025 provides significant support to further accelerate Malaysia’s digitalisation, encourage adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and drive inclusive growth, further positioning Malaysia as a leading digital hub within the ASEAN region, according to CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Anuar Fariz Fadzil.

Malaysia's economic reforms boost investment inflow (Photo: thestar.com.my)

Malaysia's economic reforms boost investment inflow

Malaysia has attracted substantial foreign investments, reaching 22.2 billion MYR (5.16 billion USD) in the third quarter of 2024, the highest level for the same period since 2012, according to UOB's Global Markets and Economics report.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN speaks at the debate (Photo: VNA)

Maintaining peace, stability a must for progress on human rights: Ambassador

Progress in human rights can only be achieved by maintaining peace and stability, respecting the rule of law at both the international and national levels, and ensuring respect for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, said Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN.

A visitor browses travel promotions at a travel fair in Nonthaburi province. (Photo: Bangkok Post)

Thailand plans enhanced support for domestic tourism

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports is aiming to increase subsidy to local tourists in the upcoming stimulus scheme to 50% and would like to change the criteria for online travel agents, mandating them to register in Thailand to avoid losing income to foreign companies.

Oil field offshore Indonesia. (Photo: thejakartapost.com)

Indonesia begins major oil, gas exploration in Sulawesi

Indonesia's state-owned oil company Pertamina, along with foreign partners Sinopec from China and Kuwait’s Kufpec, has signed a contract to explore the Melati oil and gas block, located off the coast of Sulawesi. The block is estimated to contain trillions of cubic feet of gas reserves.