Good morning. Let's update you on what happened over the weekend.

Key Highlights

• Covid-19 vaccines arrive
  
  
• Umno's future
  
  
• Malaysiakini thanks you
  
  

Covid-19 vaccines arrive

The first batch of the Pfizer-Biontech Covid-19 vaccines arrived in Malaysia.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah will be among the first to be vaccinated on Wednesday.

Phase 1 of the vaccination will include medical frontliners, enforcement officers, welfare officials and elected representatives.

The sick and elderly will be vaccinated under Phase 2 from April to August while the remaining population will be vaccinated under Phase 3, starting in May.

They are not mandatory for now but the government is studying the implementation of “vaccine passports” to facilitate the movement of those who have been vaccinated.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Muhyiddin grateful after vaccines arrived It kicks off Malaysia's largest vaccination effort.
	Enhanced MCO at Perak glove factory 2,808 workers will be screened.
	Challenges in flying in Covid-19 vaccine MASkargo CEO shares company's experience.

Umno’s future

Umno held a pow-wow in Janda Baik, Pahang last Friday.

Party sources privy about the meeting told Malaysiakini that a decision was made to cut ties with Perikatan Nasional after the emergency is lifted.

The party is also expected to reject even if it is enticed with the position of deputy prime minister.

Umno’s strategic communications responded by saying the public should only rely on official statements on decisions of the supreme council, although no official statement was released.

Umno Youth deputy chief Shahril Hamdan said the party’s position will be formally revealed at the appropriate time.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Umno to cut ties with PN - party sources Leadership also decided to reject Deputy PM post.
	PAS supporters' wing leader quits He cites Indian issues in Kedah.
	AGC asked to reveal if minister will be charged This is after police concluded SOP violation probe.

Thank you!

Last Friday, the Federal Court found Malaysiakini in contempt of court over readers’ comments that were critical of high-profile graft cases being dropped.

Even though the prosecution only asked for an RM200,000 fine, the Federal Court imposed RM500,000. You can read the majority and minority judgments here.

We asked for help and you answered. The amount was crowd-funded within five hours. We are truly humbled by your support and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Malaysiakini’s case also highlighted a number of issues, including the use of Section 114A of the Evidence Act which presumes responsibility.

When it was introduced in 2012, it faced dissent even from within the government due to concerns that its powers were too wide.

There are also calls to reform provisions related to contempt of court and the Attorney-General’s Chambers, which initiated the proceeding.

HIGHLIGHTS

	MCA wants PM to reform AG's role This was after the M'kini case.
	Suhakam: Don't make portals liable for public comments  "Laws must keep up with the times'
	Umno leaders back press freedom after M'kini verdict They are worried about the Federal Court's decision.

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 3,297 new cases and 5 deaths yesterday (Feb 21).
  
  
• Cases are back above the 3,000-mark for the first time in eight days.
  
  
• Huge spike in Perak due to a glove factory cluster in Teluk Intan, causing the state's daily cases to breach the four-digit mark, a first during the pandemic.
  
  
• Malaysiakini also compiles daily locations affected by Covid-19 so you can take precaution.
  
  

What else is happening?

• MPs want the government to relax uniform rules when school reopens next month as families are facing financial hardship during the pandemic.
  
  
• The National Union of Bank Employees filed a complaint with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) after it claimed Putrajaya failed to enforce a collective bargaining agreement with HSBC.
  
  
• The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said apart from the prime minister, other politicians should give way to hospital cleaners for priority in the Covid-19 immunisation plan.
  
  
• The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong officially declared Kuantan a city.
  
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	Residents protest move to relocate animal shelter They worry about proximity to the local mosque.
	Teachers with illness can get expedited vaccines Ministers say they can put in a request.
	Harapan appeals to stop deportation of Myanmar refugees This was amid a military coup in Myanmar.

What are people saying?

	Colonial roots in law against ganja and ketum By Hishamuddin Rais
	I'm still Sarawakian first, Malaysian second By Francis Paul Siah
	We are all Malaysiakini By Malaysiakini readers

CARTOON KINI