The Defense Minister announced on 13 October 2020 that Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya will undergo Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) from 14 October to 27 October 2020. The Government of Malaysia has released a detailed list of SOPs that applies to these areas undergoing CMCO.

The service counters at all Immigration Offices in the State of Sabah, State of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya will be closed effective 13 October until 26 October 2020 for the State of Sabah, whereas closure will commence 14 October until 27 October for the State of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. Their online services and phone calls will remain open.

With the implementation of the CMCO for the whole of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya, all counter services in Expatriate Services Division (ESD) at Putrajaya and MYXpats Centre at Mutiara Damansara will be temporarily CLOSED from 14 October 2020 until 27 October 2020.

However, ESD/RP-T online system, calls and email services will remain in operation as usual. MyXpats will also remain open for passport collection.

As announced by the Senior Minister and Minister of Defense YB Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in his press conference on 13 October 2020, the exemption of state cross-border movements using the Conditional Movement Control Order Movement Form (PKPB) is limited to 4 categories. Click on the 'Read More' tab for more details and to download the Permit Form.

Join this exclusive UN Global Compact Malaysia (UNGCMY) Virtual Open Day to find out about the core activities, benefits of becoming a member and hearing insights from United Nations Global Compact. This virtual session will be on 21 October 2020 from 9.00am to 10.30 am. Click on the 'Read More' tab for more information and to register.

AMCHAM are excited to announce its partnership with LeadWomen and UN Women, as one of the supporting organizations for the upcoming WEPs Malaysia Activator Campaigns.

This program will commence from November 2020 until September 2021 and is expected to engage 300 companies to commit to gender equality by becoming signatories of the Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

Malaysia caught up with the global trend of taxing cross-border supplies of digital services by introducing a 6% service tax on imported digital services (SToDS), starting January 1, 2020. That said, unlike similar goods and services tax (GST) or value-added tax (VAT) regimes in other countries, the Malaysian SToDS regime imposes the tax on both individual and business consumers in Malaysia.

Facebook is offering about RM3.2 million cash grants and ad credits to small businesses in Malaysia that have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This offer will be extended to approximately 300 eligible small businesses, according to its website. Each grant will consist of RM5,900 in cash and RM3,500 in optional ad credits. Applications are accepted from Oct 6 to 12.

This article by Razak Ahmad and Diyana Pfordten offers a detailed recap on Malaysia's battle with the COVID-19 pandemic across the three waves of the virus. It also looks into how the third wave came about and how the cases have spread so far.