The latest Federal Gazette, dated 14 January 2021, details the Ordinance promulgated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 12 January 2021. This Gazette outlines the resources that can be used by the Agong, executive and legislative powers, election of Parliament and more.

On 11 Jan 2021, the Prime Minister of Malaysia announced the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) 2.0 from 13 January to 26 January 2021. During this period, the operations at ports will continue as usual without any disruption since the port sector falls under “essential services’. However, precautionary measures will be taken.

The movement control order will be imposed in Kelantan from Jan 16-26 due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the state was previously placed under a conditional movement control order but the number of cases have almost tripled daily in the past two weeks.

Private hospitals can be directed to take in COVID-19 patients and their labs be used for tests once the Emergency Ordinances are in effect, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. He said before the proclamation of Emergency, private medical facilities can reject patients who are positive and the Health Ministry has no power to order them otherwise.

Public parks in states under movement control order will be closed for recreational and sports activities, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri. He said when the government announced that activities such as cycling and jogging would be allowed during the 14 days of the MCO, it was for them to carry out these activities around their neighbourhood only.

In collaboration with the EU-funded programme WeEmpowerAsia of UN Women, LeadWomen is inviting 300 Malaysian corporates to expand on their gender diversity efforts by joining the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Activator Malaysia Campaign. The Awareness Sessions will bring a wider consciousness of the WEPs and identify your companies’ strengths, gaps, and determine opportunities to improve their performance on gender equality.

‘Project Lit Up’ was launched to help needy kindergarten children who require tablets for virtual lessons due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Over 200 tablets containing an educational app to children aged 4 to 6 years old from high need communities across Penang.

The app will allow children to learn both English and Mathematics independently from the comfort of their homes. Project Lit Up was sponsored by the Intel Foundation.

Standard Chartered (StanChart) has kept Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth projection at 7.5 per cent this year from -5.8 per cent in 2020, despite the uncertainties from the second round of the MCO (MCO 2.0). StanChart chief economist for Asean and South Asia Edward Lee said while there was some downside risks from the imposition of MCO2.0, the economic impact would be a lot less than in the first MCO implemented in the second quarter (Q2) of 2020.

HSBC Malaysia has unveiled its latest innovative feature of recycled plastic credit card as it moves toward a sustainable future and creates a social impact toward the environment. Oz Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) HSBC Amanah said, “At HSBC, we have a responsibility to our customers, employees and the communities in which we serve. We recognise that economic growth must also be sustainable if we are to achieve success in the long term.