KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Malaysia recorded 8,868 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours — the second highest since the Ministry of Health reported 9,020 cases on May 29, 

Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said Selangor, accounting for nearly half the new cases, saw the number of cases surpassing the 4,000 mark for the first time in months, at 4,152. 

The cumulative number of cases in the state currently stands at 272,993.

Kuala Lumpur, the capital city and a Federal Territory, also saw a sharp spike in cases at 1,133. KL has the second highest cumulative number of cases, at 85,042.

The sharp increase has pushed the national cumulative number of cases beyond the 800,000 mark.

Today’s high figures come despite tightened curbs since the start of May.

Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and a few other states are now going into the first week of the enhanced movement control order, or the first phase of the National Recovery Plan.

Dr Noor Hisham has sounded the alarm about the strained public healthcare system as the rate of severe Covid-19 cases continued to swamp intensive care units nationwide.

The climb in cases today also comes amid a power tussle between Umno and the lynchpin of ruling Perikatan Nasional coalition, Bersatu.

Early this morning Umno said it no longer supports the Perikatan Nasional government and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s leadership, citing the administration’s failure to meet conditions set by the party.

The announcement came just hours after Muhyiddin appointed Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as deputy prime minister, and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as a senior minister.

Both parties have been heavily criticised by the public who accuse them of “gross politicking” amid a worsening health crisis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MORE TO COME