Guidelines and the standard operating procedure will be released before Malaysian schools reopen on May 2.

Legal threat comes after PM Anwar Ibrahim made a thinly veiled attack on Mahathir Mohamad, potentially reigniting a decades-old feud.

Muhyiddin, who described the case as politically motivated, was granted bail after pleading not guilty to all six charges.

Muhyiddin, who was PM from 2020 to 2021, will be charged on Friday over allegations of abuse in stimulus programmes during the Covid-19 pandemic.

His efforts to restore some political stability and implement policies to aid post-pandemic economic recovery have been broadly welcomed by the public.

Analysts say the prime minister will have to employ creative means to help people cope with inflation, as a GST increase or subsidy cuts will put his coalition government at risk.

The case of an accident victim who was turned away has highlighted how Malaysia’s stretched healthcare system is taking a toll on both health workers and patients.

The conservative northern state of Kedah, where gambling is banned, will target the sale of alcohol in Langkawi, a tourism hub with a tax-free status.

While the measure will not prevent the spread of the virus, it will give a glimpse into the scale of China’s outbreak and whether new variants are emerging there.

Malaysians question rush to allow Chinese tourists to enter, worried the influx will push country back into lockdown.

Travellers from China will only be screened for fever, Malaysia’s health minister said, but waste water from their inbound flights will be tested.

In post-Covid Malaysia, a two-decade odyssey to become prime minister is realised, while a former PM is jailed for role in the 1MDB scandal, and the nation mourns after a devastating landslide.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also finance minister, said ‘tens of billions of ringgit’ in Covid relief during Muhyiddin Yassin’s time as premier was allocated without due procedure.

Consumers and retailers in Malaysia have complained there has been an inconsistent supply of price-controlled eggs, which public officials said was due to high demand after Covid-19 regulations eased.

Engaging disillusioned overseas voters since the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government in 2020 has been difficult, but the ‘success’ in overthrowing ex-prime minister Najib Razak – now in jail – could reignite enthusiasm.

Analysts say it might be a ‘tall order’ for any group to win a supermajority this time, given the larger number of parties and coalitions in the fight.

There’s still only one road that links the nine settlements of Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands, and with guesthouses back in business, that’s a big problem once again.

Malaysia is expected to deliver a slightly expansionary budget for the next year in a bid to boost voter support ahead of a general election that could be called any day amid rising prices and fears of a global recession.

A number of destinations across Asia are looking to welcome tourists after a lengthy period of border restrictions.

Strict Covid-19 curbs have deterred even local residents and affected business in the small Hakka township, with many shops and key attractions still closed.

China is Malaysia’s largest trading partner; bilateral trade growing but Kuala Lumpur’s global trade is stronger, with many economists thinking recession will not hit and nation can weather Ukraine storm.

Azmin Ali, Malaysia’s trade and industry minister, said that now is not the right time to hold a general election because the Southeast Asian nation’s economy ‘is just about recovering’ from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mahathir was admitted to hospital on Wednesday after testing positive for the coronavirus, and will remain quarantined at home until Tuesday, a statement said. He has received at least three doses of Covid vaccine, the last known shot in November 2021.

The 97-year-old, who has a history of heart problems, has been admitted to the National Heart Institute for observation, his office said. He underwent a procedure at the institute earlier this year.

Low-income countries continue to be under-vaccinated in the third year of the pandemic. Malaysia is contributing to the global vaccine drive as a donor and a manufacturer, and it can offer training in aid of vaccine roll-outs overseas.

Countries such as Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, China, Australia and New Zealand are being urged to take precautions as authorities grapple with economic fallout from pandemic while trying to avoid unpopular restrictions.

Malaysia lacks at least 1.2 million workers across manufacturing, plantation and construction, industry and government data show. Shortage has forced numerous companies to refuse orders, foregoing billions in sales.

Nation reopened borders April 1, hoping for two million visitors this year; one million have already visited, with travel sector battling to cope.

Malaysia’s economy gained speed in the first quarter of this year, as the country dropped most virus restrictions. That allowed the central bank room to raise borrowing costs to preemptively fight inflation.