Court of Appeal upholds Lokman Adam's 1-month jail term for contempt

The Court of Appeal today upheld the one-month jail term imposed by a High Court on former Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Noor Adam for contempt of court in having intimidated a witness in former prime minister Najib Razak's 1MDB trial.
This followed a unanimous decision by a panel of three Court of Appeal judges, comprising Kamaludin Md Said, Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali and Nordin Hassan, to dismiss Lokman’s appeal against the conviction and sentence handed down by the High Court.
On July 15 last year, High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah sentenced Lokman to one month in prison after finding him guilty of contempt of court for threatening a prosecution witness in the 1MDB case.
The witness was Najib's former special officer, Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, who is also the main witness in the case.
However, the three-judge panel allowed the request by Lokman, represented by lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, to stay the execution of the prison sentence pending an appeal at the Federal Court.
Judge Che Mohd Ruzima, when reading out the court’s unanimous decision today, said the facts regarding the conduct that led to the action against Lokman were not disputed as they stemmed from a police report made by the appellant at 3.24pm on Sept 25, 2019, while a media statement was issued on the same day at 6.33pm.
He said the court had examined the police report and the transcript of the media statement and found that it could be classified as a major report under Section 107 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
"We are of the view that there is no error in the decision taken by the High Court in convicting the appellant of contempt of court. There are facts that show the appellant intended to make the police report and media statement.
"The court also found that there was no mistake in the decision made by the High Court judge when deciding that the appellant's actions had interfered with the administration of justice. Therefore, the court finds no merit in the appellant's appeal," said the judge.
On the prosecution's cross-appeal, Che Mohd Ruzima said there was no reasonable excuse for the court to interfere with the prison sentence handed down by the High Court judge.
"The judge had considered the offence committed, the seriousness of the offence and public interest when making the decision. Therefore, the (prison) sentence imposed on the appellant is appropriate and reasonable. The prosecution's appeal is dismissed," he added.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar appeared for the prosecution in today's proceedings.
On Oct 22, 2019, the High Court granted leave to then attorney-general Tommy Thomas to initiate committal proceedings against Lokman for contempt of court perpetrated on two occasions on Sept 25, 2019.
On Jan 14, 2020, Sequerah dismissed Lokman’s application to set aside the leave obtained by the attorney-general. Lokman also lost his two appeals at the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court to overturn the High Court’s ruling. Thomas had initiated the committal proceeding against Lokman to seek an order for Lokman to be committed to prison or fined for his action.
According to Thomas, on Sept 25, 2019, Lokman uttered words in a video interview that constituted an express or implied threat against Amhari Efendi for having given evidence in the former prime minister’s trial at the High Court.
Thomas said that on the same day, Lokman lodged a police report against Amhari Efendi in respect of the evidence given by him at the trial.
He said the objective or purpose of Lokman’s act was to harass and intimidate Amhari Efendi, other witnesses and any potential witnesses who might come forward to give evidence against Najib in the 1MDB trial.


At least one woman director to be made a must at public-listed companies

The Securities Commission will make it mandatory for all public-listed companies to appoint at least one female director.The proposal, announced by Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz during his 2022 budget speech today, will take effect from September next year beginning with large companies.Zafrul said the move was a form of recognition by the government of the role of women in the corporate world.At the moment, he said, women comprise 25% of the board members at the top 100 public companies.“However, there are still 27% or 252 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia that do not have a female director.”Zafrul said the government has also set aside RM5 million for the Women’s Leadership Foundation to boost women’s participation in the economic sector through leadership training and entrepreneurship programmes, among others.RM230 million will be provided through the Dananita programme under Mara and Tekunita under Tekun to help women entrepreneurs who have been affected by Covid-19.Meanwhile, RM30 million has been allocated to provide nursery facilities in government buildings, especially at public hospitals and universities.Individual income tax relief of up to RM3,000 will also be extended for the payment of nursery and kindergarten fees until the year of assessment of 2023.Another RM13 million will be allocated to empower Division D11 of the Royal Malaysian Police for Sexual, Women and Child Investigation, including the creation of 100 new posts.


New cases creep past 4,000 again

Another 4,066 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,840,225.Another 3,559 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,762,608.Meanwhile 131 are in the ICU, including 113 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 65 are in need of respiratory assistance including 46 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 4,066 cases reported today, 50 (1.2%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 4,016 (98.8%) are in Category One and Two.


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Law student randomly gets vaccine on grocery run

A Washington law student ended up getting more than just groceries during a recent supermarket trip, after randomly receiving a Covid-19 vaccination.David MacMillan and his friend were at a Giant Food store in the US capital last week and were surprised when a worker in the supermarket’s pharmacy section offered them each a shot.Getting a vaccination had not been on the pair’s shopping list, and currently the vaccine is being prioritised for emergency responders and other frontline workers.MacMillan posted a recording of him getting the shot on TikTok, where it had been viewed more than 700,000 times on the short-form video sharing platform as of Monday.He said he and his friend were offered the vaccine because healthcare workers had not shown up for their appointments to get the doses.The Moderna vaccine must be kept at very cold temperatures and quickly spoils once it has been removed from the freezer and its lid punctured.“It’s important that when there’s so much misinformation swirling, that people are able to see that this is a good thing, this is a positive thing. We should be excited about being able to deal with the pandemic,” MacMillan told a local NBC News affiliate.America’s vaccination rollout has got off to a slower-than-anticipated start, with 4.2 million people so far receiving initial doses of the two-dose vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna – far below official predictions of 20 million by the New Year.MacMillan said he expected to receive the second dose in his vaccination later this month.In a statement, Giant said: “The Moderna vaccine is valuable and lifesaving, and we are happy to have not wasted it and given this couple each a dose.”


MACC asks Anwar for details on Pandora Papers issue

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has asked opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to assist in providing information regarding the Pandora Papers expose.MACC said in a statement that it would work with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and other relevant agencies to investigate the matter.“As such, MACC is asking Anwar to assist if he has further information regarding the issue,” it said.Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Abd Jalil Hassan meanwhile said that four police reports had been received on the matter.The Pandora Papers expose is related to private documents linked to rich and influential individuals around the world who hid their wealth using offshore companies and incognito bank accounts.Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said that the government would leave it up to the authorities to take action against any party involved in the issue.On Monday, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz was reported to have said that BNM was ready to cooperate with law enforcement agencies to monitor and investigate documents contained in the Pandora Papers involving individuals in the country.


Questions swirl after Alibaba billionaire Jack Ma vanishes from sight

Speculation is swirling around Chinese billionaire Jack Ma’s whereabouts after reports surfaced that the high-profile businessman has not made a public appearance in more than two months.The Alibaba founder also failed to appear as scheduled in the final episode of his own talent show, Africa’s Business Heroes, which gives budding African entrepreneurs the chance to compete for a slice of US$1.5 million.Ma was supposed to be a judge but was replaced by an Alibaba executive in the November final, the UK’s Daily Telegraph reported. His picture was also taken off the website.An Alibaba spokesman said Ma was unable to take part on the judging panel “due to a schedule conflict”, according to the Financial Times.Ma’s business empire, Ant Group, has been under scrutiny by Beijing ever since Ma delivered a controversial speech in Shanghai on Oct 24 that criticised China’s regulation system for stifling innovation and likened global banking rules to an “old people’s club”.“Today’s financial system is the legacy of the Industrial Age,” Ma said in the speech. “We must set up a new one for the next generation and young people. We must reform the current system.”Just over a week later, Ant’s IPO (valued at a record-setting US$37 billion), which had already received the green light from China’s securities watchdog, was suspended, with the Shanghai Stock Exchange saying Ant had reported “significant issues”.But US veteran investor Mark Mobius said the move was designed to curtail financial institutions from getting too big.“I believe the Chinese government stepped in because they realised that they had to regulate these companies, so that they don’t get too big,” he told CNBC. “The Chinese government is waking up to the fact that they cannot allow these companies to dominate a particular sector and particularly the financial sector.”Chinese authorities launched an anti-monopoly investigation into Alibaba in late December and told Ant Group to restructure its operations.Ma has donated millions of face masks to Europe, the US and the World Health Organization in a bid to stem the pandemic.His last tweet was on Oct 10 last year.


Daily caseload at 164, one new death reported

Another 164 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 5,043,790.
There were 198 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,997,620.
There are now 9,204 active cases, of which 8,888 or 96.6% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0%) are at quarantine centres while 314 (3.4%) have been hospitalised.
A total of two are in ICU with none in need of respiratory assistance.
One more death was reported, taking total deaths to 36,966.


Nicol David is Reader's Digest Malaysia's most trusted sports personality

Malaysian legendary squash player Nicol Ann David bagged Reader's Digest Malaysia's "Most Trusted Sports Personality in Malaysia 2023" award yesterday.
Sharing this on her official Facebook account, Nicol, 39, stated that she is incredibly proud to be voted the winner in this category thus proving her career, transparency and representation are trusted by all Malaysians.
"This feels so special after four years of retirement. As you know, my full life and focus are now on my foundation.
"Thank you, Malaysia. You continue to bring me so much happiness, and thank you Reader's Digest," she said.
She also mentioned how her parents believed that being trustworthy is more important than titles, which makes the award she received last night one of her biggest achievements.
"I am so humbled Malaysia can see this, too, in me, and I will continue to work hard to contribute back to my country that has given me so much," she said.


MRT commuters advised to check for Covid after passenger tests positive

Passengers who used the Kajang line MRT train service on May 27 have been advised to get tested for Covid-19 after a passenger was diagnosed with the virus.In a statement today, Prasarana said the public advice was issued following a confession and public apology from the passenger by the name of Hanim Azman on Twitter after her swab test result showed that she had Covid-19 when she took the train.To anyone who was in the MRT train from Bukit Bintang to Kajang on May 27 (6.40 pm) and the KTM train from Kajang to Seremban (7.26pm), if you have any symptoms of Covid-19, please get a swab test immediately because my swab test result came back positive. I am so sorry,” she tweeted.


World’s largest Harry Potter store opens in New York

Wearing Hogwarts robes and witches’ hats, hundreds of Potterheads sipped Butterbeer and posed for photos in Hagrid’s giant shoes as New York’s long-awaited Harry Potter store, the biggest in the world, opened Thursday.Fans of the boy wizard queued for hours in heavy rain to be among the first inside the three-story shop in Lower Manhattan that hosts the largest collection of Potter products anywhere.“It’s really magical,” said Margaret Suarez, whose boyfriend arrived at 6am to hold a spot in line four hours ahead of opening.Suarez, 30, quickly eyed a wand belonging to witch Bellatrix Lestrange to go with the Patronus charm memorabilia and funko pop figures that were already in her shopping bag.“In my heart, I’m a wizard,” Suarez told AFP. “I really want to get a wand and personalise it so I can live my best fantasy,” the New Yorker added.Ruben Juarez, 27, and his wife traveled from Dallas, Texas for the grand opening of 1,950 square metres store that is near the Flatiron building.“We’re excited to be here. I love everything Harry Potter,” said Juarez, wearing the scarlet and gold scarf of the house of Gryffindor.Large crowds gathered outside the store throughout the morning, with even a few police officers called to ensure order was maintained, as Potterheads waited for their timed ticket entry.Inside, fans of JK Rowling’s magical world snapped selfies in front of a red telephone box like the one that transports witches and wizards to the Ministry of Magic, and bought Fizzing Whizbees candy.They tried on knitted Quidditch jumpers, flicked through copies of the best-selling book series in history and sampled the wizards’ favourite drink at the Butterbeer bar.“Butterbeer is like cream soda but with a kick to it. It’s unlike anything, honestly,” explained 21-year-old Emilee Rodriguez.The flagship store was due to open last summer but was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.For 19-year-old Alexandra Ewing, the wait for her first visit to a Potter store was worth it.“I’m having the time of my life. I’m fighting back tears this whole time, I’m loving it,” she told AFP.


Kuala Nerus MP sacked from PAS’ Shura Council

Kuala Nerus MP Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali has been sacked from his position as PAS’ Shura Council secretary.PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang confirmed the matter when met in Rusila, Marang today.“It took effect yesterday. The removal was due to a disciplinary issue… he is no longer a member of the Shura Council and for him to be the secretary of the council, he must be a member first,” he said.On Jan 12, Khairuddin was dropped from the PAS central working committee. He is currently a regular PAS member.The former plantation industries and commodities minister failed to defend his seat in the central working committee during the election for the 2021-2023 term last November but was reappointed to the committee together with Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki and Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz.


PN closing ranks but PH in disarray, analysts say post-budget

While the 2021 budget debate has succeeded in bringing Perikatan Nasional (PN) parties closer together following its safe passage in the Dewan Rakyat, it has left Pakatan Harapan (PH) in a state of disarray with no future direction, observers say.They say the parties in the opposition coalition are still troubled by the leadership of its chairman Anwar Ibrahim.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s PN has been seen as consolidating its strength by bringing together party leaders under a new presidential council.“At the moment, PH is clueless and has failed to put to rest speculation of differences among the three parties.“While the PN partners are seen as closing the gaps between them, the differences within PH are becoming apparant,” said public opinion poll specialist Hisommudin Bakar of Ilham Centre.There had been growing criticism from within PH of its top leader Anwar following the budget’s approval last week.In the weeks leading to the budget’s tabling, Anwar had claimed to possess a “strong and formidable” majority to topple Muhyiddin.“While the PN partners are seen as closing the gaps between them, the differences within PH are becoming apparant.”There were also expectations that the budget vote could turn into a confidence vote, through which Anwar could secure enough support to scuttle the bill and bring down the government.The budget, however, was eventually passed.A few days later, PN announced its presidential council, bringing together leaders from the 13 parties backing the coalition: Bersatu, Umno, PAS, MCA, SUPP, PBS, PBB, PRS, PBRS, SAPP, PDP, MIC and STAR.Last week, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng warned against attempts to get MPs from Umno to switch loyalties and give the coalition the numbers needed to form the government.The duo said PH should instead concentrate on other opposition parties including Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s four-member Pejuang bloc, and Sabah-based Warisan led by Shafie Apdal.But that call may not sit well with PKR, as the two parties have openly opposed Anwar holding the top post.Political analyst Shamsul Amri Baharuddin said PKR lacks a specific agenda to drive the PH coalition, other than to make Anwar the prime minister.He said PKR would never accept anyone other than Anwar for the top post.“PKR will not agree to that. The coalition must be able to agree on Anwar as the prime ministerial candidate,” the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia academic told MalaysiaNow.DAP’s Lim had proposed Shafie as a prime ministerial candidate, sparking an angry reaction from PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah, Anwar’s eldest daughter.Malay politics commentator Kamarul Zaman Yusoff however said Anwar still enjoys strong support despite the veiled criticism from Amanah and DAP leaders.“Anwar has loyal followers in DAP and Amanah, such as Ronnie Liu and Mujahid Yusof Rawa.“These voices are just the tip of the iceberg.”“This could cause an internal conflict in DAP and Amanah,” he told MalaysiaNow.Hisommudin said similar unrest is unfolding in PKR, as seen in the criticism by its youth leaders of Anwar’s political methods.“These voices are just the tip of the iceberg, as there has been criticism outside of party channels such as on social media and unofficial platforms,” he added.He also noted the recent remarks against Anwar by PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, seen as the opposition leader’s closest ally.Rafizi had said Anwar had refused to heed his advice and instead looked up to the “opportunists” surrounding him.Hisommudin said he understood the confidence of some party leaders, such as PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, in Anwar’s claim of having the necessary numbers.“But the truth is, no one is excited anymore about Anwar’s strategy when it comes to numbers,” he added.* Nur Hasliza Mohd Salleh contributed to this report.


Police move in to clear trucker-led protests in Canada capital

Canadian police on Friday began a massive operation to clear the trucker-led protests against Covid health rules clogging the capital for three weeks, with several arrests made and trucks towed away.Hundreds of heavily armed officers gathered in the early morning on the edges of downtown Ottawa for the start of a gradual clearance process that could take days.Overnight two protest leaders were arrested and charged with mischief and counselling others to break the law, while Friday morning an AFP journalist saw several demonstrators led away in handcuffs as police and tow trucks moved in.“Some protesters are surrendering and are being arrested,” Ottawa police tweeted.“You must leave,” they warned the protesters, telling them “you will face severe penalties if you do not cease further unlawful activity and remove your vehicle and/or property immediately.”Media were asked to “stay out of police operations for your safety.” A police news conference was scheduled later in the day to provide an update.Demonstrators appeared to dig in after a heavy snowfall, playing cheerful music and waving Canadian flags at the ends of hockey sticks.The so-called “Freedom Convoy” started with truckers protesting against mandatory Covid vaccines to cross the US border, but its demands have grown to include an end to all pandemic health rules and, for many, a wider anti-establishment agenda.At its peak, the movement also included blockades of a half-dozen US-Canada border crossings including a key trade route across the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan – all of which have been lifted after costing the economy billions of dollars, according to the government.One of the arrested protest organisers, Tamara Lich, 49, was heard telling truckers as she was being led away by police late Thursday to “hold the line.”Parliament closedOn Friday, lawmakers took the extraordinary move to cancel a parliamentary session. Speaker of the House Anthony Rota cited “exceptional circumstances” and an “ever-changing” situation in the streets outside the seat of Canada’s democracy.Government workers and MPs were asked to stay away, while anyone already in the parliamentary precinct were urged to shelter indoors.Police had given protesters on Thursday a final warning to leave, as barricades went up to restrict access to the downtown protest zone and surrounding neighborhoods – encompassing more than 500 acres (200 hectares).Criticised for failing to act decisively to end the protests and facing pressure from Washington, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week invoked the Emergencies Act, which gives the government sweeping powers to deal with a major crisis.It’s only the second time such powers have been invoked in peacetime.Lawmakers, split over the move with only a small leftist party backing Trudeau’s minority Liberal government, were debating its use when parliament was hastily shut down.New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh told the Commons on Thursday that the protesters were “brazenly” trying to overthrow the government, while accusing the main opposition Tories of “endorsing” the trucker convoy.Conservative MPs shot back that the government was using a “sledgehammer to crack down on dissent.”Trudeau has said the act was not being used to call in the military against the protesters, and denied restricting freedom of expression.The objective was simply to “deal with the current threat and to get the situation fully under control,” he said Thursday. “Illegal blockades and occupations are not peaceful protests… They have to stop.”Police this week arrested dozens of protesters at border crossings, including four people charged with conspiracy to murder police officers at a checkpoint between Coutts, Alberta and Sweet Grass, Montana.They also seized dozens of vehicles, as well as a cache of weapons that included rifles, handguns, body armour and ammunition.Authorities also froze the bank accounts of protesters and choked off crowdfunding and cryptocurrency transactions supporting the truckers.


Unhealthy air quality in 3 Selangor areas

Three areas in Selangor recorded unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings this morning.According to the website of the Air Pollutant Index of Malaysia (APIMS), the API for Johan Setia Klang was 183, Banting 165 and Petaling Jaya 141 at 8am.The air quality was moderate in Shah Alam (96).An API reading of between zero and 50 indicates good air quality; between 51 and 100, moderate; between 101 and 200, unhealthy; between 201 and 300, very unhealthy and over 301, hazardous.


More troubled tennis stars ‘test positive for Covid-19’ in Australian quarantine quarrels

Two more Australian Open tennis players have tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in Melbourne, state health officials said on Tuesday, amid growing controversy over the event.One more “non-playing participant” also has Covid, bringing the overall total linked to the Open to seven.Around 1,200 people have flown in for the tournament, which begins on Feb 8.Victoria chief health officer Brett Sutton said in a statement that the latest three positive tests of two players and a non-participant were in hotel quarantine.Arguments and complaints over quarantine rules are casting a shadow over the upcoming event, says the BBC.Some players have expressed frustration about being confined to hotel rooms full-time while other rivals are outside practising and preparing for the tournament.Many pandemic-weary Melbourne residents – a city which endured one of the world’s longest lockdowns last year – have their own concerns about the potential Covid risk posed by the tournament.Positive cases on three flights have forced 72 fellow-passenger players into full quarantine, meaning they have to isolate full-time in their hotel rooms for 14 days instead of being allowed outside to train like other participants.Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley insisted players had been made aware of the quarantine possibilities beforehand and said that some may have not taken it seriously and “brushed it off”.He acknowledged it was “not an even playing field” for those stuck in their hotel rooms, given their competitors have access to five hours of court practice a day.Outspoken MP Bill Shorten told players to “get a grip”, adding: “People have died. People have lost their jobs, and these pampered sooks are having a cry over their conditions.”World number one Novak Djokovic lobbied authorities to relax rules for players by making the quarantine periods shorter. That earned him criticism from Australian player Nick Kyrgios, who tweeted: “Djokovic is a tool.”Last year Djokovic organised an exhibition event at which he and others caught Covid-19.Kyrgios also criticised Vanessa Sierra, the girlfriend of fellow Australian player Bernard Tomic, after she appeared in a news clip complaining about hotel food and having to wash her hair herself.She has since said her comments were taken out of context and that she has received death threats after her “I don’t wash my own hair” quote was mocked online.


Govt considering new controlled price for Covid self-test kits before year-end

The government is considering a new controlled price for Covid-19 self-test kits ahead of the expected date in December, says Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Rosol Wahid.He said discussions on the matter involving various stakeholders are underway.Rosol said the opening of the economic, tourism and education sectors in stages and relaxation of SOPs set under the National Recovery Plan would make Covid-19 self-test kits an essential item in the new normal.“Therefore, the government is always concerned about ensuring that consumers can get the kits at a better price and about business continuity for the industry players,” he said in a statement.On the enforcement of the Covid-19 self-test kit price controls which came into effect on Sept 5, Rosol said of 3,106 premises checked, 348 were found to be selling the kits at below RM19.90 per unit and RM16 each for wholesale, while 2,554 sold them at the prices set by the government.“The ministry welcomes the initiative taken by industry players in helping reduce the burden of the people by offering the kits at a lower price,” he said.Rosol also said that from October onwards, self-test kits would be available not only at pharmacies and clinics, but also at other types of premises such as supermarkets and convenience shops.“However, the ministry must first ensure that these premises have sufficient information on the conditions for the sale of the Covid-19 self-test kits, including complying with the product labelling requirements and handling methods to facilitate the public in getting the items,” he said.


29 reported Covid deaths take toll to 30,309

Another 29 Covid-related deaths were reported on Nov 28, taking the cumulative death toll in the country to 30,309.According to the health ministry’s Github data repository, six or 20.6% of these were brought-in-dead (BID) cases.The number of deaths as well as BID cases on Nov 28 were the lowest in a week.Perak had the highest number of reported deaths at seven or 24.1% followed by Kedah and Kelantan at six or 20.7% each.Johor, Pahang, Sabah, Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur reported two deaths each.No deaths were reported in eight states – Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis, Penang, Sarawak, Selangor, Labuan and Putrajaya.A total of 4,239 new cases were reported yesterday, taking the overall total to 2,623,816.As of yesterday, there were 66,455 active Covid-19 cases reported and 5,007 recoveries.


Sri Lanka hopes for tourism revival with 1.5 million arrivals next year

Sri Lanka hopes to double tourist arrivals to 1.5 million next year and bring in US$5 billion (about RM22.1 billion) in vital foreign exchange, the tourism minister said on Thursday, as the island nation seeks ways to tackle its worst financial crisis in seven decades.
The country of 22 million people, famed for its beaches, ancient temples and aromatic tea, has been struggling for months to pay for essential imports of fuel, food and medicine because of a lack of foreign exchange.
"Tourism can play a major role in Sri Lanka's recovery and this is what we are aiming for next year," Tourism Minister Harin Fernando told reporters in Colombo.
Sri Lanka would likely end this calendar year with 750,000 tourist arrivals and about US$2 billion in earnings, Fernando said, adding his ministry would be targeting high end tourists and introducing new products in 2023.
The Indian Ocean island is also rolling back night-time power cuts in tourism zones, as the overall electricity situation improves from 13-hour power cuts earlier in the year, Power Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said on Wednesday.
Months of protests, political turmoil, power cuts and fuel queues dampened tourism in Sri Lanka just as it was recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic in mid-2022.
An estimated US$4 billion loss in tourism revenue over the past two years also contributed to tipping Sri Lanka into the financial crisis, according to former ministers.
Sri Lanka signed a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a US$2.9 bailout in early September but has to get prior financing assurances from private and bilateral creditors, including India, China and Japan before disbursements can begin.


Johor braces for floods amid continous rain warning

The Department of Irrigation and Drainage today warned of floods during the afternoon in several districts in Johor, as the country continues to struggle with the aftermath of massive torrents two weeks ago.It said it estimated that floods would occur from 2pm onwards at areas in Mersing, Kluang, Kota Tinggi, Batu Pahat, Kulai and Johor Bahru.This follows the warning of continuous rain issued by the Meterological Department for these locations yesterday.In Mersing, floods are expected at Sungai Labong, Sungai Semanyir, Sungai Tekedai and Sungai Padang, at Kampung Asli Labong, Kampung Kurnia, Kampung Air Tawar, Kampung Semaloi, Kampung Asli Peta and low-lying areas in the vicinity.They are also expected at Sungai Mayang and Sungai Mersing, at Kampung Baru Jemari, Kampung Wak Salam, Kampung Pengkalan Batu, Taman Nakhoda, Kampung Bahagia and other low-lying areas.In Kluang, floods are expected at Sungai Melantai in Kampung Bentong, Kampung Bentong Luar, Kampung Bentong Dalam, Kluang city, Taman Emas and other low-lying areas in the vicinity.Floods are also expected at Sungai Sembrong Besar (Kampung Sedohok, Kampung Peroh, Kampung SC, Kampung Sri Cahaya, Kampung Melayu Mardi and other low-lying areas), Sungai Mengkibol (Kampung Melayu, Kampung Palembang Lama and Baru, Jalan Sawi, Kampung Melayu Mardi and other low-lying areas) and Sungai Kahang (Kampung Sri Lukut, Kampung Orang Asli Batu 26, Kampung Pucur, Kamping Contoh and other low-lying areas).In Kota Tinggi meanwhile, floods are expected at Sungai Johor (Kampung Semanggar Luar, Kampung Sungai Telor, Kampung Seri Delima, Kampung Panti, Kota Tinggi city, Taman Mawai, Kampung Seluyut, Kampung Muhibbah, Kampung Lepau, Kampung Bukit Pelali, Kampung Baru Sungai Mas, Kampung Temenin, Kampung Batu 4 and the surrounding low-lying areas).They are also expected at Sungai Sedili Besar (Kampung Perepat, Kampung Gembut, Kampung Haji Jambi, Jalan Mersing-Kota Tinggi, Kampung Mawai Lama and nearby low-lying areas).In Batu Pahat, floods are expected at Sungai Batu Pahat (Parit Bintang, Kampung Dalam Peserai, Parit Johar, Kapung Parit Haji Salleh, Parit Haji Sidek and the surrounding low-lying areas), Simpang Kanan (Kampung Baru Sri Gading and the surrounding low-lying areas) and Sungai Sembrong (Batu 2 Sembrong, Kampung Cahaya Baru, Parit Lapis Semarang, Parit Jambul Laut and the surrounding low-lying areas).In Kulai, floods are expected at Sungai Skudai (Bandar Kulai Batu 21, Kampung Separa and the surrounding low-lying areas).In Johor Bahru, meanwhile, floods are expected at Sungai Skudai (Kampung Laut Batu 10, Kampung Sepakat Baru, Kampung Sepakat Jaya, Kampung Sri Serdang, Kampung Pasir, Taman Damai Jaya and the surrounding low-lying areas).Floods are also expected at Sungai Gelang Patah (Kampung Baru Muafakat, Kampung Wawasan, Taman Syed Idrus, Kampung Melayu Gelang Patah, Kampung Pulai and the surrounding low-lying areas), Sungai Tebrau (Kampung Tawakal, Kampung Maju Jaya, Kampung Pasir Tebrau, Kampung Paya Kenangan, Kampung Kangkar Tebrau, Kampung Pandan, Kampung Ubi Baru, Kampung Plentong and the surrounding low-lying areas) and Sungai Tiram (Kampung Oren, Kampung Dagang, Kampung Sungai Tiram and the surrounding low-lying areas).According to Bernama, Johor police have placed some 4,300 personnel on standby for possible flood relief work in the state.Johor police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said 25 hotspots had also been identified, including four each in Johor Bahru, Muar and Kota Tinggi.


Japanese death row inmates sue over 'cruel' hanging

Three death row prisoners filed a lawsuit against the Japanese government on Tuesday, arguing that execution by hanging is cruel and should be abolished, their lawyer said.
Japan is one of the few economically developed countries to still have the death penalty, and hanging has been its sole execution method for around a century and a half.
The trio at the Osaka detention centre, whose identities have not been revealed, are "seeking an injunction" against death by hanging, lawyer Kyoji Mizutani told AFP.
They are also demanding compensation of 33 million yen ($238,000), he added, for the psychological distress caused since they were given the death sentence, all since 2000.
A legal victory would force a stunning shake-up of execution laws in Japan, where public support is high for capital punishment despite international criticism.
More than 100 people are on death row, including many serial killers.
Executions are usually implemented long after sentencing, with inmates held for years in solitary confinement and only told of their impending death a few hours beforehand.
When their time comes, blindfolded convicts are led to a spot with their feet bound and hands cuffed before a trapdoor opens below them.
The mechanism is triggered in an adjacent room where several officers each press a button simultaneously, with none told which one is "live".
Two prisoners filed a separate lawsuit last year against the late-notice system, arguing that it causes psychological pain.
Mizutani called for more "open discussions" around the death penalty in Japan, which is often treated secretively.
In July, the nation executed a man convicted of killing seven people in a 2008 truck-ramming and stabbing rampage in Tokyo's Akihabara electronics district.
Three other prisoners were hanged in December 2021 – the first executions after a two-year hiatus and the first ordered by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's administration.


Mandatory information not properly stored in iJPN system, audit report shows

Information classified as mandatory at the National Registration Department (JPN) has not been stored properly in the main iJPN system, according to the Auditor-General’s Report 2019 Series 2 released yesterday.According to the report, among the effects of this is that 580 or 0.1% of 0.56 million birth records have acquired citizenship status, yet there are no detailed descriptions on the method of acquiring the citizenship status in the system.In addition, 59,946 or 0.3% of 22.07 million identity card data have discrepancies between the date of birth and the six-digit combination in the identity card number denoting the date, said the report.“The absence of SOPs in terms of reviewing and updating data can cause the information generated in the iJPN System to be unreliable and lack integrity and can pose a risk to the JPN database,” read the report.The report said that the weaknesses of the iJPN system involve legal aspects as well as mandatory regulations in the processing of identity documents which are not controlled systematically, and that there is no integration between modules and sub-modules.JPN was recommended to take several improvement measures to overcome the weaknesses and ensure that the management of registration and the issuance of identity documents achieve the set objectives.The report said that among others, JPN must ensure that all legal requirements, regulations and mandatory SOPs in the process of registration and issuance of identity documents are established and set as mandatory fields in the iJPN system.According to the report, JPN is also recommended to upgrade the system to create an infrastructure that supports the digital environment in terms of registration and issuance of identity documents as well as data storage that is reliable, secure and of high integrity.The report also said that the management of identity documents at JPN was satisfactory with the registration and issuance of identity documents of Malaysians managed in accordance with current acts and regulations.


No alcohol, drugs found in specimens from body of Cradle Fund CEO, court told

No traces of alcohol or drugs were detected in three specimens taken from the body of Cradle Fund CEO Nazrin Hassan, the High Court in Shah Alam was told today.Chemist B Govinda Raj, who is attached to the chemistry department’s toxicology division, said the specimens marked A, B and C were received from Sergeant Abdul Rahim Taha at 10.58am on June 18, 2018.Govinda Raj, the 40th prosecution witness, said after receiving them, the department carried out an alcohol analysis on the urine specimen while analysis on volatile substance was conducted on the lung tissue and psoas muscle.He said the urine results found no trace of alcohol or common drugs while no volatile substance was detected in the lung or psoas muscle specimens.“From the analysis conducted, I prepared a chemist report on July 20, 2018. The exhibits were also handed back, along with the report, to Sergeant Abdul Rahim Taha at 10.40am on July 24, 2018,” he said, reading out his witness statement before judge Ab Karim Ab Rahman.Govinda Raj, 38, was testifying at the trial of Samirah Muzaffar, 46, a former senior executive, and two teenagers, now aged 19 and 16, as well as an Indonesian woman, Eka Wahyu Lestari, who is still at large, all of whom are charged with murdering Nazrin at a house in Mutiara Damansara between 11.30pm on June 13, 2018 and 4am the following day.Govinda Raj also told the court that no traces of carbon monoxide were found in any of the three specimens.The trial continues tomorrow.


Sorry.


Delivering Raya cookies among excuses given for crossing district, state lines, say cops

Police have detected road users using various lame excuses such as sending clothes and Raya cookies to friends in order to travel inter-district and interstate without permission.Petaling Jaya district police chief ACP Mohamad Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid said the police have not issued compounds but instead ordered them to turn back.However, he said compounds would be immediately issued to errant drivers without compromise.“We have already mounted roadblocks from May 9 and found that thus far, there are still many stubborn road users attempting to do interstate travel without valid reasons. They were ordered to turn back.“Among their reasons were sending clothes to friends’ houses in Shah Alam, buying goods, taking families for a shopping trip in the Shah Alam area,” he told Bernama after conducting a check at the roadblock at KM34 of the Federal Highway last night.He said in order to facilitate the movement of traffic during the work day, the police would open additional routes but strict inspections would remain as usual.Fakhrudin also advised the public to abide by the movement control order issued by the National Security Council.Checks by Bernama at the Duta toll plaza and Sungai Besi toll plaza found that traffic flow on several main routes in and out of the capital was under control despite some congestion due to strict inspections by the police at the roadblocks.On Saturday, Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that all inter-district and interstate travel would not be allowed from May 10 to June 6 without permission from the police.


Singapore will decriminalise sex between men, no change in marriage rules, PM says

Singapore will decriminalise sex between men but has no plans to change the legal definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday.
LGBTQ groups welcomed Lee's decision to repeal Section 377A of the penal code, a colonial-era law that criminalises sex between men, but also expressed concern that ruling out same-sex marriage would help to perpetuate discrimination.
In his annual national day rally speech, Lee said Singaporean society, especially young people in the city-state, were becoming more accepting of gay people.
"I believe this is the right thing to do, and something that most Singaporeans will now accept," he said.
It was unclear when exactly Section 377A would be repealed.
Singapore becomes the latest Asian country to move toward ending discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community.
In 2018, India's highest court scrapped a colonial-era ban on gay sex, while Thailand has recently edged closer to legalising same-sex unions.
Under Singapore's Section 377A, offenders can be jailed for up to two years under the law, but it is not currently actively enforced. There have been no known convictions for sex between consenting adult males for decades and the law does not include sex between women or other genders.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) groups have brought multiple legal challenges attempting to strike down the law, but none has succeeded.
On Sunday, several LGBTQ rights groups said in a joint statement they were "relieved" by Lee's announcement.
"For everyone who has experienced the kinds of bullying, rejection and harassment enabled by this law, repeal finally enables us to begin the process of healing. For those that long for a more equal and inclusive Singapore, repeal signifies that change is indeed possible," they said in the statement.
But the groups also urged the government not to heed calls from religious conservatives to enshrine the definition of marriage in the constitution, saying this would signal that LGBTQ+ citizens were not equal.
Resistance
In February, Singapore's highest court had ruled that since the law was not being enforced, it did not breach constitutional rights, as the plaintiffs had argued, and it reaffirmed that the law could not be used to prosecute men for having gay sex.
Some religious groups including Muslims, Catholics and some Protestants continued to resist any repeal of the law, Lee said.
An alliance of more than 80 churches expressed strong disappointment on Sunday over the government's decision.
"The repeal is an extremely regrettable decision which will have a profound impact on the culture that our children and future generations of Singaporeans will live in," it said.
Singapore is a multiracial and multi-religious society of 5.5 million, of whom about 16% are Muslim, with bigger Buddhist and Christian communities. It has a predominantly ethnic Chinese population with sizeable Malay and Indian minorities, according to the 2020 census.
Stressing his government's continued support for the traditional definition of marriage, Lee said: "We believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, that children should be raised within such families, that the traditional family should form the basic building block of society."
Singapore will "protect the definition of marriage from being challenged constitutionally in the courts", he said. "This will help us repeal Section 377A in a controlled and carefully considered way."


Submersible exploring Titanic wreck missing over 24 hours

US and Canadian coast guard teams were racing Monday to locate and rescue a submersible tourist vessel with five people aboard that went missing on a dive to the Titanic's wreckage in the North Atlantic.
The 21-foot (6.5m) craft, operated by OceanGate Expeditions, began its descent early Sunday and lost contact with the surface less than two hours later.
One of those on board is believed to be a British aviator, after he posted on social media about joining the expedition beforehand.
The US Coast Guard said it has launched a sweeping search approximately 1,450km east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, while the Canadian Coast Guard said it too is taking part in the effort with fixed wing aircraft and a ship sent to the search zone.
"It is a challenge to conduct a search in that remote area, but we are deploying all available assets to make sure that we can locate the craft and rescue the people on board," US Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger told reporters in Boston, where he was overseeing the operation.
"We work very very hard" in the search effort, "and our crews take this personally," he added.
Time is a critical factor. The vessel has a range of 96 hours for a crew of five, and Mauger said Monday afternoon he believed it still had 70 or more hours of remaining oxygen.
On its website OceanGate Expedition says a dive expedition to the Titanic site was "currently underway."
The company uses a submersible named Titan for its dives to a maximum depth of 4,000m.
In a statement quoted by CBS News and other media outlets, OceanGate Expeditions said: "Our entire focus is on the crewmembers in the submersible and their families."
British billionaire and aviator Hamish Harding had on Sunday posted on his Instagram account that he was "proud to finally announce" he had joined the OceanGate Expedition "for their RMS Titanic Mission as a mission specialist on the sub going down to the Titanic."
"Due to the worst winter in Newfoundland in 40 years, this mission is likely to be the first and only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023," added the 58-year-old aviator.
"A weather window has just opened up and we are going to attempt a dive tomorrow."
Admiral Mauger would not confirm the identity of any of those onboard.
Harding wrote that "the team on the sub has a couple of legendary explorers, some of which have done over 30 dives to the RMS Titanic since the 1980s."
OceanGate was not immediately reachable, and Harding's company Action Aviation, contacted by AFP, declined to comment.
On surface or underwater?
The US Coast Guard has launched two C-130 planes to survey the surface, while Canada has deployed aircraft "which utilises sonar technology with buoys," chief petty officer Robert Simpson told AFP.
He said that "after the expected time of return" for the submersible, the OceanGate ship "conducted an initial search and were unable to find anything or any sign of the submarine and they contacted the Coast Guard."
OceanGate said in its statement it was "deeply thankful for the extensive assistance we have received from several government agencies and deep sea companies in our efforts to reestablish contact with the submersible."
The Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in 1912 during its maiden voyage from England to New York with 2,224 passengers and crew on board. More than 1,500 people died in the tragedy.
The wreckage is in two main pieces 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, some 13,000 feet underwater. It was found in 1985 and remains a source of fascination and a lure for nautical experts and underwater tourists.
Without having studied the craft itself, Alistair Greig, professor of marine engineering at University College London, suggested two possible theories based on images of the vessel published by the press.
He said if it had an electrical or communications problem, it could have surfaced and remained floating, "waiting to be found."
"Another scenario is the pressure hull was compromised – a leak," he said in a statement. "Then the prognosis is not good."
An underwater rescue While the submersible may still be intact during its dive, "there are very few vessels" able to go to the depth to which the Titan might have travelled.


Malaysia attracted RM123.3 billion approved investments from January to June

Malaysia attracted RM123.3 billion (US$28.0 billion) worth of approved investments in the manufacturing, services and primary sectors involving 1,714 projects from January to June 2022 with 57,771 job opportunities expected to be created in the country.
In a statement today, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) said foreign direct investments (FDIs) remained the major contributor at 70.9% or RM87.4 billion (US$19.9 billion), while investments from domestic sources contributed 29.1% amounting to RM35.9 billion (US$8.2 billion).
During this period, the services sector assumed a significant role in driving the country’s economic recovery, accounting for 63.3% of total approved investments with RM78.0 billion (US$17.7 billion) from 1,351 projects.
This translates to an increase of 48.8% from the RM52.4 billion (US$12.6 billion) worth of investments for the first six months a year ago, the statement said.
A total of 22,569 new jobs are expected to be created in the services sector for 2022, the statement said.
The manufacturing sector came next, with RM43.1 billion (US$9.8 billion) worth of approved investments, accounting for 34.9% of total approved investments versus RM75.8 billion (US$18.3 billion) for January to June 2021.
Mida cited a mega project approval for the high total approved investments in the manufacturing sector in the 2021 period.
Of the total FDIs approved, Mida said China dominated with investments totalling RM48.6 billion (US$11 billion), followed by Germany (RM9 billion), Singapore (RM6 billion), Brunei (RM5.1 billion), and the Netherlands (RM4.1 billion).
For state-approved projects, Mida said five major states – Johor, Selangor, Sabah, Kedah and Penang – contributed RM103.5 billion (US$23.5 billion), or 83.9% of the total investments approved.
International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali said Malaysia was on the right trajectory to secure more high quality, high impact and capital intensive projects, with services being the economy’s key growth driver and the largest contributor for approved investments for the first half of the year.
"In maintaining the momentum, Miti will continue to strengthen the country’s competitiveness by developing economic complexity, nurturing a strong industrial ecosystem with innovation intensity, enhancing inclusivity by creation of high-income jobs and promoting opportunities to participate in the regional and global supply chains.
"Driven by the National Investment Aspirations, we will intensify our focus towards sectors such as the digital economy, electrical and electronics, pharmaceutical, chemical and aerospace with significant economic potential and sustainable long-term growth," he said.
Mida said the government had lined up strategic and focused trade and investment missions targeted at capturing investments in high technology, innovation and research-driven industries that will complement and further strengthen the Malaysian industrial ecosystem.
Mida said foreign investments made up the largest portion, recording RM50.4 billion (US$11.5 billion) or 64.6% of total approved investments for the services sector, while the remaining 35.4%, or RM27.6 billion (US$6.3 billion), was from domestic sources.


Najib could be freed on bail, lawyer Shafee says

Najib Razak's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah says the former prime minister stands a chance of being released on bail if the Federal Court accepts his application for a review of the verdict and sentence handed down in his RM42 million SRC International case.
Speaking to reporters in Putrajaya today, he said two possibilities might occur if the court accepts the application.
Firstly, he said, the case would be retried at the Federal Court.
"I think that is the most likely to happen," he said.
"But if they agree about justice Mohd Nazlan Ghazali and his qualifications, they might order for the whole thing to go back to the High Court for trial, not for the appeal alone.
"For the whole trial to start from the beginning."
When asked if Najib might be released on bail, Shafee said this too was a possibility.
"If it is through the High Court, in court he was given bail. So he will get the same bail," he said.
"If he goes to the Federal Court, he will be given bail while waiting for the Federal Court's decision."
Najib, the former Pekan MP, was convicted in July 2020 of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power, and money laundering, fined RM210 million and sentenced to 12 years in jail.
He lost his subsequent appeals at the Court of Appeal and Federal Court, and was ordered on Aug 23 last year to begin serving his jail term.
His application for a review of the apex court's decision was heard today by a panel of five new judges led by Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli.
Abdul Rahman was joined by Court of Appeal judge Abu Bakar Jais and Federal Court judges Vernon Ong Lam Kiat, Rhodzariah Bujang and Nordin Hassan.
Shafee said he was confident in Najib's case, adding that the review was for a "super good reason".
"Because he was not given a fair trial," he added.
The case proceedings will continue on Feb 20.


PN rejects palace proposal to form govt with PH

Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin today revealed that he had refused a proposal that his coalition join hands with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to form a unity government.
"I was asked to sign a document if we agreed. I signed, but said 'do not agree'.
"That is a stand we have taken," he said.
Muhyiddin also showed an official proof of receipt from the palace of 115 statutory declarations showing that he had the majority support to form the government.
"That is why we were confident that we could form the government. But as you know, we were told it was not sufficient. I don't know the reasons behind this. But this is the proof.
"As such, Tuanku proposed that we join forces with PH to form a unity government.
"But on whatever basis, we will not agree to it."


Much awaited vaccines on the way, with a good dosage of problems

Two agreements inked by the government will ensure that millions of Malaysians are vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus.The agreement with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, whose vaccine is awaiting the nod from the US authorities on Dec 10, is expected to cover 6.4 million Malaysians, or 20% of the population.Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who recently made this announcement, said the vaccine would be administered in two shots, three weeks apart.Another vaccine, under the Covax global collaboration to fight Covid-19, aims to inoculate 3.2 million Malaysians, or 10% of the population.Combined, the two vaccines, to arrive on Malaysian shores early next year, will cover 9.6 million Malaysians.Pfizer’s vaccine has generated more interest. The company has reported about 95% effectiveness when administered in a two-dose regimen.Once the nod comes from US drug regulator the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, some 6.4 million doses of the vaccine will be dispatched across America.It is now clear that America, the country worst affected by Covid-19 with 13 million cases and over 265,000 deaths, is leading the race to find the cure for Covid-19.As such, how the vaccine is distributed and implemented in America will be keenly watched by other countries, and there will be lessons for Malaysia.A local public health group recently warned of a major concern about Pfizer’s vaccine.It would require ultra-cold storage of -70 degrees Celsius, which means the logistical part of distributing the vaccine could be as central and critical as injecting it into the veins of millions of people.“We expect the most challenging part of the process will be the delivery of the vaccine to rural areas. Due to limitations and pragmatic concerns, will urban areas end up being prioritised over rural areas?” asked Azrul Mohd Khalib, who heads the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy.The logistical nightmare was anticipated as early as May by the Trump administration which launched Operation Warp Speed, a public–private initiative to accelerate the manufacturing and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines.“We expect the most challenging part of the process will be the delivery of the vaccine to rural areas.”In the US, the plan is to distribute Pfizer vaccines in special containers packed with dry ice, or thermal shippers which can hold up to 5,000 doses.But the ice must be replenished, and to preserve the integrity of the vaccine, the container cannot be opened more than twice.Azrul also asked whether the health ministry would acquire such storage containers.“Are we going to acquire Pfizer’s special ice boxes? Have we allocated for the record-keeping system that will be needed?”Once out of the shipments, the vaccine can only be stored for five days in a regular fridge.Those tasked with administering the vaccine will also need special training on how to handle it.For example, the Pfizer vaccine must be diluted with saline, unlike other common vaccines.“This isn’t something where you can watch the video and then you are ready to go,” Claire Hannan of the Association of Immunisation Managers, a vaccine interest group in the US, told The Economist recently.For now, the US is undergoing “dry runs” on how to administer vaccines effectively once they arrive.Questions are being asked on the anticipated problems and issues surrounding what is perhaps the most keenly awaited vaccine in the world in recent times.“This isn’t something where you can watch the video and then you are ready to go.”There is also the question of whether a two-time jab will be enough, or if the Covid-19 vaccine is similar to the flu vaccine which is usually taken annually.But even more challenging perhaps are the suspicions that the public may have about the potential side effects, especially if the vaccine is seen as a “rush job” in a global race to stop the spread of the virus that has claimed over a million lives and torn apart economies worldwide.In August, a poll found that one in three Americans, or 35%, did not want to be vaccinated even if the vaccine is free and has the FDA’s approval.There are also concerns that medical frontliners will not be trained to answer questions from the public that could put to rest their misgivings.The US is having a hard time battling this, and experts predict close to US$10 billion in campaigns and efforts for vaccination preparation.Malaysian authorities will need to ask the same questions in the days and weeks to come.As thousands of health workers prepare to be at the front line of vaccine recipients, authorities may have to roll out similar dry runs and think of solutions for managing the vaccination programme.


Tokyo Paralympics open after year’s virus delay

The Tokyo Paralympics opened with howling guitars and neon-streaked performers on Tuesday, with athletes ready to defy stereotypes and shatter records despite a year-long pandemic delay.Japan’s Emperor Naruhito declared the Games open surrounded by banks of vacant seats at the 68,000-capacity Olympic Stadium, with virus rules banning spectators from almost all events.International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons hailed the athletes as “beacons of hope” who had put “blood, sweat and tears” into preparing for the event.“Many doubted this day would happen, many thought it impossible, but thanks to the efforts of many, the most transformative sports event on Earth is about to begin,” he said.The pared-down ceremony took place in front of around 800 VIPs and officials, but there was a celebratory mood as 162 teams enjoyed their long-awaited moment in the global spotlight.The ceremony took “We Have Wings” as its concept, creating a mini “airport” on the stadium field.The segment told the story of a one-winged plane that takes to the skies, ending in a wild crescendo featuring musicians and dancers with disabilities.Three Japanese para-athletes – wheelchair tennis player Yui Kamiji, boccia player Shunsuke Uchida, and powerlifter Karin Morisaki – then combined to light the flame.A reduced parade of roughly 3,400 Paralympians and team officials entered the stadium, wearing masks but waving and dancing after the disappointment of the postponement and worries about a potential cancellation.A volunteer carried Afghanistan’s flag into the stadium as a “sign of solidarity” with athletes from the country, one of 21 nations unable to compete at the Games.The 13-day Paralympics, with 539 gold medals up for grabs across 22 sports, arrive two weeks after the close of an Olympics that also took place almost entirely behind closed doors over virus fears.“Change starts with sport. And from tomorrow on, Paralympic athletes start once again to change to world,” Parsons said.Virus surge in JapanParalympic athletes will be subject to the same rules as their Olympic counterparts – including daily testing and limits on their movement.The run-up to the Games has been fraught, with polling for months showing the Japanese were opposed to hosting them this summer.The mood seemed to shift once the Olympics got under way, with a majority saying they were glad it had gone ahead, but the virus situation in Japan has worsened dramatically in recent weeks.The country has recorded more than 25,000 daily infections in the past week, and while the death toll remains comparatively small at around 15,500, just 40 percent of the population is fully vaccinated.The opening ceremony came with Tokyo and 12 other regions under a virus state of emergency that largely limits the opening hours of bars and restaurants and bans them from selling alcohol.But several hundred people gathered outside the stadium before the ceremony started, hoping to taste the atmosphere despite being locked out.“I know this is a difficult time, but the athletes came to Japan despite the risks,” said 41-year-old Haruyo Yamamoto.“Since we’re hosting the Games, I want them to perform at their best.”A small handful of protesters also gathered outside the stadium, holding signs saying “No Paralympics” and shouting through megaphones.‘Blade Jumper’On Tuesday afternoon, crowds gathered in parts of Tokyo to watch the Blue Impulse air display team fly over trailing smoke in the blue, red and green colours of the Paralympic symbol.But in a sign of the ongoing concerns, New Zealand’s Paralympic team did not participate in the opening ceremony, though organisers said it was the only team to opt-out.Paralympic chiefs are hoping the mood will shift when the sporting action begins on Wednesday, with over 4,400 athletes itching to get started.Among those competing is German long-jumper Markus Rehm, dubbed the “Blade Jumper”, who is aiming to break the 8.62m world record he set himself in June.Japan’s wheelchair tennis legend Shingo Kunieda will be aiming to excite home fans, while United States wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden is hoping to add to her collection of 17 Paralympic medals.China is expected to continue its long-running Paralympic gold-medal dominance, but host Japan will be hoping its record 254-strong team can repeat the country’s Olympic gold rush.Badminton and taekwondo will make their Paralympic debuts in Tokyo.The Games will also put the spotlight on Japan’s record of disability inclusion, with activists saying more remains to be done despite some progress, especially in Tokyo, on accessibility.


Jail for Covid-positive student who confessed in letter to Singapore health minister

After testing positive for Covid-19, a university student was worried that contact tracing officers would uncover his illegal meet-ups with friends during the Singapore “circuit breaker” period so they tried to hide the evidence.However, he later confessed his misdeeds in a letter to the health minister, which landed him in court.The court heard that Leon Chua Yi Yan, 27, broke Covid-19 regulations by meeting three friends during the period when social gatherings were prohibited.His co-accused were: 26-year-old Shu Shao Qiang, 26-year-old Jarren Ng Yong Jie and 27-year-old Phan Chang Rong.The four had met on several occasions to buy drinks, smoke, and chat, their messaging logs showed.In early June, Chua developed symptoms of Covid-19 and went to a doctor. He tested positive.During the initial contact tracing process, Chua did not tell the officer that he had been illegally meeting his three friends.After his positive test, Chua called Shu to tell him the news and asked him to delete their WhatsApp chatlog, to destroy evidence they had met each other during the circuit breaker period. He then called Ng and told him the same thing.Chua asked Ng to tell Phan to delete his chats as well, but Phan did not do so.On July 20, more than a month after being diagnosed with Covid-19, Chua wrote a letter to Singapore’s health minister in which he confessed that he had met Shu, Ng and Phan on multiple occasions during the circuit breaker period.In his letter, he admitted knowingly withholding information crucial to contact tracing and obstructing those efforts.He also admitted meeting his three friends under the pretext of buying groceries, breaching Covid-19 regulations, endangering the lives of others and planning a coordinated response in case authorities had closed-circuit television footage of them gathering.After he sent the letter, Shu, Ng and Phan were contacted by the authorities. They were taken to court and fined between S$3,500 and S$10,000 for their involvement.In court on Monday, Chua pleaded guilty to four charges of breaking Covid-19 regulations.Deputy public prosecutor Joshua Lim said the nature of the activities that Chua met his friends for – smoking and chatting – was frivolous. Chua had acted with “reckless disregard” and taken actions to conceal his breach, he said.Even though Chua eventually confessed what he did in his letter to the minister, this was more than a month after his diagnosis, said Lim.In mitigation, Chua, who was not represented by a lawyer, said he was “utterly remorseful” for his actions adding that he had been naive of the severity of his mistakes.“I am trying to seek a fine-only sentence and not imprisonment,” he said. “I just graduated from NTU this June and have found a job, which I am starting next week.”He told the court that since recovering from Covid, he had dutifully followed the rules set out by the authorities and had been studiously trying to complete his degree.He added that he was “deeply shocked” to hear the prosecutor ask for a jail term. He said prison would negate his long-term employability, and that his parents were both retired and would be severely affected by his sentence.The judge told Chua he had shown a “blatant disregard for public safety and the nationwide efforts to curb the pandemic”.However, she took into account his mitigation plea and personal circumstances, and fined him S$15,000 and handed him a prison sentence of six weeks.


Selangor state assembly dissolved ahead of polls

The 14th Selangor state assembly has been officially dissolved, paving the way for state polls to be held.
The dissolution was in line with the announcement made by the sultan of Selangor’s private secretary Mohamad Munir Bani on Monday, upon the consent of Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah who also signed the proclamation of the dissolution of the state assembly.
With the dissolution of the 56-seat state assembly, Selangor will be governed by a caretaker government until the new state government is formed after the polls.
Selangor is one of six states to hold elections after the 15th general election in November last year. The other five states are Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
Kelantan was the first of the six to dissolve its state assembly yesterday.
At the 14th general election, Pakatan Harapan (PH) dominated the Selangor state assembly with 51 seats, followed by Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS with four and one, respectively.
The composition of the state assembly before the dissolution saw PH holding 40 seats (PKR-19, DAP-15, Amanah-six), BN five, Bersatu four, and Parti Bangsa Malaysia two. PAS, Pejuang, and Warisan have one each, along with one independent representative.
The Batang Kali seat meanwhile was declared vacant after the elected representative failed to attend the assembly sitting for over six months.


North Korea declares victory over Covid, reveals Kim suffered fever

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared victory over Covid-19 and his sister indicated that he too caught the virus, while vowing "deadly retaliation" against South Korea, which the North blames for causing the outbreak.
Kim ordered the lifting of maximum anti-epidemic measures imposed in May though adding that North Korea must maintain a "steel-strong anti-epidemic barrier and intensifying the anti-epidemic work until the end of the global health crisis", North Korea's KCNA news agency reported on Thursday.
North Korea has never confirmed how many people caught Covid, apparently because it lacks testing supplies.
Instead, it has reported daily numbers of patients with fever, a tally that rose to some 4.77 million. But it has registered no new such cases since July 29.
Kim made his declaration in a speech on Wednesday at a meeting on Covid policy with thousands of unmasked officials sitting indoors, according to footage from state broadcasters.
Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, also addressed the gathering and said the young leader himself had suffered from fever symptoms, according to KCNA, indicating for the first time that he was likely infected with the virus.
"Even though he was seriously ill with a high fever, he could not lie down for a moment thinking about the people he had to take care of until the end in the face of the anti-epidemic war," she said.
She did not elaborate on Kim's health but blamed propaganda leaflets from South Korea found near the border for causing the coronavirus outbreak.
North Korean defectors and activists in the South have for decades floated balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North, at times along with food, medicine, money and other items.
Kim Yo Jong criticised South Korea's new government of President Yoon Suk-yeol for seeking to lift a 2020 ban on the leaflet campaigns, calling the South an "invariable principal enemy".
"We can no longer overlook the uninterrupted influx of rubbish from South Korea," she said, threatening to "wipe out" South Korea's authorities.
"Our countermeasure must be a deadly retaliatory one."
South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles relations with the North, expressed regret about North Korea's repeated "groundless claims" regarding the origin of its Covid outbreak and its "rude and threatening remarks".
Asked about Kim's health, an official at the ministry said it could not confirm anything.
Restrictions removed
Analysts said although the authoritarian North has used the pandemic to tighten social controls, its victory declaration could be a prelude to restoring trade hampered by border lockdowns.
"The meeting seems primarily aimed at fostering unity among the people but could also be to send a message to China that they're Covid-free and ready to restart trade," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
Analysts have also said the declaration of victory over Covid may clear the way for the North to conduct its first test of a nuclear weapon since 2017.
North Korea's official death rate of 0.0016%, or 74 out of some 4.77 million, is an "unprecedented miracle", its anti-Covid chief Ri Chung Gil told the meeting.
The World Health Organization has cast doubts on North Korea's assertions.
"Whatever the truth behind the numbers, this is the story being told to the North Korean citizens. And right now the numbers are telling them that the epidemic is over," said Martyn Williams, a researcher with the US-based 38 North Project.
Like other countries, North Korea was likely balancing the need for control with public frustration with restrictions, he said.
"As of Wednesday evening, state TV was still showing 100% mask wearing in public activities but the longer cases remain at zero, I think the greater the public will question the continued limitations on their lives," Williams said.
North Korea's declaration on Covid comes despite no known vaccine programme. Instead, it says it relied on lockdowns, domestically produced medicines, and what Kim called the "advantageous Korean-style socialist system".


Bersatu to take Selangor, Negeri Sembilan MB posts if PN wins state polls, says Muhyiddin

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday said that the position of menteri besar for Selangor and Negeri Sembilan would be given to the party if Perikatan Nasional (PN) succeeds in capturing the states in the coming polls.
He said negotiations on the distribution of seats and important positions in the government between PN component parties in the six states scheduled to hold elections are almost finalised.
"We have negotiated with PAS and other parties that the (menteri besar) positions of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah remain under PAS, and God willing based on our survey, we will sweep clean in Kelantan, Kedah, Terengganu.
"In the negotiations, for Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan it was confirmed that if they win, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan will be represented by Bersatu as menteri besar while for Penang, we are confident that we can reduce the seats of our opponents and if we are destined to win, the position of chief minister will be determined by party which gets the most seats," he said when winding up the debate at the 5th Bersatu 2022 annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
Muhyiddin, who is also the PN chairman, said that efforts to capture Selangor from Pakatan Harapan would be led by Bersatu vice-president Radzi Jidin, PN information chief Mohamed Azmin Ali and Bersatu Selangor chairman Abdul Rashid Ansari as joint coordinators.
At a press conference afterwards, Muhyiddin said the status of Bersatu's accounts which have been frozen by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission would not affect the number of seats for which Bersatu would contest in the state elections.
He admitted that it would not be easy to capture Selangor, but said that Bersatu and PN had strategies in place to deal with the situation.
On Pejuang's application to join PN in the upcoming elections, he said the matter would be discussed by the PN Supreme Council this week.
The Pagoh MP also said that he would not retract his allegations against former finance minister Lim Guan Eng as the individual responsible for the decision to reimpose taxes on the Al-Bukhary Foundation.
Muhyiddin claimed that as finance minister, Lim was responsible for the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and the decision to reimpose taxes and a 45% penalty tax on Yayasan Al-Bukhary, an organisation that does Islamic charity work and which was also under his responsibility.
"I know why he did that. He was afraid because the decision to cancel the tax exemption happened when he was the finance minister and LHDN under his administration.
"This is what he needs to explain, instead of giving me a period of time for me to retract my previous statement," he said.
Lim had given Muhyiddin until March 15 to apologise for accusing him of cancelling the tax exemption for Yayasan Al-Bukhary while he was finance minister, failing which he said the former prime minister would face legal action for defamation.


Ku Nan found guilty in RM2 million graft case

The High Court today found former federal territories minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor guilty of receiving RM2 million from a businessman four years ago.Judge Mohamed Zaini, who delivered the verdict at the Kuala Lumpur court complex, ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.Tengku Adnan, popularly known as Ku Nan, had been charged in his capacity as a public servant with having received for himself a total of RM2 million from businessman Chai Kin Kong, who is Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd director, via a Hong Leong Islamic Bank cheque belonging to the company which was deposited into a CIMB account owned by Tadmansori Holdings Sdn Bhd, in which Tengku Adnan had an interest.Tengku Adnan, who is MP for Putrajaya, was accused of committing the offence at the Pusat Bandar Damansara branch of CIMB Bank Bhd on June 14, 2016. He was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code which carries an imprisonment of up to two years, a fine or both upon conviction.Zaini said there was no evidence to show that Tengku Adnan had withdrawn RM2 million from Tadmansori’s account to pay the expenses of the by-elections in Sg Besar and Kuala Kangsar.“It is undoubtedly apparent that the RM2 million remained in Tadmansori’s account for the accused’s benefit and not to pay for the two by-elections,” Zaini said, adding that Tengku Adnan had used Tadmansori “as a facade for his crime”.


TikTok says it's neutral as Fahmi follows up on bias claims

TikTok broke its silence today after weeks of claims on the perceived role of its video content during the general election last year, dismissing accusations that its moderators were politically biased in pushing videos critical of the current government.
This followed claims in a video that an opposition party member had been a moderator of the firm operating TikTok in Malaysia.
Earlier today, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the government would study the allegations.
But TikTok said there was no truth to the claim that its moderators were politically biased.
It acknowledged promoting some videos to introduce celebrities and emerging creators, but said no political ads were allowed on the platform, according to the rules set for account owners from the government, politicians and political parties.
"To that end, we do not allow paid ads that promote or oppose a candidate, government, current leader, political party or group, or issue at the federal, state, or local level," said TikTok Malaysia's public policy head Hafizin Tajudin
He added that content moderators had no access to tools to promote content.
"TikTok’s content moderation decisions are based on a set of clearly defined community guidelines and have layers of checks and balances including quality assurance and third-party fact-checkers, to uphold safety and ensure fairness in moderation."
TikTok videos have been on the uptrend of late, especially during the recent general election when political party supporters made use of its wide audience reach.
Many Pakatan Harapan leaders said that TikTok videos had influenced the millions of newly registered young voters, resulting in their support for the Perikatan Nasional coalition led by Muhyiddin Yassin.


Thousands in Brazil join anti-Bolsonaro protests

Thousands of Brazilians took to the streets Saturday to protest against President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces an investigation over an allegedly corrupt Covid vaccine deal.It was the third day of demonstrations against the government, which is also confronting mounting pressure from a parliamentary inquiry into its handling of the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed more than 500,000 lives in the country.Lima Mendes, a 47-year-old physician taking part in a Rio de Janeiro protest, squarely blamed the government for the high death toll.“This government has killed more than 500,000 people through its spurious decisions, fake news, lies and now this absurd corruption scandal over the vaccines,” she told AFP.There were rallies as well in the cities of Sao Paulo, Belem, Recife and Maceio, with protesters carrying signs saying things like “Genocidal Bolsonaro”, “Impeachment Already” and “Yes to the Vaccines”.In its first two months of hearings, the parliamentary panel of inquiry focused on the government’s delays in ordering vaccine supplies even as it promoted ineffective drugs like hydroxychloroquine and as Bolsonaro belittled masking and social distancing measures.The inquiry took a sudden turn, however, after a health ministry official, Luis Ricardo Miranda, said he had faced “atypical, excessive” pressure to approve the purchase of three million doses of the Indian-made Covaxin vaccine at a cost far higher than for other vaccines.Miranda said he had personally conveyed his suspicions to Bolsonaro and that the president indicated he would raise the issue with the federal police. He apparently did not do so.This led federal prosecutors to announce Friday that they were investigating to determine whether Bolsonaro had committed a crime by failing to denounce the alleged fraud.Prosecutors are also investigating a businessman’s assertion that he was offered a bribe by a health ministry official while negotiating a vaccine purchase. The official, who was subsequently removed from his position, has denied the claim.Bolsonaro, who came to power in 2019, has rejected all claims of government corruption, instead denouncing the parliamentary inquiry as a political “antic” aimed at forcing him from office.The opposition this week presented a “super-impeachment-request” listing dozens of accusations, some old, some new, against the far-right leader.


Daily caseload below 3,000 as 9 more deaths reported

Another 2,913 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,902,964.
There were 2,833 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,835,053.
There are now 31,436 active cases, of which 29,973 or 95.3% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0.0%) are at quarantine centres while 1,407 (4.5%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 56 are in ICU with 34 in need of respiratory assistance.
Another nine deaths were reported, including one who was brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 36,475.


Don't be influenced by anti-govt groups, Zahid tells Umno election candidates

Umno members, including those contesting the party election, especially for Supreme Council seats, were yesterday reminded not to be influenced by groups aiming to destablise the current administration.
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he did not want to be among those who support other parties and set aside Umno's struggle.
The deputy prime minister said he hoped those who were contesting were committed to strengthening Umno at all levels, especially the national level.
"We do not want there to be candidates championing the 'end block' or the 'on block' in Umno today," he said at the introduction of Umno election candidates in Kota Kinabalu last night.
He added that candidates were also reminded to comply with election regulations as there had been those who lost their qualifications before election day. He said the election committee had the right to nullify victories, and voiced hope that candidates would understand the regulations set.
When met by reporters, Zahid said Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan had received a letter from the home ministry granting the 2022 Umno general assembly exemption for the motion of no-contest for the top two posts.
He said it was because Umno permanent chairman Badruddin Amiruddin had followed all the regulations contained in the general assembly rules and the motion was in accordance with the party’s constitution.
"The Registrar of Societies is tasked with ensuring the interests of members, and whichever body registered with it in accordance with their constitution.
"So in this matter, the authority of the minister is absolute in determining the validity of the 2022 Umno general assembly," he said.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was earlier reported as saying that his ministry had given Umno an exemption from Section 13(1)(c)(iv) of the Societies Act 1966 (Act 832) relating to the additional no-contest motion for the presidency and deputy presidency during this year’s party election.
Saifuddin said the ministry had referred to the Umno constitution and assembly regulations regarding the motion and provided the exemption based on Section 70 of Act 832.


No prosecution witnesses for the day, Najib’s 1MDB trial postponed

Najib Razak’s 1MDB trial this afternoon was vacated after the High Court was informed that no prosecution witnesses would turn up to testify.Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib said the prosecution had tried to call a few witnesses to come to court but to no avail as most of them were working and had their own matters to attend to.“We could not get them at such short notice. Most of them are at work. I apologise for this, My Lord. Therefore, I’m humbly applying for the trial to be vacated for today. The next dates for this trial are Jan 26 and 27.“We already prepared four witnesses to be on standby on those dates. The witnesses are former 1MDB chief financial officer Azmi Tahir, former 1MDB director Ismee Ismail, former chairman of 1MDB Mohd Bakke Salleh and Wan Ahmad Shihab Wan Ismail, Najib’s former special officer.“If anything happens, we will have a backup, not like today. I apologise for this,” he said.Trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah then thanked the prosecutor for his efforts.“See you all on Jan 26,” he said.During proceedings this morning, the judge ordered the prosecution team to get other witnesses to testify after the 12th prosecution witness, Azmi, who was supposed to continue testifying today, came down with a fever.The judge asked the prosecution to try to get at least one of the over 50 prosecution witnesses to attend the afternoon proceedings.Najib, the Pekan MP, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.


India's June palm oil, soyoil imports jump on lower prices-dealers

India's June palm oil imports jumped 49% from the previous month to their highest in three months as buyers took advantage of a dip in prices to their lowest in 28 months to increase purchases, six dealers told Reuters.
A rebound in buying by the world's biggest vegetable oil importer would support Malaysian palm oil futures and help top producers Indonesia and Malaysia to trim inventories.
Palm oil imports by India rose to 655,000 metric tons in June, up from 439,173 metric tons in May, according to average estimates from the dealers.
May imports were the lowest since February 2021 as the tropical oil started trading at a premium to soyoil and sunflower oil over the past few months, prompting buyers to shift to the cheaper soft oils.
But lower imports in May and the price correction encouraged Indian buyers to increase purchases in June, said Sandeep Bajoria, CEO of Sunvin Group, a vegetable oil brokerage and consultancy firm.
Price-sensitive Asian buyers typically rely on palm oil because of the low cost and quick shipping times.
The Solvent Extractors' Association of India is likely to publish its June vegetable oil import data by mid-July.
India's soyoil imports in June surged 35% from a month ago to 432,000 metric ton, according to the dealers.
Soyoil's premium over palm oil had been negligible in the last few months, which is pushing buyers to increase purchases, said Rajesh Patel, managing partner at GGN Research, an edible oil trader and broker.
Sunflower oil imports in June plunged 36% from a month ago to 190,000 metric tons, dealers said.
India buys palm oil mainly from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, while it imports soyoil and sunflower oil from Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Ukraine.


Highway authority expects 2.3 million vehicles daily on major expressways during Raya

The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) expects an increase in traffic volume of up to 2.3 million vehicles daily on the three major expressways in the country starting today until May 7 in conjunction with the Aidilfitri celebration.
LLM, in a statement today, said that the expected increase in traffic is on the North-South Expressway (PLUS), Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway and East Coast Expressway 1.
To ensure smooth traffic flow and reduce congestion on expressways, it has instructed the highway concessionaires to take several steps to minimise the impact of the increase in traffic.
These include stopping construction and maintenance work involving the closure of highway lanes effective April 18 until May 7 and issuing travel time advisories to help motorists plan their journey, as well as displaying traffic information and reminders for them to top up their Touch 'n Go or e-Wallets before starting their journey on electronic signages. The highway concessionaires are also requested to station their staff at toll plazas to assist motorists in ensuring smooth traffic flow, especially when the free toll initiative is in effect, in addition to ensuring the system and operations at the toll plazas run smoothly.
They are also requested to open additional toll lanes in areas identified to have high traffic.
LLM will also ensure that the concessionaires deploy enough emergency response team members to deal with any incidents, as well as provide additional facilities in parking lots and portable toilets at several R&R areas along PLUS and East Coast Expressway 2.
To optimise the free toll initiative that starts today until April 21 and on April 24, the Touch 'n Go or SmartTAG card needs to be tapped at the toll plaza, while users of the radio frequency identification (RFID) need to enter and exit the highway using RFID lanes.
The LLM Traffic Management Centre will operate for 24 hours from April 19 to 26 to provide the latest traffic information to highway users.


Over 33,000 evacuated amid Johor floods

The number of evacuees in flood-hit Johor continued to rise this morning, with 33,149 victims at 217 relief centres as of 8am.
This is up from the 28,486 evacuees recorded at 8pm last night and 26,633 yesterday afternoon.


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Najib pocketed RM3.2 billion from 1MDB, FBI agent tells US court

A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigator told the ongoing bribery trial of ex-banker Roger Ng that former prime minister Najib Razak stole US$756 million (about RM3.2 billion) of the total US$6.5 billion raised in the bond offerings arranged by Goldman Sachs.Eric Van Dorn also named several other individuals who received the money, including fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho who took US$1.42 billion; Khadem al-Qubaisi, the former managing director of Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Company who got US$472.8 million; former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner (US$73.4 million) and Najib’s stepson Riza Aziz (US$238 million).Meanwhile, Van Dorn testified that Ng took US$35.1 million from two of the three bond transactions.He said they were among 16 individuals tracked by him during investigations into the missing 1MDB funds.Ng, a former Goldman Sachs executive, was charged with receiving millions of dollars in kickbacks for helping embezzle funds from 1MDB.He has claimed trial to conspiring to launder money and to violate an anti-bribery law.The charges stem from one of the biggest financial scandals in history, in which US prosecutors say US$4.5 billion of the US$6.5 billion Goldman raised for 1MDB was diverted to government officials, bankers and their associates through bribes and kickbacks.Najib, the Pekan MP, was found guilty in July 2020 of seven counts of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power involving RM42 million in funds from 1MDB-linked unit SRC International.On Dec 7 last year, the Court of Appeal upheld his conviction and sentence with the panel judges describing the transactions into his account as a “national embarrassment”.Najib is currently appealing his case at the Federal Court.


Now, Zahid’s men ramp up pressure on GLC heads

Umno leaders appointed as heads and board members of GLCs have been urged to quit their posts immediately, as Ahmad Zahid Hamidi seeks to accelerate his party’s clean break from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, MalaysiaNow has learnt.A source in Umno spoke of frantic efforts by Zahid’s men to personally get in touch with hundreds of Umno members spread across GLCs nationwide at both the federal and state levels.“He is hoping that this time, there will be a domino effect after the failure to get Umno MPs, assemblymen and division leaders to resign from their GLC positions following Jazlan’s move,” the source told MalaysiaNow, referring to Kelantan Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub who resigned as chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board in January.Since late last year, Zahid and former president Najib Razak have been urging Umno members to quit all GLC positions as part of their efforts to topple Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.Umno had earlier said that all of its GLC appointees would quit their posts by August.Positions in GLCs ensure ready perks and allowances, and have been used by successive governments to consolidate their position and control in the economic sectors.Under the previous Barisan Nasional government, then-prime minister Najib had vast control over who got to be in GLCs through his portfolio in the finance ministry, which wields influence over corporate bodies.The government’s corporate control saw minor tweaks made under the Pakatan Harapan government despite promises of reforms, with control of GLCs largely transferred to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), and dozens of individuals linked to key politicians appointed to senior posts.Through the government’s fund management company Permodalan Nasional Bhd and sovereign fund Khazanah Nasional, both under the control of the PMO, the government owns some of the largest and most profitable corporate entities including banks, utility and oil and gas companies, as well as institutions in the lucrative healthcare sector.Major federal GLCs headed by Umno at the moment include UDA Holding (Jalaluddin Alias), Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (Hasbullah Osman), Perbadanan PR1MA Malaysia (Shahidan Kassim), Amanah Raya Bhd (Ramli Mohd Nor), Tenaga Nasional (Mahdzir Khalid), Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority, Risda (Salim Sharif), Malaysian Rubber Board (Ahmad Nazlan Idris), Boustead Holding (Mohamed Khaled Nordin) and MyIPO (Mohamad Alamin).Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman was removed from Prasarana Malaysia in May following a controversial press conference.“Together, these companies control billions of ringgit and tens of thousands of employees. There is no guarantee that these individuals could be reappointed in these companies should there be a change of government,” the Umno source told MalaysiaNow.


PH leaders question Umno ‘delegation’ with Ismail on PM’s jet

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob drew criticism from Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders as well as social media users after a set of pictures showing him posing with a group of Umno leaders in his official jet made the rounds, hours after he clocked in for his first day of work at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday.It is understood that Ismail had flown to Kedah, where several areas were hard hit by floods over the weekend.The pictures showed Ismail on the jet accompanied by former Kedah menteri besar Mahdzir Khalid, Umno Supreme Council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, Kuala Krau MP Ismail Mohamed Said and several others.Some questioned why there were so many people tagging along with the prime minister on the plane, adding that the Umno leaders were not being sensitive to the current economic hardships faced by the people.Amanah vice-president Mahfuz Omar sarcastically referred to the phrase “Malaysian Family” which Ismail had used in his maiden speech as prime minister on Sunday.“Thank God for ‘family’,” the Pokok Sena MP added.Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob poses with Umno leaders on the government jet.In a similar tone, PKR activist Hasmi Hashim tweeted that his party boss Anwar Ibrahim would probably be blamed for this as well.“Umno jostling for power was Anwar’s fault. Ismail going on a plane ride with many people is Anwar’s fault, that’s that,” Hasmi said, in the wake of criticism over Anwar’s failure to obtain the support of the majority to become prime minister.Kedah Amanah chairman Ismail Salleh meanwhile mocked the large group on the plane.“How fun to have one big family on one jet,” he said.Yesterday, Ismail announced that RM75 million would be channelled to Kedah to repair the damaged infrastructure and public facilities in Yan and Merbok following the Gunung Jerai mudflow last Wednesday.Ismail, the Umno vice-president, was appointed to replace Muhyiddin Yassin who resigned after losing his fragile majority due to a group of MPs led by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Najib Razak withdrawing their support for him.