For some, going home to vote a distant and expensive dream

Some 21 million voters across the country will be eligible to cast their ballots at the long anticipated election on Nov 19 – but not all of them may make it to the polling booth in order to do so.
For some, travelling back to their home town in order to vote is literally a distant dream as they lack the money to make the trip in the middle of the month, some two weeks before payday.
Farahin Abas, 29, works as a nanny in Singapore. Speaking to MalaysiaNow, she said she did not plan to travel back to Johor for the election as she had already returned to vote at the state polls in March.
"I have to save, otherwise I won't be able to go back for Hari Raya," she said.
A total of 21,173,638 people are registered to vote at the 15th general election (GE15).
Of these, 20,905,366 are regular voters, 146,737 are military voters and their spouses, 118,794 are police officers and their spouses, and 2,741 are overseas absentee voters.
Farahin, who hails from Batu Pahat, said she only began receiving babysitting requests and a basic salary early this year.
During the pandemic, she received neither salary nor compensation from her company.
"I had to spend a lot of money to pay off my credit card bills," she said.
"During the pandemic, I ordered my food online, and I also had to pay my car and study loans.
"My home town is only in Batu Pahat, but I don't know how I would be able to go back for the election."
Lai Li Hing from Kuching, Sarawak, cannot afford to go home for GE15 either.
"The flight tickets were all too expensive," Lai, who is studying at a university in the Klang Valley, said.
"After looking at all of the prices, I decided not to go home – it's just too expensive."
As a first-time voter, she said, her situation was unfortunate.
"Of course I wanted to participate in the ambiance of the election," she added.
"I am just starting to learn about politics."
Mohd Zaidi from Pasir Mas in Kelantan also works in Singapore as a customer service officer.
He feels that it is not worthwhile to go back only to vote for a parliamentary seat.
"I will go back next year to vote at the state election," he said.
Kelantan and Terengganu, both under PAS rule, as well as Negeri Sembilan, Penang and Selangor, under Pakatan Harapan administration, had decided against dissolving their state assemblies, in a break from tradition which usually sees states holding their elections alongside the national polls.
Melaka, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak meanwhile held their state elections either last year or early this year.
Zaidi said some in his home town had said that parties were ready to pay voters RM100 if they returned to vote.
"But even RM100 is not enough," he added. "The bus fare alone from Johor Bahru to Kelantan would be more than RM70."
Farahin meanwhile said that while the cost of returning to Batu Pahat was not too high, she needed to save for food, and give money to her parents.
"To do this, I need money," she said. "I am still saving up."


Annuar confirms no invite to BN candidate announcement

Ketereh incumbent Annuar Musa says he is leaving it to the Umno leadership to decide whether he will defend his seat in the 15th general election (GE15).
He also confirmed that he had yet to receive an invitation to tonight's announcement of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates.
He said the party had its own system of selecting candidates and that no speculation should be made.
"The question of candidates is not something that we can ask or lobby for. If we are considered by the leadership, on whatever consideration, we are just a tool for the party which chooses us to contest using its (party) logo.
"If the party does not choose us, it's not the end of everything. It doesn't stop us from contesting. We can also contest, buy the forms, pay the deposit... everybody can contest.
"(But) from my point of view as a party member, I will not lobby, will not ask, will not appeal. I leave it completely to the party and I understand that tonight there is an announcement (of BN candidates).
"So, to party members, just accept what the party decides," he told a media conference in Kota Bharu today.
Annuar, who is communications and multimedia minister, also confirmed that Ketereh Umno Puteri divisional leader Puteri Marzuani Ardila Ariffin had been given an offer to stand as the BN candidate for the Ketereh parliamentary seat.
"Whether she accepted it or not, I don't know because they are still negotiating," he added.
Annuar said Marzuani Ardila did refer to him about the offer.
"I told her that in politics, you've got to ask yourself, what is important is to win the contest. If we think we can win, then we can contribute one seat to our party.
"Don't contest just for the sake of contesting. If you feel you can win, it's good to compete (because) it involves paying a deposit, and spending hundreds of thousands of ringgit for the campaign for some people," he added.
When asked if he had other plans in the event that he is not fielded to defend his seat, Annuar, who is Ketereh Umno division chief, said he would think about it later.
"Let's say that I'm not chosen, I cannot rebel, can't be angry, but my political journey... that is when I have to sit and think about... if you do this, you will be like this, if you do that, you will be like that. So there are many options.
"Previously, you leave the opposition to join the government (or) leave the government and join the opposition, but now, if you don't belong to one party (in the government coalition), you can belong to other parties in the ruling coalition.
"The political scenario of the government has changed, PAS is also in the government, so is Bersatu. All under the leadership of the same prime minister. The choice is there," he added.


Water supply 68% restored in Klang Valley

Water supply in 998 areas in Petaling, Klang/Shah Alam, Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Langat and Kuala Selangor was restored by 68% as of noon today.Air Selangor corporate spokesman Elina Baseri, in a statement, said water supply in Hulu Selangor had been fully restored, while in Kuala Selangor, it was at 99.4% and 94.2% in Shah Alam.In Petaling, it was at 89.8%, Kuala Langat 85.7%, Kuala Lumpur 38.6% and Klang 16.8%.“The duration of water supply disruption and restoration in the affected areas will vary depending on the location of the consumer’s premises and the water pressure on the water supply distribution system.“Air Selangor continues to mobilise alternative water supply assistance via tanker trucks to critical premises such as hospitals, dialysis centres, Covid-19 quarantine and treatment centres and vaccination centres, as well as for use at funeral ceremonies,” she said.Water supply was disrupted in the affected areas due to work to improve and maintain critical assets at the Sungai Selangor Water Treatment Plant Phase 1 on Oct 13.Elina advised consumers to let the taps flow for while until the water turns clear before using it, and to use water prudently to ensure the recovery process in the affected area runs smoothly as scheduled.The status of water supply restoration will be updated from time to time through Air Selangor’s official communication channels including its website www.airselangor.com, Air Selangor application, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Consumers can also call the call centre at 15300.


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Water treatment plant project fully managed by MOF subsidiary, says Selangor exco

The implementation of the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant (LRAL 2) project is fully managed by Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB), a subsidiary of the finance ministry, Selangor Infrastructure, Public Facilities, Agricultural Modernisation and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman Izham Hashim said today.He said the state government is neither directly nor fully involved in the implementation of the project.The Selangor government is only involved in matters related to the project site and permits issued by technical agencies in the state, he added.He said several initiatives had been carried out by the state government to overcome the shortage of water supply in the state due to the delay in the completion of the LRAL2 project, including the construction of the Semenyih 2 Water Treatment Plant and Labohan Dagang Water Treatment Plant.“The state government has also obtained a loan from the finance ministry to implement the Mitigation Project 2 which involves the Sungai Selangor Water Treatment Plant Phase 3 (SSP 3).“With the projects implemented by the Selangor government, water supply to consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya will not be affected,” he said in a statement issued in response to the Auditor-General’s Report (LKAN) 2019 Series 2 on the implementation of the LRAL 2 project which has not achieved its targeted objectives.Izham said Selangor had also conducted several studies on the state’s water needs with the results showing that there are still water resources in the state that can be developed into treated water to be supplied to consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.The state government, together with Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor), will develop the Sungai Rasau Water Supply Scheme Project, which is expected to produce 1400 million litres per day of water for consumer use in the three states, he added.


China says not competing for influence in South Pacific

China has insisted it has “no intention to compete” for influence in the South Pacific as Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong again jetted around the region Wednesday on duelling diplomatic charm offensives.In a statement distributed by the Chinese embassy in Canberra, Beijing said it “does not seek exclusive rights” in the region and “we have no intention to compete with others”.The claim comes as Wang nears the end of a contentious 10-day visit to Pacific Island nations that has seen China pitch a radically increased role in regional security, much to the concern of the United States and Australia.“China respects Australia’s historical and traditional ties in the region and there is enough space in the vast Pacific Ocean for China, Australia and all island countries to share peace, development and prosperity,” the statement said.Although Wang failed to secure support for a regional security deal that would have seen Beijing play a much bigger role in sensitive areas including policing and cybersecurity, he has inked a series of country-specific agreements on his trip.In Vanuatu on Wednesday, agreements were announced on deepening economic ties and sending Chinese medical teams to the country.In Tonga on Tuesday, Wang pledged China’s support for sports stadium and wind power projects, according to Chinese state media, while signing deals on disaster prevention and mitigation, agriculture, fisheries and health care.Wang’s South Pacific trip concludes with a stop in Papua New Guinea on Thursday and Friday.Australian blitzThe visit has prompted the newly elected Australian government to embark on a diplomatic blitz to shore up decades-old alliances.Australia’s new foreign minister Penny Wong said she was heading back to the Pacific Islands, travelling to Samoa and Tonga just days after Wang visited.Since being sworn in nine days ago, Wong has already visited Japan – for a meeting of Quad countries the United States, India, Japan and Australia – and Fiji.Australia’s new centre-left government is playing catch-up after years of relations with the Pacific being hampered by the former conservative administration’s foot-dragging on climate change.Rising sea levels are seen as an existential threat by many of the low-lying Pacific Island nations.Visiting Fiji, Wong said Australia would set new, more ambitious emissions targets and bid to co-host a future UN climate conference with Pacific Island countries.There would be no more “disrespecting” Pacific nations or “ignoring” their calls to act on climate change, she said.


Anwar's MoU not the same as Ismail's, PN MP slams Fahmi

Bersatu's Padang Serai MP today hit out at remarks by communications minister Fahmi Fadzil equating the memorandum of understanding (MoU) recently inked by government parties with the agreement signed between former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Pakatan Harapan (PH) in September last year.
In a statement, Azman Nasrudin described Fahmi's comments as a cheap political move to confuse the people.
"Firstly, there was no provision in the agreement between Ismail and PH forcing MPs to support the prime minister or other proposals related to the legitimacy of the government," he said.
"There was no provision like Clause 4 of this illegal MoU in the Ismail-PH agreement, there was absolutely no coercion."
He added that Perikatan Nasional had never challenged the right of government parties to sign such an agreement, saying any objection now was related to "attempts to bring about a dictatorship".
The MoU, signed on Dec 16, stated among others that all parties must support the prime minister in confidence motions or supply bills as well as in any other parliamentary procedure that could affect the continuity of the government.
It also said the onus was on the parties involved to ensure how their MPs vote, adding that MPs who vote outside party lines will be deemed as disqualified, and their seats declared vacant.
This came about three weeks after Anwar Ibrahim was named as prime minister, following days of political stalemate in the aftermath of the 15th general election, where none of the major coalitions secured the simple majority needed to form the government.
The agreement sparked a heated debate with the Malaysian Bar saying yesterday that Clause 4 appeared "directly averse" to the anti-hopping bill to prevent MPs from switching camps.
Azman meanwhile asked how democratic practices could coexist with what he called "elements of coercion and threats" against MPs.
"Article 49A of the constitution frequently cited by PH to whitewash this illegal MoU only relates to party hopping.
"It does not force MPs to support the government or any of its motions," he said, referring to the law barring MPs from switching camps.


Shanghai extends weekly Covid testing requirement until end-September

China's most populous city Shanghai has extended its weekly Covid-19 test requirement and extended free testing until the end of September in a bid to keep the virus in check, authorities announced on Saturday.
Citizens without a record of a nucleic acid test from within seven days will be assigned a yellow code on Shanghai's health code system, the official notice said. A yellow code restricts access to some public venues.
On Saturday health authorities in the financial hub of 25 million said they detected one symptomatic and three asymptomatic cases a day earlier.
The southern province of Hainan is currently China's worst hit region, with 594 symptomatic cases and 832 asymptomatic cases reported on Saturday for 24 hours earlier.
Tight restrictions and lockdowns in the popular tourist destination are expected to last over the weekend.
On Saturday China's National Health Commission reported a total of 2,144 new Covid-19 infections on Aug 12, of which 704 were symptomatic and 1,440 were asymptomatic.


Petition calls for transgender weightlifter to be banned from Tokyo Olympics

Laurel Hubbard, a champion weightlifter, has been selected by New Zealand to be part of the New Zealand weightlifting team in Tokyo.She has been competitively lifting weights for years and is predicted to win medals in the competition.The only problem is that until a few years ago she was a male weightlifter.Now, reports are saying that the public feel “betrayed” by the Olympic Committee’s decision to allow Hubbard to compete in the women’s weightlifting division.Over 21,000 have signed a petition calling for the rules to be changed to ensure a level playing field for less powerful “natural born women”.The 43-year-old competitive weightlifter will be the first transgender athlete to compete at sport’s highest level.But when Daily Mail Australia revealed she captained her high school team to glory at Auckland’s exclusive Saint Kentigern Boys’ College in 1994, thousands of outraged readers suggested her inclusion in the female division was distinctly unfair.‘So many women feel betrayed,’ a woman who knew Laurel when she was a young boy, said.Hubbard transitioned from a man to a woman in 2012 at the age of 35, after training and competing in male weightlifting competitions since a teenager.A poll conducted by Daily Mail Australia revealed 96% of participants thought it was unfair that Hubbard had taken a place that could have gone to another female athlete.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) changed their rules in 2015 to allow transgender women to compete once their testosterone levels fall below a specific threshold.A group named Defend Women’s Sport have taken issue with this and created a petition to “Suspend the International Olympic Committee’s transgender policy”.The petition argues that Hubbard’s inclusion is “unfair to women due to the incontrovertible physical advantage that transwomen have”.It argues the testosterone level rule “completely ignores the physical advantages in speed, height, stamina and strength that a male-born athlete will have”, and the policy should be suspended immediately as “women and girls are being sacrificed by the IOC as an easy fix for transgender demands for inclusion”.Fellow weightlifter Anna Vanbellinghen has slammed Hubbard’s involvement, claiming the inclusion of transgender athletes should not come “at the expense of others”.Vanbellinghen told insidethegames: “I would like to stress that I fully support the transgender community. However, anyone that has done weightlifting at a high level knows this particular situation is unfair to the sport and to the athletes. The whole thing feels like a bad joke.”Fellow New Zealander Tracey Lambrechs has also been critical of Hubbard being allowed to compete.She told TVNZ: “I’m disappointed for the female athlete who will lose out on that spot. We’re all about equality for women in sport but right now that equality is being taken away from us.“Female weightlifters have said to me, ‘This isn’t fair, what do we do?’“Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do because every time we voice it we get told to be quiet.”


Govt ready to bring Malaysians home amid tension in Russia

The government is ready to bring home 755 Malaysian citizens from Russia if their safety is compromised, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the government is closely monitoring the development of the tensions in Russia, particularly in Moscow.
"At the same time, the government, through Wisma Putra, has made arrangements to bring home Malaysian citizens from the country at any time, if necessary.
"Foreign Minister Zambry Abd Kadir has also provided a briefing to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and myself, so we are monitoring the situation there," he told a press conference after opening the 23rd edition of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Associates (FBINAA) Asia Pacific Chapter Conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
Also present were the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain, FBINAA International president Tim Braniff, FBI International Operations Division deputy director Raymond P Duda, US Ambassador to Malaysia Brian D McFeeters and Deputy Speaker of Dewan Rakyat Ramli Mohd Nor.
It was reported that Russia has declared an anti-terrorist operation regime in Moscow and the Moscow region on Saturday after the chief of the Wagner mercenary group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was once a close ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin, vowed to overthrow Russia's military leadership.


1,309 new cases, 493 in KL

Another 1,309 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 64,485.Of these, 493 or 37.7% were recorded in Kuala Lumpur, with 473 or 95.9% from workplace clusters linked to construction sites.This was followed by Sabah which recorded 290 new cases (22.2%) and Selangor with 238 (18.2%).Perak recorded 77 new cases, Kedah 52, Penang 46, Johor 37, Labuan 35, Negeri Sembilan 32, Kelantan six, and Pahang, Melaka and Terengganu one each.No new cases were recorded in Putrajaya, Sarawak and Perlis.Active cases stand at 11,481 with 116 in the ICU and 42 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 1,333 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 52,647 or 81.6%.However, three more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 357.


US Navy engineer admits trying to sell nuclear sub secrets

A US Navy engineer admitted in federal court on Monday that he tried to sell secrets about nuclear submarines to a foreign power, the Justice Department said.Jonathan Toebbe, 43, pleaded guilty before a federal judge, more than four months after being arrested with his wife Diana Toebbe.In exchange for his guilty plea, he is expected to be sentenced to between 12.5 to 17.5 years in prison.His wife, a teacher, has so far maintained her innocence and sought release to care for their two teenage children. But her husband’s plea deal also incriminates her.“Diana Toebbe knowingly and voluntarily joined the conspiracy to communicate Restricted Data to another person with the intent to secure an advantage to a foreign nation and committed multiple overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy, including acting as a lookout while Mr. Toebbe serviced three dead drops,” the document said.The court documents did not however say which country the couple tried to sell their information to.The documents imply it was a US ally whose principal language is not English.US nuclear submarines were at the centre of a heated diplomatic crisis last September, when Australia canceled a mega-deal with France to announce a strategic partnership with the US and Britain.The Justice Department said in its statement that Toebbe had been working since 2012 on the design of the reactors for Virginia-class submarines, the latest generation of attack submersibles in the US fleet.In April 2020, he had sent a package to a foreign country with an initial set of documents and instructions for establishing contact via a return address in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The package contained “a sample of Restricted Data and instructions for establishing a covert relationship to purchase additional Restricted Data,” the Justice Department said.“Toebbe began corresponding via encrypted email with an individual whom he believed to be a representative of the foreign government. The individual was really an undercover FBI agent,” the DoJ said.Over several months, Toebbe received increasing payments in cryptocurrency for tens of thousands of dollars, and hid SD cards loaded with stolen secrets inside a peanut butter sandwich, in a packet of chewing gum and in a Band-Aid wrapper.According to court documents, the country that Toebbe believed he was selling the secrets to was cooperating with the FBI, to the point of placing a flag in its Washington embassy to gain Toebbe’s confidence.


‘No serving liquor in teapots,’ South Africa eateries warned in alcohol ban

South Africa’s police minister has warned restaurants not to smuggle booze to customers in teapots to try and get around a fresh ban on the sale of alcohol.A new, faster-spreading variant of the coronavirus was detected in South Africa about two weeks ago and is now well-established in the country.As part of a new raft of restrictions aimed at restricting further transmission, President Cyril Ramaphosa has banned gatherings except for funerals, imposed a night-time curfew and ordered all shops, bars and other venues to shut by 8pm, reports The South African.Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday after the new measures came into effect, Police Minister Bheki Cele warned that restaurant owners would lose their trading licences and be prosecuted if they flouted the ban.“Don’t put alcohol in your teapots in restaurants. Don’t put alcohol in the bottles written 0% alcohol. We know your tricks, don’t do that,” said Cele.“If we find that there is something different in the teapots and not tea we will make sure that you lose your trading licence and you may be sent to prison.”The liquor ban announced on Monday will be in place until mid-January and will be enforced by the police with support from the army.To beat a hard lockdown imposed in April and May during the first Covid-19 wave some restaurants sought to evade a ban on liquor sales by serving drinks in teapots and other containers.“Reckless behaviour due to alcohol intoxication has contributed to increased transmission. Alcohol-related accidents and violence are putting pressure on our hospital emergency units,” said Ramaphosa.On Sunday, South Africa became the first country in Africa to pass a million official Covid-19 cases, with almost 27,000 deaths since the outbreak began in March.


Floods death toll rises to 46

The death toll from Malaysia’s worst floods in years rose to 46 Saturday, with five people still missing, officials said, as work crews continued a massive clean-up on Christmas Day.Days of torrential rain caused rivers to overflow last weekend, swamping cities, cutting off major roads, and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.Selangor, Malaysia’s most densely populated and wealthiest state, encircling the capital Kuala Lumpur, has been one of the worst-hit areas.Many in its flood-hit state capital Shah Alam were left stranded in their homes with barely any food for days, before being evacuated on boats in a chaotic rescue operation.Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the death toll rose to 46 people as more bodies were recovered, with the majority of the fatalities in Selangor and Pahang.“There are still five people missing. We hope they will be found soon,” he told a press conference.He said 54,532 people were still in more than 300 evacuation centres across seven states and 68 roads remained closed due to flooding.Work crews used backhoes and lorries to remove items strewn across the streets outside people’s homes, Acryl said as he called for caution because some rivers remained swollen.Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had earlier urged the government to hold a public inquiry following the widely criticised flood response.Poor coordination between government agencies and the delayed deployment of the military “turned the response to the natural disaster into a human, governance disaster”, he said.Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has admitted there were “weaknesses” but pledged improvements in future.Malaysia is hit by floods annually during the monsoon season, from November to February, but those at the weekend were the worst since 2014.Global warming has been linked to worsening floods. Because a warmer atmosphere holds more water, climate change increases the risk and intensity of flooding from extreme rainfall.


Saudi Arabia, Gulf neighbours launch new restrictions as virus surges after New Year fun

New restrictions were initiated across Gulf Arab states on Thursday as Covid-19 resurges around the region following the relaxation of rules over New Year.State-run Saudi Press Agency blamed the new restrictions on prior “lax implementation of the preventive and precautionary measures and approved protocols”.With large populations of transient young and healthy foreign labourers, most Gulf countries have largely avoided the higher death tolls seen elsewhere around the world, the AP reports.Also, Gulf countries have some of the highest per capita vaccination rates in the world.Nevertheless, reported case numbers are rising since the New Year, sparking great concern.In Saudi Arabia, authorities have since Wednesday banned travel from 20 countries, including Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and its own neighbour the United Arab Emirates.The ban on American and European flights will negatively affect the ability of the kingdom to operate its oilfields as most production engineers and petrochemical experts come from those areas.Saudi officials also ordered all weddings and parties suspended, and closed down all shopping malls, gyms and indoor dining venues for 10 days while warning that the new measures could be extended.In Kuwait, authorities have ordered a two-week ban on foreigners arriving from Sunday, and most businesses must close at 8pm for the next month. Celebrations for its upcoming Feb 25 National Day are banned.“Non-compliance and recklessness could take the country back to square one in its fight against the pandemic,” Health Minister Dr Basel Al Sabah said, according to the state-run Kuna news agency.Qatar announced new restrictions on Wednesday. In Doha, the state-run Qatar News Agency quoted Covid-19 task force chairman Dr Abdullatif al-Khal as warning that “a remarkable increase in the number of infections may be an early indicator of a possible second wave”.Earlier this week, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, which opened itself as an international travel destination in July, closed all bars and pubs for the entire month of February and limited other activities after a spike in coronavirus cases followed New Year’s Eve celebrations that drew visitors from around the world.Dubai authorities also warned hotels and restaurants to “postpone any activity that leads to large gatherings such as weekend brunches,” state-linked newspaper The National reported. Dubai’s alcohol-soaked weekend brunches, which feature unlimited food and booze, had been going on at some restaurants and bars despite the pandemic.Oman, which has closed its land borders since mid-January but kept flights going, has been warning the public that cases continue to rise.The Times of Oman reports that arrivals in Oman are expected to self-isolate for a week but Health Minister Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Saidi commented earlier this week that, “Some people have been taking off their tracking bracelet after arriving and putting them on elderly people who do not usually leave home, to avoid quarantining.”


Philippine police rescue over 1,000 alleged trafficking victims

Philippine police said Tuesday they have rescued more than 1,000 people allegedly trafficked into the country to work for an online casino in Manila.
Chinese, Vietnamese, Singaporean and Malaysian nationals were among those found when police raided buildings inside a compound in the capital on Monday night.
Police said the alleged victims had accepted jobs posted on Facebook to work in the Philippines as "assistants in online gaming".
International concern has been growing over internet scams in the Asia-Pacific region often staffed by trafficking victims tricked or coerced into promoting bogus crypto investments.
AFP journalists at the scene on Tuesday saw two police buses and two police trucks parked outside the compound. They were not allowed to enter the buildings.
"This is initially a case of human trafficking," Michelle Sabino, a spokeswoman for the Philippine National Police's anti-cybercrime group, told reporters after the raid.
"Everything will be investigated," she said, including whether the workers were involved in online rackets.
In May, authorities rescued more than a thousand people from several Asian nations who had been trafficked into the Philippines, held captive and forced to run online scams.


Japan to declare state of emergency in Tokyo region

Japan’s government will declare a coronavirus state of emergency in the greater Tokyo area on Thursday, as media said the capital would again report a record daily number of infections.The new month-long restrictions will be far less strict than the harsh lockdowns seen in other parts of the world, and softer than even Japan’s first state of emergency last spring.They will primarily target restaurants and bars, which are being asked to stop serving alcohol by 7pm and close an hour later, with residents also requested to avoid non-essential outings after 8pm.Businesses in Tokyo and three surrounding areas that petitioned the government to make the move will be urged to maximise teleworking, with the goal of reducing commuter traffic by 70%.Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to officially announce the measures late Thursday, but the minister in charge of Japan’s pandemic response outlined the expected shape of the declaration, warning that Tokyo’s medical system was “stretched thin”.“Every day we are seeing record numbers of infections. We have a very serious sense of crisis,” Yasutoshi Nishimura said.Local media said Tokyo would see more than 2,400 new cases on Thursday, shattering the previous record of 1,591 logged a day earlier.Still, Japan’s outbreak remains comparatively small, with just over 3,700 deaths since the country’s first infection was detected in January 2020.The government had been reluctant to call a state of emergency for fear of sending the economy into reverse shortly after it emerged from recession. Greater Tokyo accounts for a third of Japan’s GDP.“A contraction of GDP in Q1 is inevitable” with the new measure, Masamichi Adachi, Japan chief economist at UBS Securities told AFP.“Balancing economic and public health concerns is difficult… it’s a very difficult situation to manage for any leader.”Six-month Olympic countdownSuga’s approval ratings have nosedived over his handling of the new wave of infections – particularly his government’s controversial backing of a domestic travel campaign despite spiking case numbers.He has said this emergency will be more limited and focused than last year’s, despite warnings from medical experts that the measures may be insufficient.Schools will not close and major events will be permitted, with the cap for spectators revised down to 5,000 people or 50% capacity, whichever is smaller.Japanese law does not currently allow authorities to enforce cooperation with the requests, though the government is planning legislation permitting fines for businesses that do not comply.For now, subsidies will be offered to businesses that close early, and the government could name-and-shame those that fail to do so.The measure comes with just over six months to go until the virus-postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics are due to open, and Suga this week insisted he was still committed to holding the Games as “proof of mankind’s victory over the virus”.But the emergency is likely to harden public opinion, with a majority opposed to holding the Games this year even before the third wave worsened.Tokyo 2020 organisers said Thursday they would delay a planned display of the Olympic and Paralympic torches in the capital. The torches were due to be exhibited to the public before the countrywide torch relay starts on Mar 25.Japan has yet to approve a coronavirus vaccine, with Suga saying this week he hoped the first jabs could begin in late February.


Thousands evacuated as floods submerge subway trains in central China cities

Torrential rain has caused severe flooding in parts of central China, forcing people from their homes and leaving underground mass-transit rail lines and stations submerged.More than 10,000 people in Henan province have been evacuated and taken to shelters following the record rainfall.At least 12 people have died in the city of Zhengzhou since the flooding began, authorities there confirmed.More than a dozen cities have been affected with main roads forced to close and flights cancelled.Henan province, which is home to some 94 million people, has issued its highest level of weather warning following an unusually active rainy season.Images on social media showed entire streets submerged, with cars and debris being carried along in the fast-moving floodwaters.There are also fears that a dam in Henan province could collapse after it was damaged by the recent storms.A 20-metre breach has emerged in the dam in Luoyang city, officials said. Soldiers have been deployed to the area and a statement from the army warned it could “collapse at any time”.In Zhengzhou, unverified video footage showed passengers standing in flooded subway carriages with water up to their shoulders. Rescuers pulled people to safety with ropes as others stood on seats to try to keep their heads above the rising water.One person going by the name Xiaopei wrote a post on social media site Weibo begging for help: “The water in the carriage has reached my chest. I can’t speak anymore.”The fire department later confirmed Xiaopei had been rescued.“I have lived in Zhengzhou all my life and have never seen such a heavy rainstorm as today,” Wang Guirong, a 56-year-old restaurant manager, told the AP.The amount of rain falling over the last three days in Zhengzhou is reported to be the same as it would usually receive in an entire year.The downpours are forecast to continue in the region for at least the next 24 hours.


WHO expects more cases of monkeypox around the world

The World Health Organization (WHO) said it expects to identify more cases of monkeypox as it expands surveillance in countries where the disease is not typically found.As of Saturday, 92 confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases of monkeypox have been reported from 12 member states that are not endemic for the virus, the UN agency said, adding it will provide further guidance and recommendations in coming days for countries on how to mitigate the spread of monkeypox.“Available information suggests that human-to-human transmission is occurring among people in close physical contact with cases who are symptomatic,” the agency added.Monkeypox is an infectious disease that is usually mild, and is endemic in parts of west and central Africa. It is spread by close contact, so it can be relatively easily contained through such measures as self-isolation and hygiene.“What seems to be happening now is that it has got into the population as a sexual form, as a genital form, and is being spread as are sexually transmitted infections, which has amplified its transmission around the world,” WHO official David Heymann, an infectious disease specialist, told Reuters.Heymann said an international committee of experts met via video conference to look at what needed to be studied about the outbreak and communicated to the public, including whether there is any asymptomatic spread, who are at most risk, and the various routes of transmission.He said the meeting was convened “because of the urgency of the situation”. The committee is not the group that would suggest declaring a public health emergency of international concern, WHO’s highest form of alert, which applies to the Covid-19 pandemic.He said close contact was the key transmission route, as lesions typical of the disease are very infectious. For example, parents caring for sick children are at risk, as are health workers, which is why some countries have started inoculating teams treating monkeypox patients using vaccines for smallpox, a related virus.Many of the current cases have been identified at sexual health clinics.Early genomic sequencing of a handful of the cases in Europe has suggested a similarity with the strain that spread in a limited fashion in Britain, Israel and Singapore in 2018.Heymann said it was “biologically plausible” the virus had been circulating outside of the countries where it is endemic, but had not led to major outbreaks as a result of Covid-19 lockdowns, social distancing and travel restrictions.He stressed that the monkeypox outbreak did not resemble the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic because it does not transmit as easily. Those who suspect they may have been exposed or who show symptoms including bumpy rash and fever, should avoid close contact with others, he said.“There are vaccines available, but the most important message is, you can protect yourself,” he added.


School reopening delayed a week due to floods

The third term of the 2021/2022 school session has been postponed for a week due to the floods that hit several states earlier this week.Education Minister Radzi Jidin said schools in Group A (Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu) will begin classes on Jan 9.Meanwhile schools in Group B (Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Labuan and Putrajaya) will start classes on Jan 10.The third term was supposed to begin on Jan 2 for schools in Group A and Jan 3 for schools in Group B.The floods which hit a number of states including Selangor and Pahang saw tens of thousands evacuated to relief centres.A total of 41 people have died so far, with eight individuals still missing.


Speakers allowed to remove face masks during ceramahs under amended SOPs for Johor polls

Speakers at ceramahs are now allowed to remove their face masks while giving their talks or campaign speeches, under the latest Covid-19 SOPs for the Johor state election.However, they must replace their face masks once they have finished speaking.Those attending the talks meanwhile are required to wear face masks at all times and to maintain a physical distance of at least one metre between individuals.For party meeting activities, all those in attendance must also wear their face masks at all times and observe a safe distance, with physical greetings prohibited.“Amendments to the Covid-19 prevention SOPs are effective immediately,” the Election Commission said.Johor voters will go to the polls on March 12, while early voting takes place today.


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New infections at 1,300 as another 4 deaths logged

Another 1,325 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,505,059.There were 1,935 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,445,611.There are now 23,779 active cases, of which 22,778 or 95.8% are undergoing home quarantine.Meanwhile, 15 (0.1%) are at quarantine centres while 954 (4.0%) have been hospitalised.A total of 32 are in ICU with 15 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 55.6%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 6.7%.Another four deaths were reported, including one who was brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 35,669.


China's wheat growers face 'disaster' after heavy rain batters crop

After two weeks of continuous heavy rains, a farmer surnamed Chen in China's Henan province surveys bent stalks of saturated wheat in sodden fields that will take days to dry out before harvesting can start.
The rains are also causing the kernels on his wheat crop to begin sprouting early, which, more crucially, means the grain will produce lower quality flour unsuitable for noodles or bread. That could mean a large chunk of the crop will end up being sold as less valuable animal feed, or even abandoned.
"Look, all this wheat has sprouted," Chen told Reuters, pouring kernels into his hand while standing in his fields about 40km north of the town of Zhumadian. Chen plants about 2 acres of wheat every year.
About one-third of China's wheat is grown in Henan province, earning it the nickname the granary of China. With roughly 30 million metric tons expected to be affected nationally by the rains, out of a forecast bumper crop for all of China of 137 million metric tons, the losses may mean rising grain imports into the world's biggest wheat consumer.
About a third of the wheat across southern Henan has sprouted, said a harvester driver operating on a nearby farm who has worked his way north from Anhui province over the last week. He declined to give his name.
The rains have also impacted neighbouring provinces like Anhui, Shanxi and Shandong, though it's too early to say how extensive the damage is, but it could increase the need for more overseas grain.
"Imports of wheat into China are already going up. If there is damage to the crop... then it's likely that China will need to increase its imports next year. So obviously that would have an impact on global prices and an impact on global markets," said Darin Friedrichs, co-founder of Shanghai-based Sitonia Consulting.
However, China's large grain stocks should protect against any impact on food prices, he said.
Any higher imports would also come just as the El Nino weather pattern is set to sharply reduce output in major wheat producer Australia and as the ongoing war in Ukraine continues to curtail its grain exports.
A disaster
For farmers like Chen, incomes will take a hit.
China's Agriculture Minister Tang Renjian visited Zhumadian and other impacted areas this week and urged "extraordinary measures" to harvest the wheat, according to a ministry statement on Monday.
The Henan government is urging insurance providers to cover early sprouting damage and quickly settle claims, the ministry said.
It has also ordered state grain buyers to purchase lower quality wheat at above-market prices.
A Xiping-based grain dealer surnamed Wang is paying growers US$295 (about RM1,358) per metric ton of germinated wheat, about 75% of the market price for food-grade wheat. JCI-WHT-ZHZH
The wheat kernels she has bought have all more or less sprouted, Wang said. "These (sprouted) wheat have a bad taste as they are sticky and doesn't mix well to make dough."
But for damp wheat still unharvested, the price could be even lower, unless it dries up soon.
Only three-quarters of Henan's crop had been harvested as of Tuesday, compared with 90% this time last year, according to state media.
Farmers are digging trenches or using pumps to drain water off their fields so harvesting can start.
"I think that we will have to wait four or five days before harvesting," said Chen.
"This is really a disaster."


UK says Delta variant 60% more transmissible

The British government said Friday that the new Delta coronavirus variant is 60% more transmissible in households than the variant that forced the country to lock down in January.The Delta variant, which first emerged in India, has caused a rise in cases in the UK, prompting questions about whether social distancing restrictions will be lifted as planned from June 21.New research from Public Health England “suggests that the Delta variant is associated with an approximately 60% increased risk of household transmission” compared to the Alpha variant identified in Kent, southeast England.The Kent variant caused a surge of Covid cases in January leading to a three-month lockdown as hospitals were stretched to near-capacity.The government ramped up its public vaccination drive in response, and has now given two doses of vaccine to nearly 29 million adults and one dose to nearly 41 million.Daily cases rose to 7,393 on Thursday, a level not seen since February. More than 90% of new cases were of the Delta variant, ministers said.However the number of patients in hospital remains low, at just over 1,000 on Thursday, and Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said most inpatients have not had any vaccine.The government said this suggested the vaccination programme is mitigating the impact of the Delta variant, urging the public to get both jabs.Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said that “two doses provide significantly more protection” against the Delta variant than one.The UK has reported 127,867 deaths from the virus, the worst toll in Europe.Under the government roadmap, England plans to drop rules on numbers at social gatherings and allow large weddings and reopening of nightclubs from June 21.But officials have stressed that they are open to changing this date if the virus situation changes, with a decision due next week, as many businesses push for full reopening.


One killed in massive fire in Moscow shopping centre

One person died Friday in a massive blaze the size of a football pitch which broke out overnight in a sprawling shopping and entertainment centre in a northern Moscow suburb.
"In the Moscow region, firefighters are putting out a fire the size of 7,000 square metres (75,300 square feet)," Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations said on Telegram.
Russian media later reported that one person had been killed in the fire at the Mega Khimki shopping centre, about 7km (4 miles) from Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport.
More than 70 firefighters and 20 fire trucks were working at the site, emergency services said, adding that their work was hampered due to the design of the building.
"Due to the collapse of the roof, the fire spread instantly to a large area," the Moscow region's emergency services said on Telegram.
Russian news agencies quoted sources in emergency services as saying that "arson" was suspected but  state news agencies later quoted sources as saying that safety violations were more likely the cause.
Videos on social media showed a huge fire, with people fleeing the burning building into a parking lot.


Europe surges past 250,000 virus deaths as Israel lifts lockdown

Europe passed the milestone of 250,000 deaths from Covid-19 on Sunday as Israel and Australia’s second-largest city of Melbourne began to gradually ease their strict lockdowns.European nations have ratcheted up restrictions on daily life to tackle soaring infections, with a 44% increase in cases this week.Nighttime curfews on millions came into force in France this weekend and Switzerland required all its citizens to wear masks in indoor public places.But Israel has managed to flatten its outbreak through draconian measures including a ban on travelling more than a kilometre from home.The government lifted that restriction on Sunday and reopened kindergartens, beaches and national parks.Israeli mother Talia Zinkin said she was initially unsure whether to send her son back to daycare. “But I felt he would enjoy being with other children,” she told AFP. “We have to try to live normally.”In Australia, Melbourne has managed to control its upsurge in cases and officials were able to allow the city’s five million inhabitants to leave their homes for more than two hours a day for the first time in three months.While people will be allowed to travel up to 25km from home if they have valid reasons, restaurants and other businesses in Melbourne remain closed.In Europe however, the increase in cases is reaching alarming levels.Curfews respectedEurope’s death toll makes it the second-hardest hit region after Latin America and the Caribbean, where fatalities have surpassed 350,000.The UK remains Europe’s worst-affected country in terms of deaths, accounting for almost one-fifth of fatalities on the continent.It continues to struggle against the virus, with local officials resisting attempts by ministers to impose restrictions by region.France counted nearly 30,000 new cases Sunday, close to Saturday’s record 32,427 cases. Some 1,900 Covid-19 patients are currently occupying intensive care unit beds, out of France’s total capacity of 5,800.The government has introduced a 9pm-6am curfew for at least a month in nine cities including Paris, affecting 20 million people.Those flouting the curfew face a fine of €135 (US$158) unless they can prove they have a valid reason to be out.“I’m coming back from the hospital… where my daughter is being operated on,” one man told a group of police officers, showing them a one-page document as evidence.The measures fall short of the blanket confinements imposed in many countries earlier in the year – but raise fears of new, severe restrictions across the continent.The Swiss government said Sunday it would enforce mask-wearing in all indoor public spaces from Monday and forbid gatherings of more than 15 people, among other restrictions.Several hundred people staged a protest against the new measures outside the government’s Federal Palace in Bern.Across the border in Italy, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Sunday announced a series of new measures to tackle the rising number of virus cases, with restrictions placed on bars and restaurants and a push to increase working from home.Arrivals at schools will also be staggered to help with social distancing and local festivals and fairs banned.‘Moving cautiously’Two weeks ago, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had declared her country had beaten the virus again – but a new community case of Covid-19 has now been confirmed, punching a hole in her assertion.Ardern’s Labour Party won a landslide election victory on Saturday, with her government’s handling of the pandemic widely credited as a factor.In South Africa Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced Sunday that he had tested positive for coronavirus, adding to over 700,000 cases registered in the country.He is the fifth member of the government to contract Covid-19.South Africa accounts for around 43% of the virus cases on the African continent.Meanwhile, a new study in Japan has found that the coronavirus remains active on human skin for nine hours.In comparison, the pathogen that causes the flu survives on human skin for about 1.8 hours, according to the study published this month in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal.The research team tested skin collected from autopsy specimens, about one day after death.They concluded that frequent hand washing is the best way to combat the pandemic.“The longer survival of SARS-CoV-2 on the skin increases contact-transmission risk; however, hand hygiene can reduce this risk,” the study said.


Race makes no difference as Klang Valley mosques welcome flood victims

Mosques in the Klang Valley have been opening their doors to flood victims regardless of race or religion as the rising waters caused by several days of non-stop rain continue to see families evacuated from their homes.Masadan Mohsin, a nazir at Masjid At-Taqwa in Bukit Kapar, Selangor, said non-Muslims have also been seeking shelter at the mosque since Saturday.He said most live in the area although some were also stranded on the road and had sought shelter for the night before attempting to continue their journey home the next day.“Currently we have around 180 victims staying the night compared to 200 the day before,” he told MalaysiaNow.“Some people including a few Chinese became stranded on the road and came to the mosque for shelter last night – they managed to get home today.“But we still have a few Malay and Indian families here who are residents but cannot go home yet.”This is despite the slowly receding water levels which have made some roads passable again.Because their homes had been wrecked, Masadan said, the residents would have to stay at the mosque for a few more days.Ustaz Izzat from Masjid Al Madaniah USJ 18 meanwhile said the flood-hit areas around Puchong and Subang Jaya have not seen much improvement.“We are receiving a lot more people tonight,” he said. “We estimate around 600 people are currently seeking shelter at the mosque.”This is beyond the mosque’s maximum capacity of 500, but many people have been left stranded by the floods, he said.“We estimate that this situation might continue for over a week. We are preparing the best that we can now.”Izzat’s mosque has yet to receive any non-Muslim flood victims but he said everyone is welcome.For now, they are trying to find blankets and pillows for those who are forced to spend the night.The situation is much the same at Masjid Al Falah Seksyen 9 in Shah Alam, which is currently sheltering some 120 people.Mosque leader Yusoh Latiff said there was no problem of overcrowding as victims were constantly being relocated to other places.He too said everyone was welcome regardless of race or religion, adding that he hoped no one would be left behind.“The majority of residents here are Malays, so most of the victims who have sought shelter at the mosque so far are Malays.“But we do have non-Muslims who have volunteered to help at the mosque,” he said.“When we have a crisis on our hands, no one should feel left out. We welcome everyone to come to the mosque. We will treat everyone equally.”Izzat meanwhile said Malaysians appear the kindest in times of crisis, when everyone pitches in to help out in their own ways.“We have received a lot of donations, basic necessities like food and water, clothes and diapers,” he said.“People come to the mosque to the point that we are past capacity, but we also receive unceasing help from others. We have been receiving help non-stop from Malaysians.”


Questions raised over Warisan MP’s letter to palace as deadline ends

As Istana Negara officials pore over statutory declarations from 220 MPs to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on their choice of leader in the next government, one of the letters could face disqualification for breaching the conditions of confidentiality.A photo of Warisan’s Sepanggar MP Azis Jamman displaying his letter to the palace led social media users to question whether Pakatan Harapan’s prime ministerial nominee Anwar Ibrahim had lost one vote.“If such a simple instruction cannot be followed, how to keep state secrets?” wrote Facebook user Husbaby Yana after the photo went viral on social media.Warisan had earlier announced that it would back Anwar as prime minister.Despite public announcements of support from political party leaders, MPs have been careful not to divulge the specific contents of their letters.Yesterday, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun said MPs had until 4pm today to submit certified letters to Istana Negara stating their support for their choice of candidate for prime minister, following the resignation of Muhyiddin Yassin this week.“Any statutory declaration that does not fulfil the necessary criteria or is received late will not be taken into consideration.“The MPs are reminded to safeguard the confidentiality of their statutory declaration until His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong decides on the matter stated in Paragraph 2 above,” Azhar said in a letter to MPs.When contacted, Azhar declined to comment, merely saying: “I wrote it in simple BM.”


Govt, three others ordered to pay RM5 million to Altantuya's family

The Shah Alam High Court has ordered the government and three others to pay RM5 million to the family of Altantuya Shaariibuu, the Mongolian national who was brutally murdered 16 years ago.
Judge Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera ruled in favour of Altantuya's family in a RM100 million civil suit filed in 2007.
The plaintiffs include Altantuya's parents Shariibuu Setev and Altantseseg Sanjaa, and her brother, Mungunshagai Bayarjargal, who filed the suit against the Malaysian government, political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, and two former members of the Special Actions Unit – Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri – who have been convicted of the murder.
Altantuya, Razak's former lover, was killed in October 2006 and her body blown up with military-grade explosives. Razak, who was initially charged, was acquitted without being called to enter his defence.
Vazeer, in his decision, also ordered the four defendants to pay annual interest of 5% for the RM5 million compensation, in addition to RM25,000 to be paid by each of them to the family.
He said the two former police officers were proven to have "brutally killed" Altantuya.
He also said Razak should take responsibility as the killers would not have known the victim were it not for him requesting for their help to deal with Altantuya's threat to reveal their affair.
Vazeer said the government was also responsible for the actions of Azilah and Sirul, who used the resources of the police force.
Sangeet Kaur Deo represented Altantuya's family, Manjeet Singh Dhillon acted for Razak, and counsel Zetty Zurina Kamaruddin represented the government.
Azilah and Sirul were not represented.


Number of landslide victims revised to 92

Police have revised from 94 to 92 the number of victims involved in the landslide at Father’s Organic Farm in Gohtong Jaya last Friday.
Selangor police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed said the new figure was obtained after several rounds of verification based on information and reports from various parties, including the family members of victims.
"This will be the official figure unless there are more parties coming forward to claim that they still have missing family members," he told a press conference in Batang Kali today.
He said the latest development meant that 30 people were confirmed killed in the landslide, 61 survived and one is still missing.
Arjunaidi said the original figure of 94 victims was based on data of those registered at the farm campsite centre.


Are more U-turns on the way, rights lawyers ask after govt says no review of Sosma

Lawyers group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) today slammed the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government for what it described as a "U-turn" on the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, following remarks by Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution that the administration has no intention of reviewing the controversial law.
In a statement, LFL director Zaid Malek said the government's backtracking on the matter, less than a week after it took office, was a matter of "grave concern".
"Are there more such U-turns and back-slidings on the rule of law and human rights to come?" he added.
Saifuddin, speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 13, had defended the law popularly known as Sosma, saying it allows the court process to take place.
He compared this to its predecessor, the Internal Security Act, saying that under Sosma, the period is "only 28 days".
Zaid however said that this remained "an unreasonably long period of detention without judicial oversight", adding that detainees who are later charged with offences might also be detained indefinitely pending trial.
"Even if they are acquitted at trial, they can be further detained pending appeals at the Court of Appeal or Federal Court," he added.
"In short, persons arrested under Sosma may spend many long years in jail although they are finally found innocent and acquitted."
He also questioned Saifuddin's claim that arrests under Sosma are only done on "reliable intelligence and evidence".
"If that is truly the case, then there is no need for a lengthy detention and the offenders should be charged in court immediately," he said.
Noting that PH, during its time in the opposition in March this year, had in the Dewan Rakyat defeated an extension of Section 4(5) of Sosma allowing the 28-day detention period, he said it was "shocking" that it had now announced that there was no need to review the act.
"The further irony is that the new home minister who made the announcement yesterday was among the MPs who voted against Sosma in Parliament just eight months ago.
"Does a draconian law become magically acceptable when you are in government, which was unacceptable when you were in opposition?"


UN inspectors arrive at Ukraine nuclear plant after delay over shelling

A team of UN experts arrived at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia atomic plant complex on Thursday to assess the risk of a radiation disaster after being delayed several hours by shelling near the site.
Russia and Ukraine accused each other of trying to sabotage the mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the plant in southern central Ukraine, which is controlled by Russian forces but operated by Ukrainian staff.
Conditions at the nuclear plant, Europe's largest, have been unravelling for weeks, with Moscow and Kyiv regularly trading blame for shelling in the vicinity and fuelling fears of a Chornobyl-style radiation disaster.
A Reuters reporter saw the IAEA team arrive in a large convoy with a heavy presence of Russian soldiers nearby. A Ukrainian source with knowledge of the situation told Reuters the mission "may turn out to be shorter than was planned".
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was doing everything to ensure that the plant could operate safely, and for the IAEA inspectors to be able to complete their tasks.
"In the event of further attempts by Kyiv to disrupt their work with shelling or sabotage, the entire responsibility for the consequences will fall entirely on the Zelensky regime and its handlers and their "support group" in the West," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement, referring to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Earlier, Ukraine's state nuclear company Energoatom said Russian shelling had forced the shutdown of one of only two operating reactors at the site, while Moscow said it had thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to seize the plant.
A Reuters reporter in the nearby Russian-controlled town of Enerhodar said a residential building was struck by shelling, forcing people to take cover in a basement. It was not possible to establish who had fired.
The Russian-installed governor of Zaporizhzhia district, Yevgeny Balitsky, said at least three people had been killed and five wounded in what he said was Ukrainian shelling of Enerhodar that had also destroyed three kindergartens and the House of Culture. Power to the town had been cut in the morning, he said.
Body armour
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told reporters early on Thursday in the city of Zaporizhzhia, 55km from the plant, he was aware of "increased military activity in the area" but would press ahead with the plan to visit the facility and meet staff.
The IAEA inspectors, wearing body armour and travelling in white, armoured land cruisers with UN markings on their sides, had been held at the first check point outside the city following the shelling reports.
Moscow accused Ukrainian forces of trying to seize the plant hours before the IAEA team was due to arrive.
Russia's defence ministry said up to 60 Ukrainian troops had crossed the Dnipro river, which divides territory held by the two sides, in boats at 6.00am local time (0300 GMT), in what it said was a "provocation" aimed at disrupting the IAEA visit.
The ministry said "measures had been taken" to destroy the opposing troops, including use of military aviation.
A local Russian-installed official, Vladimir Rogov, later said "around 40" of the 60 Ukrainian troops had been killed. Russian troops also captured three Ukrainian servicemen during the assault on the plant, he added.
Ukrainian officials have welcomed the IAEA visit, expressing hope that it will lead to the demilitarisation of the plant. They say Russia has been using the plant as a shield to hit towns, knowing it will be hard for Kyiv's forces to return fire.
They have also accused Russian forces of shelling the plant, which Russian officials deny.
Reuters journalists who followed the IAEA convoy before being ordered to turn back due to the dangerous conditions said that while they were in the city of Zaporizhzhia during the night, they had seen flashes of explosions in the sky.
They could not verify who was responsible.
Russian-installed officials have suggested that the team from the UN nuclear watchdog would have only a day to inspect the plant, while the mission had prepared for longer.
"If we are able to establish a permanent presence, or a continued presence, then it's going to be prolonged. But this first segment is going to take a few days," Grossi had said.
'Slow process'
Both sides have claimed battlefield successes amid a new Ukrainian push to recapture territory in the south.
"It is a very slow process, because we value people," said Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Zelensky, referring to the Ukrainian offensive.
Moscow has denied reports of Ukrainian progress and said its troops had routed Ukrainian forces.
Ukraine's southern military command said it would not immediately name settlements in the south it had recaptured to avoid prompting Russian strikes on them.
It also said its counter-offensive was not affecting a Black Sea corridor created to allow for exports of Ukrainian grain.
Russia captured large tracts of southern Ukraine close to the Black Sea coast soon after launching its invasion on Feb 24, including in the Kherson region, north of the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula.
In eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks in the direction of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, towns north of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk in Ukraine's industrial Donbas region, Kyiv's military general staff said.
Russian-backed separatists said 13 emergency service personnel were killed and nine wounded after coming under Ukrainian artillery fire in the Russian-controlled part of the Donetsk region.
Reuters was not able to independently verify the reports.
Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special military operation" to rid Ukraine of nationalists and protect Russian-speaking communities.
Ukraine and the West describe Russia's actions as an unprovoked war of aggression that has caused millions to flee, killed thousands and turned cities into rubble.


Migrant paraglides over border fence into Spain

A migrant paraglided from Morocco over a border fence into Spain's North African enclave of Melilla and eluded authorities, officials said on Thursday.
Two witnesses saw the paraglider drifting overhead while they were driving along the ring road surrounding the enclave and alerted police at 6.15pm (1715 GMT), the Spanish government's representative in Melilla said in a statement.
"Patrols immediately headed to the area, but were unable to locate the migrant," the statement added.
Footage obtained by local newspaper El Faro appears to show a person harnessed to a paragliding canopy landing near the road that runs along two parallel border fences, which range between 6m and 10m in height and are 12km long.
Reuters has not verified the video's authenticity.
Melilla is one of the main entry points for migrants seeking to cross into European territory from Morocco. At least 1,155 undocumented migrants have crossed the land border this year until Oct. 15, according to Interior Ministry data.
The heavily guarded border is one of only two borders between the European Union and an African country, the other being Ceuta, also a Spanish enclave.
It was the site of a fatal mass crossing attempt in June, when up to 2,000 migrants stormed the fence and engaged in a two-hour skirmish with border officers.


Global Covid-19 deaths pass 1 million with no sign of slowing

The global death toll from coronavirus has passed one million.The world is nine months into a crisis that has devastated economies, pitted science against politics and forced all of us to change the way we live, learn and work.The grim milestone, recorded by Johns Hopkins University, is almost certainly an underestimate due to inadequate testing and suspected concealment of true numbers by some countries.The numbers continue to mount.Nearly 5,000 deaths are reported each day. Parts of Europe are being engulfed by a second wave, and South America is recording more new cases than ever.Experts say the US, which accounts for about 205,000 deaths, or one out of five worldwide, is very far from emerging from the crisis despite what some politicians would have their people believe, and may be heading for its own second wave.Twelve countries claim to have had no cases. One is North Korea, another Turkmenistan, and the rest are all remote Pacific islands.No other country remains spared by the virus, and yet the African continent has not been as badly hit as some experts predicted.Another continent, Antarctica, is the only part of the world so far untouched. Research stations and their crews there are determined to keep it that way through extensive isolation rules and protocols.Anyone coming to Antarctica is now quarantined for 14 days because if Covid-19 reaches the Antarctic it would be devastating.Put simply, there’s nowhere else to go.


Penang to join others in Phase 2

Penang will soon become the latest state to move to Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan, joining five others which made the transition today.Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri said Penang would be allowed to move to the second phase on July 7.He said the decision was made at the National Security Council meeting today, after taking into consideration the key threshold indicators needed to make the shift.He said Penang’s average case load per day for seven days had been at 9.5 cases per 100,000 people, below the threshold value of 12.2 cases, while the state’s usage of ICU beds was at a moderate level with an adequate capacity to respond.In terms of vaccination rate, 10.1% of the adult population has been fully vaccinated.Perlis, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Perak were given the green light to transition today, with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin saying more states showing good progress in the fight against Covid-19 could make the shift soon as well.


Blaze at Japan chip factory piles on the woes for major carmakers worldwide

One of the car industry’s biggest computer chip suppliers is warning that a major fire at one of its factories in Japan could have a “massive impact” on its ability to fulfil desperately needed international orders.This comes at a time when supplies of chips to the auto industry are already running short, causing problems for major carmakers as modern vehicles include dozens of microprocessors.Shares in the affected semiconductors firm Renesas fell, along with its clients including Toyota, Nissan and Honda.The Naka, Ibaraki province, plant specialises in very thin wafers, making it one of the company’s most advanced facilities.Renesas has said the blaze occurred last Friday and the exact cause is still being investigated. It took fire fighters more than five hours to put out. The firm has said no staff were injured but 11 of its manufacturing equipment units were damaged.Because the blaze was in an environmentally controlled area designed to avoid dust contaminating the chips, restarting production will involve more than just replacing the ruined machinery.Renesas said the majority of the products manufactured using the affected machines could be manufactured elsewhere, but the wider supply shortfall will make that difficult to achieve.The company has said it hopes to restart production in a month, but Nikkei Asia is saying it could take three months before output is back to normal.Renesas has said that it has about a one-month stockpile of chips to continue fulfilling automakers’ orders – so the impact on car production will not be immediate.At the start of the pandemic, carmakers cut orders for the components because of a slump in vehicle sales.However, when the market rebounded towards the end of 2020, they found it hard to source supplies because other consumer electronics makers had stepped in with orders of their own to meet higher than normal demand for their gadgets because of lockdowns.February’s freezing weather in Texas closed chip-making plants there, and a drought in Taiwan is threatening production there.US trade restrictions on telecoms firm Huawei and chip-maker SMIC have caused Chinese companies to stockpile their own supplies.Many carmakers have slowed or temporarily halted production at some of their plants.Nikkei Asia reported on Sunday that the price of memory chips had risen 60% since the start of 2021.And last week, Samsung’s co-chief executive Koh Dong-jin warned of a “serious imbalance in supply and demand of chips in the IT sector globally”.


Canada’s delayed ban of Huawei gear exposes lack of Indo-Pacific strategy

Canada’s delayed decision to ban Huawei Technologies Co 5G equipment is putting pressure on Ottawa to deliver on a promised Indo-Pacific strategy, and to further diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China for things like critical minerals, which is emerging as the battleground for clean technology.Last week’s decision to ban Huawei 5G gear was the last vestige of a diplomatic dispute with China that dates back to 2018. With that, Canada joined its Five-Eyes intelligence-sharing partners US, Britain, Australia and New Zealand to ban Huawei equipment over national security concerns.Canada’s decision was complicated by diplomatic tensions, after the detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018 and Beijing’s subsequent arrest of two Canadians on spying charges. The standoff ended when all three people were released in September after US prosecutors reached a deal with Meng.The same month, the US, Britain and Australia signed a security pact for the Indo-Pacific, and this week Washington launched an economic engagement plan in Asia, all with an eye to managing Chinese hegemony in the region.Trudeau delayed the Huawei decision in 2019 because he was reluctant to move until the fate of the Canadians held in China became clearer, sources told Reuters at the time. Coming much later than America’s action, Canada is now playing catch-up on its Indo-Pacific strategy.Canada also needs powerful partners to have influence there, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has promised to come up with an Indo-Pacific strategy of its own.“The word is out that Canada is just not as reliable a partner as it used to be,” said Charles Burton, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute policy think tank and former Canadian diplomat who served two tours in China.“Australia, the UK, and the US are collaborating on security in the Asia Pacific, and last time I looked at the map, the UK was not an Asia Pacific country, but Canada is,” Burton said.Trudeau has said Canada does not need to be part of the security pact. On Tuesday, he said Canada belongs to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership and another trade agreement in Asia is unnecessary.The government is working on “a way forward” on its Indo-Pacific strategy, a source familiar with the matter said.The future Indo-Pacific strategy will be aimed at engaging with China on trade and things like fighting climate change, while competing in other areas like critical minerals, and confronting it on human rights issues, the source said.Canada is already taking action to develop a domestic supply chain for critical minerals needed for electric vehicles and energy storage to wean it from dependence on China, which is by far the world’s largest producer.Here Canada has partners. Last year, Canada and the European Union launched a strategic partnership on raw materials to reduce dependence on China, and officials have open channels with the US on providing critical minerals there.Canada’s 2022 budget in April proposed C$3.8 billion (US$3 billion) in investments over eight years to boost production and processing of critical minerals.After Huawei, “the Canadian government is much more mindful of the vulnerabilities created by dependence on China for critical materials in supply chains,” said Roland Paris, a former foreign policy adviser to Trudeau and professor of international affairs at University of Ottawa.


Indonesia's election body appeals against court order to delay 2024 poll

Indonesia's election commission on Friday launched an appeal against a controversial court ruling that ordered it to delay the 2024 presidential and general polls, officials said.
The commission will argue against a court decision that has reignited debate over extending President Joko Widodo's time in office, which is limited to two five-year terms by the constitution and should end next year.
Senior politicians, activists and legal experts have warned delaying the 2024 election could threaten nearly 25 years of democratic reforms brought in after decades of authoritarian rule.
National Election Commissioner August Melasz said the agency known as the KPU had submitted its appeal, which will be heard and ruled on by the Jakarta High Court. He did not elaborate on the commission's arguments.
The KPU has previously said it will forge ahead with preparations for presidential and general elections in the world's third-largest democracy.
President Joko Widodo, who has said he is against extending his term, said this week he supports the election commission's appeal.
Legal experts have said the lower court overstepped its jurisdiction in ruling on a complaint by an obscure party about election procedures, saying it is the jurisdiction of Indonesia's supervisory body (Bawaslu) and administrative courts.


Azalina resigns as deputy speaker

Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said yesterday confirmed her resignation as deputy speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.In a statement, Azalina said that to effectively function without fear and favour, speakers and deputy speakers of the Dewan Rakyat should be suspended from political party posts in the future to ensure political impartiality.She said there was a conflict of roles and responsibilities between being a member of Umno’s Supreme Council and as an MP in a ruling coalition where past events had revealed conflicting decisions within Umno as a party and MPs of a coalition government.“With the appointment of the new prime minister and the public’s loud and clear demand for multiparty cooperation, I have tendered my resignation today to vacate my seat so that the government and the opposition may have more room to reset our Dewan Rakyat, (and) so that this august house can truly function as a forum for professional competition and collaboration between parties on policies and governance.“I will support any reforms the government and the opposition may want to move in their collective wisdom. It has been a great honour and privilege to serve as deputy speaker, an office that I sincerely respect, for the past 13 months,” she added.She said the developments of the past 17 months had also led her to reflect on the institutional defects of the parliamentary institutions including her own limitations to discharge her duty well in such a setting without compromising her professional integrity.


The problem of ideas in higher education

Algerian thinker Malik Bennabi (1905-1973) wrote that throughout history, every society goes through an arresting phase. At that point in time, society has two choices. It can climb back onto the path of development, or it can wallow in the sands of destruction. Leaders are critical at this juncture. They must have the moral integrity to expose the factors that are responsible for the destruction happening around us.Bennabi’s philosophy focused on the backwardness of Muslim civilisation in the 19th century. He drew on the intellectual heritage of Ibn Khaldun in order to diagnose the sluggishness of Muslim leadership.An important component of Bennabi’s thought is that Muslims must first change their spiritual condition before they can reform society or civilisation. However, Malaysia may already be the “sick man of Asia”. Our society is dominated by a Muslim leadership in pursuit of power and luxury. Bennabi’s “spiritual condition” is apparent when we consider our approach to higher public education.First, academic fraud is not taken seriously. If there is a requirement for PhD candidates to publish articles during the course of their study, supervisors must make sure they are thoroughly involved. The idea that the supervisor’s name can be included in the article, merely because of the act of supervision, is grossly unethical. Acquisition of funding, collection of data or general supervision of the research do not constitute authorship.There must also be a clear understanding that the supervisor can decline to participate in such an exercise. This allows the supervisee the option of choosing other co-authors who may be more inclined to the subject matter. Islam says there is no compulsion in religion. Similarly, the idea that there should be no compulsion to publish in an academic field other than what one is passionate about, must be actively pursued in our public universities.Second, our public universities are consumed by the world-class fantasy of global university rankings. We slavishly bow to global academic demands (mainly Western) in the name of preparing graduates for “the globalised economy”. This is a myth created by a neo-colonial strategy in support of exploitative market capitalism.The truth is that higher education has transformed into a global business. The trans-nationalisation of higher education has resulted in international branch campuses. It has also created stiff competition among local public universities, to attract foreign students. The business of education has strangled our universities and our nation’s leaders are caught in its domestic political spiral.Third, our public university administrators have succumbed to robotic regulations that insult intellectual creativity. The inappropriateness of clocking in has already been highlighted numerous times. It should be abandoned, and replaced with a genuine trust of our academics who should be treated as intelligent and responsible adults. Added to this are the rigid quantitative demands for research and publications. This rigidity sacrifices quality.The requirements for academic promotions across the public university system are based, in part, on the number of journal publications and research projects. It pays little attention to the details of the scholarly discussions, intellectual rigour, the interdisciplinary nature of the literature reviewed or the depth of analytical discourse. All that is considered is the final outcome, ie. where it is published, preferably in a Scopus, WOS or ISI indexed journal.When questionable journals creep into the international citation database, academics see nothing wrong in publishing in these substandard outlets. Even if they have to pay hefty amounts, it makes up for the potential promotion, a higher salary scale, a possible professional decoration and a higher pension bracket.Lecturers with a moral conscience, and who value scholarly contribution over monetary or titled rewards, will sacrifice their career advancement. There are many of such demoralised but ethical and highly qualified academics who remained in the system because of their teaching and scholarly commitments.As far as research projects go, academics are required to apply for research grants through the Ministry of Higher Education online research portal. There is a section in the form dedicated to “intellectual property” (IP). The idea is for academics to patent their research, which will foster recognition and (possibly) financial benefit for the university. This practice is exonerated across the disciplines in five of our public universities, which are designated RUs (research universities).For example, a scholar may apply for modest funding to conduct studies on decoloniality. Research projects on decolonising various academic disciplines are mushrooming all over the world, funded by top universities. The question of IP may not be a priority in this line of research. Yet, one is frustrated to get the research project approved online. The system rejects incomplete submissions, such as when researchers leave the section on IP blank.Malik Bennabi’s spiritual condition mentioned in the beginning, is manifest in the three examples presented. The spiritual condition of our higher education psyche is fed by academic fraud, a mimicry of global excellence and a false sense of innovative research and knowledge production.Sharifah Munirah Alatas is a lecturer in strategy programme at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Revealed: Khalid’s personal touch in helping developer’s bid for KL land

Former minister Khalid Samad personally threw his weight at least twice behind a private developer’s application to overturn a decision by the federal territories land office to revoke approval for the transfer of a plot of land in Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaNow can reveal.The Amanah leader who was the federal territories minister under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government not only instructed his political secretary to follow up on the request by Saujana Beringin Sdn Bhd, but also urged the Kuala Lumpur mayor about a year later to approve the transfer of some 26 acres of land for the purpose of mixed development.MalaysiaNow is publishing images of the letters with Khalid’s handwritten note and initials, following his statement yesterday questioning a report last Friday.The Shah Alam MP had also refused to address the matter, saying he needed more details on the claim by MalaysiaNow while launching an attack on the portal.Khalid Samad’s handwritten note telling his aide to follow up on a letter from Saujana Beringin Sdn Bhd, seeking to overturn a decision to revoke a transfer of land in Kuala Lumpur.One of the images shows a reply by Khalid’s political secretary to the company using the letterhead of the minister’s office.In it, Azli Yusof informed the company that Khalid had referred its request to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Federal Territories Lands and Mines Office, adding that his boss had no objection to the company’s bid to overturn a prior decision to revoke the land transfer.Checks by MalaysiaNow have also revealed several familiar names in a web of ownership linking them to Saujana Beringin.They include a younger sibling of a former prime minister, whose company holds a controlling stake in another company that holds a 100% stake in Saujana Beringin.A letter from Khalid Samad’s political secretary Azli Yusof informing Saujana Beringin that its application was favourable to his boss, and that it was being referred to the land office which had revoked the transfer of a plot of land in Kuala Lumpur.The senior Amanah source who revealed the matter to MalaysiaNow said it was not the only instance of top officials under the PH government violating the coalition’s own rule banning any act that could be seen as flexing ministerial muscle.This included issuing support letters as well as giving instructions that could be seen as influencing decisions.“The only thing that is permissible is the use of the words ‘for consideration’ or ‘please look into the matter’,” Khalid’s former Cabinet colleague from DAP, Anthony Loke Siew Fook had said last year.In May last year, Khalid’s aide Azli, who was also the Shah Alam Amanah division chief, was arrested and investigated over a complaint by an architectural firm that it was given a fake development order.Khalid claimed then that Azli had fallen victim to a broker who had misused his aide’s name and made millions.Azli was later released on police bail.


India probes first human death from bird flu

India is investigating its first documented human death from bird flu after an 11-year-old boy succumbed to the disease earlier this month, the health ministry said.The boy lived in Gurgaon outside New Delhi and was also suffering from leukaemia and pneumonia.He was admitted to hospital in the capital on July 2 and died 10 days later from multiple organ failure.Genome sequencing and virus isolation is in process and an epidemiological investigation has been initiated, the ministry said late Wednesday.Avian influenza occurs mainly in birds and poultry, with cases of transmission between humans extremely rare.H5N1 first broke out in 1997, then spread between 2003 and 2011, while H7N9 was first seen in 2013.Two strains of bird flu, H5N1 and H7N9, first seen in 2013, led to human contamination in Asia through infected birds.H7N9 has infected 1,668 people and killed 616 since 2013, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.In the Indian case, the ministry said the virus belonged to H5Nx subtype, considered worrying as they have proven to evolve into highly dangerous strains.Doctors and nurses who treated the patient have been monitored since July 16 and no one has reported any symptoms, it said.Contact tracing was also undertaken but family members, close contacts and health care workers did not show any symptoms.Last month, China revealed its first human case of bird flu and in February Russia detected the disease among workers at a poultry factory.India has witnessed bouts of devastating bird flu outbreaks in recent decades, most seriously in 2008, when millions of poultry were culled.The country, the second most populated in the world, is currently battling the coronavirus pandemic which has infected more than 31 million people and killed over 400,000.


In Perak, religious school encourages Orang Asli students to keep going

In a hall at one of two blocks surrounded by trees and greenery, rows of students pay close attention to their instructor, who is reciting from the Quran.
Since the start of the fasting month, they have been reading more of the Muslim holy book under the guidance of their teacher, Zakaria Nasirudin.
Their school, Sekolah Menengah Agama Rakyat Nurul Hidayah in Kampung Orang Asli Kenang, Sungai Siput, Perak, was set up by the Perak Islamic Religious Department to provide religious education specifically for the Orang Asli community.
There, the Orang Asli students say it is easier to keep up with their studies, especially in the religious department.
Asjeneri Uda Asari, an Orang Asli from the Semai community, has attended the school for four years now.
At 16, he is preparing to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination next year.
After that, he hopes to further his studies in the field of shariah at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.
"We learn the same basic subjects as other schools, but with the addition of Islamic studies," he said.
"After the maghrib prayers, we study the Quran."
The school's principal, Zulkifli Ahmad, said the school was established to help Orang Asli children become Islamic preachers in their home villages.
"Some of them have gone on to complete their studies at local universities, but so far no one has gone abroad."
The school, established in 2014, has 17 teachers and a number of support staff. It is attended by about 150 students with an average of two classes per form.
The majority of the students stay at the school hostel. About 20 of them sit for the SPM examination each year.
Noor Savisma Abdullah, from the Temiar tribe, is one of them.
He said he is at ease studying at the school as there are Orang Asli teachers who can help him in the event of language barriers.
"If there's anything we don't understand, the teachers can explain it in our own language," he said.
Noor Savisma goes to class every morning, then attends prep and leisure activities in the afternoon.
At night, he studies the Quran. His goal is to enter the field of electronics, perhaps at a community college.
"I want to further my studies but this will depend on my SPM results," he said.
But while Asjeneri and Noor Savisma would like to continue studying, many of their friends have already dropped out.
"They said it was too hard to study, and that it was better to look for a job," said Asjeneri.
Zulkifli said the school had tried over the years to track down those who dropped out.
"We give them advice based on their exam results," he said.
He said many Orang Asli students are in the dark about their prospects for education, and lack role models in their families to whom they can turn.
"So we're conducting visits to institutes of higher education, to inspire our students to keep going," he said.


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US plans to cut ties with targeted Russian banks if Ukraine is invaded, say sources

President Joe Biden’s administration has prepared an initial package of sanctions against Russia that includes barring US financial institutions from processing transactions for major Russian banks, three people familiar with the matter said.The measures, which would only be implemented if Russia invades Ukraine, aim to hurt the Russian economy by cutting the “correspondent” banking relationships between targeted Russian banks and US banks that enable international payments.While US authorities have said banking restrictions would be part of a package of possible sanctions, the administration’s plan to cut correspondent banking ties – which underpin global money flows – has not previously been reported.The US will also wield its most powerful sanctioning tool against certain Russian individuals and companies by placing them on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, effectively kicking them out of the US banking system, banning their trade with Americans and freezing their US assets, the same sources said.The White House and Treasury Department declined to comment.The sources said the package could change up to the last minute and it was unclear who the targets would be. However, they believe top Russian financial institutions including VTB Bank VTBR.MM, Sberbank SBER.MM, VEB, and Gazprombank GZPRI.MM are possible targets.Experts consulted by Reuters said that while the correspondent banking tool lacks the punch of an SDN designation, which freezes a bank’s assets, they could still deal a meaningful blow to the target banks by making it difficult to transact in US dollars, the global reserve currency.Much of global trade is transacted in dollars.It is unclear whether Russian banks would be added to the SDN list, but both types of sanctions could hit Russia hard.“Since a significant number of global trade transactions are in US dollars this is a sanction with bite, but without the more complicated and deadly sanction of being placed on the SDN list and having all assets in the US or in the hands of US persons frozen,” said Washington lawyer Kay Georgi, who specialises in international trade.Sources noted that the administration could exempt certain transactions from the restrictions if deemed necessary.‘Upfront costs’The Biden administration has been threatening tough banking sanctions against Russia for weeks in a bid to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine. Moscow has amassed upwards of 150,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders, but Putin has denied plans to launch an attack.Peter Harrell, who sits on the National Security Council, said last month that “heavy hitting financial sanctions” were part of a strategy to hurt Russia’s economy but spare its citizens.“The goal of the financial sanctions is really to have short term upfront costs on Russia, to trigger capital flight, to trigger inflation, to make the Russian central bank provide bailouts to its banks,” he said in a speech late last month.The tough warnings have put some US financial firms on edge. Members of the financial services and payment industries have been in touch in recent days with the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which administers sanctions, sources said.Tensions grew over the weekend as Russia extended military drills in Belarus, heightening fears among Western powers of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine.Biden and Putin on Sunday agreed in principle to a summit, France said, offering hope conflict could be avoided.British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the United States and Britain would cut off Russian companies’ access to US dollars and British pounds if the Kremlin orders an invasion.The Biden administration has been similarly aggressive in its rhetoric. In a briefing on Friday, Deputy National Security advisor Daleep Singh told reporters that the cost to Russia of an invasion would be “immense, both to its economy and its strategic position in the world.”