HK pink dolphins enjoy comeback as pandemic slows marine traffic

Rare pink dolphins are returning to the waters between Hong Kong and Macau after the coronavirus pandemic halted ferries, but scientists remain deeply concerned about their long-term survival in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes.The tell-tale flash of pink leaping from the waters alerts Naomi Brennan to the presence of a local Chinese white dolphin and she jots the animal’s location into a GPS device.Conservationists like Brennan regularly board boats in the Pearl River Delta to document how the mammals, known for their eye-catching pink colouring, are faring.“Today we encountered three different groups of dolphins – six adults and two sub-adults,” she explained.“They were engaging in a range of behaviour, from feeding to travelling and socialising.”For years keeping tabs on the dolphins has been a disheartening task.The population has fallen by 70-80% in the past 15 years in what is one of the world’s most industrialised estuaries.But this year their numbers have bounced back – and they have the pandemic to thank.Ferries between Hong Kong and Macau have been suspended since February, providing local marine scientists an opportunity to study how the mammals have adapted to the “unprecedented quiet”.“We’re seeing much larger group sizes as well as much more socialising, mating behaviour, which we hadn’t really been seeing for the last five years or so,” said Lindsay Porter, a Hong Kong-based marine scientist.According to Porter’s research team, the number of pink dolphins has increased by roughly a third in those waters since March.“These areas seem to be important for feeding and socialising. So it’s great that there’s this refuge for them,” added Brennan, a member of Porter’s team.Megacities and shippingThe Pearl River Delta is one of the most industrialised coastal areas on Earth. As well as Hong Kong and Macao, it includes Chinese mainland megacities like Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Dongguan, and is home to some 22 million people.And aside from heavy shipping traffic, the dolphins’ key habitat has been subjected to a host of large-scale developments, including the construction of Hong Kong’s airport on reclaimed land and the world’s longest sea bridge connecting the financial hub to Macau and Zhuhai.A huge new reclamation project is also underway to build a third runway for the city’s airport.According to the WWF, there are only an estimated 2,000 pink dolphins left in the Pearl River Delta – the minimum number that conservationists believe are needed to sustain the species.There is a palpable fear the delta’s dolphins could go extinct under the population’s current trajectory.“Dolphins, and especially these estuarine dolphins, have a slow birth rate, a slow growth rate, a slow reproductive rate,” said Laurence McCook, head of oceans conservation at WWF-Hong Kong.“So they need very careful management.”Cantonese heritageThe lack of ferries is a welcome, but potentially brief, respite for the dolphins.Noise from vessels disturbs mammals that rely on underwater sound for navigation and communication.The ships also pose the physical threat of striking the creatures, injuring and even killing them.The rugged southern coastline of Hong Kong’s outlying Lantau island provides shelter from typhoons and predators for the dolphins.But it is also where the ferries between Macau and the financial hub travel.Conservationists are campaigning to expand an existing marine park to better protect the vulnerable species.“We’ve now identified a habitat that could then be reclaimed by them and could really be used to support their population,” said Brennan, who believes recent findings could provide an opportunity for conservationists to “turn the tide” for the vulnerable dolphin population.“The fact that we’ve seen such a dramatic change, though still early days, from just one of those impacts going away is a really positive shift.”But WWF’s McCook warns time is running out for the dolphins.“They’re an icon of the area,” he said. “They’re a part of Cantonese heritage. They’ve been around here for millennia.”“It would be a global tragedy to lose this iconic creature from the future of the Greater Bay Area.”


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Over 37,300 evacuated in Johor as floods worsen

The flood situation in Johor has continued to worsen, with 37,322 people evacuated as of 8am today.
This is over 1,000 more than the 36,191 flood victims recorded last night.
The Johor state disaster management committee said the evacuees are being housed at 238 temporary relief centres.


As US troops leave biggest base, Afghans ask: ‘What was the point?’

As American troops left their main military base in Afghanistan on Friday, marking a symbolic end to the longest war in US history, locals living in the shadow of the base and in nearby Kabul were left ruing the past and bracing for whatever comes next.Violence has been raging throughout Afghanistan in the weeks since President Joe Biden announced troops would withdraw unconditionally by Sept 11.With peace talks in Qatar going nowhere, and roughly a quarter of the country’s districts falling to a resurgent Taliban since Biden’s announcement according to one study, many are concerned that chaos and bloodshed are inevitable.Malek Mir, a mechanic in Bagram who saw the Soviet Army and then the Americans come and go, told Reuters he was left with a deep sense of sadness at the futility of foreign presences.“They both came with bombing the Taliban and got rid of their regime – but now they have left when the Taliban are so empowered that they will take over any time soon,” he said.“What was the point of all the destruction, killing and misery they brought us? I wish they had never come.”More than 3,500 foreign troops have been killed since the two-decade war started after 9/11. The war has also claimed over 100,000 civilians since 2009 alone, according to United Nations records.Some, however, say the presence of foreign troops distorted Afghanistan’s economy and that it is time for the country to stand on its own.“The Americans leave a legacy of failure, they’ve failed in containing the Taliban or corruption,” said Sayed Naqibullah, a shop owner in Bagram. “A small percentage of Afghans got so rich, while the vast majority still live with extreme poverty.“In a way, we’re happy they’ve gone. We’re Afghans and we’ll find our way.”In the nearby capital, the news was a fresh reminder of the growing panic that has been gripping many parts of Afghan society, particularly in urban areas, since Biden announced the withdrawal in April.“All the people are worried that if foreign forces leave Afghanistan, the Taliban will take over. Then what will we do?” asked Zumarai Wafa, a Kabul shopkeeper.Wafa and others described a slump in business and signs of many urban residents trying to flee the country, with hundreds lined up outside embassies seeking visas.Medical student Muzhda, 22, who asked to be identified by only one name for security reasons, said her family had decided to leave the country because of the deterioration in security.She said she wondered what future awaited women if the Taliban came back to power and removed women from education, as they did during their previous time in power.The Taliban say they have changed and that they will make provisions for women’s rights in line with cultural traditions and religious rules.Still, Muzhda said she feels let down by the American departure.“The withdrawal of foreign troops in the current situation is irrational,” she said. “It is now clear that the Americans came here for their own purposes, not to help and cooperate with Afghanistan.“I’m very sad and disappointed, I had many dreams that will not come true.”


The good and bad of putting federal territories under Anwar

The move to convert the federal territories ministry into a department under the Prime Minister's Department (JPM) has raised questions about its leadership and whether Anwar Ibrahim will end up the de facto minister in addition to the portfolios he already holds.
The administrative restructuring was announced by Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali on Dec 23.
Zuki also named Rosida Jaafar as the director-general of the new Federal Territories Department.  Lawyer Rafique Rashid said that dropping a ministerial portfolio was a good move as it would enable the government to cut down on expenses.
Nevertheless, he said the one-time ministry would come under the auspices of Anwar, who already holds the finance portfolio in addition to the top office.
As there is no longer a minister in charge of the federal territories, he said, the question would arise of whether Anwar will assume the role as well
"Will we have Anwar as the prime minister, Anwar as the finance minister and Anwar as the de facto federal territories minister?
"This is something he must be transparent about. Is Rosida there to replace the role of minister, or just to be a figurehead?
"As long as this matter is not explained, Anwar is the de facto federal territories minister," he said.
The federal territories ministry was established in 1979 to coordinate planning and development for Kuala Lumpur and the wider Klang Valley area.
In 1981, it was downgraded to a divisional unit under JPM known as the Klang Valley Planning Unit.
It was given ministry status once more in 2004, under the administration of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, with Isa Abdul Samad appointed as its minister.
Special focus was then given to the progress of the federal territories, namely Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.
Rafique said another issue of interest was Article 42 of the Federal Constitution which concerns the power of the Pardons Board.
If a case is tried and handled in Kuala Lumpur, he said, the minister responsible for the federal territory will be among the sitting members of the board.
"This means that he will be part of the composition or a member of any pardons board related to regional cases," he said.
Noting that former prime minister Najib Razak's case is ongoing in Kuala Lumpur, he said this would be a "very important legal issue".
According to Article 42, the Agong has the power to grant pardons and postpone punishments or legal relief after receiving advice from the Pardons Board, which consists of several parties including the attorney-general.
Rafique said the announcement was likely to trigger conflict as the current government comprises a combination of coalitions including Barisan Nasional and its lynchpin party Umno.
"There is also the issue of the former prime minister from Umno, who may have to rely on the Pardons Board in the case of the SRC International trial which saw him sentenced to 12 years in prison."
Analyst Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said there were several possible reasons for placing the ministry under the jurisdiction of JPM.
Firstly, he said, the prime minister might want the areas within the federal territories to be managed directly under JPM, to enable a close watch of their progress.  "There are many issues under the umbrella of the federal territories," he said.
"For example, there have been many problems related to matters of land embezzlement over the past few years, as Kuala Lumpur is a city with high property value.
"We have heard of many issues related to corruption under this ministry."
And by placing the ministry under JPM, he said, Anwar could monitor matters directly, to ensure that problems such as corruption and misconduct do not crop up.
Mazlan also said it would be easier to place Putrajaya, the country's administrative hub, under the supervision of JPM, especially when it comes to the planning and development of the region.
"And under this new administration, the federal territories will be governed by a director-general, so there will be less politicking.
"We know that the federal territories ministry has become the focus of businessmen looking for opportunities.
"Perhaps the prime minister has a vision in abolishing the ministry and placing it under JPM."


China begins anti-monopoly probe into Alibaba

China has launched an anti-monopoly investigation into Alibaba, regulators said Thursday, heaping further pressure on the e-commerce giant and sending its share price tumbling.Regulators will also hold “supervisory and guidance” talks with Alibaba’s gigantic financial services subsidiary Ant Group, state media reported, just weeks after its record-breaking IPO was halted at the last minute by Beijing.The moves demonstrate mounting state pressure on one of the country’s most influential companies, whose success revolutionised the e-commerce landscape and made its founder Jack Ma China’s richest man.Investigators are looking into Alibaba for “suspected monopolistic practices”, the State Administration for Market Regulation said in a statement.Alibaba shares tumbled 5.48% on the news shortly after the Hong Kong Stock Exchange opened Thursday morning.Its financial services subsidiary Ant Group said in a statement that it would “diligently study and strictly comply with regulatory departments’ requests”.Ant Group made its name via its main product Alipay, the online payments platform and super-app that is now deeply embedded in China’s economy.But the company has also expanded into offering loans, credit, investments and insurance to hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses, spurring fear and jealously in a wider banking system geared more for supporting state policy and large corporations.As global demand for the dual Hong Kong-Shanghai listing pushed the IPO toward record valuations – potentially handing Ma and Ant Group even more funding, legitimacy and clout – Chinese regulators acted.The outspoken and charismatic Ma had previously lashed out at China’s outdated financial system, calling state-owned banks “pawn shops” in an October speech that led to him being summoned for regulatory talks shortly before Ant’s IPO was suspended.This year, Beijing has also implemented new regulations to contain potential risks in China’s growing online lending industry, as the fintech arms of internet firms including Alibaba and Tencent have expanded and consolidated power over the market.State media have repeatedly called for tighter oversight of these firms, warning of potential financial instability as a result of their unregulated rapid growth.“This is an important measure for our country to strengthen anti-monopoly supervision in the internet sector, which is conducive to… promoting the long-term and healthy development of the platform economy,” said a Thursday commentary in the state mouthpiece People’s Daily.Bad debt in China’s chaotic financial system is a perennial risk, and regulators launched a crackdown on a growing nationwide credit addiction three years ago owing to fears of a financial meltdown.


First Omicron case detected in Malaysia

Malaysia has recorded its first case of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, the health ministry announced today.In a statement, it said the strain had been detected in a 19-year-old international student at a private university in Ipoh, Perak who arrived from South Africa through Singapore on Nov 19.It said PCR genotyping assay tests had been conducted on all positive samples found through screening at KLIA as an additional measure on top of whole genome sequencing.The tests had found one among 74 positive Covid-19 samples taken at KLIA from Nov 11 to 28 with a high likelihood of being of the Omicron strain.Genome sequencing confirmed the Omicron diagnosis on Dec 2.The ministry said the student had been issued a surveillance and observation order under Section 15 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342) and is undergoing mandatory quarantine at the quarters prepared by the university in Ipoh.The trip from KLIA to Ipoh meanwhile was made on a university bus.“Close contact tracing has been conducted for the rest of the passengers and the bus driver, who number five in total,” the ministry said.“They have been screened for Covid-19 and have undergone mandatory quarantine.”It said the first and second test samples for these individuals had come back negative.


Teach the youth, it’s about more than individual leaders, Undi18 says on political apathy

Youth movement Undi18 has blamed an overly narrow perception of politics for the apparent apathy among the younger generation about public affairs in the country, warning that this could hamper efforts to boost their involvement in Malaysia’s democratic process.P Tharma, the movement’s founder, said the education system does not normalise democratic norms or the understanding of governance, leaving many to believe that politics is about choosing their favourite leader or political party.“But politics is about so much more because it deals with how we live our lives,” he said.“For many Malaysian youths, politics seems like a selfish battle for power between politicians who don’t care about the people. This creates a sense of apathy.”A recent survey by public opinion pollster Merdeka Center found that more than two-thirds of the youths involved had no interest in participating in politics.The reasons given included the “complicated” nature of politics and governance, with many saying they “can’t understand what’s going on”.Others dismissed politicians, saying they “don’t care what people like me think”.The findings came amid a delay in the move to lower the legal age of voting from 21 to 18, a decision that was passed in the Dewan Rakyat in July 2019 alongside the agreement for automatic voter registration and to allow those aged 18 and above to contest elections.The minimum age for voting was expected to be lowered in July this year. However, the Election Commission (EC) said in March that it would likely take effect only after Sept 1, 2022.Following a backlash from several quarters including politicians from both sides of the divide, law minister Takiyuddin Hassan said Undi 18 would be implemented this year, if possible in July as initially scheduled.Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Tharma said the movement was working to counter any effect that a narrow perspective of politics might have on the youth coming out to vote once Undi 18 is enforced.“We are developing more education programmes to increase political awareness and literacy among the youth,” he said.He also urged the education and higher education ministries to play a role in ensuring that the youth are “good citizens of Malaysia” and not only “good at mathematics and writing”.Sociologist Shatar Shabran agreed that a lack of understanding about political situations is a main factor in youth apathy.“Youths are more idealistic,” he said. “They expect things to go like they do in theories. In reality, many things need to be accounted for, especially current scenarios, before politicians make a decision.”In politics, he added, it is difficult to have a “one size fits all” mentality.“For instance, what happens in the US or what is implemented in other countries cannot necessarily be totally emulated in Malaysia due to different cultures, societies and values.”He said an interest and involvement in politics is necessary among the youth as they are the future leaders of the country. However, he cautioned against youths forming their own political parties simply because they are dissatisfied with the existing ones.“This would mean that the same portion of the cake is divided among more groups. It would be much better if they engaged and discussed with existing political parties.”He said such engagement could be conducted on social media platforms to capture the attention of youths, rather than parties relying on conventional or traditional methods of reaching out to the public.“The agenda should not be for certain individuals or groups, but to ensure that society and the country in general does well in the future.”Tharma meanwhile said access to social media had allowed many young Malaysians to stay up to date about current issues.He said the challenge would be to bridge the gap between these issues and youths’ perception of politics as a separate matter.


Residents told to stay home as heavy rain, floods batter Portugal

Heavy rain battered parts of the Iberian peninsula on Tuesday, flooding streets, sweeping away cars and forcing authorities in Portugal to close some roads and mobilise the armed forces to support clean up efforts.
The Lisbon mayor's office put the city on a "red" warning and urged people to stay home and avoid commuting to the capital in the estuary of the Tagus River.
Since midnight, the Civil Protection Authority has reported nearly 1,500 incidents across Portugal, mainly in Lisbon and the districts of Santarem, Portalegre and Evora, including flooded streets, tunnels, train stations and shops.
A spokesperson for the armed forces said civil authorities had asked for help to pump out water in flooded areas.
Schools in Oeiras, part of the Lisbon district, shut and students were sent home.
The emergency plan for the Tagus River has been activated, meaning there is a risk it could overflow.
Weather agency IPMA said rainfall was likely to remain "strong and persistent" throughout the rest of the day.
The mayor's office said earlier on Tuesday city buses and trams were not operating, the metro was not fully functioning and some train stations were inaccessible due to flooding.
Adverse weather conditions also brought Lisbon's metropolitan area to a standstill last Wednesday, when one person died in a flooded basement.
Supermarket owner Elia Santos, 33, said water had entered her store in Alges, near Lisbon, last week but "this time was worse", estimating she might have lost at least 6,000 euros in damages without counting the electrical appliances.
"Everything is lost," said Artur Rosa, 57, whose real estate office flooded for a second time in less than a week.
"It is total destruction - the window is broken, the furniture is all destroyed, all... the documentation we have to keep for 10 years."
Heavy rain hit other parts of the country on Tuesday, with IPMA declaring an "orange" weather alert in all but one of the mainland districts.
Neighbouring Spain was also affected, with the central-western region of Extremadura put on the second highest level of emergency. Heavy rain caused a road to collapse and a group of ten people had to be rescued.
Lisbon's city hall has been criticised for failing over the years to build infrastructure to prevent flooding. Mayor Carlos Moedas said work to build a 5km (3 mile) drainage tunnel should start soon.
"You have to think about the infrastructure - it's a long-term issue," said Stefani Nolasco, 23, a manager at a flooded restaurant in Alges.


Canada suspends random Covid tests at airports over travel delays

Canada is suspending random Covid tests at airports until the end of June in a bid to reduce chronic delays to travellers in recent weeks, the government said Friday.The tests will be put on hold from Saturday and will resume “off site” on July 1, according to a government statement.“We continue to work with airports, airlines, baggage handlers, and other partners to implement solutions to reduce delays as we approach the summer peak season,” it said.Numerous aviation officials have spoken out against the tests in recent weeks, saying they have worsened wait times at airports, already hit by understaffing.In Toronto, as in Montreal, it takes several hours for passengers to leave the airport. A nationwide labor shortage has worsened recently and is affecting all sectors.Many passengers have taken to social media in recent days to complain about being stuck in their planes after landing before being allowed to disembark, but also about long queues when checking their baggage.The country’s main airline, Air Canada, has admitted to being hit by these problems.Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick told the media that “extended delays in security and customs,” had recently forced airlines to cancel some flights.The government has promised to continue to hire screening officers at airports. The statement Friday said 865 people have joined the ranks of air transport security since April.


Lift the sanctions against Syria

The International Movement for a Just World (JUST) urges the American, British, Australian, Canadian, Swiss and some European Union and Arab League governments to lift the unjust, immoral sanctions against Syria in order to lessen the immense sufferings of the people caused by the massive earthquake of Feb 6.
A number of local groups, including the Syrian Red Crescent Society. have already made this call. Among the individuals and groups at the international level who also want sanctions lifted is Helga Zepp LaRouche of the Schiller Institute.
It is reported that the US and EU have temporarily suspended their sanctions. But this is not enough because it means that they can be re-imposed at any time. If sanctions have to be terminated once and for all, it is because there were no justifications for them in the first instance.
The US began targeting Syria in 1979 by placing it on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. This was largely because of the support that then Syrian president Hafez Azad gave Palestinian, Syrian and other Arab freedom fighters seeking to liberate Palestine, Syria’s Golan Heights and other Arab territories from Israeli occupation. It is an indication of the degree of influence that Israel and Zionism exercise over US foreign policy in West Asia and North Africa (Wana).
Between March and August 2004, sanctions were intensified as a result of new allegations of Syrian interference in Iraq and Lebanon which impacted upon Israel. By this time, the Syrian government’s relationship with Hamas in Palestine and Hezbollah in Lebanon and its close fraternal ties with Iran were at the core of US animosity towards the resolutely independent minded nation. Needless to say, Israeli interests were prominent in all these US stances.
However, it was only after 2011, camouflaged by the so-called Arab Spring, that organised, aggressive US led attempts to overthrow the Syrian government of Bashar Azad, supported by some of its European allies and Wana friends, gave birth to a whole range of new sanctions from travel bans and asset freezes to prohibitions on exports and restrictions upon the oil sector.
The EU also joined the US in embargoing the oil sector. 20% of Syria’s GDP came from oil. It has been estimated that the country has lost 107 billion US dollars from its oil and gas earnings since 2011.
Some Arab League states also froze Syrian government assets as did Turkey in 2011. But none of these actions had as severe an impact upon the Syrian economy and state as the capture of territories containing oil and producing wheat and cotton by rebel groups linked to governments, ethnic movements or terrorist outfits in the region.
These groups collectively known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are led by Kurds with longstanding grievances against both the Syrian and Turkish governments and are supported by the US. They occupy parts of North West Syria badly affected by the earthquake.
It is this fractured and fragmented country that Bashar Azad presides over. It is a country in which 15.3 million people out of a population of 21.3 million are in need of humanitarian aid. Bashar’s power and authority have been further weakened as we have seen by loss of control over vital resources and by crippling sanctions.
It is understandable why his government was not able to respond quickly and effectively to the earthquake catastrophe which as of Feb 11 has killed at least 3,500 people. It is of course much smaller than the more than 22,300 children, women and men who have perished in neighbouring Turkey.
Nonetheless, the Syrian tragedy demands a response that goes beyond rescue and recovery operations. It is a colossal tragedy complicated by sanctions which impede not only ongoing operations such as the flow of basic necessities and the arrival of much needed personnel but also hinder medium and long-term relief and rehabilitation work. This is why sanctions have to be lifted immediately. This is why both peoples and governments everywhere should make this their priority plea.
The conflicts between competing groups the majority of which are armed should also be brought to an end as soon as possible. It is not going to be easy. One hopes that this mammoth catastrophe will persuade some of the principal actors in these conflicts to reflect deeply on what has happened – the unfathomable suffering of millions of human beings on both sides of the Turkey-Syria border.
If their suffering is to have any meaning at all, let it herald the end of conflicts and killings along the border and in other parts of Syria. In this regard, it is encouraging that the United Nations has appealed to all warring parties to observe a ceasefire with immediate effect to enable humanitarian assistance to be channelled to the victims of the earthquake.
There is another glimmer of hope. Even before the earthquake, on Jan 5, the president of Turkey, Recep Erdogan indicated that he wants to meet up with the Syrian president, Bashar Azad, to discuss and resolve their differences.
Let us hope and pray that both men will work towards such a meeting – a meeting which will result in a mutually acceptable solution to their problems. If the two leaders who enjoyed a close friendship some time ago make peace with one another, there is a strong possibility that Turkey and Syria will be able to come together on a firm footing and most of the other protagonists will also be able to bury the hatchet.
If that happens, the deaths of thousands – especially little children – in one of the greatest tragedies in recent times would not have been in vain.
Chandra Muzaffar is president of the International Movement for a Just World (JUST).
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Govt decides not to extend emergency

The government will not advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to extend the current virus emergency upon its expiry next month, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.Takiyuddin Hassan, the minister in charge of law, said all emergency ordinances would also be revoked.“I would like to confirm today that the federal government has decided not to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to declare a new proclamation of emergency when it expires on Aug 1, 2021,” Takiyuddin told the Dewan Rakyat.“The government has made a decision based on Article 105(3) to revoke all emergency ordinances made during this emergency. As it has been revoked, the issue of annulment is no longer relevant.”He said the revocation was effective July 21.The announcement was met with protest by opposition politicians who went on to disrupt Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s speech, close to two hours after the special sitting today began.Minutes into his speech, DAP’s Gobind Singh Deo interrupted by saying that the move not to extend the emergency should only be decided by Parliament.Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim meanwhile said there should be a process to go through before the emergency is revoked.The floor then descended into chaos with Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng leading other opposition MPs in refusing to allow Muhyiddin to continue his speech.Earlier, opposition MPs had questioned the special sitting and accused the government and speaker Azhar Harun of committing “derhaka” (treachery) by not calling for a full sitting as requested by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.Several attempts by Takiyuddin to explain the special sitting were interrupted by DAP and Amanah MPs.The government said early this month that it had agreed to advise the Agong to call for a special Parliament sitting to explain the National Recovery Plan to MPs.The special sitting will run for five days from July 26 to 29 and Aug 2 for the Dewan Rakyat and three days from Aug 2 to 5 for the Dewan Negara.Parliament and state assembly sittings had been suspended since January under the state of emergency declared to address the spike in Covid-19 cases at the time, which also saw the enforcement of the second movement control order across large parts of the country.The fourth term of Parliament, meanwhile, will run for 15 days in September and another 32 days from October to December.The first sitting of the Dewan Rakyat will run from Sept 6 to 30, while the second will run from Oct 25 to Dec 16.


US rep ends re-election bid after admitting affair with former IS war bride

Two-term US representative Van Taylor on Wednesday withdrew from a Republican primary run-off race, ending his re-election bid after admitting he had an extra-marital affair with the widow of an American who joined the Islamic State, according to media reports.Taylor, who represents a northeast Texas district, last year voted for the creation of a special congressional panel to investigate the Jan 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol, earning the ire of former president Donald Trump, whose supporters mounted the deadly attack.Taylor’s withdrawal came one day after he led a pack of five Republicans in a primary race with 48.7% of the vote, just shy of the 50% needed to win his party’s nomination.With his withdrawal, a former Texas county judge, Keith Self, became the Republican nominee who will run in the Nov 8 general election for the seat representing an area north of Dallas, including Plano.The Dallas Morning News quoted Taylor telling supporters he had made “a horrible mistake” by engaging in the affair with the woman.Taylor’s congressional office in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment or say whether he will serve out the remainder of his term.


Covid secrecy worse for business than covering up outbreaks

In November 2020, thousands of factory workers formed a new Covid-19 cluster, prompting authorities to focus attention on adherence to SOPs in the manufacturing sector.Some 3,000 out of around 4,000 Covid-19 cases reported in the Teratai cluster were factory workers.The full extent of the Covid-19 issue came under the spotlight when a whistleblower posted photographs of workers from a factory crowded together rather than physical distancing.It highlights the need for more transparency and accountability from employers, something experts say is a bane in combating the pandemic.Migrant worker rights activist Andy Hall said one problem is when the exact location of a new case is not given by the authorities.He said in many instances, the true identity of a cluster is never made public unless it is leaked to the media.Hall feels secrecy is a contributing factor to the recent spike because people don’t know where the cases are coming from.“There is a public interest in knowing where these things are happening. If it wasn’t for whistleblowers, we couldn’t expose these kinds of things.”“It’s the whole issue of transparency and corporate accountability. We don’t have transparency and we can’t hold the companies accountable either,” he added.While some companies may think it’s a good idea not to reveal any information about the cases or problems encountered by workers as it protects their corporate image, the consequences can be devastating for communities.“There is a public interest in knowing where these things are happening. If it wasn’t for whistleblowers, we couldn’t expose these kinds of things,” Hall told MalaysiaNow.Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO of the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy said it is far better for companies to be transparent and open about positive cases on their premises than to try to hide them.“Being open protects staff and customers. It also sends a positive message on the role that the private sector should play in this epidemic,” he said.“It is better for them to disclose openly rather than be found out through MySejahtera or other contact tracing efforts.”Many companies worry about Covid cases stigmatising their reputation.However, Azrul feels that it is better to be remembered as a business which acted responsibly rather than one which tried to hide information vital to public safety.Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan agrees it is important for businesses to maintain transparency about Covid cases on their premises.“Once an employee is infected with Covid-19 it is important to close the company temporarily so that the workplace can be properly sanitised, and the contacts of the patient must be identified and quarantined and tested.”


More teens vaping now than before, health ministry warns

The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022 recorded an increase in vaping or the use of e-cigarettes among teenagers aged 13 to 17, from 9.8% in 2017 to 14.9% in 2022, the health ministry said today.
It said a significant increase was also recorded among teenage girls, from 2.8% in 2017 to 6.2% in 2022.
In a statement describing e-cigarettes as "a smoking product of the new millennium", it said such devices had been proven harmful to users.
"Among the main diseases detected is e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury or Evali," it added.
"The ingredients contained in the e-cigarette liquid, when heated, will produce chemicals that can have an inflammatory effect on the lining of the lungs, causing Evali."
The ministry's statement came a day after the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 was referred to a parliamentary special select committee for further scrutiny.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, who tabled the bill for a first reading in the Dewan Rakyat, said this proved the government's commitment to ensuring that the proposed law could be promptly approved.
The bill aims to control the sale and purchase of tobacco products, smoking materials, tobacco substitute products and smoking devices for the sake of public health and to create a smoke-free generation.
Clauses 13 and 14 of the bill propose the prohibition of the sale of tobacco products and smoking substances to persons born on Jan 1, 2007, onwards.
The bill provides for a fine of not more than RM20,000 or imprisonment for not more than a year against anyone found selling the products to individuals born on Jan 1, 2007, onwards.
It also provides for a fine of not more than RM500 or community service for any individual of the so-called "endgame" generation found to have purchased the products.
The move to refer the bill to the parliamentary special select committee triggered fresh criticism from public health pressure group Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, which said the tobacco control bill was more critical than ever following the health minister's controversial move to delist nicotine as a controlled substance.
The health ministry today said that it had been monitoring activities related to vaping or the use of e-cigarettes through a circular from the health director-general since June 2022, and received 17 cases related to Evali as of June this year.
"The health ministry would like to remind all users that using e-cigarettes or vaping is unsafe as they have adverse effects on health, and it is not an alternative method to quit smoking."


UAE accused of ‘forcibly disappearing’ Pakistani Shiite Muslims

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of forcibly “disappearing” at least four Pakistani men since October and of deporting at least six others based on their Shiite Muslim religious background.The 10 men had mostly lived and worked in the UAE, a Sunni Muslim Gulf monarchy, for many years as managers, sales staff, CEOs of small businesses, labourers and drivers, the New York-based campaign group said in a report published on Tuesday.HRW has previously said hundreds of activists, academics and lawyers are serving lengthy sentences in UAE jails, often following unfair trials on vague and broad charges. The UAE has dismissed those accusations as false and unsubstantiated.“UAE authorities released and immediately deported the six in October and November 2020 after also subjecting them to enforced disappearance and incommunicado detention for between three weeks and five months,” the HRW report said.One of the four men who remain in detention was able to call his family after six months. The man’s family still does not know where authorities are holding him nor why he was detained, the report said.HRW said it has spoken with family members who said they knew of other Pakistani Shiite Muslims who had been picked up by UAE authorities since mid-September.“Reports of UAE authorities arbitrarily targeting Shia residents, whether Lebanese, Iraqi, Afghan, Pakistani or otherwise, often emerge at times of increased regional tensions,” HRW said.The UAE, a regional trade and tourism hub, tolerates little public criticism of its monarchy or policies and has been waging a war against political Islam.In 2019, it jailed six Lebanese men, all of them Shiite Muslims who had lived and worked in the country for over 15 years, on charges of establishing a cell linked to the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which it classifies as a terrorist organisation.Several Gulf states, including the UAE, have a fractious relationship with Shiite Iran and have accused Tehran of funding armed groups in countries including Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.In November, the UAE stopped issuing new visas to citizens of 13 mostly Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistan and Iran, citing “security concerns”.The UAE foreign ministry did not respond immediately to a Reuters request for comment on the HRW report. Pakistan’s foreign ministry was also not immediately available to comment on the issue.Shiite Islam is practised by a minority of Muslims in the UAE. It is also practiced among expatriate Muslim communities living in the country, most notably Iranians, as well as some Arabs, Pakistanis, Indians, and other nationalities.The UAE is part of a Saudi-led coalition fighting against Shiite rebels for control of Yemen.


After rulers’ statements, Anwar-Zahid-Najib triumvirate in frantic plan for pandemic-era coup

Fresh talks have been held in recent days between PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim and a group of Umno MPs led by their president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Najib Razak, with a long delayed agreement to form an alliance set to be inked between the two parties in the coming days, MalaysiaNow has reliably learnt.A senior aide of a key Umno leader said their plan, which was supposed to have been executed in October last year when both Zahid and Najib wrote to the palace expressing support for Anwar’s bid to become prime minister, had been given a “new lease of life” by the rulers’ statements yesterday.“The discussions have inched up a couple of notches since last night,” the source told MalaysiaNow on strict condition of anonymity.“And the fact that the Agong this time did not mention any reminders to politicians against disrupting the government’s stability at this juncture appears to have been taken as a boost.”When contacted, at least two senior PKR MPs confirmed the plan while another MP said the negotiations had also been about how to “dangle the carrot” to DAP.“They realise that without DAP’s backing, there is no way any majority can be gathered to counter the Perikatan Nasional government,” the MP said.When asked if any attempt could be made as Parliament is still suspended, the PKR MP said senior advisers to Anwar believed there were “alternative ways” to topple the government.“None of us except those in the inner circle of Datuk Seri have access to the purported agreement between Anwar and Zahid,” the MP added.The Conference of Rulers which met yesterday for a special meeting issued a statement calling for Parliament to reconvene “as soon as possible”, a day after Muhyiddin laid out Putrajaya’s exit plan from the pandemic, eyeing the reopening of Parliament in September or October subject to the public health situation.DAP’s dilemmaSome DAP leaders have reacted cautiously to calls for the party to work with Umno in order to return to federal power, although the proposal has not been actively promoted for fear of a backlash from its vote bank.“The 1999 election is still fresh in our minds,” a DAP MP told MalaysiaNow, referring to the general election that year which saw the party losing Chinese support to MCA.Revealed: Najib, Zahid jointly wrote to palace in support of AnwarRevealed: The inside story of Zahid’s letter to the AgongThreat of pandemic polls with ‘court cluster’ plan to force electionRevealed: Explosive telephone conversation between Anwar and ZahidFull circle: Why the coming together of Anwar and Zahid is no surpriseDAP’s political alliance with PAS in 1999 saw several of its key leaders losing their long-held seats. This prompted DAP to go on its own in 2004, where it managed to win back its strongholds even as Barisan Nasional returned to power with a landslide majority.Many of DAP’s leaders are also seen as facing a moral quandary about being a party to any government that includes the “court cluster”, a reference to some half-a-dozen Umno leaders including Najib who are facing multiple corruption charges.DAP was at the forefront of attacks against Najib at the height of the 1MDB saga, which became central to Pakatan Harapan’s campaign in the historic 2018 polls which ejected Umno from power.Failed coupIn October last year, MalaysiaNow released the contents of a letter jointly signed by Zahid and Najib supporting Anwar’s failed bid to topple the government.MalaysiaNow had also detailed what transpired behind the scenes following Zahid’s letter, including Zahid’s meetings with Muhyiddin in the hope of getting the prime minister’s help to acquit him of his criminal charges.Zahid and Najib between them have been slapped with about 80 corruption charges involving billions of ringgit linked to scandal-ridden state company 1MDB, a charitable foundation and the government’s pension fund.Both have been urging Umno to quit Muhyiddin’s administration. They also engineered a motion in the party’s recent general assembly to cut ties with Bersatu and the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.Zahid was subsequently embroiled in controversy when a recording of a telephone conversation between him and Anwar was leaked, in which he was heard being congratulated by the PKR leader for getting the endorsement of Umno delegates to cut ties with PN.


Ex-US pilot held in Australia faces US charges over export of defence services to China

Former US Marine pilot Daniel Edmund Duggan, who was arrested in Australia, faces charges of conspiracy to unlawfully export defence services to China and violating the US arms export control act, according to a 2017 indictment unsealed by a US District Court in Washington.
Australian police provisionally arrested Duggan in the rural town of Orange at the request of the US government in October, pending a likely extradition request by the US.
The District of Columbia court on Friday unsealed the indictment and a US warrant for Duggan because it said he had been arrested.
Duggan is being held in custody in Sydney and his case will return to a Sydney court this week. The US must lodge an extradition request for Duggan by Dec 20 under a bilateral treaty.
Duggan faces four charges, including conspiracy to defraud the US by conspiracy to unlawfully export defence services to China, conspiracy to launder money, and two counts of violating the arms export control act and international traffic in arms regulations.
Duggan's lawyer, Dennis Miralis of Australian law firm Nyman Gibson Miralis, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for commento.
He has previously said Duggan denies breaching any law, and is an Australian citizen who had renounced his US citizenship.
Duggan moved to Australia in 2002 after a decade in the US Marines, later moving to Beijing in 2014 where he worked as an aviation consultant. He returned to Australia from China weeks before he was arrested, according to his lawyer.
The US indictment lists two Chinese names for Duggan, Ding San Xing and Ding San Qing.
Reuters previously reported that in 2014 Duggan shared a Beijing address with a Chinese businessman, Su Bin, who was arrested in Canada in July 2014 and sentenced to prison in the US two years later after pleading guilty in a high-profile hacking case involving the theft of US military aircraft designs.
Duggan's wife, Saffrine Nydegger Duggan, has launched an online petition asking Australia to refuse any US extradition request.
"Daniel has been caught in a geo-political storm for working in China, doing work that has been done there for decades by Western, African and European pilots for decades with the full knowledge of these Governments," she said in the petition. She did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.


Dr M agrees GE should not be held during pandemic

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says now is not a suitable time to hold the 15th general election as the country is still experiencing a spike in number of daily Covid-19 cases.“I’m of the opinion that, based on our experience during the Sabah state election, Covid-19 will continue to spread if GE15 is held.“Until today, it has not stopped. If we hold another general election, 50% of us will probably be infected with Covid-19,” he said after launching an event in Putrajaya today.When asked whether he would contest in GE15, he said: “I’m 95 years old, I can hardly walk properly.“You can’t expect me to contest again.”


Concerns raised over long-term debt for B40 homebuyers

Concerns have been raised over the ability of those from the B40 or low-income group to finance long-term loans for housing, against a backdrop of unsold property which the central bank recently said remains at an elevated level across the country.Affordable housing has been a long-standing problem especially for those in areas such as the Klang Valley, with Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin last year urging developers to concentrate on projects priced below RM500,000.But even RM500,000 is beyond the reach of many whose struggles have been compounded by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on businesses and the economy.Radzi Tajuddin, CEO of property company Hi Home, said homebuyers from the B40 income bracket should not be burdened by long-term debt.“Most of them are financially illiterate,” he told MalaysiaNow. “The monthly repayments might be cheap, but extending the loan tenure means paying more for interest.”He cited as example a recent initiative by the Better Malaysia Foundation, founded by business tycoon Vincent Tan. Tan had urged the government to implement strategic initiatives for banks and financial institutions to provide 100% financing for B40 home buyers with two-generation loans of between 40 and 60 years.Radzi suggested that the government continue with loan tenures of 30 to 35 years, but applauded the foundation’s proposal that the units be divided into two self-contained sections.“B40 families who reside in the unit can rent a room or two to tenants,” he said. “This could generate extra income for the family, and they could use this to pay for the monthly commitments.”He also urged the government to levy a vacancy tax on developers for units that remain unsold after a certain period of time. He said this would put pressure on developers to lower the price of their properties.Carmelo Ferlito, CEO of the Center for Market Education, said 100% government-backed financing for B40 homebuyers through two-generation housing loans could cause them further financial stress.“From a policymaker’s perspective, I am afraid of long-term loans because they are a big risk in terms of financial stability, and could lead to a huge crisis,” he said.Carmelo, a senior fellow at think tank Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, said financial policies targeting homebuyers who lack the capacity to repay their loans had been a factor in the 2007-2008 sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US and Europe.“These loans will simply become multi-generational, heaping additional debt on already financially strained families and their children to come,” he said, adding that this would set an unhealthy precedent for household debt management.He suggested instead the guaranteed-rent method, in which the government guarantees the mortgage and rent for property developers or owners. In exchange, he said, developers or owners would be required to select tenants from a group of people designated by the government agency.


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Protests across Italy against Covid certificates

Thousands of people protested in cities across Italy Saturday against the government’s introduction of restrictions on unvaccinated people as Rome tries to slow an upturn in Covid-19 infections.“Freedom!” and “Down with the dictatorship!” chanted Italian flag-waving demonstrators from Naples in the south to Turin in the north, while rain-soaked protesters in Milan shouted “No Green Pass!”The vast majority were not wearing masks.The Green Pass, which is an extension of the EU’s digital Covid certificate, will be required from Aug 6 to enter cinemas, museums, indoor swimming pools or sports stadiums, or eat indoors at restaurants.It will serve as proof bearers have either been vaccinated, undergone a recent negative Covid-19 test, or recovered from a coronavirus infection.Business owners are expected to enforce the rules or face stiff fines under the measure adopted by the cabinet this week as it attempts to protect the slowly recovering economy and prevent further lockdowns.A proposal to make the pass mandatory for travelling by train, coach or plane is expected to be re-evaluated in September.“Better to die free than live like slaves!” read one placard held up outside Milan’s Gothic cathedral, while another in Rome’s historic centre read “Vaccines set you free” over a picture of the gates to Auschwitz.Protesters in Genova were wearing yellow Star of David badges declaring them “unvaccinated”.Demonstrations had been announced on social media for Saturday in at least 80 cities.The decision Thursday to make the pass mandatory for many activities saw a boom in vaccine bookings, up 200% in Italy’s smaller regions, according to Covid-19 emergency chief Francesco Figliuolo.Italy, one of the hardest-hit by the pandemic in Europe, reported over 5,000 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, and five deaths.


Brazil police find blood on suspect’s boat in case of missing reporter, expert

Traces of blood have been found on the boat of a suspect arrested in connection with the disappearance of a British journalist and a Brazilian indigenous expert in the Amazon, authorities said Thursday, as calls grew to intensify the search.Dom Phillips, 57, a regular contributor to The Guardian newspaper, and Bruno Pereira, 41, a specialist in indigenous peoples, were reported missing on Sunday after they ventured into the middle of the Amazon rainforest.“Traces of blood were found on the boat of Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira, 41,” Brazil police said in a statement, adding that the suspect known as “Pelado” was arrested on Tuesday.“The material collected is on its way to Manaus,” the capital of the Amazonas state, for expert analysis, the statement added.It was accompanied by images of investigators taking photos of what appeared to be a small bloodstain on a blue tarp inside a motorboat with peeling paint.The statement is a grim twist in the ongoing search for the two men, whose fate remains unknown.The Brazilian authorities said they are hopeful of finding the pair alive but do not exclude any outcome, including that of homicide, in a region where trafficking is rife.High-profile personalities and environmental and human rights groups have rallied to the cause, urging President Jair Bolsonaro to step up the search.“Where is Dom Phillips? Where is Bruno Pereira?” asked the journalist’s sister, Sian Phillips, in a statement to the media during a gathering of around 30 people in front of Brazil’s embassy in London.“We want the UK authorities to put pressure on the Brazilian government,” she added, before she and other family members were received by the ambassador.“We want to carry on with the search. We want to find out what is happening to them and we want anyone responsible for any criminal act to be brought to justice. We want a persistent deep and open investigation,” she added.She blamed the Brazilian authorities for delaying the search but said they “all have hope” that the pair will be found.“He is a great writer and journalist. He is a caring man. He cares about the environment. He loves Brazil,” Phillips said of her brother.“He’s a great guy and we love him with all our heart.”Paul Sherwood, Phillips’ brother-in-law, told AFP the family had “been assured that everything has been done that can be done.”Bolsonaro says hopes ‘fade’ each dayBolsonaro, who was attending the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, said Thursday: “Let’s pray to God that they are still alive.”But, he added, “With each day that passes, those chances fade.”He had drawn criticism in past days for appearing to blame the missing men, saying they had undertaken an “unadvisable adventure.”Phillips and Pereira went missing in the Javari Valley in Amazonas state, located in the west of the Amazon basin, near Peru.Witnesses said they saw the suspect speeding by in a boat going in the same direction as Phillips and Pereira when they were last seen. Police said the man had been arrested for carrying unlicensed caliber ammunition and drugs.The remote region is experiencing an escalation in armed violence due to the presence of miners, gold diggers, poachers and drug traffickers.


The toxic risks of mining rare earths

We refer to the announcement by the Kedah menteri besar (MB) last week that the state intends to mine for a rare earth element (REE) which could be worth RM62 billion.REEs are extracted from ores and minerals as they are not often found concentrated in mineable deposits. REEs are almost always found in conjunction with significant radioactivity as these ores and minerals naturally contain uranium and thorium.There are 17 rare earth elements existing namely scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium. Can the MB let us know which type of non-radioactive rare earth is found in Kedah?Rare earth mining and processing is a much more environmentally hazardous process than other mining activities since radioactive waste is formed. It has serious environmental impacts if not properly managed. Low-level radioactive tailings from the presence of thorium and uranium in REEs ores are a potential hazard and improper handling of these substances can result in enormous environmental and health damage. Both thorium and uranium remain radioactive for hundreds of years and exposure to them has been linked to increased risks of lung, pancreatic and other cancers.The mining of REEs has caused the contamination of soil and water: radioactive waste can leach out into aquatic environments and be absorbed by aquatic vegetation which can then bioaccumulate and potentially enter the human food chain if livestock or humans choose to eat the vegetation.Exposure to radioactive waste can lead to cancer, respiratory issues, dental loss and even death. The group most at risk are children as radioactive waste can impact the neurological development of children, affecting their IQ and potentially causing memory loss.Nowhere is the industry’s ecological and human fallout more stark than in China which accounts for more than 80% of the world’s REEs output. In Jiangzxi province, rare earth mining has led to extensive water and soil pollution while concrete leaching ponds and plastic lined waste water pools dot the hills.As clean up of these polluted sites begins, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology estimated the cleanup bill could amount to 38 billion yuan (US$5 billion). According to Chinese authorities it will take 50 to 100 years before the environment can fully recover, and the cost borne by the locals has been high.In Jiangxi province, two methods were used to extract the rare earths. The first method involved removing layers of topsoil and transporting them to a leaching pond, where acids and chemicals were used to separate the various REEs from clay, soil and rock.The second process involved drilling holes (which the MB of Kedah vaguely alluded to) into hills inserting PVC pipes and rubber hoses, and then flushing out the earth using a mix of water and chemicals. This mix was then directly pumped or transported to the leaching pond for further separation of REEs.Chinese officials have said that mining has dumped excessive amounts of ammonia and nitrogen compounds into the region’s groundwater. Other pollutants like cadmium and lead are released during the mining process and long term exposure to these metals pose health risks as well.Rare earth mining has led to radioactive material clinging to the elements in some areas according to a researcher who studied the environmental and health impacts. The end result he says could be central nervous system cancers like bone cancer, skin cancer and cardiovascular and respiratory disorders.Nearer home at the rare earth refinery at Bukit Merah in Perak, CAP documented birth defects and leukemia cases within five years in the community. Doctors say thorium contamination from the plant had led to the increase in cancer. The company, Asian Rare Earth, had also sold calcium phosphate, a by-product of rare earth processing as fertiliser which according to a former Bukit Merah resident the cows that ate the grass (grown with fertiliser) all died.The factory operated by Mitsubishi Chemical closed in 1992 amid strong opposition from local residents, environmentalists and Japanese politicians. The company was involved in a US$100 million clean-up which entailed the removal of more than 80,000 steel barrels of radioactive wastes to a hilltop repository. The US Environment Protection Agency lists Bukit Merah one of Asia’s largest radioactive waste cleanup sites.It looks like history is about to repeat itself with the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) rare earth refinery, which is set to become the world’s largest processing facility of rare earths. Lynas’s operations, a complex project involving radiation hazards was fast tracked for approval without a permanent disposal facility in place. Since it started in 2012, it has accumulated waste, namely the water leached purification (WLP) residue which is radioactive totalling 451,564 metric tonnes, and neutralisation underflow (NUF) waste which has been classified as scheduled waste, amounting to 1.2 million metric tonnes as of February 2018. Currently, the massive mounds of waste are openly accumulating within Lynas’ factory site. The NUF storage capacity reached its limit in June 2018 and a secure landfill is nowhere in sight. To date the public has no knowledge of the planned permanent disposal facility.In 2018 the executive committee report (ECR) on Lynas noted that “the main cause of sediment pollution in Sg Balok was from the LAMP operations”. Citing the radiological impact assessment report (2016), it states “there is a statistically significant increase in U 238 radioactivity from the stream sediments at the location of LAMP effluent dumps as compared to the downstream location”.This means that radioactive materials such as uranium-238 are able to settle from water and accumulate in sediments at the bottom of the river. Bottom feeders are able to collect these radioactive materials from river water and sediment. The ECR also found “non compliance with some heavy metals (nickel lead, chromium and mercury) in ground water particularly alarming”.In light of the above health and environmental hazards and problems associated with rare earth mining, namely radioactive waste, heavy metals contamination, waste disposal and storage, and lifetimes, the MB must realise that these issues and problems will have to be borne by the state and the people of Kedah. It will bring about irreversible damage to the environment, destruction of forests, devastation of watersheds, scarred desert-like landscapes, poisoned soil and water, and a public health crisis. The financial, social and ecological costs will be astronomical. The Malaysian experience and its toxic legacy is a sobering reminder and Kedah should learn from it.Does the Kedah Department of Environment have the capacity to monitor and evaluate REEs mining and processing, supervise the decommissioning and approval of suitable land for the permanent disposal facility and disposal of toxic waste, among others?Given the dangers highlighted above, CAP urges the state and federal governments to declare a moratorium on any mining, production and refining of REEs, their waste disposal and storage.Mohideen Abdul Kader is president of the Consumers’ Association of Penang.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


RoS rules against Umno’s move to delay party polls

The Registrar of Societies (RoS) today ruled that Umno’s decision to postpone party polls by 18 months is invalid, saying the current office holders had completed the 2018/2021 term on June 30.“Based on the minutes of the Umno Supreme Council meeting on July 7 to postpone the Supreme Council, divisional and branch elections for 18 months, the RoS is of the view that the decision is invalid,” it said in a statement.Those who had called for Umno to postpone its polls included former leader Najib Razak, who alongside party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi have been facing growing opposition from within the party over their campaign to take Umno out of the government.Many Umno leaders such as Khairy Jamaluddin, Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Annuar Musa had openly criticised the move to delay the polls, saying Umno cannot go to the general election under its current leadership.Earlier this year, Khairy mocked the decision, reminding party leaders that a similar decision prior to the 2018 general election had not benefited Umno.“In the end, we folded up,” Khairy said, referring to Umno’s historic fall from power.


NGO calls for action over Jelebu prison abuse

An NGO and some of the families of 22 inmates at the Jelebu prison in Negeri Sembilan today urged the government to take action against any officers at the jail involved in the alleged abuse of detainees following a police report lodged by the wife of one of the inmates.Angelia Pranthaman, president of Sebaran Kasih which works with marginalised communities, also urged the government to pass the Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) law as quickly as possible in light of the recent death in custody of another man, A Ganapathy.At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, she said the Jelebu issue should be highlighted “before it’s too late”, adding that custodial deaths have been occurring for many years now, typically involving Indians.She cited data from rights group Suaram which says that 55% of custodial deaths in Malaysia involve those from this community.“We know Indians are a minority in Malaysia and they are pushing them even further by doing this,” she told MalaysiaNow on the sidelines of the press conference, adding that police and prison officers are supposed to follow procedures when conducting investigations.“The police and prison officers must know the limits of their power. There are things they can do and things they cannot do.“Spraying chilli powder and so on is not part of the investigation. That’s brutality.”The families of the detainees had claimed that the inmates were physically abused under police custody, with chilli powder sprayed on their private parts, among others. They said all this took place while the inmates were handcuffed.According to Sebaran Kasih, the inmates were all Indian men, aged 20 to 45, who were arrested in 2019 under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) on suspicion of involvement in organised crime.Some of their families who were present at the press conference today reiterated their concerns and called for action to be taken against any officers involved.Ten of the families said they had made police reports over the incident and are awaiting a response.The mother of one of the inmates said she is still in the dark over why her son was arrested.“This is the first time my son was caught by the police. He has been detained for one and a half years now but I don’t know why he was arrested.“I haven’t seen him for months. I’m afraid my son’s condition will end up like A Ganapathy. I want my son back,” she added.Another woman said her husband was arrested three months after their wedding.“I haven’t met him until now,” she said. “I have been calling the Jelebu prison but they told me that they didn’t get any approval to allow visitors. I’m so worried because my husband is still in Jelebu.”Pastor Prince Jon, vice-president of Sebaran Kasih, said human rights should be upheld even if the men are prisoners.“We want their rights as humans and as Malaysian citizens to be taken care of. We are not going against the government but we are against brutality by the authorities.“We know this has been happening to Indians all the time,” he said, adding that if the people don’t speak up, custodial deaths in Malaysia will increase.“We are advocating for human rights. We do not want another death to happen,” he said, referring to Ganapathy’s case.Ganapathy was detained on Feb 24 and remanded from Feb 25 to March 8 to assist in the investigation of two cases.Police said Ganapathy had informed them that he had heart disease and diabetes, and that he was sent to hospital four times to receive treatment while in detention.He was confirmed dead while being treated at the ICU of Selayang Hospital on April 18.


Is Malaysia ready to leave coal behind in renewable energy push?

For decades, Malaysia has relied on coal resources to generate electricity throughout the country.As of 2020, nearly 66% of the electricity generate in the peninsula by Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) was from imported coal.For this, Malaysia depends mostly on Indonesia (63%), Australia (24%), Russia (11%) and South Africa (2%).This dependence has had an impact on the economy and environment, and is capable of affecting the ringgit value.The irony is that Malaysia itself is known for its rich natural resources, high annual rainfall and abundant solar energy.Environmental expert Andrew Sebastian believes that these resources should be fully utilised to boost the country’s energy policy for the sake of future sustainability.“Our country is blessed with an abundance of rain and solar energy,” he told MalaysiaNow.“We have to use our naturally given resources to power our energy policy and our energy needs for the future. Supplementing renewable energy and having a clear plan and incentivising developers and local governments to embrace renewable energy is something that we cannot avoid.”It is understood that TNB will import 374 million metric tonnes of coal worth RM150 billion up until 2030.While the government has stated that it will no longer build coal-fired power plants, the value of such imports will have a sizeable impact, especially on the environment and national expenditure.Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob recently said that focus should be placed on the generation of clean and environmentally friendly electricity.He said this could allow Malaysia to become a carbon neutral country by 2050.But Sebastian said the country still needs to consider the effects of existing coal use.He said the government and the relevant stakeholders should understand that coal generation causes the emission of greenhouse gases which contributes to climate change.“It’s not just our country, not just locally but globally as well,” he added.“This is something that Malaysia has to take serious note of because we must be part of the solution. We have international commitments to keep our greenhouse gases in check and to lower emissions.”Rising coal pricesNearly 93% of electricity in the peninsula is generated using coal and natural gases.Statistics from the energy commission show that there are 47 power stations in the peninsula: six coal-fired power plants, 14 large-scale solar power plants, 16 gas turbine power plants and 11 hydro power plants.With coal prices rising at the global level, the country’s power generation industry is expected to come under increasing pressure.The price of coal hit a high of US$270 per tonne in October 2021 and stood at US$203 per tonne as of Jan 10.These developments came as demand for coal peaked in 2021 while supply remained limited.Sebastian said Malaysia’s economic dependence on fossil fuels meant that the country did not have many coal factories to meet its energy needs.“And very little has been invested in alternative renewable energy,” he added.“This is the flaw in our national energy policy. This is the gap that we need to make up for, because the world is moving towards low carbon and away from dependence on fossil fuels.“If Malaysia is not ready, we will suffer the socioeconomic consequences.”He cited a study in 2017 showing that renewable energy only represented 3.5% of Malaysia’s electricity generation mix.“There needs to be a big shift in the use of renewable energy as a way for our country to move forward,” he said.


Thai court suspends PM from official duty pending result of term limit review

Thailand's Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha from official duties on Wednesday, after it decided to hear a petition to review his legally mandated eight-year term limit.
The court's surprise move came in response to a petition by opposition parties that Prayuth, the army chief when he first seized power in a 2014 coup, should have his time as premier heading the former military junta count towards the term limit.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan is expected to take over as interim leader, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam told reporters on Monday.
Though Prayuth could still be restored to his position when the court makes its ruling, the move to suspend him threw Thai politics into disarray, with a general election due by May next year.
Prayuth will have 15 days to respond, the court told media in a statement, adding that a panel of judges ruled five to four in favour of his suspension, starting from Wednesday.
"The court has considered the petition and related documents and sees that the facts from the petition are cause for questioning as demanded," it said.
It was not clear when the court would deliver a final ruling on the petition, brought by the main opposition party arguing that Prayuth's time spent as head of a military junta should count towards his constitutionally stipulated eight-year term.
Prayuth, who led a 2014 coup to overthrow an elected government, became a civilian prime minister in 2019 after an election held under a military-drafted constitution.
In its request for the court's review, the main opposition party has argued that Prayuth should leave office this month because his time as junta chief should count towards his term.
Nearly two-thirds of Thais also want Prayuth out of office by this month, a recent poll showed.
But some supporters argue his term started in 2017, when a new constitution took effect, or after the 2019 election, meaning that he should be allowed to stay in power until 2025 or 2027, if elected.
The controversy is the latest in a country that has suffered intermittent political turmoil for nearly two decades, including two coups and violent protests.
That has stemmed broadly from opposition to the military's involvement in politics and demands for greater representation by increasingly politically aware sections of society.


Malaysia doesn't owe anyone money for Sabah

The world has acknowledged Malaysia’s sovereignty over Sabah and as a component state of the federation, Malaysia invested billions of ringgit to develop Sabah, establishing a working government to administer this territory.
Since 1878, the heirs of the Sulu sultanate have not contributed significantly to the political stablity and economic development of Sabah. When Sabah was invaded by Japan, they were nowhere to be seen, fighting for their so-called land.
Malaysia does not owe anyone money for Sabah, especially not the heirs of the forgone sultanate of Sulu.
The 1878 treaty signed between the then sultan of Sulu and two British agents, Baron Von Overbeck and Alfred Dent, on the cession of Sabah was utilised by the heirs of Kiram to claim "cession money" from Malaysia. In fact, the Sulu sultanate was disbanded by the Americans in 1915 via the Carpenter Accord.
During the Japanese occupation in 1941, Sabah was made a Japanese colony and the Japanese empire obviously did not pay any "cession money" to the heirs of the defunct Sulu sultanate.
Sabah gained independence when it was federated into Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963.
Malaysia consistently paid the so-called "cession money" or "compensation money" amounting to RM5,300 to the heirs of Kiram until 2013. This was a meagre sum, amounting to RM441.67 per month. Malaysians are paying even higher amounts of money for their housing loans and rent, compared to the sum paid to the heirs of Kiram.
Malaysia does not owe anyone money for Sabah because:
- Malaysia is sovereign over Sabah;
- The Sulu sultanate was disbanded in 1915;
- The 1878 treaty was invalidated as Sabah became a Japanese colony in 1941;
- The Spanish arbitation is illegal; and
- There was no arbitration clause in the 1878 agreement and arbitration cannot be forced upon parties.
The 1939 case
In 1939, the heirs of the sultan of Sulu, i.e. the predecessors of the current generation of Kiram’s family, referred to the High Court of Sandakan, Sabah regarding a dispute under the Deed of Cession 1878. The judge confirmed the status of cession money under the said agreement. Accordingly, by bringing the suit at the North Borneo High Court, the heirs of the defunct sultanate of Sulu acknowledged the jurisdiction of the Malaysian court with regards to solving any issues related to the agreement.
So why do the so-called heirs of the defunct Sulu sultanate now resort to arbitration in Spain? The significance of the 1939 case is that the heirs of the non-existent sultan of Sulu had acknowledged Malaysia/the Malaysian court as the rightful venue to adjudicate any issues arising from the agreement. Therefore, as the rightful heirs of the obsolete sultanate and the successors to the parties in the 1939 suit, the current generation of the Kiram family is legally bound by the decision made in 1939.
The 2020 case
In 2020, the Malaysian government filed a suit at the Sabah High Court to stop the Spanish arbitration led by a Spanish arbitrator. The arbitration was filed by the current generation of the Kiram family. The judge had to decide whether:
(i) There was an arbitration clause in the Deed of Cession 1878;
(ii) Malaysia had waived its sovereign immunity to submit to the Spanish arbitration; and
(iii) Whether Malaysia was the rightful venue to decide issues relating to the said deed, based on historical facts and legal points of view.
Arbitration can never be forced on parties
The High Court contended that nothing in the Deed of Cession 1878 demonstrated that both Malaysia and the defunct sultanate agreed to refer any disputes for arbitration. In fact, the parties must clearly express their agreement to submit to arbitration.
Such intention must be clearly mentioned in an "arbitration agreement" or an "arbitration clause". Further, the word "arbitration" must be clearly mentioned in the deed.
The court found that there was no such arbitration agreement or arbitration clause in the deed. This meant a lack of legal basis for the parties to submit to arbitration.
Section 9 (1) of the Arbitration Act 2005 (Act 646) defines an arbitration agreement as "an agreement by all parties to submit to arbitration in all or certain disputes between them in a legal relationship either it is contractual or not". Section 9 (2) states that the agreement for arbitration can be in the form of an arbitration clause within the main agreement or a separate agreement for arbitration.
Spanish arbitration is illegal
The Spanish arbitration is illegal as it violated Malaysia’s sovereign immunty and ignored a crucial legal issue, i.e. whether Spain was the rightful country to determine the claim. By virtue of the Madrid Protocol 1885 – an international agreement signed by Spain, Britain and Germany – Spain had relinquished its interest over the Sulu Archipelago and confirmed the British position in Sabah.
Spain has no relation either to the deed or to Sabah. Therefore, Spain has no jurisdiction to decide on the matter. The country that has the jurisdiction is Malaysia. Section 23 (1) of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 (Act 91) confers jurisdiction to Malaysia since Sabah is the place where the issue arose. Needless to say, jurisdiction is territorial. Since there is no proof of Malaysia waiving its sovereign immunity, the Spanish arbitration is illegal and the award is legally unenforceable.
As a sovereign state, Malaysia should not have paid even a single sen to the heirs of Kiram since 1963. However, out of good will, the government at that time paid the annual sum of RM5,300 anyway.
It was not wrong for Malaysia to cease payments in 2013 as Putrajaya neither deals with terrorists nor respects treaties with long-lost sovereigns.
However, the letter written by Malaysia’s attorney-general in 2019 expressing Malaysia’s regret in ceasing the payments was a mistake and should not have been sent. Why should Malaysia regret not making payments to the heirs of Kiram when it is clear that Sabah is unmistakably Malaysia’s?
Why should Malaysia honour a colonial treaty signed by an entity which is no longer a sovereign?
As Sabah is globally recognised as part of Malaysia, Malaysia is in no way obliged to entertain the claims of the descendants of a lost sovereign.
Lessons must be learnt from this unwarranted "Sulu arbitration" that may put Malaysia’s interests at stake. The ruling government must be aware and remain steadfast against any attempt to undermine Malaysia’s sovereignty.
Malaysia does not owe anyone money for Sabah.
Mohd Hazmi Mohd Rusli is an associate professor at the Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, and Mohd Ridwan Talib is a non-practising advocate and solicitor at the High Court of Malaya.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


New infections top 2,300 as another 11 deaths logged

Another 2,375 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,994,543.
There were 2,857 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,933,381.
There are now 24,467 active cases, of which 22,637 or 92.5% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0%) are at quarantine centres while 1,739 (7.1%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 91 are in ICU with 57 in need of respiratory assistance.
Another 11 deaths were reported, including two who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 36,695.


Dream fulfilled for Imelda Marcos as family reclaims presidency

Decades after fleeing the Philippines with bags and boxes stuffed with jewels, gold and cash, former first lady Imelda Marcos has achieved her ultimate ambition: her son winning the presidency.The frail but flamboyant 92-year-old matriarch has been the driving force in the family’s comeback from exile to the peak of power in the May 9 polls.President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has described his mother as “the supreme politician in the family”, one who wields a “very big influence”.Known for her lavish spending, Imelda symbolises the greed of her husband Ferdinand Marcos’s dictatorship, which ended in 1986 after a popular revolt ousted him.An estimated US$10 billion was stolen from state coffers over the course of his brutal and corrupt 20-year rule that left the country impoverished.During that time, Imelda collected diamonds, art masterpieces and thousands of shoes, insisting her taste for luxury was meant to inspire her desperately poor countrymen and women.“My role as first lady was… to set the standard, because mass follows class,” she told AFP in a 2009 interview from her penthouse apartment in one of Manila’s most expensive high-rises.Bongbong’s victory marks the completion of her mission to reclaim the presidency and revive the family brand, analysts and observers said.“I’m sure she’s feeling gratification,” said Andres Bautista, who once led a government agency tasked with tracking down the Marcoses’ ill-gotten wealth.“What she wanted to happen was for Marcos Jr. to rehabilitate the Marcos name and reclaim the throne that Marcos Sr. occupied – and it’s happening.”‘She’s beautiful’Tall, fair and glamorous, Imelda gained celebrity status in the Philippines and abroad as first lady, partying with stars and meeting Chinese leader Mao Zedong and Libya’s Moamer Kadhafi on behalf of her husband.She inspired the derisive adjective “Imeldific” with her excess, which included importing African wildlife for a safari park in the archipelago.Imelda has always denied wrongdoing, insisting her husband was rich before he became president.While her detractors think the great-grandmother should be in jail, her legion of fans – many of them poor – still see her as a paragon of beauty.In a senior citizens’ centre in Baseco, a hardscrabble port-side neighbourhood in Manila, Gloria Guarda’s face lights up as she recalls the time she met “Mam Imelda”.“She’s so kind; I really think she’s beautiful,” said Guarda, 82, a life-long supporter of the Marcoses even though she says they owe her money.A member of the Friends of Imelda Romualdez Marcos-24K loyalist group, Guarda said she and other volunteers were promised a million pesos (US$19,000) each for taking part in a tree-planting programme more than a decade ago.“I told myself, ‘I hope Bongbong will win so we can finally have money’,” she said.Bongbong’s media team did not respond to AFP’s request for comment.‘Flaunting wealth’After her husband’s death in 1989, Imelda returned to the Philippines to face graft charges and resuscitate the family’s patronage networks.Loquacious and eccentric – she has been known to lecture guests for hours about her philosophy on beauty and love – Imelda also has sharp political instincts.“Imelda knew where to start rebuilding… and if you have the money to back you up it’s easier,” said Patricio Abinales, professor of Asian Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.She ran for president in 1992 and lost, but in the same elections Bongbong won a congressional seat representing their northern bailiwick Ilocos Norte.Imelda, who later served three straight terms in the lower House of Representatives, was open about her desire for Bongbong to become president.“I am practically pushing him to run for a higher office,” she told AFP in 2009 when asked if she wanted him to lead the nation.He made a successful tilt for the Senate the following year, and then ran for vice president in 2016, with Imelda making appearances at campaign rallies. But he was narrowly defeated by Leni Robredo.Deals with rival political dynasties and an online whitewashing of the family’s past fuelled his support and ultimate victory in the 2022 presidential race against Robredo.Imelda, who gave up her seat in Congress in 2019, has long guided her children’s political careers.Bongbong recently told CNN Philippines that “anything that happens in politics we always ask her ‘what do you think, is this a good idea, should we do it like this or should we wait?'”Reclaiming the presidency offers the clan legal cover.Dozens of criminal and civil court cases have been launched against the Marcoses in the past 36 years, but they have beaten most of them.In a rare legal setback, Imelda was sentenced to a lengthy prison term in 2018 for funnelling roughly US$200 million in embezzled funds through Swiss foundations decades ago. She is on bail.Photos showing Bongbong and his eldest son Sandro reportedly visiting Imelda after the May 9 election revealed a Picasso painting hanging on the wall.It is not known if it is a copy or one of the 141 missing paintings government investigators are trying to track down.But Abinales said Imelda’s message was clear: “Now I can flaunt my wealth again.”


Education ministry sees recruitment of up to 20,000 new teachers in 5 years

The education ministry projects the recruitment of 16,886 to 20,081 new teachers for the next five years.
Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying said the projection of new teacher recruitment for the period 2023 to 2027 for the secondary and primary schools was based on data as of Dec 31 last year.
"The education ministry will check the projection data from time to time, based on needs," she said to Saifuddin Abdullah (PN-Indera Mahkota) on the projection of teacher recruitment from 2023 to 2027 during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Lim said that from 2021 to January this year, the ministry had recruited 22,327 teachers in 148 areas of specialisation through the subject cluster (KMP) method for the one-off recruitment of teachers as a strategy to ensure that the shortage of teachers can be addressed.
She said the areas of specialisation given attention included English, Bahasa Melayu, Islamic education, mathematics and history, with the recruitment process continuing for this year and beyond to fill the vacancies at schools.
To a supplementary question from Saifuddin who asked if the government would continue the KMP method, she said the ministry would continue the method as there were vacancies that needed to be filled with required subject options.
"We will continue and also add a few more steps. We are indeed reviewing and making recommendations and we will announce it when we have a decision," she said.
To a separate question from Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan) on schools in dilapidated condition, Lim said the ministry's priority was on buildings that need to be upgraded or the construction of new replacement buildings, as needed.
She said almost 80% of dilapidated schools are in Sabah and Sarawak.
"This is also in response to the call of the prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim) for the education ministry to focus on repairing and upgrading school buildings in dilapidated condition, especially in Sabah and Sarawak," she said.


I was fair in appointing ministers, Dr M responds to claims of preference for ‘Azmin’s men’

Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he never ignored PKR’s list of candidates in the appointment of Cabinet members following Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) election victory, adding that the ministers were chosen based on their merit.He also said it was not true that he had sidelined PKR leaders aligned with Anwar Ibrahim while showing preference to those seen as being in the camp of the party’s deputy president, Mohamed Azmin Ali.“I didn’t know who they were,” the former prime minister told MalaysiaNow in a recent interview at his office in Putrajaya.“At the time, it was not clear. Azmin and Anwar’s quarrel had not really crystallised yet, people didn’t know. We know they avoided each other,” said Mahathir.Supporters of Anwar had questioned Mahathir’s selection of ministers from PKR in the Cabinet line-up for the PH government, which also comprised Bersatu, DAP and Warisan.Last month, PKR’s Fahmi Fadzil said his party and Umno had suffered the same fate when their hierarchies were ignored by the prime minister of the day in the appointment of ministers.“The list of ministers from PKR in Mahathir’s administration was not the party list,” the Lembah Pantai MP said in an online programme.After he was sworn in as prime minister in the aftermath of the 2018 election, Mahathir took Azmin out of Selangor, where he had been the menteri besar, to fill a new portfolio for economic affairs under the Prime Minister’s Department.Mahathir also appointed Zuraida Kamaruddin (housing), Saifuddin Abdullah (foreign affairs) and Baru Bian (works), none of whom was seen as part of Anwar’s camp in PKR.He made Anwar’s wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, deputy prime minister in charge of the ministry for women and family affairs while Saifuddin Nasution was appointed to the consumer affairs ministry and Xavier Jayakumar, natural resources. Xavier has since renounced his support for Anwar and quit PKR.Mahathir said it was never his intention to give preference to “Azmin’s side”.“I looked at PKR as PKR. Anwar was not an MP and could not hold office, so who was next? Next was Azmin. So I put in Azmin. Even then I didn’t give the highest post. I gave the highest post to Wan Azizah as my deputy. You see?“I gave Azmin a place, but other positions I didn’t know whether they were supporters of Azmin or supporters of Anwar. Because at that time, the line was not very clear.”


1,335 new cases, almost 40% in Klang Valley

Another 1,335 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 72,694.Of these, 515 or 38.6% were recorded in the Klang Valley: 337 in Selangor and 178 in Kuala Lumpur.This was followed by Negeri Sembilan (258) and Sabah (250).Johor recorded 125 cases followed by Perak (108), Penang (31), Labuan (21), Kedah (17), Pahang (four), Melaka (three), Kelantan (two) and Terengganu (one).Active cases stand at 11,039 with 126 in the ICU and 57 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 1,069 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 61,273.However, two more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 382.


MACC completes probe of judge, papers with AG

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has completed its investigation into the case of appeals court judge Mohd Nazlan Ghazali.In a statement, the anti-graft agency said the investigation papers were submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers on May 18 for further study and subsequent action.“The investigation that began in March has ended with the collection of related evidence, in line with the set guidelines and procedures,” it said. MACC’s investigation was launched over allegations of unexplained money in Nazlan’s account. It previously said it was bound by procedure to investigate any official report or complaint, after questions were raised about its probe of Nazlan who, as a High Court judge in 2020, found former prime minister Najib Razak guilty of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering in the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds. He also sentenced Najib to 12 years in jail and fined him RM210 million. Najib is appealing against both conviction and sentence at the Federal Court.


Govt aiming to make MySejahtera a 'public health super app'

The government intends to make MySejahtera a digital public health super app, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said it would be used as a form of big data with all health-related information as a guide in determining the country's health direction encompassing budget provisions, best health services and facilitating the people.
"As for the payment (of procurement cost of MySejahtera), the amount agreed by the government through the ceiling set by the finance ministry is RM160 million," he said to Dr Kelvin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching), who asked about the way forward for the app, whether the government would extend the contract period of the app, and how much was paid for its procurement.
Other plans include using the data on the application plus information from the health ministry to identify those eligible for the Madani Medical Scheme initiative announced in Budget 2023.
To Yii’s original question on the health ministry's plans to optimise the use of MySejahtera, Lukanisman said it was committed to making the MySejahtera app a national public health management tool in line with the health service digitalisation plan.
He said the app would work on the surveillance of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, dengue, measles, and rabies, as well as hand, foot and mouth disease, in addition to vaccination records under the National Immunisation Programme; non-communicable disease screening for individuals aged 40 years and above; registration for organ donation; blood type records; and appointments for health screening.
On the details of the ministry's negotiations with MySJ Sdn Bhd, Lukanisman said they had reached several agreements, including on a contract for the procurement of the application management through direct negotiation for the period of April 1, 2021 to March 31 this year.
"The MySejahtera application ownership which covers intellectual property rights, source code for modules that have been developed, as well as data, brand and logo are owned by the government.
"The government has full rights over the use of the MySejahtera platform through a perpetual licence at no cost, even if the contract is not extended," he said.


Cops still investigating Zeti’s husband over 1MDB funds claim

Police say they are still investigating the husband of former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz over the receipt of funds related to state investment arm 1MDB in his bank account in Singapore.In a statement, Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Zainuddin Yaacob said Tawfiq Ayman remains under investigation under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.“Given that this case investigation involves testimonies in Malaysia as well as outside of the country, the police are taking further action under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2002 to obtain testimonies from those who are overseas,” he said.“We would also like to advise the people against making any statements or speculation on any platform until the police investigation is over.”He added that it will then be referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for a decision.


Najib doing fine, says Rosmah

Rosmah Mansor today said that her husband Najib Razak, who is serving a 12-year jail term for his SRC International case, is in good health.
"Datuk Seri is fine, alhamdulillah," she said when asked about the former prime minister's condition before leaving the Kuala Lumpur court complex this afternoon.
She also thanked everyone who had come to court today for their support.
Rosmah, wearing a pink baju kurung and scarf, arrived at the court complex at 12.20pm to attend her husband's 1MDB trial.
Earlier, lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who is representing Najib in the trial, refused to answer questions from reporters when asked about his client’s condition. "I can’t say anything... I’m not going to say anything because you twist and turn our words, even in court.
"Go and find out yourself," he said.
Najib’s daughter, Nooryana Najwa, also declined to comment on her father's condition when approached by the media before she left the court complex at 1.33pm.
On Tuesday, Najib, 69, was sent to Kajang Prison after the Federal Court upheld his 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine for the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.