No cash, no crops: Sarawak farmers struggle with lockdown woes

Small farmers in several areas under complete lockdown in the town of Siburan in Serian, Sarawak, are racking their brains over how to deal with a problem unique to those in their line of work.The various stages of lockdown imposed since March last year to arrest the spikes in Covid-19 numbers saw many businesses shuttered across the country, not all of which were able to recover from the financial losses they sustained. Clients could not be served and goods remained in storage as would-be customers hunkered down to wait out wave after wave of infections.For farmers, though, the goods are out in the fields, and if they cannot go out to harvest, there will be neither cash nor crops.Limping Anak Engki, a padi farmer from Kampung Batu Gong, said the enhanced movement control order or EMCO imposed at his village on March 28 had greatly disrupted his daily work.Normally, farmers rise early in the morning and work through the day but Limping has been unable to visit his fields since the lockdown was declared.“I don’t have workers to help harvest the crops,” he told MalaysiaNow. “With the lockdown, we will not be able to sell the crops either because farmers are not allowed to go out to work.”“Farmers like us can only earn enough to feed our families.”Soon, he said, his padi plants will wither and die as he is unable to attend to them.Limping, the village head, said many other farmers are also struggling to sell their harvest before they turn bad.“The majority of families here in Siburan are small farmers,” he said. “Our livelihoods are not like those in the city. They are educated people who are able to earn thousands of ringgit every month.“Farmers like us can only earn enough to feed our families. Even then, there are some villagers who have to fight to put food on their tables because they earn daily wages. They have to go out, looking for work as labourers.”Ahmit, a vegetable farmer from Kampung Chupak which was placed under EMCO alongside Kampung Batu Gong, said the weather had added to their woes.He said the double whammy of weather and pandemic had left many farmers believing that they must choose between the risk of getting sick or dying of starvation.Elsewhere, fishmongers are grappling with similar problems as high case numbers keep restrictions firmly in place throughout the state.Some have moved their business online and are beginning to reap the benefits of their move.Dzulfitri Ismadi at his stall at the Medan Niaga Satok wet market in Petra Jaya. Dzulfitri was forced to shift his business online when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.Dzulfitri Ismadi, from Kuching, ventured into the digital world as the successive lockdowns left him with no choice.He had sold his fish at the popular Medan Niaga Satok wet market in Petra Jaya for five years before the pandemic hit.“Everyone was restricted from going out, so customers had to rely on delivery services. That was the beginning, when I finally expanded my business online,” the 28-year-old told MalaysiaNow.He said the lockdown forced him to adapt to online marketing strategies and to use platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and even Shopee.“I advertise my fish there and customers place their orders,” he said.The money is nowhere near as good as it was before, but he is grateful that so far he has managed to survive.He used to operate his stall from 7am to 4pm, seven days a week. Now, though, he must adapt to the challenges of running his business online.“I never did an online business before, so when I first started it was quite challenging because I had to learn everything from scratch.”While he is staying afloat in his digital boat, others have not been as fortunate.Erwan Seron lost the bulk of his business after the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and struggles to compete with supermarkets and hypermarkets.Erwan Seron lost 75% of his business after the pandemic hit.“Before, I could easily earn RM200 a day, especially during school holidays.”Since the ban on interstate travel, though, there has been a drop in number of visitors from the peninsula.Erwan is also trying to contend with supermarkets and hypermarkets which have far more resources at hand than he does.“Now, it is even more difficult for me to generate an income,” the 47-year-old cancer survivor told MalaysiaNow.Bobby Kimilang, a vegetable seller, has been trying to deal with a surplus in produce as the lockdowns disrupt his sales.When the MCO was in place, he said, he had thrown away tonnes of fresh vegetables.But the pandemic is set to stick around for a while more, and with it, their troubles.“We have been facing this problem since the pandemic began,” Bobby said.


When Covid-19 cuts short final farewells as well as life

For many, dying from Covid-19 is perhaps the worst possible outcome of contracting the disease which has so far claimed more than 2,200 lives in the country.But for family members and loved ones who survive them, the ordeal continues.Siaw Chow Jin, who manages a funeral and cemetery service in Kuching, says much has changed since the initial outbreak of Covid-19 early last year.His day used to begin with phone calls, either from hospitals or directly from bereaved families. He would take these in his office at Nirvana Memorial Temple, a sprawling, quiet plot of land where he spends most of his time.Here, he oversees every part of the funeral process from the transport of the body to providing programmes for services which Nirvana conducts for all non-Muslims.Every aspect of the system has been disrupted, from the use of funeral parlours and mortuaries to the designated jobs of workers.“Once they confirmed they would use our service, the planning for the funeral would get underway,” he told MalaysiaNow.He would then direct his staff to collect the body and transport it to the funeral parlour where it would be kept in a casket for up to seven days, depending on the family’s wishes, after being washed and dressed, usually in traditional outfits.This was before the pandemic.Now, every aspect of the system has been disrupted, from the use of funeral parlours and mortuaries to the designated jobs of workers.For one thing, Siaw’s team must now take more precautions to ward off the spread of Covid-19.“We receive more emergency calls from hospitals,” he said. “That means more sanitising and disinfection work has to be done at the funeral parlours.”While services are provided for both cremations and burials, they now strongly advise families to settle for the former.“We need to save space inside and consider the safety of our staff,” he said, adding that everything must be done within 24 hours.“For us, cremation would be the best option for now because we need to save space. We also have to limit the time for the funeral ceremony.”Under normal circumstances, funeral ceremonies can continue for hours or even days depending on the religion of the deceased.Now, family members have all of 10 minutes.“Only close family members are allowed to attend,” Siaw added. The number of people is capped at 20 to discourage them from lingering at the premises once the funeral is over.The team faces a chronic shortage of cremation containers and personal protective equipment which they must wear as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19.The pandemic has also changed their workloads and the scope of their tasks.They now work more than eight hours a day, especially when the cremation room overflows with ashes.And in some cases, their work is no longer restricted to their original job description.Kaka Tay Siaw shows some of the make-up that she normally uses on bodies. She can no longer provide this service for those who die of Covid-19.Kaka Tay Siaw is normally in charge of doing the make-up for the deceased. Now, though, she must help with cremation work as well.She and her colleagues are also required to help man the entrance when visitors and family members arrive in order to screen their body temperatures.“Those who die from Covid-19, their families are not allowed to take their bodies home,” Kaka, who has worked at Nirvana for six years, told MalaysiaNow.“Although the person has passed away, the bacteria (in the corpse) might still be active. All of the preparation work is managed by the hospital authorities.”For her, the greatest distress is that they are not allowed to put make-up on those who die from Covid-19.“We are not allowed to do their make-up because the bacteria might spread to our hands or clothes, and when we go home it might infect others,” she said.As someone who has spent years providing some last measure of dignity for the dead, she said seeing Covid-19 victims without make-up or dressed in their traditional clothes was heartbreaking.Siaw said the limitations on funeral attendance in addition to the short ceremony might make it difficult for some family members to accept their loss.He recalled a case in which an Indonesian man who came to Malaysia for medical treatment had died of Covid-19.“The family wanted to hold a traditional wake, funeral and burial. It took time for us to communicate with them and for them to settle for cremation.“We understand their struggles,” he added. “It was hard for them to accept because they were not able to spend more time to honour and mourn the deceased like usual.”


Top China expert says Covid 'spreading rapidly' after rules easing

One of China's top health experts has warned of a surge in Covid-19 cases, state media said Sunday, in the wake of the government's decision to abandon its hardline coronavirus strategy.
Shops and restaurants in Beijing are deserted as the country awaits a spike in infections following the decision to reduce the scope of mandatory testing, allow some positive cases to quarantine at home and end large-scale lockdowns.
Top epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan told state media in an interview published Sunday that the Omicron strain of the virus prevalent in China was highly transmissible and could lead to a surge in cases.
"The (current) Omicron mutation... is very contagious... one person can transmit to 22 people," said Zhong – a leading adviser to the government throughout the pandemic.
"Currently, the epidemic in China is... spreading rapidly, and under such circumstances, no matter how strong the prevention and control is, it will be difficult to completely cut off the transmission chain."
The easing of China's so-called "zero-Covid" policy followed nationwide protests against harsh virus rules that had battered the economy and confined millions to their homes.
But the country is now facing a surge of cases it is ill-prepared to handle, with millions of elderly still not fully vaccinated and underfunded hospitals lacking the capacity to take on huge numbers of patients.
The country has one intensive care unit bed for 10,000 people, Jiao Yahui, director of the Department of Medical Affairs at the National Health Commission, warned Friday.
She said 106,000 doctors and 177,700 nurses will be redirected to intensive care units to cope with the spike in coronavirus patients, but did not offer details on how this would affect the health system's ability to treat other diseases.
'I'm afraid to step out'
Long lines sprung up outside pharmacies in Beijing on Sunday as residents rushed to stockpile cold and fever medicines and antigen test kits.
Some told AFP they were ordering drugs from pharmacies in nearby cities.
"I've asked my family in Shijiazhuang to courier fever medicine because nearby pharmacies don't have stocks," said Julie Jiang, a Beijing resident.
Dozens of restaurants and small businesses in Beijing put up signs saying they were "temporarily closed", without offering details.
Several major online grocery and food delivery platforms including Meituan, Fresh Hippo and Ding Dong were struggling to operate in Beijing without enough delivery drivers.
"I'm afraid to step out," said Liu Cheng, a mother of two young children living in central Beijing's Jianguomen area.
"Many of my friends with Covid symptoms have tested positive when self testing, but they haven't reported this to the authorities or gone to the hospital."
Official caseloads in China have dropped sharply in the wake of the government's decision to scrap routine mass testing, with only special groups including healthcare workers and delivery drivers exempt from the rules.


Game over for GameStop’s wild Wall Street ride?

What a difference a week has made for video game retailer GameStop, which soared on Wall Street in January only to plummet some 70% since Monday.So is it game over for the stock market saga, which saw amateur investors challenge hedge funds with billions of dollars in assets?Here is a look at the ups and downs of GameStop’s recent fortunes:Why is GameStop stock falling?GameStop, a well-known retail chain whose business model of selling games on discs has been overtaken by the internet, has seen a precipitous drop in value that is the flipside of its incredible 400% surge last week.The stock had soared after a group of amateur investors organizing on the online platform Reddit joined forces against big hedge funds betting on GameStop’s decline.This dynamic clearly lost momentum at the start of the week, partly due to funds liquidating their positions in the stock.Quincy Krosby from Prudential Financial noted that at the end of last week “in the broader market… there were individual names in every sector, where the share price was down, disproportionate to where the sector was.”“That suggests very clearly that it was a result of forced selling by hedge funds. So anything they could sell in order to make up the difference of covering their shorts,” she said, referring to bets on a stock’s decline.Other factors may also have come into play, including fear of action by regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the face of extreme market volatility or also the limits imposed on transactions by certain brokerage platforms.Other stocks that were the subject of a speculative frenzy similar to GameStop also sank on Tuesday, in particular AMC cinemas.The price of silver, which had reached an eight-year high on Monday after benefiting from the interest of budding investors, was down too.The role of small investors?Even if GameStop’s rise shows signs of coming to an end, the impact of small investors is more pronounced than ever.Pandemic stay-at-home orders had already contributed to a boom in amateur investors and users of free market trading app Robinhood, but the users are far from homogeneous.“Day traders aren’t all just angry 25-year-olds. Experienced professionals have joined the fray,” Krosby said.Professional or not, these investors have been able to exploit loopholes in the market to trap hedge funds at their own game.Some high finance players nevertheless believe that this strategy is doomed to failure in the longer term.“The victims in the GameStop experiment have and will continue to be the Robinhood investors storming the gates of capital markets… without the size, the endgame plan, and the mathematical option pricing expertise to succeed,” said investor and fund manager Bill Gross.‘Bubble’ risk?The panic that gripped Wall Street last week also rekindled discussions around the possible bursting of a market bubble.Some observers believe the stock market has been overvalued for months, with the health of many companies on Wall Street not reflecting their actual performance.The Federal Reserve’s accommodating policies like low interest rates have flooded the markets with liquidity, and the US government’s stimulus measures allowed a substantial amount of money to circulate on the stock market.The Fed’s measures are intended to bolster the pandemic-hit economy and to encourage investment, but a change of course could prove risky.“Most strategists would say that it (the bubble) will burst when the market believes that the Fed is going to begin tightening,” Krosby said.


Beijing freezes as temperature hits 5-decade lows

Temperatures in the Chinese capital plunged to their lowest for more than five decades on Thursday, as Beijing was hit by gale-force winds and bitter conditions.On Thursday morning the mercury dropped to -19.6 degrees Celsius, breaking a previous cold weather record set in 1969.The cold reading was the lowest since 1966, when temperatures in the city fell to  -27.4 degrees Celsius.Thousands took to social media to complain about the city’s weather, with the hashtags “How cold is this winter?” and “Beijing’s temperature reaches the lowest since 1966” both trending topics on Weibo and garnering a collective 240 million views.“I heard the wind shouting at me: I want to kill you,” wrote one.Yet there was no snow and little ice on Thursday, as the atmosphere over the city was extremely dry.The last time temperatures fell to this level, the founder of communist China Chairman Mao was at the helm, and about to embark on the 10-year Cultural Revolution – a decade-long period of social and political chaos that also quashed political rivals.The same year, to dispel rumours about his failing health, the then-73-year-old Mao also swam across the waters of the Yangtze river in a political stunt to prove his youthfulness.Beijing regularly battles dry, bitter winters due to sharp currents from the northwest.But climate change campaigners warn that as the earth warms, the number of extreme weather events will increase and become more deadly.Earlier this year large parts of China were hit by severe flooding, affecting millions of people and farmland, washing away roads and forcing the closure of some tourist sites and transport links.


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Looking beyond political bluster for the sake of stability

A popular narrative making the rounds post-GE15 is that the country's slide into radical Islamism will gather pace following the significant inroads PAS made in the recent polls. The party won 49 seats last Saturday, making it the single largest party in the Dewan Rakyat.
This is a major achievement. For decades, PAS was only a fringe player in national politics. Since the 1970s, it was never part of the federal government until 2020 when the eighth prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin co-opted the party's lawmakers into the Cabinet.
Critics of PAS and Perikatan Nasional, which the party is part of, have played on fears that the Islamist party will push for its radical agenda, including purported theocratic aims.
But just how much does that bear out? Will a resurgent PAS step up its push for policies that are rooted in Islamic principles at the expense of non-Muslims and the diversity this nation is known for? Are we set to implement RUU355, the hudud bill?
To answer this, we need to look beyond the bluster and noise and focus on facts and reality. Since PAS joined the Cabinet in 2020 under the Muhyiddin administration, we did not see any overt Islamisation programmes or policies implemented in government, beyond those already ongoing.
No PAS leaders spoke of implementing RUU355, or proposed the closure of the casinos in Genting Highlands. In other words, it's pretty much business as usual.
Why is this so? At the end of the day, PAS and its allies in the ruling coalition know that there's a thin red line that the green Islamic wave should not cross in this pluralistic country dependent on foreign investments.
They know that this nation is founded on mutual respect for the different ethnicities. They know that any whiff of Malaysia going down the Taliban route can result in capital flight. But importantly, PAS and its allies know that pushing the envelope too far will not be good for this nation and will cost them votes.
It is one thing to play to the gallery to score political points. But it's another to follow through on some of the bluster. As voters, it is our duty to differentiate the noise from reality.
Furthermore, I believe if PAS were to one day cross the thin red line, blocs like East Malaysia's Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah can act as a counterweight. Besides, I also believe there's fair number of MPs, whether from Bersatu or Umno, who do not subscribe to PAS' version of the theocratic state.
In other words, there's only so much PAS can do to push for its agenda. As voters, we just have to concede that PAS' Islamic ambitions are a lot of talk at this moment for political expediency's sake.
The larger question is whether we want a stable government with the inclusion of the largest party in the Dewan Rakyat, or a chaotic one that can cause much more real-life disruptions than the hullabaloo about PAS' Islamism.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


For some, e-bidding craze for car plate numbers a quick road to financial ruin

Three years ago, the record for the highest amount ever paid for a single-digit vehicle registration number was smashed with the bid of RM1,111,111 for “Malaysia 1” – over RM120,000 more than the previous top bid of RM989,000 for “V1”.2019 was also the year in which the government introduced the online bidding system for car registration numbers, which saw a jump in the number of people looking to secure customised plate numbers.Prior to the launch of the e-bidding system, personalised car plate numbers were largely associated with VVIPs such as members of royal families and dignitaries.In 2012, for example, Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar paid RM520,000 for registration number “WWW 1”.Two years later, he also won the bid for “W1N”, at RM748,000.Now, though, some three million people are registered with the Road Transport Department’s JPJeBid system which allows road users to bid online for the licence plate number of their dreams.Sometimes, the cost of these numbers can reach exorbitant levels.Even today, as most Malaysians struggle to deal with the rising cost of living, statistics on the bids made for vehicle registration numbers appear to show an upward trend.According to vehicle registration number dealer Wallace Choy, the main bidders these days are still politicians and VIPs.Speaking to MalaysiaNow at his company Auto Plate Division in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, he said these individuals would especially target single-digit registration numbers according to their preferred states.“Up until now, most of these appear to come from Johor,” he said.He said many numbers such as 1 and 2 have in fact been “locked” by the Johor ruler, leaving only a few digits for which ordinary people can bid.“Sometimes, there is not even a single digit that can be bid for in Johor,” he said.“So many are willing to spend big in order to get a single-digit number from there – usually hundreds of thousands of ringgit.”In states such as Selangor and Perak, meanwhile, government agencies and state administrations often make advance bookings for certain registration numbers to be used for their official vehicles.Choy said he was unsure of the system used in such cases.“It’s possible that they make early bookings by paying the minimum bidding fee so that no one else can bid on these numbers,” he added.There are also the so-called hardcore collectors and fans of special letter- and number-based series.Choy said they, too, are willing to fork out a lot of money in order to obtain their dream name or number combinations.“Some letters and numbers can be turned into names or other words with different meanings. So they are fine with spending big bucks,” he said.Wallace Choy speaks in front of a wall hung with different types of vehicle registration number plates.For example, the recent “TCM” series received an encouraging response, especially from Chinese bidders whose initials happen to correspond with the letter combination.Bidders aside, there are also vehicle number plate sales agents who frequently utilise the JPJeBid system.Such individuals bid for and then sell attractive licence plate numbers for higher prices.“Buyers who missed the bidding period, for instance, will look for such agents to get the numbers that they wanted,” Choy said.“Of course, they will have to pay a bit more since the agents put down their money in advance and spent time getting them those numbers.”DebtBidders for licence plate numbers come from all ages and ethnicities. Their numbers of choice reflect their taste and mindsets and, in some cases, changing cultural trends.“Previously, the Chinese didn’t like the number 4 because it sounds like the word for ‘death’,” Choy said.“But now, the youth are chasing after it because it makes them feel as if they are sitting cross-legged, like a big boss. So the number 4 is very popular in e-bidding.”On the flipside, there are also combinations of numbers that no one seems to want, such as 8481 which resembles the word “BABI” or “pig”.A JPJ retiree called Rosli from Seremban in Negeri Sembilan said he had been an active agent during his time at the department.He would make announcements to his contacts about the latest series of letters and numbers on the market.At that time, bidding was still done manually at the JPJ counters.After he retired in 2017, Rosli began bidding for numbers and selling them to interested customers.He also offered his services as a “numbers hunter” for as low as RM500.“Some customers wanted old numbers for sentimental reasons,” he said. “I once had a customer who wanted the letters RF followed by his personnel number in the police force.”Rosli managed to track down the number by checking the system. It was already owned by someone else, but the person sold it to his customer for RM11,000.For years now, Rosli has handled all manner of requests from customers with stories of love and grief behind their numbers of choice.He has also come across customers up to their necks in debt, to the extent that they were being chased by loan sharks and criminal organisations.He said such customers were usually from the Malay community and without any stable form of income. Yet, he added, they insisted on paying huge amounts of money for the numbers of their choice.“I had one case where a customer asked me to resell his number so that he could pay his debts,” he said.“In another case, an Ah Long contacted me directly asking for my customer’s work address. But I don’t know them,” he added. “All of our business transactions are done through WhatsApp.”According to Rosli, it is the lack of requirements such as bank documents, salary statements and job offer letters which makes the bidding process so popular.“But when people are not wise in the decisions that they make, they end up bringing losses upon themselves,” he said.


World warming at record 0.2C per decade, scientists warn

Record-high greenhouse gas emissions and diminishing air pollution have caused an unparalleled acceleration in global warming, 50 top scientists warned Thursday in a sweeping climate science update.
From 2013 to 2022, "human-induced warming has been increasing at an unprecedented rate of over 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade," they reported in a peer-reviewed study aimed at policymakers.
Average annual emissions over the same period hit an all-time high of 54 billion tonnes of CO2 or its equivalent in other gases – about 1,700 tonnes every second.
World leaders will be confronted with the new data at the critical COP28 climate summit later this year in Dubai, where a "Global Stocktake" at the UN talks will assess progress toward the 2015 Paris Agreement's temperature goals.
The findings would appear to close the door on capping global warming under the Paris treaty's more ambitious 1.5C target, long identified as a guard rail for a relatively climate-safe world, albeit one still roiled by severe impacts.
"Even though we are not yet at 1.5C warming, the carbon budget" – the amount of greenhouse gases humanity can emit without exceeding that limit – "will likely be exhausted in only a few years," said lead author Piers Forster, a physics professor at the University of Leeds.
That budget has shrunk by half since the UN's climate science advisory body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), gathered data for its most recent benchmark report in 2021, according to the Forster and colleagues, many of whom were core IPCC contributors.
Unintended consequences
To have even a coin-toss chance of staying under the 1.5C threshold, emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other drivers of warming generated mostly by burning fossil fuels must not exceed 250 billion tonnes (Gt), they reported.
Bettering the odds to two-thirds or four-fifths would reduce that carbon allowance to only 150 Gt and 100 Gt, respectively – a two- or three-year lifeline at the current rate of emissions.
Keeping the Paris temperature targets in play would require slashing CO2 pollution at least 40% by 2030, and eliminating it entirely by mid-century, the IPCC has calculated.
Ironically, one of the big climate success stories of the last decade has inadvertently hastened the pace of global warming, the new data reveal.
A gradual drop in the use of coal – significantly more carbon intensive than oil or gas – to produce power has slowed the increase in carbon emissions.
But it has also reduced the air pollution that shields Earth from the full force of the Sun's rays.
Particle pollution from all sources dampens warming by about half-a-degree Celsius, which means – at least in the short term – more of that heat will reach the planet's surface as the air becomes cleaner.
Published in the peer-reviewed journal Earth System Science Data, the new study is the first in a series of periodic assessments that will help fill the gaps between IPCC reports, released on average every six years since 1988.
Deadly heat
"An annual update of key indicators of global change is critical in helping the international community and countries to keep the urgency of addressing the climate change crisis at the top of the agenda," said co-author and scientist Maisa Rojas Corradi, who is also the environment minister of Chile.
Co-author Valerie Masson-Delmotte, a co-chair of the 2021 IPCC report, said the new data should be a "wake-up call" ahead of the COP28 summit, even if there is evidence that the increase in greenhouse gases has slowed.
"The pace and scale of climate action is not sufficient to limit the escalation of climate related risks," she said.
Researchers also reported a startling rise in temperature increases over land areas – excluding oceans – since 2000.
"Land average annual maximum temperatures have warmed by more than half a degree Celsius in the last ten years (1.72C above preindustrial conditions) compared to the first decade of the millennium (1.22C)," the study reported.
Longer and more intense heat waves will pose a life-and-death threat in the coming decades across large swathes of South and Southeast Asia, along with areas straddling the equator in Africa and Latin America, recent research has shown.


Rain, thunderstorms expected nationwide

Thunderstorms are expected over the next three days at a number of places in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
According to the warning issued by MetMalaysia, thunderstorms are expected tonight in Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Pahang, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu and several areas in Sarawak and Sabah.
Thunderstorms are also expected tomorrow morning (Nov 24) in Penang and Sarawak (Sri Aman and Sarikei) with rain in one or two places in Perak, Selangor, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and some areas in Sarawak.
Tomorrow evening (Thursday), thunderstorms are expected in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia with the exception of Putrajaya, Melaka and Labuan while at night, thunderstorms are expected in Pahang, Labuan and some areas in inland Sabah.
Meanwhile, rain is forecast in the Sibu, Kapit, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang districts in Sarawak and areas on Sabah's west coast tomorrow night. On Friday (Nov 25) morning, MetMalaysia has forecast thunderstorms in Penang and Sabah (Tawau, Sandakan and Kudat), in addition to rain in Melaka, Johor, Sabah (inland and west coast) and Labuan.
In the evening, thunderstorms are expected nationwide with the exception of Melaka, some areas in Sarawak (Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Mukah and Lembing) and Labuan.
At night, thunderstorms are expected to occur in Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Sabah (inland and Tawau) and Labuan.
Rain is also forecast at night in Perak, Sarawak (Kapit, Binulu, Miri, Limbang) and Sabah (west coast and Sandakan).


Continuous rain warning issued for Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued an alert warning for continuous rain in several parts of Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan from today until tomorrow.
According to a MetMalaysa statement issued at 8.10am, the areas in Sarawak are Bintulu, Miri (Subis, Beluru and Marudi), and Limbang.
In Sabah, the warning involves the interiors areas (Sipitang, Tenom, Kuala Penyu, Beaufort, Keningau and Tambunan), the west coast and Kudat.
A continuous rain warning is issued when there are signs that rain and thunderstorms are occurring or expected to occur in an area for more than six hours.


No rush for fee changes in public health facilities, health minister says

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa today said any changes to the public healthcare services fee structure will not be carried out immediately.
She said the proposal will be looked at carefully and transparently with necessary analysis, taking into consideration the views of all stakeholders at engagement sessions.
Zaliha, the Sekijang MP, said at this time, the rate charged in the public sector is very minimum because the government subsidises a lot.
She said, however, the current structure imposes the same fees for all regardless of their financial capability.
"The health ministry does not have a mechanism to collect surplus fees even if patients are willing to pay more as they appreciate the comprehensive treatment they received," she said during the winding-up session for the health white paper in the Dewan Rakyat today.
"The most important thing is to ensure that Malaysians, especially those in need and the poor, would not be affected and could enjoy continued access to healthcare services."
Earlier, Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin urged the government to defer and reassess any increase in fees at public health facilities.
He called on the government to reconsider the matter, expressing concern over the additional financial strain the fee hike would impose on the people who are currently suffering from rising prices of goods and daily necessities, inflation rates and the increase in the overnight policy rate.
"In several studies, most people feel that their financial situation this year is worse than last year's – this is not limited to the B40 group alone.
"So if there is a proposal to increase the rates for public health care treatment, I request that it be postponed and reconsidered," the Pagoh MP said.
The health white paper tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today aims to review the fee structure at public healthcare facilities.
According to the 57-page document, the current structure has led to huge disparity between what patients need to pay and the costs to provide the services.


Vote on anti-hopping bill expected in Dewan Rakyat

The Dewan Rakyat meeting today is expected to see the winding up of the debate and a vote on the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill (No. 3) 2022 on Provisions Preventing Members of Parliament from Switching Parties.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is expected to wind up the debate on the bill at 2.30pm.
The bill needs the support of a two-thirds majority to be approved in the Dewan Rakyat.
According to the order paper on Parliament’s official website, the debate on the bill will continue for a second day after the question-and-answer session.
A total of 41 MPs took part in the debate yesterday.
During the minister’s question time session, Hasan Bahrom (PH-Tampin) will ask the rural development minister about the Orang Asli Development Plan.
At the question-and-answer session, meanwhile, Azizah Mohd Dun (Bersatu-Beaufort) will ask the home minister for statistics according to states on unlicensed money lending cases such as those involving ah longs, scammers and online gambling in the country.
Also listed is a question by Hassan Abdul Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang) to the domestic trade and consumer affairs minister on the steps taken by the ministry to ensure that the supply of chicken and chicken eggs remains uninterrupted and affordable.
The issue of Covid-19 vaccines will also be raised by Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz (PAS-Bachok), who will ask the health minister to state the number of children who have yet to be vaccinated and the government’s initiatives to ensure that all children will get vaccinated.
The current Dewan Rakyat meeting will run until Aug 4.


More rain ahead, MetMalaysia warns

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a warning for continuous rain in most parts of Peninsular Malaysia until tomorrow.
In  a statement today, it said the forecast of continuous rain was for Kelantan and Terengganu, Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak (Hulu Perak) and Pahang (Jerantut, Kuantan and Pekan).
Thunderstorms are expected in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Melaka, Perlis, Penang, Perak, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and several areas in Sabah and Sarawak this evening.
As for tonight, it said, rain is expected throughout the country, except in several areas in Sarawak (Kuching, Serian and Samarahan) and Sabah (Tawau), with a forecast of thunderstorms in Sandakan and Kudat.
Tomorrow, rain is expected in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Johor, as well as several locations in Sabah (west coast, Sandakan and Kudat).
Thunderstorms are expected tomorrow evening in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Melaka, Perlis, Penang, Perak, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, as well as several areas in Sabah and Sarawak.
On Dec 4, MetMalaysia expects rain in the morning in Perlis, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and several areas in Sabah.
Thunderstorms are expected in the evening and at night in several areas in the country.


Peru declares state of emergency as ousted leader remains in prison

Peru declared a nationwide state of emergency Wednesday over violent protests against the ouster and arrest of ex-president Pedro Castillo that have left seven people dead.
Castillo's supporters have taken to the streets and set up roadblocks countrywide in protests that have also left 200 injured as they demand his release and the holding of early elections.
The country plunged into crisis last week when Castillo tried to dissolve Congress and rule by decree, but was quickly impeached by lawmakers and arrested on his way to seek refuge in the Mexican embassy.
The new president Dina Boluarte has struggled to quell tensions, and has now called for the next election – normally due in 2026 – to be brought forward to December 2023, after an earlier bid to hold them in 2024 failed to halt the protests.
Defense Minister Alberto Otarola announced the new 30-day state of emergency due to "acts of vandalism and violence," and roadblocks, and said police and the armed forces "would have control of the whole territory."
He said the measure involved "the suspension of the freedom of movement and assembly" and could also include a night-time curfew.
'Humiliation and mistreatment'
Last week, a judge ordered Castillo to be held in jail for seven days, and he was meant to be released on Wednesday.
However, prosecutors filed a request late on Tuesday to hold him in pre-trial detention for 18 months.
Judge Juan Checkley on Wednesday postponed a hearing on the new request until Thursday after defense attorneys argued they had not received all documents from the public prosecutor.
However, he also ordered Castillo to remain in detention for another 48 hours.
"Enough! The outrage, humiliation and mistreatment continue," wrote Castillo on Twitter, adding that he would petition the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to "intercede."
Castillo, a leftist former school teacher, was in power for only 17 months in the South American nation that is prone to political instability and is now on its sixth president in six years.
His short period in office was marked by a power struggle with the opposition-dominated Congress, and six investigations into him and his family mainly for corruption.
On Tuesday, Castillo called his arrest unjust and arbitrary and said he would "never give up and abandon this popular cause that brought me here."
He also called on security forces "to lay down their arms and stop killing these people thirsty for justice."
'Serious social convulsion'
Protesters have set up roadblocks in numerous regions.
The worst-hit areas are in the north and south, including the region of Cusco, a tourism lure that is home to the Machu Picchu Inca citadel, and Peru's second city, Arequipa.
In Lima, dozens of demonstrators threw stones at the police on Tuesday evening as they tried to reach Congress, with the police firing tear gas to disperse them.
Five people were killed in clashes between protesters and security forces on Monday, following another two on Sunday.
Six of the seven deaths have been in the Apurimac region, where Boluarte was born.
Rights ombudsman Eliana Revollar told AFP on Tuesday that things could still get worse.
"This is a very serious social convulsion. We fear that it will lead to an uprising because there are people calling for an insurrection, who are asking to take up arms," said Revollar.
Indigenous and agrarian organizations called an indefinite strike to begin on Tuesday, forcing the train service between the city of Cusco and Machu Picchu to be suspended.
It left many tourists stranded at the tourist site, according to Machu Picchu mayor Darwin Baca, who asked for help evacuating them.
"I was meant to leave Cuzco yesterday (Tuesday) by train and take a flight to Lima to go home, but now the situation is not clear," a Belgian tourist who gave his name only as Walter, told AFP.


'Minor changes' for PH line-up after BN candidate announcement

Pakatan Harapan (PH) will make minor changes to its candidate list for the 15th general election (GE15) following the unveiling of the Barisan Nasional (BN) line-up, its chairman Anwar Ibrahim says.
Anwar said although PH had announced its candidates, he would hold discussions with DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu in light of the announcement by BN last night.
"There are going to be some minor changes in light of the announcement by BN," he said at a press conference after launching PH's manifesto for GE15 in Klang today.
BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last night unveiled the coalition’s candidates for Peninsular Malaysia, which included himself defending the Bagan Datuk seat and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri in Bera.
Asked if PH was threatened by the candidates announced by BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN), Anwar said: "No."
On how many seats PH was looking to win, Anwar said PH aimed to secure 112 seats for a simple majority.
"We are quite realistic in understanding that for now, we have to begin just to secure a simple majority.
"Insha Allah with the ongoing campaigns and the level of support that we are witnessing, the people will be more eager and enthusiastic to support PH," he said.


Over 300 kidnapped schoolgirls still missing as Nigerian security forces search forests

Relatives of more than 300 girls abducted by gunmen from their boarding school in northwest Nigeria endured an agonising wait for news amid rumours that they had been released, while security forces continued their search on Sunday.An armed gang kidnapped 317 girls from the Government Girls Science Secondary School in the town of Jangebe, in Zamfara state, just after midnight on Friday.One resident told the Associated Press that the gunmen also attacked a nearby military camp and checkpoint, preventing soldiers from responding to the mass abduction.Zamfara police have been working alongside the army in a search-and-rescue operation since Friday. Two Reuters’ correspondents saw a heavy military presence in state capital Gusau on Sunday, with army trucks moving in convoy and police checkpoints on major roads.The raid in Zamfara state was the second such kidnapping in just over a week in the northwest of the country, where schools have become targets for mass kidnappings for ransom.Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday urged state governments not to reward “bandits” with money or vehicles.School kidnappings were first carried out by jihadist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State, but the tactic has now been adopted by other militants whose agenda is unclear.Balarabe Kagara, whose two 14-year-old daughters are among those taken, said he was praying for their safe return and remains hopeful. “I will be very happy if I see my daughters,” the 54-year-old farmer said, his voice cracking with emotion.Rumours circulated on social media on Sunday that the girls had been released, prompting Zamfara state government to issue a statement saying governor Bello Matawalle was unhappy that someone would “try to further hurt the victims’ parents” with “falsehood”.Abubakar Isa, whose 17-year-old daughter is among those missing, said his hopes and those of other parents were initially lifted by the rumour. “We heard that they will be released today, so we gathered at the school premises to receive them but it turned out to be rumours,” he told Reuters by telephone.Aliyu Ladan Jangebe told the Associated Press that his five daughters aged between 12 and 16 were at the school when the kidnappers stormed in. Four were abducted but one escaped by hiding in a bathroom with three other girls.The girls’ abduction has caused international outrage.On Sunday, Pope Francis decried the kidnapping. “I pray for these girls, so that they may return home soon. I am close to their families and to them,″ Francis said, asking people to join him in prayer.Last week, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the abductions and called for the girls’ “immediate and unconditional release” and safe return to their families.In Zamfara, the governor ordered all boarding schools to close immediately.Worried parents said they were unsure about whether children would eventually return to school.One said, “If there is enough security, I believe people will return their children to school, but if there is no security, nobody will think of taking their children to school again.”


Anwar back as PH’s candidate for prime minister

Pakatan Harapan (PH) today announced that it would field Anwar Ibrahim as its prime ministerial candidate for the 15th general election, adding that the PKR president would lead the coalition’s campaign for the polls.In a statement, it said the decision was made at the PH leadership retreat in Port Dickson on April 8 and 9.“We call on the prime minister to immediately advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to call for a sitting of Parliament and to end the state of emergency,” it said.Anwar had been a candidate for prime minister since the 1999 general election with the exception of 2018 when Dr Mahathir Mohamad was fielded instead.The plan for Mahathir to hand over power to him after that never materialised.In its statement, PH said it was open to discussions and cooperation with any party based on the principles and agenda of reform and in the interest of the people.It also reiterated its commitment to strengthening the coalition in the run-up to the polls and displaying the ability to govern the country with trust in a fair and democratic manner.“We will mobilise all elected representatives and state leaders to utilise all potential and capabilities to address policy issues related to economy recovery and the well-being of the people,” it said.“We will also continue the process of engaging with all stakeholders to form the PH manifesto.”To that end, it said it would embark on a series of road shows throughout the country to brief the people on PH’s stance and what it has to offer in terms of economy, political stability and the Covid-19 crisis.


New infections hover at 2,000 as another 5 deaths logged

Another 2,063 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,487,482.There were 2,618 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,422,615.There are now 29,229 active cases, of which 28,050 or 96.0% are undergoing home quarantine.Meanwhile, 19 (0.1%) are at quarantine centres while 1,124 (3.8%) have been hospitalised.A total of 36 are in ICU with 20 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 58.4%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 6.5%.Another five deaths were reported. Total deaths now stand at 35,638.


Promised vaccine easing fear of leaving the house, say health experts

The government’s announcement that the country will begin receiving supplies of Covid-19 vaccine early next year has seen people more confident about leaving their homes and venturing into public places, health experts say.Dr Steven Chow, president of the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia, said the good news about the vaccine’s arrival was like a light at the end of the tunnel.“Without a vaccine, it feels like an endless journey,” he told MalaysiaNow.At the height of the Covid-19 crisis, he said, most people were afraid to leave their homes and expose themselves to possible infection in public areas.He said this was due to the stigma of the disease which made patients especially go “into hiding” for fear of perpetuating community transmissions.The movement control order implemented from March to July to curb the spread of Covid-19 saw members of the public effectively confined to their homes, with the economic sector subject to tight restrictions and a ban placed on interstate travel. Only frontliners and those in essential services were allowed to move about.“Without a vaccine, it feels like an endless journey.”Last month, the government said it had inked a deal with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech for a supply of vaccine to be delivered beginning first quarter of 2021.Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the initial agreement would see 12.8 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine delivered to immunise 6.4 million people or 20% of Malaysians.He said Malaysia had also signed an agreement with the Covax Facility to procure Covid-19 vaccine for 10% of Malaysians.The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) however said the imminent arrival of the vaccine should not be seen as an opportunity to abandon the SOPs prescribed under the new normal.MMA president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said people would still have to adhere to the SOPs set out by the health ministry.He also cautioned that the development of a vaccine was no guarantee that the infection rate would go down.“Just because a vaccine will come doesn’t mean you may not get infections. This is a low dose,” he told MalaysiaNow, referring to the vaccine.“So people must continue to follow the SOPs. They must always look after themselves to prevent getting this disease.“Just because a vaccine is coming doesn’t mean infections will go down. And they will be in trouble.”


Late-night chat with Jho Low to Umno's benefit, ex-banker tells court

A late-night conversation between a former AmBank relationship manager and fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low in 2014 was of no benefit to either of them, the High Court heard today.
Joanna Yu Ging Ping, 52, who communicated with Jho Low through BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) chats between 12.41 am and 11.36am on Aug 21, 2014, said it was about the issuance of a RM5 million cheque to Umno.
Yu, who handled Najib Razak's accounts at that time, said this during re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib at Najib’s trial on the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds.
Akram: When the late-night conversation took place on Aug 21, 2014, what was discussed between you and Jho Low?
Yu: He told me at around 12.41am to arrange the RM5 million cheque to Umno. I read the message around 1am and said okay and asked, which account? Akram: So it (the chat) was about the money to be paid to Umno? To whose benefit was this?
Yu: Umno, I suppose.
Akram: The conversation was not for the benefit of you or Jho Low, but for Umno?
Yu: Yes, to make sure the cheque didn't bounce.
The 41st prosecution witness also told the court that she often met Jho Low at his apartment at Jalan Kia Peng to get his signature on bank papers relating to 1MDB projects.
Akram: It was not for any personal thing between you and Jho Low?
Yu: No, it was only for work.
Najib, 69, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering.
Najib is alleged to have committedthe corruption offences at the Jalan Raja Chulan branch of AmIslamic Bank Berhad at No. 55, Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014, while the money laundering offences were allegedly committed at the same bank between March 22, 2013 and Aug 30, 2013.
The hearing before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.


Italy agency cautious, too, on AstraZeneca jab for over-55s

Italy’s medicines agency on Saturday approved the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for all adults but recommended alternatives be given to people aged over 55.Aifa’s decision comes a day after the European Union gave the green light for the jab, but Germany’s vaccine commission recommended against using it on older people amid questions over its effectiveness that have been rejected by the company.“Aifa authorises the AstraZeneca vaccine for the prevention of Covid-19 disease in individuals over the age of 18, as per European Medicines Agency guidance,” it said.But it noted “a level of uncertainty” about claims of the jab’s effectiveness in people over the age of 55, because the age group was “poorly represented” in trials.To help with the best use of the vaccine, it recommended “preferential use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, pending further data, in subjects between 18 and 55 years old, for whom more solid evidence is available”.It urged the “preferential use of messenger RNA vaccines in older and/or more frail subjects”.So-called mRNA vaccines include Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna jabs, and are based on a new technology previously untested in a real-world situation.They use an inert snippet of genetic code from the coronavirus to trigger an immune response in the body that can repel the active virus.Many of the other vaccines – including Oxford/AstraZeneca – are variants of the method used for flu jabs, based on a virus that has been killed and rendered harmless.AstraZeneca earlier rejected German media questioning the vaccine’s effectiveness in over 65s.“Reports that the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine efficacy is as low as 8% in adults over 65 years are completely incorrect,” the firm said in a statement last Monday.“In November, we published data in The Lancet demonstrating that older adults showed strong immune responses to the vaccine, with 100% of older adults generating spike-specific antibodies after the second dose,” it added.


From flipping burgers to flipping the truth

Recently, the country was shocked by revelations that several traders were slapped with RM50,000 fines for violating Covid-19 SOPs.The public outcry is understandable. At a time when the economy is badly hit, many feel that the government should at least exercise some compassion in enforcing the law. Slapping a burger trader with a RM50,000 fine is deemed excessive, especially when certain VIPs appear to be getting a slap on the wrist for more serious violations.But as we join the frenzy assailing law enforcers over their purported lapse in good judgement, we should also examine the veracity of the malicious allegations that make their way to the free-for-all cyberspace. Every story has a flip side, and the least we can do is to hear it out and refrain from prematurely jumping to conclusions.It has since emerged that the narrative about a “cruel government who used a sledgehammer against a small-time trader” in the RM50,000 fine story may not be what it seems. Dribs and drabs of information have now surfaced, including allegations that this is not the trader’s first violation and that the police had issued him with several warnings prior to the compound, which has since been reduced.And let’s not get into some of the more personal information, which has since been confirmed by the trader’s wife in a news report, including their lifestyles which differ vastly from what netizens have in mind.My point is this: just as we stand with victims of oppression, we should also ask who are the oppressed and who are the oppressors? Have we also considered the authorities’ side of the story? Or do we prefer the “high” of being whipped into a frenzy by saddling up on the so-called “moral high horse”?A thread on Reddit Malaysia on this issue has seen many Malaysians share stories on their positive experiences with the men in blue. Save for a few bad apples, these are the men and women who work tirelessly to keep the country safe, whether from armed robbers or lethal microscopic viruses.By allowing others to press our buttons without us verifying the truth, we stand to demoralise these frontliners. It is time we defend ourselves not just from the coronavirus, but also to stay vigilant against the purveyors of fake news.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


TIN to boost revenue source, tax cuts offer relief

Citizens and permanent residents aged 18 and above will automatically receive a tax identification number (TIN), use of which will be mandatory for all documents and instruments, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said today.
He said this was one of the government's initiatives to ensure a sustainable source of revenue to finance national expenditure through more efficient tax administration.
The concept of TIN was first presented in Budget 2020, and was meant to be implemented in January 2021.
However, it was later postponed to January 2022.
According to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), TIN is an income tax number equivalent to those already in the agency's records. Taxpayers who already had an income tax number prior to Jan 1, 2022 will continue using that number as their TIN.
Zafrul said the next initiative would be LHDN's implementation of e-invoicing in stages, starting in 2023 with system development and pilot projects.
He also announced that the individual income tax rate for permanent residents within the RM50,000-RM100,000 range would be reduced by two percentage points.
This means that the income tax rate for those in the RM50,000-RM70,000 range will be reduced from 13% to 11% while the income tax rate for the RM70,000-RM100,000 bracket will decrease from 21% to 19%.
The taxable income range of RM250,000 to RM400,000 meanwhile will be combined with the RM400,000 to RM600,000 range, bringing the tax rate to 25%.
With these measures, the government expects tax savings of up to RM1,000 for the middle income group (M40) and up to RM250 for the high income group (T20).
"It is estimated that RM800 million will be available as surplus income for the people to spend," Zafrul said.
As part of efforts to encourage more women to return to work, he said, the government proposed income tax exemptions for the assessment years of 2023 to 2028.
Tax relief of up to RM3,000 to be extended to 2024 meanwhile will be given to parents who send their children to registered nurseries and kindergartens.
The government will also expand the scope of tax relief for life insurance premiums or life takaful contributions to cover voluntary EPF contributions of up to RM3,000.
"This is to further encourage voluntary contributions to the EPF," he said, adding that the voluntary contribution limit would be increased from RM60,000 to RM100,000 per year.
Individual taxi owners will be granted exemptions from excise duties and sales tax for the sale, transfer or disposal of taxis, including executive taxis and airport taxis.
For micro, small and medium enterprises, the tax rate for taxable income for the first RM100,000 will be reduced from 17% to 15% beginning from the assessment year 2023.
In the tourism sector, meanwhile, the government has proposed a special tax deduction for hotels that buy local handicraft products with a purchase cost of up to RM500,000 and tax exemptions for tour operators that bring in 200 foreign tourists a year, or at least 400 local visitors.
Those who donate to trust account funds for the treatment of rare diseases will also be given a tax deduction equal to the value of their donation.
In the agricultural sector, the tax incentive period for food production projects will be extended until the end of 2025, with the scope of incentive expanded to include modern agricultural projects based on controlled environment agriculture.
Meanwhile, technology-based companies will receive a tax deduction that covers the cost of listing on the main market of Bursa Malaysia.


Public exam students to attend school without rotation from Nov 8

The education ministry today announced that students sitting for public examinations will be able to attend school without rotation from Nov 8 onwards, once a full vaccination rate of 90% for pupils at the school in question is achieved.Attendance for students taking public or international examinations at schools that have yet to achieve a vaccination rate of 90%, meanwhile, will remain on a rotational basis.The education ministry said the decision was made after discussions with the health ministry and National Security Council.It said schools in states under Group A – Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu – would operate on the same dates as those in Group B – Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.“States in Group A will also begin operating on Nov 8 as Nov 7 is an additional holiday in conjunction with Deepavali,” it said in a statement.Meanwhile, pre-university students in Semester Three at sports schools as well as public examination class students at boarding schools, and students sitting for international exams (IGCSE O-Level, A-Level, Australian Higher School Certificate and IBD) will continue attending classes without rotation.“The education ministry will continue to monitor and update the list of education institutes that have yet to achieve a 90% vaccination rate for students sitting for public and international examinations,” it said.A list of these schools will be posted every Wednesday, it added.Schools that achieve a complete vaccination rate of 90% or more will be removed from the list, and may begin operating without rotation on the Sunday or Monday of the following week.The ministry said it recommends that the ruling also apply to all institutes of education that are not registered with it, including those under state governments.


Sorry.


No need for special sitting to table anti-party hopping bill, says law minister

There is no need for the government to convene a special sitting of Parliament to table and debate the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2022 regarding the prohibition on members of the Dewan Rakyat from switching parties, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.The matter was decided by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the head of the House, he said.He said the the bill would be tabled and debated at the Second Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 14th Parliament starting July 18.Wan Junaidi said several factors had been considered during the discussion with Ismail.“Overall, the government will have to bear an estimated cost of RM1,077,600, not including operational costs, if a special sitting for both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara is held,” he said in a statement today.Apart from that, Wan Junaidi said many MPs would be on official overseas trips until mid-July including the finance and economic select committee and the security select committee.The tabling of the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2022 according to the calendar of the upcoming Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara meetings will give sufficient time for the bill to be studied by the MPs before it is debated, he added.“This cannot be done if a special sitting is held. If a special sitting is held, it can only be held in mid-July, given the absence of many MPs until then,” he said.


Smartphones to join the list of back-to-school supplies?

Pencil box, check. Water bottle, check. Smartphone, check?More than a year after the Covid-19 pandemic hit Malaysia, triggering lockdowns and disrupting daily activities, the question of whether mobile phones will become part and parcel of school supplies for students has arisen, as thousands of children continue with home-based learning amid the slow move back to the classroom.Azlin Norhaini Mansor, an education expert from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said teenagers and children should by right be among the last to be given phones as these can be easily misused or lead to overuse and addiction.But many things have changed since the pandemic, and smartphones, alongside tablets, laptops and computers, are now vital for following classes online during the long periods when schools are shut down due to fears of widespread contagion.“The question is, should all teenagers and children who are attending school be given the responsibility of owning a phone in the name of education when the high chances of abuse are public knowledge?” Azlin said to MalaysiaNow.Given the current circumstance, she said, smartphones will indeed be seen as a basic school supply as long as the situation necessitates home-based or remote teaching and learning.The government determines the need to attend school based on state, type of institution and whether or not students are sitting for public examinations.While some have returned to school for face-to-face classes, others continue to follow their lessons from home, at least for now.The newfound dependence on gadgets for education has brought to the surface a number of issues including so-called digital poverty and the evolving nature of communication between teachers and students.Educators have mainly relied on platforms such as Google Class, Google Meet or Zoom in order to hold their classes, while many teachers also use apps like WhatsApp to communicate with students, share learning material and distribute homework.Students whose families cannot afford to give them their own phone usually share devices with their parents. Those with siblings who are also attending school meanwhile must take turns using the gadgets which disrupts their learning experience.A study by the education ministry last year revealed that 36.9% of students in the country do not have a digital device at all while 90% do not have a personal digital device.Azlin said questions also arise about who should be responsible for educating students on the use of gadgets and how to use these ethically and within bounds.“How are we to teach them the responsible use of smartphones? Is there a learning module to impart such responsibility to them?”Amin Md Taff, vice-chancellor of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, said the use of mobile phones and the provision of telephone lines for students was appropriate and in line with the technological advances heading towards the Industrial Revolution 4.0.“Phones have become the closest tool for students,” he told MalaysiaNow. “When phones are allowed, students will be able to access the material provided.“And they are already proficient in the use of mobile phones,” he added. “This simplifies the learning process.”Amin said the reality is that many of today’s students have been exposed to the use of gadgets from a very young age.“They are what are known as ‘digital natives’,” he said.He acknowledged the cons of using smart phones but said the benefits available to students surpass these.“Teachers no longer need to teach face-to-face,” he said. “What is important is that teachers become the curators of knowledge.“Pupils can find material for discussion from what is taught. This is what is known as learning by doing.”He said teachers themselves could also help instil ethics and a code of appropriate phone use in students.


Lower starting salaries, Covid withdrawals among factors behind low savings, says EPF

Lower starting salaries for those who began their careers before the implementation of the minimum wage in 2013 are among the factors contributing to Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members aged between 40 and 54 having less than RM10,000 in savings, the retirement fund said today.
In a statement, the EPF said another factor was structural wage challenges, whereby 44% of EPF’s contributors earned less than RM2,000 and 81% had an income of less than RM5,000.
"There are also inconsistent contributions due to members shifting in and out of the formal sector, where only 45% of the 4.81 million members in this age group made contributions in 2022, while the rest did not contribute at all last year.
"In addition, only half of the private sector labour force who are under formal employment contracts are mandated to contribute to the EPF. The remaining comprises individuals in other sectors, such as agriculture or informal work, or contract workers and business owners," it said.
It added that 59% of the 2.85 million members in this age group had applied for Covid-related withdrawals, withdrawing more than RM62 billion in total. As of the end of December 2022, there were 4.81 million EPF members in the 40-54 age range, 2.17 million of whom were active members and 2.64 million of whom were inactive members, defined as having made no contributions in the past year.
The EPF meanwhile welcomed the government’s move to contribute RM500 on a one-off basis to both active and inactive members, to encourage more Malaysians to increase their retirement savings.
It said the incentive would serve as a catalyst for members to rebuild their savings and achieve a dignified retirement, which in turn would help mitigate the impact of Malaysia’s rapidly ageing population.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling Budget 2023 on Feb 24, said the government had agreed to raise the EPF Account 1 contributions by RM500 for members aged between 40 and 54 years with less than RM10,000 in savings.


BN gives way to PH in Padang Serai polls

Barisan Nasional (BN) has agreed to give way to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate in the Padang Serai election.
The matter was announced by Kedah BN chairman Jamil Khir Baharom during a special ceramah programme at Taman Desa Aman, Padang Meiha, last night.
"Following the instructions of the top leadership, especially BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, we would like to announce that we are giving way to PH in Padang Serai," he said.
Also present were Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and Kedah PH chairman Mahfuz Omar.
Jamil said BN candidate C Sivaraj would support and assist PH candidate Mohamad Sofee Razak to win the Padang Serai parliamentary seat. However, Sivaraj’s name will remain on the ballot paper based on Regulation 9 of the Elections (Conduct of Elections) Regulations 1981, which states that no candidate can withdraw his candidature after 10am on nomination day.
The contest for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat will see a six-cornered fight between Sofee, Sivaraj, Hamzah Abd Rahman (Pejuang), Mohd Bakhri Hashim (Warisan), Azman Nasrudin (Perikatan Nasional) and Sreanandha Rao (independent).
However, Warisan has pulled out of the race for the Dec 7 election and expressed its support for the PH candidate.
Polling for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat was postponed following the death of PH candidate M Karupaiya on Nov 16.


DAP man denies report by Amanah portal on nightclub arrest

DAP’s Pasir Bedamar assemblyman Terence Naidu today denied a report by a portal which had quoted him denying that he was the representative arrested at a nightclub in Prai, Penang, earlier this week.The portal which is linked to Amanah had also quoted Naidu as saying that he would leave DAP and join Perikatan Nasional (PN) if he was indeed proven to be in the wrong.“If I am proven to be guilty, I am ready to leave DAP and support PN as a new platform for the struggle, and will continue to defend the voters in my constituency,” Malaysia Dateline claimed he had said in a statement.The website has since taken down the article.According to The Star, though, Naidu said the report was fake.MalaysiaNow previously reported that 48 patrons including an elected representative from DAP had been arrested during a raid at a nightclub in Prai.The representative had also tested positive for drugs.


Throw out your throwaway culture, green group urges global corporations

Environmentally aware consumers may feel guilty when they throw away, say, a fast-food plastic container and the fork that came with it after using them just once, and they may tut disapprovingly as picnickers leave their food packaging on the beach for the tide to clean up and carry away.But who is really to blame for the worldwide throwaway culture and the pollution it causes?“We all call single-use plastic ‘throwaway’ but there really is no such place as ‘away’,” Greenpeace Malaysia campaigner, Heng Kiah Chun told MalaysiaNow.“When we throw something away, it has to go somewhere.”Previously, MalaysiaNow reported that the average Malaysian uses and then discards around 17kg of single-use plastic every year in the form of bags, cutlery, straws and other throwaway items, making Malaysia the fifth worst global plastic polluter of the oceans.But does “the average Malaysian” have any realistic alternative to simply throwing it away?“More responsible individual disposal is not going to help in countries with poor infrastructure,” said Heng.“If there are no convenient reuse alternatives available, then reducing the amount of single-use plastic they use is very challenging for individual people.”“More responsible individual disposal is not going to help in countries with poor infrastructure.”Now the Covid-19 pandemic has turned isolating families into consumers whose every need, from food to furniture, can be brought to their door in single-use plastic.“Individual efforts to break free from throwaway plastic will not change packaging, distribution and waste management systems,” Heng said.“This is because corporations control the supply of single-use plastic and are therefore ultimately responsible for plastic pollution.“Most of their packaging ends up in landfills or the sea.”Greenpeace Malaysia is calling for a revolution by corporations, government and local communities to end the throwaway culture and usher in a culture of requiring more durable goods that can be cleaned, repaired and used again.“Corporations control the supply of single-use plastic and are therefore ultimately responsible for plastic pollution.”“The government should prioritise policies to reduce single-use plastic packaging by developing alternatives which use systems of refill and re-use and other systems not dependent on disposables,” said Heng.Greenpeace International’s 2018 report “A Crisis of Convenience” claims that nearly half of all global waste plastic is produced in Asia.The report blames fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) corporations like Coca-Cola, Nestle, PepsiCo, and Unilever for promoting and perpetuating the modern throwaway lifestyle through their packaged products that are designed to be used once and thrown away.Heng said there are alternatives to single-use plastic packaging, which some zero waste stores are practising. He cites “reusable cardboard boxes, paper cushioning balls instead of bubble wrap, and food delivered in reusable tiffin-style carriers”.He said the government’s “Roadmap Towards Zero Single Use Plastics” should be used as a positive start to a nationwide campaign for the reduction of single-use plastic waste pollution.“However, the government should also regulate FMCG products through an extended producer responsibility that commits companies to plastic reduction and investing in reuse, refill, and alternative delivery systems,” he added.It’s a long shot, but perhaps then “the average Malaysian” will at least have a realistic chance of reducing their own throwaway plastic pollution.


For health’s sake, don’t contest in Gerik, DAP tells Umno rivals

DAP today indicated that it would not contest any by-election in Gerik, the parliamentary seat in Perak made vacant by the death of its incumbent Hasbullah Osman yesterday.“There should be a pause to political electioneering until the danger and risks posed by Covid-19 are over,” DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said.Hasbullah, who was an Umno MP, died from a heart attack yesterday as he was travelling to Pahang after attending the Dewan Rakyat sitting.Lim said Umno’s rivals should commit to sitting out any by-election which he added would spark a public health crisis as authorities battle a fresh wave of new Covid-19 infections.“In recognition of his services and that Malaysia is in the grip of a severe third wave of Covid-19 infections, there should be no contest in the by-election by parties opposed to Umno,” he added.“Public safety should come first and take priority over politicking and electioneering. The public cannot forget the spike in Covid-19 infections after Sabah was forced to conduct general elections after irresponsible money politics and attempted buying of assemblymen to take away the people’s right to choose their own state government.”DAP had similarly called for political parties to allow Warisan to keep the Batu Sapi seat, following the death of its MP, Liew Vui Keong, just days after the Sabah election.The state-wide polls were blamed for a spike in cases nationwide, as top health officials in Putrajaya were already pleading with politicians not to allow elections, saying SOPs and other measures were not enough to stop new clusters.Former prime minister Najib Razak and DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang have both said political parties should not vie for the Batu Sapi seat.


Highest foreign investments due to PN policies, says Azmin

Malaysia recorded the highest investments of RM309 billion under former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin even amid the challenging global economy at the time due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mohamed Azmin Ali said last night.
"What is the meaning of this RM309 billion?" Azmin, the international trade and industry minister, said at an event in Sepang last night.
"It means that when big foreign companies enter Malaysia, our children can find work. Not doing manual labour, but in high-income positions."
Azmin said this success was due to neither Barisan Nasional and Umno nor Pakatan Harapan, attributing it to the work and initiatives carried out under Muhyiddin's Perikatan Nasional administration.
"It's not possible that what we reap today, we sowed six months ago," he said.
"Even planting taugeh takes a long time, what more the seeds of an economy that is good and healthy."
In March, it was reported that the amount of foreign direct investments and domestic direct investments in 2021 had exceeded expectations, increasing 83.1% from what was recorded in 2020.
Azmin said there had been a multiplier effect on the domestic economy, adding that Malaysia's economic development today was due to the leadership of the PN government.
"Bank Negara announced last week that Malaysia's economic growth in June jumped to 8.9%, the highest in the region," he said.


Decisions on school closures under state education department, says Selangor MB

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari today said the decision to close schools in the state is under the jurisdiction of the state education department following discussions with district health centres and state health departments.He said the previous closure of 19 schools in the state did not go through the proper channels and discussions but was still accepted.“This time, we will follow the format where schools will be closed after being informed by district health centres and the state health department,” he told reporters after an event in Shah Alam.He added that any implementation of enhanced movement control order would be decided by the federal government.Amiruddin had been asked to confirm the distribution of a list regarding the closure of 79 schools starting today and tomorrow due to the spread of Covid-19, believed to be circulated by the state education department that went viral today.He said he would not make any announcements regarding the matter as only the National Security Council and education ministry can do so.


FBI, Homeland Security warn US law enforcement of threats after Trump search

The FBI and US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have warned law enforcement agencies of an increase in threats following a search of former President Donald Trump's Florida home last week.
DHS confirmed to Reuters it had sent a bulletin on Friday on the threats, but declined to share it. CNN, NBC and CBS have reported on the contents of the bulletin.
"The FBI and DHS have observed an increase in threats to federal law enforcement and, to a lesser extent, other law enforcement and government officials following the FBI's recent execution of a search warrant in Palm Beach, Florida," the bulletin said, according to a CBS report.
Among concerns cited in the memo was "a threat to place a so-called dirty bomb in front of FBI Headquarters and issuing general calls for 'civil war' and 'armed rebellion,'" CBS reported. US agencies have identified "multiple articulated threats and calls for the targeted killing of judicial, law enforcement, and government officials associated with the Palm Beach search, including the federal judge who approved the Palm Beach search warrant."
Most threats are occurring online, the bulletin said, according to reports.
The warrant made public on Friday after the unprecedented search on Monday showed that Republican Trump had 11 sets of classified documents at his home, and that the Justice Department had probable cause to conduct the search based on possible Espionage Act violations.
Republicans stepped up calls on Sunday for the release of an FBI affidavit showing the justification for its seizure of the documents.
Trump, his allies, some Republicans in Congress and many conservative pundits have responded with anger directed at the FBI and officials involved in the investigation of Trump, and messages to their supporters claiming without evidence that the FBI would target them next.
Some Trump allies have compared the FBI to the "Gestapo," others are calling for its funding to be halted, and some accused the agency of being politically motivated.
An armed man who tried to breach the FBI building in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Thursday was shot dead by police following a car chase, a gun battle and a standoff in a cornfield.
The FBI declined to confirm the existence of the bulletin on Sunday, but said "The FBI is always concerned about violence and threats of violence to law enforcement."
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said on Twitter "the details of this DHS/FBI bulletin are stunning. Let’s be clear: this is the direct result of irresponsible, inflammatory rhetoric demonising law enforcement from right-wing politicians and commentators."


Around 70 Japanese have volunteered to fight for Ukraine, says report

Several dozen Japanese men have answered a Ukrainian call for foreign volunteers to fight Russia’s invasion, according to a media report on Wednesday.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Sunday for the formation of an “international legion,” prompting dozens from the US and Canada to volunteer.As of Tuesday, 70 Japanese men – including 50 former members of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and two veterans of the French Foreign Legion – had applied to be volunteers, the Mainichi Shimbun daily said, quoting a Tokyo company handling the volunteers.A Ukrainian Embassy spokesperson acknowledged receiving calls from people “wanting to fight for Ukraine,” but said they knew nothing further about volunteers.A Feb 28 social media post from the embassy said it thanked Japanese for their many inquiries about volunteering but added a proviso.“Any candidates for this must have experience in Japan’s Self-Defence Forces or have undergone specialised training,” it said.In a new post on Twitter on Wednesday, the Ukranian embassy in Japan said it were looking for volunteers with medical, IT, communication, or firefighting experience. It was not immediately clear if the volunteer positions were remote or involved travelling to the country.Japan has told its nationals to put off travel to Ukraine for any reason, a warning reiterated on Wednesday by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, who said he was aware of the reports about the volunteers.“The Japanese foreign ministry has issued an evacuation advisory for all of Ukraine and we want people to stop all travel to Ukraine, regardless of the purpose of their visit,” he told a news conference.“We are communicating with the Ukrainian embassy in Japan and pointed out that an evacuation advisory is in place.”


'Alarming' increase in Selangor dengue cases

The number of daily dengue cases in Selangor has increased at an alarming rate since the end of the movement control order (MCO) as the social sector is now open as usual, the state legislative assembly was told today.
Selangor Public Health, Unity and Women and Family Empowerment committee chairman Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said this trend had been observed since the 46th epidemiological week, where a total of 31,822 dengue cases were reported at the end of the epidemiology week ended Nov 19.
"This is an increase of 131.5% or 18,077 cases compared to the same week last year, which recorded 13,745 cases," she said when replying to a question from Harumaini Omar (BN-Batang Kali).
She said the state government had been allocating RM5 million every year for the eradication of Aedes mosquitoes to curb the spread of dengue, including through programmes implemented with relevant agencies and departments.
"The state government is also using 'Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis' (BTI) spray treatment in hotspot areas as well as drones to control and prevent dengue in hard-to-reach areas like rooftops of houses," she added.
"As of Oct 31, the state government had provided 2,000kg of BTI to 10 local authorities in an effort to encourage its use in hotspots and public areas," she said.
Meanwhile, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said some 14,649,397 doses of Covid-19 vaccine had been administered to the people of Selangor as of October this year.
He said 4,330,200 or 96.2% of adult recipients had received a complete dose, while 519,617 doses (91.6%) and 320,909 (43.9%) doses of vaccine were administered to adolescents and children, respectively.
"In addition, 4,069,818 or 89.4% have received a Covid-19 booster dose," he said when replying to a question from Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PAS-Sijangkang).


Chinese gold miners to stay trapped at least 2 more weeks

Rescuers say it might be more than two weeks before they can bring to the surface a group of miners trapped hundreds of metres underground in the Hushan gold mine in Shangdong province.An explosion on Jan 10 caused a massive collapse while the mine was under construction.“The obstacles are just too huge, which means we need at least another 15 days or even more to reach the miners,” Gong Haitao, deputy head of the local publicity department, said.If the rescue goes ahead as planned, the miners will have been trapped at least 600m underground for around four weeks.From the group of 11 miners rescuers first made contact with last weekend, one has since died, according to the Xinhua News Agency.Rescue teams have so far only managed to drill small holes but a communication line has been established and food and medicine is being lowered to the survivors down a narrow shaft.They’ve been receiving porridge and nutritional liquids, and a few days ago asked for a traditional meal of sausages.Currently, rescue workers are trying to widen the shaft to make it big enough to lift the miners out. However, drilling is proving difficult as drill bits need to cut through the particularly hard granite trapping the miners.Rescuers face an added problem as the mine is water-logged and there is a real risk the chamber where the miners are trapped could flood.Another 10 miners have not been heard from, despite rescuers lowering life detectors and food into other sections of the mine.Hopes of a miraculous rescue are still generating an outpouring of sympathy and encouragement on the Chinese social media site Weibo.Managers of the mine were detained after they failed to report the accident for more than a day.Mining accidents are not uncommon in China, where industry safety regulations are poorly enforced.


US regulators scrutinise Musk’s Twitter stock buys

US market authorities have asked Elon Musk to explain an apparent delay in reporting his Twitter stock buys, the agency revealed Friday, the latest questions on the methods and intent of his troubled bid for the platform.Musk became a major Twitter stockholder following the purchase of 73.5 million shares in early April, and less than two weeks later launched a hostile takeover bid.He went on to ink a US$44 billion deal to buy the San Francisco-based company, but has since given mixed signals regarding how committed he is to following through.The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) letter to Musk showed regulators asked him to explain why he didn’t disclose within a required 10-day time period his increased stake in Twitter, especially if he planned to buy the company.“Your response should address, among other things, your recent public statements on the Twitter platform regarding Twitter, including statements questioning whether Twitter rigorously adheres to free speech principles,” regulators said in the letter dated April 4.Neither Musk nor the SEC immediately responded to requests for comment.The Tesla chief is a frequent Twitter user, regularly firing off inflammatory and controversial statements about issues or other public figures with remarks that are whimsical or business-focused.He has sparred repeatedly with federal securities regulators, who cracked down on his social media use after a purported effort to take Tesla private in 2018 fell apart.Musk has cited the right to freedom of speech as a driver of his efforts to undo an agreement with the SEC that tightened his use of the social media platform following his August 2018 tweet that funding was “secured” to take Tesla private.Musk also faces a lawsuit filed this week accusing him of pushing down Twitter’s stock price in order to either give himself an escape hatch from his buyout bid, or room to negotiate a discount.The suit alleges Musk tweeted and made statements intended to create doubt about the deal, which has roiled the social media platform for weeks.“Musk proceeded to make statements, send tweets, and engage in conduct designed to create doubt about the deal and drive Twitter’s stock down substantially,” according to the complaint.His aim was to gain leverage to get Twitter at a much cheaper price, or back out of the deal without suffering any penalty, the suit argued.


Foreign investors in buying mode for fourth week straight on Bursa Malaysia

Foreign funds maintained their net buying stance on Bursa Malaysia for a fourth consecutive week, which saw a net inflow of RM451.7 million for the week ended Aug 12, 2022, said MIDF Research.
This was 16.4% higher than the RM388.21 million of net buying seen the previous week, it said in its weekly Fund Flow Report today.
The week started with foreign funds net buying on Monday and Tuesday, amounting to RM530,000  and RM15.8 million respectively.
Despite concerns of US inflation on Wednesday, foreign funds net sold only minus RM3.8 million. This was the only day of net selling by foreigners.
MIDF Research said the bulk of the net buying happened on Thursday and Friday at RM232.9 million and RM206.2 million respectively, after the release of lower than expected US inflation data and stronger than expected GDP data for Malaysia.
Local institutions continued to be net sellers for a fifth week, at a rate of minus RM573 million, more than double the amount from the previous week which was negative RM266.9 million.
Meanwhile, local institutions have been net sellers for eight consecutive trading days since Aug 3.
Local retailers reversed their net selling trend over three weeks with a net buy of RM121.3 million for the week.
They were net buyers from Monday to Wednesday and on Friday but net sellers on Thursday.
To date, international funds have been net buyers for 21 out of the 32 weeks of 2022, with a total net inflow of RM7.11 billion.
Local institutions were net sellers for 25 out of 32 weeks, with a total net outflow of minus RM8.8 billion.
Local retailers have been net buyers for 20 out of 32 weeks in 2022 so far.
Year-to-date, they have been net buyers at RM1.7 billion.
In terms of participation, there was an increase in the average daily trade value (ADTV) among local institutional investors by 1.05%.
Reductions in ADTV were seen among foreign investors and local retailers by negative 3.57% and negative 3.36% respectively.


New study shows how Malaysian kids spend time online

A new Kaspersky Safe Kids study has revealed the top activities of Malaysian children during the first four months of 2021, when the second Covid-19 lockdown was imposed across parts of the country.The top online activities were related to software, audio and video, involving 44.7% of the children studied.Other activities included internet communication media (32.53%), computer games (8.62%), e-commerce (8.13%) and news (4.36%).YouTube was the most visited website with nearly three in 10 Malaysian kids visiting the video-sharing and social media platform during this period.Zalo (15.67%) came second followed by Facebook (15.10%) and the rising app TikTok (12.18%).On a global scale, the most popular website categories among children were software, audio, video (44.38%), internet communication media (22.08%) and computer games (13.67%).Again, YouTube was the most popular video streaming service among children around the world.In second place was WhatsApp, and third was TikTok which overtook Instagram with almost double the level of popularity.Searches on YouTube were varied in categories. Cartoons (50.21%) accounted for half of all video searches, followed by TV shows and movies.Children were also active in listening to and watching music videos on YouTube, with the platform holding a 17.35% share in searches for music genres and videos.TikTok remained the undisputed leader among children.However, the app is no longer only a social network for clips and lip syncs, as more educational and creative content has begun to appear on the platform.As for video games, those trending the most with children included Minecraft (22.84%), Fortnite (6.73%), Among Us (3.80%), Brawl Stars (6.34%) and Roblox (3.82%).Roblox was also the most frequently played game in almost all countries involved in the study.In a statement, Anna Larkina, a web content analysis expert at Kaspersky, said modern children grow up with gadgets from a very young age and can adapt to the digital space and master new technologies much faster.“We see how TikTok has become one of the main trendsetters among children in a short time and continues to keep their attention,” she said. “At the same time, YouTube hasn’t lost ground and remains the leader in popularity among children.”Larkina added that understanding and analysing the interests of children on the internet highlights the importance of online safety.“By knowing what kind of music a child listens to, who their favourite bloggers are or what games they play, parents can strengthen their trusted relations with kids.”


Ahmad Maslan fails in third bid to have charges dropped over RM2 million from Najib

Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan has failed for the third time in his attempt to get the court to drop the charges against him for failing to declare RM2 million received from Najib Razak to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and giving false statements to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).Deputy public prosecutor Siti Noor Hafizan Zakaria told the court that the Attorney-General’s Chambers had rejected Ahmad’s third representation during case management before Sessions Court judge Ahmad Kamar Jamaludin.“The prosecution submitted a representation for the third time and it was briefed to the Attorney-General (Idrus Harun) and rejected on Oct 5,” she said.During the proceeding, the prosecution also requested that a new trial date be set as the deputy public prosecutor and the investigating officer in the case have been quarantined due to close contact with Covid-19 patients.Kamar then set July 5 to 8, 12 to 15 and 26 to 29 next year to hear the case.Ahmad, 54, was alleged to have violated Section 113 (1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967 by not stating his real income on the RM2 million he received from former prime minister Najib in his income tax return form for assessment year 2013.The offence was allegedly committed at LHDN’s Duta branch at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim on April 30, 2014.The charge, framed under Section 4 (1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, provides for a maximum fine of RM5 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both upon conviction.The other charge was for giving false statements to the MACC when questioned by investigating officer Mohd Zairi Zainal over the issue at the media conference room in the Parliament building between 2.45pm and 3.30pm on July 4, 2019.The charge, framed under Section 32 (8)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, provides for a maximum fine of RM3 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both upon conviction.


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