US drug overdoses topped 100,000 for first time, data shows

US annual drug overdose deaths surged to more than 100,000 for the first time during the Covid-19 pandemic, a crisis driven mainly by fentanyl and exacerbated by a flood of fake online pills, officials said Wednesday.Experts say people with substance use disorders have been hit hard by daily life disruptions, while authorities are seizing record numbers of counterfeit and sometimes deadly medicines from Mexico.“As we continue to make strides to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic, we cannot overlook this epidemic of loss, which has touched families and communities across the country,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.Between April 2020 and April 2021, the country saw 100,306 fatal overdoses, an increase of 28.5% compared to the same period the previous year – equal to one death every five minutes.Overall, opioids accounted for 75,673 of the 100,306 fatalities, with the vast majority from synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl.“It’s time to face the fact that this crisis seems to be getting worse. We need all hands on deck,” health secretary Xavier Becerra said in a call with reporters.“We see it in the faces of grieving families and all those overworked caregivers. You hear it every time you get that panic 911 phone call.“You read it in obituaries of sons and daughters, who left us way too soon… and since Covid-19 hit, it’s gotten worse.”Deaths from psychostimulants like methamphetamine, as well as from natural and semi-synthetic opioids, such as prescription pain medication, and cocaine were also up.Covid-19 killed around 508,000 people in the same time frame, according to Our World in Data.“Many of the challenges left behind by the pandemic will actually make people more vulnerable to mental illness and substance use disorders,” Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse said in the briefing.At the same time, the US Drug Enforcement Administration has warned Americans about prescription pills available online that are made to look like real Oxycontin, Vicodin, Xanax or Adderall, but contain lethal doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine.The DEA has seized more than 14 million pills this year, with the vast majority produced in Mexico from chemicals supplied by China.The fake pills are widely available on social media and e-commerce platforms.In 2019, the latest year for which national data was available, heart disease was the leading cause of death, with some 660,000 fatalities, followed by cancer, with around 600,000 deaths, and unintentional injuries, at 175,000.Life-saving nasal sprayBiden’s administration meanwhile announced the release of a “model law” it wants states to adopt that would widen access to naloxone, a life-saving nasal spray that reverses overdoses.“I believe that no one should die of an overdose simply because they didn’t have access to naloxone,” said Rahul Gupta, director of national drug control policy.“Sadly, today that is happening across the country.”The act includes provisions that would grant immunity to individuals who administer naloxone, require physicians to co-prescribe it when prescribing opioids, ensure health insurance covers the medicine, and seek to educate more people about the benefits.Tom Wolf, the governor of Pennsylvania, said Wednesday his administration wanted ordinary citizens to carry the medicine, which is available to the public throughout the state’s pharmacies.In his statement, Biden touted a stimulus package that passed in March and delivered US$4 billion to expand services for substance abuse and mental health.


52.8% of adults given booster jab

A total of 12,361,663 individuals or 52.8% of adults in the country had received a Covid-19 booster dose as of yesterday.According to the CovidNow portal, a total of 22,929,493 individuals or 97.9% of adults have completed their vaccination while 99.2% or 23,238,753 individuals have received at least one dose of vaccine.In terms of teenagers, a total of 2,791,409 individuals or 88.7% have completed their vaccination while 2,869,275 individuals or 91.2% have received at least one dose of vaccine.Yesterday, a total of 69,601 vaccine doses were dispensed, with 16,325 as first doses, 759 as second shots and 52,517 as booster jabs,This brings the cumulative number of vaccine doses administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to 63,985,709.Meanwhile, according to the health ministry’s Github portal, nine Covid-19 deaths were reported yesterday: four in Johor and one each in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Penang and Terengganu.


UN inspectors near Ukrainian nuclear plant on mission to avert an accident

United Nations inspectors arrived on Wednesday in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on a mission to prevent a nuclear accident at a Russian-occupied power plant where nearby shelling has prompted global fears of disaster.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team reached the city 55km (34 miles) away from the plant, where they were likely to spend the night before arriving at the facility on Thursday.
Although Russian-installed officials suggested the visit might last only one day, the IAEA hopes for longer.
"If we are able to establish a permanent presence, or a continued presence, then it’s going to be prolonged. But this first segment is going to take a few days," its chief, Rafael Grossi, told reporters in Zaporizhzhia.
"It's a mission that seeks to prevent a nuclear accident," he said.
Russia captured the nuclear plant, Europe's largest, in early March and its military force has been there ever since, as has most of the Ukrainian workforce who have toiled to continue running the facility, which had supplied 20% of Ukraine's electricity.
Fighting was reported near the power station and further afield on Wednesday, with Kyiv and Moscow both claiming battlefield successes amid a Ukrainian counter-offensive to recapture southern territory.
Ukraine repelled Russian attempts to attack in the direction of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, two towns located north of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, its armed forces' general staff said on Wednesday. Pro-Moscow troops have focused on Bakhmut in their push to extend control over the Donbas region, it said.
Reuters could not independently verify such reports.
Away from Ukraine, Russia halted gas supplies via Europe's key supply route on Wednesday, intensifying an economic battle between Moscow and Brussels that could lead to recession and energy rationing in some of the continent's richest countries.
Neighbour Estonia announced plans to stop most Russians from entering the country within weeks, if possible acting in concert with its regional partners, after the EU was too divided to agree on a blanket ban.
Russia says it is waging a "special military operation" to rid Ukraine of nationalists and protect Russian-speaking communities.
Kyiv and the West describe Russia's actions as an unprovoked war of aggression that has caused millions to flee and turned cities into rubble.
High risk
For weeks now, Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of endangering the Zaporizhzhia plant's safety with artillery or drone strikes, risking a Chornobyl-style radiation disaster.
Kyiv says Russia has been using the plant as a shield to hit towns and cities, knowing it will be hard for Ukraine to return fire. It has also accused Russian forces of shelling the plant.
The Russian defence ministry has said that radiation levels at the plant are normal.
Russia has denied Ukrainian assertions of reckless behaviour, questioning why it would shell a facility where its own troops are garrisoned as what it calls a security detail.
Moscow has accused the Ukrainians of shelling the plant to try to generate international outrage that Kyiv hopes will result in a demilitarised zone.
Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galuschenko said the IAEA inspection was a step toward "deoccupying and demilitarising" the site. Russia has said it has no intention of withdrawing its forces for now.
Asked about a demilitarised zone, IAEA's Grossi said this was a political matter for the countries engaged in the conflict.
Russia had said it welcomed the IAEA's stated intention to set up a permanent mission at the plant.
But Yevgeny Balitsky, head of the Russian-installed administration in the area, told the Interfax news agency the IAEA inspectors "must see the work of the station in one day".
The plant is close to the front lines and Ukraine's armed forces on Wednesday accused Russia of shelling in the area and of preparing to resume an offensive there.
There was no immediate comment from Moscow.
Germany's chief of defence General Eberhard Zorn meanwhile warned that the West must not underestimate Moscow's military strength, saying Russia has the scope to open up a second front should it choose to do so.
Russia captured large tracts of southern Ukraine close to the Black Sea coast in the early weeks of the over six-month-old war, including in the Kherson region, which lies north of the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Ukraine sees recapturing the region as crucial to prevent Russian attempts to seize more territory further west that could eventually cut off its access to the Black Sea.
It urged citizens in Crimea to reveal where Moscow's troops were living and who among the local population was collaborating.
Russia has denied reports of Ukrainian progress and said its troops had routed Ukrainian forces, neither of which could be independently verified by Reuters.


US updates fact sheet again, says does not support Taiwan independence

The US State Department has updated its fact sheet on Taiwan again, to reinstate a line about not supporting formal independence for the Chinese-claimed, democratically-governed island.Last month the State Department changed the wording on its website on Taiwan, removing wording both on not supporting Taiwan independence and on acknowledging Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China, to anger in Beijing.Washington said the update did not reflect a change in policy. That wording has now be changed again, to reinstate a line saying “we do not support Taiwan independence”.The change was first reported by Taiwan’s official Central News Agency on Friday, and appears to have happened on May 28, the date at the top of the fact sheet.The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.State Department Spokesman Ned Price had said in May that the US does not support Taiwan independence and “we have repeatedly made this clear both in public and in private”.Taiwan is already a de facto independent state, though with only very limited international recognition. Washington has no formal ties with Taipei, but is its most important international backer and arms supplier.Taiwan’s official name remains the Republic of China, the name of the government that fled to the island in 1949 after losing a civil war with the Communist Party who set up the People’s Republic of China with its capital in Beijing.The Chinese government in 2005 passed a law giving Beijing the legal basis for military action if it judges Taiwan to have seceded or to be about to.Taiwan’s government says only the island’s 23 million people have the right to decide their future, and while it wants peace will defend itself if attacked.


US health groups call for vaccine mandates for medical workers

Hospitals and other health care facilities should require their employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19, a coalition of seven organisations representing medical professionals said Tuesday.“The Covid-19 vaccines in use in the US have been shown to be safe and effective,” said David Weber, a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and lead author of the statement.“By requiring vaccination as a condition of employment we raise levels of vaccination for healthcare personnel, improve protection of our patients, and aid in reaching community protection. As healthcare personnel, we’re committed to these goals.”The statement was organised by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and signed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and five other groups.It followed an eight-week review of evidence on the three vaccines authorised for use in the US, vaccination rates, and employment law.According to a statement by SHEA, research prior to the pandemic showed that rates of routine vaccinations among healthcare providers were suboptimal.“For flu vaccination, when healthcare employers instituted policies of influenza vaccination as a condition of employment, compliance rose to 94.4% compared to 69.6% in organisations without a requirement,” it said.Despite having among the highest supplies of vaccines in the world, the US is struggling to convince the vaccine-hesitant to roll up their sleeves.President Joe Biden had set a goal of at least partly vaccinating 70% of adults by July 4, and as of Tuesday, the figure was still only 67.7%.A clear divide has emerged between parts of the country that voted for Biden, which have higher vaccine rates, and regions that voted for former president Donald Trump, which have lower rates.At the same time, the Delta variant is now causing cases to surge in under vaccinated states, such as Louisiana.The national seven-day-average of new cases was 21,420 on July 12, up from a 2021 low of 11,462 on June 20.Deaths are also creeping up, but the rise is not as pronounced: the seven-day-average on July 12 was 194, up from a low of 151 on July 6.The idea of vaccine mandates has sparked controversy in a nation that cherishes individual liberty, but these concerns need to be weighed against collective well-being, Gregory Poland, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota told AFP.Experts also stress that vaccine mandates have a long history in the US stretching back all the way to smallpox mass inoculation of George Washington’s forces in 1777.


NZ’s Ardern defends virus elimination policy

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern defended her “Covid zero” elimination strategy Thursday amid fears an outbreak of the highly transmissible Delta variant has rendered the previously successful policy ineffective.A Delta case emerged in Auckland last week, ending a six-month run without local transmission in New Zealand, one of the world’s last Covid-free zones.That infection has since ballooned into the largest cluster the country has recorded throughout the entire pandemic, with 277 cases.Ardern said she believed even the Delta strain could again be stamped out in the community and health experts were advising her to stick with the elimination approach.“In their view, it’s not only possible, it remains the best strategy and I totally agree,” she said Thursday after announcing 68 new community cases.Her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison this week said it was “just absurd” to try to eliminate Delta, adding: “New Zealand can’t do that.”Australia pursued a Covid-zero policy for about 18 months, but runaway Delta outbreaks mean some authorities there are now talking more about containment than elimination.The New Zealand Herald this week asked if Ardern was “chasing rainbows” trying to quash Delta and even her Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins conceded it raised “big questions” about the policy’s effectiveness.Ardern said she was “not fussed” by such concerns, pointing to the success of a pandemic response in New Zealand which has resulted in just 26 deaths among a population of five million.“We wanted to save people’s lives, and we have; We wanted to try to have people’s lives lived as normally as possible, and we’ve had some of the shortest periods of restrictions of any country,” she said.“And we wanted to save jobs and the economy, with the economy running at pre-Covid levels, we’ve done that too.”Ardern said Delta had forced tweaks to the elimination strategy – such as a faster national lockdown and more extensive testing – but it was still a valid goal.She said New Zealand could examine alternative policies when it improved vaccination rates, which are currently among the lowest in the developed world, with about 20 percent of the population fully inoculated.“No one wants to use lockdowns forever and that is not our intention… but for now, while we vaccinate, elimination is the goal and we can do it,” she said.


Safe Abortion Day sees violent clashes in Mexico

Pro-choice women marchers hurled Molotov cocktails at mostly female police officers with shields who blocked their way through the city.International Safe Abortion Day on Sept 28 was marked in Mexico City by hundreds of women marching through the city centre and clashing with police.The demonstrators, wearing the green bandanas that signify the pro-choice movement in Latin America, tried to grab riot shields from police officers, several of whom were injured.Mexico is a Catholic country and abortion is illegal except in the capital, which legalised it last year. In most of the rest of the country it is banned except in exceptional circumstances, like rape.Ironically, the pro-choice demonstration occurred in the very place where abortion is already legal.Conservative groups set up their own pro-life protest encampment in the city’s main plaza and police officers, both male and female, fired tear gas at the pro-choice protesters to prevent the two groups meeting.While abortion is no longer an issue in Europe and many other parts of the world, in the Americas it still provokes intense emotions.In the US, the issue is very divisive with conservative Christians being almost 100% pro-life while liberal coastal cities are pro-choice.The recent death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a staunch women’s rights advocate, and President Donald Trump’s rapid nomination of conservative Catholic Amy Coney Barrett to replace her on the powerful bench portends renewed fighting over the future of legal abortion in the US.


Daily cases dip again to 14,300

Another 14,345 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,112,175.Sarawak recorded 3,611 cases, Johor 1,598, Selangor 1,365, Sabah 1,255, Penang 1,170, Perak 1,090 and Kelantan 1,050.Kedah recorded 967 cases, Terengganu 804, Pahang 779, Kuala Lumpur 307, Melaka 162 and Negeri Sembilan 125.Perlis recorded 51 cases and Putrajaya 11. No new cases were reported in Labuan.Another 16,814 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 1,880,736.Meanwhile 1,167 are in the ICU, including 906 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 636 are in need of respiratory assistance including 407 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 14,345 cases reported today, 212 (1.5%) are in Category Three and above while the remaining 14,133 (98.5%) are in Category One and Two.


Scandal-hit Toshiba confirms US$20 billion takeover bid from British fund

Japanese conglomerate Toshiba has received a buyout offer from a British private equity fund in a deal that could be worth around US$20 billion.The scandal-hit giant’s shares were temporarily halted on Tokyo’s stock exchange after it confirmed the bid by CVC Capital Partners.If successful, the buyout will allow Toshiba to focus on renewable energy and other core businesses, analysts suggested.Toshiba’s US-listed shares skyrocketed almost 20% after the bid was revealed.The erstwhile well-regarded computer manufacturer has been at the centre of a number of scandals in recent years, including false accounting and huge losses linked to its US nuclear unit.Toshiba is one of Japan’s oldest and largest firms whose business empire stretches from home electronics to nuclear power stations.Ten years ago, Toshiba was regarded by consumers as a reliable and innovative brand.In 2011, Toshiba sold more than 17 million PCs but by 2017 this had fallen to under two million, reported Reuters at the time.Last year, the Japanese electronics giant sold its final stake in the personal computer maker Dynabook, marking the end of its connection with manufacturing PCs and laptops after 35 years.An accounting scandal in 2015, in which it admitted overstating its profits for six years, shocked corporate Japan.The firm was on the brink of bankruptcy and to avoid being delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange, had to sell its profit-making memory-chip business to make up for huge losses.Toshiba’s shares were still demoted to the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s second tier in 2017 and only returned to the first section in January this year.The company’s recovery took place under Nobuaki Kurumatani – the first outsider to lead the company in 50 years. He joined from CVC Capital Partners in 2018 and has worked to regain investor confidence.He confirmed the offer from CVC Capital Partners on Wednesday.The deal with CVC would rank among the top 20 largest leveraged buyouts in history but due to Toshiba’s involvement in nuclear power stations, it would require the Japanese government’s permission.Toshiba was once synonymous with the global ascent of corporate Japan, but has since been forced to diversify into other areas. It has been under pressure from large overseas shareholders for greater transparency and better governance.CVC is looking to expand in Japan and has bought Shiseido’s lower-priced skincare and shampoo brands for US$1.5 billion.It is also making big investments in rugby, and recently bought a 14.3% stake in the Six Nations annual men’s rugby tournament.


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Conditional approval granted for Pfizer jab on kids 5 and above

The health ministry today announced that conditional registration approval has been granted for the use of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine on children aged five to 11.In a statement, it said the decision was made at a meeting of the Drug Control Authority today.It said the Comirnaty 10mcg concentrate for dispersion for injection has a lower dosage strength than that given to those aged 12 and above.Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said in October last year that Malaysia would proceed with the procurement of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children, with other options like Sinovac to be taken into consideration as well.This came after a medical panel of US government advisers endorsed the Pfizer jab for children aged five to 11, saying the known benefits of the shots outweigh the risks.Pfizer had earlier said that its vaccine was more than 90% effective in preventing symptomatic disease among children aged five to 11.Malaysia began vaccinating teenagers 12 and above on Sept 8 last year in what Khairy called one of the fastest adolescent Covid-19 vaccination rollouts in the world.In its statement today, the health ministry said the Comirnaty (tris/sucrose) 30mcg solution for injection which has a longer shelf life of 10 weeks compared to one month for the existing formulation had also been granted conditional registration approval.It said this solution is for the inoculation of those aged 12 and above.The registration holder for the two Comirnaty vaccines is Pfizer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd with manufacturing by BioNTech Manufacturing GmbH, Germany.Conditional approval has also been given for the use of CanSino’s Convidecia vaccine as a booster for individuals aged 18 and above at an interval of three to six months after receipt of the first dose.The registration holder for this vaccine is Solution Biologics Sdn Bhd, and it is manufactured by CanSino Biologics Inc, China.Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said approval for the conditional registration of these vaccines still requires information on the quality, safety and effectiveness of the products in question.He said these factors would be monitored and evaluated on an ongoing basis by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division to ensure that the comparison of benefit over risk for these vaccines remains positive.


Rafizi slapped with demand letter after accusing PAS leader of graft

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has been threatened with legal action over his claims of abuse in the award of a RM2 billion contract by the government for flood mitigation works.
Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, whose lawyers issued the letter of demand against Rafizi today, had denied approving any projects since the dissolution of Parliament on Oct 10.
He also said he had ensured that all projects approved by his ministry were in line with financial procedures, and that he had never interfered in issues concerning tenders issued by the ministry.
The letter issued by his lawyers today said Rafizi had, on Nov 7 and 9, made two statements at press conferences in Petaling Jaya claiming, among others, that Tuan Ibrahim in his capacity as minister was in the process of approving the project for award through direct tender to one Mangkubumi Sdn Bhd, and that he had been secretly involved in the award of projects under the Jana Wibawa programme.
Tuan Ibrahim's lawyers said the claims implied that he had abused his position as environment and water minister, that he was not qualified for the post, and that he was a person without integrity who had no morals and no respect for the rule of law.
They said Rafizi had also implied that Tuan Man, the PAS deputy president, was involved in corrupt activities and had used his ministry to benefit a company with the goal of profiting from it for himself.
They also accused Rafizi of using the matter as campaign material for the upcoming election, to benefit himself in the race for the parliamentary seat of Pandan.
They gave Rafizi seven days to issue a written declaration that he would cease from issuing such statements, as well as a public apology and a suggested amount of compensation.
Failing this, they said, they had been instructed to take appropriate steps including the possibility of legal action.
Rafizi had rejected calls to report the matter to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, saying it would not be investigated.


Japan’s vaccine distributor says human error behind Moderna contamination

Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd said on Friday that “human error” caused metal contaminants to get into Moderna Inc Covid-19 vaccine doses, leading to a recall.Takeda, which imports and distributes the vaccine in Japan, and Moderna said in a new report that a Spanish manufacturer discovered contaminants in some vials in July, but supplies from the same production were allowed to be shipped to Japan.Japanese authorities in August suspended the use of three batches of Moderna shots containing 1.63 million doses after being notified of the contamination. Moderna conducted an investigation in partnership with Takeda and Spanish manufacturer Rovi, which operates the plant where the contamination occurred.The new report said that the problem stemmed from “incorrect assembly and was due to human error specific to visually misjudging the required 1mm gap between the star-wheel and the stopper” of machinery that put the tops on vaccine vials.A total of five, sequential lots of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine manufactured at Rovi between June 27 and July 3 were investigated. The first three were shipped to Japan and later recalled after the discovery of particles, later determined to be stainless steel, inside 39 vials.But a fourth lot failed inspection after the discovery of particles on July 2, and a fifth lot was also held back by Rovi. The problems with Lots 4 and 5 were reported to Moderna, Takeda and Japan’s health ministry, but the first three lots were released for use because they “had passed inspection and were not considered to be impacted.”In fact the incorrect set-up “led to the issue persisting throughout the series of five batches,” the investigation showed.Improved operating procedures and the use of a new precision tool will help prevent the issue from recurring, the report said.The companies and Japan’s health ministry have said the particles of stainless steel did not pose any additional health risk.


Over 1,500 evacuated as Johor hit by floods again

Johor has been hit by floods again following continuous heavy rain since yesterday, forcing the evacuation of 1,591 victims in four districts to 21 relief centres (PPS) as of 8am.
The state disaster management committee said in a statement that the PPS were opened in stages since 10.30pm yesterday: six each in the Segamat, Kluang and Johor Bahru, and three in Kota Tinggi.
"A total of 209 families were affected by the floods in Segamat, 162 families in Kluang, 131 families in Johor Bahru and 32 families in Kota Tinggi," it said.
According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department, very heavy rain at a dangerous level is expected to continue in the state until tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the water in several rivers in Johor has exceeded the dangerous level, namely Sungai Segamat (Segamat) at 38.32m; Sungai Lenik (Segamat) at 13.74m; Sungai Lenik, Ladang Chaah (Segamat) at 6.73m; Sungai Kahang, Kampung Contoh (Kluang) at 15.49m; and Sungai Sayong, Kampung Murni Jaya (Kulai) at 18.93m.
Sungai Skudai, Kampung Separa (Kulai) is at 18.8m; Sungai Pontian Besar, Kampung Melayu Bukit Batu (Kulai) at 12.01m; Sungai Pulai, Kampung Ulu Pulai (Pontian) at  2.85m; Sungai Skudai, Kampung Laut (Johor Bahru) at  5.6m and Sungai Skudai, Kampung Pasir (Johor Bahru) at 1.05m.


Indonesia to pay less for joint fighter jet after South Korea tax exemption

Indonesia will be exempt from paying value-added tax on its portion of a joint fighter jet development project, South Korea’s defence procurement agency said on Monday, saving Jakarta around 100 billion won (US$84.85 million).Under revised calculations, Indonesia’s will have to pay 1.6 trillion won (US$1.35 billion) of the 8.1 trillion-won project, an official with South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (Dapa) told reporters.Classifying the fighter jets as defence goods exempts them from value-added taxes and lowered overall costs of the programme by 500 billion won, the official said.“We’ve pushed for the designation since 2014… and belatedly received approval, which resulted in the saving of 500 billion won of total expenses,” the official said.The next-generation KF-21 fighter jet developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in a project partially backed by Indonesia is designed to be a cheaper, less-stealthy alternative to the US-built F-35, on which South Korea relies.In 2018 Indonesia sought to renegotiate to take pressure off its foreign exchange reserves and later offered to pay its share of the cost in the form of a barter.The two sides agreed last week that Indonesia would keep its pledge to shoulder 20% of the development cost, including making in-kind payments for 30% of its share, Dapa said in a statement at the time.The official on Monday said that agreement stands.KAI said last month the KF-21 is on track to meet its deadlines. Ground testing is being conducted this year, with first flights expected in 2022.


Rosmah's appeal against solar graft conviction pushed to July 11

The hearing of Rosmah Mansor's appeal at the Court of Appeal against her conviction, 10-year jail term and RM970 million fine for corruption in connection with a solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak has been rescheduled to July 11.
Court of Appeal deputy registrar Mohd Khairi Haron set four days for the appeal hearing, from July 11 to 14, during case management today.
Deputy public prosecutor Deepa Nair Thevaharan represented the prosecution, while Rosmah was represented by lawyers Jagjit Singh and Akberdin Abdul Kader.
Deputy public prosecutor Poh Yih Tinn, who confirmed the dates, said the hearing dates of June 22 and 23 initially set for the appeal hearing had been vacated.
He said parties to the appeal were directed to file their submissions by June 9, with replies by June 23.
The final case management for the appeal is fixed on July 4, he added.
On Sept 1 last year, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan found Rosmah guilty of three corruption charges involving RM1.25 billion in connection with a hybrid solar project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
Rosmah, 71, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for each charge, to be served concurrently, which means she will only serve a total of 10 years in jail. She was also fined RM970 million, in default of 30 years in jail.
She was accused of one count of soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings former managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.
The High Court however granted Rosmah a stay of execution for the imprisonment term and fine pending her appeal at the Court of Appeal. She is also appealing against the High Court's decision dismissing her application to disqualify Zaini from hearing and deciding on her case.
In his judgment, Zaini held that Rosmah's defence was mere denial and that the RM6.5 million was in fact for her, and that she received the money at her residence in Jalan Langgak Duta and Seri Perdana.


Surge in Sarawak Covid cases linked to immigration depot

The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee says 45% of new Covid-19 cases in the state today came from the Semuja immigration detention depot in Serian.Its chairman Douglas Uggah Embas said of the 426 new cases, 191 were from the Bukit Semuja depot cluster.Speaking at a press conference in Kuching, he said 94% of 462 illegal immigrants at the detention centre had tested positive for the virus, blaming the increase in numbers on overcrowding at the facility.“This scenario proves that the virus is increasingly contagious when there is no physical distancing,” he said, adding that the facility houses 75 people per room.Sarawak recorded the most new cases today with 426, taking total confirmed infections in the state to 15,869.


Pandemic won’t be over until 70% are vaccinated, says WHO director

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) European director warned Friday that the Covid-19 pandemic won’t end until at least 70% of people are vaccinated, and criticised Europe’s vaccine rollout as “too slow”.WHO’s regional director for Europe Hans Kluge said countries and their populations must not become complacent about the pandemic.“Don’t think the Covid-19 pandemic is over,” Kluge told AFP in an interview, while adding that vaccination rates needed to increase.“The pandemic will be over once we reach 70% minimum coverage in vaccination,” the regional director said.In the 53 countries and territories that make up WHO’s European region – including several in Central Asia – 26% of the population has received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.In the European Union, 36.6% of the population has received at least one dose and 16.9% have been fully vaccinated, according to a count by AFP.Kluge said one of his main concerns was the increased contagiousness of new variants.“We know for example that the B.1617 (Indian variant) is more transmissible than the B.117 (British variant), which already was more transmissible than the previous strain,” Kluge noted.Cases of the so-called Indian variant have been recorded in 27 of the region’s 53 countries, while the number of new cases, and deaths, has fallen for five consecutive weeks, reaching their lowest levels since mid-October.Speed essentialWorldwide, new cases have dropped for four weeks in a row, according to an AFP tally.But while vaccines have proven effective against coronavirus mutations, people must still be vigilant, Kluge emphasised.The Belgian doctor said a major concern was that “people drop their guards that they become complacent”, especially going into the summer months.In addition, large gatherings are on the horizon in conjunction with the European football championship.“Let’s finally give Covid-19 the red card, don’t allow extra time for Covid-19,” Kluge quipped, repeating advice to maintain social distances and wear face masks.He also underscored that speed is “of essence” during the pandemic.“Our best friend is speed, time is working against us, (and) the vaccination rollout still goes too slow,” Kluge said.“We need to accelerate, we need to enlarge the number of vaccines,” and European countries needed to show more solidarity.“It is not acceptable that some countries start to vaccinate the younger, healthy part of the population, while other countries in our region still did not cover all the health care workers and the most vulnerable people,” Kluge said.


Daily caseload could reach 22,000 by end-March, DG Hisham warns

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah today said that Malaysia could expect to reach 22,000 Covid-19 cases on a daily basis by the end of March, at the present infectivity rate of 1.20.“The onus is on us to comply with all public health and social measures, plus increasing the vaccination and booster shot coverage to reduce the transmission and lower the Ro/Rt to less than 1,” he said in a Twitter post.Malaysia has of late been experiencing a strong surge in daily case numbers. Although daily caseloads dropped to the 2,000 range in early January, they rose again towards the end of the month, topping 5,000 in February and spiking to over 9,000 yesterday.Yesterday’s numbers – 9,117 – were the highest daily figure in four months. Case numbers rose again today, topping 10,000 new infections.Noor Hisham said on Friday that the country could expect to experience a surge in Covid-19 infections although the high vaccination rate has seen fewer severe cases, with those in Category Three and above generally comprising less than 1% of daily numbers.“Although the number of cases is expected to rise in next couple of days and weeks, due to the high transmissibility of Omicron variant, it causes a less severe form of the disease in those who had full vaccination and taken their booster shot,” he said in a Facebook post.Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin meanwhile noted a similar increase in cases in neighbouring Singapore, which shot from 4,000-odd cases to over 13,000 in one day earlier this week.“Our cases will also rise sharply in the next few weeks. This is the highly transmissible Omicron wave. So far, severity is far lower than Delta. Stay vigilant. Get boosted,” he said in a Twitter post.As of yesterday, 12,307,360 individuals – 52.6% of the adult population – had received a Covid-19 vaccine booster jab.Just under 98% of adults are fully vaccinated while 99.2% have received at least one dose.In terms of teenagers, 2,791,080 individuals or 88.7% are fully vaccinated while 2,868,945 or 91.2% have received one shot.


Global Covid cases up 9% in a week, driven by Europe surge

The Covid-19 pandemic took a turn for the worse this week, fuelled by fast deteriorating situations in western Europe and the US.Here is the global state of play based on an AFP database.Half a million a dayThe number of new daily coronavirus cases increased sharply by 9% globally to 517,600, according to an AFP tally to Thursday.There were however wide disparities between regions.Infections rocketed by a third in the US alone and were up 9% in Europe.But elsewhere cases fell, down by a tenth in the Middle East and Oceania, with infections falling by 8% in Latin America and the Caribbean and 4% in Asia.In Africa, case were down 32%, although this figure was skewed by last week’s correction in Botswana’s figures.Europe slipping fastNine of the 10 countries where the situation worsened fastest were in Europe (of countries with populations more than a million).In Spain and Denmark cases were up by 54%, and they were also up by slightly more than a half in Portugal.Switzerland (up 45%), the Netherlands (44%) and France (43%) were not much better.The Czech Republic saw a 38% rise, followed by Germany (36%) and Austria (32%), which is going back into partial lockdown on Monday.This week’s wave through western Europe – which is largely quite well vaccinated – follows sharp rises in less covered eastern Europe over the last few weeks.However, the confirmed cases only reflect a fraction of the actual number of infections, with varying counting practices and levels of testing in different countries.Biggest spikesThe US remained by far the country with the biggest number of new cases, with 97,500 per day, up a staggering 33%. It was followed by Germany with 43,000 (up 36%) and Britain.On a per capita basis the country that recorded the most new cases this week was Slovenia with 1,107 cases per 100,000 habitants followed by Austria (981) and Croatia (887).Deaths on the riseThe US also had the highest number of deaths, with an average of 1,281 a day, ahead of Russia with 1,235 and Ukraine 664.At a global level there was also an upturn in the number of daily deaths, which increased by 4% to 7,439.Biggest dropsEastern European countries that were badly hit at the beginning of the northern hemisphere autumn recorded the biggest drop of the week.In Romania cases fell by 45%, they dropped 39% in Armenia, 32% in Bulgaria, 30% in Estonia, 26% in Serbia and Lithuania, 22% in Moldova and 21% in Latvia.The Philippines recorded Asia’s biggest drop with infections falling by a third.Fastest vaccinatorsCuba again tops the global table for the fastest vaccination rollout this week, jabbing 1.39 percent of its population every day.It was followed – among countries with more than a million inhabitants – by Vietnam, Austria, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines.Most vaccinatedThe United Arab Emirates is still the most vaccinated country on Earth, with 89% of its population fully covered.It is narrowly ahead of Portugal (87%) and Singapore (86%), Qatar (85%), Chile (83%) and Cambodia, Spain, Cuba and South Korea (79% each).Malaysia and Italy are on 77% ahead of Canada, Japan, Denmark and Uruguay (76%) and China, Ireland, France and Belgium on 75%.


Voice recorder of crashed passenger jet found, Indonesia says

The cockpit voice recorder from a crashed Indonesian jet has been retrieved, officials said Wednesday, more than two months after the airliner plunged into the sea killing all 62 passengers and crew.The CVR records flight crew conversations and could offer critical clues about why the Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-500 dived around 3,000m into waters off Jakarta just minutes after takeoff on Jan 9.The jet’s flight data recorder, which gauges speed and altitude, was earlier plucked from the wreckage-littered Java Sea.Authorities said Wednesday they would mine the retrieved recorder’s data in the hopes of learning what the crew was saying when the flight from the capital to Pontianak in Borneo went down.The device was found Tuesday evening on the last day of an operation that used dredging equipment to comb the muddy seabed, after the dive search failed to locate it, they said.“It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack,” Soerjanto Tjahjono, head of Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee, told reporters as the recorder was displayed at Jakarta’s main port.“But without the CVR, it would be very difficult to find the cause of the Sriwijaya Air accident.”A preliminary report into the crash last month said crews on previous flights had described the jet’s throttle system as “unserviceable” and that it had been repaired several times before its fatal final flight.The report said a catastrophic throttle malfunction and possible human error were among the factors being considered.But investigators had said it was too early to pinpoint a cause.The 737 had sharply deviated from its intended course just before its plunge.Despite appeals from air traffic controllers, the crew – including an experienced captain – did not respond to questions about the sudden change of direction.The 26-year-old plane was flown by US-based Continental Airlines and United Airlines before it was purchased by Sriwijaya, which flies to destinations in Indonesia and across Southeast Asia.Indonesia, a vast archipelago that relies heavily on air transport to connect its thousands of islands, has suffered a string of deadly plane crashes in recent years.In October 2018, 189 people were killed when a Boeing 737 MAX jet from Lion Air plunged into the sea.That accident – and another in Ethiopia – led to the worldwide grounding of the 737 MAX over a faulty anti-stall system.The 737 that crashed last month was not a MAX variant.


Govt invites reps from opposition to join National Recovery Council

The government has extended an invitation to opposition politicians as well as other prominent persons from professional circles to be part of the newly announced National Recovery Council to oversee the nation’s exit from the Covid-19 crisis.“In line with the National Recovery Plan’s approach based on the principles of collaboration, inclusiveness and the whole-of-nation, it has agreed to invite representatives from opposition parties, namely Pakatan Harapan, Warisan and Pejuang, to become members of the council,” Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said following the council’s first meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today.Zafrul said representatives from the Sarawak and Sabah governments had also been invited, apart from several individuals representing a number of professions.They include former finance minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop, former Khazanah Nasional managing director Azman Mokhtar and aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes.Others who have been invited to contribute to the council are Star Media Group adviser Wong Chun Wai, SME Association of Malaysia president Michael Kang, former education director-general Habibah Abdul Rahim, child expert Dr Hartini Zainuddin, psychiatrist Dr Sivakumar Thurairajasingam and infectious diseases expert Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman.The council, first mooted by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, was announced by the government on July 16.Zafrul said then that the Cabinet had also agreed to table the proposal for the council during the special Dewan Rakyat sitting on July 26.


Eldest daughter of Thai king hospitalised with heart problem

The eldest child of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn has been hospitalised due to a heart problem and her condition has stabilised to a certain level, the royal palace said on Thursday.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha, 44, was taken ill after losing consciousness early on Wednesday in northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province and was treated at a local hospital.
She was flown by helicopter to Bangkok after her condition stabilised at a certain level, the palace said in a statement, without elaborating.
The princess is one of three children of King Vajiralongkorn who have formal titles, making her eligible for the throne under a 1924 Palace Law of Succession and the country's constitution.
King Vajiralongkorn has yet to formally designate an heir since becoming king in 2016 and there has been no official discussion on the prospect of the princess taking the throne.
The princess, who has done work with the United Nations and has served as Thailand's ambassador to Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia, was attending a working dog championship organised by the army when she lost consciousness, the palace said.
She was being treated at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn hospital on Thursday where she was undergoing treatment and checks on her condition, it said.
While the palace succession law stipulates that the heir to the throne should be male, an amendment to the constitution in 1974 allowed for a daughter of the royal line to ascend the throne if a successor had not been named.


No application yet, Khairy tells Anwar on Selangor’s plan for vaccine

Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today responded to claims by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim that the Selangor government had waited months for approval to procure vaccine doses, saying no official application had been made on the part of the state.Khairy, who is in charge of the country’s vaccination programme, said he had responded positively to Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari on his plan to procure the vaccine for Selangor residents.However, he said he had yet to receive an official application from the state government.“Based on my discussion with the Selangor menteri besar, he made verbal mention of the state’s plan to buy the vaccines,” he said in a statement. “I gave a positive response.“But I have yet to receive any official request from the state government.”Anwar had said that the Selangor government, which is under Pakatan Harapan (PH), had waited months for approval to procure more than two million doses of vaccine for those in the state.Khairy also welcomed Anwar’s call for an independent probe into the national immunisation programme and vaccine procurements, saying he is open to criticism and investigation.He also reminded the PKR leader that the vaccine purchase contracts had been disclosed to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on Jan 5.“I also held an engagement session with MPs from the opposition bloc on March 19 at which I presented in detail the implementation of PICK, and answered a variety of questions,” he said, referring to the national vaccination programme.“The opposition leader was not present at the session.”


Indonesia and Malaysia agree to fight 'discrimination' against palm oil

Indonesia and Malaysia, the world's biggest producers of palm oil, agreed on Monday to work together to fight "discrimination" against the commodity after a meeting between leaders from the countries.
The comments by Indonesian President Joko Widodo followed a meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was making his first overseas trip since being elected last November.
Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, said the two countries would "fight discrimination against palm oil" and "strengthen cooperation through the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries" to address concerns.
The European Union plans to phase out palm-oil based fuels by 2030 because of perceived links to deforestation.
During their bilateral meeting, Anwar and Jokowi signed eight memorandums of understandings covering shipping, export-import financing, green energy, the development of battery industry, which they said they hoped would deepen cross border trade and investment.
The leaders also discussed the development of Indonesia's planned new capital, Nusantara, with Anwar handing over 11 letters of interest from Malaysian companies related to possible investment in the new city, located in the Indonesian portion Borneo.
The new capital could boost regional development, Anwar said, with the states of Sabah and Sarawak located in the Malaysian part of Borneo island.
"We hope the development of the capital will bring greater benefits to the wider region, including on Sabah and Sarawak," he said.


‘Multiple’ deaths in mass shooting at US grocery store

A gunman killed multiple people including a police officer at a grocery store in Colorado on Monday, police said, in the latest shooting to hit the western state – scene of two of the most infamous US mass murders.One “person of interest” is injured and in custody, police commander Kerry Yamaguchi told reporters, following the incident at the King Soopers store in Boulder, some 50km northwest of the state capital Denver.“We have multiple people who were killed in this incident. And I am sorry to have to report that one of them was a Boulder police officer,” said Yamaguchi, without confirming the number of deaths or any possible motive.Police said at least 10 people were shot dead in the incident. Among those dead was police officer Eric Talley, who was the first to respond to the scene.Live-streamed video earlier had showed a white middle-aged man – shirtless and seemingly covered in blood – detained by police and led from the supermarket.The suspect in custody was the only person suffering “serious injuries at this point”, Yamaguchi said, without confirming that the man in the video was that suspect.President Joe Biden – who last month called on Congress to enact “commonsense” gun law reforms – has been briefed on the shooting, White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted.“My heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold in our Boulder community,” said Colorado governor Jared Polis, calling the incident a “senseless tragedy”.“Words can do no justice to the tragedy that has unfolded this afternoon,” tweeted Boulder Mayor Sam Weaver.“Our community will soon grieve our losses, and begin our healing.”Eyewitnesses inside the supermarket at the time of the shooting said they heard multiple gunshots before fleeing through a back entrance.“I just nearly got killed for getting a soda and a bag of chips,” Ryan Borowski, who was in the store when he heard at least eight gunshots and escaped, told CNN.“It felt amazing that everybody was helping each other out and that our instincts were on the same page and we ran… I don’t know why other people didn’t, and I’m sorry that they froze. I wish that this just didn’t happen.”Unverified early images livestreamed by an eyewitness showed at least three people lying prone on the ground both inside and immediately outside the store, before multiple new gunshots rang out.‘Senseless’Dozens of armored vehicles, ambulances and armed personnel including FBI agents and SWAT teams were deployed to the scene.Later, shoppers who had been led safely out of the store sat wrapped in blankets, talking to emergency workers in the snow-covered parking area.“Our hearts are broken over this senseless act of violence,” said King Soopers spokesman Kelli McGannon, praising “first responders who so bravely responded to these acts of violence”.The shooting follows another mass shooting last week at Asian-owned spas in the southeastern state of Georgia that left eight dead.Colorado has previously suffered two of the most infamous mass shootings in US history.In 1999, two teenage boys shot and killed 12 classmates and a teacher at Columbine High School before dying by suicide.Then in 2012, a heavily armed man stormed a movie theater showing a Batman film in Aurora, Colorado, murdering 12. The gunman is now serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.


Newcomer Covid-19 vaccine works in UK trials as world worries about scarce supplies

American company Novavax said on Thursday that its vaccine appears to be 89% effective based on early findings from a British study.It also seems to work – though not as well – against new mutated versions of the virus circulating in UK and South Africa, and now elsewhere, reports the Associated Press.The announcement comes amid worry about whether a variety of vaccines being rolled out around the world will be strong enough to protect against new variants, and as countries desperately need to boost scarce supplies.UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC the NHS “stands ready” to roll the jab out if it is approved.He said: “This is positive news and, if approved by the medicines regulator, the Novavax vaccine will be a significant boost to our vaccination programme and another weapon in our arsenal to beat this awful virus.”Novavax said the trials suggest the vaccine is nearly 96% effective against the older coronavirus and nearly 86% effective against the new variants.“Both those numbers are dramatic demonstrations of the ability of our vaccine to develop a very potent immune response,” Novavax CEO Stanley Erck said in a call with investors late on Thursday.Novavax said it needs some additional data before it can seek British authorisation for the vaccine’s use, sometime in the next month or so.A larger study in the US and Mexico has enrolled slightly over half of the needed 30,000 volunteers.Meanwhile, Novavax is starting to develop a version of the vaccine that could more specifically target the mutations found in South Africa and the UK.Vaccines against Covid-19 train the body to recognise the new coronavirus, mostly focusing on the spike protein that coats it.The Novavax vaccine is called a recombinant protein vaccine. It uses genetic engineering to grow harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in insect cells. Scientists extract and purify the protein and then mix in an immune-boosting chemical.


Remote Amazon forest tribe gets CoronaVac shots as death toll climbs

The Brazilian military flew medical personnel and 1,000 doses of a Chinese vaccine deep into the Amazon rainforest on Tuesday to start inoculating far-distant indigenous people against the coronavirus.In Umariaçu, a remote village of wooden houses on the banks of the Amazon River near the border of Peru and Colombia, Isabel Ticuna, 68, was the first to receive the vaccine.“Vaccination is so important for all of us. It was this that we were waiting for,” she told Reuters after getting an injection of the CoronaVac shot.Villagers clapped as she received her jab, in a collective show of relief for a community that has seen 37 residents die of Covid-19 and at least 2,000 more infected.Tarcis Marques Ticuna, the village medic said, “I was so worried, but our D-Day has arrived finally after so many deaths here and in the world. This means hope for us.”Brazil’s more than 800,000 indigenous people have been badly hit by the pandemic sweeping through their villages, many of them located in forests days away from the nearest medical post by river boat.Covid-19 has killed at least 1,000 indigenous people in Brazil and infected nearly 50,000 according to the tribal umbrella organisation, the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib).Anthropologists at Apib are warning that the communal way of life, with families sharing dwellings, rules out social distancing and makes forest-dwellers particularly vulnerable to contagion.Brazil’s government is facing criticism for its slow response to the pandemic but appears now to be making an effort to help its indigenous tribes.


Over 10% of Orang Asli children have dropped out of school, says minister

It is estimated that more than 10% of Orang Asli children have dropped out of school due to various factors including logistics and family problems, in addition to a negative attitude towards education, says Rural Development Minister Mahdzir Khalid.
Speaking at a press conference after chairing an Orang Asli Consultative Council meeting in Cyberjaya today, he said the Orang Asli community had urged the government to look into ways to stop their children from dropping out of school even though their school attendance rate is now at over 80%.
Education issues aside, problems related to health and the gazetting of Orang Asli land were also discussed during the meeting, which is a platform for the community to air their views and give feedback to resolve problems.
With regards to health, Mahdzir said the community representatives called for more centralised treatment centres in Orang Asli villages to facilitate those living in the interior areas.
"They also proposed that the health ministry allow their members holding the positions of assistant medical officers in other states to return to their villages," he said.
On the gazetting of Orang Asli land, he said as of December 2021, a total of 40,600 hectares involving 215 villages had been gazetted covering housing settlements, farms or orchards, while another 638 villages were still in the process of being gazetted by the state government.
In Peninsular Malaysia, there are 853 Orang Asli villages, most of which are in Pahang, Kelantan and Perak.
Mahdzir said all matters arising in the meeting would be discussed with stakeholders at the rural development ministry before being taken up to the relevant ministries such as the education and health ministries and, later, the Cabinet.


Recoveries hit new high as daily cases drop below 3,000

Another 2,464 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 264,269.Selangor recorded 1,103 cases, Johor 492, Sarawak 161, Kuala Lumpur 154 and Sabah 116.Kedah recorded 92 cases followed by Kelantan (88), Perak (85), Penang (56), Terengganu (51), Negeri Sembilan (40), Melaka (11), Pahang (10), Putrajaya (four) and Labuan (one).Active cases stand at 49,490 with 260 in the ICU and 111 in need of respiratory assistance.Eleven new clusters were detected:1. Jalan Istimewa Cemerlang (Johor Bahru in Johor; 311 screened, 109 positive)2. Batu 57 (Batu Pahat in Johor; 91 screened, 13 positive)3. Jalan Usaha Satu (Johor Bahru and Pontian in Johor; 299 screened, 70 positive)4. Jalan Tebrau Khas (Johor Bahru and Kulai in Johor; 196 screened, 29 positive)5. Jalan Persiaran Teknologi Kulau (Johor Bahru and Kulai in Johor; 236 screened, 45 positive)6. Tapak Bina Jalan Setia (Petaling in Selangor; 320 screened, 36 positive)7. Jalan Jelatek (Gombak in Selangor; 200 screened, 35 positive)8. Jalan Sepuluh (Petaling in Selangor; 250 screened, 32 positive)9. Ria Jaya (Kuala Muda in Kedah; 567 screened, 81 positive)10. Patikang Ulu (Keningau in Sabah; 185 screened, 37 positive)11. Jalan Badak (Kinta and Kuala Kangsar in Perak; 57 screened, 23 positive)Another 10 clusters ended today, leaving 484 active clusters across the country.Another 4,525 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 213,814.However, seven more deaths were reported including a nine-year-old in Sabah with medulloblastoma or brain cancer, pushing the virus toll to 965.


Mahathir urges Malays to reject Anwar, calls for proof on claim of amassed wealth

Dr Mahathir Mohamad today urged the Malays to reject Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government as the veteran leader renewed his attacks on his one-time deputy whom he said was behind the recent cancellation of the "Malay Proclamation" event.
"When the government prevents others from launching this proclamation, it betrays the promises in the country's constitution," he said.
"That is why the Malays should oppose the government led by Anwar Ibrahim."
Mahathir also challenged Anwar to prove the claim that he had amassed wealth for himself and his family members.
"Making accusations is easy. But accusations that are without clear proof cannot be accepted as the truth. It is slander," said Mahathir, who led the government twice for a total of 24 years.
In his address to PKR delegates attending the party's recent congress, Anwar had launched a thinly veiled attack on his former mentor after Mahathir accused him of silencing dissent and controlling the press.
"Some people, after 22 years plus 22 months in power, talk about the Malays having lost everything – property, shares. How would they not if you monopolised them for yourself, your family and your children? Now that you've lost power, you talk about the masses," Anwar had said.
In his response, Mahathir said the Malays fell into a state of poverty after he stepped down as prime minister, adding that he had tried to correct the situation when he assumed the top office for a second tenure under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
"I tried to help the plight of the Malays when I became prime minister after GE14. But the PH government was toppled and I lost my position. That's why I'm complaining now."
Mahathir said this was why he had spearheaded the "Malay Proclamation", the cancellation of which saw him questioning Anwar's commitment to free speech.
Mahathir said Anwar was trying to silence those who sought to speak about the plight of the Malays.
"The content of this proclamation is in line with the provisions of the Malaysian constitution as well as the Umno constitution," he said, adding that despite this, Umno had not opposed Anwar's move to stop the event.


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Selangor still far ahead as 2,733 new cases reported

Another 2,733 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 398,451.Selangor recorded 750 cases followed by Kelantan (484), Sarawak (432), Kuala Lumpur (377), Johor (220) and Penang (115).Sabah recorded 82 cases, Terengganu 61, Kedah 51, Negeri Sembilan 39, Perak 38, Pahang 35, Melaka 33, Putrajaya 15 and Perlis one.Active cases stand at 25,414 with 294 in the ICU and 138 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 2,019 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 371,575.However, 13 more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 1,462.


State of emergency declared at Florida beach over uncontrollable crowds

Throngs of revellers flocking to Miami Beach in Florida for spring break have become so uncontrollable that authorities declared a state of emergency Saturday and imposed a curfew meant to quash the party.The move marks the second year in a row that fun has been curtailed at the popular spring break destination – last March because the pandemic was just ramping up and this year due to unruly and destructive crowds.Authorities announced Saturday that visitors must be off the street and that restaurants would close their doors at 8pm in South Beach, the epicentre of the city’s nightlife, following an increase of violence and vandalism over recent days.“It kind of sucks,” said John Perez, a student from Texas having beers with a group of friends on the sand, despite police efforts to prevent alcohol consumption on the beach.In addition to the curfew, the three bridges that connect the Miami Beach island to mainland Miami will now be closed to traffic from 10pm to 6am.Only residents, workers and hotel guests will have access.“It’s been so much fun out here, you know, like we got the warm weather, you got the beach,” 22-year-old Perez said.An aerial photo released by police Saturday night showed the city’s main strip, Ocean Drive, empty just two hours after the curfew went into effect.Miami Beach is no stranger to uncontrollable spring break crowds, but this year, with approximately 13% of US residents vaccinated, the atmosphere is particularly festive and the illusion that the pandemic is now under control is pervasive.“Just go get your vaccine y’all so that you could come out here and have a good time like us because we vaccinated, baby,” Jalen Rob, another student from Texas, told AFP.Another man, with his face painted like the Joker, stood on top of a car yelling “Covid’s over, baby!” while waving an American flag, in a video posted to Twitter by filmmaker Billy Corben.‘Like a rock concert’Acting city manager Raul Aguila said the city’s curfew moves were “all about the public safety”.He described huge crowds that had gathered on Ocean Drive as looking “like a rock concert. You couldn’t see pavement and you couldn’t see grass”.Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said Saturday while announcing the curfew that “the volume is clearly more than it’s been in previous years”.“I think it is in part due to the fact that there are very few places open elsewhere in the country, or they’re too cold – or they’re not open and they’re too cold,” he said.Over the last several days viral videos have emerged showing fights in restaurants which caused serious damage in addition to prompting diners to flee without paying expensive bills, according to local press reports.Miami Beach police chief Richard Clements said he is concerned the situation will become unmanageable.On Thursday night “we had an issue where hundreds of people ran at one particular time. Tables and chairs were thrown and used as weapons”, he said.He added that police had hoped it was a one-time event but “last night we had three of those situations and we had a young lady that got hurt as a result of trying to run away from a crowd”.One of the city’s most iconic venues, The Clevelander South Beach, announced Friday that it was closing its restaurants and bars and would keep only the hotel running.“We can’t continue to be fortunate. We have to do some things that are going to mitigate those circumstances,” Clements said.


Daily caseload drops to 2,700 as 9 more deaths logged

Another 2,783 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,680,053.
There were 4,482 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,598,778.
There are now 45,306 active cases, of which 43,753 or 96.6% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 22 (0.0%) are at quarantine centres while 1,477 (3.3%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 54 are in ICU with 32 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 64.1%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 14.5%.
Another nine deaths were reported, including four who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 35,969.


Tiny Palau records first Covid-19 case

The remote Pacific nation of Palau reported its first confirmed coronavirus case Monday, but authorities said it was historical and posed no transmission risk.The tiny island state of 21,000 has so far managed to avoid Covid-19 after closing its borders early in the pandemic, despite the huge cost to its tourism-reliant economy.The health ministry said a traveller who arrived in Palau earlier this month was found to have the virus, even though they tested negative once before departing for the island and twice during a two-week quarantine.“Further tests revealed that this is a historical – past infection – case of Covid-19, and it is not infectious,” it said in a statement.The ministry estimated the person contracted the virus in January this year.Authorities refused to release any details about the patient or the country they travelled from, citing privacy concerns.The ministry said the person was being placed in isolation and close contacts were being assessed as a precaution only.Palau had a short-lived travel bubble with Taiwan that closed earlier this month after the latter experienced a spike in virus cases.


Health ministry advises no election for now

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah says the health ministry recommends that no elections be held for the time being in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.If an election cannot be avoided, he said, the ministry will hold discussions with the Election Commission (EC) on different ways of approaching the issue.“(Firstly), no cross-border and no cross-district (travel), and no ‘balik kampung’ for the election.“Secondly, no (mass) gatherings and thirdly, no house-to-house visits. These are the three main issues that we need to discuss with the EC, and whether we can implement the use of postal votes and so on. We can continue to discuss with the EC to improve the situation.“As far as the health ministry is concerned, we only give recommendations. If it cannot be avoided and you still have to hold an election, in line with the constitution, then we have to look into the SOPs on how we can conduct the election and minimise infections.“Even though the SOPs are available, compliance with the SOPs is more important,” he said in a press conference today. “I think we have seen and learnt this from the Sabah election. We hope we don’t need to repeat the consequences of an election in other states.”Earlier, Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government would discuss with the EC the implementation of tighter SOPs for the Batu Sapi by-election on Dec 5, to ensure that public health would not be compromised when voters go out to vote.He added that the government was not empowered to disallow the holding of elections as this matter came under the jurisdiction of the EC.Speaking today, Noor Hisham also advised NGOs planning to assist those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic to do so under the health ministry.He said this would ensure that participants receive basic training on infection control and allow coordination in terms of logistics.“There are two types of NGOs,” he said. “One, they go on their own without informing the ministry. But our fear is that they (NGO members) will get infected, especially those who do not have experience in infection control. The intention is good but we also need to protect the NGOs.“Look at our frontliners, even they get infected, what more the NGO members going to the ground. We also have a few NGO members already forming a cluster after coming back from Sabah. In Selangor, for example, a few of our staff also got infected,” he added.


We won't abandon Najib, says Zaid ahead of final appeal

Najib Razak's new legal firm for his final appeal in the SRC International case today said that it would not abandon the former prime minister.
Zaid Ibrahim in a statement said that his firm, Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners (ZIST), made no statement during the case management hearing in chambers that the firm would be discharging itself as solicitors.
The former law minister was referring to news reports on the Aug 10 case management of Najib's SRC International case at the Federal Court which he said were incorrect or inaccurate.
"My firm did not make any such statement during case management. We do not abandon our clients. Any media report stating the contrary is mischievous and regrettable," he said.
Zaid also claimed that his law firm had not been motivated by money when it agreed to represent the Pekan MP in his SRC International appeal. "My firm agreed to take on this brief because our client has legitimate grievances with regards to his conviction, particularly on matters relating to rule of law, the law relating to bias, and conflict of interest. It is the sacred duty of any advocate to represent an accused person with such grievances.
"In doing so, I am not prejudging the case, as any respectable lawyer would attest.  Passing judgment is the domain of the courts. As lawyers, our duty is to present the client’s case to the best of our ability," he said, adding that he expects the courts to uphold time-honoured legal principles and that the rule of law would prevail.
Najib’s legitimate expectation was that he would get a full and fair hearing before the Federal Court, Zaid said, adding that it was their duty as his solicitors to enable that process.
"I regret that in doing so, scurrilous attacks have been made against my firm and me personally. Sepang MP Mohamed Hanipa Maidin’s insinuation yesterday that lawyers who take on briefs at the last minute are motivated by money is grossly unfair.
"Here, I want to state categorically that throughout my career as a lawyer and politician, I have never been motivated by money or position. Justice is what matters to me.
"In any event, it is a preposterous notion that there is never a justification for a last-minute change of lawyers. In this case, there was a genuine need for a change of perspective and a reset of arguments in defence of our client’s case," he said.
To the claim that the appointment was purely an attempt to delay the appeal, Zaid said this was the first time Najib had changed lawyers.
"I believe that my firm has brought a fresh perspective to the case. On our advice, Najib has abandoned certain propositions previously put forward. We are purely focused on constitutional principles, the rule of law, the principles of natural justice and the specific legal and factual issues in the application for retrial and the appeal proper.
"We are prepared to proceed with the motion for retrial when it comes up for hearing on Monday. As lawyers, we have a duty to justice without fear or favour. We must be slow to question the basis on which any other lawyer takes a brief because we must respect the professional judgement of our peers.
"Applying our professional judgement, my firm placed itself on record as solicitors for Najib. We will continue to act for him for so long as we have his confidence," he said.
Media reports on Aug 10 had said that the legal firm would discharge itself if the Federal Court insisted on proceeding with the hearing of Najib’s final appeal next week against his 12-year jail term and RM210 million fine for the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.
On July 26, Najib appointed Hisyam Teh Poh Teik from Messrs Hisyam Teh as his lead counsel and ZIST partners Liew Teck Huat and M Rueben as his new solicitors.


Ex-BNS director charged with RM21 million CBT over combat ship project

Former Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) managing director Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today with three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) of the company's funds amounting to RM21.08 million for the construction of littoral combat ships (LCS) for the navy.
Ramli, 78, a former navy chief, pleaded not guilty to the charges which were read out before judge Suzana Hussin.
"I understand (the charges). I plead not guilty and claim trial," he said.
On the first charge, Ramli, as the BNS managing director entrusted with the company’s funds, was alleged to have committed CBT by approving a payment amounting to RM13,541,140 to the account of Syarikat Setaria Holding Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, 6 Battery RD, Singapore 049909, without the approval of the BNS board of directors.
The offence was allegedly committed at BNS, 17th floor, Menara Boustead, 69 Jalan Raja Chulan, between July 26, 2010 and March 25, 2011.
On the second charge, Ramli was alleged to have approved payment amounting to RM1,360,716 to the account of JSD Corporation, the Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited, 65 Chulia Street, OCBC Centre, Singapore, without the approval of the BNS board of directors at the same place between April 19, 2011 and May 4, 2011.
He was also charged with committing a similar offence by approving a payment amounting to RM6,182,295 to the account of Syarikat Sousmarin Armada Ltd, Standard Chartered Bank, 6 Battery Road, Singapore, at the same place between Oct 28, 2010 and Nov 22, 2010.
The three charges were framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years with a whipping, with the possibility of a fine, upon conviction.
The court allowed him bail of RM500,000 with a paid surety of RM200,000 for all three charges and set Nov 24 for mention.
Deputy public prosecutors Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin and Ahmad Akram Gharib  prosecuted, while lawyer Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden represented Ramli.
Earlier, Akram proposed bail of RM500,000 with one surety and a paid surety of RM200,000 for all three charges.
"The bail amount has been agreed to by the defence. The prosecution also requests an additional condition that the accused's passport be handed over to the court," he said.
Meanwhile, Wan Shaharuddin informed the court that the prosecution and defence had agreed on Nov 24 as the mention date, taking into account the fact that there were many documents that needed to be scrutinised by both parties.
"I was also informed there is a possibility that the defence will send a letter of representation on this case to the Attorney-General's Chambers,” he said. This was confirmed by Yusof.
On Aug 4, the Public Accounts Committee revealed that none of the ships under the LCS project had been completed even though the project, worth billions, stipulated that five of the six ships should be completed and handed over by August 2022.
On Aug 11, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission announced that it had completed its investigation against a number of individuals linked to alleged irregularities in the handling of the LCS construction project.
According to sources, more individuals are expected to be charged in court in connection with the LCS project.


Singaporean housewife detained over escalating radical behaviour

A 34-year-old Singaporean housewife and former part-time freelance religious teacher was issued an order of detention (OD) under the Singapore Internal Security Act (ISA) in April.Ruqayyah Ramli was previously issued with a restriction order (RO) under the ISA in August 2020, after she was found to have been radicalised by her husband, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said on its website today.Her husband, Mohd Firdaus Kamal Intdzam, a Malaysian, was repatriated in August 2020.According to the ISD, investigations at the time established that she had supported Firdaus’ intention to join and fight for the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) in Syria.She was also willing to accompany him to the conflict zone, where she intended to take care of the family and assist wounded IS fighters, the ISD said.However, the ISD said since being placed on RO, there had been an escalation in Ruqayyah’s radical behaviour and involvement in activities prejudicial to Singapore’s security.“Ruqayyah has refused to make any genuine effort to participate in the rehabilitation programme, and remains entrenched in her radical beliefs.“She continues to support IS’ violent actions and believes in the use of violence against the perceived enemies of Islam,” said the ISD.Further, in contravention of her RO condition, the ISD said she had persisted in communicating online with overseas IS supporters who were associates of Firdaus.Ruqayyah was thus detained to prevent her from progressing further down the path of radical violence, it said.A person issued with a RO must abide by several conditions and restrictions. Among others, the individual cannot access the internet or social media, issue public statements, address public meetings or print, distribute, contribute to any publication, hold office in, or be a member of any organisation, association or group, without the approval of the ISD director.


Palestinians cancel deal to trade vaccine doses with Israel

The Palestinian Authority (PA) said Friday it cancelled a swap deal that would have seen Israel provide it with one million Covid-19 jabs, as the doses were “about to expire”.Israeli officials earlier Friday had announced the deal, saying the Jewish state was to provide the doses to the PA as their expiry date loomed.The PA, based in the occupied West Bank, had confirmed the delivery “in the coming days” of a million vaccine doses, without mentioning an agreement with the Jewish state.The Palestinian health ministry had said in a statement that Pfizer was behind an initiative to “accelerate the vaccination campaign”.But PA spokesman Ibrahim Melhem said later Friday that an initial delivery of some 90,000 Pfizer doses failed to conform “to the specifications contained in the agreement, and accordingly prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh instructed the minister of health to cancel the agreement”.“The government refuses to receive vaccines that are about to expire,” he added, in a statement carried by the official WAFA news agency.Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s office had said earlier that “Israel has signed an agreement with the PA, and will supply approximately one million doses of Pfizer vaccine that are about to expire”, without specifying the use-by date.“Israel will receive the same amount of doses of Pfizer in September/October 2021, on behalf of what is destined for the PA,” the Israeli statement read.Melhem said the PA would instead wait for the vaccines it had ordered from Pfizer to arrive directly.He did not specify the expiry date of the vaccines Israel had supplied.Neither the Israeli health ministry nor Cogat, the Israeli military body that administers civilian affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories, responded to AFP requests for comment.Virus ‘knows no borders’Israel launched a sweeping vaccination campaign after obtaining millions of doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.More than 55% of Israel’s population – some 5.1 million people – have received both doses of the vaccine.On the Palestinian side, just over 270,000 people have received their two doses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian health ministry.Earlier Friday, Israel’s new Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz had said on Twitter that the “coronavirus knows no borders and does not differentiate between people”.“This important exchange of vaccines is in the interest of each party,” he said, adding he hoped for “cooperation between Israel and its Palestinian neighbours in other areas”.Horowitz did not reply to a request for comment later Friday.The developments come amid high tensions between the Jewish state and the Palestinians, with violations of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Gaza’s rulers Hamas.The truce went into effect on May 21, ending 11 days of heavy fighting.Late Thursday, Israeli fighter jets carried out air strikes on Gaza for a second time since the ceasefire.The military said they were in retaliation for three days of incendiary balloons launched from the Palestinian enclave.Last month’s fighting crippled the coronavirus response in the Gaza Strip, where air strikes also killed two doctors.Palestinian health officials have officially recorded more than 312,000 novel coronavirus cases, including around 3,540 deaths.Israel has recorded nearly 840,000 cases, including more than 6,420 deaths.


State of emergency, justifiable at the end of the day?

The proclamation of emergency by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong under Article 150 of the Federal Constitution on Jan 12 – in view of the continuing surge of Covid-19 cases that reached a high of 3,309 infections on the day itself and which could hit the 8,000 per day mark by March, i.e. suggesting an “inflection point” if drastic action wasn’t taken to pre-empt that – has taken some quarters by surprise, particularly His Majesty’s opposition.The opposition and even some MPs aligned with the government have expressed doubts and are sceptical or even cynical about the imposition of a state of emergency which they deem to be completely unnecessary.Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has good grounds for advising His Majesty to make such a declaration in the first place.There’s agreement, nonetheless, that the imposition of the movement control order (MCO) is different from that of the emergency.One relates to the public health situation that’s fast deteriorating; the other applies to the current fluid and ever-changing political environment, albeit as the “sub-text” which the government is neither legally nor politically obligated to publicly disclose.Both situations are united by one policy consideration, that the MCO can’t effectively operate without some measure of constraint and restraint on the political environment (even if not stated explicitly), so that the government can then, securely and without distraction, get on with its job of managing and containing the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic that could well have reached a breaking point with even tighter and stricter measures reminiscent of Wuhan in the initial stages were imposed by the Chinese authorities.Down to the specifics: The fact that government didn’t utilise the National Security Council Act (Amended 2020) (2016) when it could have done so is precisely because it conceded and thereby continued the reforms of the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to water down that legislation. Recall that even before amendment, Section 18(6) expressly provides for an affirmative resolution of both Houses of Parliament before an area declared as “security area” and gazetted as such can come into effect.Other than that, Section 18(1) was amended last August – under the auspices of the government no less – to grant the power to declare a security area to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the eight-member National Security Council (NSC) chaired by the prime minister. This is, in effect and practice, no different from the circumstances leading to the declaration of emergency under Article 150 since the composition of the delegation to brief His Majesty is essentially the same as with the NSC – e.g. the chief secretary, inspector-general of police and chief of defence forces.Given the current political imbroglio, the government would be hard-pressed to even secure the necessary parliamentary support for what is definitively below a state of emergency under Article 150. The principled withdrawal of support by Umno MP Ahmad Jazlan (Machang, Kelantan) on Jan 9 and with fellow Umno MP Nazri Aziz (Padang Rengas, Perak) doing the same four days later with more expected to follow suit is a clear indication that support for this particular measure will not be forthcoming.Furthermore, Umno MP Ahmad Maslan (Pontian, Johor), newly appointed as secretary-general of Barisan Nasional (BN), is gung-ho about wanting to have a general election. And the withdrawal of support by Umno MPs who don’t hold ministerial portfolios is said to be one way to, at least indirectly, force a snap general election to be called.The calling of a general election in the midst of a third wave which might prematurely bring forward the peak alluded to and therefore make it even more difficult to flatten the epidemiological curve should be contrary to sound politics and public policy.Even if assuming for argument’s sake that a general election can be reasonably safely held as in the case of, for example, Singapore only last July where digital campaigning of course predominated and rallies (were held on a very limited basis and strictly indoors with sufficient physical distancing involved so that only a handful of supporters were allowed to attend) were substituted with e-rallies and “constituency political broadcasts” for both single-member constituencies (SMCs) and group representative constituencies (GRCs), infection cases there were already close to zero, single digits or at the most low double digit. On the day after polling day itself, i.e. Jul 11, only 24 cases were reported.Is our situation comparable to Singapore’s then?Moving on to the political situation itself, it’s clear that the parliamentary arithmetic doesn’t favour a healthy, let alone a super-majority. To rehearse what’s now a truism, PH on its own, unfortunately, has at best only 91 MPs instead of the minimum 111 or 112 which means that additional MPs are just “bonuses” to supplement and complement rather than to constitute as such – a very important distinction.This brings to another point, namely that even if PH succeeds in holding PH Plus together (Warisan, Upko and Pejuang/independents and others independents) together with securing the support of some Umno MPs, will the new coalition be stable and last?The ensuing political instability can only result in a GE being held under such adverse circumstances. Or will PH then be forced to advise His Majesty to declare a state of emergency later on?So, perhaps it’s a matter of when.Recall that Umno’s ultimate aim is for GE15 to be fast-forwarded, come what may. The political reconfigurations and realignments are just one of the means to achieve that. Umno is supremely confident that it can regain its former glory. While like PH, Umno cannot secure enough seats to govern on its own, BN is still intact and its alliance with PAS should enable its return to power on a firm footing.According to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, at least 143 out of 191 divisions have voted to cut off ties with Bersatu, the anchor party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government. There’s tremendous pressure by Umno grassroots for the party to go its own way outsider of the current informal and loose arrangement with PN.It’s clear by now that an MCO, therefore, is a necessary but insufficient condition for the government to effectively manage Covid-19 and that a state of emergency is needed to put the brakes on the politicking that’s determined go on regardless of the actual situation.Malaysia isn’t alone in declaring an emergency. New Zealand (global model of success), France, Spain, Belgium, Armenia, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Moldova, Romania, Japan, etc have done the same to varying degrees.The real-world question, therefore, is not political but policy-wise, particularly in terms of the economic impact on livelihoods.And it’s the MCO (at least in theory) rather than the emergency that impacts the economy. Economist Prof Geoffrey Williams made the same point on BFM’s Morning Brief (Jan 14). With the government stabilising the political crisis, Malaysia would even be better poised to be an attractive destination for greater foreign direct investment.It may not be the fault of politicians who pursue their respective agendas which they sincerely believe is in the country or rakyat’s interests. But it’s also not the fault of this government that it has imposed not only the MCO but the emergency as the only viable backup and backstop to ensure effective compliance to the MCO so that things don’t get out of hand. Hence it is the only preventative measure under the best of available options – and business as usual isn’t an option.Jason Loh Seong Wei is head of social, law and human rights at independent think tank Emir Research.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Why oppose total abolition of death penalty, MCA?

We refer to the statement issued by MCA Youth leader Heng Zhi Li, who lauded its president, Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong, for the Cabinet’s decision not to fully abolish the death penalty.It is shameful and retrograde that MCA continues to support the brutality of judicial executions. It is worse when this comes just over a month after the sickening execution of mentally disabled Malaysian, Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, by the authoritarian regime in Singapore. The government’s failure to go further and totally abolish the death penalty will only make it harder to save the lives of other Malaysians facing execution abroad.This includes Malaysian Pausi Jefridin who has an IQ of 67 and is facing execution in Singapore’s notorious Changi prison. By totally abolishing the death penalty, Malaysia would have had the moral ascendancy and political leverage to speak up on behalf of these desperate Malaysians. Or does MCA not care about these victimised Malaysians and their suffering families here?The core issue that needs to be addressed, which MCA fails to do, is whether the death penalty achieves its objective of being a deterrence to the commission of serious crimes. None of the quantitative studies done throughout the world show that capital punishment has resulted in a reduction in the incidence of capital punishment offences.Nothing exemplifies this more than capital punishment for drug related offences, where low-level drug mules are repeatedly convicted and hanged, while the drug lords behind it remain free to exploit other unsuspecting or vulnerable individuals to replace those hanged.Furthermore, it is erroneous to assume that all families of the victims of such crimes are out for blood. Even if some do seek some sort of retribution, it is not the role of the government to facilitate this. The government is there to arbitrate wrongdoing and mete out the necessary punishment which is commensurate with the gravity of the crime committed. That, however, does not permit it to use cruel and unusual forms of punishment such as the death penalty, as the state would then debase itself to the same level of the criminals it seeks to punish.This, of course, does not mean that those who commit serious crimes are to go unpunished; that has never been the position. There are effective alternatives such as life imprisonment in lieu of the death penalty.The MCA statement, however, though wrongheaded, narrows down on the one of the strongest arguments for abolition, which is the reduction of harm caused by “misjudgement” or miscarriage of justice. The legal system, despite attempts to put in safeguards, is not impervious to mistakes. If this is admitted, how can it be that such a final and absolute sentence such as death can be accepted?If MCA accepts that the aim is to avoid innocent persons being wrongfully convicted, then the abolition of death penalty is the only way forward. As long as the wrongfully convicted are alive, any judicial error can be rectified. On the other hand, death by hanging is irreversible.Zaid Malek is the director of Lawyers for Liberty.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Daily cases top 3,500

Another 3,543 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,776,699.Another 3,484 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,705,292 (97.4%).Meanwhile 253 are in the ICU, including 203 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 130 are in need of respiratory assistance including 86 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 3,543 cases reported today, 53 (1.5%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 3,490 (98.5%) are in Category One and Two.


Parts of China's Hainan extend Covid lockdown, Lhasa in Tibet tightens curbs

A few cities in China's tourism hub Hainan extended lockdowns on Friday, with some of the measures expected to last through the weekend, while Lhasa in Tibet also tightened restrictions, among the latest curbs to contain Covid clusters in the country.
Under the "dynamic Covid zero" policy that aims at quickly stopping each outbreak from spreading, local governments have imposed shorter lockdowns where people were barred from unnecessary movements for a few days or weeks until clusters were contained within narrower areas.
Such lockdowns were less painful than the two-month virus battle fought by Shanghai in the spring, but the growing spread of Omicron across China may lead to more cities made subject to such measures along with the potential disruption to local businesses.
In the southern province of Hainan, currently the worst-hit Chinese region, two cities, Dongfang and Chengmai, with a total population of around 900,000, said on Friday they would add days to the lockdowns on their residents, prolonging what were previously scheduled for three to four days to around a week.
Hainan's provincial capital Haikou on Friday put its 2.9 population in a lockdown between 0700-1800 local time, following similar restrictions that covered main hours on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Several millions in other cities in Hainan, including Sanya, were under lockdown without clear dates of when the curbs would be lifted.
In the western region of Tibet, the biggest city Lhasa told residents not to go out unless they have special and urgent matters to attend to between Friday and Monday, as Covid workers carried out disinfection work in main urban areas.
Outside Hainan and Tibet, small cities that told residents not to leave home unnecessarily in fresh lockdowns include Fengcheng in the southeastern province of Jiangxi and Kuqa in the western region of Xinjiang.
Mainland China reported 1,851 domestically transmitted new coronavirus infections on Aug 11, of which 648 were symptomatic and 1,203 were asymptomatic, the National Health Commission said on Friday.
Those new cases were reported across more than a dozen provinces, regions and municipalities, but mostly in Hainan.
There were no new deaths, keeping the nation's fatalities at 5,226.
The financial hub of Shanghai reported seven new local cases on Aug 11, while the southern technology hub of Shenzhen reported one new local case.
China's capital Beijing reported no new local cases.