Who counts as a whistleblower and who doesn’t

It is easy to assume that the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 protects anyone who discloses information of alleged wrongdoings or the irregular actions of a person or persons in a company or an organisation.The spirit of the whistleblowing protection law lies in the protection of someone who discloses information of irregularity, be it corruption or improper conduct in the public and private sector, that may invite a backlash while the information is being investigated.However, the scope of the act only covers persons who makes a complaint to the relevant enforcement agencies which includes any ministry department, agency or body of the government including local authorities.The immediate protection is the confidentiality of the identity of the person, which includes his or her name, address and place of work.Secondly, he will be provided immunity from civil and criminal action, and thirdly, protection against detrimental action. Detrimental action may mean disciplinary action or prosecution of the person against whom the disclosure of improper conduct has been made.However, the law does not cover those who openly disclose information in public, for instance to the media and on social media platforms. In the case of Lalitha Kunaratnam, she cannot claim whistleblower status based on several criteria.She wrote two articles, “Business Ties Among MACC Leadership: How Deep Does it Go?” (Part 1 and 2), based on information she got from publicly available sources (shares on past annual reports) and using that, she insinuated wrongdoing and collusion on the part o- several high ranking MACC officers.Firstly, she does not come under the whistleblower protection simply because her identity is already willingly revealed.Secondly, a whistleblower is usually someone employed within an organization who exposes the wrongdoing in that body and fears backlash from the employers or authorities.Thirdly, the disclosure is blasted out on social media where anyone can have access. She did not make a complaint to the relevant enforcement authorities where her identity would be automatically protected to prevent detrimental action from those affected by the disclosure of the information. Detrimental action can come in the form of lawsuits or even bodily harm that may or may not be directly proven to be connected to the disclosure.Hence, the particular law in question does not provide that guarantee of protection if the complainant has exposed his or her own identity along with the information, simply because the source of backlash can come from anywhere and anyone.Finally, the article is an insinuation of “business ties among MACC leadership” based on publicly available information, i.e, the shares of Azam Baki. In accordance with the law, the person who is aggrieved by her article has the legal and constitutional right to file a civil suit for defamation to protect his reputation. The Defamation Act 1957 provides the guidelines for determining what is and what is not defamatory where the burden of proof lies on the plaintiff to prove that the statements were untrue, and had imputed a “dishonourable or discreditable conduct” on the part of the plaintiff.In the case of Azam filing a civil suit against Lalitha, he has every right to do so under the law.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Search team to dig deeper in efforts to locate remaining landslide victims

The search and rescue team will dig deeper into the ground to locate the remaining victims after the 25th was found buried under 17m of debris in Sector C (Riverside) last night at the Father's Organic Farm campsite in Gohtong Jaya.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director Hafisham Mohd Noor said more victims could be buried under the site surroundings.
"We had already dug and combed through the exact spot. Apparently the victims could be buried much deeper in the ground.
"As such, today we will most likely dig deeper into the debris and hope to find the other victims," he told a press conference in Batang Kali.
Hafisham said the search and rescue today involving 106 personnel from various agencies would be carefully executed, taking into account the soft ground conditions in the operation area.
"The search will be conducted over Sector C (Riverside), Sector A (Hillview) and Sector B (Farmview) but we will focus more on Sector C.
"We will also limit the number of personnel allowed into the area because of the wet, muddy ground conditions that had caused the excavators to get stuck in deep clay.
"Our team had to cut down trees and place them on the ground surface to continue the excavation work," he said.
Asked if the search would continue if the missing victims are not found after a certain period of time, Hafisham said the matter would be discussed with all parties involved, including the police.
He said according to the SOPs, operations for missing persons usually continue for seven days.
The landslide which occurred at 2.42am last Friday has claimed 26 lives so far while seven victims are still missing. It was reported that 94 people were involved in the tragedy.


FGV maintains priority on workers’ welfare in bid to diffuse US criticism

Plantation giant FGV Holdings Bhd today reiterated its commitment to the welfare of its workers whom it called the “backbone” of the company, detailing the allocation of some RM350 million over the past three years for the provision of adequate housing.In a statement, FGV CEO Haris Fadzilah Hassan said 27 housing projects have been completed so far including five in Pahang, one each in Terengganu, Kelantan, Perak, and Negeri Sembilan, as well as two estates in both Sabah and Sarawak.An additional five housing projects are expected to be completed by the end of this year.Haris also said “concrete steps” had been taken over the past few years to improve amenities in FGV’s 190-plus estates in Malaysia as well as Indonesia.He also noted the company’s provision of additional amenities such as community and prayer halls, recreation fields and sundry shops.FGV came under increased scrutiny when the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) authority issued a directive against its palm oil and palm oil products based on a negative assessment of the company’s treatment of its plantation workers.The CBP’s assessment of FGV’s practices cited instances of forced labour in its production process, and insufficient measures by the company to ensure the protection and welfare of its workers including the failure to provide adequate housing.The CBP assessment resulted in a withhold release order that took effect this month, effectively barring the entry of FGV products to the US.The company slammed the move, saying it had consistently prioritised the welfare of its workers and refuting the allegations of worker mistreatment.


Far-right, anti-Muslim extremism among Singapore’s worries in war against terror

Singapore authorities view far-right extremism as an emerging major threat in its fight against terrorism, alongside groups such as the Islamic State, according to the city-state’s latest Terrorism Threat Assessment Report.The report noted that radical acts based on racial supremacy as well as anti-Muslim and anti-immigration sentiments had emerged as a major concern in the West.“While Islamist terrorism remains the primary concern, we are also mindful of emergent threats such as far-right extremism,” the Internal Security Department (ISD) said in releasing the third edition of its biannual report.This comes months after authorities nabbed a teenager planning a lone-wolf attack against Muslim worshippers at mosques in the republic, reportedly after he was inspired by the Christchurch mosque shootings of 2019.The ISD said developments outside of Singapore including “the import of foreign grievances, hate speech and divisive rhetoric” were also threats to its internal security and communal harmony.“The domestic terrorism threat to Singapore stems primarily from self-radicalised individuals influenced by extremist materials online. Like other countries, Singapore is vulnerable to attacks against soft targets by lone actors using easily available objects.”It said while far-right extremism did not have traction in Southeast Asia, some hardline groups had embraced its messages of “ethno-religious chauvinism and anti-immigration nativism”.“Such narratives could deepen societal fault-lines and even inspire individuals to mount acts of violence against members of other communities.”The report said lone-wolf attacks by radicalised individuals could only be uncovered with cooperation from family and friends, and listed several signs “that someone around us may have become radicalised”.They include frequently surfing radical websites, posting or sharing extremist views on social media, as well as expressing such views with friends and relatives, making remarks that promote hatred towards people of other races or religions, and expressing intent to join acts of violence overseas.In December last year, authorities arrested a 16-year-old Singaporean under the Internal Security Act for plotting to attack Muslims with a machete at two mosques in Singapore.The boy, a Protestant Christian of Indian ethnicity, planned to launch the attacks on the second anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attacks in New Zealand which killed over 50 worshippers.In February this year, authorities detained a 20-year-old Singaporean Muslim man who was planning to carry out a knife attack against Jews at a synagogue.Amirull Ali, a national serviceman in the Singapore Armed Forces, had planned to target three Jewish men at the Maghain Aboth Synagogue in Waterloo Street.


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UN human rights chief calls for reparations over racism

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has urged global action including financial reparations to “make amends” for racism against people of African descent.Its new report also urges educational reform and apologies to address racial discrimination.The report’s findings cite evidence from and concerns over about 60 countries including the UK, Belgium, France, Canada, Brazil, and Colombia.The report was initiated after the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in US police custody in Minneapolis in 2020.The police officer convicted of the murder, Derek Chauvin, was sentenced on June 25 to 22-and-a-half years in prison.Floyd’s videotaped death with Chauvin kneeling on his neck, sparked demands for reform of US “systemically racist” police departments.The case was also the spark that ignited the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement which spread around the world.The UN report’s findings say protests over the Minnesota man’s death and the conviction of a white policeman were a “seminal point in the fight against racism”.The report is based on discussions with more than 300 experts and people of African descent and seeks to push nations to take actions to end racial injustices.It found that police use of racial profiling and excessive force was systemic in much of North America, Europe and Latin America.The report said racism was the biggest problem in countries associated with the former trade of many millions of Africans for slavery.The findings conclude that in order to achieve racial justice, countries should “make amends for centuries of violence and discrimination; including through formal acknowledgment and apologies, truth-telling processes, and reparations in various forms”.It praises BLM and says the group should “receive funding, public recognition and support”.In a statement on Monday, UN high commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet called “on all states to stop denying – and start dismantling – racism” and to “listen to the voices of people of African descent”.Bachelet, a former president of Chile, said reparations must not only be financial in nature, but include other “guarantees” to prevent future injustices.She said: “States must show stronger political will to accelerate action for racial justice, redress and equality through specific, time-bound commitments to achieve results.“This will involve reimagining policing, and reforming the criminal justice system, which have both consistently produced discriminatory outcomes for people of African descent.”She welcomed a “promising initiative” by US President Joe Biden to address racial inequity, which involves attempting to level the playing field by treating racial groups differently, based on perceived need.


Thai protesters lay plaque in opposition to king

In ongoing demonstrations against the monarchy, student protesters in Bangkok have laid a plaque declaring that Thailand “belongs to the people not the king”.In this latest challenge to King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the plaque was laid in Sanam Luang, or Royal Field, close to the Grand Palace.Demonstrators cheered and chanted, “Down with feudalism, long live the people.”Such protests are particularly dangerous in Thailand as any criticism of the monarchy is punishable by long prison sentences.Police did not intervene. A spokesman for the Thai government told Reuters news agency the police would not use violence against protesters.The protesters are also demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who took power in a 2014 coup and won disputed elections last year.


BioNTech faces first German lawsuit over alleged Covid vaccine side effects

BioNTech will go to court on Monday to defend itself against a lawsuit from a German woman who is seeking damages for alleged side effects of its Covid-19 vaccine, the first of potentially hundreds of cases in the country.
The woman, exercising her right under German privacy law for her name not to be made public, is suing the German vaccine maker for at least US$161,500 (about RM746,000) in damages for bodily harm as well as compensation for unspecified material damage, according to the regional court in Hamburg which is hearing the case and law firm Rogert & Ulbrich, which is representing her.
The plaintiff claims she suffered upper-body pain, swollen extremities, fatigue and sleeping disorder due to the vaccine.
The first hearing is on Monday.
Tobias Ulbrich, a lawyer at Rogert & Ulbrich, told Reuters he aimed to challenge in court the assessment made by European Union regulators and German vaccine assessment bodies that the BioNTech shot has a positive risk-benefit profile.
German pharmaceutical law states that makers of drugs or vaccines are only liable to pay damages for side-effects if "medical science" shows that their products cause disproportionate harm relative to their benefits or if the label information is wrong.
BioNTech, which holds the marketing authorisation in Germany for the shot it developed with Pfizer, said it concluded after careful consideration that the case was without merit.
"The positive benefit-risk profile of Comirnaty remains positive and the safety profile has been well characterised," the biotech firm said, referring to the vaccine's brand name.
It noted about 1.5 billion people had received the shot across the world, including more than 64 million in Germany.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) says that BioNTech's Comirnaty, the most commonly used in the Western world, is safe to use.
In a media briefing last week, the EMA reaffirmed the benefit of all Covid shots it approved, including BioNTech's, saying in the first year of the pandemic alone, vaccines were estimated to have helped save almost 20 million lives globally.
It has said there is a very small risk of myocarditis and pericarditis, two types of heart inflammation, following vaccination with Comirnaty, mainly for young males.
Unexpected side-effects after a drug has regulatory approval are rare. The unprecedented speed at which Covid vaccines were developed during the pandemic meant that potential uncommon side-effects may not have been detected as readily as they might have been in traditionally longer trials.
EMA has said that safety monitoring had not been compromised during the fast-track assessment.
The EMA had registered almost 1.7 million spontaneous reports of suspected side-effects by May, which translates into about 0.2 for every 100 administered doses.
Almost 768 million vaccine doses have been administered in the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes the 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
The most common temporary side-effects are headache, fever, fatigue and muscle pain.
The EMA also monitors adverse events or illness after vaccination, and checks for frequencies that surpass normal rates in the non-vaccinated population.
Liability
It is not clear who would pay the legal costs or compensation if the plaintiff wins the case.
Sources have said some of the EU's bulk purchase agreements with vaccine makers, including BioNTech-Pfizer, contained full or partial liability waivers for both legal costs and potential compensation, which could force EU governments to bear some of the costs.
Like many countries, Germany also has a public sector financial support scheme for people who suffer permanent harm from vaccines, known as a no-fault compensation programme, but participation in the programme does not block someone seeking damages separately.
The US has granted manufacturers immunity from liability for Covid vaccines that receive regulatory approval.
Rogert & Ulbrich says it has filed about 250 cases for clients seeking damages for alleged side-effects of Covid-19 vaccines.
Another law firm, Caesar-Preller, says it is representing 100 cases, with both firms saying separately they cover almost all cases in Germany between them.
A handful of similar cases have been filed in Italy.


Managing director charged with violating civil aviation rules in ‘nasi ganja’ pickup

The managing director of a company who flew a helicopter which landed at Padang Ipoh to pick up orders of the city’s famous “nasi ganja” was charged in the Ipoh Magistrate’s Court today with violating civil aviation regulations.Mohamed Raffe K Chekku, 53, pleaded not guilty to the charge.He was charged with violating the Rules of the Air as specified by the Director-General of Civil Aviation in Chapter 3 of “the Civil Aviation Directive 2 – Rules of the Air” by not complying with the submitted flight plan.Raffe was alleged to have landed a Bell 505 aircraft with the registration number 9M-RCI at Padang Ipoh, a location other than the Aerodrome specified in the flight plan.The offence was allegedly committed between 9.50am and 10am on July 23, 2021.The charge, framed under Regulation 77(2) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016, was read out before magistrate Jesseca Daimis.Raffe faces a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both, if found guilty.He was allowed bail of RM5,000 with one surety. The court set June 29 for mention.The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Jean Sharmila Jesudason, while Raffe was represented by lawyer Baljit Singh Sidhu.


Russian mercenary chief says unsure if his men will continue fighting in Ukraine

The head of Russia's powerful mercenary Wagner Group said on Tuesday he was "not sure" if his men would continue to fight in Ukraine amid a bitter standoff with the Defence Ministry after capturing the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.
It was unclear how serious Yevgeny Prigozhin was being as his fighters have proved themselves to be among Russia's most effective in Ukraine despite suffering huge losses, while any attempt by him to disengage from the war could be seen as treasonous by officials in Moscow.
"Regarding the further work of the Wagner private military company in Ukraine, I am not sure that we will work specifically in Ukraine," Prigozhin said in reply to a Danish media query.
Wagner fighters have also fought in Africa and the Middle East, where they still have some contracts.
After spearheading the months-long battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut in which tens of thousands perished, Prigozhin last month withdrew his men to rest and regroup.
Prigozhin has long been at odds with the Defence Ministry over what he says is everything from its poor leadership and tactics to ammunition shortages.
Resistance
The ministry said on Saturday that Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, someone whom Prigozhin has repeatedly vilified, had signed an order stipulating that volunteer military units should sign contracts with the ministry before July 1.
It cast the move as a step towards greater integration designed to increase the combat potential and effectiveness of such groups within the regular army and spoke of "unified approaches" to military tasks.
Prigozhin was quick to say that Wagner would not be signing any contract with the ministry despite it saying that such contracts would give volunteer groups the "necessary legal status" to operate.
The ministry has not responded to a request for comment on Prigozhin's refusal to sign up with it. It has also not publicly commented on his scathing criticism of its performance.
The Defence Ministry's Zvezda TV channel on Tuesday broadcast a report saying that three unnamed volunteer brigades and four volunteer units had signed contracts with the ministry.
Lieutenant-General Vladimir Alekseyev said after the signing ceremony that he was sure other volunteer groups would sign the same contract in the course of the next week.
The Defence Ministry said on Monday it had also signed a contract with the Akhmat group of Chechen special forces, which has often been called the private army of Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of Russia's Chechnya region.


MACC uncovers syndicate involved in manipulating flight ticket quotas for umrah

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has uncovered a syndicate involved in manipulating the distribution of flight seat quotas for agencies providing umrah services.
According to an MACC source, six individuals, comprising a director and staff members of six tourism companies, were nabbed by MACC in a special operation in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor and Kedah.
All six suspects, aged between 34 and 55, were brought to the MACC headquarters yesterday.
The source said one of the companies involved was appointed by an international airline company as the sole agent to manage and distribute the quota of seats for each flight for those performing the umrah.
"The modus operandi of the syndicate is to charge a fee, which is a bribe of between RM50 and RM250, for each ticket quota for those wanting to perform the umrah.
"This payment is to ensure that the umrah agencies get their quota of seats for each scheduled flight," said the source.
The source said the syndicate was believed to have been operating since 2018, and had likely distributed 216,000 tickets with bribes in the form of payments amounting to RM10.8 million.
The umrah travel agencies were said to have to pay additional costs in the form of bribes to ensure their quota of pilgrims get flight seats, with this believed to be one of the factors in the high price of umrah flight tickets, added the source.
Those detained have been placed in remand for four days from today for investigation under Section 16 (a) of the MACC Act 2009. The remand order was issued by magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin.
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki, who confirmed the arrests, said more people were expected to be detained to assist with the investigation into the case.


Sarawak farmers struggle to turn out a crop amid surging production costs

While consumers throughout the country are complaining of an increase in prices, further up the supply chain, farmers are also feeling the pinch as they struggle to produce enough to meet market demand while juggling their own livelihoods at the same time.In Sarawak, the main problem for farmers is the rising price of fertiliser – a key component in ensuring, as far as they can, a successful crop.Compounding their problems are the lingering effects of the financial losses suffered throughout the past two years, when Covid-19 restrictions disrupted their harvesting schedules and laid waste to much of their crops.Now, with the country easing its way towards the endemic phase of Covid-19, the farmers are gearing up once again for a new harvest season.But they fear that the rising cost of production will outweigh what little returns they get.“The price of goods and fertiliser has increased sharply,” Tiong, a vegetable farmer from Kampung Keranji in Bau, told MalaysiaNow.“It used to be RM105 for 50kg. Now it’s RM225.”There is not much they can do about this as the wholesalers themselves are facing similar financial constraints.And with fewer and fewer farmers able to keep pace with the rising production costs, the wholesalers have little choice but to raise their prices as well.Using less fertiliser is one option for the farmers but this has a negative effect on the quality of crops.They are also up against other factors that are out of their control, such as the weather.“It’s so hot now that the vegetables ripen more quickly,” Tiong said. “Sometimes I have to throw away fruit because it gets damaged.”For the farmers, there is no solution in sight to their problems. The costs have already been incurred, and by hook or by crook, they need to pay their harvest bills.“Farmers like us can only earn enough to feed our families,” Tiong said.“We have to fight to put food on our tables.”Landan Usop from Kampung Entanggor in Sebuyau shares many of the same woes.On her small farm, she grows chillies, lemon trees, lemongrass, turmeric, potato leaves and long beans. She also grows other crops in the village such as sweet potatoes.Speaking to MalaysiaNow, she said she had been forced to cut her fertiliser use by half.“Fertiliser used to cost RM17,” she said, “but now it costs RM22.“My costs are constantly rising. I feel burdened whenever I need to buy more fertiliser.”Even after she manages a harvest, there’s no guarantee that she will be able to sell it.She said wholesalers in the city used to buy her vegetables but now have begun to buy less.“They used to buy a lot from me, but since the cost has gone up, it’s difficult,” she said.For Uncle Mat, a padi farmer from Lundu, the problem is across the board.“The prices of all commodities are rising,” he said.“Farmers are really struggling and things are only getting worse.”Like Tiong and Landan, Mat is trying to stretch his supply of fertiliser as far as it will go. But despite his best efforts, the prospects are not good.“If I don’t use fertiliser, it will affect the quality of my crops,” he said.“Over the past year alone, the cost of fertiliser and pesticides multiplied by 30 to 40%.”In Sarawak, about 70% of farmers live in rural areas and are heavily dependent on agriculture.Last year, the agriculture sector contributed RM16.5 billion or 12.1% to the state’s economy.


Johor Umno man denies talks with Anwar as rumours swirl over state polls

A photograph of a meeting between a former Johor exco man from Umno and Anwar Ibrahim is feeding speculation that the opposition leader is involved in talks related to a possible election in the state.But Jais Sarday, a loyalist of Mohamed Khaled Nordin who served under the former menteri besar before the 2018 polls, denies having held any meeting with Anwar to discuss the dissolution of the current Umno state government in order to pave the way for polls.When contacted by MalaysiaNow, Jais said he supported any move to seek a fresh mandate, adding that the present government cannot function properly due to its one-seat majority.“I believe that in Johor, Umno and Barisan Nasional have long been prepared and have been waiting to obtain a bigger mandate.“If a state election is held, we will be able to return the mandate to thepeople,” he said. “As occurred in Melaka and Sarawak, we believe the people will reject any party from Pakatan Harapan (PH).”He however denied any talks with Anwar.“This is an old picture, it has nothing to do with a state election or politics,” he said when shown the picture of him with Anwar that has been making the rounds.He also denied a claim that the picture was taken during the Melaka polls, saying he had been busy campaigning for Umno in the Jasin constituency.This follows a series of statements from senior Umno leaders including its president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, stating the party’s readiness to contest any planned election in Johor on its own, similar to its position during the recent Melaka polls.Khaled reiterated this stand, saying Umno’s election machinery in the state had always been prepared.Jais, who is also the Kluang Umno chairman, had as far back as 2019 called for a statewide election in Johor, after Osman resigned as menteri besar.Rumours of a repeat of the Melaka state election in Johor have been swirling since the death of former menteri besar and Kempas assemblyman Osman Sapian last month, which left the Umno-led coalition government in Johor with a one-seat majority.The election in Melaka was held following the move by four assemblymen to revoke their support for the Perikatan Nasional-led state government.The quartet had also met with Anwar, who later fielded two of them to represent PH. All of the PKR candidates who contested under the coalition, however, lost.Many had criticised the timing of the Melaka polls just as the country was recovering from Covid-19 following the success of the mass vaccination drive, fearing a repeat of the spike in cases that occurred in the aftermath of the Sabah election in 2020.Following the end of the emergency last year, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar warned politicians in the state against any attempt to disrupt the state government, and urged them to focus on helping the people.“I will not entertain any political games by assemblymen and risk destabilising my state and government,” the vocal ruler said when opening the Johor state assembly on Aug 12 last year.Additional reporting by Ahmad Mustakim Zulkifli.


Court allows bid by ex-TH chairman to stay hearing of corruption, money laundering case

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today allowed an application by former Tabung Haji chairman Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, who is facing three charges of corruption and 10 charges of money laundering, to stay the hearing of the case pending the outcome of his appeal at the Court of Appeal to strike out all of the charges.Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin made the decision after finding that there were special circumstances that justified the court using its discretion to stay the hearing at the Sessions Court.“After considering the submission by the counsel and taking into account the lack of objection by the prosecution, the court hereby allows the application by the applicant.“The court also considers the principles of law in an application to stay the hearing. In this case, there are special circumstances that justify the court staying the trial proceedings in the Sessions Court until the disposal of the applicant’s appeal in the Court of Appeal,” he added.On March 12, Azeez failed in his bid to quash the charges following Jamil’s decision to dismiss the appeal on grounds that the charges were not defective and were based on provisions of the law.Azeez filed an appeal against the dismissal of his application at the Court of Appeal on the same day (March 12), while the application to stay the proceeding at the Sessions Court was filed on April 8.Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, representing Azeez, submitted that the fact that the prosecution did not object to the stay application showed that they appreciated the dynamics of the proceedings that there was no prejudice to the state.“There would be no prejudice to the prosecution, rather it would prejudice the applicant (Azeez) if stay is not allowed,” he said, adding that the appeal had been fixed for case management on June 8 at the Court of Appeal.Meanwhile, deputy public prosecutor Adam Mohamed told the court that the prosecution had received instructions from the Attorney-General’s Chambers not to object to the stay application.Azeez was charged with three counts of accepting bribes amounting to RM5.2 million in connection with road projects in Perak and Kedah and 10 counts of money laundering involving a total of RM13.9 million allegedly received from Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd.The offences were said to have been committed at CIMB Bank, Jalan Tun Perak in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 8, 2010 and at Affin Bank, Puchong City Centre, Selangor, on June 13, 2017 and April 10, 2018.For the money laundering charges, Azeez was charged with committing the offences in the Klang Valley area between March 8, 2010 and Aug 30, 2018.


A teacher’s worries about Budget 2021

I am a teacher at a government secondary school in Seremban. I read with trepidation news that Budget 2021 may not see a smooth passage in the Dewan Rakyat.This news is deeply worrying to me, as it is to the over 1.7 million civil servants in Malaysia. Let me explain why.Although it’s true that we civil servants did not suffer pay cuts and were not retrenched during this economically troubling time, our plight is no less troubling.Take myself for example. My husband was retrenched in June with a negligible severance package after his haulage company experienced a severe drop in business. Whatever retrenchment benefit he received has been wiped out and we are now digging into our savings. He is in his mid-40s and it will be difficult for him to find a job given the current downturn.Prior to the MCO, I held tuition classes at my house after working hours to supplement my income. After travel restrictions were imposed, I stopped because it went against MCO SOPs and put the health of my family at risk. Tuition classes used to make up around 20% of my total income. Now they are no more.I have three school-going kids, aged eight to 13. As any parent can attest to, raising kids these days is not cheap. And now the burden of providing for the family falls solely on me until my husband lands a job which, by the looks of things, will take a while.My elderly parents who run a sundry shop in Rantau are also finding it hard to make ends meet. Their business has dropped by some 45% since MCO and they are having trouble covering their overheads and paying suppliers due to cashflow problems. As a daughter, I am duty-bound to help tide them over financially during such troubling times.Let’s not get started on my younger brother who is in his final year of studies in Bristol. He used to work part-time as a waiter at a restaurant near his campus before the pandemic to help pay the cost of his studies. Now, jobs are few and far in between there. At this rate, it will only be a matter of time before he sends out an SOS to keep him afloat.For me personally, my economic “lifeline” now is the salary I draw as a teacher, which is not much to begin with. Unlike those in the private sector who may have made more savings during good times, I do not have such a privilege with my meagre government salary.And now, I am told that if Budget 2021 is voted down, there will be a government shutdown and the salaries of government servants will not be paid from January. God knows how long it’d take for the government to retable a new budget and have it approved in Parliament.Leaving aside the politics, I just hope that Budget 2021 is approved. We civil servants will suffer tremendously and unfairly if the budget is voted down.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Najib given more time to explain 1MDB remarks in Dewan Rakyat

Former prime minister Najib Razak has been given an extension of time until March 15 to explain to the Dewan Rakyat his remarks on 1MDB during last week’s debate which were said to have misled the House.Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun said he had received a letter from Najib requesting more time to provide a written explanation on the matter.“I wrote to both Yang Berhormat (Pekan MP and the finance minister) to ask for clarification by today. Yesterday, after I chaired the sitting, I received a letter from Najib asking for a time extension until Wednesday to explain.“I allowed the application until Tuesday morning next week, so there is no issue of Yang Berhormat Pekan disobeying my order,” he said.Azhar said this when Tony Pua (PH-Damansara) raised Standing Orders 43 and 44 (2) on the Dewan Rakyat speaker’s decision to seek clarification from Najib following Pua’s motion that Najib be referred to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee under Standing Order 36 (12) of the Dewan Rakyat over the remarks.Pua submitted the motion following Najib’s speech in the Dewan Rakyat on March 2, said to contain statements that misled the House on the 1MDB debt issue and which could be construed as insulting to the Dewan Rakyat.According to Azhar, the practice of seeking clarification in writing from MPs had been his habit from his first day as speaker when considering a motion or debate on whether to allow or reject the motion, and was not found in the Standing Orders.“Before I allow a motion, it usually involves matters on facts or a debate on the facts. The motion that Yang Berhormat Damansara gave me involved four facts raised on whether the government used government money to pay off 1MDB’s principal debt.“That is the reason I am seeking clarification on the matter before I can decide whether to allow or reject the motion,” he said.RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) also questioned Najib’s act of giving an explanation to reporters outside the Dewan Rakyat, which Azhar said was beyond his control as the Dewan Rakyat speaker.


Russian Valieva had three drugs for heart conditions in sample, says report

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, whose doping case has rocked the Beijing Olympics, had three drugs that could be used to treat heart conditions in the sample she provided last December, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.In addition to testing positive for the banned angina drug trimetazidine, the New York Times report said the Stockholm laboratory that analysed Valieva’s sample also found evidence of two other heart medications that are not on the banned list: hypoxen and L-Carnitine.The New York Times cited documents filed in Valieva’s recent arbitration hearing and confirmed by someone who took part in the hearing.“It’s a trifecta of substances — two of which are allowed, and one that is not allowed,” US Anti-Doping Agency Chief Executive Officer Travis Tygart said in the report.Tygart added that the benefits of such a combination “seem to be aimed at increasing endurance, reducing fatigue and promoting greater efficiency in using oxygen.”The Russian Olympic Committee did not immediately respond to a Reuters email seeking comment.Valieva, 15, shrugged off her Olympic doping scandal to dominate the women’s competition on Tuesday with an emotional performance that put her ahead in the hunt for a gold medal that is unlikely to be awarded at the Beijing Games.The teenager tested positive at her national championships on Dec 25 but the result was not revealed until Feb 8, after she had already competed at the Beijing Games in the team event.Valieva was cleared on Monday by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to compete in the women’s singles event this week after a panel of three judges agreed with the Russian Anti-Doping Agency decision to lift a ban on her.CAS, however, did not address the merits of her drug case, which now awaits a Rusada hearing that is not expected until well after the Winter Games end.Earlier on Tuesday, an International Olympic Committee official said Valieva has argued that her positive drug test was caused by a mix-up with her grandfather’s heart medication.


Kedah MB banned from Lima Langkawi?

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Mohd Nor has been banned from attending any event organised by the federal government including the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2023 (Lima 2023) in May.
An official at the office of the Kedah menteri besar confirmed this when contacted by MalaysiaNow.
"What the menteri besar has shared on Facebook so far is true," the official said, adding however that there was no further information on the ban imposed on Sanusi.
Sanusi had said in a Facebook post that this was "the latest decision" by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Cabinet.
"The latest decision by PMX – banning the Kedah MB from any government event including Lima in Langkawi," he said, referring to Anwar's initials as the 10th prime minister.
MalaysiaNow has contacted the organiser of Lima 2023 for confirmation and further details on the matter.
Lima, a military exhibition organised by the defence ministry, began during Dr Mahathir Mohamad's first tenure as prime minister.
A number of Facebook users criticised the move, describing it as unprofessional on the part of the coalition government led by Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan.
Others questioned it, calling a "peculiar decision".
Still others suggested that the exhibition be held in another state if the menteri besar himself was banned from making an appearance.
Anwar previously sued Sanusi for raising the issue of his sodomy case.
Sanusi however defended his remarks, saying he had only referred to facts based on publicly available court documents.


Pejuang, Warisan join hands with PH to press for Dewan sitting

Pejuang and Warisan today joined Pakatan Harapan (PH) in calling for a no-confidence vote in the Dewan Rakyat to be held without delay, after the two opposition blocs chose to issue separate statements urging Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to resign.In a statement which was also signed by four MPs from the opposition, they said a special sitting should be called not later than Aug 9 to table a no-confidence motion to test Muhyiddin’s support following the announcement by several Umno MPs aligned with former leader Najib Razak yesterday.This comes after Muhyiddin today said he would allow such a motion when Dewan Rakyat reconvenes next month.“We cannot accept any postponement to September on the issue of support for the prime minister.“It is very unreasonable for a government whose legitimacy and majority support of MPs are being questioned to delay the process of determining its support in Parliament,” said the statement by Pakatan Harapan leaders, as well as Warisan, Pejuang, Upko, PSB. Two individual MPs, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Maszlee Malik, also endorsed the statement.Minutes earlier, PH and four opposition MPs issued a statement renewing calls for Muhyiddin and his Cabinet to resign. Warisan and Pejuang however issued separate statements calling for the same.Muhyiddin was appointed as prime minister following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in February last year, after a series of audiences by MPs with the Agong to determine who had the majority support to form the government.At a press conference today, he said he still commands the support of the majority, and that his position as prime minister would be determined through a vote of confidence at the Dewan Rakyat sitting in September.This came a day after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that a number of MPs had withdrawn their support for Muhyiddin, and that statutory declarations to this effect would be submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.


No grave, no tombstone: Muafakat Nasional still lives, PAS deputy chief insists

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has maintained that the Muafakat Nasional (MN) pact still exists as neither the Islamist party nor Umno has ever declared its dissolution.“There’s no grave, no tombstone. Nobody has ever declared that MN has died.“Although it has not been seen, it is still around. No change in the status quo,” he said at the Perikatan Nasional (PN) campaign for its candidate for the Simpang Jeram seat last night.Tuan Ibrahim also said that the status of MN will be reviewed after the Johor state election.“… matters concerning MN have to be put on hold while we concentrate on facing the Johor polls with PN… no need to look back, we will just move forward for the 15th general election and I’m confident that PN will be further strengthened to face any opponent in the next election,” he said.PN comprises Bersatu, PAS, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Gerakan.


Convalescent plasma of limited use for Covid-19, study shows

Plasma taken from the blood of people who have recovered from Covid-19 and given to people sick with the disease does not reduce their chances of getting seriously ill or dying, new research has found.The findings are from one of the first clinical trials to report the effects of convalescent plasma, which has been given emergency approval in countries including India and the US.As a potential treatment for patients with moderate Covid-19, particularly in places where laboratory capacity is limited, the study conducted across India and published in the medical journal BMJ Friday concluded that “convalescent plasma showed limited effectiveness”.But the researchers said future studies could explore using only plasma with high levels of neutralising antibodies to see if this might be more effective.With few useful treatments and no cure or vaccine, nations are scrambling to find ways to blunt the severity of the new coronavirus.One idea has been to harvest recovered patients’ antibodies, which float in plasma – the liquid component of blood – and then inject this into the blood of someone fighting infection.The technique was first tried against diphtheria in 1892 and was shown to help speed recovery from Ebola and SARS, which is caused by the same family of pathogens as the novel coronavirus.Observational studies recently carried out suggested convalescent plasma could be beneficial.But in a randomised clinical trial at dozens of public and private hospitals across India, researchers found that it failed to reduce mortality or stop progression to severe Covid-19 in moderately ill patients.Antibody concentrationThe study, funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research, enrolled 464 adult patients, with an average age of 52, between April and July and split them randomly into two groups.A control group of 229 was given the normal best standard of hospital care, while 235 people received two transfusions of convalescent plasma and were then given the best standard of hospital care.After 28 days, 44 (19%) of the participants in the plasma group and 41 (18%) in the control group progressed to severe disease or died from any cause.When they restricted the comparison to patients who received plasma with detectable levels of antibodies, the results were the same, the authors said.They did however find that the use of convalescent plasma seemed to improve resolution of shortness of breath and fatigue and led to higher conversion to a negative result for the virus – a sign of it being neutralised by antibodies – after seven days.The trial “was a rigorous randomised controlled study on a topic of enormous global importance” said public health scientist Elizabeth Pathak in a separate commentary also published in the BMJ.But the results were greeted with caution by a spokesman from Britain’s National Health Service, which is also in the process of carrying out large, randomised control trials of convalescent plasma.A spokesman from the NHS blood and transplant department said that the Indian trial had used donations with antibody levels around six to 10 times lower than in Britain.“There is other promising evidence that convalescent plasma transfusions with high antibody levels could improve patient outcomes,” the spokesman said, adding that results from trials with these higher levels of antibodies “should provide clear answers”.


Ismail reached 'pinnacle' as PM, Umno says after dropout from party polls

Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan yesterday expressed his appreciation to Ismail Sabri Yaakob for his contributions and thanked him for his service as the Umno vice-president.
Ismail, who was the prime minister before the 15th general election, had announced that he would not be defending his vice-president post at the Umno election which is scheduled for March.
"I believe he (Ismail) made a big decision... maybe he made the decision not to contest for the post because he has already reached the pinnacle of his political career by becoming the prime minister.
"There is nothing higher than that post in the political stage," Ahmad said in a press conference at the Parliament lobby.
Ismail had earlier confirmed that he would not be contesting the post which he has held since 2018.
Ismail is among three current vice-presidents. The others are former rural and regional development minister Mahdzir Khalid and Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The election for the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings will be held on March 11, while the election for the Umno division committees, vice-presidents and Supreme Council members is scheduled for March 18.
Ahmad also maintained that he would not be contesting the post of Umno vice-president, to give a better chance to other candidates from Johor.
He said the decision was to avoid a split in votes among delegates during the election for the post of vice-president, since there were already three candidates from the state in the contest.
"I will not be contesting for the post of vice-president although there have been suggestions for me to do so. At least one candidate from Johor must win... I do not want to add on to the list of candidates from Johor and in the end nobody wins due to a split in the votes," he said.
Ahmad, who is the MP for Pontian, said he would defend his position as an Umno Supreme Council member and challenge former Johor menteri besar Hasni Mohammad for the post of Pontian division chairman in the upcoming election.


PN tells DAP MP to retract 'malicious' statements on Mahathir, Muhyiddin

Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal from Perikatan Nasional has called for DAP leader and Jelutong MP RSN Rayer to be referred to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee over purported remarks the latter made against former prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin.
Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said he has submitted the proposal to the office of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul this morning for further action.
He said that if Rayer is willing to resolve the matter, he must retracts the statements made against the two leaders.
Rayer, during the 2021 Auditor-General's Report debate yesterday, had linked the leakages in the procurement of ventilators during Covid-19 to the emergency declared by then prime minister Muhyiddin.
Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, however, said it was not due to the emergency but rather mismanagement on the part of the health ministry.
"The emergency cannot be blamed for it.
"This is related to the governance of the health ministry. So it is the ministry that should be probed," he said in the Dewan Rakyat this afternoon.
He also criticised Rayer over his call for the "Tun" title bestowed on Mahathir to be revoked for purportedly insulting the royal institution.
The Machang MP brushed off the allegation, saying that the former prime minister was being investigated by the police under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code and not for insulting the royal institution.
"It's not for insulting the Malay rulers.
"So why did Jelutong (Rayer) bring up the issue of revoking his Tun-ship?"
Yesterday, Rayer urged the government to consider stripping Mahathir of the title after a video clip of the latter insulting the royal institution went viral.
Mahathir was awarded the Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara which carries the "Tun" title in 2003 after retiring as prime minister for the first time.


Govt’s focus on Covid-19 and economy, not GE15, says Azmin

Senior minister Mohamed Azmin Ali says the government’s focus right now is on handling the Covid-19 crisis and restoring the economy, not the impending general election.He also said the government’s considerations are based on data and science.“The health ministry has said that the situation might be more controlled in the third quarter of the year, following the vaccination programme,” he told reporters at Batu Caves in Gombak last night where he had attended the tarawih prayers with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.“When more people are vaccinated, the spread of infections might slow. Perhaps we will be able to end the emergency period on Aug 1,” he added, in response to those opposing the state of emergency declared in January.He did not deny their right to present a petition on the matter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong but said the government had formed a special independent committee on the emergency to allow the opposition to voice their recommendations.“They should go through this committee because it is free of any interference by the executive,” he said.“Give the feedback directly to the Agong on whether the emergency should end on Aug 1 or otherwise. Don’t play too much with emotions or with extreme politics,” the Gombak MP added.The committee of the Tamat Darurat movement will send a second letter to the king at Istana Negara today, to call for an end to the state of emergency.Those invited to join the delegation include former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Pakatan Harapan leader Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.Azmin said Parliament sittings would resume once the government succeeds in bringing the Covid-19 situation under control.“Our concern is the emergence of new variants,” he said. “We don’t know if these variants will lead to a fourth wave of infections.“We don’t want a repeat of infections to the point where we are forced to take drastic measures.”He also voiced confidence that the majority of people understand the need for the emergency declaration implemented by the government.


Let Miti’s numbers speak for themselves

I refer to Ong Kian Ming’s media statement dated Feb 4, 2022, where he launched several ad hominem attacks on Miti leadership, zeroing in on Mohamed Azmin Ali.First, it is rather unbecoming of Ong to make unprovoked personal attacks which also shows up his loss of focus on the issues that should concern the rakyat and the nation. While we in Miti are busy working on how best to further enhance the attractiveness of Malaysia as a regional investment hub, it is rather sad that Ong has chosen to occupy himself in trying to score political points instead.Rather than engaging in the polemics of one-upmanship, Ong should focus on the economic recovery efforts of the government and how such efforts are crucial in enhancing the welfare and well-being of the rakyat.It is therefore both puzzling and disappointing that Ong has responded so negatively to Miti highlighting the Milken Institute report stating Malaysia’s position as “the most attractive investment destination for foreign investors among emerging Southeast Asian countries”.This report is effectively third-party validation from a global think tank that has conducted independent research, placing Malaysia in a favourable light with great prospects of attracting foreign investments. Isn’t that cause for celebration and opportunity to use for our investment promotion efforts? Would Ong rather celebrate only when foreign think tanks and analysts give Malaysia the thumbs down? Is it too much to expect Ong to welcome such positive news, if not for our sake, at least for the sake of the rakyat? He is, after all, a wakil rakyat.Secondly, the achievements and efforts by Miti can be seen from the trade and investments figures published by the relevant agencies. The figures speak for themselves. Numbers don’t lie. Engaging in sophisticated arguments won’t change facts. For that matter, the issues raised by Ong have been thoroughly answered in Parliament by the minister and by myself as well. We have also dealt with them via press statements and during the numerous engagement sessions with the stakeholders, chambers of commerce, NGOs and other relevant bodies.Nevertheless, for the benefit of the public, we would like to reiterate the following efforts and initiatives:In the past year, Miti has taken swift action to ensure that we maintain, as utmost priority, economic stability and growth. In managing the pandemic, lockdown measures were introduced as a primary global response. As Malaysia strove to strike a balance between the lives and livelihoods of the rakyat, Malaysia too adopted such measures which were necessary at the time to curb the spread of Covid-19.In order to expedite the reopening of the economy, Miti introduced the Public-Private Partnership Industry Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (Pikas) to complement PICK where more than one million workers were vaccinated. Industry associations and business chambers hailed Pikas as pivotal in the recovery of the manufacturing sector that contributes 22.9% of the nation’s GDP.The Pikas model has now been replicated by ProtectHealth to provide booster vaccination for workers. This is vital to minimise the disruptive effect on supply chains, considering Malaysia’s crucial role in the global network.Consequently, Malaysia’s stellar trade and investment performance in 2021 was made possible due to these difficult yet necessary measures taken during the lockdown. Malaysia’s trade performance has hit an all-time high, surpassing RM2 trillion, signifying that Miti and its agencies, under the leadership of Azmin, have successfully placed Malaysia on the right trajectory of economic recovery and growth.Malaysia’s exports in 2021 reached a record-breaking figure of RM1.24 trillion, moving Malaysia well within reach of the targeted exports under the Twelfth Malaysia Plan of RM1.25 trillion by 2025. This is further affirmed by our investment performance in 2021, exceeding RM220.8 billon for manufacturing and services under the purview of Mida, a historic high for Malaysia.The present leadership, a strong sense of shared responsibility and an enabling ecosystem of empowerment in Miti allows the ministry to remain steadfast in its resolve to catalyse economic growth for Malaysia, particularly in the following areas:1. Embed environmental, social and governance (ESG) as a core pillar of national investment aspirations (NIA)Integrating ESG factors into investment is a growing imperative that can drive long-term value creation, integrate our businesses into international networks, and encourage sustainable business practices across our region and attract more investors. Miti’s work to mainstream ESG agenda in impact investment and sustainable trade space has begun and the Ministry will continue to push this forward.NIA, a guiding document to attract investments, will support and enhance economic complexity, create high-value job opportunities, extend domestic linkages, increase inclusivity and further advance cluster development. NIA will be central for Malaysia to deliver on its commitment to become a net-zero nation by 2050. NIA will equip industries to benefit from ESG-compliant practices and leverage on greater market access opportunities.Despite detractors urging otherwise, it is stressed that policy documents such as NIA must not be rushed as it requires extensive deliberation and consultations. This will ensure a thorough and forward-looking policy that is robust and responsive to the ever-evolving investment climate and dynamic needs of the country.2. Continue to advocate for a pragmatic, business-friendly approach on protecting jobs for the rakyatTo address the issue of manpower shortages raised by the industry, Miti has continuously consulted with ministries and agencies, industry associations and chambers of commerce. Miti has been pushing for industry players to employ more local workers. Miti also implements various programmes and initiatives to hire more Malaysians and reduce the high dependency of low-skill foreign workers including through automation initiatives and incentives; industry 4WRD programmes; reskilling and upskilling programmes; matching of job seekers through initiatives with other government agencies, including with the Social Security Organisation, and other initiatives to increase local workers involvement in the job market.3. Drive efforts to advance regional economic integrationThe Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific (CPTPP) are key enablers for Malaysia in revitalising the domestic and international business activities, post-pandemic. In ensuring local SMEs derive benefits from these FTAs, Miti has conducted no fewer than 50 engagement sessions attended by thousands of stakeholders including governmental orgainsations and NGOs, MPs, the private sector and institutes of higher learning. Miti has actively reached out and apprised relevant stakeholders regarding the utilisation of RCEP.On the CPTPP, the cost-benefit analysis is close to conclusion. Once finalised, it will be presented to the Cabinet and made public thereafter. On Malaysia-EU Free Trade Agreement, Malaysia continues to engage the EU informally but progress has been limited due to differences in areas such as government procurement, competition, intellectual property rights as well as trade and sustainable development.On the Malaysia-European Free Trade Association Partnership, negotiations are ongoing, with the next session scheduled in mid-2022. It is to be underscored that the UK’s priority is to conclude its accession negotiations into the CPTPP, and explore potential FTAs with countries that have already concluded such Agreements with the EU.Miti has taken significant steps to combat the unprecedented economic impact of the pandemic and accelerate recovery by taking a whole-of-nation approach. The path for Malaysia to exit this crisis may not be linear, but we are on the right track to sustain our sterling trade and investment performance. With shared responsibility and collective determination, Miti is confident that the nation will emerge stronger than ever.In championing trade and industry matters, Miti has always spearheaded policies and strategies aimed at ensuring sustainable socio-economic growth. During the peak spike of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia and despite the unwavering challenges, obstacles and criticisms all around, Miti continued shouldering a central role in enabling essential economic sectors to operate.Continuation of economic activities during the lockdown did not only secure provision of supplies and necessities for the rakyat, but also minimised the disruption to global supply chains, which were pivotal in navigating the country on to a path of vibrant and sustainable economic recovery. Miti also constantly engaged with industries to ensure adherence to health and safety protocols, cognisant of the need to ensure continuation of business operations.Last but not least, while we value diversity of views and welcome constructive criticism, we have no truck with those bent on making frivolous, vexatious and personal attacks against the Ministry. Indeed, we welcome suggestions and recommendations from NGOs and civil society organisations or even from the opposition but we won’t tolerate baseless or insidious allegations prompted by the desire for political advancement. For the sake of the country, for the sake of the rakyat and for the sake of our economic future, we should get our priorities right and work together.Miti will continue to fulfil its responsibility in driving the nation’s trade, industry and investment agenda. Success is a collective effort founded upon true grit, exemplary determination and unwavering commitment. The present leadership, a strong sense of shared responsibility and an enabling ecosystem of empowerment in Miti allows the ministry to remain steadfast in its resolve to catalyse economic growth for Malaysia, and ensure strong and sustainable recovery in the long run.Lim Ban Hong is deputy minister of international trade and industry.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Police to call up Zahid, Anwar over audio clip

The police will record the statements of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim in connection with a recent audio clip which purportedly contains a conversation between the two leaders, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said today.He said investigating officers were waiting for the right time to call them up to record their statements.“If they think they have been victimised or slandered, they should come forward to lodge reports. An investigation can be opened from this angle,” he told reporters in Klang today.Hamid said members of the public were also welcome to lodge police reports if they felt distressed by the audio clip, which has gone viral on social media.He said an investigation paper had been opened and a copy of the audio recording had been sent to a forensic laboratory to determine its authenticity.However, he could not say how long the laboratory analysis on the audio clip would take.“The findings of the analysis will be sent to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for it to classify any offence that may have been committed.“In whatever case, we will try to settle the matter quickly so that investigation can be speeded up,” he added.The audio clip contains a conversation between two individuals whose voices resemble those of Zahid and Anwar, discussing matters related to the Umno general assembly last month.


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Global jabs pass 500 million as Europe vaccine feuds deepen

Health officials have rolled out more than 500 million coronavirus vaccine doses around the world, according to an AFP tally on Friday, as European rows over hoarding and supply issues escalated dramatically.Despite the huge effort to get jabs into arms, the pandemic is still surging in Europe and Latin America – where Brazil has now passed 300,000 deaths and Mexico 200,000.And the rollout of vaccines is chronically unequal, with the US accounting for more than a quarter of the global total and poorer nations lagging far behind richer ones.EU countries are also still struggling to get their inoculation drives off the ground, prompting angry outbursts from the top of French officialdom.Following an EU summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said there was a “new type of world war”, adding: “We are looking in particular at Russian and Chinese attacks and attempts to gain influence through the vaccine.”His foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, later chimed in to accuse Britain of “blackmail” in its vaccine dealings with the EU.However, Moscow – whose Sputnik V shot is being rolled out in numerous countries across the world – quickly rebuffed Macron’s outburst, Kremlin officials saying they “absolutely disagree”.And in a sign of Europe’s deepening divisions, Germany said it would be happy to use Sputnik V if it gets approval from EU regulators.Germany also said it has classified France as a high-risk zone, which means travellers need to show a negative Covid test and quarantine upon arrival.With more than 2.7 million people dead from a virus that first emerged in China in late 2019, leaders everywhere are under pressure to get jabs into arms.An AFP tally of global vaccinations showed more than 508 million had been administered by Friday, with 133 million in the US and 91 million in India.But infections continue to rise at a worrying rate, with more than half a million cases recorded worldwide in just the last week, according to AFP data.‘Biggest genocide’Vaccines cannot come quickly enough to Brazil, which is suffering unsparingly from an outbreak that has now killed more than 300,000 from 12 million infections.The political heat was turned up on President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday when his predecessor accused him of presiding over the “biggest genocide” in the country’s history.“We must save Brazil from Covid-19,” said former leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, adding: “Brazil will not withstand it if this man continues to govern in this way.”Further north, Mexico is also suffering a brutal third wave, with only a tiny proportion of the population vaccinated so far.Adriana Meneses remembers vividly when her husband Carlos Hernandez became the country’s first victim of an illness that was unknown and apparently untreatable, almost exactly one year ago.“We were harassed by the neighbours and on social networks. They threatened to burn down our house,” she said.“Today, unfortunately, we are part of the statistics.”Cheesy dilemmaThe virus has governments in all parts of the world to impose drastic restrictions – from curfews and lockdowns, to school closures and travel bans.Much of Europe is living under a regime that restricts travel and economic activity, and Kenya became the latest African country to order a partial lockdown on Friday, shutting schools and bars in and around the capital Nairobi.“I am convinced that the cost of not acting now would be far greater,” said President Uhuru Kenyatta.From religious festivals to sporting events, dates in the calendar that were previously regarded as untouchable have succumbed to virus restrictions around the world.Indonesia said it was banning people from travelling for a festival known as Mudik at the end of Ramadan, when millions journey often long distances to be with their families.Such restrictions have brought economic pain to much of the world and forced governments to pass massive stimulus packages, with German lawmakers on Friday giving their backing to an EU-wide plan worth €750 billion (US$885 billion).Any European recovery will depend on the initiative of many millions of small businesses around the continent.In France, monks at a 900-year-old abbey think they have solved an age-old dilemma of how to dispose of unwanted stock.Restaurant closures have left them with a glut of the artisanal cheese that they have produced for almost a century, and they have turned to the internet to offload it – aiming to sell a tonne of cheese by Tuesday.“We tried explaining to our 75 cows that they needed to produce less milk but they don’t seem to have understood,” brother Jean-Claude of the Citeaux abbey in eastern France.


Zombie mink rise from the grave after Danish cull

Culled mink infected with a mutated strain of Covid-19 in Denmark are rising from their graves, sparking national horror and calls from local officials to cremate all mink carcasses.While the sight itself is certainly terrifying for the residents of West Jutland, a region grappling with Covid-19 cases connected to mink, there is a scientific explanation for the zombie-like rising from the grave.A Danish police spokesman said that gases form while the bodies decay in the grave. “In the worst cases, the mink get pushed out of the ground by the gases,” he said.Countless mink were slaughtered and dumped in makeshift mass graves after they were found to be carrying a mutated Covid-19 strain earlier this month, according to Agence France-Presse. The government ordered the cull of all 15 million mink in Denmark, which produces 40% of the world’s mink fur.In the rush to dispose of them, they were buried just one metre deep. Officials plan to bury them in graves nearly twice as deep from now on.But for some locals, that may not be enough. Many are concerned about the graves’ proximity to rivers and other water sources and the possibility of contamination of water supplies in the region. At least two mayors have suggested burning all the mink corpses in order to prevent further concerns, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten reported.“The authorities are playing with our environment and using it as a dumping ground,” Leif Blogger, a local politician, told the newspaper.The cull has also claimed at least one two-legged victim. Denmark’s minister for food and agriculture resigned last week after the government admitted it did not have the right to order the cull.


Wife of Mexican drug lord ‘El Chapo’ arrested at US airport

US authorities arrested the wife of jailed Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman on Monday at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington, the Department of Justice (DoJ) said.Emma Coronel Aispuro, 31, faces one charge of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana for importation into the US, it said.Guzman was the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico’s most notorious drug trafficking groups.He ran an operation that delivered hundreds of tonnes of narcotics into the US and was behind multiple murders of those who crossed him, according to court filings.He was extradited to the US in 2017 to stand trial, and was convicted and sentenced to life in prison two years later.Coronel, according to the DoJ, took part in cartel activities and also allegedly assisted in two plots to help Guzman escape from Mexican prison, including the successful first one in 2015.It was not previously known that US authorities intended to arrest her.A dual US-Mexico citizen and the mother of twins by Guzman, Coronel appeared in court nearly every day of his three-month trial in New York.She had barred from all contact with him during more than two years of pre-trial detention.But during the trial, each day as he entered and left the courtroom, Guzman touched his heart and blew a kiss to Coronel.During the trial there were suggestions that she was involved in his business and prison escape, but authorities let her come and go freely.“I can only say that I have nothing to be ashamed of. I am not perfect, but I consider myself a good human being who has never hurt anyone intentionally,” she said at the end of the trial.Guzman was locked up in the highest-security prison in the US, the ADX federal prison in Florence, Colorado.Months later, Coronel appeared on the VH1 reality series “Cartel Crew”, about the lives of people seeking to break away from families involved in the drug trade.In an episode filmed aboard a luxurious yacht near Miami, Coronel tells Michael Blanco, the son of Colombian cocaine queen Griselda Blanco, that she wants to have a normal life, and is thinking about launching a clothing line in the name of her husband.“Sometimes you just want to do what other people do,” she says while sipping champagne.Coronel is expected to appear by video conference in federal district court in Washington on Tuesday.


22% of population fully vaccinated, 44% given first dose

A total of 21,668,999 vaccine doses have been administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation programme as of yesterday.Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said 14,471,138 of the vaccine doses were administered as first doses and 7,197,861 to the second-dose recipients.According to percentage, 44.3% of the country’s population has received a first dose and 22% have completed their vaccination, he said.On the daily vaccination rate, 468,526 doses were administered yesterday with 223,479 of them for first-dose recipients and 245,047 as second doses.


JPN data of 4 million Malaysians up for sale?

The personal data of millions of Malaysians aged 23 to 43 kept by the National Registration Department (JPN) appears to have been put up for sale online for about RM35,000, an IT expert has claimed on Twitter.Adnan Shukor also shared a screenshot showing the seller offering the data of four million people leaked through the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).The tax agency is one of 10 government bodies on a shared platform called myIDENTITY where data from JPN is shared.MalaysiaNow understands that LHDN is currently investigating the claims.According to the screenshot, a total of 32GB of data in 19 files contain the information of those born between 1979 and 1998, with details such as addresses, mobile numbers and photographs, as well as race, religion and MyKad identification numbers.The data is being offered for 0.2 bitcoin, which equals to about RM35,000 at the current cryptocurrency exchange rate.Meanwhile, an article on popular technology forum Lowyat.net said this was not the first time the seller was offering personal data for sale.It said the same seller had put up a database he claimed was siphoned off from the Election Commission.The government platform myIDENTITY was launched about a decade ago to ease the sharing of data of Malaysian citizens and permanent residents.Apart from JPN and LHDN, the platform also makes the data available to the immigration department, Road Transportation Department, Election Commission, Education Service Commission, Social Welfare Department, Labour Department of Peninsular Malaysia, National Higher Education Fund Corporation, as well as the police.The system has made it more convenient for Malaysians in that data need not be repeatedly entered when dealing with the online forms of government agencies.Despite the implementation of the Personal Data Protection Act in 2013, several cases of personal data leaks have been reported over the years.These include the 2017 data breach involving more than 46 million subscribers of major mobile telco services, with details leaked on the dark web complete with phone numbers and home addresses.In March, meanwhile, details of hundreds of thousands of credit cards issued by banks in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand were found online in another massive data breach.


Lion returned to owner after Cambodian PM’s intervention

A pet lion that was confiscated by Cambodian authorities last month has been returned to its owner after a surprise intervention by the prime minister.Police launched an investigation in April after seeing TikTok videos of a lion at a villa in the capital, Phnom Penh.They discovered that an 18-month-old male lion had been illegally smuggled into the country by a Chinese national.The 70kg king of the jungle was seized in June and moved to a rescue centre.Since then the owner, a Chinese man named as Zhai Xinjiang in local media, has made appeals for the return of the lion on social media and in interviews.On Sunday evening, long-time Prime Minister Hun Sen responded to the owner’s pleas in a Facebook post.He said he had raised the issue with Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon and agreed to have the lion returned to his owner if the animal was kept in a “proper cage”. He also ordered authorities to reimburse any penalty paid by the owner, who was reportedly fined US$30,000.The agriculture minister told news outlet VOA Khmer that the decision was “a sympathetic one” from the prime minister.Wildlife Alliance, an animal rescue group that helped confiscate the lion, said the conditions at the owner’s home were inappropriate for a wild animal.“The lion’s canine teeth had been removed, along with its claws, which drastically reduces a lion’s quality of life.”The owner denied the allegations he had mistreated the lion, saying he spent US$5,000 a month to rent a special villa just for his pets, many of whom were gifted to his household for safekeeping.He said he was not aware it was illegal to keep a pet lion in Cambodia and apologised for causing any alarm to his neighbours.“I feel very happy. I didn’t expect to get him back,” he told reporters at his villa in an upmarket neighbourhood of the capital.But some critics strongly disagreed with the decision to return the animal.The British ambassador to Cambodia said the return of the lion undermined legislation to prevent the ownership and trade of endangered wildlife.Cambodian authorities have not explained why the initial decision to confiscate the lion was reversed.One of the world’s longest-serving leaders, Prime Minister Hun Sen has close ties with China, which has poured billions of dollars in development assistance and loans into the country.


A slice of history: Charles and Diana cake sells for £1,850

A slice of cake from the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer sold for £1,850 at auction in Britain on Wednesday – with a warning not to eat it.The 40-year-old slab of marzipan and thick white icing decorated with the royal coat of arms fetched more than three times its asking price of £300 to £500.“We were amazed at the numbers of people wanting to bid on this large and unique piece of royal cake icing,” said auctioneer Chris Albury, a royal memorabilia specialist at Dominic Winter Auctioneers in Cirencester, western England.“There were lots of enquiries from bidders, mostly in the UK, the US and several countries in the Middle East,” he added in an email.The successful bidder was named in British media as Gerry Layton from Leeds in the north of England.“I have always been a monarchist and I had been to see the wedding dress at Kensington Palace,” said Layton.“I thought I would like to add it to my estate, which will be going to charity after my death.“I will have to think of a way to stop myself from trying to eat it though,” he joked.The cake was originally given to Moyra Smith, who worked for Queen Elizabeth II’s mother at her Clarence House residence in central London.Following Smith’s death, her family sold it at the same auction house in 2008 for £1,000 to a private collector, who has now sold it at a profit.“It appears to be in exactly the same good condition as when originally sold, but we advise against eating it,” the auctioneers said.‘Handle with care’The cake remains as Smith kept it, wrapped in cling film in a cake tin that she labelled “handle with care” and dated July 29, 1981, the day of the wedding.The auctioneers said the slice came from a multi-tier cake served to staff at Clarence House, where Smith worked in the kitchen.Apart from the main wedding cake, there were around 22 other cakes supplied by manufacturers for the royal occasion, the auctioneers said.Wednesday’s lot included order of service and ceremonial programmes for the wedding, a royal wedding breakfast menu and a table seating programme from Buckingham Palace.Pieces of Charles and Diana’s wedding cake still regularly go on sale and interest remains strong despite the break-up of their marriage and divorce in 1996.A piece of wedding cake in an original commemorative box sold for $2,240 in the US in December, according to Julien’s Auctions.The sale is the latest example of the continued fascination with Diana, who died aged 36 in a high-speed car crash in Paris in 1997.In June, her old Ford Escort – an engagement present from Charles – was bought by a South American museum for more than £50,000.In 2019, a midnight blue velvet gown she wore when she danced with John Travolta at the White House in 1985 was put up for sale for between £250,000 and £350,000.


Business as usual for PN govt, Umno MPs to break ranks with party decision

It will be business as usual for the government despite Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s announcement late last night that the party had revoked its support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.This is because any decision by a political party regarding its support for the government has no legal effect.As such, what will decide Muhyiddin’s survival is whether he commands the confidence of a majority of MPs, as stated in Article 43 of the Federal Constitution.Under the constitution, the prime minister only needs to resign if he loses a confidence vote in the Dewan Rakyat.With Umno itself split into different factions, its president’s statement still has to be put to the test, said a senior constitutional lawyer.“The situation is fluid and there is no obligation upon him to resign at this point.“This is the correct reading of Article 43(4), which lately has been interpreted simplistically and tendentiously by some quarters,” the lawyer told MalaysiaNow.Meanwhile, it is understood that the vast majority of Umno MPs are sticking with their decision not to revoke support for Muhyiddin, despite Zahid’s announcement.A senior Umno source said aside from Zahid, only a handful of MPs who include former leader Najib Razak and Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan have decided to revoke support for the prime minister.“The others are expected to announce a joint statement today,” it said.MalaysiaNow has also learnt that the Supreme Council which met yesterday had allowed MPs the freedom to break ranks with its decision to revoke support for Muhyiddin.The move not only means it will be business as usual for the Perikatan Nasional government, it also shows Zahid in his weakest position yet since winning the top party post two years ago, unable to use his presidential powers to force members to toe the line.


Health ministry agrees to reduce fine in smoking control bill

The health ministry has agreed to amend the quantum of fines from RM5,000 to RM500 or community service orders for offences committed by the generational endgame (GEG) group born after Jan 1, 2007, under the Control of Tobacco Products and Smoking Bill 2022.
Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said this followed a meeting between the ministry and the parliamentary select committee on women, children and social development yesterday.
"To ensure that the act is not seen as punitive, the offences committed by the GEG group are only set a maximum fine of RM500 or community service. This group will be first offered compounds based on the offences committed," he said when presenting the bill for a second reading in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Khairy said the health ministry had agreed to the amendments at the Dewan Rakyat committee level to prevent body checks from being conducted on anyone below 18 years of age.
He said the provision covering the possession of tobacco products, smoking equipment, tobacco-related products and smoking devices would also be amended.
Khairy said to ensure that the law is implemented well and in an orderly manner, the health ministry would continuously hold engagement sessions with stakeholders such as health-related NGOs.
He added that each provision under the bill would be constantly monitored and evaluated.
"The government will set up an independent administrative committee to check and monitor all provisions under the bill, including controls over the generations born after Jan 1, 2007," he said.
In the nearly 50-minute presentation, Khairy said the bill was very important and should no longer be delayed to help curb the practice of smoking in Malaysia, especially for the younger generation who would lead the nation.
He said the bill would also reduce the burden of treatment costs borne by the government for smoking-related diseases.
He also said it was the responsibility of the government to ensure that all children receive the best protection from any form of using dangerous tobacco products.
Khairy said the number of e-cigarette and vape users had been on the rise, especially among children and teenagers, since the products entered the Malaysian market in 2015.
He said the matter was worrying since control related to e-cigarettes and vaping cannot be fully implemented under the existing laws.
"The proposed full ban on the sale of e-cigarettes and vapes that was suggested for the GEG group is aimed at lowering the percentage of smokers to less than 5% of the Malaysian population and achieving a tobacco-free nation by 2040," he said.


Alibaba takes in US$84.54 billion in orders in toned-down Singles Day

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd recorded US$84.54 billion in orders, or “gross merchandise value” (GMV), over its 11-day Singles’ Day sales event, marking a roughly 14% increase from the year prior.The results come as overall consumption in China slows, and cap a relatively muted version of a sales festival that Alibaba once aggressively promoted.Before the sales period began, analysts had said they expected Alibaba to report only a minor increase in GMV this year, citing slowing retail sales, supply shortages, power disruptions and Covid-19 lockdowns.Alibaba turned China’s informal Singles’ Day into a shopping event in 2009 and built it into the world’s biggest online sales fest, dwarfing Cyber Monday in the US.Since then, the festival, which Alibaba last year stretched to a 11-day event with the best deals concentrated in two discount periods, Nov 1-3 and Nov 11, has become a closely watched gauge of consumer sentiment in the world’s second-largest economy.Last year, the company racked up US$74 billion in GMV over the event’s 11 days.This year, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd played down its sales figures and touted its social welfare initiatives in the final hours of its Singles’ Day festival on Thursday, marking a shift in tone for the highly-publicised event.Eschewing a rolling tally tracking transactions that had taken centre stage in previous years, Alibaba urged viewers of a three-hour livestream to click “like” and help raise 1 million yuan (US$156,359.90) for a 200-acre (81-hectare) elephant reserve in China’s rural southwest.The e-commerce giant has toned down the marketing hype amid ongoing regulatory tightening from Chinese authorities, saying its focus was on sustainable growth this year.In previous years, Alibaba would tout Chinese consumers’ demand for washing machines, smartphones, and makeup with a night-long presentation of statistics. But this year it used its gala to highlight initiatives such as a program that assists disabled individuals in buying apparel and efforts to use more environmentally-friendly packaging.Still, the event remains a top draw for millions of merchants and shoppers, with flashy deals and live-streamers hawking products from skincare products to sports shoes on Alibaba’s platforms, including its Taobao and Tmall marketplaces.Alibaba said that nearly 400 brands, including Apple Inc and L’Oreal SA, have raked in more than US$15 million in sales each by mid-day on Thursday.The shopping event comes after a year of ongoing regulatory tightening from Chinese authorities in several industries, during which Alibaba was a frequent target.The e-commerce giant was fined a record US$2.8 billion for monopolistic behaviour in April and its founder, Jack Ma, China’s highest-profile entrepreneur, has retreated from public view after criticising Chinese regulators a year ago.


Ukrainian military pounds Russian forces with Western artillery

Ukrainian forces are battering Russian positions with newly-provided Western artillery systems, according to a Ukrainian military spokesman, who hailed the effectiveness of the new arms that were making Moscow troops “sad”.Fighting continues to rage across large chunks of eastern and southern Ukraine with much of the battles settling into long-range artillery clashes between the Ukrainian and Russian militaries.For much of the war Ukraine has relied on their own Soviet-era howitzers but in recent weeks state of the art artillery systems from friendly nations, including the US M777, have made its way to the frontline.Washington and European countries have poured billions of dollars of arms into Ukraine to help the country’s outgunned forces beat back the better-armed Russian invaders.After begging for heavier, long-range weapons, the Ukrainian military says the newly provided artillery systems are already proving useful on the battlefield.“On behalf of the Ukrainian artillery men shooting the M777, it is like switching from a steam-operated train to an electric car,” Captain Lieutenant Dmytro Pletenchuk, from the Mykolaiv regional military administration, told AFP during a recent interview.Plentenchuk did not divulge where the long-range guns were being used on the front.“These systems are already in use by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and they are being used very successfully,” added Pletenchuk.“Our enemies are very sad about that, as well as about the high effectiveness of these artillery pieces,” said Pletenchuk.Much like the clashes in the east, the fighting along the southern front between Ukrainian-controlled Mykolaiv and Russian forces to the east of the port city has largely evolved into brutal, long-range artillery duels, according to the military spokesman.“Every day and night,” said Pletenchuk of the ongoing barrages exchanged by the two sides.The spokesman said the frontline near the city had largely stabilised after Russian forces tried to capture Mykolaiv during the early weeks of the war.The southern city of Mykolaiv remains a strategic shield blocking the road to Odessa, Ukraine’s biggest port.“We will hold Mykolaiv,” said Pletenchuk. “However let me reiterate, the availability of Western weapons at any part of the frontline considerably strengthens our tactical and strategic position,” he added.


Malaysia's air passenger traffic expected to reach 49 million by year-end

Malaysia is expected to register air passenger traffic of between 32.6 million and 49 million by the end of the year following positive growth in the first five months, says Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong.
He said statistics from the Malaysian Aviation Commission showed that the country's total air passenger traffic had increased by 574.6% in the first five months of this year compared to the same period in 2021, reaching approximately 16.3 million passengers.
Speaking at the launch of the state safety programme in Sepang yesterday, Wee said a total of 288,076 flight movements had been recorded in the first six months of this year.
Air cargo traffic meanwhile is expected to grow between 3.9% and 6.7% compared to 2021, that is between 21.5 billion to 22 billion freight tonne kilometres.
Citing data from the International Air Transport Association, Wee said the number of air passengers would recover by 2024 at the earliest, depending on the situation in the region.
He said the transport ministry was also optimistic of developing the aviation sector to revive the country's tourism industry.
"Efficient, punctual, safe and reliable air transport will be the main economic and social driving factor in Malaysia," he said.


PH calls for delay to Johor polls over Omicron wave

Pakatan Harapan (PH) today urged the government to consider postponing the state election in Johor due to the fierce spike in Covid-19 infections driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant which saw case numbers breaching 17,000 yesterday.In a statement, top PH leaders said they took a serious view of the situation.“To ensure that this situation is not made into a tool for political purposes, the government should consider postponing the Johor election.“If the government does not wish to do so and instead wishes to give flexibility such as that seen in Western countries, then open campaigning including ceramahs should be allowed.“What is certain is that a total lockdown cannot be imposed as this has been proven a failure before,” they said in the statement signed by PKR’s Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah’s Mohamad Sabu, DAP’s Lim Guan Eng and Upko’s Madius Tangau.Health authorities have warned that Malaysia is experiencing a wave of Covid-19 infections due to the Omicron variant which, while more contagious than the Delta strain which saw cases spiking last year, appears to be less severe in nature with hospitalisations and deaths remaining low.Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah warned last week that daily caseloads could reach 22,000 by end-March at the infectivity rate which was then 1.20.Malaysia’s infectivity rate as of yesterday was 1.47.PH previously said that DAP and Amanah would contest the Johor election under the coalition’s banner while PKR would use its own oval-shaped logo.Although Anwar had invited opposition parties including Pejuang, Warisan and Muda to work together in facing the election, Pejuang said it would field candidates using its own logo.Muda meanwhile has inked an agreement with PH to prevent clashes in six seats although it is not joining the coalition either.