1MDB board misled on investment money coming back, ex-director tells Najib trial

The Kuala Lumpur High Court was told today that the 1MDB board of directors was misled when its management gave the illusion that 1MDB investment money was coming back into the state fund in 2014.Former 1MDB non-executive director Ismee Ismail, 58, said this when he was asked by lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah to comment on a briefing by former 1MDB chief financial officer Azmi Tahir during a board meeting on Oct 20, 2014.Shafee was referring the 13th prosecution witness to a specific briefing by Azmi during the board meeting where he told the directors that a total of US$870 million had been redeemed as of October 2014 and another US$300 millon would be redeemed within the next few days.Ismee said at the time, the board had no idea that the money, which Azmi said went into Brazen Sky Ltd, was in fact borrowed by 1MDB from Deutsche Bank.The court earlier heard that Brazen Sky Ltd was a special purpose vehicle set up by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low and his associates to repatriate investment money by 1MDB.Shafee: You see how Azmi lied to the board. What he did was, all this money purportedly went into Brazen Sky but he omitted the part where the money went back into a shell company named Aabar Investments PJS Ltd. The 1MDB directors would not know this aspect because you have to be dependent on your management’s honesty. Now that you know the truth, what is your comment?Ismee: I guess the same thing that I said earlier. It is inappropriate to talk about it during the fasting month.Shafee: Tan Sri, we are doing a judicial inquiry. You still have to tell the truth during the fasting month.Ismee: I said this in November last year and I will say the same thing again. The board of directors was misled.The court previously heard testimonies that Aabar Investments PJS Ltd (Aabar BVI) was not the same as Aabar Investment PJS, which was the actual subsidiary of International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).Earlier, Ismee agreed to a suggestion by Shafee that in order to carry out an initial public offering, the management of 1MDB convinced the board of directors to borrow US$250 million and US$975 million from Deutsche Bank Singapore in May and August 2014 respectively.The court heard that a total of US$223.33 million and US$457.98 million from the loan was used.Previously, former 1MDB CEO Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman confirmed that a total of RM49 million originating from the said bank loans taken by 1MDB wound up in Najib Razak’s bank account in AmIslamic Bank.On the first day of the 1MDB trial in August 2019, lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram had said in the prosecution’s opening statement that the prosecution would show that some money originating from a US$250 million loan and a US$975 million loan taken by 1MDB subsidiary 1MDB Energy Holdings Ltd from Deutsche Bank Singapore allegedly ended up in Najib’s bank account.Najib, 68, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow.


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Progress in PH-Muda talks, says Anwar

There has been progress in the ongoing talks between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) on cooperation for the 15th general election (GE15), says PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, who is also PKR president, said the media reports which went viral yesterday claiming PH had rejected Muda were not true.
"Not true, we are still negotiating and there has been progress," he said to reporters after a special meeting of the PKR Central Leadership Council (MPP) at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya last night.
Anwar had earlier chaired the meeting, which began at 9.40pm and was also attended by PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, vice-president Aminuddin Harun who is also Negeri Sembilan menteri besar, women’s chief Fadhlina Sidek and youth chief Adam Adli, as well as the MPP members.
PKR communications director Ahmad Fahmi Fadzil said he expects a final decision on the cooperation between PH and Muda to be reached as early as Oct 12.
He said the meeting, which followed the dissolution of Parliament announced by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, discussed among others the preparations of the PKR election machinery as well as the party’s desire to contest more parliamentary seats in GE15.
He said following the dissolution of Parliament and with GE15 to be held in the near future, several PH agendas including the PH convention scheduled for the end of October might either be brought forward or postponed.


Ex-PM says Putin ‘out of it’, Ukraine war could last 2 years

He was Vladimir Putin’s first prime minister but Mikhail Kasyanov never in his worst nightmares imagined that his former boss would unleash a full-scale war on Ukraine.Speaking to AFP in a video interview, Kasyanov, Russia’s prime minister from 2000 to 2004, said he expected the war could last up to two years but he was convinced Russia could return to a democratic path.The 64-year-old, who championed close ties with the West as prime minister, said that, like many other Russians, he did not believe in the weeks ahead of the war that it would actually happen.Kasyanov only understood that Putin was not bluffing when he saw him summon the country’s top leadership for a theatrical meeting of the security council three days before the invasion on Feb 24.“When I saw the meeting of Russia’s Security Council I realised, yes, there will be a war,” Kasyanov said.He added that he felt that Putin was already not thinking properly.“I just know these people and by looking at them I saw that Putin is already out of it. Not in a medical sense but in political terms,” he said.“I knew a different Putin.”After being sacked by Putin, Kasyanov joined Russia’s opposition and became one of the Kremlin’s most vocal critics.He is now the leader of the opposition People’s Freedom party, or Parnas.‘Complete lawlessness’ Kasyanov said Putin, a former KGB agent who turns 70 in October, has managed over the past 20 years to build a system based on impunity and fear.“These are the achievements of a system that, with the encouragement of Putin as head of state, has started operating even in a more cynical, cruel manner than in the final stages of the Soviet Union,” he said.“Essentially, this is a KGB system based on complete lawlessness. It is clear that they do not expect any punishment.”Kasyanov said he had left Russia because of the war and was living in Europe but he declined to disclose his location out of concern for his safety.His close ally and fellow opposition politician Boris Nemtsov was gunned down near the Kremlin in 2015.Putin’s best-known critic Alexei Navalny, 46, was poisoned with a nerve agent in 2020 and is now in prison.Kasyanov predicted the war could last for up to two years and said it is imperative that Ukraine win.“If Ukraine falls, the Baltic states will be next,” he said.The outcome of the war will also determine Russia’s future, he said.Kasyanov said he “categorically” disagreed with French President Emmanuel Macron’s suggestion that Putin should not be humiliated.He also rebuffed calls for Ukraine to cede territory to end the war.“What has Putin done to deserve this?” he said. “This is an overly pragmatic position.“I believe this is wrong and hope that the West won’t go down that path.”‘Enormous tasks’ Kasyanov believes Putin will eventually be replaced by a “quasi-successor” controlled by the security services.But a successor would not be able to control the system for long and eventually Russia will stage free and fair elections, the former prime minister said.“I am certain that Russia will return to the path of building a democratic state,” he said.He estimated it would take about a decade to conduct “de-Communisation” and “de-Putinisation” of the country.“This will be difficult, especially after this criminal war.”He said trust would have to be re-established with European countries, which he called Russia’s “natural partners”.Critics have in the past accused the Russian opposition of being hopelessly divided but Kasyanov said he was confident things would now be different.“I have no doubt that now, after the tragedy that we are all witnessing, the opposition will unite.”Russians will face a huge task rebuilding their country, he said.“Everything will have to be rebuilt anew. Essentially, an entire set of economic and social reforms should be started all over again.“These are enormous and difficult tasks and they will have to be done.”


Perlis mufti throws weight behind silent protest over ‘double standard’ in mosque SOPs

As Muslims nationwide observe the Friday prayers tomorrow under strict Covid-19 restrictions, a majority will have no choice but to skip the weekly congregation due to a requirement for physical distancing during prayer.Physical distancing took away a key aspect of congregational prayers in Islam, where worshippers are required to stand shoulder to shoulder with no gaps between them.But for the last two years, Muslim scholars have allowed this rule to be ignored as the World Health Organization called for physical distancing in public places, among unprecedented changes that left mosques worldwide empty including the cancellation of the massive haj gathering in Mecca.But with daily lives re-opening since August and crowds thronging public places, an outspoken state mufti has questioned why mosques in Malaysia are still forced to abide by SOPs that have been eased in other places.Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin who is the mufti of Perlis asked if health authorities were practising double standards.“If it’s allowed in other places, then it should also be allowed in the mosque,” Asri told MalaysiaNow.“There should be no double standard,” he added.His concern is seen as a reflection of growing criticism by some Muslims against Islamic authorities in the country over the refusal to ease crowd restrictions in mosques, while urging for a sense of normalcy to return for Islamic prayer activities in tandem with the reopening of other social activities.Mosques were among the public places ordered shut in March 2020, when Malaysia declared the movement control order at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.Prior to the lockdown and before any official health SOPs were introduced, the Seri Petaling Mosque in Selangor contributed to one of the country’s biggest Covid-19 clusters after it hosted the tabligh convention, an annual meeting that attracts Muslim missionaries from around the world.Mosques finally re-opened to the Muslim public following the success of the vaccination programme this year, retaining a list of SOPs.They include the compulsory use of face masks at all times, praying with physical distancing, and for worshippers to bring their own prayer mats.Asri said he is not against SOPs as they are needed to curb Covid-19, but wants an explanation of why similar restrictions are absent in places such as stadiums, public transport and gatherings.He said an excuse that mosques are not properly ventilated was merely an assumption, adding that spaces in public transport such as planes, buses and trains are much smaller.Asri said a fatwa allowing Muslims to stand apart from each other during prayer can only be justified if the health ministry says that standing in close proximity could result in the spread of Covid-19.“We relaxed it (the rule of standing in close proximity) because there was a strong reason,” he said.“But that reason is not applied elsewhere, so why only for mosques?“It seems to point to an unfair view that the spread of the pandemic only happens in mosques.”Asri urged the health ministry to be forthcoming about the issue, adding that it should be fair to the religious community.“The health ministry must come out openly because this is a public issue,” he said.


Anti-hopping bill needs more work, Cabinet tells select committee

The Cabinet has raised two issues regarding the anti-hopping bill to prevent MPs from switching camps for further refinement by the select committee.Law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Attorney-General Idrus Harun had explained the constitutional amendments to the Cabinet during a meeting yesterday, and no objections were raised to the draft proposed by the parliamentary select committee.“Nevertheless, the Cabinet raised two matters for further details and refinement,” he said in a statement, without elaborating on the nature of these issues.He said according to Rule 85 of the Standing Orders, information related to the select committee cannot be revealed as it is still under discussion at the parliamentary select committee level.Adding that the bill would be taken into consideration by the Cabinet as a whole, Wan Junaidi said the questions raised by the Cabinet would be brought to the select committee on June 7 for further scrutiny before the bill is finalised.The government previously said that the anti-party hopping bill would likely be tabled in July.If it is tabled and passed at the July sitting, it could be gazetted as early as January next year.


Contract doctors never complained during my time, says Dr M

Dr Mahathir Mohamad says the issue raised by a group of contract doctors who resorted to a protest walkout earlier today was not brought to his attention when he led the Pakatan Harapan government.“Contract doctors are a normal thing. It was not brought to my attention at that time because it was not a problem. The contract doctors were not complaining because they could see that after being a contract doctor, they could be put on permanent service.“That is why this was not a problem during my time, and during Najib’s time. But now it is a problem because these people have been there for a long time,” the former prime minister, who leads a small of bloc of MPs under his Pejuang party, said during a press conference today.He was asked to comment on the Hartal movement by a group of contract doctors fighting for permanent positions in the government sector.The contract system was introduced for medical, dental and pharmacy graduates in the tabling of the 2017 Budget at the Dewan Rakyat by former prime minister Najib Razak, who cited constraints on permanent positions.This morning, some 50 doctors took up a call by the Hartal Doktor Kontrak group to stage a short protest outside Sungai Buloh Hospital, the country’s main treatment centre for Covid-19 victims.The group had earlier claimed that some 4,000 doctors would join them in the walkout.Yesterday, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reminded the doctors that their action could disrupt medical services during a crucial time.The Hartal group however insisted that the protest would not cause any disruptions.


Brain drain can benefit Malaysia, says DPM Fadillah

The brain drain phenomenom in Malaysia must be looked at from a different angle as the government can still benefit by utilising their expertise, says Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof.
Fadillah, who is also the agriculture and commodities minister, said among the factors involved in brain drain was in the field of research, adding that the facilities and support services in places like the Silicon Valley in the US could enhance their expertise and potential.
"In Malaysia, many have moved to other countries, especially those in the field of science and technology, due to the lack of ‘the whole value chain’ that can provide a conducive environment for them.
"Brain drain needs to be looked at from a different angle, that is how we, the citizens who are abroad, can contribute to our country.
"To me, if there is a declaration for the purpose, it will be good," he said after a dinner with the Malaysian diaspora in Indonesia last night in conjunction with a three-day working visit to Indonesia.
Apart from establishing a close relationship between Malaysia and the country they live in, Fadillah said the benefits from the results of their research can be used by Malaysia.


Tobacco control bill to be sent to special select committee for review

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has recommended that the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 be referred to the parliamentary special select committee on health for further scrutiny.
She said the move would be in accordance with Rule 54 (1) of the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat for the committee to make the necessary recommendations as well as further examine the proposed generational endgame (GEG) provisions.
"Based on the engagement session held on June 6 between the special selection committee on health and MPs, professional bodies and NGOs, there were requests for some things to be looked into and refined further.
"Therefore, the health ministry suggests that it be referred to the special select committee for further scrutiny by taking into account the views of all parties," she said after tabling the bill for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat today.
She said the tabling of the bill for the first reading today, and the proposal to refer the bill to the special select committee for further scrutiny proved the government's commitment to ensure that the new proposed law could be approved promptly.
The blue bill that was distributed in Parliament today aims to control the sale and purchase of tobacco products, smoking materials, tobacco substitute products and smoking devices for the sake of public health and to create a smoking-free generation.
Clauses 13 and 14 of the bill proposed the prohibition of the sale of tobacco products and smoking substances to persons born on Jan 1, 2007, onwards.
The bill provides for a fine of not more than RM20,000 or imprisonment for not more than a year against anyone found selling the products to individuals born on Jan 1, 2007, onwards.
It also provides a fine of not more than RM500 or community service for any individual of the GEG generation who is found to have purchased the products.


Mild Covid cases can self-monitor on MySejahtera, says health DG

Individuals who test positive for Covid-19 and are in Category One or 2A but not at high risk do not need to go to a Covid-19 assessment centre (CAC), health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah says.Instead, he said they should conduct self-monitoring through the Health Assesement Tool available on the MySejahtera application.In a Facebook post, Noor Hisham said they will receive SMS messages or calls from the automated voice recording (robocall) service if they have not or do not carry out their daily self-monitoring.Meanwhile, he said individuals who are positive and in Category 2B and above, whether at high risk or not, or experience worsening symptoms, are required to go to the nearest CAC or hospital for further examination without waiting for a phone call from the centre.Category One comprises patients who are asymptomatic while Category 2A comprises those with symptoms such as sore throat or flu without fever or shortness of breath, cough without fever or shortness of breath, loss of sense of taste but continued appetite, loss of sense of smell, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, and fatigue or muscle aches not impeding daily activities.Category 2B comprises those who experience a persistent fever for two days or more, breathing difficulty when doing activities, chest pain, loss of appetite, tiredness, or worsening symptoms (cough, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea), low level of consciousness and a drop in urination within 24 hours.Noor Hisham said individuals who are required to go to the nearest CAC for further evaluation will be notified via MySejahtera or contacted by a CAC via SMS or phone call.“The isolation period for Covid-19 positive individuals who are asymptomatic and have completed their vaccination is seven days, and 10 days for symptomatic cases or those with either incomplete vaccination or who have not been inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine,” he said.He also reminded the public to continue complying with the recommendations as well as health advice from the health ministry and practising TRIIS (Trace, Report, Isolate, Inform, and, Seek) before attending social activities, and to get tested immediately if they have symptoms.


New cases dip again to 4,700

Another 4,774 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,870,758.Another 3,232 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,784,003.Meanwhile 114 are in the ICU, including 106 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 62 are in need of respiratory assistance including 50 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 4,774 cases reported today, 36 (0.8%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 4,738 (99.2%) are in Category One and Two.


Former A-G says ‘shocked’ at orders to amend, destroy original 1MDB audit report

Former auditor-general Madinah Mohamad told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that she was “shocked” to learn that her predecessor Ambrin Buang and National Audit Department (NAD) officer Nor Salwani Muhammad were ordered to amend and destroy the original copy of the 1MDB audit report.Madinah, 66, said Nor Salwani who is now the deputy auditor-general of NAD had informed her of the matter before she went into a meeting room to be briefed about the amended copy.“I was shocked that Ambrin was instructed to amend the original copy and Nor Salwani was instructed to destroy the copies meant to be tabled to the PAC (Public Accounts Committee) in 2016.“However, she (Nor Salwani) did not destroy the original version of the report. She kept the original version under her chair,” Madinah said.Madinah, the 12th prosecution witness, said this during cross-examination by Najib Razak’s lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah in the trial of the former prime minister and former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy for charges of tampering with the final 1MDB audit report.Shafee: Tan Sri, you said you were shocked, but you did nothing on the matter until the new government (Pakatan Harapan) came in?Madinah: Correct.When asked who the culprit behind the amendment was, Madinah said she had not asked Nor Salwani about it as she was rushing for the meeting.She also said that throughout the one year and four months she had served under Najib’s administration, she had not sought clarification from Najib about the issue as it was not necessary for her to do so.To another question, Madinah said that a wrong had been committed through the instructions to amend and destroy the original 1MDB audit report.Shafee: Wrong along the lines of criminality, somebody “fixing” (manipulating) the report. A criminal act?Madinah: I just knew it was wrong for Ambrin to be pressured to amend what had been a finalised copy of the auditor-general’s report, and for Nor Salwani to be instructed to destroy all the original reports.When further questioned, Madinah denied that she had met Najib to be appointed as auditor-general in early 2016, and that she had relied on lobbying by her late husband, then Umno deputy permanent chairman Rizuan Abdul Hamid, to be appointed as the auditor-general.Shafee: Are you aware that your late husband lobbied for you to be auditor-general?Madinah: When this conversation was brought up with my husband, I told him that under no circumstances should he interfere in any way, especially when I was secretary-general in two ministries, education and Mosti. He was a businessman, he was not to attempt to conduct business with these two ministries and not to lobby for anything from the PM, because if I was to be appointed, it had to be on my own merits and he understood that.Najib, 68, is charged with using his position to order amendments to the final 1MDB audit report before it was presented to the PAC to prevent any action from being taken against him.Arul Kanda, 45, is charged with abetting Najib in making the amendments to the report, to protect Najib from being subjected to action.The offences were allegedly committed at the Prime Minister’s Department Complex, Federal Government Administrative Centre, Federal Territory of Putrajaya between Feb 22 and 26, 2016.Both Najib and Arul Kanda were charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.The trial before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan continues.


2 Covid self-test kits to be sold at pharmacies, health facilities

The health ministry through the Medical Devices Authority (MDA) has released a list of two Covid-19 self-test kits that have received conditional approval for import and distribution in the country.This means the test kits can be sold at registered community pharmacies or health facilities.The two kits are Salixium Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Rapid Test (Saliva/Nasal Swab Samples) made by Reszon Diagnostic International Sdn Bhd Malaysia and Gmate Covid-19 Ag Saliva For Home Use by Philosys Co Ltd, South Korea.The health ministry said the list will be updated from time to time, and can also be checked on the MDA portal.


Confusing numbers on CovidNow site

It is commendable that the health ministry has developed the CovidNow website for a detailed and transparent reporting of data relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.However, it was quite confusing when it reported on Oct 16 that 21,430,294 adults over 18 were vaccinated – i.e. 91.5% of the country’s adult population – but that on Oct 17, the number of adults vaccinated had increased to 21,960,911, i.e. 93.8%.How possible is an overnight increase of 530,617?In fact, the CovidNow website said the total daily number of vaccinated individuals was only 25,405.Hopefully the health ministry can explain the large increase, as Malaysians rely on data from the CovidNow website to obtain the latest updates.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Indian vaccine makers say they can quickly adapt jabs to tackle variants

Indian pharmaceutical companies Bharat Biotech and Biological E Ltd said on Monday they will be able to quickly rework their Covid-19 vaccine products to fight new variants once their genetic sequence has been discovered.In recent months, India has confirmed the presence of variants first identified in Brazil, Britain and South Africa, which are believed to explain an upsurge in cases in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Kerala, reports Reuters.“As we are seeing a lot of resurgence of cases, we are picking up samples from hotspots and clusters and we are trying to sequence them,” Nivedita Gupta, deputy director-general of the state-run Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), told the BioAsia conference.ICMR and Bharat Biotech have collaborated to develop India’s first homegrown Covid-19 vaccine, which, along with another licensed from AstraZeneca and Oxford University, is being used in the country’s immunisation campaign that has so far inoculated more than 10 million people since mid-January.India is the world’s biggest maker of vaccines, and its companies have promised to produce billions of doses of Covid-19 shots.Bharat Biotech chairman Krishna Ella said his company would mainly need data from the ICMR or the World Health Organization (WHO) on the genetic sequence of any variant to quickly make an effective vaccine.Speaking at the BioAsia conference organised by the state of Telangana, home to India’s vaccine hub Hyderabad, Ella said a product to tackle the South African variant could be made in 15 days and would not require any change to the manufacturing process.Biological E managing director Mahima Datla said there was no need to be “overly concerned” about the mutations.“We don’t know which mutations of the virus will take over, but we think that it’s prudent to work on technologies that address the new variants as well,” she said.Biological E, which is developing a vaccine with Houston’s Baylor College of Medicine and Dynavax Technologies, recently completed Phase 1/2 clinical trial in India, Datla said.Its vaccine uses the recombinant-protein technology in which a harmless agent is used to stimulate an immune response in cells.“Once you know the variant, when it’s sequenced, it is fairly quick to deploy into a vaccine,” said Datla, whose company will also contract-manufacture Johnson & Johnson’s shot.


Shallow quake kills 162, injures hundreds on Indonesia's Java island

A shallow 5.6-magnitude earthquake killed at least 162 people, with hundreds injured and others missing, when it toppled buildings and triggered landslides on Indonesia's main island of Java on Monday, officials said.
Doctors treated patients outdoors after the quake, which was felt as far away as the capital Jakarta, left hospitals in the West Java town of Cianjur without power for several hours.
"I regret to inform that 162 are dead. 326 are injured with most of them sustained fractures from being crushed in ruins," Ridwan Kamil, governor of worst-hit province West Java, told a press conference in a video seen by AFP. He said most of the victims were children.
Adam, spokesman for the local administration in Cianjur town, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, confirmed the toll to AFP.
Indonesia's national disaster mitigation agency, BNPB, still lists the toll at 62. Due to miscounting, officials offered wildly fluctuating death tolls after an Indonesian stadium disaster last month.
The BNPB said 25 people remained trapped under the rubble as the rescue mission stretched into the night.
The agency said more than 2,000 houses were damaged and Kamil said more than 13,000 people were taken to evacuation centres.
"You can see it yourself, some got their heads, feet sewn outdoors. Some got stressed and started crying," Kamil said.
Kamil said power had been partially restored by the evening, without specifying if that meant by generators or connection to a power grid.
The afternoon quake was centred in the Cianjur region and local authorities earlier said as many as 700 had been wounded, warning the death toll could rise further.
"Because there are still a lot of people trapped on the scene, we assume injuries and fatalities will increase over time," Kamil said as ambulance sirens blared in the background.
Agus Azhari, 19, was with his elderly mother in the family home when their living room was destroyed within seconds, parts of the walls and roof collapsing around them.
"I pulled my mother's hand, and we ran outside," he said. "I heard people screaming for help from all around me," Azhari told AFP.
The majority of deaths were counted in one hospital, the head of Cianjur's local administration Herman Suherman said, with most of the victims killed in the ruins of collapsed buildings.
He told Indonesian media the town's Sayang hospital had no power after the quake, leaving doctors unable to operate on victims immediately.
More health workers were urgently needed due to the overwhelming number of patients, he said.
Locals rushed victims to the hospital in pickup trucks and on motorbikes, according to footage obtained by AFP.
'Emergency state'
They were placed in front of the facility as residents spread a tarpaulin on the road for the bodies.
At another facility, Cimacan hospital, green tents were erected outside for makeshift treatment, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.
Victims arrived covered in blood, while parents looked for their children.
Kamil, the governor, said multiple landslides had cut off road access to some areas and bulldozers were being used to reopen them.
Shops, a hospital and an Islamic boarding school in the town were severely damaged, according to Indonesian media.
Collapsed buildings and debris lined the streets in Cianjur. The town is situated in a hilly area where many houses are built with a mixture of mud and concrete.
"The ambulances keep on coming," Suherman said.
"There are many families in villages that have not been evacuated."
Cianjur police chief Doni Hermawan told Metro TV authorities had rescued a woman and a baby from a landslide but a third person they found had died of their injuries.
Jakarta rattled
French President Emmanuel Macron was the first world leader to offer his condolences.
"Indonesia was hit this morning by an earthquake of destructive and deadly force. Thoughts for all the victims," he wrote.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent condolences and said Ottawa "stands ready to help in any way".
Indonesian President Joko Widodo is yet to respond to the quake.
Indonesia's meteorological agency said it recorded 62 aftershocks in Cianjur after the quake, with magnitudes ranging from 1.8 to 4.
There were no reports of casualties or major damage in Jakarta, a three-hour drive away.
Mayadita Waluyo, a 22-year-old lawyer, described how panicked workers ran to building exits in Jakarta as the quake struck.
"I was working when the floor under me was shaking. I could feel the tremor clearly," she said.
Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide.
A 6.2-magnitude quake that shook Sulawesi island in January 2021 killed more than 100 people and left thousands homeless.


Philippines writes off US$1 billion in farmer debt to boost food production

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Friday wrote off US$1.04 billion (about RM4.85 billion) in land-related debt owed by more than half a million farmers, a move aimed at boosting food production.
The "New Agrarian Emancipation Act" he signed into law waived all property-related debt owed by farmers who had been given land on 30-year payment terms under a 1988 land reform programme, but had been unable to pay.
"We know these farmers do not have the means to pay this huge debt. So putting it under the government's tab is the right thing to do," Marcos said at a signing ceremony at the presidential palace.
The writing off of the loans, which were issued by government banks, meant "we are doing everything in order to feed our people", he added.
Under a law passed about a year after Marcos' father and namesake was toppled in a bloodless "People Power" revolt in 1986, about 4.8 million hectares (11.9 million acres) of plots were distributed to almost three million landless farmers.
The total was equivalent to 16% of the country's land area.
Congress passed the new legislation because nearly 1.2 million hectares of redistributed farmland had gone unpaid for, with the farm sector's contribution to the country's economic output shrinking.
The write-off will benefit more than 610,000 land reform beneficiaries but will cost the government US$1.04 billion, Marcos said.
The government will spend another 206 million pesos to compensate landowners whose properties were transferred to tenants, he added.
"We need to revitalise the agriculture sector," said Marcos, who is also the agriculture minister.
After his election last year, the archipelago nation was wracked with shortages and soaring prices of farm commodities, including onions and sugar, while imports of rice, a food staple, also surged.


Rise of online streaming to see end of CD era?

While CDs and DVDs were once the height of home entertainment, businesses which used to make a killing from copies of the latest albums and movies are now struggling to get by as the age of online streaming services threatens to put an end to the compact disc era.For many, the situation had been challenging for some time now but the real threat came with the Covid-19 pandemic which saw online streaming services like Netflix, Spotify and Apple Music rake in record profits as restrictions on movements kept many at home.Operators of CD shops who spoke to MalaysiaNow said they were now in a dying business.Sivakkumar, who has sold CDs at his shop in Shah Alam for decades, said he is already planning to start a new business as the demand for CDs and DVDs has plunged dramatically over the years.He said his sales were heavily affected when the government introduced the goods and services tax (GST) some six years ago.“Sales went down so much,” he recalled.Things became even worse after that as online streaming services started to gain momentum and even hardcore movie lovers no longer came to buy as many CDs.Sivakkumar struggled on but these days, he gets hardly any sales at all.In the pre-GST days, he recorded sales of RM1,000 to RM1,500 each month. Now, even RM100 is something to be thankful for.He told MalaysiaNow that he and his partner are in the process of clearing out old stock, offering CDs for as low as RM5.“Sometimes we charge even less because we are thankful that people even consider buying CDs in this digital era.”Another problem for Sivakkumar is the fact that many of the movie makers and artists whose work he carries are no longer producing CDs or DVDs. His shop deals mostly with Bollywood films and Tamil movies and songs, many of which are now released directly online through streaming services.“Only English movies and music albums have CDs but we are no longer taking in new stock,” he said.Over in Petaling Jaya, the situation is much the same. Wallace, who owns a CD shop there, said his sales have gone down by as much as 50%.He has managed to keep his business going by selling other items as well such as decorative ornaments and paintings, but CD sales are undeniably lower these days.“We try to sell CDs at their original price,” he said. “We only give discounts if customers buy in large quantities.”Wallace, whose CDs are mostly of Chinese movies and songs, said he also has regular customers from the older generation who pop into his shop every now and then looking for old albums and shows.But he agreed that younger customers now seem to prefer online streaming services to CDs.The change in user behaviour is perhaps best seen in last year’s closure of Speedy Video Distributors Sdn Bhd which, for over 30 years, was the go-to place for movie and music enthusiasts on the hunt for CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs.With the Covid-19 pandemic hastening the move online for many businesses trying to survive in the so-called new norm, most have turned to digital platforms in order to stay afloat.But, as Sivakkumar told MalaysiaNow, even that might not be enough to salvage the CD and DVD business.“The world has changed,” he said.


Indonesia to investigate military officers for alleged murders in Papua

Authorities in Indonesia's Papua region have detained six army officers and launched an investigation into their alleged involvement in the brutal murder of four civilians last week, military officials said on Monday.
Teguh Muji Angkasa, a senior military officer in Papua, told a televised news briefing the military and police would conduct a joint investigation.
"We have been given the order to investigate the incident," said Teguh, "and if from the results of the investigation, soldiers were involved, they will be sternly sanctioned."
Six officers have been named as suspects, Lieutenant General Chandra W Sukotjo told Reuters, after body parts were found in a river near the city of Timika. The military is investigating the murder of four victims, he said.
The victims had been looking to buy weapons from the military officers on Aug 22 before the deal went awry, he said.
Media reported the victims' bodies had allegedly also been mutilated, but Chandra declined to comment on the allegations.
Indonesia maintains a heavy military presence in Papua, where small groups of separatist fighters have for decades waged a low-level, but increasingly deadly battle for independence. The military has faced accusations of human rights abuses in Papua, which it has denied, but investigations into such allegations are rare.
Sebby Sambom, spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), called on the government to hold the perpetrators accountable or risk further violence.
"If Indonesian President Joko Widodo does not immediately take responsibility, then the TPNPB together with the Papuan people will take revenge in the same way," Sambom said in a statement on Monday.
Armed conflict in Papua has escalated significantly since 2018, with attacks by the TPNPB becoming deadlier and more frequent, with an increasingly high number of casualties on both sides, a report by the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) noted in July.
The increased frequency of attacks was due to the TPNPB acquiring more weapons by raiding and stealing from a growing number of army posts, cross-border purchases and the illegal sale of government weapons by rogue officers, IPAC said.


Sorry.


United Airlines CEO says US in a 'business recession' but consumers 'strong'

The US is in a "business recession" but the consumer is "strong", Scott Kirby, chief executive of United Airlines, the world's largest carrier, told reporters at an aviation conference in Istanbul on Monday.
This can be seen as leisure air travellers come back stronger and faster than business travellers, Kirby said at the annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
"Leisure demand is really, really strong. Premium leisure demand is much higher. Business demand hasn't fully recovered yet... that's taking more time," he said.
"We're probably in either a mild recession or moderate economy, we can see that. I think actually, in the US, we're in a business recession, and the consumer is just fine, the consumer is strong."
US economic growth slowed more than expected in the first quarter as an acceleration in consumer spending was offset by businesses liquidating inventories in anticipation of weaker demand later this year amid higher borrowing costs.
As global airlines bounce back from the pandemic they forecast profits to more than double in 2023 buoyed by strong travel demand but warn of challenges including supply chain disruptions and a talent crunch.
Kirby, however, said that airlines will not be able to operate the way they did pre-pandemic. Supply chains are getting better but the bar is getting raised as every airline around the world tries to grow, he added.
"You can't run your airline like it's 2019... the world really has changed," Kirby said.
The chief of the world's biggest airline also raised concerns over competing carriers flying over Russia.
"What's going to happen if an airline lands in Russia with some prominent US citizens on board? That is a potential crisis in the making. I think we should solve it before the crisis happens," he said.
Russia has barred US airlines and other foreign carriers from flying over its airspace, in retaliation for Washington banning Russian flights over the US in March 2022 after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.
United Airlines was forced to temporarily suspend flying over Russian airspace, joining other major US carriers, in a move that has impacted the airline's ability to offer competitive non-stop flights to India and other places.
"It's clearly a big impact to us," Kirby said, noting pre-pandemic United had multiple daily flights between the US and India. "Now we fly one and it's an extra two hours," he said, adding that even with the extra time it cannot fly the other routes non-stop.
"That's disappointing," he added.
Air India and some Gulf-based, Chinese and African carriers continue to fly over Russian airspace, making flying times shorter.
However, newly approved flights for Chinese airlines are avoiding flying over Russian airspace to and from the US, Reuters reported on June 1.


All results from self-test kits must be reported on MySejahtera, says health minister

Any result from Covid-19 self-test kits, whether positive, negative or invalid, must be reported to the health ministry through the MySejahtera application, Dr Adham Baba said today.The health minister said it was the consumers’ responsibility to report the actual results and not to give false results.If the results from the self-test kit are positive, he said, users must go to a private health facility, Covid-19 assessment centre or health clinic to be assessed before their status is uploaded to MySejahtera.“If the results are negative but the person has symptoms, then he or she is also advised to report to a private clinic or health clinic for a similar assessment.“As for an invalid result, the user is required to repeat the test,” he said at a joint press conference on the development of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme with coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin today.As of Thursday, the health ministry through the Medical Devices Authority had given conditional approval for the sale and distribution of three types of Covid-19 self-test kits.


Pakistan PM’s British ex-wife condemns him blaming skimpy clothes for rape

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is still receiving backlash for his remarks linking women’s clothing and rising rape incidents in Pakistan.“If a woman is wearing very few clothes it will have an impact on the men, unless they’re robots. I mean it’s common sense,” Imran had said in an interview with Axios.In Pakistan, many female lawmakers from opposition parties lambasted the premier for his “condemnable” comments which many see as excusing rape on the grounds of victim-blaming.Former playboy cricketer Khan’s ex-wife, British socialite Jemima Goldsmith also disagreed with him.She tweeted: “I remember years ago being in Saudi Arabia and an elderly woman in an abaya & niqab was lamenting the fact that when she went out she was followed & harassed by young men. The only way to get rid of them was to take her face covering OFF. The problem is not how women dress!”However, several female lawmakers have sprung to Khan’s defence.The ruling PTI on Tuesday defended Khan’s problematic comments, calling out the “liberal brigade” for misrepresenting the facts.Dawn is reporting that Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul claimed that the premier was “a symbol of women empowerment” as no other party had managed to mobilise women in the political sphere to such an extent.“For the first time in Pakistan, five women ministers are sitting in the federal cabinet. This means that if there is a symbol of women empowerment in Pakistan, it is Prime Minister Imran,” she said.“Our culture and way of dressing is idolised across the world. They wish and try to dress like us graceful Pakistanis,” she said, adding that no “liberal corrupt” would be allowed to be a spokesman for Pakistani society.She lashed out at “liberals” for trying to distort the narrative when the premier was trying to “strengthen social fabric in line with religious teachings and culture”.Parliamentary Secretary for Law Maleeka Bokhari said that she was proud to be a member of Parliament under the leadership of “a man who prioritised the protection of women and children”.She said that the first instructions the premier gave the law ministry were to make laws to put an end to sexual abuse and violence.Kanwal Shauzab maintained that the prime minister had empowered women in the true sense.Quoting a verse from the Quran, which she said was the essence of the prime minister’s statement, she remarked that those contesting the premier’s statement were actually contesting Allah.Shauzab said the prime minister’s comments were taken out of context.“In the interview, the prime minister explained how our culture was different from that of the West. He explained that just 1% cases of rape were reported because it was a problem of honour for people in our culture,” she said.She went on to allege that opposition lawmakers had themselves been involved in cases of rapes and sexual abuse.“On the other hand, we passed the anti-rape law,” she said, adding that the “liberal brigade” was misrepresenting Pakistani society.She questioned: “Which parent would want their daughter to dress up in a way that makes her vulnerable to attack?”“Nudity is not a part of our culture. It is the culture of animals,” she remarked. “Islam teaches us to cover ourselves.”


Putrajaya, Sabah agree on 4.7-fold increase in special grant

The value of the new special grant for Sabah has been increased 4.7-fold from RM26.7 million to RM125.6 million for 2022, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor said in a joint statement today.The amount will continue to increase every year for the period of 2023-2026 based on the rate mutually agreed on by both parties.The amount was increased after the federal and state governments reached an agreement on the review of the special grant to Sabah under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution today, following discussions and negotiations by the finance ministry and the Sabah government, with most of the terms agreed to on Feb 14.The last review before this was in 1969.The new agreement also covers other matters, including the continuation of negotiations by the federal and state governments on the 40% revenue claim by Sabah.This is to settle on a new amount for the special grant that can balance Sabah’s needs without affecting the federal government’s financial position.“If a new amount is agreed to by both parties before 2026, then the new amount will be used to replace the special grant payment for Sabah starting 2022,” the statement said.It added that the agreement was made without prejudice to the obligations and rights of the federal and Sabah governments to continue reviewing the special grant under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution, by taking into account the financial position of the federal government and the needs of the Sabah government.It said the Sabah government also had the right to rely on the original formula as stated in Article 112C and Part IV of the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.Implementation of the review on the special grant includes the right of both the federal government and the Sabah government to refer the matter to an independent assessor if no agreement is reached, as stated in Article 112D (6) of the Federal Constitution.The federal and Sabah governments also agreed to provide data and information on the financial position of the federal government, as well as the needs of the Sabah government pertaining to the cost of state services, which will be taken into account when reviewing the special grant.


No decision yet on making boosters mandatory for fully vaccinated status

The government has yet to decide whether to make Covid-19 booster shots a condition for individuals to be considered fully vaccinated, says Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.He said the health ministry is currently conducting a study based on the experience of other countries which have made booster shots a condition for complete vaccination.“Our experts are also looking into the effectiveness (of booster shots) and they will make recommendations to the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force – Booster (CITF-B).“If we find that the number of cases, hospitalisation rate and deaths are increasing due to the people’s reluctance to receive booster doses, and it becomes an international norm to require both primer series and booster shots to be considered fully vaccinated, then we will make a similar decision… but (as for now) we haven’t,” he said in an interview on Astro Awani’s Agenda Awani programme last night.Khairy said currently, the government still recognises as fully vaccinated those who have received two doses of the AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Pfizer vaccine and who have no health problems.However, Khairy stressed that Malaysia could face a new wave of Covid-19 infections if the administration of booster doses is not accelerated.“If the coverage for booster doses is not as high as that of the first and second doses, the number of cases, hospitalisation rate and deaths will increase,” he said.He said Israel had faced a third wave of Covid-19 despite having completed their vaccinations in a short period of time.“Israel may have been the fastest in terms of completing their vaccination process and the number of cases and fatalities also declined after that, which shows the effectiveness of vaccination.“However, after looking at the fact that there was a group that did not take the vaccine, coupled with a decline in vaccine efficacy, which led to the third wave, they (Israel) accelerated the administration of booster doses and today, the number of cases has declined again. They have become a leading indicator of what we need to do in Malaysia,” he said.Meanwhile, Khairy said that after over 1.7 million Pfizer booster doses were administered in this country, most of the side effects reported were mild side such as sore arms and fever.“Of the total (1.7 million doses), only 11 cases experienced serious side effects such as allergies but it has not resulted in serious hospital admissions so far,” he said.Khairy said the government’s strategy to improve booster dose uptake rate was to educate and provide information to the people first, before moving to a more aggressive strategy.


‘Court cluster’ split on budget vote as emerging ‘sakit perut cluster’ steps up lobbying

There has been a split among the so-called “court cluster” MPs in the Dewan Rakyat, amid intense lobbying to get more Umno leaders to break ranks from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) bloc ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote on Thursday, MalaysiaNow has learnt.The court cluster refers to a group of Umno leaders from the former Barisan Nasional (BN) government who are facing a string of corruption charges.Its most recognisable member is former prime minister Najib Razak who is facing multiple charges of corruption, nine of which he was convicted of in July.Najib openly sided with Anwar Ibrahim in the PKR leader’s failed bid to bring down the government last month.This earned him the wrath of other Umno leaders, many of whom prefer to heed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s reminders not to scuttle the budget.Tomorrow’s vote on the budget will offer another opportunity to topple the government, and it is understood that heavy lobbying has been underway to convince Umno MPs to deny critical votes for the ruling bloc, which came to power by a thin majority following Pakatan Harapan’s collapse early this year.Enter the ‘stomach ache cluster’But it is learnt that the campaign has so far received a cool response from Umno MPs, including among those facing charges.“There are currently five MPs with Najib while the rest prefer to see the budget passed,” a source in Umno told MalaysiaNow.“Apart from Zahid, there are four others who represent constituencies in Perak, Johor and Kelantan who are with Najib.”But due to the nature of the vote where MPs can be clearly identified by a show of hands, there are indications that a group of them will call in sick on Thursday.“The joke going on in the corridors of the Dewan Rakyat is that the court cluster might morph into the ‘kluster sakit perut’ (stomach ache cluster),” the source said.It is understood that heavy lobbying has been underway to convince Umno MPs to deny critical votes for the ruling bloc.“So these MPs may just complain of stomach aches and skip the session, at the same time automatically denying the numbers that Muhyiddin needs.”Yesterday, MalaysiaNow reported that Umno MPs were told to gather at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur recently in an effort by a senior party leader to convince them to vote against the budget bill.It is learnt that several more meetings were also held on Monday, as well as last night.In a statement yesterday, ministers and deputy ministers from BN pledged their support for Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister, saying the country needs a stable government to ensure its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.The statement, signed by 20 ministers and deputy ministers including Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong, Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, said the first step towards enabling this is to ensure that the budget is supported and passed by MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.“We agree that the current government formed through consensus should continue to receive support, including the full support of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s leadership in implementing the plan for economic recovery and public health,” they said.However, they added that a general election should be held as soon as possible once the situation permits to obtain a clearer mandate from the people.“Until then, we are united in strengthening BN’s position in the current administration and mobilising efforts to ensure that BN’s is the strongest voice in the government.”


Hawkers back on China's streets as economic recovery teeters

Wang Chunxiang pushes a cart around busy areas of Shanghai, playing cat and mouse with the authorities as she tries to sell pastries. The jobs she could get do not pay enough for her to make ends meet.
"Salaries are too low," said the 43-year-old, after serving a customer steamed sweet rice cakes from a wok.
"At my age, without much knowledge, I could only earn US$868 (about RM4004) per month as a cleaning lady. Shanghai rent is so expensive. Even low quality homes are 2,000-3,000 yuan," said Wang, who recently resumed hawking after a six-year break.
She can earn about 10,000 yuan in a good month selling pastries for 15 yuan a box.
As life in China returns to normal after the pandemic, hawkers are hitting the streets. They look to at least supplement their income amid an uneven economic recovery in which jobs and wage growth has been sluggish.
For decades, street stalls and hawkers - common elsewhere in Asia - have been banned or tightly regulated in many Chinese cities, with authorities seeing them as unsightly.
There are signs, however, that local governments are giving hawkers more leeway, a trend expected to continue.
Zibo in eastern China became a media sensation this month after a rush of tourists visiting street food stalls forced authorities to issue warnings about overcrowding.
The tech hub of Shenzhen, which banned hawking in 1999, will ease restrictions on street stalls from September. Shanghai is seeking public opinion on revising hawker regulations and in April said it had set up 74 spots for vendors.
Lanzhou in the northwest said this month it would designate areas for street stalls as it sought to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.
"It's natural for some local governments to trial street vending as they are facing great pressure in stabilising local economies and the job market," said Bruce Pang, chief economist at Jones Lang Lasalle.
Household income grew 3.8% year-on-year in the first quarter, lagging broader economic growth. The job market remains sluggish with youth unemployment at a record high.
Economic pressure is forcing hawkers to risk fines or having their products confiscated.
Wang Xuexue, 28, who sells flowers off her scooter in Shanghai, prefers to hawk her goods away from designated areas, which she says are out-of-the-way and charge fees.
"Of course authorities try to catch us. Otherwise we wouldn't run so fast," said Wang Xuexue, who worked in a flower shop until recently.
Even in Beijing, which President Xi Jinping said should remain above all a "political centre" without a street economy, hawkers were seen at tourist spots.
Lu Wei, a pen seller, had his own store before the pandemic but cancelled the lease in 2020 as sales dropped and he could no longer afford rent. He now touts his 30-yuan pens along Beijing's Houhai lake, although business is slow.
"People have no money in their pockets. Even if they do, they don't want to spend it," Lu said.


Holding on to hope

When the merchant vessel Razoni sailed from Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa earlier this month with more than 26,000 tonnes of corn for global markets, it was rightly the subject of intense attention. Its passage was the result of months of negotiations between Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Nations, including UN humanitarian staff, logisticians and legal experts. For the first time since the war in Ukraine began five months earlier, sea exports of Ukrainian crops were to resume, giving much-needed hope to millions of people beaten down by rising food prices and declining supplies, pushing many into hunger and even famine conditions. And hope is so rare these days. Conflicts. Hunger. The climate crisis. Droughts. Poverty. A pandemic. In more than 40 years of aid work, I don’t remember the world being so overwhelmed with problems and in such urgent need of action to solve them. Right now, a record 303 million people need humanitarian aid. But despite this grim picture, I still hold on to hope. Why? Because over the years, I have seen that while conflicts and other crises bring out the worst, they also inspire the very best in humanity. Even in the depths of despair and division, there are glimmers of hope – from new solutions to seemingly intractable problems, to acts of generosity and kindness that bring solace to the suffering. Delivering hope and standing in solidarity are at the very heart of humanitarian action. Today, on World Humanitarian Day, we want to celebrate this spirit, for in some of the bleakest situations it may be all that people have. There is a phrase “It takes a village to raise a child.” Likewise, it takes a village to help a community in crisis. This village is made up of affected communities themselves, who are always first to respond when crisis strikes, backed up by a support system of national emergency services, local businesses and civil society, NGOs, UN agencies, and the Red Cross and Red Crescent family. Many are international aid workers, but the vast majority of humanitarians are from the crisis-affected countries themselves. Every hour of every day, this humanitarian "village" steps up to organise relief deliveries, distribute cash, set up mobile health clinics and schools, build water pumps, airlift nutrition supplies, provide counselling support and so much more, supporting millions of people balancing on the edge of survival. This village is populated by aid workers like Zuhra Wardak, a champion of girls’ education and gender issues, who was one of the first to return to work in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover. And Andrii, a driver with Ukrainian NGO Proliska, who risks his life to evacuate people from areas under bombardment. And Amina Haji Elmi, a women’s rights champion in Somalia, who realised helping women was her mission after she and her family were displaced by conflict in that country. There are also glimmers of hope at the wider level. For instance, amid the relentless violence in Ukraine, we have seen thousands of volunteers assisting people trapped in war zones, and the generosity of communities that have welcomed Ukrainian refugees, echoing a long tradition of neighbourly support that is evident from Bangladesh to Colombia, from Jordan to Uganda. We can draw inspiration from political progress made in brutal and bloody crises like Yemen, where the truce has held, dissipating some of the constant fear of violence. From improved access to people in need in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region, which, thanks to persistent and painstaking negotiations, has enabled aid convoys to reach people who desperately need food. From the passing of Security Council resolution 2642 allowing cross-border aid to continue into north-west Syria, extending a lifeline for millions of people at least for the next few months. And from the Navi Star, Polarnet, Razoni, Rojen and many other ships that carried Ukrainian crops to the rest of the world, offering a grain of hope to some of the 345 million people suffering from food shortages. On World Humanitarian Day, let us take a moment to recognise all those who work tirelessly, day and night, to enact solidarity often at great personal sacrifice. They save lives in places that the world too often chooses to forget and where the risks are real: 461 aid workers were attacked last year while responding to humanitarian crises – 141 of them were killed, all but a few of them national staff. The courage and conviction of these aid workers, always pushing for ways to reach people even in the worst of the worst of crises, inspire us to never give up hope. As we mark this year’s World Humanitarian Day we commemorate those we have lost. And we celebrate all humanitarians who carry on this noble mission together. After all, it takes a village.
Martin Griffiths is under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Cops find homemade bombs after report of explosion in Jalan Klang Lama

Police found three plastic (PVC) pipes that had been modified into homemade bombs in a shop in Jalan Klang Lama after receiving a report regarding an explosion at the premises early yesterday morning.
Brickfields district police chief Amihizam Shukor said police received a report on the explosion at about 6am through a phone call from a security guard in the incident area.
"An inspection by police found three white PVC pipes that had been modified into explosives. Police also discovered that the pipes were attached with a remote-controlled 'improvised explosive device' to detonate the bomb.
"Further investigation by the police also found three fingerprints at the incident site and the closed-circuit camera managed to detect the movements of two male suspects in the area," he said in a statement.
Amihizam said the case is being investigated under Section 6 of the Explosives Act 1957 which carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years and a fine of up to RM10,000 or both upon conviction.
"Police are requesting the cooperation of the public who have information related to this incident to come to the police station or contact the Brickfields police hotline at 03-2297 9222 or the Kuala Lumpur police hotline at 03-2115 9999," he said.


Banking union rejects pressure from politicians to withdraw from EPF

The country’s largest union of bank workers today agreed with the move to refuse further withdrawals from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), urging Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob not to succumb to “short-term popular political pressure” from “certain politicians”.The National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) said the schemes and incentives announced would assist those affected by the recent floods, and that once insufficient, the government should increase its allocation of resources accordingly.“But to be obsessed with dipping into the workers’ retirement fund during every disaster is a sign of an incompetent government, and sadly the said politicians are from the ruling government,” NUBE general secretary J Solomon said.In a statement, he urged the politicians in question to remember that significant withdrawals had already been made over the past two years due to the financial impact of Covid-19.He also took aim at Umno, saying many of the contributors left with less than RM1,000 in their retirement savings were from the community represented by the party.“The Umno government of more than 60 years failed to uplift the wages of workers to match Singapore and other neighbouring countries, which were either behind us or with us at one time,” he added.Saying a lack of political will to fight institutional corruption had led to other problems compounded by issues such as unfair labour laws, Solomon added that the misappropriation of money from Malaysia’s sovereign fund “by certain leaders” had also retarded income growth for ordinary citizens.“NUBE recognises some of the good policies Umno introduced during its tenure as the main ruling coalition partner, but insisting that the EPF should allow continuous withdrawals, even for flood victims, is a nonstarter if the party wishes to serve the people sincerely after a bad show in the last election,” he said.“To gain credibility, the party should be urging the government to use its resources to give genuine assistance to flood victims and close the wide gap of inequality created during its 60-year administration.”Ismail in his New Year’s address had announced additional aid for those affected by the massive floods which hit areas in several states, displacing tens of thousands.But calls have also continued for the government to allow further EPF withdrawals, led by former prime minister Najib Razak who attacked Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz for refusing to budge on the matter.“Don’t listen to the advice of the outdated PN finance minister,” Najib had said, referring to the previous Perikatan Nasional government.“Listen to the people. A final special withdrawal. After that, focus on rebuilding the savings of EPF contributors with low balance. There are many ways.”Solomon however welcomed the stand by Ismail, Zafrul and the EPF itself which recently warned that the country’s social protection had been pushed to the limit after the withdrawals allowed due to the Covid-19 crisis.“NUBE certainly sympathises with the plight of the flood victims, but dipping into the workers’ retirement fund during each disaster is not a wise approach,” he said.“It is a universally accepted view that governments at both the federal and state levels are responsible for ensuring the availability of sufficient basic necessities and their timely distribution, to alleviate the hardships faced by flood victims.”


Firms that hired stranded migrant workers to face action

The Labour Department said yesterday it would sanction firms and strip away licences from recruitment agencies involved in hiring migrant workers who later found themselves stranded without jobs in the country.
Reuters reported last week that hundreds of South Asian migrants, mostly from Bangladesh and Nepal, had been left in limbo after arriving in Malaysia, where they were told that jobs promised to them in exchange for steep recruitment fees were no longer available. The government announced a probe last month.
The plight of the migrants – many of whom say they have not been paid salaries for months – comes amid concerns over workplace abuses in Malaysia, with several companies facing US bans for forced labour in recent years.
In response to Reuters' queries, the Labour Department vowed to take action against recruitment agencies and companies found to have misused government quotas and licences for hiring migrant workers.
The department said in an emailed statement it would conduct a thorough investigation, and would not compromise on any unlawful activities that could "lead to any form of forced labour".
The department said it had moved some of the stranded workers to government-registered quarters, and compelled some companies to pay for their accommodation and salaries.
It did not say how many workers in a similar plight it had identified, or how many firms or agencies it was investigating.
The department also denied reports that two Nepali citizens had died by suicide at a workers' accommodation facility.
It cited police investigations that determined only one death – that of a Nepali recruitment agent, who had travelled to Malaysia to oversee the cases of workers stranded.
The police would conduct a further probe into the death, the department said.


Russia logs over 700 virus deaths in another daily high

Russia reported 737 coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, a national record of pandemic-related fatalities over a 24-period, as the country battles a new surge in cases.It marks the first time Russia, the fifth worst-hit country in the world for the number of infections, has crossed the 700-mark for daily virus deaths.Russia has set six new pandemic highs for Covid-19 deaths in the last eight days as it fights a surging outbreak driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant.In Moscow, the epicentre of Russia’s outbreak, the Delta variant first identified in India now accounts for 90% of new cases, the city’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin has said.He has ordered offices to send home a third of their unvaccinated employees and restaurants to allow inside only patrons who have been vaccinated or infected in the past sixth months.He has also mandated that 60% of service industry workers must be fully inoculated by mid-August.As of Tuesday, just 1.8 million of Moscow’s population of 12 million had been fully vaccinated, according to the Gogov website, which tallies Covid data from the regions.Nationwide the total stood at just 18.2 million of Russia’s some 146 million people.Authorities have faced a vaccine-sceptic population, with an independent poll this week showing that 54% of Russians do not plan on getting a Covid jab.The Kremlin had set a goal of fully inoculating 60% of Russia’s population by September, but conceded last week that it would not be able to meet that target even though free jabs have been available since early December.With 139,316 deaths from the virus, Russia has the highest official Covid toll in Europe – even as authorities have been accused of downplaying the severity of the country’s outbreak.


Another Malaysian scheduled to hang in Singapore

Another Malaysian on death row in Singapore has been scheduled to hang on July 7, just a little over two months after the execution of Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam which came despite an international outcry and amid increasing scrutiny of the republic’s use of the death penalty.Kalwant Singh was arrested on drugs-related charges at the age of 23, and has spent the past nine years in prison.He was convicted and sentenced to death on Oct 24, 2013 for trafficking in 60.15g of diamorphine.Independent journalist Kirsten Han, who has been vocal against Singapore’s use of the death penalty, said this was the seventh execution notice issued so far this year.Prominent rights lawyer M Ravi meanwhile called on the government to “stop its execution binge” and to impose a moratorium on all pending executions as the court was looking into a breach of confidentiality by the prison authorities in forwarding privileged and confidential correspondence to the attorney-general.“What if the court rules that such breach of privileged communications has been systematic since the confidential communications of 13 inmates have already been compromised?“This would then mean that the administration of justice concerning the death penalty has been brought into disrepute, thus rendering all executions unlawful,” Ravi said in a Facebook post today.Kalwant’s date with the gallows follows that of Nagaenthran, who was executed on April 27 despite international outrage due to his mental disability.He had an IQ of 69, a level recognised as a disability, and was reportedly coerced into committing the crime.


Daily caseload tops 3,900 as 8 more deaths reported

Another 3,902 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,629,963.
There were 2,935 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,550,949.
There are now 43,144 active cases, of which 41,488 or 96.2% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 33 (0.1%) are at quarantine centres while 1,568 (3.6%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 55 are in ICU with 39 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 62.9%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 13.2%.
Another eight deaths were reported, including one who was brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 35,870.


Muhyiddin charged with abuse of power, money laundering

Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin was today charged with abuse of power and money laundering over projects launched under his leadership, accusations that he said were politically motivated.
The charges come just three months after Muhyiddin lost a closely fought and divisive general election to Anwar Ibrahim, and are likely to increase political tensions.
Muhyuddin, who led the country for 17 months between 2020 and 2021, becomes the second prime minister to be charged with crimes after losing power.
At the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, the prosecution alleged that Muhyiddin abused his position as prime minister to receive bribes of RM232.5 million in a bank account belonging to Bersatu.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman and opposition leader was charged with four counts of abuse of power and two counts of money laundering.
Muhyiddin pleaded not guilty to all six charges and previously said the charges were "political persecution" of the opposition.
He faces up to 20 years in jail if found guilty. He will also be subject to a heavy financial penalty.
Muhyiddin was granted bail of RM2 million by the judge and ordered to surrender his passport. The case will be heard next on May 26.
Muhyiddin and Bersatu have faced graft investigations since losing the general election in November, with the party's bank accounts frozen by the anti-graft body and two leaders charged with bribery.
Muhyiddin has also been banned from leaving the country.
Prime Minister Anwar has dismissed accusations that the charges against Muhyiddin are politically motivated, saying he has not interfered in investigations.
The allegations against Muhyiddin come ahead of crucial elections to be held in six states by mid-year, with PN expected to pose a strong challenge to Anwar's Pakatan Harapan.
PN is a conservative ethnic-Malay, Muslim alliance that has portrayed itself to be clean of corruption, and won support from the country's majority Malays in last year's general election.
Anwar's progressive, multi-ethnic PH has faced some criticism for joining hands with the corruption-plagued Umno to form a government.
Both leaders failed to win a simple majority in last year's election, but Muhyiddin's PN made huge gains in Malay heartlands.
Umno's former leader and ex-prime minister, Najib Razak, is serving a jail term for graft related to the multi-billion dollar corruption scandal at state fund 1MDB. Anwar's deputy and current Umno leader, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, also faces graft charges.
The upcoming state polls are seen as a proxy vote on the Anwar government's performance so far.


Long battle ahead as global vaccine jabs dwarfed by 5 million new cases each week

Only five countries which have started their Covid-19 vaccination drive have achieved an innoculation rate of more than 5% of their citizens so far, according to data released by global research group Our World in Data.This shows that the aim of achieving herd immunity for the deadly pandemic is still lagging behind with daily global infection rates now at about five million people.Data gathered from 51 countries showed 17 million people have been inoculated over the previous week, with Israel and the United Arab Emirates, each with populations of around nine million, leading globally.“It has been described as a race between infections and injections,” financial magazine The Economist said. “If so, infections are still winning.”“Plenty will happen in the months before most countries create enough immunity to suppress the spread of the virus,” it added.“In the interim, much will depend on how successfully their governments manage lockdowns.”Malaysia is among the countries still awaiting the arrival of the first batch of vaccines, as it battles a fierce spike that saw daily infections passing the 4,000 mark several times this month.Health authorities will soon open registration for the voluntary immunisation drive, targeting 70% herd immunity involving 23 million Malaysians.Malaysia has ordered 25 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, half of which will arrive in late February.But the sharp increase in daily cases forced the government to announce stricter lockdowns under the movement control order.The Economist said lockdowns, apart from face masks and other non-medical interventions, would be central to preventing the spread of Covid-19 until enough people have been vaccinated to achieve herd immunity.But with billions around the world still waiting to get the jab, it will take a while for the full effects of the vaccines to kick in.There is also the added complication of extra-contagious variants of the virus which have emerged in countries like the UK and South Africa.Yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the UK coronavirus strain, known as B117, had been detected in at least 60 countries, a jump of 10 countries from the week before.WHO estimates that the UK strain, first detected in mid-December, is between 50% and 70% more infectious than the original.The South African strain, which is also thought to be more infectious than the original virus, has been reported in 23 countries and territories.While more transmissible, the two variants are not thought to be more deadly.But despite the arrival of a variety of vaccines on the scene, many countries have been struggling to get their inoculation programmes off the ground.The delay is partly due to logistics issues including delivery shortfalls of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine.Anti-vaxxer sentiments and vaccine hesitancy have also played a role, particularly in countries like France.In Malaysia, a recent government poll of more than 200,000 people revealed that 67% would agree to be vaccinated against Covid-19, believing in its effectiveness.Another 17% are unsure, while 16% would refuse to take the vaccine.


‘Taliban 2.0’ working hard to change its image, says Wisma Putra’s special adviser

While the Taliban in Afghanistan want to show their commitment to reforms in the country, they are unable to do so as they have only been in power for three months, Wisma Putra’s special adviser on Afghanistan says.Ahmad Azam Ab Rahman said the “Taliban 2.0” are not the same as the regime that ruled prior to the US occupation in 2001.“The Taliban say they have only been in power for less than three months. They say who can govern a country in three months and expect everything to be done in that period of time?” he said to MalaysiaNow.“The Taliban also say that the current government is only an interim one and not yet fully fledged. They are in the process of identifying people who are professional and can strengthen the present administration.”He also compared the “old Taliban” and the “new” one with the Malay community in the 1970s which was more closed and stagnant compared to the present community in 2021.Deputy Foreign Minister Kamarudin Jaffar told Parliament on Nov 22 that the government had contacted the group to discuss the issues of democracy and human rights.The Taliban took over Afghanistan following the hasty withdrawal of the US military in August after the 20-year war in the country.Many had voiced concern about the extremist ideology of the group which had once blown up a statue of Buddha in the Bamiyan district.The Taliban’s ultra-conservative approaches meanwhile such as requiring men to keep beards and women to wear burqas had remained fresh in the memory of the world.The group was formed by students of traditional religious schools after the war against Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in 1979.They controlled Afghanistan until they were overthrown by the US military which occupied the country after the Sept 11 attack.Azam had led Malaysia’s fact-finding efforts on the Islamic movement held on Nov 8 in Qatar.He is also the commissioner of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Permanent Independent Commission on Human Rights.He said his meeting with the Taliban had focused on three main issues: the matter of an inclusive government, the position of women, and the question of democracy.“They emphasised that they are open to all of this, but that they need time. This is because there are areas that are truly conservative, to the point where women are not allowed to attend school or work.“We sent observers from the Global Peace Mission there for a month. The situation there is normal,” he added.“It’s just that the rural areas remain the same as they have no exposure to the outside world.”Azam said based on his meeting with the group, the Taliban need time to change the communities these areas, adding that they could not force reforms.According to the group, he said, the residents and factions in such locations would go to war with them if they tried to force a drastic change in lifestyle.Azam said it was not the Taliban’s official policy to prohibit women from going to school or work.Responding to reports of starvation and difficulties faced by Afghans, he said these are isolated cases.“The Taliban narrative has been one of demonisation by the Western powers and media,” he said.“News about Afghans selling their daughters, for example, makes it seem as though everyone in the country is selling their children.”Azam said the Taliban had also complained to him that their voice was not being heard, and that no one wanted to help communicate their views.Based on these developments, he said, Malaysia and the rest of the world cannot yet determine their stand towards the Afghan government.Nevertheless, Malaysia’s efforts to liaise with the Taliban and to send humanitarian aid to Afghanistan put it ahead of the OIC and other Islamic countries, he said.“We were more responsive, and among the first to send aid,” he said. “My appointment is also close to that of an ambassador.“It is possible that the OIC used our findings to decide whether to recognise the Afghan government. In fact, I shared the information from the meeting with representatives of several Islamic countries,” he said.The Taliban have so far held talks with several countries including China, the European Union and the US.Pakistan also reportedly welcomed the meeting between the Taliban and US in Doha, Qatar.


Landslide buries houses, leaving 11 missing in Norway

A landslide in a Norwegian village has buried homes under mud, leaving 11 missing.Police said people are feared trapped in the mud and wreckage, reports the BBC.About 900 people have so far been evacuated from the area and rescue workers are searching for the missing, who include children, in the village of Gjerdrum, 25km north-east of the capital, Oslo.“We are quite certain that there are people in the affected area, but we don’t know if all 11 are there,” police spokesman Roger Pettersen told reporters.The landslide began during the early hours of Wednesday. Residents began calling emergency services, telling them that their houses were moving, police said.On Wednesday afternoon more houses collapsed into the crater formed by the landslide, while others remained perched precariously on the edge.Prime Minister Erna Solberg said the ground is still so unstable that only rescues by helicopter can be carried out.“There were two massive tremors that lasted for a long while and I assumed it was snow being cleared or something like that,” Oeystein Gjerdrum, 68, told broadcaster NRK.Large quantities of earth were continuing to move, Toril Hofshagen, the regional head of the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), told reporters.The local municipality warned that up to 1,500 people could need to leave the region because of concerns about the safety of the ground.An NVE spokesman told AFP, “This is the largest landslide in recent times in Norway.”Broadcaster NRK said heavy rainfall may have made the soil unstable.Norway’s King Harald, 83, said, “My thoughts are with everyone affected, the injured, those who lost their homes and are now living in fear and uncertainty of the full extent of the disaster.”


Emirates airline on ‘recovery path’ as losses cut by half

Emirates airline said it was on the path to recovery from the Covid pandemic on Wednesday as six-month losses dropped by more than a half from a year earlier.The Dubai-based carrier posted an April-September loss of US$1.6 billion, compared with US$3.4 billion during the same period in 2020.“Across the group, we saw operations and demand pick up as countries started to ease travel restrictions,” CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said in a statement.“This momentum accelerated over the summer and continues to grow steadily into the winter season and beyond.”Revenue was up 86% year-on-year and passenger numbers rose 319% to 6.1 million, Emirates said, adding that cargo volumes had recovered to 90% of pre-pandemic levels.The airline also received a US$681 capital injection from its owner, the Dubai government, following a US$3.1 billion payment announced earlier.In June, Emirates announced its first annual loss in more than three decades after the coronavirus crisis forced it to suspend operations and slash staff last year.“While there’s still some way to go before we restore our operations to pre-pandemic levels and return to profitability, we are well on the recovery path,” Sheikh Ahmed said.Like other major carriers, Emirates began announcing heavy layoffs when its fleet of A380 superjumbos and Boeing 777s was grounded last year.On Wednesday, it said the overall group workforce has shrunk again by 2.0% to 73,571, but a recruitment drive is underway prioritising employees who were furloughed or made redundant.‘Return of passenger demand’By the end of September, Emirates was operating passenger and cargo flights to 139 airports, using its entire fleet of Boeing 777s and 37 Airbus A380s. It launched services to Miami, a new destination, in July.“The strong revenue recovery reflects quick return of passenger demand wherever flight and travel restrictions were eased around the world,” the Emirates statement said.Operating costs rose 22% against overall capacity growth of 66%, with fuel costs more than doubling, partly because of higher oil prices.The financial results come ahead of next week’s Dubai Air Show, where Emirates is expected to discuss its delayed 777X order with Boeing.The airline has repeatedly complained about the delivery of the long-haul jet, whose launch has been set back by a series of safety and technical problems.Emirates announced an order of 150 777Xs at the 2013 Dubai Air Show and later revised the deal. In May, Emirates president Tim Clark was quoted as saying he feared a delay until 2025.“There will be a discussion before and during the air show,” Sheikh Ahmed told journalists last week.After an initial strict lockdown, life in the Gulf emirate – one of the first destinations to welcome visitors again last July – has largely returned to normal, with restaurants and hotels up and running and beaches open to the public.


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Hawaii volcano shoots lava fountains 60m high

Fountains of lava up to 200 feet (60m) high have been fired into the air from Hawaii's Mauna Loa, geologists say, generating rivers of molten rock from the world's largest active volcano.
Four fissures have now opened up on the mammoth mountain, which burst into life on Sunday for the first time in almost 40 years.
Vast clouds of steam and smoke were billowing into the sky from the volcano, which makes up half of Hawaii's Big Island.
"Estimates of the tallest fountain heights are between 100–200 feet" but most are much smaller, the US Geological Survey said in an update Monday.
"There is a visible gas plume from the erupting fissure fountains and lava flows, with the plume primarily being blown to the Northwest."
Geologists say there is currently no risk to people and property below the eruption.
"The longest and largest lava flow is issuing from fissure three," the USGS said Tuesday.
"This lava flow crossed the Mauna Loa Weather Observatory Road... and the flow front was located approximately six miles (10km) from Saddle Road (the main road at the foot of the northern flank)."
The lava fountain from the newest fissure was up to 33 feet high, the agency said.
Everything is currently contained in the Northeast Rift Zone, the USGS said, but warned Mauna Loa is a dynamic volcano.
"Additional fissures could open along the Northeast Rift Zone below the current location, and lava flows can continue to travel downslope."
Pressure has been building at Mauna Loa for years, the USGS said, and the eruption – which lit up the night sky – could be seen 72km away, in the west coast town of Kona.
While lava is not presently a risk to populations, scientists have said winds could carry volcanic gas and fine ash downslope, as well as Pele's Hair – fine strands of volcanic glass formed when lava skeins cool quickly in the air.
Named after Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes, the strands can be very sharp and pose potential danger to skin and eyes.
'Long Mountain'
Authorities in Hawaii have not issued any evacuation orders, although the summit area and several roads in the region were closed, and two shelters have been opened as a precaution.
The largest volcano on Earth by volume, Mauna Loa, whose name means "Long Mountain," is larger than the rest of the Hawaiian islands combined.
The volcano's submarine flanks stretch for miles to an ocean floor that is in turn depressed by Mauna Loa's great mass – making its summit some 11 miles above its base, according to the USGS.
One of six active volcanoes on the Hawaiian islands, Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843.
Its most recent eruption, in 1984, lasted 22 days and produced lava flows reached to within about four miles of Hilo.
Kilauea, a volcano on the southeastern flank of Mauna Loa, erupted almost continuously between 1983 and 2019, and a minor eruption there has been ongoing for months.


Sarawak reps call for better rural development under 12MP

MPs from Sarawak have welcomed the action plan for development in the government’s economic layout for the next five years but urge Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to focus more on initiatives for rural areas in the state.Speaking to MalaysiaNow, they voiced hope that Putrajaya would push for more public expenditure for development to keep the momentum going despite political uncertainties.Santubong MP Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said more allocations for infrastructure projects should be given to Sarawak, especially for rural areas.He said the focus should be on improving connectivity, communications, electricity supply and education in addition to healthcare to ensure that no one is left behind.“The people of Sarawak and Sabah have been longing to enjoy development similar to that in the peninsula,” he said.Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin agreed, saying policies should be carried out decisively to ensure that all social groups can benefit.“There is a detailed set of development actions to make a significant difference in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.“These actions are aimed at delivering tangible results and ensuring a sustainable impact on Sarawak’s economic potential, green growth, infrastructure investment, digital transformation, connectivity, improved access to basic necessities and much more.”He welcomed the development action plan as comprehensive in nature despite the impact of the pandemic on all parties including the federal government.“Everyone is struggling as a single entity – a unified whole,” he said. “If some plans are ignored, others will be less effective, as economic agendas for national prosperity with high potential cannot be fully maximised.”Wan Junaidi, who is minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of law, also urged Ismail to help stimulate the transformation agenda in the government and Parliament to settle issues related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963.“This is the hard truth: more than 40% of the people in Borneo are still living in rural areas, lacking basic facilities and infrastructure.“This was the ‘unspoken promise’ to the people in Sarawak and Sabah upon joining Malaysia – that they too could enjoy a similar development status,” he said.


Lawyer moots ‘cooling-off period’ before ex-govt officials return to industry they once headed

A senior lawyer has proposed that former civil servants who once held top posts undergo a cooling-off period before returning to the private sector to work in industries which used to be under their jurisdiction.“This is to avoid any perception that someone is unfairly or unjustly leveraging contacts made or information gained during his time as a civil servant for personal gain,” Andrew Khoo, who is also the co-chair of the Malaysian Bar’s Constitutional Law Committee, told MalaysiaNow.He was responding to a report that a former top anti-corruption officer is now part of the defence team for a politician charged with money laundering.Earlier this week, Dzulkifli Ahmad, who served as chief commissioner for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission from 2016 to 2018, was named as part of the defence counsel for former Felda chairman Shahrir Samad in the latter’s money laundering case.Shahrir, the former Johor Bahru MP, faces a charge of money laundering for failing to declare his actual income in 2013 when he received RM1 million from former prime minister Najib Razak, money which MACC said was linked to troubled state firm 1MDB.Dzulkifli was also in charge of a unit placed under the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) when it was involved in the 2015 1MDB investigation, which was short-lived.He also headed the AGC’s unit to fight money laundering, the same crime with which Shahrir is charged.Dzulkifli’s role in Shahrir’s case has raised questions of a potential conflict of interest.“He puts himself in a clear conflict of interest as the defence lawyer to Shahrir, as he would have confidential and privileged information which came to him during the time he was in the AGC, and subsequently as chief commissioner of MACC,” a lawyer had told MalaysiaNow on condition of anonymity.Khoo agreed there was potential for conflict of interest in former senior officials from jurisdictional bodies joining the private sector, although this is not illegal.He said in Dzulkifli’s case, it is the right of a solicitor to choose whom he represents.But he added: “There are professional rules about conflict of interest and the requirement for an advocate and solicitor to not place himself in a position of conflict or potential embarrassment.“This could arise if an advocate and solicitor is privy to information about his client that was obtained while he was in a different capacity.”He said one solution is to institute rules to ensure that “a sufficient period of time elapses between leaving government service and working in a company or enterprise in the similar sector”.“This is done in many countries as part of good governance and anti-corruption measures and practices,” he added.Khoo said concerns of conflict of interest could arise in the case of retired judges returning to practise law, or former civil servants becoming directors or consultants in companies involved in the same industry where they had held positions in the government.