How brain drain distorts the future economy

Malaysia is transitioning towards a knowledge-based economy where the production of goods and services is based primarily on knowledge-intensive activities that will advance technical and scientific innovation.
The Knowledge-Based Economy Master Plan, launched in 2002, was to sustain a rapid rate of economic growth and enhance international competitiveness and for our country to move away from production-based economy.
Nevertheless, Malaysia will continue to rely largely on low-cost foreign labour. Many industry players are pushing the government to simplify immigration procedures to bring in foreign workers as they are reluctant to wean off from low-cost business models as investments in technological advancement machines and operations necessitate a large sum of money. The resistance to change reflects the dearth of highly qualified positions which contributes towards underemployment among many Malaysians.
Despite the lack of accurate data, it can be assumed that the underemployment rate is larger than it should be given the recent growth of the gig economy. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the number of unemployed graduates is trending up, reaching 33.9% or 1.55 million in 2021, with graduates' unemployment rate standing at 4.1%.
Research shows that a surplus of unskilled labour will result in excessive labour emigration from the country's educated population, which will eventually impact state productivity and economic growth.
According to Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysians are not being paid enough for the level of productivity we are producing, with many workers being underpaid. It also reported that Malaysians have been underpaid for decades where Malaysian employees were paid the least for the same level of production compared to their regional peers in Singapore and South Korea.
The issue of brain drain has been a prevailing one, afflicting almost all industries. In essence, it is an external migration of the educated part of the country’s population. Infectious disease expert professor Adeeba Kamarulzaman highlighted that Universiti Malaya loses at least 30 of its medical graduates to Singapore each year, and that it costs the country almost RM1 million per student to train.
In 2011, the government set up TalentCorp to help stem brain drain and attract Malaysians back home via its returning experts programme. It has managed to bring back home only 3,600 Malaysians since its establishment in 2011 – a lukewarm response which shows that despite the initiative and many others, Malaysians who are emigrating are not interested in the prospect of gaining employment here.
It is time for both the government and employers to reconsider offering highly skilled individuals enticing incentives in order for our talents to remain in this country, such as through financial rewards or attractive career advancement opportunities. They should also recognise highly skilled Malaysian workers in vital sectors that can harness a knowledge-based economy.
Strengthening the social safety net and providing support will make working in this country more attractive, especially for young individuals and families. As is to be expected, young employees in particular place emphasis and high priority on a supportive and positive work environment that encourages rewards innovations, creativity and hard work.
Malaysia must make significant investments in top-notch training and educational initiatives to guarantee that it has a workforce that is qualified to fulfil the demands of modern economy. The Human Resource Development Fund needs to accelerate its efforts to offer high-quality training and upskilling programmes, publicising its range of projects extensively, and making itself accessible to all working Malaysians.
With Malaysia's shift towards becoming a knowledge-based economy, technological development allows firms and companies to increase their productivity. Leading technology agencies like NanoMalaysia and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation must help businesses and organisations across all industries to increase their readiness, knowledge and adoption of technology. The promotion of research and development initiatives through tax exemption, for instance, will definitely lure multinationals and investors as this move contributes towards cost reduction.
For companies, tackling underemployment requires them to take the utmost care of their workers. Their employees should be given jobs based on their interests, calibre and academic merits. The designation and post assigned to a worker plays an important role in the performance and efficiency of work.
Companies should acknowledge local talent or highfliers who can drive innovation to unlock workers’ reserve of creative energy. Such energy must be unlocked, deployed and channelled until a circle is created in which the workers and their companies can flourish together.
A strong political will is, indeed, required to help address this long-standing issue. The government can go on explaining the initiatives to prevent brain drain but these just don’t compete with those opportunities available abroad.
Malaysia has made significant investments in infrastructure but it has yet to achieve scientific development, technological and innovative capability to retain or to recover the human capital that it has generated. Therefore, close cooperation between the government and employers and a review of the existing policies are vital to bringing back and retaining young talents, to push Malaysia towards becoming a high-income nation.
Adriana Asmaa’ Mohd Ezanee is a research analyst at Institut Masa Depan Malaysia.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Prosecution seeks green light for Arul Kanda to testify against Najib in 1MDB audit report case

The prosecution in Najib Razak’s 1MDB audit report tampering case has applied for the court’s approval to call his co-accused, former CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy, to testify against him, news portal Malaysiakini reported today.According to the report, deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram made the application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.Sri Ram, a former Federal Court judge, had previously said that the prosecution would apply to call Arul Kanda to give evidence on its behalf.He said on Nov 18, 2019 that an application would be made under Section 63 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.The section states that in a situation where two or more people are charged with an offence under this law, the court may require one or more of them to give evidence as witnesses for the prosecution if a written application is made by the public prosecutor.Speaking in court today, he said Arul Kanda had information on transactions with Najib that would “materially affect the outcome of the prosecution”.“He (Arul Kanda) has information in his possession relevant to the charge against the other accused (Najib) in relation to the meeting held in February (24, 2016), events that preceded it and events that followed that meeting,” Sri Ram was quoted as saying.Najib, 68, is charged with using his position to order amendments to the final 1MDB audit report before it was presented to the Public Accounts Committee to avoid any action 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, Putrajaya, between Feb 22 and 26, 2016.They 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 not less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.


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Wheat-laden trucks, ships stranded at Indian port

Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of wheat were stranded at a major port in India on Tuesday after New Delhi’s surprise ban on exports over inflation and food security worries.India, the world’s second-largest grower of wheat, last week ordered that traders could not enter into new export deals without government approval.The snap announcement has led to chaos at the port in Kandla, in Gujarat, where about 4,000 trucks are stuck in queues outside, according to the port operator.Four ships partially loaded with about 80,000 tonnes of wheat are also docked at the facility.Port officials said trucks that arrived before May 13, when the government announced the export ban, would be allowed to unload the grain onto ships waiting to take it to countries including Egypt and South Korea under prior agreements.“However, those wheat-laden trucks that arrived at the port after May 13 will have to return with the commodity,” said Om Prakash Dadlani, spokesman for operator Deendayal Port Trust.The Gandhidham Chamber of Commerce estimated that about 400,000 tonnes of wheat from Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and other wheat-growing states were stranded.Between 500 and 700 warehouses near the port were “full of wheat for export”, said Teja Kangad, president of the chamber.The government should have given prior notice before announcing the ban, he said.“This has led to a chaotic situation where the truckers and traders are left uncertain of what will happen to the goods. Also, wheat being a perishable commodity, it can’t be kept in the open for long,” Kangad told AFP.The wheat ban has drawn criticism from the Group of Seven nations worried about protectionism as inflation soars in the wake of the Ukraine war.India had previously said it was ready to help fill some of the supply shortages caused by Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine, which had accounted for 12% of global exports.While India is a small exporter, its assurances of supplies from its large buffer stocks had provided some support to global prices and soothed fears of major shortages.India’s wheat production has been hit by searing temperatures – the country recorded its warmest March on record – prompting the government to predict output would fall at least 5% this year from 109 million tonnes in 2021.Wheat prices surged to a record high on Monday, jumping to 435 euros (US$453) per tonne as the European market opened.


45 killed in Philippine military plane crash

At least 45 people were killed and dozens injured Sunday when a Philippine military aircraft carrying troops crashed and burst into flames after missing the runway in the country’s south, officials said.Nearly a hundred people, most of them recent army graduates, were on the C-130 Hercules transport plane which was trying to land on Jolo island in Sulu province around midday.Some of the soldiers were seen jumping out of the plane before it hit the ground and exploded into flames, said Major General William Gonzales, commander of the Joint Task Force-Sulu.It was one of the country’s deadliest military aviation accidents.“This is a sad day but we have to remain hopeful,” Gonzales said in a statement.“We enjoin the nation to pray for those who are injured and those who have perished in this tragedy.”Among the dead were 42 soldiers and three civilians, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Forty-nine military personnel and four civilians were also injured and taken to hospital.Five members of the military are still missing.Photos of the crash site released by the Joint Task Force-Sulu showed the damaged tail and the smoking wreckage of the fuselage’s back section lying near coconut trees.Images published by local media outlet Pondohan TV on its Facebook page showed the wreckage engulfed in flames and a plume of thick black smoke rising above houses located near the site.Armed Forces chief General Cirilito Sobejana said the aircraft was carrying troops from Cagayan de Oro on the southern island of Mindanao when it “missed the runway” as it tried to land on Jolo.The plane tried to “regain power but didn’t make it”, he told local media.The four-engine plane crashed near a quarry in a lightly populated area, First Lieutenant Jerrica Angela Manongdo said.High school student Almar Hajiri Aki told AFP he was standing beside a road when he heard a “loud explosion” behind him.“I thought our house was hit,” said the 21-year-old, who rushed with his neighbours to help pull soldiers from the wreckage.Western Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Corletan Vinluan told AFP the aircraft overshot the landing strip and broke into two, according to initial reports.Air force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Maynard Mariano said the cause of the crash would be investigated, while armed forces spokesman Major General Edgard Arevalo told DZBB radio that it was being treated as an accident rather than an attack.Most of the passengers had recently graduated from basic military training and were being deployed to the restive island as part of a joint task force fighting terrorism in the Muslim-majority region.They were supposed to report for duty on Sunday, Gonzales said.The military has a heavy presence in the southern Philippines where militant groups, including the kidnap-for-ransom outfit Abu Sayyaf, operate.Deadly accidentsC-130s have been the workhorses of air forces around the world for decades, used to transport troops, supplies and vehicles. They are also often deployed to deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.The Hercules that crashed Sunday has the same tail number as one acquired from the United States and delivered to the Philippines earlier this year.Senator Richard Gordon said it was the fourth military aircraft accident this year with “mass casualties”.“Are we buying defective crafts… (with) the people’s money?” he tweeted.Lorenzana said the previous mishaps were being probed and dismissed speculation about the causes as “disrespectful” to victims and their families.Presidential spokesman Harry Roque described the accident as “very unfortunate”, and the US embassy Charge d’Affaires John Law offered “sincerest condolences” to the families of the victims.Sunday’s accident comes after a Black Hawk helicopter crashed last month during a night-time training flight, killing all six on board. The accident prompted the grounding of the Philippines’ entire Black Hawk fleet.


Health ministry warns against fist bumps as Covid-19 fight continues

The health ministry today advised the public to avoid performing fist bumps in order to curb further spread of Covid-19.Deputy Health Minister I Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said the popular gesture was not encouraged by the ministry.“(There should be) no salam (Malay style of greeting with hands together) or other forms of body contact, but today I see that not only has the fist bump become a trend, some people even embrace each other.“The ministry suggests placing the hand on the chest and bending the head slightly as a respectful gesture of greeting because the current trend is not good and I urge the people to be careful,” he said during the question-and-answer session at the Dewan Negara in Kuala Lumpur today.Lim Pay Hen had asked about the government’s plans to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, including the appointment of medical officers.“We will continue to monitor this pandemic as we don’t fully know the disease yet.“The weapons we currently have to fight the disease are face masks, hand sanitiser and physical distancing,” Noor Azmi said.He said Malaysia had proven itself able to manage and control the disease, to the extent of gaining global recognition, adding that the government would double its efforts.On Covid-19 swab tests, he said so far these are only conducted on individuals with symptoms or who are at high risk of contracting the infection.He added that there are no plans at the moment to provide periodic swab tests free of charge for school teachers.“The government has developed SOPs in various sub-sectors including education, hence compliance with the SOPs is important to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in schools,” he said in reply to Robert Lau Hui Yew.


Cabinet green-lights draft anti-hopping bill

The Cabinet has approved the draft anti-hopping bill scheduled for tabling in Parliament on Monday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said today.
"The Cabinet meeting held yesterday had no objections and unanimously approved the draft of the bill," he said in a statement today.
An official letter has been submitted to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun for the draft of the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2022 to be laid on the tables of MPs for reference in line with Dewan Rakyat Standing Order 60, he said.
Wan Junaidi also reiterated the government's commitment for the second reading of the draft bill to be held on July 27 and 28, subject to the discretion of the speaker.
He also said that the special select committee set up to review the bill has finalised and confirmed the amendments made to the draft report.


Ahead of Zahid's 'large-scale cleansing' in Umno, Khairy says no surprise if he's chopped like others

Umno's Khairy Jamaluddin says he would not be surprised if he is among those to be sacked from the party in a repeat of the action against several veteran leaders who went against Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, as the party president announced a "large-scale cleansing" to rid the party of "saboteurs".
Khairy also questioned the process of acting against party members, citing the case of Pasir Salak Umno chief Tajuddin Abdul Rahman who was suspended after speaking out against Zahid's leadership.
"If it's about discipline, the process should go through the disciplinary board, but the Supreme Council has already been making many decisions unilaterally," Khairy was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.
"So I'm not surprised if I'm not consulted and if they raise my issue and that of others," he said, adding that he had yet to receive any call to attend a disciplinary board hearing.
Khairy was transferred out of his Rembau parliamentary seat in the November election, with Zahid's deputy Mohamad Hasan named as candidate in his place – ensuring the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar a place in the Dewan Rakyat.
The move was seen as Zahid's plan to sideline Khairy, who is one of his strongest critics.
While campaigning for the Sungai Buloh seat, Khairy also openly declared his intention to contest the Umno presidency, adding that the party had lost its way and should be "fixed".
He was among several senior Umno leaders who slammed Zahid's move to back PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister in the aftermath of the election which resulted in a hung parliament.
Yesterday, Zahid renewed a pledge he made at the recent Umno general assembly to carry out "large-scale cleansing", targeting those whom he said had sabotaged the party and "shot themselves in the foot".
"Those who haven't felt the heat yet, insha Allah, they will tomorrow night," he told reporters yesterday ahead of an Umno Supreme Council meeting tonight.
However, he refused to say whether the action would involve Khairy, adding that it was part of a "strategy".
"So I have to 'embargo' this piece of information until it is time to do so."


Don’t panic, says Muhyiddin as govt announces more targeted lockdowns

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today announced that targeted movement control orders would be implemented in areas affected by the recent spike in Covid-19 cases, while assuring the public that no nationwide lockdown would be reinstated.“I hope you do not panic and make your own conclusions on what we are facing. Avoid fake news that creates confusion among us,” he said in a speech streamed live on Facebook from his home where he is under quarantined.He said the government would only act based on authoritative data, and noted that there were all sorts of suggestions given to him personally as well as on social media.“What is important is that we do not point fingers to blame certain parties,” he said, urging the public to ignore those out to exploit the current spike for their own interests.He said the government was aware of the anxieties among parents over their children’s safety in schools, adding that only schools in red zone areas such as Sabah would be closed.He said any directive to shut down schools nationwide would only be decided by a special meeting of the National Security Council.He said similarly, any move to ban interstate travel would only be decided by the council.Muhyiddin also said the government would defer a ban on travel in and out of Sabah to Oct 12, taking into account the plight of those who have been stranded.No double standardsMeanwhile, Muhyiddin expressed regret that people have not been following health SOPs to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that he had personally witnessed the violation of physical distancing rules during the recent Sabah election campaign.He also rejected claims of double standards in implementing the SOPs, saying he himself was told to stay indoors.“Covid-19 does not discriminate over one’s title or status, it can infect anyone. So everyone must abide by the SOPs,” he said today, just minutes after the health ministry announced a record high of 691 new cases.He said health authorities have also increased screening activities.“We are now better prepared than before in terms of experience and manpower. We know the behaviour of the virus. But we need to break the transmission of the virus,” he said.In a lighter tone, Muhyiddin said he would come down hard on Malaysians who refuse to abide by the SOPs.“Excuse me if Abah (dad) is forced to use the stick,” he quipped.


Daily vaccine jabs top August target

More than 300,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine were administered yesterday, the highest daily number yet and exceeding the target for August.A total of 313,761 jabs were given, comprising 196,603 first doses and 117,158 second doses.Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the achievement showed that the country’s vaccination programme was on track.“The government is optimistic that our efforts are on the right track,” he said in a speech aired live today.“I’d like to thank and congratulate minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Dr Adham Baba, the frontliners, volunteers and fellow Malaysians for their efforts to make our biggest vaccination programme in the country a success.”Yesterday’s numbers take the total number of vaccine jabs administered so far to 9,320,476, with 2,735,474 people or 8.4% of the population now fully vaccinated.The government aims to fully vaccinate 10% of the population by mid-July.The five states with the highest number of fully vaccinated people are Selangor (367,895), Sarawak (326,285), Johor (290,008), Kuala Lumpur (255,348) and Perak (232,959).


Myanmar orders 2 million to stay home as Covid-19 cases spike

Myanmar authorities imposed stay-at-home-measures on the country’s second city Friday as coronavirus cases in the coup-wracked country surge, with many health workers striking to protest against the junta.Inhabitants of Mandalay, as well as two townships in the southern Bago region woke up to new restrictions banning more than one person leaving home for non-medical reasons.There was no timeframe given for the new rules, announced by the health and sports ministry of the State Administration Council – as the junta calls itself.Those travelling to government jobs are exempted.The affected areas are home to more than two million people, according to a 2014 census, and join towns in western Chin state near the Indian border that have been locked down since May.Authorities reported more than 1,500 new cases on Thursday, up from around 100 per day in early June.Myanmar’s creaking healthcare system had struggled to respond to Covid-19 even before the February coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi.Swathes of the country were put under partial lockdown last year, although enforcement was often lax in the developing nation where many face a stark choice between following regulations and feeding their families.Since the coup, thousands of doctors, volunteers and civil servants have joined a mass civil disobedience campaign to protest against the military regime.Myanmar has reported 3,347 virus-related deaths, although true figures are likely to be higher.A shipment of 1.5 million vaccines arrived from India earlier this year.On Thursday state media reported junta leader Min Aung Hlaing had agreed to buy two million vaccines from Russia, without specifying which shot.A spokeswoman from the health ministry said last week that authorities were also negotiating with China to buy more vaccines.Myanmar has been in turmoil since the February putsch, with more than 880 civilians killed in a crackdown and almost 6,500 arrested, according to a local monitoring group.


At least 30 dead, 56 wounded in northwest Pakistan mosque blast

At least 30 people were killed and 56 wounded in a huge blast at a Shiite mosque in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, a hospital official said on Friday.The blast in the Kocha Risaldar area of Peshawar – around 190km (120 miles) west of the capital Islamabad – happened moments before Friday prayers, witnesses said.“I saw a man firing at two policemen before he entered the mosque. Seconds later I heard a big bang,” said Zahid Khan.It comes on the first day of a cricket Test match in Rawalpindi between Pakistan and Australia, who haven’t toured the country in nearly a quarter of a century because of security concerns.Muhammad Asim Khan, a spokesman for Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital, confirmed the death toll of 30 and said hospitals have declared an emergency.The explosion blew out the windows of nearby buildings, and frantic rescuers were seen ferrying the dead and wounded from the scene.


Majority of Malays think Umno should stick with PN, new survey shows

The majority of Malays believe Umno should not withdraw from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, a new survey has shown ahead of a meeting by the party’s Supreme Council tonight to discuss calls by leaders aligned with former president Najib Razak to quit the ruling bloc.The survey, carried out by independent pollster Merdeka Center from Dec 23 to 31, found that 62% of Malay respondents disagreed with a withdrawal by Umno from PN while only 21% agreed.Results on whether Umno should go it alone in the next general election were mixed, with 51% of Malays agreeing and 36% disagreeing.In general, 31% of respondents agreed that Umno should leave PN while 44% disagreed.On whether Umno should go it alone, 39% agreed while 41% disagreed.The survey involved 1,202 respondents aged 21 and above from across Malaysia, with an equal number of male and female participants, comprising ethnic groups reflecting the national profile.Several leaders aligned with Najib have been urging Umno MPs to revoke their support for the administration in an attempt to force snap polls as soon as possible.Yesterday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged MPs to quit the bloc before February.Supreme Council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman earlier claimed that that two-thirds of the party’s division leaders nationwide preferred that it contest the next polls on its own, although he furnished no details of such a survey.


US to review classified 9/11 documents for possible publication

US officials vowed Monday to review classified documents related to the Sept 11, 2001 terror attacks to see which could be made public – a recurring demand of some victims’ relatives.The FBI said in a letter to the US attorney for the southern district of New York that it “has decided to review” its prior privilege to not disclose certain sensitive documents and will “identify additional information appropriate for disclosure”.Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) “will disclose such information on a rolling basis as expeditiously as possible”, the letter read.The FBI’s commitment is part of a legal battle waged by relatives of Sept 11 victims against Saudi Arabia and other nations they believe were accomplices.During the legal wrangling, successive US administrations have invoked state secrecy in order not to publish some documents.President Joe Biden however said in a statement that he welcomed the court filing.“My administration is committed to ensuring the maximum degree of transparency under the law, and to adhering to the rigorous guidance… on the invocation of the state secrets privilege,” he said.The US is preparing to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the attacks against the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on an airplane that crashed in Pennsylvania, with a solemn ceremony planned in New York with Biden in attendance.Some relatives of victims, survivors of the attacks and members of rescue teams published a letter last week saying Biden would not be welcome at the commemoration “until he fulfils his commitment”.The letter called for the release of all documents and information “that our government has accrued in its investigation” that they say links Saudi Arabia to the attacks. Some 1,700 people have signed the letter, according to the US media.Monday’s announcement of the court filing was met with skepticism by victims relatives.“Unfortunately… we have heard many empty promises before,” said Brett Eagleson, the son of a 9/11 victim.US authorities and the FBI “can act immediately to produce the documents”, he said in a statement.


Hamzah's claim of having files on govt leaders a serious matter, says Ramkarpal

Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin’s statement about having many files on government party leaders from his time as home minister is a serious matter and should be given appropriate attention, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh said an investigation into the matter could only be made if a report was made for the police to open an investigation paper.
"Since the statement was made yesterday, I believe a report to the police or even to MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) is needed before any investigation can be done.
"I think that’s the normal practice," he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2023 at the committee level.
Ramkarpal was responding to Gobind Singh Deo (PH-Damansara) who wanted to know whether an investigation was being carried out on the statement by Larut MP, which he described as an abuse of power.
Hamzah, in a special interview with an English daily on March 12, claimed he had files in his possession which could implicate government leaders in wrongdoings.
However, he said he was still thinking about whether to use them or not.
In another development, Ramkarpal said MACC had opened 33 investigation papers against the alleged misappropriation of funds by the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra), with 10 cases brought to court across the country between 2021 and 2022.
"Investigations into the remaining cases are still ongoing with several actions taken, including forfeiting and inspecting the weaknesses in the system and procedures related to Mitra funds," he said.


France will pay parents to stay home if infections close schools

French schools are being forced to close again on the heels of record daily Covid-19 infections.Virus clusters have emerged across the country since schools were reopened on Sept 1.The clusters have already led to the closure of more than 30 schools and could well lead to many more.That will mean thousands of parents having to stay at home instead of going to work.Now the French government has developed a scheme which means this situation need not turn into a family financial nightmare.Paris has revealed it will pay 84% of the wages of one parent in each household with a child under the age of 16 if their school is forced to close down due to Covid-19 infections.Payments will be backdated to Sept 1, the date pupils returned to the classroom, and the government will also extend its furlough scheme for struggling businesses, The Times reported.Covid-19 is still rampaging across France, gathering strength from its second wind.The Times reports that any further lockdown measures in France would be implemented on a local basis, rather than nationwide.President Emmanuel Macron has voiced his hopes that any new measures which might be required to keep infections down would not be too restrictive.He said, “We need to be able to continue to educate our children and care for other patients and illnesses and to have a social and economic life.”After reaching a low in August, the number of people hospitalised is again trending upward.The rise in infections has mainly affected young people who, while they are less likely to develop complications from the virus, can pass it on to their fellows in situations where social distancing is more of a problem, such as schools.


Rela denies personal data used for automatic registration of members

The People’s Volunteer Corp (Rela) has denied allegations that it used an individual’s personal data for automatic registration as a Rela member without consent.Rela in a statement today said automatic registration was against Section 6(1) of the Personal Data Protection Act 2010.“Rela is aware of the public’s concerns and will take the appropriate action to conduct an internal investigation to identify the membership registration procedures implemented before Act 752 (Malaysia Volunteers Corp Act) came into force.“We will not compromise if any party or individual is found to have knowingly used an individual’s personal data for a specific purpose without their consent,” the statement said.Earlier, several people had claimed that their personal details were used to automatically register them as Rela volunteers. They also said their details were in Rela’s database.Rela said those who are registered as members but who wish to terminate their membership can call 03-8870 3770 and email [email protected]It also said that the department had been in the midst of a “whitening programme” to terminate members who had been inactive for a period of five years.However, it said the programme, carried out under Section 9 of the act, was temporarily suspended as Rela was focusing on the fight against Covid-19.Members who are interested in extending their memberships can do so by notifying the Rela director-general in writing, it said.


Just the ticket – Moscow Metro to bring in FacePay system this year

The Moscow Metro system will be using an innovative system by the end of 2021 with passengers able to pay for their journey with their faces.Currently in testing, the FacePay technology will be available for use at turnstiles and cash desks at the Russian capital’s metro stations. Thus far, test participants have successfully passed through the barriers 2,000 times, Interfax reports.Facial recognition cameras were installed in many Moscow Metro stations last year at payment gates, and although the public cannot yet use the system, it has already been used to catch more than 900 criminal suspects, with the technology performing a second function of identifying those wanted by the police.In February, Moscow daily Kommersant reported that city authorities would be installing 316 multimedia screens in 85 subway stations around the capital, each containing autofocus-enabled full HD CCTV cameras.Moscow already has a vast network of facial recognition camera technology, which last year made international headlines after being used to catch residents leaving their apartment during the Covid-19 lockdown.Despite worries about personal security, a survey of Russians last summer revealed that around 50% of citizens support the system.Similar systems are already in place in some Chinese cities, including the mega-metropolis Zhengzhou, home to over 10 million people.In 2019, the South China Morning Post reported that nearly 200,000 commuters opted to use the technology in just a couple of months. Facial recognition has also been implemented in other Chinese cities, such as technology hub Shenzhen.It has not yet been reported how such systems deal with passengers wearing protective masks.


Hollywood faces possible second strike as actors' talks near deadline

Netflix Inc, Walt Disney Co and Hollywood's other major film and television studios were racing against a midnight deadline on Friday to reach a deal with the SAG-Aftra actors union and avert a second labor strike this summer.
A-list stars including Jennifer Lawrence and Meryl Streep, in a letter to union leadership this week, said they were ready to walk off the job if negotiators cannot reach a "transformative deal" on higher base pay and safeguards around use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The letter came after union negotiators issued a video saying their talks had been "extremely productive," a possible sign that a deal was within reach.
Negotiations were taking place during a difficult time for Hollywood studios. Conglomerates are under pressure from Wall Street to make their streaming services profitable after pumping billions of dollars into programming to attract subscribers.
The rise of streaming has eroded television ad revenue as traditional TV audiences shrink.
A strike by SAG-Aftra, which represents 160,000 actors, would add pressure to studios already grappling with a nearly two-month work stoppage by the Writers Guild of America (WGA).
The walkout by 11,500 writers has shut down a wide swath of TV production and delayed the filming of movies including Marvel's "Thunderbolts" and "Blade." Any ongoing filming would have to halt if actors also strike.
Leaders of SAG-Aftra and the WGA say the entertainment industry has changed dramatically with the rise of streaming television and the emergence of new technology such as generative AI, which they fear could be used to write scripts or create digital actors.
Writers on the picket lines on Friday waited for word on the outcome of talks between SAG-Aftra and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which negotiates on behalf of major studios.
"I think that they're attempting to... pit us against each other," said Keith Powell, a writer, director and actor who is a member of SAG-Aftra, the WGA and the Directors Guild of America.
Some actors have said they want to stage a walkout in part to support the writers.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, star of the new "Indiana Jones" movie, noted that she was already on strike as a member of the WGA.
"I'm on the edge of my seat hoping that SAG will follow suit and stand up in support of the writers, and just really hope we can get this sorted," Waller-Bridge said in an interview with Reuters at an "Indiana Jones" premiere in London.
SAG-Aftra already voted to give its leaders the authority to call a work stoppage if talks break down before their contract expires on Friday night.
"I think we need the actors to go on strike so that it all could get worked out," filmmaker and actor Judd Apatow told Reuters. "All these issues affect everybody."
The AMPTP had no comment on the ongoing talks with SAG-Aftra.
With the writers, the AMPTP said it had offered "generous" pay increases but could not agree to all of the writers' demands. The studios and the WGA have not held talks since the writers' strike began on May 2.
The WGA walkout is hitting caterers, prop suppliers and other small businesses that generate a large portion of their income from Hollywood productions. The last writers' strike in 2007 and 2008 cost the California economy an estimated US$2.1 billion (RM9.80 billion).


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Former MP told to apologise to Zakir Naik over LTTE statements

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today directed former Klang MP Charles Anthony Santiago to make an apology to independent preacher Zakir Naik over his statements linked to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2019.
Judge Akhtar Tahir directed Santiago to do so after finding that he was liable for defaming Zakir.
In his judgement, Akhtar ruled that the second statement made by Santiago in a lecture titled "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)" on Nov 25, 2019, where Zakir had alleged that Santiago's statement had defamed him, was a dual prong, despite it being attributed to Zakir.
"One directed towards the Malaysian police and the government, and the other directed towards the plaintiff.
"The implication that can be derived from the remark against the plaintiff is that he had an influence over the police and the government in the arrest of the two DAP members," he said.
The judge ruled that despite the court finding the remarks are an expression of Santiago's opinion, it is, however, speculative in nature, and found to be defamatory against Zakir. "The court also noted that the remark, instead of tarnishing the image and reputation of the plaintiff, has in fact enhanced the reputation of the plaintiff as being someone who is influential in Malaysia.
"The court, therefore, rules that the plaintiff is not entitled to any damages, but as the statement is defamatory, directs the defendant to apologise publicly for the remarks made linking the plaintiffs to the arrest of the two DAP members," said the judge.
Meanwhile, on Santiago's first statement made publicly towards Zakir for his talk in Kota Bharu, Kelantan on Aug 8, 2019, the judge ruled that it was not defamatory and did not tarnish Zakir's reputation.
Zakir, in the talk, reportedly delivered sensitive remarks that touched on the Malaysian Chinese and Indians where Zakir said the former were "old guests" who should go back to their ancestral land, and the latter were more loyal to India's prime minister rather than Malaysia's prime minister.
Santiago, on August 13, 2019, issued a statement saying that the talk had the potential to cause racial riots as well as bitterness amongst Malaysians. Akhtar ruled that the press statement made by Santiago was indeed directed towards the plaintiff.
"In listening to the plaintiff's talk, the court noted that the plaintiff also made remarks about the Malaysian Chinese. It was clear that the plaintiff had interposed his personal grievance of being asked to leave the country by making these unnecessary remarks that the Malaysian Chinese should also be asked to leave the country.
"The court agreed with the defendant’s press statement that the plaintiff's remarks can cause a threat to multiracial Malaysia. In fact, the court noted that the plaintiff's remarks had attracted a rebuke from the Malaysian prime minister and many other politicians.
"It is therefore the court’s decision in this case that the defendant’s first statement is not defamatory and in fact a statement which is justified and a fair statement," the judge ruled.


RM32.4 billion for health in Budget 2022

The government has set aside RM32.4 billion for the health ministry in its budget for 2022, the second largest allocation after education.In light of the continuing battle against Covid-19, RM4 billion has been allocated specifically for the handling of the crisis.Of this, RM2 billion is for the vaccination programme while the remaining RM2 billion is to increase the capacity of public health service facilities including through the purchase of medication, consumables, personal protective equipment and health kits.Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, who tabled the budget in the Dewan Rakyat, said the government has proposed the procurement of antiviral medication that is found to be effective against a variety of viruses including Covid-19.He also said that the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme would continue to be strengthened for the provision of third shots as boosters for all adults, in addition to the vaccination of children aged 12 to 17.He said Putrajaya has signed an agreement for 88 million doses of vaccine, that is more than 140% of the population and enough for third jabs to be given to all individuals aged 12 and above.He said the government has also agreed to continue the Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat initiative, and is proposing an extention of the excise duty on sugary beverages in the form of chocolate or cocoa-based premixes, malt, coffee and tea.The government also plans to impose an excise duty on liquid or gel products containing nicotine used for e-cigarettes and vape.Putrajaya has also agreed to extend the contracts of more than 10,000 medical, dental and pharmaceutical officers after the mandatory service period of two years to a maximum of four years.It has likewise agreed to approve the sponsorship of a speciality programme with an allocation of RM100 million for the benefit of some 3,000 contract medical and dental officers.Meanwhile, RM70 million has been set aside for mental healthcare including support services, counselling, the addition of advocacy programmes and to boost the role of NGOs in this regard.


4 Indonesians charged over Sungai Muda pollution

Four Indonesian contract workers were charged in the Sungai Petani Sessions Court today with causing pollution to the Sungai Muda river on Nov 12.No plea was recorded from the four men – Dedi Hardianto, 32; Bestian, 38; Andika Safutra, 32; and Ade Pitria, 33 – as they did not understand the charge read out to them before judge Azman Abu Hassan.The court set Dec 22 for mention, for an interpreter to read the charges to them in the Indonesian language.According to the charge, they were alleged to have jointly committed mischief by causing a diminution in the supply of water by polluting Sungai Muda, which indirectly led to the closure of the water treatment plants at Jeniang Baru, Jeniang Lama and Sungai Pau, Gurun.The offence, under Section 430 of the Penal Code, was allegedly committed at KM17, Jalan Kalai Gajah Putih in Sik at 3.55pm, Nov 12.They face imprisonment of up to 30 years, a fine or both if found guilty.The court allowed them bail of RM50,000 with one local surety each.The Indonesian men, all unrepresented, were also ordered to surrender their passports and work permits to the court, and to report themselves at the Sik district police station on the 23rd of every month.Deputy public prosecutor Noor Azrul Abdul Rahman prosecuted.


Umno, BN politicians fail in bid for leave to appeal MACC compound notices

Thirty-one individuals including Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad today failed in their bids to challenge the compound notices issued by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) three years ago over allegations of receiving money from 1MDB.
This followed the decision by the Federal Court dismissing their applications for leave to pursue their appeal in the Federal Court against the lower court's decision.
The High Court on Feb 27, 2020 disallowed their applications to obtain leave to commence a judicial review to challenge the compound notices, and the Court of Appeal also rejected their appeals on Oct 15 last year.
The 31 individuals represented the Umno and Barisan Nasional divisions that were issued with compound notices by MACC. They include Saarani, representing Perak Umno, Umno Supreme Council member Shahrir Samad and former Pulai MP Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
Federal Court judge Hasnah Mohammed Hashim who sat alone on the panel held that there were no novel issues raised for the court to decide.
Hasnah said the applications for leave to appeal did not meet the threshold requirement under Section 96 (a) of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.
She awarded no costs as senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambaly @Arwi, representing MACC and its chief commissioner, did not seek any.
In their applications, the individuals sought an order to declare that the compounds issued by MACC on Oct 7, 2019 were null and void.
They also sought an order to quash the compound notices and an injunction order to stop MACC from enforcing the compounds or proceeding with the prosecution.
Earlier, lawyer Mohamed Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman, representing the individuals, requested that the court grant leave to appeal to decide on eight legal questions, saying the issuance of the compound notices was an administrative decision by MACC which could be subjected to judicial review.
However, Hanir argued that the decision which the individuals sought to challenge was academic as the offer to accept the compounds had lapsed, adding that they were given 14 days from the issuance of the notice on Oct 7, 2019, to accept or reject them.


US investigators question Goodyear Malaysia workers over labour practices

US government investigators have interviewed workers at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co’s Malaysian factory about their working conditions, employees told Reuters, intensifying scrutiny of potential labour abuses by the tyre maker in the country.The questioning by the Department of Homeland Security could lead to US prosecutions of one of the world’s biggest tyre makers, which faces related lawsuits and two ongoing investigations by regulators in Malaysia and the US, each looking into potential exploitation of foreign workers.Five current and former Goodyear Malaysia staff said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents have asked about their working and living conditions, details of court cases they filed against Goodyear, a police complaint alleging threats from Goodyear staff and workplace accidents.In video calls over the past 11 months or more, the agents from the main criminal-investigation unit of the Department of Homeland Security also requested documents relating to their employment, said the workers, who asked not to be identified because they feared reprisals.Reuters could not determine the specific violations that HSI is seeking to establish.HSI said it does not comment on ongoing investigations.Ohio-based Goodyear said it was committed to ensuring its supply chain practices adhered to laws and to its own policies.“Goodyear and Goodyear Malaysia are currently undertaking a thorough review of the matter, including retaining an independent social auditing firm to inspect working and housing conditions,” Goodyear told Reuters in an emailed statement. Goodyear did not identify the audit firm.The HSI questioning follows initial allegations filed in three complaints by 185 migrant workers from Nepal, India and Myanmar – including the five who spoke to Reuters – against Goodyear Malaysia in the country’s industrial court in 2019 and 2020. They alleged unpaid wages, citing non-compliance with a collective agreement, wrongful deductions and threats to migrant workers.In 2020 and in June, the court ordered Goodyear to pay back wages to some workers and comply with the agreement. The company has appealed the verdicts.Goodyear told Reuters it has now committed to a settlement with the workers represented in the labour dispute.The company argued in court that foreign workers are not entitled to the benefits of the collective agreement because they are not union members. It has declined to comment on the allegations.Malaysia’s largest fund manager, Permodalan Nasional Bhd, which owns 49% of Goodyear Malaysia, did not respond to requests for comment.Focus on forced labourRepresentatives from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Council (Mapo) were also on some of the video calls with HSI, the five workers said.Former Mapo head Mohd Hadzwan Zulkefle, who workers said was on the calls, told Reuters the agency has opened an investigation into Goodyear Malaysia over labour trafficking. He did not say when MAPO started the probe, which has not previously been reported.He declined to comment on whether Mapo was collaborating with US authorities.A Mapo spokesman told Reuters it was aware of “the alleged forced labour issue” at Goodyear Malaysia, and that the issue is under investigation by “responsible parties.”The Department of Labour of Peninsular Malaysia, which last year charged Goodyear Malaysia with violating labour laws, did not respond to a request for comment. Goodyear has not commented on the labour department charges.The US State Department in July downgraded Malaysia to its worst ranking on human trafficking, after a string of complaints by rights groups and US authorities over alleged exploitation by plantations and factories of migrant workers, on whom the Southeast Asian nation relies.Goodyear Malaysia is already being investigated by US Customs and Border Protection over its labour practices, according to Liberty Shared, a rights group that petitioned Customs for the probe. Customs can ban imports of goods it finds to be made with forced labour.Goodyear did not respond to a query on the Mapo investigation.The company told Reuters in July it was not aware of the petition to US Customs and that it had strong policies to protect human rights.HSI can initiate criminal investigations and coordinate potential criminal prosecutions of American firms and U.S-bound supply chains whose goods are made by means of forced labour, according to its website.A formal HSI investigation “would be extremely significant because it will move the discussion on forced labour from business ethics and sustainability, into one that relates to criminal law,” said Duncan Jepson, managing director of the Hong Kong-based Liberty Shared.However, Jepson said one challenge to establishing wrongdoing would be a lack of precedent.In the US, he said, “Law enforcement and attorneys prefer to have previous cases to support their strategies and in forced labour there are no previous criminal cases against transnational corporations.”Documents previously seen by Reuters show some Goodyear Malaysia workers logging as much as 229 hours of overtime a month, more than twice the maximum allowed under Malaysian law. Workers said money was wrongfully deducted from their salaries and that the company was denying them free access to their passports.Goodyear has declined to comment on the allegations, citing court proceedings.The labour department said in May it had charged Goodyear in 2020 for nine violations of labour laws, unrelated to the lawsuits, regarding excessive hours and wrongful salary deductions.The five workers interviewed by Reuters say they told the HSI investigators they were not happy with facilities the company provided, their hostels were congested, they paid recruitment fees in their home countries and did not get salary increases and allowances that they were eligible for.


Behind the sharp fall of India’s Covid-19 cases

With its 1.3 billion population, India has the world’s second-highest number of coronavirus infections – more than 10.8 million – but new cases and deaths have fallen sharply in recent weeks.This week, new daily infections were the lowest in eight months, while deaths fell below 100 – the smallest single-day total since May.AFP looks at how the South Asian giant has tackled the pandemic:What are the official figures?India reported its first Covid-19 infection on Jan 30, 2020 and its first death in mid-March.The number of new daily cases peaked at just over 97,000 infections in September, with deaths averaging 1,000 a day that month.Deaths then started to decline. On Tuesday, just 94 fatalities were reported, out of 8,635 fresh infections.India has one of the lowest case-fatality ratios among the top 20 worst-affected nations in the world.How many have really been infected?Experts say the number of people in India who have contracted the disease is probably much higher than the official figure. They are backed by various state and national surveys measuring antibodies for the virus.An official national survey in December-January of urban and rural neighbourhoods as well as healthcare workers suggested that some 21.5% – almost 280 million people – carried antibodies.In the capital New Delhi, one of India’s worst-hit cities, serological data released this week found that more than half of the 28,000 people sampled had developed antibodies.How has the pandemic been handled?Experts had warned that the coronavirus would wreak havoc in India’s densely populated cities, which are plagued by poor sanitation. There were also fears the chronically underfunded healthcare system would not be able to cope.The government sought to clamp down early, halting international flights and imposing one of the world’s strictest lockdowns in March. Masks were made compulsory in many states.Restrictions have been gradually eased since June as the government sought to boost the pandemic-devastated economy.The population has become more relaxed. Hundreds of thousands flocked to the Kumbh Mela Hindu festival in January, mostly without masks.And tens of thousands of farmers have been taking part in crowded protests in Delhi since November to fight new agriculture laws.Doctors in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh states, as well as in major cities Delhi and Mumbai – with a combined population of more than 330 million – told AFP they have seen a significant decline in cases at their hospitals.In Delhi, the government said 90% of dedicated Covid-19 beds were unoccupied.“Earlier there used to be a huge waiting list. Now hardly 40-50 patients are here,” said Deven Juneja, a doctor AFP met at the Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital in June.“We are now slowly limping back to normalcy in terms of offering our services in departments, which until now, were virtually paralysed due to the pressure of Covid-19 cases,” said Sudhir Singh, spokesman at King George’s Medical University in Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh.‘Herd immunity’?Experts said that without conclusive data, it was impossible to say why India’s figures had fallen so dramatically.There are mixed views on whether herd immunity – when a significant proportion of a population is immune to an infectious disease – may be present in much of India.“My understanding is that there are enough people in India who have been exposed to the virus. And that’s possibly why the numbers are going down,” virologist Shahid Jameel told AFP.“But in the absence of real numbers, it’s really hard to say.”The World Health Organization’s regional director, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, praised the country’s mask wearing, distancing and hygiene, saying they had proved effective in curtailing transmission.But she added: “India is a vast and diverse country and it’s hard to attribute the decline in cases to herd immunity.”Meanwhile, India has rapidly rolled out vaccinations with the ambitious goal of inoculating 300 million people by July.Risk of resurgence?A study published in The Lancet last week noted that in the hard-hit city of Manaus, Brazil, there had been a resurgence of Covid-19 – despite a high prevalence of people with antibodies.Some of the reasons offered include waning immunity from prior infections, and a new, stronger variant.Experts say such developments mean it is too soon for India to celebrate.“We cannot let our guards down,” Singh said.“The longer we let the virus transmit anywhere, the higher the risk of variants. This risk is real, globally.”


Industry players jittery while awaiting govt’s response to Omicron

Local industry players across the country are bracing for the worst from the newest arrival on the Covid-19 scene despite the many question marks still surrounding the Omicron variant.Still struggling to regain their footing after months of lockdown and border closures, many are worried about a relapse that could put an end to their economic recovery so far.Syed Hussain Syed Husman, president of the Malaysian Employers Federation, said companies and businesses would be reviewing their plans for workplace activities.“Many companies are developing strategies for responding to Omicron although they will wait for more evidence-based data before implementing any new measures,” he told MalaysiaNow.Malaysia recorded its first case of the variant in Perak on Dec 3, in an international student who had entered the country through Singapore on Nov 19.The World Health Organization said on Nov 28 that it remains unclear whether the Omicron strain is more transmissible than other variants including Delta which is currently dominant in many countries.Nevertheless, a number of countries including Malaysia have taken steps to block or restrict travel over concerns about Omicron.A major worry now is that the variant might jeopardise plans to reopen the economy after months of restrictions on movemenets.While little is yet known about the strain, it has presented challenges to public health experts.Syed Hussain cautioned against jumping to the worst-case scenario but said Omicron should be taken as a serious matter.“Companies should wait for more information over the next few weeks to learn more about Omicron in order to consider how it might affect businesses and employees,” he said.He added that employers would exercise caution in taking on new workers, which could stunt efforts to boost the employment rate this month although he remained hopeful of a change in situation through the government’s job guarantee programme next year.MalaysiaNow previously reported health experts saying that vaccination and compliance with SOPs would be enough for now to address any threats from Omicron.Dr Lam Sai Kit, a senior fellow at the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, said the country would be able to avoid the worst-case scenario given the high vaccination rate and a more subdued anti-vaccine group than seen in other nations.“Despite the lifting of travel restrictions in the country, the reopening of schools and the economy, and the return to near normalcy, our caseloads have remained steady,” he said to MalaysiaNow.He also urged for calm over the emergence of the Omicron variant, saying more would be known about it in the weeks to come.But while the SOPs themselves are enough to tackle the Omicron threat, he said the people had grown tired of health measures such as the wearing of face masks and observance of physical distancing, aside from staying at home and avoiding crowds or enclosed areas.“We are already seeing resistance overseas to reverting to well-tried methods, so therein lies the danger of another surge in Covid cases,” he said.Soh Thian Lai, president of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, said those in the manfacturing industry understand the authorities’ concern over the variant but hope that there will be no repeat of the large-scale closure of the economic sector, which would undo efforts to restore businesses to sustainable levels.“The industry would however support any need for targeted controls in the event of a spike in infections due to the new variant,” he said.Nevertheless, if targeted lockdowns become necessary, he said FMM would need clear guidelines and SOPs on operations as well as continued assistance from the government in the form of wage subsidies and loan moratorium periods.Syed Hussain likewise voiced hope that there would be no further restrictions on movements or interstate travel.


39 deaths reported as new cases dip to 26,700

Another 26,701 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 3,138,215.Of the total number of cases recorded yesterday, 118 (0.44%) were in Category Three and above. The remaining 26,583 (99.56%) were in Category One and Two.There were 11,744 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 2,888,194.A total of 1,469 cases were admitted to hospital yesterday, with 522 (35.5%) in Category Three and above and 947 (64.5%) in Category One and Two.Of the 118 cases in Category Three and above reported yesterday:* 22 (18.6%) were not vaccinated or had not completed their vaccination;* 71 (60.2%) had received two doses of vaccine;* 25 (21.2%) had received a booster jab;* 53 (44.9%) were aged 60 and above;* 49 (41.5%) had comorbidities;* 4 (3.4%) were pregnant women; and* 10 (8.5%) had died, including 2 (1.7%) who were brought in dead.There are now 217,782 active cases, of which 204,876 or 94.1% are undergoing home quarantine.Another 5,571 (2.6%) are at quarantine centres while 7,119 (3.3%) have been hospitalised.A total of 216 are in ICU with 141 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 54%.Another 39 deaths were reported, including 17 who were brought in dead. Sixteen deaths were reported in Selangor, 14 in Sabah, two each in Kelantan, Pahang and Perak and one each in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Kedah.Total deaths now stand at 32,239.According to health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, the country’s infectivity rate as of Feb 17 was 1.27.


Sarawak Report editor fails to transfer criminal defamation case to KL High Court

The case of Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown of allegedly defaming the Sultanah of Terengganu Sultanah Nur Zahirah will remain to be heard in Kuala Terengganu Magistrate’s Court.
This came after High Court judge K Muniandy dismissed her application to transfer the case from Kuala Terengganu Magistrate's Court to the High Kuala Lumpur Court.
In dismissing the application, Muniandy said the power of transfer under Section 417 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) should only be exercised only if it appears that not doing so may result in an unfair or unimpartial trial or otherwise appears expedient in the interest of justice.
"The application by the applicant (Rewcastle-Brown) lacks merit. It is hereby dismissed," said the judge while adding Rewcastle-Brown's apprehension that she would not be accorded a fair trial in Kuala Terengganu was not reasonable.
The judge also cited several grounds for this, among others, an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the magistrate presiding over the case in Kuala Terengganu is independent and unbiased and she (Rewcastle-Brown) is not hampered to deliver submissions on both facts and law before the magistrate arrives at a finding.  "If the decision on the case disfavours the applicant, she has the right to appeal against the decision to the High Court pursuant to Section 307 (1) of the CPC.
"The applicant is subject to the law of the land where she is alleged to have committed a crime, thus the Malaysian legal system, including its criminal justice process prevails,” said the judge.
Judge Muniandy then ordered the case to remain at the Kuala Terengganu Magistrate's Court and it (the case) ought to proceed to trial without any further impediment since the date of charge was quite a long time ago on Sept 23, 2021.
Rewcastle-Brown, who is from the UK, was charged in absentia back in September 2021 at the Kuala Terengganu Magistrate's Court for criminal defamation under Section 500 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to two years or a fine or both, if convicted.
She was alleged to have defamed Sultanah Nur Zahirah in a book titled "The Sarawak Report – The Inside Story of the 1MDB Expose".
Deputy public prosecutor Noor Haslinda Che Seman appeared for the prosecution while Rewcastle-Brown was represented by counsel Guok Ngek Seong. Also present at today's proceeding was lawyer Siti Anis Che Ab Wahab who held a watching brief for Sultanah Nur Zahirah.
The Kuala Terengganu Magistrate's Court has set June 25 for mention of the case.


15-fold increase from 2021 in cases of hand, foot and mouth disease

Malaysia had recorded a 15-fold increase in number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases as of May 14, with 31,661 compared to only 2,121 in the same period last year.Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said 7,526 cases were recorded during epidemiological week (ME) 19/2022 alone, an increase of 349% compared to the previous ME where only 1,676 cases were reported nationwide.“Selangor had the largest number of HFMD cases with 8,864 cases or 28% of total cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with 4,421 cases (14%), Sabah with 2,650 cases (8%), Perak with 2,638 cases (8%) and Kelantan with 2,493 cases (7.9%), while the other states reported fewer than 1,500 cases,” he said in a statement today.A total of 889 outbreaks were reported in Malaysia, with Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya recording the most at 309 (35%), followed by Selangor (111, 12%) and Perak (105, 12%).“The majority of cases occurred in kindergartens, nurseries or pre-schools, with 575 outbreaks or 65% of the total cases, followed by private homes with 305 outbreaks (34%) and childcare centres with 27 outbreaks (3%),” Noor Hisham said.He said most of the HFMD cases occurred among children aged six and below (29,781 cases or 94%), followed by children aged seven to 12 (1,473 cases).Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during the incubation period of HFMD.Noor Hisham warned that HFMD is an infectious disease that needs to be notified under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342), adding that the public can report the occurrence of HFMD cases to the nearest district health office.He said HFMD is closely related to personal hygiene and environmental practices, with the infection rate among children under 10 at almost 100%, especially in premises where children gather such as in kindergartens, nurseries or schools.He said parents and guardians of children with symptoms of infection are advised not to take them to public places. Instead, they should bring children for treatment and clean their toys and the floors, especially in the toilet.As a proactive measure to curb the spread of infectious diseases, he said the health ministry, through the MySejahtera application, had activated an infectious disease detection feature to detect cases other than Covid-19 such as rabies, dengue and measles.“This feature can help the public check the status of red dots and cases of infectious diseases reported in an area, and help them plan and carry out daily activities carefully,” he said.Meanwhile, a total of 1,074 dengue cases were recorded in ME 19, an increase of 365 cases or 51.5% from the number of cases reported in the previous ME (709).“This brings the cumulative number of dengue cases reported so far to 14,725, compared with 10,139 cases reported in the same period last year, an increase of 4,586 cases or 45.2%,” he said.Terengganu recorded the highest increase in percentage of dengue cases with 164.7%, followed by Labuan (150%), Kedah (137.8%), Negeri Sembilan (71.4%), Selangor (42.6%), Sabah (40.8%), Kelantan (27.1%), Perak (26.4%), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (14.3%), Sarawak (13.7%) and Penang (3.4%).Perlis, Melaka, Johor and Pahang recorded a drop in percentage of cases, while the cumulative number of deaths recorded due to dengue in ME 19 currently stands at nine.


Promises of reform easier said than done, say analysts

The recent U-turns on a number of issues championed by Pakatan Harapan (PH) during its time in the opposition underscore the realities of politics and of being in government, analysts say as various coalition leaders come under fire for appearing to backtrack on their previous stands.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, for instance, triggered a heated debate last month by his defence of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 or Sosma, which PH had opposed due to the abuse long linked to the controversial law.
Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli meanwhile ruffled feathers with his remarks on chicken prices, saying that "by right", people should avoid buying chicken when prices increase.
His comments came despite his strong criticism of another minister in 2013 who made similar remarks.
In terms of freedom of speech, Digital and Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil began his tenure as a minister by cracking down on social media.
And Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that Bank Negara Malaysia had the authority to determine the overnight policy rate despite rapping former finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz when the rate was raised during the previous administration.
Kartini Aboo Talib of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia described this as "real-politics" and a matter that all voters in any democratic country must face.
"In the US, former president Barack Obama was criticised for his election promises on improving the health and insurance system, promises that remained only promises," she said.
"It's easy to say things and make promises as the opposition or on the campaign trail."
Once in office, however, she said leaders would have to face the reality of limited resources and constraints and regulations.
Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs agreed.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, he said it was the norm for politicians of all stripes to make populist promises in order to rally support.
In the case of PH, some of its strongest critics in the aftermath of its first stint in government were its staunch supporters from its urban base.
Nevertheless, Oh said that based on the coalition's performance at the most recent election in November last year, this segment of voters continued to back PH.
"In the face of the recent green wave, which this cohort is likely to perceive as the far greater threat, it would appear that they have no choice but to continue supporting PH," he said.


Singapore electricity provider quits market, pressure on others

One of Singapore’s largest independent electricity retailers has exited the market and according to company sources at least three others have stopped accepting new clients amid rocketing wholesale energy prices.A surge in global wholesale gas prices has multiplied in recent months as production and transit problems have lowered gas supply just as demand took off in a post-pandemic economic recovery.Asian spot LNG prices have surged by over more than 500% from a year ago to over US$30 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) this month while Brent crude oil prices on which majority of Singapore’s long-term gas contracts are priced off, rose to multi-year highs.iSwitch Energy, one of Singapore’s largest independent electricity retailer, said on its website that it will be ceasing electricity retail operations on Nov 11, due to “current electricity market conditions”.Elsewhere in the sector, Diamond Electric, Best Electricity Supply and Ohm Energy have stopped accepting new customers with Diamond Electric in the process of handing over existing term contracts to another utility provider, company sources told Reuters.iSwitch declined to comment, while Diamond Electric, Best Electricity Supply and Ohm Energy did not respond to an emailed request for comment.“Not only are retailers unable to sell to retail customers at a level that is economic because the set quarterly tariff implies a price that is well below where futures are trading, they are also getting hit on the front-end because spot prices have gone ballistic,” said James Whistler, global head of energy at Simpson Spence Young.“Add the failure of the once well-designed market-making scheme and things become untenable for many.”Open Electricity Market website shows only 8 out of the 12 existing retailers offering plans for consumers.With the spike in energy prices, “several Singapore retailers are now potentially closing their doors,” said a senior industry participant who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.Singapore’s retail electricity market opened to competition for business consumers in 2001 and to residential households in 2018, according to the Energy Market Authority (EMA) website.EMA did not reply to a request for comment.Surging gas prices, which rose to record highs in Europe and in Asia this month, have also hit utility providers in Britain, where a number of energy companies have collapsed, forcing about 1.7 million customers so far to switch providers.China and India are being hit with power shortages and blackouts.In Singapore, electricity tariffs are calculated using fuel costs and non-fuel costs.The fuel cost component for each quarter is calculated using the average of daily natural gas prices in the first two-and-a-half month period in the preceding quarter while the non fuel-cost is calculated based on the cost of generating and delivering electricity to homes.Singapore LNG Corp is currently scouting for LNG cargoes and exploring options to increase inventory of LNG at its terminal given the tight global LNG supply.Commercial load power prices have risen by 50% from last year and are set to go higher, Whistler said.“This is a pretty big difference for a country that has been relatively used to reasonably priced power now moving into a less competitive market and essentially being subject to global commodities prices as well.”


Pricier milk for pregnant, nursing mothers after sugar tax kicks in

Industry players say that supplemental milk for pregnant women and nursing mothers may see an increase in price if the government proceeds with the sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) tax which is currently at the negotiation stage.
Soh Thian Lai, president of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), said the finance ministry had yet to list milk products for adults as an exempted product from the tax.
"With the rising inflation rate in Malaysia, the imposition of excise duties on selective food and beverage products will not only cause a direct increase in the price of much needed items for lower income groups, it will further erode consumers' purchasing power for food and beverage products," he said.
So far, only baby formula has been granted an exemption from the SSB tax.
Soh said that supply and demand factors would also play a role in the price fluctuations of supplemental milk for pregnant women and nursing mothers.
The former goes for about RM38 to RM70, depending on the brand and volume. Milk for nursing mothers, meanwhile, is being sold for between RM34 and RM86.
The SSB tax was announced in the budget for 2022 and expanded to include cocoa and chocolate-based pre-mixed products.
Meant to be enforced on April 2, 2022, it was postponed twice, on Nov 1, 2022 and Jan 1, 2023.
Soh said the excise duty covered a range of products including milk powder and formulated diet food products.
"FMM has asked the ministries of health and finance to study the tax on non-premixed products, which should not be included," he said.
Women's organisations have also called for supplemental milk for pregnant women and nursing mothers to be excluded from the tax.
"We believe that the price increase arising from the imposition of this tax will burden the women who need these products to help them in the various phases of pregnancy, care and breastfeeding, especially mothers from the B40 group and those with moderate incomes," the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Coalition of Women Organization said in a letter dated November 2022.
Soh meanwhile said that the customs department, which is responsible for overseeing the tax, had yet to prepare a list of the products to be exempted from the excise duty.
He urged the government to hold immediate discussions with industry players, given the impact the tax would have on manufacturing operations and the supply chain.
While FMM appreciated and supported efforts to control obesity, he said, the country would do better with a holistic approach to improving diets, increasing physical activity, and raising awareness in order to bring about change.


Catholic officials ask reporters to keep details of child abuse report secret

Reporters walked out of a press conference in Cologne, Germany, after church officials asked them to sign a confidentiality agreement, reports Deutsche Welle.The officials were meeting eight journalists on Tuesday to discuss issues around a key report on a child abuse scandal that has rocked the German Catholic church.The reporters were asked by the officials to sign a document promising to keep the contents of the report a secret. The reporters then walked out.The Archdiocese of Cologne had called the press conference to discuss an unpublished child abuse report.Church officials were there to explain issues regarding the report’s methodology. These issues, at least according to Cologne Archbishop Reiner Maria Woelki, were the reason for withholding the document from the public in its current form.The Church representatives said they would show journalists a redacted version of the document.They also asked reporters to sign a pledge to keep the contents secret. These contents apparently included information on crimes, alleged perpetrators and implicated church officials.“The journalist commits himself to exercise absolute silence regarding this information,” the agreement read.All eight of the journalists invited to the event refused to sign the agreement.Cardinal Woelki had promised an independent and comprehensive investigation into sexual abuse in his diocese two years ago. However, in October 2020, victims were told the ensuing report was not “legally watertight” and contained “inadmissible prejudices”.The decision to withhold the document until it is reworked has already caused backlash in Germany. The law firm which drew up the report has also criticised the delay.Woelki himself faces accusations of failing to inform the Vatican about a sexual abuse allegation.A new version of the report is expected to be released in March.


Ex-Federal Court judge, 1MDB prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram dies

Gopal Sri Ram, one of Malaysia's most senior legal experts who led the prosecution team in the trials related to the 1MDB scandal, passed away today, days after being warded for a lung infection.
Sri Ram, 79, who served as a judge at both the Court of Appeal and Federal Court with more than 800 judgments considered as authority and precedents, was reportedly admitted to the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month.
Following the charges brought against Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, Sri Ram was appointed as an ad hoc prosecutor, leading the prosecution's case until Najib lost his final appeal last year.
He also represented current prime minister Anwar Ibrahim in his sodomy appeals in 2014.
Known for giving oral judgments without delay as well as important judgments related to public interest cases, Sri Ram's views were often considered the authority, especially in matters of constitutional law.
As a lawyer, Sri Ram was known to represent clients from both sides of the political divide.
"I am like a taxi and must serve any passenger who hails me," he was reported to have said when asked why he represented Anwar in the sodomy case.
"As a lawyer, I am above politics. Whoever wants me to represent them in criminal cases, I will appear provided there is no conflict of interest," he told the now-defunct news portal, The Malaysian Insider, in 2014.
He acted among others for the Umno faction led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in the 1988 High Court case where the party was declared illegal.
He also appeared for  PAS' Mamat Daud, who was charged with causing disharmony under the Penal Code because he served as the imam for Friday prayers at a mosque without the authorities' permission.
In the solar hybrid project case involving Najib's wife Rosmah last year, where she was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail, Sri Ram was quick to say that the outcome was not a cause for celebration.
"We are not happy or unhappy about anything. It is not our role to be happy about someone else's grief," said Sri Ram, who led the prosecution in the trial.
"Sentencing is never easy. As a former judge, I can tell you that sentencing is never easy. It is one of the most difficult parts of judicial life."


Rosmah’s second bid to recuse judge an abuse of court process, says prosecution

The prosecution in Rosmah Mansor’s money laundering and tax evasion trial argues that her second bid to recuse justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan from presiding over the case is an abuse of the court process.Former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram, who is the lead prosecutor in the case, said as Zaini had already dismissed a similar application to have him removed as the trial judge, it was only a repeated attempt to achieve what had already failed last year.“Messrs Geethan Ram submitted for the earlier recusal application and presently the same relief is being filed by a different firm, which means that next time we will be seeing the same application by another firm.“It is an abuse of the court process because Your Lordship has already handed down the ruling on the same application in December last year. This application is a non-starter,” said Sri Ram.This is the second time that Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, has filed an application after Zaini, who was also the judge in her solar hybrid case trial, rejected her application on Dec 14 to recuse him from hearing the trial.In delivering his judgment then, Zaini said he took great care to ensure that Rosmah would not be prejudiced in the money laundering case when references were made to the statements in the solar case as a judge was required to consider separately and independently the evidence against the accused.“Any findings that I make in the solar case remain there. It is after all my solemn duty, or that of any judge, to ensure that the accused or any accused for that matter, is tried fairly as enshrined under Article 5 of the Federal Constitution,” he said.Rosmah’s counsel Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin responded to the prosecution’s argument by insisting that the current application could not be said to have abused the court process as it stood on different grounds, namely risk of bias.He said Zaini’s role in several criminal cases connected to Rosmah’s family including Najib might cause impede the judge from carrying out his judicial function without having pre-judged the issues, therefore posing a real danger of bias to his client.“It is pertinent to acknowledge and accept that human frailty is an important factor to be considered even when it comes to those who are trained to be independent and fair-minded, because a judge is a human after all,” he added.Firoz also said that Zaini’s involvement in multiple cases pertaining to Rosmah might expose her to a miscarriage of justice and, as a result, diminish public confidence in the judiciary and the administration of justice.Zaini then fixed March 21 for a decision.Rosmah, 70, is facing 12 money laundering charges involving RM7,097,750 and five counts of failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).The offences were allegedly committed at Affin Bank, Bangunan Getah Asli branch, Jalan Ampang, between Dec 4, 2013 and June 8, 2017, and at LHDN at Kompleks Bangunan Kerajaan, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, between May 1, 2014 and May 1, 2018.


Bintulu housewives keep the art of making belacan alive

Outside her house in Kampung Baru, near the centre of Bintulu town, Dayang Dara Awang Ullis squats over a pestle and mortar, pounding dried krill shrimp into a paste.Beside her, more shrimp is spread out to dry under the hot sun, awaiting their turn under the wooden pestle.Known primarily as an oil and gas town, Bintulu is also home to a lively fishing community – and krill shrimp season has arrived.Each season, the housewives of Bintulu wait for the boats to bring in their haul of shrimp, and then they get to work, laying it out to dry for several days before pounding and mixing it into what is known as belacan.Fishermen head out early each morning to bring in their hauls of shrimp.Their work ensures that they have enough stock to be sold throughout the year.But it is a long and tedious process, especially for those like Dara who make the shrimp paste using traditional methods.Each morning, she checks the shrimp drying outside her house. Those that are fully dried go into the mortar for pounding.This process continues for days, all under the hot sun. Eventually, the shrimp turns into a hard dough which she forms into small bricks, ready for consumption.“Making shrimp paste takes a long time,” Dara told MalaysiaNow.“To make the best paste, we must use the highest quality shrimp, with no impurities such as sand or small fish, bigger shrimps or dirt.”Krill shrimp laid out to dry on plastic sheets in the yard.Now 61, Dara is an old hand at this. Only fresh ingredients go into her belacan, to preserve the integrity of its taste.“Krill shrimp must only be dried on sunny days,” she added. “Otherwise, it will not be so good.”This alone can take up to four days, depending on the weather.The shrimp must also be fresh and clean, and cannot be mixed with young fish which might slip into the nets due to their small size.“If this happens, the taste will turn bitter,” Dara said.The longer the belacan is stored, she added, the better the aroma and texture.“It can last for up to five years, subject to how you keep it,” she said.Blocks of belacan paste wait to be used in cooking.Dara’s belacan-making is a long-time family business. She and her sisters, Dayang Patimah and Dayang Hasnah, have been making and selling shrimp paste for more than 50 years now.But like many other small businesses, theirs suffered badly with the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic.They used to produce about 20kg of belacan each month for local distribution, with more sent to Miri and even as far off as Johor.The steady demand for their delicious shrimp paste would bring them RM1,000 to RM1,200 a month.With the announcement of the country’s transition towards the endemic phase, Dara and her sisters hope that things will begin looking up for them again.“It’s like a blessing for us here,” she said. “We hope that this time, we will be able to earn more.”


Computer breakdown at Hong Kong airport delays hundreds of travellers

Hundreds of travellers at Hong Kong's international airport faced delays on Thursday after computer services broke down, broadcaster TVB reported, with footage showing scores of people stuck in queues with their luggage.
The Airport Authority said it was preparing a statement on the incident but could not immediately verify details. Registration for check-in at several rows in the city's normally efficient airport were shut due to the outage, TVB said.
Cathay Pacific Airways, the city's flagship carrier, was one of the most affected, the South China Morning Post reported. Cathay did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Hong Kong's airport was one of the busiest international hubs before the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 71 million passengers in 2019.
The city government has unveiled a promotional campaign dubbed "Hello Hong Kong" beginning in March to lure travellers and business people back to the special Chinese administrative region after a dearth of visitors in the past three years because of Covid restrictions.


Apple suppliers to make Apple Watch and MacBook in Vietnam, report says

Apple Inc's suppliers are in talks to produce Apple Watch and MacBook in Vietnam for the first time, Nikkei Asia reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Apple's Chinese supplier Luxshare Precision Industry and Taiwan-based Foxconn have started test production of Apple Watch in northern Vietnam, the report added.
Apple has been shifting some areas of iPhone production from China to other markets, including India, where it started manufacturing iPhone 13 this year, and is also planning to assemble iPad tablets.
India, the world's second-biggest smartphone market, along with countries such as Mexico and Vietnam are becoming increasingly important to contract manufacturers supplying American brands, as they try to diversify production away from China.
Apple, Foxconn and Luxshare Precision did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Last week, Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn gave a cautious outlook for the current quarter after posting results that exceeded expectations, citing slowing smartphone demand after a pandemic-fuelled boom.
Like other global manufacturers, Foxconn – formally called Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd – has dealt with a severe shortage of chips that hurt production, as bottlenecks from the pandemic lingered and the Ukraine war further strained logistical channels.


Apple faces employee resistance in office return plan

Apple is reportedly facing employee resistance to its hybrid plan to bring employees back to the office starting in September.The iPhone maker, which faces a dilemma similar to other firms seeking to reopen after pandemic restrictions, has called for employees to return three days a week starting in September, according to the tech news site The Verge.But at least 80 employees have signed a letter calling for more flexibility for employees who have been working remotely for more than a year.“We would like to take the opportunity to communicate a growing concern among our colleagues,” according to the letter cited by the news website.“That Apple’s remote/location-flexible work policy, and the communication around it, have already forced some of our colleagues to quit. Without the inclusivity that flexibility brings, many of us feel we have to choose between either a combination of our families, our well-being, and being empowered to do our best work, or being a part of Apple.”Like its tech peers and many other firms, Apple has allowed employees to work from home or remote locations since the pandemic lockdowns began last year.Google, Facebook and Microsoft have unveiled similar hybrid schemes for workers, while some firms such as Twitter have told employees they can work remotely indefinitely.The Apple letter said the remote system worked well and can offer employees better work-life balance, while accommodating those with special needs and reducing the risk of contagion.“Not only do many of us already feel well-connected with our colleagues worldwide, but better-connected now than ever,” the letter said.“We’ve come to look forward to working as we are now, without the daily need to return to the office. It feels like there is a disconnect between how the executive team thinks about remote/location-flexible work and the lived experiences of many of Apple’s employees.”Apple in 2017 opened its “spaceship” campus, one of several multibillion-dollar headquarters buildings designed for Silicon Valley giants.


Ismail is BN's PM candidate, don't poke and prod, Zahid says

Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday reiterated that Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob remains BN's prime minister candidate for the 15th general election (GE15).
Zahid, who is also Umno president, said the decision was final and that there was no need to speculate on the matter while BN was campaigning to win the election.
"When Umno and BN make a decision, we are committed to determining that our prime ministerial candidate is the one who is doing his job well in Putrajaya now.
"Don't speculate and predict... don't ‘poke and prod’ us because we have no problem at all," he said at a meeting with BN candidates, machinery and supporters at the Bukit Terendak district polling centre in Sungai Udang, Melaka.


India's Modi wins huge in home state

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party won by a crushing landslide in his home state, election results showed Thursday, in a strong performance ahead of a national vote due in 2024.
In its best-ever performance in the western state of around 60 million people, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party won at least 147 seats in Gujarat's 182-seat legislature, up from 99, and was expected to win another nine once all votes were counted.
Modi campaigned hard in Gujarat, the state where he was chief minister for 12 years before ascending to become prime minister in 2014, and which voted on Dec 1 and 5.
Thanking the people of Gujarat, Modi said on Twitter he was "overcome with a lot of emotion" by the results.
"People blessed politics of development and at the same time expressed a desire that they want this to continue at a greater pace," Modi tweeted.
Modi was state premier in 2002 when around 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, were killed in one of the worst outbreaks of sectarian violence in post-independence India.
The once-mighty Congress party managed just 16 seats, its worst performance ever in the state.
The BJP also saw off a challenge from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs the capital New Delhi and Punjab and which was hoping to expand its reach. It won just five seats.
The BJP has ruled Gujarat continuously for 27 years, and the party and its allies head governments in 16 of India's 28 states.
The deep-pocketed party with a strong social media operation pulled out all the stops in the campaign, fielding many new faces including a former Congress activist, Hardik Patel, along with the wife of a star cricketer.
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a political analyst, said that the result was all the more remarkable after 135 people died in a bridge collapse in Gujarat in October that was blamed on corruption.
Voters "see their welfare in Modi's political security," he told AFP.
"This kind of result in Gujarat no doubt smoothens BJP's path to 2024 (national elections)."
Earlier this year, the BJP scored a strong win in Uttar Pradesh to become the first party to win two back-to-back elections in India's most populous state, which also sends the most members to the national parliament.
However, the BJP lost power to Congress in Himachal Pradesh, election results in the small northern state of around seven million people showed.
The next national elections in the world's biggest democracy are due in 2024 when Modi, 72, is widely expected to run for a third term.


Austria to impose lockdown and mandatory vaccinations, says chancellor

Austria will impose a lockdown for all and make vaccinations mandatory, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announced on Friday, making the country the first in the EU to take such stringent measures as coronavirus cases spiral.The Alpine nation plans to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory from Feb 1 next year, while the lockdown will start from Monday and will be evaluated after 10 days, Schallenberg said.“Despite months of persuasion, we have not succeeded in convincing enough people to get vaccinated,” Schallenberg told a press conference in the western Tyrol state, where he met regional government heads.He blamed those refusing to be vaccinated for an “attack on the health system”.The lockdown means people are no longer allowed to leave their houses with few exceptions such shopping for essentials and exercising.At the beginning of this week, Austria already began a lockdown for those not vaccinated or recently cured, becoming the first EU country to do so.But infections have continued to rise. On Thursday, a new record of more than 15,000 new cases were recorded in the Alpine EU member of nearly nine million people.Demand for vaccinations has increased in recent days, and 66% of the population are now fully jabbed, slightly below the EU average of more than 67%.Other European countries are also tightening the restrictions as cases surge across the continent.Hungary, which neighbours Austria, is making wearing masks indoors again compulsory from Saturday, the government said Thursday.