Mobile payments firm Paytm kicks off India’s biggest IPO

India’s biggest-ever initial public offering opened Monday with digital payments platform Paytm looking to raise nearly US$2.5 billion, in what has already been a record year for share listings.Paytm is backed by Chinese tycoon Jack Ma’s Ant Group, Japan’s SoftBank and Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, which together own around a third of the company.The firm was founded barely a decade ago by Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the son of a schoolteacher who says he learned English by listening to rock music.He was ranked India’s youngest dollar billionaire four years ago at the age of 38 and now has a net worth of US$2.4 billion, according to Forbes. He owns a nearly 14% stake.Paytm was issuing fresh shares worth 83 billion rupees (US$1.1 billion), with existing shareholders selling stocks worth US$1.34 billion, according to the prospectus.The IPO is expected to make Paytm India’s most valuable tech company with a valuation of US$20 billion, up 25% from two years ago.The platform was launched in 2010 and quickly became synonymous with digital payments in a country traditionally dominated by cash transactions.It has benefited from the government’s efforts to curb the use of cash – including the demonetisation of nearly all banknotes in circulation five years ago – and most recently, from Covid.“I didn’t know corona would happen but Paytm was very useful to me during the pandemic,” Mumbai grocery shop owner Naina Thakur told AFP.Thakur said about a third of her customers pay her for milk, bread and other daily groceries via Paytm.“It’s much easier than a bank transfer because they only need my mobile number to pay and I get the settlement within seven hours,” she said.Thakur is one of nearly 22 million Indian shop owners, taxi and rickshaw drivers and other vendors who accept payments as low as 10 rupees (US$0.13) using Paytm’s ubiquitous blue-and-white QR code stickers.The platform had 337 million customers at the end of June, according to the company’s regulatory filing. In 2020-21 it undertook transactions worth more than US$54 billion.The number of mobile payments in India has skyrocketed, accounting for 26 billion transactions in the 2020-21 financial year.Mumbai-based financial analysis firm Motilal Oswal estimates mobile digital payments will cross US$3.1 trillion in value by 2026.Foreign giants have also sought to grab a piece of the pie including Google and Amazon. Another major player is PhonePe, owned by Flipkart in which US retail giant Walmart owns a majority stake.‘May not achieve profitability’But Paytm has made continual losses and is not sure when it will make a profit. It reported a net loss of 17 billion rupees last year on revenues of nearly 32 billion rupees.“We expect to continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future and we may not achieve profitability in the future,” the prospectus warned.Paytm has reported negative cash flows for the last three years, primarily due to operational losses.With its US$2.46 billion target, Paytm would surpass Coal India’s US$2 billion issue in 2010 to become India’s biggest IPO.Ahead of the offer, Paytm raised 82.35 billion rupees from 74 anchor investors including BlackRock and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board last week.Paytm will issue shares in a price band of 2,080-2,150 rupees in the offering, which is slated to close on Wednesday.Indian companies have raised a record US$9.7 billion through IPOs in 2021 so far, figures from market monitor Prime Database showed.Food delivery giant Zomato was the country’s biggest IPO of the year until now with its US$1.3 billion share issue in July.This year, India has also seen a record number of unicorns created – start-ups with a valuation of US$1 billion or more – benefiting from investors spooked by a crackdown on technology giants in China.


Daily caseload at 293 as 2 more deaths logged

Another 293 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 5,034,521.
There were 326 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,987,269.
There are now 10,320 active cases, of which 9,942 or 96.3% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0%) are at quarantine centres while 366 (3.5%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 12 are in ICU with 10 in need of respiratory assistance.
Two more deaths were reported, taking total deaths to 36,932.


Back to school but not necessarily the canteen

While schools in Selangor have welcomed back students and teachers after the prolonged break caused by the Covid-19 crisis, canteen operators are still struggling to adjust to the often unpredictable situation, treading a fine line between the need to keep their business alive and the desire to waste as little as possible.Muhammad Irhamshah, 26, runs the canteen at SMK Puchong. His biggest challenge at the moment is budgeting the amount of food to prepare for students each day.“I am just a small canteen operator,” he told MalaysiaNow. “I don’t have a big margin to begin with, so I need to know how much food to prepare.”Sometimes, he and his team prepare food for 100 students but only 20 turn up at the canteen.“For the past few days, we have had to throw away a lot of excess food because we expected a lot of orders from students so we prepared more, but in the end only a few came to buy from us,” he said.“We can’t tell who’s coming and who isn’t, so it’s hard for us to estimate the quantity of food that we should prepare.”Wan Nor Asmah, who operates the canteen at SMK TTDI Jaya, said not many students are currently attending school as the vaccination programme for teenagers is still ongoing.“Many students recently got their jabs,” the 57-year-old said. “Some came to school after that, but some took a long break after their vaccination.“We can’t tell who’s coming and who isn’t, so it’s hard for us to estimate the quantity of food that we should prepare.“Last Friday, only 50 students came to school for the afternoon session, and just six came to the canteen to buy food during recess time.”By her estimation, some 300 Form Five students came to school last week along with half of those from Four Four and Form Three who are using the rotation system.But not everyone who came bought food from the canteen.“Some parents don’t let their children buy food from the canteen because they are still scared of Covid-19,” she said.Wan Nelisa, who has a daughter in Form One, is one of them. She told MalaysiaNow that she always prepares food for her daughter to take to school.“I prefer to cook for her because I want to minimise her movements to crowded places,” Wan Nelisa said.“I feel more confident and secure if my daughter just stays in class and eats a home-cooked meal.”Amni Marissa, a Form Three student at SMK Bukit Jelutong, also brings her own food to school as her mother wants her to avoid too much contact with other students.“Even though there are SOPs, it’s hard to control a crowd of students during recess time,” she said.Different systemsChecks by MalaysiaNow of various schools around Selangor found that different schools use different systems for handling canteen food.“It’s hard to find workers who would like to do this job.”SMK Puchong, for example, runs its canteen on an order system. This used to be online, with parents and students making their orders for the next day through WhatsApp. However, it was later changed to an offline system where students fill in a form which is sent to the canteen operator early in the morning.At recess time, a class representative collects the food from the canteen and distributes it to the class.At SMK TTDI Jaya, meanwhile, the canteen operator estimates the amount of food needed based on students’ daily attendance which is compiled by the teachers at the end of the first period.Students are allowed to buy food at the canteen following the SOPs before returning to class to eat.Asmah said this system works better for her than the ordering system as students like to see the food before choosing what to buy. But she still needs to improve in budgeting the amount of food to prepare each day.Right now, she prepares enough food for only half the number of students in order to avoid wastage.The headache continues for canteen operators outside the school compound as the price of food items has gone up and workers need to be paid.Selling food at the canteen during the pandemic does not give Asmah a large profit margin. In fact, she has to pay her workers from her own pocket. There is also the problem of finding good workers to begin with.“Before this, a lot of school canteen operators hired Indonesian workers but since the pandemic, many Indonesian workers have gone back to their home country.“It’s hard to find workers who would like to do this job,” she said.


Anwar claims ‘majority MPs’ wrote to palace on emergency, says govt failed to contain pandemic

PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim claims that a “majority” of MPs from both sides of the divide have written to the palace, more than a week after he launched a campaign urging them to send letters to the Agong to revoke the emergency proclamation.“The government has not responded, but only given a perception that we are questioning the Agong’s decision.“They are trying to hide behind the palace,” he said today in a live session on Facebook, in which he also announced that he was filing an affidavit to protest the suspension of parliamentary sittings during the emergency period.He said the affidavit was not about calling for the revocation of the emergency, saying it would also stop claims that he is questioning the Agong’s constitutional powers.“I believe the palace will be able to study this and will not be easily duped by political games,” he said.MalaysiaNow has been unable to independently verify the claim.On Jan 14, Anwar told MPs that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s move to declare a Covid-19 emergency was not valid, and that the movement control order (MCO) was enough to fight the pandemic.He said the Agong should cancel the emergency declaration and order for a parliamentary session at the end of this month.He had also prepared a draft letter to guide MPs when they write to the palace, telling them to do so by Jan 15.‘Why no full lockdown?’Meanwhile, Anwar appeared to back a call by former prime minister Najib Razak for a full lockdown on the manufacturing and construction sectors, and accused authorities of inconsistency in enforcing SOPs to contain the Covid-19 pandemic in the industrial sector.“The government’s handling of the MCO especially since its outbreak after the Sabah election has been utterly disorganised and inconsistent,” he said.Yesterday, Najib said the government should ban the operations of factories and construction sectors to arrest the spike in daily infections.Anwar referred to a claim by the EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Eurocham) that government officials had during a meeting acknowledged the high risk of infections posed by the industrial sector and were mulling a total lockdown.The chambers has since clarified that no such proposal was mentioned during the meeting, after several media outlets reported the contents of a letter Eurocham issued to its members.But Anwar said the letter showed that the government was risking more infections by allowing industries to remain open during the MCO.“Under what pretense does the government believe that the current MCO which does not speficially close down those sectors can successfully reduce the spread of Covid-19?“There is no clarity. Leaving highly contagious sectors open serves only to prolong the MCO period at the expense of millions of Malaysians who are doing their best to slow the spread,” he said.At the same time, Anwar hit out at Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz for saying the MCO would not have a major economic impact, saying it was “totally misleading”, “irresponsible” and “nothing more than lies”.


BN hit with RM10,000 compound for breaching SOPs

Barisan Nasional (BN) has been compounded RM10,000 by the Kepong health department for breaching SOPs under Phase Four of the National Recovery Plan during the launch of its election machinery for the Melaka state polls last night.According to the compound notice uploaded to the health ministry’s Facebook page, BN was issued the compound for failing to ensure physical distancing.Several pictures showing the launch of BN’s election machinery in Melaka had previously gone viral, sparking anger from many who said the coalition was disregarding health SOPs.The launch was broadcast live on the BN Comms and Umno Online social media platforms.The health ministry had said that election-related gatherings or social events would be banned from Oct 24 to Nov 27.


Old and alone, with only monkeys and wild boars for company

Sepinah Wahab has lived in a small house in the seaside village of Kampung Pasir Pandak in Sitiawan, Perak for close to 20 years.There isn’t a lot of space inside but at 73 years old, Sepinah finds it easier to navigate this way.Each morning, she does what she can to tidy her little house. The furniture is simple: a table in the kitchen where she eats her meals, and a bed on the other side of the divider.If she has time, she watches a bit of TV in the living room.Years ago, Sepinah lived in the house with her husband and their only child. Now, though, both are dead and she lives alone.From the window, she can see the grave where her child is buried just across the road.At 73, Sepinah Wahab has lived alone for close to 20 years now.But while she hopes to live out the rest of her life in peace, Sepinah has several immediate problems at hand.For one thing, her house is frequented by monkeys which live in the scrub behind.“They enter through the roof and rifle through my belongings,” she said.“Sometimes, they take my food as well.”Wild boarsOutside the house, empty food containers lie scattered about – evidence of the monkeys’ latest escapades.From morning to night, they give Sepinah no peace of mind.“If possible, I would like to instal a ceiling so that even if they enter through the roof, they cannot go down to the house below,” she said.At night, the monkeys are joined by wild boars which come nosing around her small compound.Old and alone, Sepinah often fears for her safety.She is also worried about her roof, which was repaired several months ago but still leaks whenever it rains.Outside her house, Sepinah Wahab talks to a neighbour who has come to see how she is doing.She depends on her grandchildren and nearby relatives for the food she eats each day.“Sometimes they buy me enough food for a few days,” she said. “I eat a little and save the rest.”While she used to cook her own meals, she slipped and fell in the kitchen about three years ago. Since then, she hasn’t dared to prepare her own food.“I don’t have the strength to cook these days,” she said.Everyone togetherSepinah doesn’t mind living in a small house but she often finds herself lonely and wishing for the company of others.Her four grandchildren sometimes take turns to visit, breaking the silence that otherwise lies over the house.Sepinah Wahab performs her ablutions in the small bathroom of her house in Kampung Pasir Pandak in Sitiawan, Perak.“They have asked me to come and live with them, but I don’t want to,” Sepinah said.“They are all married and they have their own families.”In the meantime, she does what she can to look after herself, carefully taking the medication prescribed for her high blood pressure. She is also mindful of the series of strokes she had over the recent years.Throughout the month of Ramadan, she is also steadfast in maintaining her fast. In the evening, she breaks her fast with the food that her relatives send over.Aside from that, she receives RM500 each month from the welfare department which she uses to take care of herself and the house.This Hari Raya, she hopes to see all of her grandchildren together once more.“They haven’t come for the past two years because of Covid-19,” she said. “If they do visit, they come one by one.”


Rosmah’s trial postponed for third time over MySejahtera status

Rosmah Mansor’s corruption trial in connection with the solar energy project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak was postponed for the third time today as her MySejahtera status still shows that she has had close contact with a Covid-19 case.High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan vacated today’s hearing after senior deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram informed the court that Rosmah’s MySejahtera status was still orange.“I’m advised by my learned friend that their client is still unable to attend court because her (orange) status has not changed. I’m in a very difficult situation because I’ve already suggested to the court the possibility of having a hybrid hearing.“I also suggested that we facilitate Rosmah to give evidence from her home, with the presence of two deputy prosecutors, the defence counsel and the court officials,” Sri Ram said.Counsel Jagjit Singh representing Rosmah affirmed that as of today, her MySejahtera status had not reverted to blue. He also apologised for the matter.“The next trial is scheduled on Dec 23 and I assure my client will be able to attend. I would prefer the proceedings to be carried out as usual with all parties physically present in court,” Jagjit said.However, Zaini said he would take into consideration Sri Ram’s suggestion for a hybrid proceeding to ensure the continuity of the trial without further disruption.“I have to make provisions because we cannot carry on like this, the trial has to come to an end eventually. The light at the end of the tunnel seems to be getting dimmer and dimmer,” the judge said.The court then fixed two additional dates, Dec 23, 24, and six more days on Jan 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 as well as Feb 4 next year, for the trial.On Dec 8 and 10, Zaini vacated Rosmah’s trial, saying the court’s SOPs only allow people with a blue MySejahtera status to enter the building and would not allow those with close or casual contact with Covid-19 cases into the premises.Rosmah faces one charge of soliciting RM187.5 million and two charges of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through her former assistant Rizal Mansor as a reward for assisting Jepak Holdings to secure the RM1.25 billion project to equip 369 schools in rural Sarawak with solar hybrid power.


Syed Saddiq allowed bail after claiming trial to RM1 million CBT

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today with misappropriating RM1 million belonging to his former party Bersatu.He was charged with committing criminal breach of trust under Sections 405 and 406 of the Penal Code.He claimed trial to the charge read out to him before judge Azura Alwi.Syed Saddiq, the former Bersatu youth chief, was accused of withdrawing and misappropriating RM1 million from the wing on March 6, 2020, without the approval of party leaders.If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in jail, whipping and a fine.He was also slapped with a separate charge of misusing donations totalling RM120,000 meant for the 2018 general election.He was accused of misappropriating the money collected for Bersatu Youth between April 8 and 21, 2018.He faces jail of between six months and five years, whipping and a fine if found guilty.Syed Saddiq, who founded Muda in September 2020 after leaving Bersatu, is serving as an independent MP while awaiting approval for its registration as a political party.The court allowed him bail of RM330,000 with one surety for both charges and told him to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office in Kuala Lumpur once a month.He was also told to surrender his passport to the court.Case mention was fixed for Sept 10.Faridz Gohim Abdullah from MACC’s legal and prosecution division prosecuted alongside deputy public prosecutors Muhammad Asraf Mohamed Tahir and Mohd ‘Afif Ali.Syed Saddiq was represented by lawyers Gobind Singh Deo, Ambiga Sreenevasan and Hajian Omar.


Malaria killing more children as health resources diverted to Covid-19

Deaths from malaria will far exceed the numbers killed by Covid-19 in sub-Saharan Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) is warning.This is partly due to disruptions to medical services designed to tackle the mosquito-borne disease during the coronavirus pandemic.More than 400,000 people around the world were killed by malaria last year, most of them babies and children in the poorest parts of Africa, WHO says in its latest global malaria report, and Covid-19 will almost certainly make that toll higher in 2020.“Our estimates are that depending on the level of service disruption due to Covid-19 there could be an excess of malaria deaths of somewhere between 20,000 and 100,000 in sub-Saharan Africa, most of them in young children,” Pedro Alsonso, director of WHO’s malaria programme, told reporters.“It’s very likely that malaria mortality is larger than the direct Covid-19 mortality.”The WHO report found there were 229 million malaria cases globally in 2019, and said that despite the unprecedented challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, many countries around the world had fought hard and held the line against the disease.But “long-term success in reaching a malaria-free world within a generation is far from assured”, the report said.Due to ongoing transmission of malaria via mosquitoes in many parts of the world, half the global population is at risk of contracting the disease, and it still kills a child every two minutes. Despite this, the focus of global funding and attention has been diverted to the current pandemic, making preventable child deaths more likely.Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, said the WHO report’s findings were extremely timely.“The global health world, the media, and politics, are all transfixed by Covid-19, and yet we are paying very little attention to a disease that is still killing over 400,000 people every year, mainly children,” he told reporters.“And to remind you, this is a disease we do know how to get rid of – so it is a choice we make if we do not do that.”


Sorry.


Don’t derail budget, Agong reminds MPs again

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong today warned MPs once more against trying to derail the upcoming budget, saying the financial allocations are crucial in efforts to restore the economy ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic.“His Majesty reminds MPs that political quarrels for the sake of personal interests will only harm the country and lead to the people falling victim at a time when the entire nation is battling the Covid-19 pandemic,” said a statement released by Istana Negara following an audience granted to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting.During the audience, Muhyiddin briefed the Agong on the 2021 budget to be tabled on Nov 6.Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah’s latest reminder comes amid calls from a section of MPs in PKR who threaten to derail the budget next month.Earlier, MalaysiaNow reported that the Agong’s reminder to MPs on Sunday about the importance of the budget had not stopped some MPs loyal to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim from planning to vote down the budget.“So the budget vote then becomes the one and only silver bullet the opposition has to test the legitimacy of the government. Therefore, we can’t simply surrender this silver bullet to the prime minister for free,” Subang MP Wong Chen said in a social media post.“Instead, we must consider using this as an all-important bargaining chip, to obtain some much needed reforms to save democracy.”Sultan Abdullah had said that the passing of the budget, the first since the pandemic hit the economic sector, claiming more than 200 lives in Malaysia and millions worldwide, would be critical to ensuring funds for frontliners in their battle against the pandemic.There have been fears of a general election if the budget is not passed, which could trigger a series of Covid-19 clusters.This followed reports that key Umno leaders aligned with their president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Najib Razak could engineer a collapse of Muhyiddin’s government if they did not vote to support the budget.On Sunday, Sultan Abdullah warned politicians against “politicking” as well as attempts to subvert the government’s battle against Covid-19, after declining to use his power to declare a state of emergency which could prevent pandemic-season polls.Despite the no-go for Muhyiddin’s proposal, the king’s statement was widely seen as an endorsement of the nine-month-old government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis, with Sultan Abdullah again expressing his full confidence in Muhyiddin’s ability to handle the crisis today.


Govt to propose construction of 4 new courts in Sarawak

Law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar today said that the government would propose the construction of four new courts in Sarawak under the 12th Malaysia Plan.Speaking to reporters after visiting the Kuching Court complex, he said the new courts would be built in Limbang, Kapit, Mukah and Sri Aman.He said the proposal would also include the upgrading of existing court buildings in the state.Wan Junaidi who is Santubong MP said those living in rural areas face challenges in attending court sessions.“In Sabah and Sarawak, there are cases that require court officers to travel to rural areas,” he added.“The magistrates also help with registration matters, and they have to go through logging roads. The rural folk who need to attend court have to travel a long time, and if the weather is bad, they cannot access the logging roads.”Wan Junaidi also said that a proposal would be submitted for an official residence to be built for the chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak in the two states.“We have to build this because they shuttle back and forth between Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.“It doesn’t look appropriate for them to stay at hotels. We cannot treat them like ministers, letting them stay at hotels.”He added that this was to ensure their safety and protect the image of the judiciary itself.


Angry China stages more drills near Taiwan as US lawmakers visit

China's military said it carried out more exercises near Taiwan on Monday as a group of US lawmakers visited the Chinese-claimed island and met President Tsai Ing-wen, who said her government was committed to maintaining stability.
The five US lawmakers, led by Senator Ed Markey, arrived in Taipei on an unannounced visit late on Sunday, the second high-level group to visit following that of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi in early August, which set off several days of Chinese war games.
The Chinese military unit responsible for the area adjacent to Taiwan, the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command, said it had organised multi-service joint combat readiness patrols and combat drills in the sea and airspace around Taiwan on Monday.
The exercises were "a stern deterrent to the US and Taiwan continuing to play political tricks and undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait", it added.
China's Defence Ministry said in a separate statement that the lawmakers' trip infringed on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and "fully exposes the true face of the US as a spoiler and spoiler of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait".
"The Chinese People's Liberation Army continues to train and prepare for war, resolutely defends national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will resolutely crush any form of 'Taiwan independence' separatism and foreign interference."
The theatre command said the exercises took place near Taiwan's Penghu islands, which are in the Taiwan Strait and are home to a major air base, and showed close up video of the islands taken by a Chinese air force aircraft.
Tsai, meeting the lawmakers in her office, said China's exercises had greatly affected regional peace and stability.
"We are engaging in close cooperation with international allies to closely monitor the military situation. At the same time we are doing everything we can to let the world know that Taiwan is determined to safeguard stability and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait," she said, in video footage provided by the presidential office.
Markey told Tsai that "we have a moral obligation" to do everything to prevent an unnecessary conflict.
"Taiwan has demonstrated incredible restraint and discretion during challenging times," he added.
Low key
Pelosi's visit infuriated China, which responded with test launches of ballistic missiles over Taipei for the first time, and ditching some lines of dialogue with Washington, including theatre military talks and on climate change.
However, this trip was much more low key than Pelosi's, with Tsai's meeting with the lawmakers not carried live on her social media pages, which is the general practice when high-level foreign guests come.
The group left Taiwan late on Monday afternoon, and only after then did the presidential office release footage of the meeting with Tsai.
It was not immediately clear where they were going.
The de facto US embassy in Taipei said they had also met Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and members of Taiwan's parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee.
"Authoritarian China can't dictate how democratic Taiwan makes friends," Wu said on Twitter of their meeting.
The US has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is bound by law to provide the democratically governed island with the means to defend itself.
China has never ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control. Taiwan's government says the People's Republic of China has never ruled the island and so has no right to claim it, and that only its 23 million people can decide their future.
Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang said they would not be deterred by China's response to such visits by foreign friends.
"We can't just do nothing because there is an evil neighbour next door, and not dare to let visitors or friends come," he told reporters.


For restaurants under MCO, business as usual means almost none at all

Unlike the first movement control order (MCO) implemented in March last year which shut down large swaths of the country’s economy amid swelling numbers of Covid-19 infections, shopping malls have remained open although a mere shadow of what they once were.While most of the retail sector remains closed under what is now known as MCO 2.0, restaurants and eateries are allowed to continue serving customers albeit only through delivery and takeaway.A stroll through the mall reveals restaurant employees still working their normal shifts. Food is still cooked, tables are wiped down, and workers stand ready to greet anyone who walks past.All that’s missing are the customers.With daily cases hovering at an average of 4,000 a day, the second MCO, enforced on Jan 13, was recently extended until Feb 18.Visiting the mall during this time has become a one-of-a-kind experience as what was once a platform for businesses, both aspiring and established, has been rendered nearly unrecognisable by health SOPs.Searching for an empty parking spot is now a thing of the past as foot traffic at many malls hits an all-time low.“We spend our hours sitting around and waiting because that’s all we can do.”“Usually, we have several steps to follow when serving a customer. Now it’s a plain simple two-step process since most people order online,” the employee said.Lunch-time rush hour is now a thing of the past, and noon-time finds many workers standing around with no one to serve.“The whole day is the same. Empty just like right now,” the employee added.When asked why the restaurant remained open, he said the boss could not afford to close it down.Manie, who works at a neighbouring food stall, said the drop in foot traffic had made working hours shorter than usual.“On normal days when there were at least 100 customers a day, we closed at 10pm but now we close at 8pm instead,” he told MalaysiaNow.“My boss even cried because of the tension and not having any sales.”He, too, said closing was not an option for the eatery, adding that timing is essential to making such decisions.Elsewhere in the mall, the situation is the other way around: some food outlets are open but with no one there to serve customers.At one of these outlets, a lone customer eventually gives up waiting and walks away – fair game for any of the other eateries where workers wait, eagerly hoping for business no matter how small.


Sydney, Australia, faced with another outbreak after 2 weeks clear

Hundreds of thousands of Sydney residents have been told to stay home after a new outbreak of Covid-19 ended a two-week run of no local cases.Officials are racing to trace the source of the infection in the New South Wales (NSW) capital, which has so far been found in 17 cases across the city’s northern beaches region.Until Wednesday, the whole country had recorded just one locally acquired case in the past fortnight, reports the BBC.Tests have shown that the outbreak is an international strain of Covid-19, state officials said, but they still do not know how it got into the community.Authorities told reporters that one couple had failed to isolate at home while awaiting Covid test results and had spread the virus. However, it’s unclear how the couple – who hadn’t travelled outside Australia – became infected.The NSW state government warned locals on Friday to “brace” for considerably more cases.About 250,000 people live in the Northern Beaches region and they have been told to stay at home until Monday and to get tested if they have symptoms.The new cluster is sparking national concern and thrown many Australians’ plans for a relatively normal Christmas into doubt as residents now face curbs on travel to other states.In recent months, authorities have lifted most restrictions on daily life and reopened internal borders as Australia beat its second wave, centred around Melbourne.Earlier this week, NSW ended a work-from-home public health order due to its low case numbers.However, in response to this new Sydney outbreak, several states have begun reinstating bans or quarantine restrictions on travellers from the popular beach region from Friday.Queensland, Victoria, Northern Territory and Tasmania have announced new travel rules and Western Australia has brought in a two-week quarantine order for all those arriving from NSW.Residents of other parts of Australia’s largest city have been told to avoid the northern beaches area and to use a mask when on public transport and in public spaces like supermarkets.The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is expected to speak to the media on Friday morning.


Russia reports heavy fighting in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine

Russia's army on Friday reported heavy fighting in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, saying over 21 Ukrainian tanks had been destroyed in battles across key sections of the front line.
A spokesman for Russia's Vostok group of forces said 13 Ukrainian tanks were destroyed in battles in the Zaporizhzhia region and eight in the Donetsk region. It reported artillery, drone and infantry battles.
Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield claims.
Russian military bloggers said there were intense battles on the Zaporizhzhia front near the city of Orikhiv as Ukraine sought to pierce Russian defences and drive a wedge through Russian forces.
Russia said Ukraine began a major offensive on Sunday morning, first in southern Donetsk, but Moscow said its forces repelled the attacks. Ukraine accused Moscow of spreading lies.


A sister’s plea for her brother’s life

Dear Malaysia and Singapore,For a moment after hearing that my brother had lost his appeal, it was like my own life was cut short. However, losing the court case does not mean that there is no hope. This is a serious miscarriage of justice. As Pannir Selvam’s sister, I have a valid claim to appeal to the courts and judiciary system of Singapore to re-evaluate the Central Narcotics Bureau’s (CNB) decision to not issue Pannir a certificate of substantive assistance.The Court of Appeal mentioned that the information Pannir disclosed was not used by the CNB. How far can we trust the CNB when all they want to do is to hang inmates without assisting them in their cases and in seeking justice?First, I would like to point out that Zamri was arrested in October 2014, right after Pannir was arrested in September 2014. Zamri is a Singaporean who was caught in Clementi West Street 1 in Singapore. What was the CNB doing before September 2014? Why was Zamri caught only after Pannir’s arrest?The CNB told the courts that they had the information on Zamri early on. As such, we would ask, why wasn’t he caught earlier, before Pannir was? I urge the CNB to be more transparent on how they caught Zamri and we want the prison and judiciary system to bring Zamri and Pannir to the courts for a hearing, along with the CNB.I would like to humbly remind Singapore’s senior state counsel, Francis Ng, about his statement on Pannir failing to identify the photographers. How can a drug mule who was trapped and set to be caught be able to identify the person he was supposed to send a parcel to?Please do not mistake me here, as I would like to put the question back to you, sir. If you or I were set up to be caught with drugs by the authorities, then could we identify who we were going to courier or deliver the parcel to? We would only know the address or other details, but not very much about the face or the exact person we would be delivering it to.It goes without saying that Pannir did not recognise Zamri’s face as they are not friends and acquaintances. However, the information that Pannir gave to CNB, which was:1. Where Zamri was staying and working;2. Zamri’s phone number at that point in time;3. Where Pannir was supposed to send the parcel to, and;4. Other details like Pannir’s phoneAll this information would have been a great assistance to the CNB leading to Zamri’s arrest.I strongly believe that the information provided by Pannir must have been used by the CNB in some way. To give even more context, the term “used” here clearly happened as Zamri was arrested by the CNB with the information given by Pannir.Pannir happened to meet Zamri inside Changi prison. Zamri ended up on death row as well. Pannir found out from Zamri that a CNB officer told him that his arrest was due to information provided by “an Indian guy” who was arrested one month ago, which could undeniably be none other than Pannir.There are other questions that I would like to bring up. If the CNB is claiming that they did not use Pannir’s information, then why did the prison refuse to allow Pannir’s lawyers to interview or meet Zamri in prison at first? What is there for the prison to deny permission to Pannir’s lawyer to meet Zamri and talk to him? After several letters and an affidavit filed by Pannir’s lawyer, Too Xing, he finally got permission to meet Zamri and Zamri affirmed an affidavit supporting Pannir.My dear Malaysians, talking about the permissions, I can’t even digest the incident that happened on May 22, 2019, when Changi prison refused to give permission to Pannir’s second lawyer N Surendran for a visitation. And this happened when Pannir was about to be brought to the courts for the final time to get his official sentence. Can any of you imagine this moment? Surendran did not get permission to visit Pannir until the end and he was only able to see Pannir in court on May 23, 2019, a day before his scheduled execution. This is ridiculous.I again would like to respectfully remind Singapore to respect human lives and to embody humanitarian values by upholding the penitentiary and judicial standards of a first-world country. Please do not carry out any hanky-panky job behind the scenes like denying death row inmates their rights to seek and meet legal counsel and refusing to cooperate with lawyers arguing for death penalty cases in Singapore.This judicial review against the public prosecutor’s failure to issue a certificate of substantive assistance has been reevaluated. This is because the officer that took the statement during Pannir’s arrest in September 2014 acted in bad faith as he did not explain to Pannir that if he cooperated with the CNB, he would receive a certificate of substantive assistance.I would like to bring to the attention of the courts to listen back to the oral recordings done while Pannir’s statement was being taken on Sept 3, 2014. The CNB officer intentionally did not explain about the certificate of substantive assistance which is part of the procedure when taking statements for such cases. Instead, he repeatedly insisted to my brother to tell him all the information he knows.Cruelty and judicial standards were not only broken in Pannir’s case. Mentally challenged Malaysian, Nagaenthran’s court hearing has been postponed from Nov 30 to January next year. Considering his illness, mental faculty and the support received from all over the world, I plead to Singapore to stop his execution and to put him on parole.Singapore has already wasted his time and life by putting him on death row instead of sending him to a mental disability care center to get treatment. Wanting to hang him to death, despite knowing all this, is a serious humiliation for Singapore. He must be treated like a patient, not as a convict. He did not kill or harm anyone, so please, please do not hang him.I understand that not being a lawyer is not an excuse for not following the court procedures. However, if this miscarriage of justice takes place, as a responsible sister I have to do everything possible to save my brother’s life. This includes highlighting what really happened.There are thousands of people on death row in Malaysia and Singapore and it’s time to open our eyes and ears to their plight and sorrows. My dear Malaysians and Singaporeans, please help us to save Nagaenthran and my brother Pannir Selvam, and ensure that he gets the justice he deserves.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Amirudin tight-lipped as aide denies Azmin's claim on 'Gombak slaughter' plan

An aide to Amirudin Shari has denied that the Selangor menteri besar told Bersatu's Mohamed Azmin Ali that he was being sent "to be slaughtered" in contesting against the latter in Gombak.
Jay Jay Denis (pic) said Azmin's claim was "another in his series of lies since February 2020".
"Azmin should begin to repent because the people are judging and will reject dishonourable leaders who are unable to speak the truth," he told MalaysiaNow in a brief statement.
Messages to Amirudin himself have gone unanswered, although texts to his WhatsApp were marked as delivered and read.
Yesterday, PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim gave strong indication that Amirudin, widely seen as Azmin's protege when he was the party's deputy president, would be fielded in Gombak.
But earlier this week, Azmin, a three-term Gombak MP, said Amirudin had called him last month to inform him of what he thought was the real agenda behind the move.
"He said, 'I have been asked to stand in Gombak. I know, this is to slaughter me in Gombak'," he told a Perikatan Nasional event hosted by PAS in Taman Melewar, Gombak, referring to the conversation with Amirudin.


Microsoft pioneer Bill Gates to divorce after 27 years of marriage

Bill and Melinda Gates have announced they are divorcing after 27 years of marriage, saying “we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple”.They tweeted, “After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage.”Bill Gates is the fourth wealthiest person in the world, according to Forbes and the divorce will put the couple’s hundred billion-dollar fortune on the line.They first met in 1987, when Melinda joined Bill’s Microsoft company as a product manager. They have three children and jointly run the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which has spent billions fighting causes such as infectious diseases and encouraging vaccinations in children.The Gates are behind the Giving Pledge, which calls on billionaires to commit to giving away the majority of their wealth to good causes.He made his money through the firm he co-founded in the 1970s, Microsoft, the world’s biggest software company.The pair tweeted, “Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives. We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation.”Melinda said she found Bill methodical, even in matters of the heart – he wrote a list on a whiteboard with the “pros and the cons of getting married”.They married in 1994 on the Hawaiian island of Lanai, reportedly hiring up all the local helicopters to stop unwanted guests flying over.Bill Gates stepped down from Microsoft’s board last year to focus on his philanthropic activities.He remains one of the largest individual Microsoft shareholders, holding more than 100 million shares as of Dec. 2019, as reported by The New York Times.He has consistently been named one of the richest people in the world and has an estimated net worth of US$130.5 billion, according to Forbes. His actual worth fluctuates due to stock prices.It is not clear whether the Gates’ have a prenuptial agreement to divide their vast assets. The New York Times referenced that the pair reportedly had a prenup in a 1997 article.Among their notable assets, the Gates’ have a mansion in Washington state that has been estimated to be worth more than US$120 million.Washington is a community property state. That means if a couple is unable to reach an agreement as to how to divide marital assets, a judge will generally divide community property equally between the pair – referring to assets acquired during their marriage.


One dead in mudslides that cut off Vancouver from rest of Canada

Police said Tuesday at least one person has died in torrential rains that trapped motorists in mudslides, forced thousands to evacuate their homes and cut off Vancouver from the rest of Canada.Search and rescue teams recovered the body of a woman from a mudslide near Lillooet, 250km north of Vancouver, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said.Staff Sergeant Janelle Shoihet added that investigators have received two missing person reports, but that they believe “there may have been other occupied vehicles that were lost in the slide.”“The total number of people and vehicles unaccounted for has not been confirmed,” she said.The rains had let up by late Tuesday afternoon. But mudslides, rocks and debris washed out several highways leading to Vancouver, trapping hundreds of motorists who were rescued by military helicopters by nightfall on Monday.Local television showed video footage of the Trans Canada highway – which connects the coastal city to the rest of the country – inundated. A bridge was also washed out.Other routes have also been closed, according to Drive BC, which said on Twitter: “Highways are closed until further notice.”As a result, motorists wanting to travel to or from Vancouver would have to travel south to the US and back up into Canada.Anyone taking this circuitous route, however, would have to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test upon re-entry into Canada.Landslides also cut off rail traffic to and from Vancouver – one of Canada’s busiest freight sea ports. “Both CN and CP Rail indicate that no rail traffic is currently able to transit between Kamloops and Vancouver,” a port spokesman told AFP.In Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government is “watching closely” the evolving situation in British Columbia.He was to speak with the province’s premier, John Horgan, later in the day to see what federal help might be needed.“We’ll be there to help in any way, shape or form,” he told reporters.Record rainfallEnvironment Canada said up to 250mm of rain – what the region normally gets in a month – fell Sunday and Monday in and around Vancouver, which was also hit last week by a rare tornado.The extreme weather comes after British Columbia suffered record-high temperatures over the summer that killed more than 500 people, as well as wildfires that destroyed a town.On Tuesday, thousands of British Columbians were unable to return to their homes due to evacuation orders still in effect due to flooding in a dozen communities – including all of Merritt and parts of Abbotsford – and as many as 9,000 homes were without power.In Merritt, flooding compromised the wastewater treatment plant, while thousands in Abbotsford reportedly slept in their cars on an elevated road overnight, as farms in the Fraser Valley were inundated.Others took shelter at emergency sites set up across the province, with some also sleeping in church pews or at schools, local media said.“Everyone’s been very good-humoured,” Andrew Clark, a musician stuck with a thousand other travellers in Hope, 150km east of Vancouver, told public broadcaster CBC.“Everyone knows that we are in the same boat, so that’s all quite good, but I think there’s a sort of general air of disappointment that we can’t find out more information about what’s happening down the road,” he said.“People are a little bit worried about how many nights we might be staying here.”


Singapore repeals gay sex ban but limits prospect of legalising same-sex marriage

Singapore's parliament on Tuesday decriminalised sex between men, but, in a blow to the LGBT community, also amended the constitution to prevent court challenges that in other countries have led to the legalisation of same-sex marriage.
The moves come as other parts of Asia, including Taiwan, Thailand and India are recognising more rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
Activists cheered the repeal, but said the amendment to the constitution is disappointing because it means citizens will not be able to mount legal challenges to issues like the definition of marriage, family, and related policies since these will only be decided by the executive and legislature.
The government has defended amending the constitution saying decisions on such issues should not be led by the courts. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his successor have ruled out any changes to the current legal definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman.
"We will try and maintain a balance... to uphold a stable society with traditional, heterosexual family values, but with space for homosexuals to live their lives and contribute to society," Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said in parliament this week.
Both the repeal and the constitutional amendment were passed with an overwhelming majority, thanks to the ruling People's Action Party's dominance in parliament. There is no timeline yet for when the new laws take effect.
The changes do, however, leave room for a future parliament to expand the definition of marriage to include same-sex relationships.
Bryan Choong, chair of LGBTQ advocacy group Oogachaga, said it was a historical moment for activists who have been campaigning for a repeal of the law known as Section 377A for 15 years. But he added that LGBT couples and families also "have the right to be recognised and protected".
In Singapore, attitudes towards LGBT issues have shifted towards a more liberal stance in recent years especially among the young, though conservative attitudes remain among religious groups. Of those aged 18-25, about 42% accepted same-sex marriage in 2018, up from 17% just five years prior, according to a survey by the Institute of Policy Studies.


Selangor ruler backs Agong's comments on pardons

Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah today voiced support for the Agong's recent statement that the power to bestow pardons should not be arbitrarily used.
In a statement, he said the people should understand that the pardons process must be carried out in accordance with the laws and procedures provided for in the Federal Constitution and other related legislation.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had said on Sept 5 that the power to punish and pardon should not be used arbitrarily as there would be an accounting for this in the afterlife.
He also said that Islamic justice does not give privileges or exceptions to anyone who commits a wrongdoing.
"I am happy to express my strong support for the Agong's speech on Sept 5 relating to the prerogative power of pardon which cannot be arbitrarily exercised for the benefit of certain parties," Sultan Sharafuddin said today.
He also urged the people to respect the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, which he said was the core and axis for the sovereignty of the country's constitutional monarchy and democratic system.
"The Federal Constitution has placed the dignity of the judicial institution at a high level as an independent and authoritative judicial body," he said.
"The judiciary is the last bastion that needs to be defended to ensure that the administration of justice can be carried out in the best possible way."
Sultan Sharafuddin said judicial independence meant that the judges involved in a case could interpret the law based solely on facts and evidence without fear or favour, and free from any unwanted influence.
"A judge takes an oath to practise equality, and to preserve, protect and defend the constitution and be free from all forms of internal and external pressure," he added.
"The Federal Constitution clearly provides that all citizens are equal before the law. This means that people, regardless of status, position, race and descent, are subject to and held responsible under the same laws."
Adding that the independence of the judiciary requires the support, understanding and commitment of all parties, especially the executive, he urged all parties to work together towards this goal.
"The people need to have full faith in the country's judicial system without throwing about baseless accusations, unaware of the facts and reasons for the judgment of a case," he said.
"Any of these unfounded accusations will invite a negative perception of the independence of the judiciary and will erode the confidence and trust of the people in the country's justice administration system.
"This situation will also indirectly affect the good name of the country at the international level."


New budget to consider manifestos of all parties in govt, says deputy finance minister

The new 2023 budget, expected to be tabled on Feb 24, will take into account the manifestos of all parties in the government, says Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan.
He said a special secretariat for the new budget has been established to examine and study the manifestos to be included in the budget.
He said some improvements will also be considered in the new budget to ensure that it meets the people’s needs and agenda.
"There are various parties in the unity government. All of them have good manifestos to implement. A special secretariat has been formed to examine these manifestos," he told a press conference in Chukai today.
Ahmad also said the government would continue with some of the initiatives made by the previous administration in its 2023 budget, such as the assistance of RM150 for every school student regardless of family income, which will be disbursed beginning Jan 12.
"Matters on the budget will be discussed at the ministry (of finance) meeting on Jan 3. It is up to the prime minister to decide the theme of the budget and its content," he said.
The previous government led by Ismail Sabri Yaakob tabled the 2023 budget, but it was not passed or debated in the Dewan Rakyat following the dissolution of Parliament on Oct 10.


Asset declarations, for transparency or political agendas?

A criminologist has questioned the value of the asset declarations by PKR candidates ahead of the general election, saying they appear to be linked more with a political agenda than a desire to be transparent.
Kassim Noor Mohamed, who is based in the UK, said asset declarations must be done according to the proper procedure.
"Usually, a declaration of assets is made once you are appointed to public office," he said.
"When they do it this way and announce it to people, it's almost as though it has more to do with a political agenda than actually wanting to be transparent."
Candidates from PKR have declared their assets in the run-up to the 15th general election (GE15), although questions were raised in some cases about a lack of details.
PKR's candidate in Sungai Buloh, R Ramanan, submitted a declaration listing down his wealth under various categories including more than RM23 million in cash as well as jewellery worth RM4 million.
He also listed RM27 million in property, RM8.6 million in vehicles and RM3.5 million in stocks and insurance, leading to a total of RM63.5 million in net assets minus some RM2.5 million debts for housing and car loans and credit card balance.
However, he did not include a detailed breakdown of these assets, and gave no indication of how much he had in his bank accounts or the Employees Provident Fund.
Meanwhile, PKR's candidate in Hulu Selangor, Sathia Prakash Nadarajan, declared RM4 million in net wealth but gave no further details, either.
Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is among a number of Muda candidates who have declared their assets as well, stating net assets of over RM1.9 million.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Kassim said a lack of details would cast doubt on the intention behind asset declarations.
"If you see, there are some candidates who only give numbers," he said.
"When this happens, say someone lodges a complaint with the authorities, and when the authorities investigate, they are blamed instead.
"Then this is labelled as political persecution – is this what they want?"
'Laughable'
Kassim also questioned the timing of these declarations, saying assets should be declared to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
"Declare your assets to MACC, and then MACC will take the next step. Why do you want to declare now, during the campaign period?
"If MACC doesn't investigate, they are slammed for not investigating," he added. "But when they investigate, they are questioned in turn.
"It is really intriguing, in a sense, and sometimes to the point where it is laughable because if you want to do this, do it honestly. Do it properly, give all the details and follow the procedure."
DAP, PKR's fellow component in Pakatan Harapan (PH), recently said that it had no policy compelling its candidates to declare their assets ahead of polls.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook said candidates would only declare their assets if they are elected and sworn in as Cabinet members, in keeping with the party's practice.
Umno's Khairy Jamaluddin said the same of Barisan Nasional candidates, telling reporters that they would be required to declare their assets after they are appointed to the Cabinet.
Perikatan Nasional information chief Mohamed Azmin Ali meanwhile dismissed asset declarations as "sandiwara" or theatrics, criticising those whom he said declared their assets but still named candidates embroiled in corruption charges.
'Only to some'
Analysts who spoke to MalaysiaNow played down the overall effect of asset declarations, saying such moves would only appeal to certain groups of people.
James Chin of Australia's University of Tasmania said the declaration of assets would appeal mostly to urban and middle-class voters with an interest in politics.
"Most people know that politicians are very good at hiding their wealth," he said.
"Even if they declare, they won't tell the truth anyway."
Liew Wui Chern of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman agreed, saying the move by PKR candidates to declare their assets would only rally the support of urban voters.
Voters in semi-urban and rural areas would have a different view of the matter, he said.
"If their political opponents continue to push on this issue, semi-urban and rural areas might end up with different opinions," he added.
"Then, asset declaration itself will have the opposite effect."
He added however that the controversy surrounding PKR's asset declarations would not shake the support of long-time supporters for party president Anwar Ibrahim or his deputy Rafizi Ramli.


US authorises Moderna as second Covid-19 vaccine

The US on Friday authorised Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use, as the country grapples with a brutal winter surge that is killing over 2,500 people a day.The US is the first nation to authorise the two-dose regimen, now the second vaccine to be deployed in a Western country after one developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.“With the availability of two vaccines now for the prevention of Covid-19, the FDA has taken another crucial step in the fight against this global pandemic,” Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Stephen Hahn said.President Donald Trump – who has frequently taken credit for the fast pace of vaccine development – tweeted: “Congratulations, the Moderna vaccine is now available!”Joe Biden, who defeated Trump in November’s presidential elections and is due to take office in January, hailed the news as “another milestone” in the fight against the virus.But he also warned of “the immense challenges ahead, including scaling up manufacturing, distribution, and the monumental task of vaccinating hundreds of millions of Americans”.Meharry Medical College president James Hildreth, who was part of a panel of experts convened by the FDA to discuss approval matters, said Thursday it was a “remarkable achievement” to have developed and authorised the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines within a year.The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine was approved by Britain on Dec 2, followed by several other countries including the US last week. Less-vetted inoculations have also been rolled out in China and Russia.The US alone has seen more than 310,000 people die from coronavirus infections and is currently witnessing a brutal winter surge, with nearly 115,000 people hospitalized, according to the Covid Tracking Project.Millions of doses will begin shipping out as early as this weekend from cold-storage sites outside Memphis and Louisville, overseen by logistics firm McKesson.From there they will be delivered to sites around the country via partnerships with FedEx and UPS.Cutting-edge technologyModerna has several other drugs under development, but has never seen any authorised until this week.The decade-old Massachusetts-based biotech company received US$2.5 billion in federal funding for its efforts and co-developed the vaccine with scientists at the National Institutes of Health.Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are based on cutting-edge mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) technology, and both have been shown to protect about 95% of people against Covid-19 compared to a placebo.Clinical trials involving tens of thousands of people each have also found no serious safety issues.The most commonly reported side effects were, according to the FDA, “tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes in the same arm as the injection, nausea and vomiting, and fever”.But there have now been a handful of people around the world who developed significant allergic reactions after receiving the Pfizer vaccine, and the FDA has said it will remain vigilant.Both vaccines come with warnings for people who have histories of allergic reactions to their ingredients.FDA scientist Peter Marks told reporters that the total number of cases of allergic reactions to the Pfizer vaccine across the US was now around five.He said investigations were underway, and suggested the culprit might be an ingredient called polyethylene glycol, which is in both vaccines.The FDA will also be on the lookout to see whether both vaccines may in extremely rare cases be linked to Bell’s palsy, a temporary facial paralysis condition, a handful of cases of which emerged during clinical trials.Placebo dilemmaBoth vaccines work by giving human cells the instructions to make a surface protein of the coronavirus, which simulates an infection and trains the immune system for when it encounters the real virus.They each differ in the formulation of the fatty particles used to deliver the mRNA, allowing Moderna’s vaccine to be kept in long-term storage at -20 degrees Celsius, unlike Pfizer’s, which must be stored at -90 degrees Celsius.Moderna carried out a clinical trial of more than 30,000 people, roughly half of whom were given the product and the other half a placebo, with neither recipients nor their health care providers knowing who was in each group.It has proposed to “unblind” the whole study and offer placebo recipients the vaccine.But some experts have raised concerns about that plan, saying scientists will be deprived of valuable data and warning that some people will end up getting the vaccine ahead of others in their priority group.Moderna proposes to ship 20 million this month and 80 million more in the first quarter of 2021, with the remaining 100 million in the second quarter.


Animal shelters scratch along as Covid after-effects roll on

Joan Ng and her husband never thought that they would one day own not one, but three dogs, all rescued from animal shelters at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
At that point, the virus was spreading far and wide, and the lack of a vaccine had forced the shutdown of both the economic and social sectors.
Ng and her husband felt ill at ease whenever they came across reports on social media about how animal shelters were struggling to make ends meet.
They were also saddened by the many pets left at shelters who needed to be taken in by new families.
"We thought to ourselves that we needed to do something quickly, before those animals starved to death or were dumped," Ng told MalaysiaNow.
She concluded that the best way to help was to support the shelters near her home which were facing financial troubles due to the movement control order (MCO).
"The shelters needed volunteers and new families," she said.
"My husband and I both work from home, so we drove to Puchong and took back three dogs and a cat."
Today, the dogs are happy at the couple's home while the cat has been taken in by Ng's mother, who lives in Muar, Johor.

Kittens gaze out through the bars of their cages at an animal shelter in Putrajaya.

Ng and her husband are among the hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of Malaysians who volunteered their time and resources to help animal shelters across the country during the pandemic.
Today, four months after Malaysia began its transition towards the endemic phase of Covid-19, there are no updated records on the number of animal shelters forced to close due to the MCOs.
But the appeals for public donations have continued, with shelters asking for financial aid or even just food for the animals in their care.
Some have also said that they can no longer continue taking in animals due to a lack of resources and manpower.
In Putrajaya, a shelter for abandoned cats has fallen into disrepair, with no money left for maintenance.
A gardener working beside the shelter said about 38 cats had been brought there at one point or another.
But over the past year, all of them were released to fend for themselves as the shelter management could no longer afford to care for them.
"Before this, they would take in any cat that was brought to the shelter," he said.
"But now, there is only one person left to take care of the animals. They can't do it anymore. The cats roam freely here and there.
"Some of them stay close as they are not used to finding their own food. But most of them have disappeared and we don't know where they are anymore."
Only a few weeks ago, a litter of kittens was left at the shelter in the dead of the night.
The shelter management took them in as they were unable to find anyone willing to adopt them.
"There are three of them, all without a mother," the gardener said.
"There is also another cage with a cat and its kittens, waiting for someone to take them in.
"If no one comes, they might just be released like the others."
He said the cost of keeping the cats at the shelter was just too high. Food aside, the management also needs money for medication and scheduled visits to the vet.
Before the pandemic, he said, many had brought donations of food and milk, and volunteers had come on weekends to help clean out the cages.
But after the lockdowns were imposed, people were forced to stay at home and many appeared to have forgotten about the shelter.
"Maybe they don't know that it is still here, waiting for their help once more."


Sorry.


French army denies its helicopter attacked Mali wedding, killing guests

Reports from Mali say more than 20 people, including women and children, were killed when an airstrike hit a wedding party in a remote village at the weekend.Residents of Bounti, in the central Mopti region, said a helicopter opened fire on the marriage ceremony on Sunday.The French military, which has troops in the region, said it carried out a strike on jihadist militants in central Mali, but that no wedding was involved.On Tuesday, France said a military operation involving an airstrike and carried out after days of tracking individuals had killed dozens of Islamist insurgents in the area.A spokesman for the French military, who was not named, told AFP news agency that “reports relating to a wedding do not match the observations that were made”.Villagers in Bounti said a low-flying helicopter, which has not been identified, carried out the strike in broad daylight.Witnesses said the attacks appeared to target men on motorbikes who were believed to be Islamist militants.One man who was wounded in the strike told the Associated Press that the extremists had approached a group of villagers who were celebrating a wedding and demanded that the men in attendance separate from the women.“We were carrying out their orders when I heard the sound of an airplane and immediately a strike came from above. Afterwards, I didn’t see anything because I was unconscious,” the man said from a health centre in Douentza, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.Other villagers in Bounti said a lone helicopter opened fire in broad daylight, sowing panic among the crowd. Ahmadou Ghana said two of his brothers were killed. “It was run for your lives,” he told AFP.On Saturday, two French soldiers were killed while collecting intelligence when their armoured vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in Mali’s eastern region of Menaka, the French authorities announced.It followed the deaths of three other French soldiers in the country earlier in the week, also when an improvised explosive device hit their vehicle. In that instance, militants from the Group to Support Islam and Muslims, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, claimed they were behind the attack.France has 5,100 troops in the Sahel region, which has been a front line in the war against Islamist militancy in Africa for almost a decade.The French first intervened in the Sahel region – an arid stretch of land just south of the Sahara Desert which includes Mali, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania – in 2013.


Myanmar generals blocked from emptying US$1 billion from US bank account

Myanmar’s military rulers attempted to move about US$1 billion held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY) just days after seizing power, prompting US officials to freeze the funds, according to Reuters.The transaction on Feb 4 in the name of the Central Bank of Myanmar was first blocked by bank safeguards, then an executive order issued by President Joe Biden gave them legal authority to block the transfer indefinitely, Reuters’ sources said.Announcing a new executive order paving the way for sanctions on the generals and their businesses, Biden said on Feb 10 that the US was taking steps to prevent the generals from “improperly having access” to US$1 billion in Myanmar government funds.The attempt, which has not been previously reported, came after Myanmar’s military installed a new central bank governor and detained reformist officials during the coup.It marked an apparent effort by Myanmar’s generals to limit exposure to international sanctions. The US, Canada, the EU and UK have all issued fresh sanctions following the coup and the army’s subsequent deadly crackdown on demonstrators.Myanmar’s reserves would be managed by part of the New York Fed known as Central Bank and International Account Services (CBIAS), where many central banks keep US dollar reserves for purposes such as settling transactions.One source told Reuters that transactions involving Myanmar require extra scrutiny as the country last year was placed on the international Financial Action Task Force’s “grey list” for money laundering concerns, in part because of the risk of proceeds from drug trafficking being washed through its banks.CBIAS’ compliance manual says New York Fed guidelines include provisions for responding to developments in account-holding nations.“When appropriate,” it says, the bank’s legal department “will be in communication with the US Department of State in order to clarify current events and any changes that may affect the central bank and corresponding control of the FRBNY account”.


Najib and son turn to Federal Court in final bid against LHDN

Former prime minister Najib Razak and his son Mohd Nazifuddin have filed a motion for leave to appeal at the Federal Court in a bid to overthrow another court ruling last week in their ongoing battle with the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) over claims of unpaid tax arrears amounting to some RM1.7 billion.The Court of Appeal had on Sept 9 dismissed their appeals against two previous High Court rulings allowing LHDN to enter summary judgments to recover RM1.69 billion from Najib and RM37.6 million from Nazifuddin.A summary judgment is when the court decides a particular case summarily, without calling witnesses to testify in a trial.Court of Appeal judge Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil who led a three-man bench said there was no merit to the appeals of Najib and Nazifuddin, and no misdirection by either High Court judge in the previous rulings.In Najib’s case, High Court judge Ahmad Bache on July 22 last year allowed LHDN’s application for a summary judgment to be entered against Najib in its suit to recover the RM1.69 billion in taxes from the latter for the period between 2011 and 2017.Najib lost his bid in the High Court on June 14 this year to obtain a stay of execution on the summary judgment.As for Nazifuddin, High Court judge Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim on July 6 last year ordered him to pay RM37.6 million in unpaid taxes to LHDN after allowing its application to enter a summary judgment against him in its tax arrears suit seeking to recover the unpaid amount from him between 2011 and 2017.


Opposition reps to sit in on Putrajaya’s top Covid-19 meetings?

Putrajaya may invite representatives from the opposition bloc to take part in its daily high-level meetings on Covid-19, in an unprecedented response to criticism of the authorities’ handling of the pandemic, MalaysiaNow has learnt.It is believed that the proposal to allow the opposition to sit in on the meetings came from several ministers, on the back of accusations from a Sarawak MP that health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had not been going to the ground and was seeking publicity through his daily Covid-19 press conferences.Following this, MalaysiaNow understands that the government decided to despatch Noor Hisham and the prime minister’s top health adviser to Parliament.“The aim is to explain the government’s actions to contain the pandemic with academic backing, as well as to put a stop to baseless accusations from the opposition MPs,” a source told MalaysiaNow.Addressing the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing, from Sarawak’s ruling GPS coalition, asked if Noor Hisham was “scared of death”.He said Noor Hisham had failed to visit hospitals in Sabah affected by the recent spike in Covid-19 cases, and accused him of gunning for the job of the World Health Organization secretary-general.The government recently declared a one-month conditional movement control order in all states except for Perlis, Kelantan and Pahang.


PH to benefit more from cooperation with Muda, analysts say on Johor polls

Cooperation between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Muda at the upcoming state election in Johor will benefit the opposition coalition comprising PKR, DAP and Amanah more than the youth-based party led by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, analysts say.Ahmad Atory Hussain of Universiti Sains Malaysia said voters would view the approach as a move to offer a range of candidates from diverse backgrounds.“Up until now, none of Muda’s candidates has shown the potential to be nominated as menteri besar,” he told MalaysiaNow.“If they win, chances are that PH will determine who is put forward for the position,” he said, adding that the candidate would likely come from PKR or Amanah.As Muda was a political newcomer, he said, it would probably be overshadowed by PH and its lynchpin party PKR, which will be contesting the election under its own banner.This is despite its president Anwar Ibrahim being chairman of the opposition coalition.DAP and Amanah, meanwhile, will field their candidates under the PH logo.The two parties recently said they had reached an agreement through which Muda would contest six seats in the Johor legislative assembly: Tenang, Bukit Kepong, Parit Raja, Machap, Puteri Wangsa and Bukit Permai.They said they would stay out of these six seats to avoid a clash at the March 12 polls.Mujibu Abd Muis of Universiti Teknologi Mara said the cooperation between PH and Muda would be short-lived.Noting the differences in ideology between the two groups, he said the agreement was nevertheless necessary as part of efforts to topple Barisan Nasional (BN) in Johor – long seen as an Umno stronghold.Speaking to MalaysiaNow, he said BN was seen as a common enemy among opposition parties in the state.He said this approach was the best way to avoid a split in votes come election day.“If the opposition is split, BN will automatically possess the edge,” he added.“This is the situation that Muda and PKR-PH are anticipating. So they are forced to put aside their egos and ideologies as each of them knows that if they contest alone, they will have no chance of winning.”Mujibu said the cooperation with Muda was also important as voter confidence in PH had been on the decline since 2018.“PH did not make much headway during its time in the state government, and this has affected voters’ perception of the coalition,” he said.Atory meanwhile said that the influence in Johor of Syed Saddiq, who is Muar MP, might have shrunk since the 2018 polls as well, leaving his party in need of support from PH’s election machinery.“Syed Saddiq is the only candidate from Muda who is well known,” he said. “This is also Muda’s first election.“So there is a chance that voters, even among the youth, might hesitate to vote for them. The best way to increase confidence in the party is through a show of experience in facing elections.”James Chin of the University of Tasmania in Australia meanwhile said cooperation for the Johor election did not mean that Muda would join PH.On the contrary, he said, it was a joint effort to prevent a clash while going head-to-head with BN and Perikatan Nasional.“If any formal cooperation is inked, it would likely be between Muda and Warisan,” Chin told MalaysiaNow.“Muda has already stated in no uncertain terms that this cooperation is only temporary, in order to tackle the Johor election.”


Group condemns Singapore’s plan to execute another mentally disabled Malaysian

Rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) today hit out at news that Singapore would be executing another mentally disabled Malaysian, noting that the legal challenge of Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam is still pending in court.It said Sabahan Pausi Jefridin must not be executed while Nagaenthran’s appeal has yet to be decided as the appeal raises important questions on the legality of executing a mentally disabled person with an IQ of below 70.“It is totally unacceptable to carry out this execution while the courts have yet to decide on the critical legal and constitutional issues surrounding the execution of mentally disabled persons,” LFL said in a statement issued by lawyers Zaid Malek and Mahajoth Singh.Pausi was charged with trafficking drugs into the city-state along with Singaporean Roslan Bakar in 2008.They failed in an appeal in 2017 to commute their death sentence to life imprisonment, despite lawyers citing medical reports on their intellectual capabilities which would render their execution illegal under Singapore laws as well as international treaties.Leading Singapore clinical psychologist Dr Danny Ng who assessed Pausi said he had an IQ level of 67, which is below the threshold of 70 for declaring a person as intellectually disabled.Roslan’s lawyer meanwhile said his client was found by experts to have “limited capacity for judgment and decision-making due to underlying cognitive defects”, according to the 2017 judgment sighted by MalaysiaNow.But the judge, despite admitting that both men had low scores, maintained their death sentence.They are due to be hanged on Feb 16, a date given to their families on Feb 9.LFL said the short notice period had caused Pausi’s family great difficulty in travelling to the city-state due to the stringent restrictions imposed over the Covid-19 pandemic.“This rush to execute an intellectually disabled person is unfathomable,” it added.“Despite the international backlash that the Singaporean government received in November 2021 when they wanted to execute Nagaenthran, they remain indifferent to civilised world opinion by once again planning to hang another mentally disabled person.”Accusing Singapore of “time and time again wilfully ignoring its international obligations”, it said it was inhumane to impose the death penalty on mentally disabled persons.“Both international law and the Singapore constitution prohibits the execution of anyone who suffers from a mental disorder,” it said.


94.7% of adults, 55.3% of teens fully vaccinated

A total of 22,166,633 individuals or 94.7% of the adult population had completed their Covid-19 vaccination as of yesterday.Based on the health ministry’s data on the CovidNow portal, 97.5% of the adult population, or 22,822,013 individuals, have received at least one dose of vaccine.A total of 184,162 doses of vaccine were given yesterday involving 140,054 complete doses, 21,927 first doses and 22,181 booster doses, bringing the total number of doses administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to 49,253,453.As of yesterday, 1,739,835 or 55.3% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 had completed their vaccination while 2,566,922 individuals or 81.6% have received at least one dose of vaccine.


Iraq’s ancient Christian community decimated by violence, fear

Some fled after the US-led invasion, others during sectarian bloodshed and more following jihadist attacks. Iraq’s last two violent decades have hollowed out its Christian community which dates back two millennia.After first settling in the fertile plains of Nineveh province before heading for the busy boulevards of Baghdad, more than one million Christians have in more modern times been uprooted by Iraq’s consecutive conflicts.“By the age of 24, I had already lived through and survived three wars,” said Sally Fawzi, an Iraqi Chaldean Catholic, who left her country more than a decade ago and is now living in the US state of Texas.Some members of Iraq’s historic Christian community escaped to the nearby autonomous Kurdish region, others waited in neighbouring Jordan to emigrate and then resettled in countries as far away as Australia.Many lost hope in their homeland long ago, but see next month’s scheduled visit by Pope Francis – the first-ever papal trip to Iraq – as an important opportunity for him to use his voice to garner international support for Iraqis of their faith.Iraq’s Christian community is one of the oldest and most diverse in the world, featuring Chaldean, Armenian Orthodox, Protestant as well as other branches of Christianity.By 2003, when then-dictator Saddam Hussein was toppled, there were 1.5 million Christians in a country of 25 million people, or around 6% of the population.But as Iraq’s population mushroomed, the percentage of the minorities shrank.Today, only 400,000 Christians remain in a predominantly Muslim country of 40 million people, said William Warda, co-founder of the Hammurabi Human Rights Organisation.Among those who left, nearly half a million resettled in the US. Others ended up dispersed in Canada, Australia, Norway and other parts of Europe.The first waveRana Said, 40, had tried her hardest to stay.Her aunt and uncle were killed in 2007, when US soldiers blindly opened fire on the streets of Mosul after an attack in the regional capital of the northern province of Nineveh.Still, she remained in the city with her husband Ammar al-Kass, 41, a veterinarian.The following year, with Iraq gripped by sectarian bloodletting, a string of assassinations, including of Christians, pushed the Kass family to move to the relative safety of Iraqi Kurdistan.But by 2013, the region was growing increasingly unstable.The couple finally left their ancestral Iraq and were resettled on the Gold Coast of Australia where they found jobs in their respective professions and have raised three daughters: Sara, 10, Liza, six, and three-year-old Rose.The young girls have never visited Iraq, although they speak Arabic and a modern dialect of Assyrian – the ancient language of Christ – at home.A year after they resettled, jihadists from the so-called Islamic State group swept through their city. The family watched in horror from halfway around the world.“The fall of Mosul wasn’t easy for us,” Ammar recounted, particularly IS’s destruction of the city’s Church of the Virgin Mary, a 1,200-year-old piece of treasured heritage.“That’s where my father was married. It was razed and obliterated to the ground,” he said.He tried to keep his wife – pregnant with Liza at the time – away from computers and phones, afraid the added stress would harm the baby.“I used to have nightmares about IS entering and killing and raping my family. It was a repetitive, horrible dream,” Rana said emotionally, of the jihadists who forced women of the Yazidi religious minority and those of other minorities into sexual slavery.Lingering in limboSaad Hormuz lived the IS nightmare in person.On Aug 6, 2014, IS fighters swept into Bartalla, the diverse town on the edges of Mosul where Hormuz had worked as a taxi driver.“First, we fled towards Al-Qosh,” another Christian town further north, he told AFP.But as the jihadists kept up their pillaging of Nineveh, they escaped to Arbil, the capital of the Kurdish region.With his wife Afnan, 48, and their four children – Natalie, 7, Nores, 15, Franz, 16, and Fadi, 19 – they lived in a church for a month before renting an apartment at US$150 per month for nearly three years.That severely strained their finances.Three years later, Iraq’s military declared it had freed Bartalla from IS’s grip. The Hormuz family was elated and rushed back to resume life in their hometown.But they found their home had been torched and ransacked, and that members of the Hashed al-Shaabi, a powerful state-sponsored paramilitary network formed from mostly-Shiite armed groups and volunteers to fight IS, now controlled Bartalla.“We lived in fear. There were checkpoints and militias everywhere. Once, they even asked my wife to wear a veil,” said Hormuz.“So I decided to sell everything, even my car, and move to Jordan,” he told AFP.They have lived in a two-bedroom apartment in Amman since February 2018, hoping to be resettled permanently in Canada, where he and his wife have family connections.With Covid-19 slowing down all international travel, the immigration process has been indefinitely frozen as their savings dwindle further.Registered as a refugee in Jordan, Hormuz does not have the right to work legally and relies on soup kitchens at Amman’s few churches to keep his family fed.“I hope that through his visit to Iraq, the pope will ask countries receiving Christian refugees to help us,” he said.“Going back to Iraq is out of the question.”Exile and rebirthMany in Chaldean Bishop Saad Sirop Hanna’s parishes in Sweden feel the same way.Born in Baghdad, Hanna, 40, was sent in 2017 to lead Europe’s largest Chaldean congregation of around 25,000 people, who had arrived in Sweden in waves over the past four decades.He lived through much of the violence they had fled, describing it as “great chaos.”In 2006, he was kidnapped after presiding over mass in the Iraqi capital.“I was held and went through lots of experiences – including torture and isolation,” Hanna told AFP.“This experience also gave me strength, truth be told. I was born again. I look at life again with a great blessing and a great love,” he said.There are more than 140,000 Iraqi-born residents in Sweden, including Raghid Benna, a native of Mosul who resettled in the eastern town of Sodertalje in 2007.“There are so many Chaldeans here that I don’t even feel like I’m in exile,” said Benna, a father of two.For Sally Fawzi, 38, who was resettled in the US as a refugee in 2008, memories of home can be painful.“My family was devastated in 2007 when we learned that my two great aunts in Kirkuk had been stabbed to death at night in their home just because they were Christians,” she told AFP.“Today, I have a house, a beautiful family of my own, a job, and my immediate family live in the same city, but I miss my Baghdad house and friends the most,” Fawzi said.“It will never be the same.”From bloodshed to bankruptcyAs young families escape Iraq, they often leave their older relatives behind, said Warda of the Hammurabi Human Rights Organisation.“A Christian family was typically five members. Now it’s down to three,” he said.In Baghdad, the once-thriving community of 750,000 Christians has shrunk by 90 percent.Among them is Younan al-Farid, a priest who has stayed on in the capital even after his brother emigrated to Canada and his sister to the United States.With fewer worshippers, “up to 30% of Iraq’s churches closed,” Farid told AFP.After nearly two decades of bloodshed and bombings, Iraq entered a period of relative calm following IS’s territorial defeat in late 2017.But that hasn’t stopped the flight of minorities.“People are still leaving. Christians are just trying to save up enough money, and then as soon as they can, they emigrate,” said Farid.The country’s parlous economy is the main driver of emigration now, Christians across the country told AFP.The pandemic triggered a worldwide recession, and Iraq faced the additional challenge of collapsing oil prices, which slashed state revenues from crude sales.That has led to delays or cuts in public sector salaries in federal Iraq as well as the autonomous Kurdish region, where many Christians still live.“I only receive one salary every two months, and sometimes not even the full salary,” lamented Haval Emmanuel, a Chaldean government worker originally from northern Iraq.“As soon as I get paid, I have to pay debts from the preceding weeks and then I have nothing left.”An ‘angel’, meeting ‘demons’Emmanuel grew up in Iraq’s southernmost city of Basra, then married and lived in Baghdad until 2004, when a bomb detonated outside the school his children attended.Now grown, one of his daughters has emigrated to Norway with her husband, and his brother and sister have each moved their families to Lebanon.Emmanuel, his wife and their three other children are eking out a living in Arbil as they await a response for their own resettlement requests.“We’re suffocating: there’s no social care, no health services, no public schools, no work,” he told AFP at his modest home near Arbil’s Chaldean Archdiocese.It irked him to see the lack of public services in oil-rich Basra, piles of rubbish disfiguring Baghdad’s historic Rasheed Street, or posters of late Iranian supreme leader Ruhollah Khomeini in squares and streets in southern Iraq.“It’s supposed to be a public place, but it makes me feel like I have no place here,” said Emmanuel.“If they open everything up, I guarantee that by tomorrow, there won’t be any Christians left. At least abroad, we will finally feel respected as humans.”The economic downturn, the poor quality of life, the shrinking space for minorities – Emmanuel blamed it all on an entrenched political class seen as deeply corrupt.And there’s little the pope can do to change that.“The pope is like an angel coming down on Iraq, but how many demons will he find here? A man of peace visiting a group of warlords – how could he change them?” he said.Emmanuel, whose daughter will sing in the choir that is set to welcome Pope Francis when he arrives in Arbil, broke into a bitter smile.“We’re expecting the pope. But we’re not expecting much from his visit.”


Failure to develop padi industry, land policy ‘bias’ behind Malaysia’s food security concerns

While Malaysia was recently ranked second in Southeast Asia after Singapore in terms of food security, experts caution that structural issues related to the matter continue to hamper the country.Speaking to MalaysiaNow, they said the issues are primarily related to the padi and rice sector, citing the dismal levels of padi output despite the huge budget allocation for the agriculture ministry from 2015 to 2017.Fatimah Mohamed Arshad, former director of the Institute of Agricultural and Food Policy Studies at Universiti Putra Malaysia, said while the budget for agriculture had increased four-fold, padi output showed no progress.In 2008, she said, Malaysia’s padi output was 3.72 tonne per hectare. In 2019, this dropped 5% to 3.5 tonnes per hectare.“There is no extensive downstream industry based on padi and rice except bran for livestock and ‘bihun’,” she told MalaysiaNow.“This lowers the value of padi because there is no potential for it to be used as a high-value product.”Adding that a lack of downstream activities hamper the industry, she said padi resources in the country are not fully utilised.“Other countries such as Japan and Thailand have many additional products based on padi and rice,” she said.Fatimah said another concern is the use of land, as agricultural land is being converted into development spots for projects such as housing.She also spoke of a policy bias towards industrial crops at the expense of food production. For example, she said, palm oil occupies the lion’s share in terms of land use, while plots for rubber and cocoa have shrunk over the years.In 2020, the share of agricultural land use for oil palm stood at 73% while food crops occupied only 10%.“The era of industrial crop success depends only on palm oil,” she said.“The estate model is only practised in the palm oil industry. It’s time that Malaysia switches to its natural riches, which is food.”Malaysia’s position on the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) recently dropped from 28th to 43rd among 113 countries.However, Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Ronald Kiandee told the Dewan Rakyat that the drop was due to a score adjustment by the Economist Intelligence Unit which had also caused a change in position for Singapore and Australia.Singapore fell from first place to 20th while Australia dropped from 12th to 26th.The issue of food security was also debated in Parliament last month, while former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad also brought up the subject in his remarks on the 12th Malaysia Plan.Nurfitri Amir Muhammad, coordinator of the Malaysian Food Sovereignty Forum, said the government should not look at the GFSI alone, adding that the self-sufficiency level or SSL is also important.He said the GFSI also takes into account other indicators such as GDP, which was partly why Singapore had previously occupied the top spot.But the index alone did not mean that the republic would be able to withstand a supply disruption, he added.“The GFSI does not differentiate between the food that is produced locally and imported food. What we must look at is the ability of a country to produce its own food (through SSL),” he said, adding that the GFSI could be used to measure food management levels.Nurfitri said the government would also have to take into account the monopoly of agricultural input in terms of seed, fertiliser, pesticides and machines, as well as rising costs and the problem of middlemen helping themselves to a large margin of profit in the industry.“We need to liberalise the agricultural input so that there will be competition, and subsidies need to be given directly to farmers, not to vendors,” he said.Malaysia imported RM55 billion worth of food last year including grains, coffee, cocoa, spices, dairy products and food for livestock.Chee Yoke Ling, the director of programmes of the Third World Network, said the Covid-19 pandemic should serve as a warning for the country to reduce its dependency on imported food.“We import almost all of our essential food, which means that when the exporting countries are hit by natural disasters such typhoons, earthquakes or drought, they cannot supply what we need.“Pandemics such as Covid-19 are also a warning that food trade can be disrupted, and food production in the exporting countries will definitely be impacted, too,” she said.Chee said rural communities meanwhile have more resilience and security when it comes to food supply.She suggested that the government encourage wide-range ecological farming in order to boost local food production.“A growing number are younger people and professionals who have gone into farming using organic or permaculture methods. These practitioners are also reviving a lot of traditional varieties of seeds, trees and herbs.“There is also a growing interest in urban or home-grown vegetables, herbs and fruit, especially during Covid-19. These are very good trends and should be encouraged and supported by government policies.”