Indonesian suicide bomber leaves note criticising new criminal code

A suspected Islamist militant, angered by Indonesia's new criminal code, killed one other person and wounded at least 10 in a suicide bomb attack at a police station in the city of Bandung on Wednesday, authorities said.
The suicide bomber was believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State-inspired group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) and had previously been jailed on terrorism charges, Indonesian police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo told a news conference.
The police chief said the attacker, identified as Agus Sujatno, was released in late 2021 and investigators had found dozens of documents protesting the country's controversial new criminal code at the crime scene.
"We found dozens of papers protesting the newly ratified criminal code," he said.
Though there are sharia-based provisions in the new criminal code ratified by parliament on Tuesday, Islamist hardliners could have been angered by otherarticles that could be used to crackdown on the propagation of extremist ideologies, analysts say.
West Java police chief Suntana earlier told Metro TV that authorities had found a blue motorbike at the scene, which they believed was used by the attacker.
Attached to the bike was a note carrying a message decrying the new criminal codeas "an infidel product," Suntana said.
Todd Elliott, a senior security analyst at Concord Consulting in Jakarta, said it was likely the attack had been planned for some time and was an ideological rejection of the country's new laws.
"While all the attention is on some of these sharia-based provisions in the criminal code and how that is an indication of the spread of conservative Islam in Indonesia, there are also changes in the criminal code that hardliners would not support," he said.
"Including outlawing any ideology that goes against the state ideology, Pancasila, and that would also include extremist ideology."
Video footage from the scene of Wednesday's attack showed smoke rising from the damaged police station, with debris n the ground.
"Suddenly I heard the sound of an explosion... I saw a few police officers come out from the station and they couldn't walk properly," Hanes, a 21-year-old street vendor who witnessed the explosion told Reuters.
Islamist militants have in recent years carried out attacks in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, including at churches, police stations and venues frequented by foreigners.
Members of JAD were responsible for a series of suicide church bombings in the city of Surabaya in 2018. Those attacks were perpetrated by three families, who also attached suicide vests to their young children, and killed at least 30 people.
In 2021, a pair of JAD newlyweds carried out a suicide bomb attack at a cathedral in Makassar, killing only themselves.
In an effort to crack down on militants, Indonesia created a tough new anti-terrorism law after suicide bombings linked to JAD.
The group, which is now largely splintered, has been significantly weakened by a wave of arrests by the counterterrorism agency in recent years, analysts say.


Govt does not recognise claims by heirs of Sulu sultan, says minister

The government does not recognise the claims and arbitration proceedings by the French Arbitration Court in Paris which ordered Malaysia to pay approximately RM62.59 billion (US$14.92 billion) to the so-called descendants of the last sultan of Sulu, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said this was because the appointment of the arbitrator, Gonzalo Stampa, had been revoked and was no longer legally valid.“On June 29, 2021, at the request of the government, the Madrid Court revoked the appointment of Stampa as arbitrator and all actions and decisions made by Stampa were null and void.“The Madrid Court on Oct 13, 2021, ruled that the Partial Award on Jurisdiction issued by Stampa, dated May 25, 2021, was null and void,” he said during ministers’ question time.He was replying to Ahmad Hassan (Warisan-Papar), who asked the government to clarify the order by the French Arbitration Court for Malaysia to pay RM62.59 billion (US$14.92 billion) to the purported heirs of the last Sulu sultan.Wan Junaidi said the government had taken appropriate action to challenge the decision by filing a case at the Sabah High Court. However, he said, the claimant did not attend the court proceedings.He said the Sabah High Court on Jan 14, 2020, ruled that the 1878 agreement did not contain any arbitration provision.“Malaysia has never waived its sovereign immunity and the arbitrator has no jurisdiction to resolve the matters raised.“The decision of the Sabah High Court was brought to the Madrid Court to be verified and enforced to stop the arbitration proceedings in Spain.“Following that, the Partial Award on Jurisdiction issued by the arbitrator on May 25, 2020, was set aside,” he said.However, Wan Junaidi said the claimant had, before Oct 13, 2021, brought the Partial Award on Jurisdiction to France to circumvent the decision of the Madrid Court.He said on Sept 29, 2021, the French Court, unaware of the decision by the Madrid Court which had cancelled the appointment and the decision of Stampa, had issued an exequatur order recognising the Partial Award on Jurisdiction, dated May 25, 2020.Based on the exequatur order, he said, Stampa had moved the arbitration seat from Madrid to Paris to continue the arbitration proceedings.“In protest against the arbitrator’s action on non-compliance with the Madrid Court’s decision, irregularities of process, injustice and contempt for the rule of law, the Malaysian government filed a criminal complaint against Stampa to the Spanish attorney-general on Dec 14, 2021,” he said.He said Malaysia had also filed an appeal to revoke the exequatur order and an application to stay its implementation.On Dec 16, 2021, the French Court of Appeal allowed the Malaysian government’s application for a stay of the exequatur order issued on Sept 29, 2021, pending appeal.Meanwhile, Wan Junaidi said the government would challenge any enforcement action taken by the claimant to ensure that the interests of the Malaysian government are always protected.Wan Junaidi also explained the series of events leading to the claims, namely the agreement signed between Sultan Mohamet Jamal Al Alam (the sultan of Sulu) and Baron de Overbeck & Alfred Dent on Jan 22, 1878, aimed at safeguarding their interests in Sabah.However, he said after the invasion of the Sulu sultanate in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu, Sabah on Feb 1, 2013, the Malaysian government stopped handing over compassionate money to the descendants of the Sulu sultanate.“Following this, a legal firm representing a group of Filipinos claiming to be the heirs of the last Sulu sultan applied for a renegotiation of the compassionate money payments under the 1878 agreement and filed an application to the Superior Court of Justice in Madrid, Spain to appoint an arbitrator on Jan 31, 2018.“The Madrid Court then appointed Stampa as an arbitrator on May 22, 2019. On July 30, 2019, a notice of arbitration was submitted to the government of Malaysia through the foreign ministry with an estimated claim exceeding US$32 billion,” he said.


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Fracas over Kashmir tweet highlights risks for global companies

Hyundai Motor, Domino’s and other companies have found themselves in a diplomatic fracas after their Pakistani partners tweeted support for disputed Kashmir, irking Indians and highlighting the risks of operating in the region.Kashmir has long been a flashpoint between India and arch rival Pakistan, each of which controls only parts of the Himalayan territory but makes claims to it in full.The row erupted after several companies posted messages on social media to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day, commemorated annually by Pakistan on Feb 5 to honour the sacrifices of Kashmiris struggling for self-determination.The posts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram outraged Indian social media users, who demanded apologies from the companies and urged boycotts of their products.Others caught in the furore include Japan’s Toyota Motor , the world’s biggest automaker, Suzuki Motor, majority owner of India’s top carmaker Maruti Suzuki, Honda Motor, Isuzu Motor, South Korea’s Kia Motors and Yum! Brands’ KFC.The affray highlights the risks global companies face while navigating sensitivities amid rising nationalism in South Asia, and spurred some of them to tighten their social media policies.While issuing an apology, Toyota, Hyundai and Kia said the posts by their Pakistani partners were unauthorised and misused their brands. The carmakers also put measures in place to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.Suzuki said it would advise business associates to comply strictly with its communication policy, which avoids any alignment with political or religious groups.“In a flat world where social messages travel across borders, companies have to build in clauses and guardrails on what partners can speak about,” said Amit Narayan, head of India and South Asia at risk adviser Control Risks.Social media guidelines are usually for employees but companies will now need to set guidance and oversee how their partners represent their brand to minimise any risks, said Narayan.India, compared with Pakistan, is a bigger market for companies and one where losing business can be painful.Hyundai, facing the most severe backlash, is India’s No. 2 car seller. It sold nearly half a million vehicles last year and exported more than one million, making it India’s largest car exporter.Hundreds of Indian social media users sought an apology over its Kashmir posts, and dozens said they would cancel their car orders. Even though the company apologised, it led to a rare diplomatic escalation between South Korea and India.Earlier on Wednesday, members of the youth wing of India’s opposition Congress party protested outside a Hyundai showroom in the western city of Ahmedabad.More than concerns about the government, global companies worry about how their social media communication in one country can affect their affiliate in another, said a communications manager working for a multinational in Pakistan.If there is a protest in India or a factory closure, it is a business loss, while the government can be won back at a later stage, said the person, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.“We can afford to hurt government but cannot afford to hurt an affiliate,” he said.


We'll talk about it, Anwar says on court cluster joining Cabinet

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says the inclusion in the new Cabinet of MPs facing charges in court will be discussed with the component parties of the unity government.
Speaking at a press conference after taking his oath of office at Istana Negara yesterday, he said Pakatan Harapan's (PH) stance on excluding MPs involved in corruption and abuse of power remained unchanged.
"But because it involves the issue of a unity government, we need to discuss it (with the government parties).
"The difference is when a sentence is handed down. When there has been a conviction, then according to PH's stance, it will be difficult for us to continue.
"But allow me the space to discuss this in detail with the other parties in the unity government," he said in Kajang, Selangor yesterday.
Anwar was appointed as prime minister by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah yesterday.
However, the palace statement naming Anwar as the 10th prime minister made no mention of his government being a unity government.
Apart from PH, Anwar has the support of MPs from Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Warisan, Muda and Parti Bangsa Malaysia.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah has also said that it will cooperate with Anwar's government.


MCMC, police call up TikTok management over May 13 videos

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the police have called up TikTok’s management for an explanation of three video clips warning of a recurrence of the May 13, 1969 riots.
MCMC in a statement said that the circulation of provocative content with the intention of causing disharmony, hatred and prejudice was an offence under Act 574 of the Penal Code and would result in a fine, imprisonment or both upon conviction.
"The spreading of such video content is an irresponsible act which is feared to cause disharmony, division, feelings of hatred or prejudice in matters related to religion and race," it said.
It added that MCMC would continue to monitor the circulation of the video clips, adding that efforts to curb the spread of such videos would be increased in collaboration with the police.


Sharp rise in Malaysia’s vaccination rate as it beats Asia average

Malaysia’s Covid-19 vaccination rate has overtaken the average rate across Asia, with latest data showing the country is fast outpacing other major countries with vast populations in the Asean region.Statistics on vaccination rates compiled by global data site Our World in Data placed Malaysia at the top in Asia as the only country whose vaccination rate is above the continent’s average.It also showed a sharp upward trajectory as of May 30 in the rate of people given at least a first dose, in a sign of hope that the government’s goal of achieving herd immunity this year might be easily met.Some 7.3% of the Malaysian population has received at least a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine since the start of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme in February, more than the Asian average of 6.47% as well as that of five other neighbouring countries with vast land and population sizes.This is without taking into account the 79,620 people who were administered a first jab on June 6.As of June 6, a total of 3,574,376 people in Malaysia had been vaccinated with at least a first dose, with 1,130,301 of them fully vaccinated. Selangor, Sarawak, Perak and Kuala Lumpur are the states with the most number of vaccine doses administered so far.Meanwhile, 6.43% of the population in Indonesia, which started its vaccine drive more than a month ahead of Malaysia, has received a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.The two countries are far ahead of other Asean countries such as the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand.Malaysia’s National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) began on Feb 24, with some 500,000 frontliners vaccinated in the first phase.The second phase which began in April is expected to cover 9.4 million people comprising senior citizens and those in high-risk groups by August.Phase Three meanwhile from May this year until February next year will involve some 13.7 million people aged 18 and above.Khairy Jamaluddin, the minister in charge of PICK, has repeatedly assured that the vaccination rate, criticised by some as slow, will pick up as more supplies of vaccine arrive in the country.PICK aims to provide immunisation against the Covid-19 infection to about 80% of the country’s population, both locals and foreigners.


Azam Baki to continue as MACC chief

Azam Baki has been reappointed as chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for a year, effective May 12.
Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali said Azam's reappointment had received the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
"It was made in accordance with Subsections 5(1) and (2) of the MACC Act 2009," he said in a statement today.
Azam, who was appointed as MACC chief in March 2020, was recently embroiled in controversy over claims of conflict of interest in his ownership of shares.
He came under scrutiny over the alleged purchase in 2015 and 2016 of shares and warrants at two public-listed companies, but said these had been purchased by his brother using his share trading account, maintaining that he had committed no wrongdoing.
The issue was revealed by activist Lalitha Kunaratnam, against whom Azam filed a defamation suit which is slated for hearing in July.
MACC under his leadership opened investigations this year into Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin and Bersatu's Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan.
It also froze several bank accounts belonging to Bersatu in relation to the alleged misappropriation of funds used by the government when the country was dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
The agency is also investigating a case involving the recruitment of foreign workers, which saw Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar questioned last month.
Sivakumar later said that five of his officers had been sacked to ensure smooth operations at the ministry.


Understanding PAS' historic rise beyond the 'Taliban' narrative

In the run-up to the 1999 general election, where one of the most fractious election campaigns was held just a year after the dramatic sacking of Anwar Ibrahim, a major media blitz was launched targeting mainly PAS, which had then gained from the exodus of Malay support from Umno.
Print and broadcast media, still considered "mainstream" in the absence of a fully fledged online media or social media culture as now seen, began carrying images and articles depicting the Islamist party as represented by rabble-rousing mullahs out to turn Malaysia into a theological state.
It also warned non-Muslims against supporting DAP, seen an ally of the reformasi movement alongside PAS.
The campaign was most visible in media outlets where the bulk of the audience were non-Malays – considered by the Umno-led government of Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a key demography to beat back the rising influence of PAS at the ballot box.
To an extent, the intended result was achieved. While PAS, which had an understanding with DAP, won handsomely in Malay-dominated seats, DAP took a lashing among its traditional vote banks, with even party stalwarts such as Karpal Singh and Lim Kit Siang losing their seats.
More than two decades later, the narrative of PAS as "extremist" has been repeated, although more amplified in the aftermath of the general election, and through informal channels such as chatter and comments posted on social media.
A few of the accusations came from PAS' enemies, most notably the controversial comments by DAP's Nga Kor Ming, who said PAS would deny non-Muslim rights while pushing for extremist policies such as those by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Prominent sociopolitical observer Chandra Muzaffar, who was among those at the centre of the 1999 election, said such a label on PAS was not only unfair, but also showed the failure of its critics to study the party's seven-decade history.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Chandra zeroed in on Nga's comments.
"It shows he doesn't understand PAS at all," he said, adding that a quick study of both PAS and the Taliban would put to rest such allegations.
The well-documented repression of women by the Taliban is nowhere to be found in PAS, as the party's Muslimat wing has been an inseparable part of its decision making.
Chandra said the fact that the majority of tertiary-level students in Kelantan are female, after more than three decades of PAS rule in the state, would also debunk the "PAS is Taliban" slogan.
"This is different from the Taliban. And if we look at Kelantan's economic power, who controls most of it? It is women," he added.
Chandra said from the early stages of independence, PAS was already far ahead among Islamic political movements in recruiting women leaders.
He cited the example of Khadijah Sidek, who was the head of PAS' Kaum Ibu in the 1950s, and went on to become the Johor PAS chief.
Khadijah, who died in 1982, was known as the "Puteri Kesatria Bangsa" (princess knight of the nation).
In 1959, she became the first female MP from PAS after winning the Dungun seat in Terengganu.
Chandra said that Taliban policies, especially its past ban on women's involvement in education, were a far cry from the attitude of Muslims elsewhere.
He said the fact was that Muslims had developed education for women even before the modern West's ideas of women liberation.
He added that disagreements could be held with PAS on many issues.
"But if we want to criticise, it must be based on facts and what really happened," he said, adding that it was disappointing that Nga had been promoted to a minister.
Chandra said the fear of PAS was based on the assumption that it would impose laws affecting people's lifestyle, such as a ban on concerts.
But he pointed out that the reason behind PAS' historic gains in the recent polls, where it won the most seats by any individual party, was a manifestation of the majority of Malays' disappointment with Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).
"This is an anti-Umno vote, not a pro-PAS vote. There is no cause for worry. It is a phenomenon that we can understand. When the Malays are disappointed with Umno, they don't trust it due to corruption and abuse, which is why they switched to PAS."
Why PAS?
Chandra said this was because the Malays felt "comfortable" with PAS, in addition to the fact that Pakatan Harapan is also made up of DAP.
He recalled that in 1999, PAS won 27 parliamentary seats, its highest number at the time.
He said this was also a manifestation of Malay voters' disappointment with the Umno leadership over the Anwar affair, especially after the jailed politician was spotted with a black eye that led to widespread suspicion of a conspiracy against him.
Just four years later, support for PAS saw a sharp drop as Malay voters looked forward to a new beginning post-Mahathir under Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, a figure seen as free from corruption scandals as well as humble and devote.
In the 2004 general election, not only did Umno eject PAS from Terengganu, it also came close to recapturing Kelantan, leaving PAS to rule the state with a slim lead of just one seat.
Chandra said this showed that the Malay voting pattern was rational.
"There are reasons and influencing factors. The only one who doesn't understand is Nga Kor Ming."
He said it was also simplistic to say that the PAS gains were a type of "tsunami".
"This is not a tsunami but the rise of Muslim awareness of important religious values such as rejecting corruption and abuse of power.
"They switched to other parties not because they are fanatics or because they support the PAS understanding of Islam. They support PAS because they are disappointed with Umno."


Up to 50% California healthcare workers refusing to take Covid vaccine

Up to half of healthcare workers in some parts of California are refusing to take the coronavirus vaccine, despite scientific evidence that it is safe.This could lead to a potential surplus of doses and renewed questions about the system for allocating them, the Los Angeles Times is reporting.At St Elizabeth Community Hospital in Tehama County, fewer than half of the 700 hospital workers eligible for the vaccine were willing to take the shot when it was offered.Up to 40% of LA County’s frontline workers who were offered the vaccine also refused, according to county public health officials.So many frontline workers in Riverside County have refused the vaccine – an estimated 50% – that hospital and public officials have met to strategise how best to distribute the unused doses, Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the Times.The extent to which American healthcare workers from other states are refusing the vaccine is unclear but reports of lower-than-expected participation rates are emerging around the US, raising concerns for epidemiologists who say the public health implications could be disastrous.Some healthcare workers are sceptical of vaccines; others worry that the development of the coronavirus vaccine may have been rushed.Still others believe that because they have been able to avoid infection for months by wearing masks and taking other precautions, they can continue to do so, the LA Times reports.Debate continues about the best way to distribute the vaccine. Florida has adopted a first-come, first-served approach for the elderly, leading to criticism – but also to a potentially faster rollout to a vulnerable population.President-elect Joe Biden, who criticised President Trump’s vaccine development efforts during the presidential campaign, complained earlier this week that “the Trump administration’s plan to distribute vaccines is falling behind, far behind”.


31 more Covid deaths reported as 7% of children given first vaccine jab

A total of 246,869 children aged between five and 11 or 7% of the group had received a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine as of yesterday, under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids).According to the CovidNow website, meanwhile, a total of 13,486,823 individuals or 57.3% of the adult population had received a booster dose as of yesterday.A total of 22,939,377 individuals or 97.5% of adults have completed their vaccination while 98.7% or 23,216,096 individuals have received at least one dose of vaccine.In terms of teenagers, a total of 2,796,605 individuals or 89.9% have completed their vaccination while 2,877,213 or 92.5% have received at least one dose of vaccine.Yesterday, a total of 154,776 vaccine doses were given, with 42,374 as first doses including 39,749 for children, 1,657 as second shots and 110,745 as booster jabs.This brings the cumulative number of vaccine doses administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to 65,356,763.According to the health ministry’s Github portal, 31 Covid-19 deaths were reported yesterday, with Sabah recording eight cases, Selangor seven, Johor six, Penang five, Kedah two, and Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu one each.


A warning shot to DAP about its political partners

Anwar Ibrahim has finally met the Yang di-Pertuan Agong over his claim of having secured enough support to form the next government.Save for Anwar himself and those in his inner circle, nobody knows for sure if he has the numbers. If he has, good for him; otherwise, he’ll just have to live with the ignominy of unsuccessfully pulling the “I have the numbers” stunt one too many times.My concern is not so much whether or not Anwar has the numbers, but where DAP stands in the midst of the political wheeling and dealing.For the longest time, I have been a staunch supporter of the party. With 42 MPs, it is the party with the largest chunk of federal lawmakers. And unlike Umno which has many factions, DAP is one solid bloc.Obviously, DAP still harbours hopes of returning to Putrajaya given its short 22-month stint there. After all, 2018 was the first time the party had made inroads into the federal government since its formation in 1965.But at what cost does it want to return to power? Is the party willing to sacrifice its principles by joining forces with the likes of Najib Razak and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, whom the party has vilified for years, if not decades?To be fair, Anwar has yet to reveal if the Umno MPs above and others like Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Bung Moktar Radin – all facing corruption charges – are on the PKR president’s list of supporters to be the country’s ninth PM.But it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine that they are. These are the people who stand to gain by cutting deals with Anwar. Other Umno MPs who already hold government posts or were appointed into GLCs would likely prefer the status quo.On Wednesday, Najib in a Facebook post said surely DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng would be pleased to work with Umno. Whether that was said in jest or otherwise, the prospect is indeed terrifying!If DAP chooses to side with the likes of Bossku and Zahid, the latter of whom faces a record 87 corruption charges, the party can rest assured that it will lose huge support in the next general election. Consider this a warning shot from a staunch supporter.There are some lines that cannot be crossed no matter what and some principles that cannot be bent, not even for expediency’s sake. As it is, DAP was already seen to be overly bending backwards during its short stint in power, as seen in its restraint in voicing opposition to the Perhimpunan Maruah Melayu gathering.DAP had better heed the warning about working with the devil. If they do, the retribution at the ballot box will be swift, decisive and definitely agonising.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Astronomers seek evidence of tech built by aliens

An international team of scientists led by a prominent Harvard astronomer announced a new initiative Monday to look for evidence of technology built by extraterrestrial civilisations.Called the Galileo Project, it envisages the creation of a global network of medium-sized telescopes, cameras and computers to investigate UFOs, and has so far been funded with US$1.75 million from private donors.Given recent research showing the prevalence of Earth-like planets throughout the galaxy, “We can no longer ignore the possibility that technological civilisations predated us,” Avi Loeb told reporters at a news conference.“The impact of any discovery of extraterrestrial technology on science, our technology, and on our entire world view, would be enormous,” he added in a statement.The project includes researchers from Harvard, Princeton, Cambridge, Caltech and the University of Stockholm.It was announced a month after the Pentagon released a report about unidentified aerial phenomena, which stated that their nature was unclear.“What we see in our sky is not something that politicians or military personnel should interpret, because they were not trained as scientists, it’s for the science community to figure out,” said Loeb, adding that he hoped to increase the project’s funding tenfold.Apart from studying UFOs, the Galileo Project wants to investigate objects that visit our solar system from interstellar space, and searching for alien satellites that might be probing Earth.Loeb refers to such research as a new branch of astronomy he calls “space archaeology”, intended to complement the existing field of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, which mainly probes for alien radio signals.These endeavours will require collaborations with existing and future astronomical surveys, including from the Vera C Rubin Observatory in Chile that is due to go online in 2023 and is eagerly awaited by the scientific community.The 59-year-old Israeli-American has published hundreds of pioneering papers and collaborated with the late Stephen Hawking, but created controversy when he suggested an interstellar object that briefly visited our system in 2017 could have been an alien probe sailing on solar winds.He laid out his arguments in scientific papers and the book “Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth,” which placed him at odds with many in the astronomy community.The new project is accordingly named after Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, who was punished when he provided key evidence for the Earth not being at the centre of the universe.The project’s co-founder Frank Laukien, a visiting scholar at Harvard’s chemistry and chemical biology department, declared himself the “resident sceptic”.But he said that, rather than dismissing the ideas outright, it was necessary to “agnostically record and interpret the data according to the scientific method”.


After taking flak, ‘Border Tsar’ Kamala Harris finally to visit border

US Vice-President Kamala Harris will on Friday make her first trip to the US southern border since assuming the role of border tsar.She has faced tough questioning about why she has not visited the border since the White House assigned her in March to address the “root causes” of the uncontrolled flood of migrants to the Mexico-US border.The visit was quickly announced a week after former president Donald Trump announced he would visit the border on June 30.The number of undocumented migrants reaching the US-Mexico border is at the highest level in more than 20 years.A BBC investigation of a detention centre for migrant children in El Paso, Texas, has found reports of sexual abuse, Covid and lice outbreaks, hungry children being served undercooked meat and sandstorms ripping through the desert tent camps where they are being held.When asked on Wednesday whether Harris was bowing to political pressure, White House spokesman Jen Psaki said the vice-president was going because the administration had determined now is the “appropriate time for her to go”.However, Trump took credit for her change of heart.In a statement, Trump said: “After months of ignoring the crisis at the southern border, it is great that we got Kamala Harris to finally go and see the tremendous destruction and death that they’ve created – a direct result of Biden ending my very tough but fair border policies.“Harris and Biden were given the strongest border in American history. And now, it is by far the worst in American history. If Texas Governor Abbott and I weren’t going there next week, she would have never gone!”Harris has rejected criticism over why she has not gone to the border until now by arguing she is more focused on tackling the conditions in Central America that have spurred hundreds of thousands of migrants to attempt the dangerous trek to the border this year.Earlier this month, Harris made her first trip abroad as vice-president – travelling to Mexico and Guatemala for talks about the humanitarian crisis. The presidents of both countries have blamed the Biden administration’s policies for causing the record surge in undocumented migration.While in Guatemala, she told migrants: “Do not come. The US will continue to enforce our laws and secure our border.”Critics across the political spectrum said her remarks had contradicted the Biden administration’s promise to usher in a more humane approach on migration.US Customs and Border Protection said it caught 180,034 migrants in May, the biggest monthly total since April 2000, and up slightly from the previous two months.


No comment, Anwar says on Azmin’s remarks on audio clip

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today declined to comment on remarks by his former deputy that the voices in a leaked audio clip of a phone conversation discussing the recent Umno general assembly are that of himself and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.“That is his view. He knows a lot about audio and videos,” he said at a press conference, referring to Mohamed Azmin Ali who left PKR in 2020 along with several other senior leaders.In the four-minute clip revealed by MalaysiaNow, Anwar is heard congratulating and giving instructions to Zahid in the aftermath of the Umno general assembly which accepted his proposal to cut ties with the Perikatan Nasional government.Zahid in return thanked Anwar for his moral support.The clip sparked denials from both Anwar and Zahid who said they would send their officers to lodge police reports over the issue.Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador however said that both leaders would be called up as part of an investigation into the clip.Azmin yesterday said he was confident that the individuals in the recording were Anwar and Zahid.“As someone who had served Anwar for so long, and as his (former) private secretary, I am confident the audio is authentic, that will be proven in the upcoming investigation,” he said.He was the latest in a string of politicians who have openly stated their belief that the recording is authentic.Former PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin and former Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa previously said they believed the voices in the clip belonged to Anwar and Zahid.Anwar meanwhile said he had committed no crime even if the clip was authentic, stopping short of denying its authenticity.


Belarus fills top posts, inspects troops' combat readiness

Russia's close ally Belarus named a new foreign minister and air force chief on Tuesday while announcing a snap military inspection, the latest in a burst of exercises that have prompted concern from neighbouring Ukraine.
President Alexander Lukashenko named Sergei Aleinik to head the foreign ministry, replacing Vladimir Makei, who died suddenly at the age of 64 last month. Officials have still not stated the cause of death.
Andrei Lukyanovich, previously deputy commander of the air force, was promoted to take charge of the air force and air defence units, the state news agency Belta said, after his predecessor was removed on grounds of age last month.
Belarus has said it will not enter the war in Ukraine, but Lukashenko allowed Russia to invade northern Ukraine from Belarusian territory on Feb 24 and in October ordered troops to deploy with Russian forces near the Ukrainian border.
A flurry of Belarusian military action, including a counter-terrorism exercise last week, has kept Ukraine guessing about Minsk's intentions and raised concerns in Kyiv that it might join the war on Russia's side. Russia and Belarus are formally part of a "union state" and are closely allied economically and militarily.
Western military analysts say Belarus's small army lacks the strength and combat experience to make a decisive difference, but the risk that it might intervene from the north is a burdensome distraction for Ukraine as it focuses on fighting Russian forces in the south and east.
As part of the exercise announced on Tuesday, Belarusian troops will have to move quickly to "designated areas" and set up bridge crossings over the Neman and Berezina rivers in western and eastern Belarus, the defence ministry said.
"During this period, it is planned to move military equipment and personnel, and to temporarily restrict the movement of citizens (transport) along certain public roads and sections of terrain," it said.


Daily caseload dips below 2,250 as 9 more deaths logged

Another 2,244 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,789,552.
There were 3,202 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,723,112.
There are now 30,197 active cases, of which 28,853 or 95.5% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 18 (0.1%) are at quarantine centres while 1,251 (4.1%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 75 are in ICU with 40 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 60.2%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 20.1%.
Another nine deaths were reported, including two who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 36,243.


Taiwan Buddhist group secures 5 million doses of Pfizer jab for country

A major Taiwanese Buddhist group has signed a deal to procure five million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine.The deal was announced by the Tzu Chi Foundation on Wednesday.“All the purchased vaccines will be donated to the competent authority for use by the public,” the group said in a statement posted to its Facebook account.The deal was reached with a Hong Kong subsidiary of the Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group, trading as Fosun Pharma, according to the foundation. It has exclusive rights to distribute the shot in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao. The shot cannot be sold by Pfizer to Taiwan directly.While Fosun Pharma has remained silent about the agreement so far, the deal was confirmed by BioNTech in an emailed statement to Reuters.The donation follows the combined 10-million-shot purchase by two major Taiwanese tech firms announced earlier this month, bringing the total number of Pfizer shots expected to be received by Taiwan to 15 million.Taiwan’s Cabinet spokesman Lo Ping-cheng expressed the government’s gratitude to Tzu Chi, and said the 15-million-dose order would arrive in batches, though no timeframe was specified.Taiwan has fared extremely well in the pandemic.It experienced a spike in cases several weeks ago, but the authorities managed to quickly regain control. Currently, the island’s tally of infections stands at around 15,500, with 773 deaths.Taiwan has embarked on a massive vaccination drive, ordering millions of doses from various manufacturers. However, only some 20% of the nation’s 23.5 million population have so far received at least one jab.Taipei has declined China’s offer to ship in its own vaccines.On Monday, the island’s health authority approved for emergency use a domestically manufactured shot produced by the Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp.No final-phase trial data has been made available for the shot as yet, but Taiwan’s health ministry described the Medigen vaccine as “no worse” than those created by AstraZeneca, which are widely used on the island.


Christmas activities allowed with conditions in CMCO, RMCO areas

Christians will be allowed to attend Christmas service on Dec 24 and 25 in areas under recovery movement control order (RMCO) and conditional movement control order (CMCO).Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said screening centres should be set up at the entrance of churches with a limit on the number of congregants.Services on Dec 24 are to be held in two sessions between 5pm and 9.30pm with each session capped at one hour and 30 minutes and a 45-minute break between sessions for sanitisation activities.“On Dec 25, services should be held between 7am and 1.45pm in three sessions lasting an hour and 30 minutes per session with a 45-minute break for sanitisation before the start of the next session,” he said.Services should comply with the SOPs previously issued for houses of worship subject to the size of the venue, with physical distancing maintained at all times, he added.Services and pilgrimage activities will not be allowed in areas under enhanced movement control order (EMCO), where families will only be allowed to celebrate in their own homes.In areas under RMCO and CMCO, celebrations will be allowed at landed residences although only on the first day with not more than 20 guests comprising close family members.For non-landed strata properties with an area of less than 1,500 square feet, guests must be capped at 10, while for homes with an area of 2,500 square feet and above, the maximum number is 15.Open houses and carolling activities will not be allowed.


Realignment plan key to AirAsia's viability, says aviation expert

The realignment plan to be finalised by AirAsia X Bhd and Capital A Bhd, the parent company of AirAsia, to deal with its Practice Note 17 (PN17) status, will likely emerge as the main factor in determining the viability of their flight operations, an aviation expert says.
Germal Singh Khera, a former development director at the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom), said the reorganisation plan to be sent to Bursa Malaysia Securities would provide some idea of the companies' financial resilience.
He said such factors are normally taken into account by Mavcom before a final decision is made on the renewal of air service licences (ASLs), which airlines need to operate in the country.
AirAsia X's ASL was renewed for 12 months on Sept 8 last year, effective Oct 1, 2022 to Sept 30, 2023.
AirAsia's ASL was also renewed, for a shorter period of six months until March 31 this year.
"Mavcom will only extend AirAsia's ASL for an additional six months from April 1, 2023 to September 2023 if AirAsia complies with specific conditions by Mavcom by Dec 31, 2022," Mavcom had said on its official website.
MalaysiaNow is attempting to obtain Mavcom's latest statement on the matter.
AirAsia X was classified as PN17 on Nov 1, 2021, while Capital A, previously known as AirAsia Group Bhd, was classified in that category on Jan 13, 2022.
AirAsia X was given until April 28, 2023 to submit a realignment plan to Bursa Malaysia Securities while Capital A was given until July 7, 2023.
Germal said airlines usually send ASL renewal applications to Mavcom so that they can continue with their flight operations.
"The renewal of the ASL will depend on the feasibility of the reorganisation plan," he added.
"After that, Mavom will make an assessment. If the plan is rejected, it's likely that Mavcom will reject the ASL application."
If, on the other hand, the reorganisation plans submitted by Capital A and AirAsia X are accepted, Mavcom would view it as a positive development, he said.
"If the realignment plan looks like it cannot help with the PN17 status, this could influence Mavcom's decision," he added.
The commission normally takes an average of 45 to 60 days to make a decision.
AirAsia X shares rose on March 22 to close at RM1.47 per share, recording an increase of 12 sen or 8.89% compared to RM1.35 at closing the day before.
Last Friday, AirAsia X's share price surged to its highest level in a year, rising 27 sen or 19.15% to close at RM1.68 and triggering an unusual market activity query from Bursa Malaysia.
However, shares fell 13 sen or 8.78% to close at RM1.35 on Monday.
Meanwhile, Capital A's share price closed at 77.5 sen on March 22, with no change from the previous day's close.


Japan death row inmates sue over ‘inhumane’ same-day notification

Two death row inmates in Japan are suing the country over how prisoners are notified only hours before the death penalty is carried out, demanding change and seeking compensation for the impact of the “inhumane” practice, their lawyer said on Friday.Capital punishment in Japan is conducted by hanging, and the practice of not informing inmates of the timing until shortly before execution has long been decried by international human rights organisations for the stress it places on prisoners, for whom any day could be their last.On Thursday, in what is believed to be a first, two prisoners sentenced to death filed a suit in a district court in the western city of Osaka saying the practice was illegal because it did not allow prisoners time to file an objection, demanding the practice be changed and asking for 22 million yen (US$193,594) in compensation, lawyer Yutaka Ueda said.“Death row prisoners live in fear every morning that that day will be their last. It’s extremely inhumane,” he added.“Japan is really behind the international community on this.”The US and Japan are the only industrialised democracies that still carry out the death penalty, and human rights groups such as Amnesty International have demanded change for decades.Ueda said there is no law mandating that prisoners can only be told of their execution hours before it takes place, and that the practice actually goes against Japan’s criminal code.“The central government has said this is meant to keep prisoners from suffering before their execution, but that’s no explanation and a big problem, and we really need to see how they respond to the suit,” he added.“Overseas, prisoners are given time to contemplate the end of their lives and mentally prepare. It’s as if Japan is trying as hard as possible not to let anybody know.”There are currently 112 people sentenced to death in Japan, the Justice Ministry said, though none have been executed for nearly two years. Public opinion polls regularly show a vast majority of the population in favour of capital punishment, which is usually imposed in connection with murders.Ueda said he hopes the lawsuit could spark discussion in Japan about the issue, though this is not its main goal.“This system is badly mistaken – and we would like the public to turn their eyes to the issue,” he added.


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Row as French city mayor bans meat from children’s school dinners

The French government has criticised the mayor of the famous culinary city of Lyon after he banned meat from city school lunches.Mayor Gregory Doucet, a member of the Green party, has said scrapping meat streamlines meal service amid coronavirus restrictions.But the government is unhappy, suspecting ulterior motives and has hit back, accusing him of risking children’s health, the BBC is reporting.“Let’s stop putting ideology on our children’s plates,” tweeted the agriculture minister. “Let’s just give them what they need to grow well. Meat is part of it.”The interior minister declared that it was an “unacceptable insult” for French farmers and butchers and the world-famous French cuisine.“We can see that the moralising and elitist policy of the Greens excludes the popular classes. Many children often only get to eat meat at the school canteen,” he said.Fish and eggs remain on school menus in Lyon, and the mayor promised that menus would be balanced for all children.Nutritionists say a vegetarian diet is safe for children but advise taking extra care to ensure sufficient amounts of protein, iron and other minerals are included.Lyonnaise cuisine is world renowned, with a particular emphasis on meat and offal but there are signs of tastes changing.Sales of meat-free products are on the rise, and a 2018 law made it compulsory for schools to make one day a week vegetarian.A vegan restaurant recently made history in France by winning a coveted Michelin star.The mayor has been unafraid to challenge “sacred” French traditions. In the past, he has called the Tour de France bike race “macho and polluting”.


Husband arrested, officials punished in China chained woman case

Chinese authorities said on Wednesday they had arrested a man accused of keeping his wife chained in a shack and punished at least 17 local officials over a case that has sparked viral outrage.The incident triggered intense debate on mental health and human trafficking in January after a blogger’s video showed her with a chain and padlock around her neck in freezing weather in Jiangsu province.Provincial authorities said the woman was found to have schizophrenia and had been sold several times, including once in 1998 for 5,000 yuan (US$790), after being taken from her village in southwestern Yunnan province.Officials said “special actions to comprehensively and thoroughly investigate and rectify the violation of rights” were being taken.They added that the woman – known as “Xiaohuamei”, which means “little plum blossom” and is likely a nickname – is a mother of eight children and is receiving hospital treatment.Officials in the area where she was found had initially denied allegations of any abduction and trafficking but higher-level investigations were launched after a public outcry.Xiaohuamei is said to have disappeared after living for a few months with a man in Jiangsu who had bought her, and was soon taken in by a couple who operated a hotel, the probe found.She was then sold again to two other people before being bought by her current husband’s family.The husband, surnamed Dong, was formally arrested on Tuesday along with two other people accused of trafficking, authorities said.Investigations are ongoing against six others allegedly involved in trafficking her, while eight local officials have been dismissed from their posts and nine others handed various punishments.The case continued to generate anger on Wednesday, with a related hashtag on China’s Twitter-like Weibo platform attracting 580 million views shortly after the news of the punishments came.“The credibility of our government has long been lost,” one user said of the latest statement. “You haven’t shown us evidence.”Others called for a national crackdown on trafficking.China’s one-child policy – only relaxed in 2016 – has led to a shortage of women due to a traditional preference for boys.The resulting gender imbalance is believed to have fuelled human trafficking, according to a US congressional report.


We’re outnumbered, says Bung as he rallies support for Hajiji as CM

Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin today revealed that he had no choice but to accede to demands from fellow Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen in the state not to break away from Perikatan Nasional (PN), with whom the party went together as allies in the recent polls.Bung, BN’s nominee for chief minister, said the coalition was also aware that it was outnumbered in terms of seats won by its allies in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) which brings together BN, PN and PBS.BN, represented by Sabah Umno, won 14 seats, while Bersatu (representing PN) and PBS, which nominated Hajiji Nor as chief minister, together took 24.“We must respect democracy – the party with the most seats gets the chief minister’s post,” Bung, Umno’s nominee for the post, said in a statement.This followed protests from Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who insisted that Bung should be the CM, citing how the Malay party had compromised in giving the prime minister’s post to Bersatu’s Muhyiddin Yassin.There was speculation earlier that Umno could break away from GRS and work with Warisan to form the government in a bid to deny Hajiji the CM’s post.Hajiji led an exodus of Umno assemblymen and leaders in Sabah in late 2018, almost paralysing the party’s state chapter.Bung said Umno assemblymen had told him that they did not want to be the opposition again.“As Sabah Umno chief, I am obliged to fulfil their demand,” the Kinabatangan MP added.He also urged his supporters not to blame Zahid, thanking the Umno president for helping in the campaign.At a press conference today, Bung called for unity within the GRS alliance and for an end to political games.The state election saw the downfall of Warisan, which cooperated with DAP, PKR, Upko and Amanah but failed to repeat the coalition’s achievement in 2018 when it swept to power on the back of allegations of massive corruption in the Najib Razak administration.


New cases creep to 1,671

Another 1,671 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 331,713.Selangor recorded 652 cases, Penang 328, Sarawak 154, Johor 130 and Sabah 102.Kuala Lumpur recorded 78 cases, Kelantan 63, Kedah 46, Perak 37, Terengganu 32, Negeri Sembilan 25, Melaka 18, and Pahang and Labuan three each.Four new clusters were detected:1. Teluk Air Tawar (Seberang Perai Utara and Seberang Perai Tengah in Penang; 335 screened, 33 positive)2. Perindustrian Pekan Nanas (Pontian in Johor; 212 screened, 39 positive)3. Tanjung Genting (Meradong in Sarawak; 66 screened, 22 positive)4. Pulau Pisang (Perak Tengah in Perak; 41 screened, 15 positive)Ten others ended, leaving 421 active clusters across the country.Another 1,585 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 316,042.However, four more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 1,229.


Housewife fined RM12,000 for spreading fake news on vaccines

A housewife was fined RM12,000 in default of six months’ jail by the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today for spreading fake news about vaccines on Facebook.Judge M M Edwin Paramjothy sentenced Tengku Noor Azlin Wa Kembang Tengku Azizan, 46, after she pleaded guilty to spreading the news through a video posted on the social networking site.She admitted to spreading the video with the intention of causing alarm among the public through the Facebook account “Kak Siti Wakembang” at 11.44pm on May 25.The charge was framed under Section 4 (1) of the Emergency (Essential Powers) (No.2) Ordinance 2021 which carries a maximum fine of RM100,000, a maximum jail term of three years, or both.Prior to the sentencing, Edwin said the offence committed by Tengku Noor Azlin was likely to cause public disorder as well as to hamper the government’s efforts in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.“The offence was committed at a time when the government was trying its best to implement a comprehensive vaccination programme to stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the judge said.Tengku Noor Azlin, who was unrepresented, pleaded for a lenient sentence on the grounds that she was unemployed and did not intend for the video to go viral.“I plead guilty… in this case, my intention was simply to get the comments of my friends and for them to give their opinions on the video,” she said.Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur prosecution director Kalmizah Salleh urged the court to mete out a deterrent sentence, as such actions could cause public alarm at a time when the country is still at war with the pandemic.


Ugandan Olympic athlete goes missing in Japan

A Ugandan weightlifter has gone missing during an Olympic training camp in Japan, one week before the Tokyo Games open, officials said Friday.Authorities were searching for Julius Ssekitoleko, 20, who failed to show up for a coronavirus test and was not in his hotel room.“One member of the Ugandan delegation, which the city received as a host town, has gone missing and cannot be reached,” the city of Izumisano said in a statement.“The city is making all efforts to search for the individual. We have reported the matter to police.”The statement said Ssekitoleko was last seen shortly after midnight inside the hotel by a fellow athlete.He failed to conduct a required PCR test by shortly after noon and the alarm was raised when he was not found in his hotel room.Uganda’s delegation arrived in Japan last month, headed for a pre-Games training camp in Izumisano, in Osaka region.But a coach tested positive on arrival, and other delegation members were subsequently asked to self-isolate, with a second member later testing positive.Virus cases are rising in Tokyo, which is under a state of emergency, and there is heavy scrutiny in Japan of infection risks linked to the Games.Athletes and other Olympic participants are subject to strict rules including regular testing and limits on their movement.The Games open in a week’s time, but spectators have been barred from all events in Tokyo and surrounding areas, and will be allowed into just a handful of venues outside the capital.


Court orders immediate release of 3 children from welfare department to mother

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today ordered the immediate release of three children from the care of the Social Welfare Department (JKM) to their mother, Loh Siew Hong, after allowing the habeas corpus application filed by the single parent.Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah said pursuant to an order by the High Court dated March 31, 2021, the applicant was granted sole custody, care and control of the three children.“There was also an earlier interim ex-parte order dated Dec 20 2019, granting sole custody, care and control of her children to the applicant.“The court orders still stand and are still valid. The court orders are not to be treated with impunity in the face of contempt of court. By reason that the court orders still stand, I therefore allow the application of writ of habeas corpus,” the judge said.In her notice of motion, filed through Messrs SS Thind on Feb 13, Loh named Nazirah Nanthakumari Abdullah as the first respondent and an unnamed party that she claimed had her three children as the second respondent.Loh had sought a writ of habeas corpus or other appropriate orders by the court to compel the children’s immediate release from the private custody of the respondents, and for the children to be returned to her.Loh, 34, was seen in tears when the judge delivered the judgment.The three children – twin girls aged 14 and a 10-year-old boy – were seated in the witness room during the hearing.Loh filed the habeas corpus application on grounds that although the High Court had granted custody, care and sole control of the three children to her, she had had not been able to see her children because her ex-husband, M Nagahswaran, was hiding them.Loh claimed she had found out later that her children were in the control of the first respondent (Nazirah, believed to be a Muslim preacher) at the Hidayah Centre Foundation in Bayan Lepas, Penang, but she was not allowed to meet and pick up her children.She claimed that her children were then transferred to Perlis and placed under the control of the two respondents.“The actions of the respondents to keep the children without the applicant’s consent constitutes illegal detention or inappropriate detention in private care and this warrants the court’s intervention as the applicant did not know the specific location of her children.“The applicant had reason to believe that there were intentions and attempts by the respondents to convert her children to Islam and to take them outside of this court’s jurisdiction,” Loh said in her application document.Earlier, lawyer A Srimurugan who represented Loh said in his submissions that the three siblings should have been returned to their biological mother as she had gained custody, protection and control over them. He said the respondents’ actions in controlling them were considered very disrespectful of the order issued by the High Court.“The question raised today did not involve religious issues or conflicts involving shariah law. Instead, it was related to compliance with previous court orders,” he said, adding that Loh’s ex-husband was detained at a prison in Kelantan.Meanwhile, lawyer Aidil Khalid, who represented Nazirah, submitted that the issue of unilateral conversion was clearly not relevant.“My client should not even be named as a party in the habeas corpus application because the three children are no longer under her care,” he said.The children were placed at the welfare institution at Loh’s request after obtaining a court order in the interests and welfare of the children.


65.3% of adults boosted, 33.7% of children given first vaccine jab

A total of 15,357,069 individuals or 65.3% of adults had received a Covid-19 booster jab as of yesterday.According to the CovidNow website, a total of 22,937,707 or 97.5% have completed their vaccination while 23,213,875 or 98.7% have received at least one dose of vaccine.A total of 1,197,667 children or 33.7% of those aged five to 11 have received a first dose of vaccine under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids).As for teenagers aged 12 to 17, a total of 2,839,254 or 91.3% have completed their vaccination while 2,938,900 or 94.5% have received at least one dose.Yesterday, a total of 56,585 vaccine doses were given, comprising 17,939 first doses, 1,728 second shots and 36,918 booster jabs.This brings the cumulative number of vaccine doses administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) to 68,275,177.


EPF declares 5.35% dividend for conventional savings, 4.75% for shariah savings

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has declared a dividend rate of 5.35% for conventional savings for 2022, with a total payout of RM45.44 billion.
EPF CEO Amir Hamzah Azizan also announced a  4.75% dividend for shariah savings with total payout of RM5.70 billion for 2022.
This brings the total payout amount for 2022 to RM51.14 billion.
Amir said the competitive returns were largely due to EPF's overarching strategy which emphasises long-term sustainability of investments and returns, in line with its strategic asset allocation.
"The fund’s well-diversified portfolio and healthy liquidity helped to reduce risk and enabled it to maintain investment assets at above RM1 trillion and deliver respectable dividend rates for 2022.
"The RM51.14 billion payout will benefit more than 15 million EPF members, which include members from the informal sector who are registered under i-Saraan, an incentive-based voluntary contribution programme," he said during the EPF 2022 financial performance media briefing in Shah Alam today.
Amir said he believed that the EPF members’ retirement savings would benefit from the dividend and its consistent performance, especially when viewed from a long-term perspective.
"Notwithstanding the economic situation, we will continue to prioritise the long-term success of our investment portfolio and the rebuilding of our members’ retirement savings," he added.
As of Dec 31, 2022, the EPF had recorded a lower total gross investment income of RM55.33 billion compared with RM68.89 billion in 2021, driven by high market volatility and lower valuations across equity and fixed income markets.
Amir said the financial year 2022 was marked by both slower global growth and high inflation rates, compounded by the tightening of monetary policies by major central banks to reel in inflationary pressure.
"Fixed income markets did not fare well as bond indices posted negative returns for the year, largely attributed to elevated yields following continued US Federal Reserve rate hikes.
"Geopolitical instability was also a major factor in driving market gyrations, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine causing a major dislocation in commodity prices, compounded by sabre-rattling between the US and China," he said.
In 2022, the equities asset class contributed RM30.54 billion, or 55% of the EPF’s total gross income, lower than the RM41.06 billion recorded in 2021.
Foreign listed equities, which yielded a return on investment (ROI) of 9.27%, continued to be the driver of returns for this asset class.
"The private equity portfolio also demonstrated strong performance, recording an ROI of 13.65%.
"This portfolio generated lower gross investment income compared to 2021, largely due to lower valuations of the underlying assets, apart from lower distributions received for the year," he said.
Amir said to ensure long-term portfolio health, the fund had taken the measure of writing down RM3.43 billion of its listed equity portfolio in 2022, higher than the RM1.15 billion write down recorded in 2021, in line with the volatility in the equity markets.
A total of 74% of the total amount came from shariah-compliant counters that underperformed, which in turn impacted the EPF’s shariah savings performance for the year.


North Korea boosts production of drugs, medical supplies to battle Covid

North Korea is ramping up production of drugs and medical supplies including sterilisers and thermometers as it battles an unprecedented coronavirus outbreak, state media KCNA said on Thursday.The isolated country, which has imposed a nationwide lockdown, is also increasing production of traditional Korean medicines used to reduce fever and pain, KCNA said, calling them “effective in prevention and cure of the malicious disease.”A sweeping Covid wave, which North Korea first confirmed last week, has fanned concerns over a lack of medical resources and vaccines, with the UN human rights agency warning of “devastating” consequences for its 25 million people.At least 262,270 more people reported fever symptoms, and one additional person died as of Wednesday evening, KCNA said, citing data from the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters. It did not specify how many people had tested positive for the virus.North Korea has so far reported 1,978,230 people with fever symptoms and 63 deaths, and imposed strict anti-virus measures.Factories are churning out more injections, medicines, thermometers and other medical supplies in the capital Pyongyang and nearby regions “in a lightning way,” while more isolation wards were installed and disinfection work intensified around the country, KCNA said.“Thousands of tonnes of salt were urgently transported to Pyongyang city to produce antiseptic solution,” KCNA said.The reports came after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un criticised ineffective distribution of drugs and slammed officials for their “immature” responses to the epidemic.Without a national vaccination campaign and Covid treatment, state media have encouraged patients to use painkillers and antibiotics as well as unverified home remedies, such as gargling salt water, or drinking lonicera japonica tea or willow leaf tea.South Korea and the US have respectively offered to help North Korea fight the outbreak, including sending aid, but have not received a response, Seoul’s deputy national security advisor said on Wednesday.However, three aircraft from North Korea’s Air Koryo arrived in China and returned to Pyongyang on Monday carrying medical supplies, a diplomatic source said on condition of anonymity.


Nearly half of US drinking water may contain toxic 'forever chemicals'

Nearly half of US tap water samples contain toxic "forever chemicals," substances used in hundreds of household items from cleaning supplies to pizza boxes to which broad exposure can carry serious health risks, according to a new study.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) study tested tap water samples from more than 700 residences, businesses and drinking-water treatment plants across the country for the presence of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl chemicals known as PFAS.
At least one such synthetic chemical was detected in 45% of the samples at levels exceeding benchmarks and US proposed regulations, the researchers said.
PFAS are water resistant, meaning they do not break down in the environment and last in human bodies for years. Developed in the 1940s with the creation of Teflon, a non-stick cookware coating, today they are used in everything from clothing to plastic products.
Previous studies have measured PFAS in ground water, reservoirs and water treatment plants. But analyzing tap water allows for a more accurate assessment of what people are drinking, said Kelly Smalling, a USGS hydrologist who led the research.
Exposure to high levels of PFAS can disrupt hormones, disturb liver function, increase the risk of kidney or testicular cancer, reduce birth weight in infants and compromise the health of pregnant women, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Tests exist for a fraction of the 12,000 known types of PFAS. The study samples, which came from public supplies and private wells between 2016 and 2021, were tested for 32 types.
There was no difference in PFAS exposure between samples from private wells and the public supply, which "was very surprising,” Smalling said.
Public water supplies are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency while private wells are not.
Compared with people in rural areas, those in urban areas are at higher risk of exposure to PFAS in drinking water, the study found.
In March, the EPA proposed the first-ever national drinking water standard for six PFAS. It would require monitoring of public water systems and disclosure when PFAS levels exceed limits.
Almost US$10 billion (about RM46.7 billion) was directed to help communities reduce PFAS and other chemical contaminants as part of the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.


UPSR, PT3 exams gone for good, education ministry says

The education ministry is standing by its decision not to reinstate the Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) and the Form Three Assessment (PT3), despite requests from parents for the reintroduction of the public examinations.
Deputy Education Minister Mohamad Alimin said the UPSR and PT3 exams were abolished as the ministry wanted to produce human capital with skills in various fields who were not limited to academic fields.
"We have explained many times that this time, we are taking a more inclusive approach, not just based on exams. We want to produce human capital with capabilities in many other fields.
"Malaysia is moving towards a more developed country, we want to supply the country with human capital with diverse expertise. That is the main goal," he told reporters after closing a programme in Putrajaya today.
Alimin said this when asked to comment on media reports that more and more parents want the UPSR exam to be reinstated on the grounds that the education ministry is not prepared to implement classroom-based assessments (PBD) as the single approach to the assessment system in schools. The aim of the PBD is to reduce the emphasis on academic achievements through examinations, thereby allowing students to enjoy learning.
However, educationists and parents have pointed out that there are many uncertainties in the system and call for it to be overhauled.
They say the ministry has yet to meet the three main prerequisites of PBD regarding the ideal number of students in a class to make it easier for the teacher to monitor and evaluate them; a syllabus that is not too dense to give way to various activities in the class; and full autonomy for teachers to assess students.
On April 28 this year, the education ministry abolished the UPSR examination and said it would strengthen school-based assessments (PBS) and PBD. On June 2, the ministry announced that PT3 would be abolished starting this year and replaced by the strengthening of the PBS approach.


South Korea slaps sanctions on North's hacking group after failed satellite launch

South Korea on Friday announced new sanctions against a North Korean hacking group, Kimsuky, it accused of being involved in the North's latest satellite launch attempt.
The US and South Korea also issued a joint advisory saying the group conducts "large-scale" cyber attacks at think tanks, academic institutions and news outlets.
The hackers are known to conduct spearphishing campaigns posing as real journalists, academics, or other individuals with credible links to North Korean policy circles, Seoul's foreign ministry said.
On Wednesday North Korea launched its first spy satellite into space, but that ended in failure with the booster and payload plunging into the sea.
"North Korean hacking groups including Kimsuky have been, directly or indirectly, engaged in North Korea's so-called 'satellite' development by stealing cutting-edge technologies on weapons development, satellite and space," the South Korean ministry said in a statement.
The US, South Korea and Japan said any launch by Pyongyang using ballistic missile technology violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
South Korea's ministry said the latest sanctions demonstrate Seoul's will to make North Korea pay for its provocations.
North Korea on Thursday rejected condemnation of the launch by Washington and other countries, saying it has a sovereign right to space development and vowing to soon put a spy satellite into orbit.


Hong Kong leader rules out China-style lockdown as virus spreads

Hong Kong’s leader on Tuesday said she would not impose a mainland China-style hard lockdown as the city faces its worst coronavirus wave to date, even as she vowed no switch to living with Covid-19.The comments came as hospitals began to buckle under the strain of rising infections with at least two medical facilities placing patients in beds outside their entrances.No place in the world has managed to return to zero Covid cases after such an outbreak except mainland China, which has imposed citywide lockdowns and mass stay-at-home orders when even a handful of cases are detected.Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam ruled out that approach.“We have no plans whatsoever to impose a complete, wholesale lockdown,” she told reporters.But she also rejected calls from some public health experts and business figures to switch to a mitigation strategy saying zero-Covid remained her administration’s goal.“We have to continue to fight this anti-epidemic battle. Surrendering to the virus is not an option,” Lam said.Authorities will continue to use smaller-scale district lockdowns, with testing of all residents in housing blocks where cases are detected, she added.For more than two years, Hong Kong has followed China’s strategy, pursuing zero virus cases with largely closed borders, lengthy quarantines, contact tracing and stringent social distancing laws.But the new wave fuelled by the highly transmissible Omicron virus variant has battered the city’s capacity for testing, quarantine and treatment, and is testing the policy like never before.More than 2,000 new daily infections were reported Monday, and the figure hovered over 1,000 for much of the last week.Local researchers have warned that new daily cases could exceed 28,000 a day by March.Supply crunchBefore this outbreak, Hong Kong treated all coronavirus patients in dedicated isolation wards, but beds at hospitals and a temporary mass treatment facility near the airport have quickly filled.AFP reporters on Tuesday saw patients lying on stretchers outside two hospitals.Close contacts of virus cases were earlier sent to a government quarantine camp, but many are now being told to isolate at home.Lam said 3,000 flats in newly constructed public housing blocks will be converted for quarantine use and that officials are seeking 10,000 hotel rooms too.Last week saw long queues of people waiting to get tested, and many who tested positive reported being turned away from hospitals.Hong Kong has sourced 100 million rapid test kits and will distribute a million of them a day to high-risk individuals once they arrive, Lam said Tuesday.Scenes from the city in recent days resembled the early phase of the pandemic, as shoppers cleared out supermarket shelves to stock up on food and essentials.Hong Kong imports most of its fresh food and produce from mainland China, and vegetable prices spiked last week due to a virus-related supply disruption.Lam on Tuesday said her administration was recruiting more cross-border drivers and will look into waterborne freight as an option.


WHO's cancer research agency to declare common artifical sweetener 'possible carcinogen', say sources

One of the world's most common artificial sweeteners is set to be declared a possible carcinogen next month by a leading global health body, according to two sources with knowledge of the process, pitting it against the food industry and regulators.
Aspartame, used in products from Coca-Cola diet sodas to Mars' Extra chewing gum and some Snapple drinks, will be listed in July as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" for the first time by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization's (WHO) cancer research arm, the sources told Reuters.
The IARC ruling, finalised earlier this month after a meeting of the group's external experts, is intended to assess whether something is a potential hazard or not, based on all the published evidence.
It does not take into account how much of a product a person can safely consume. This advice for individuals comes from a separate WHO expert committee on food additives, known as JECFA (the Joint WHO and Food and Agriculture Organization's Expert Committee on Food Additives), alongside determinations from national regulators.
However, similar IARC rulings in the past for different substances have raised concerns among consumers about their use, led to lawsuits, and pressured manufacturers to recreate recipes and swap to alternatives. That has led to criticism that the IARC's assessments can be confusing to the public.
JECFA, the WHO committee on additives, is also reviewing aspartame use this year. Its meeting began at the end of June and it is due to announce its findings on the same day that the IARC makes public its decision – on July 14.
Since 1981, JECFA has said aspartame is safe to consume within accepted daily limits. For example, an adult weighing 60kg (132 pounds) would have to drink between 12 and 36 cans of diet soda – depending on the amount of aspartame in the beverage – every day to be at risk. Its view has been widely shared by national regulators, including in the US and Europe.
An IARC spokesman said both the IARC and JECFA committees' findings were confidential until July, but added they were "complementary", with IARC's conclusion representing "the first fundamental step to understand carcinogenicity".
The additives committee "conducts risk assessment, which determines the probability of a specific type of harm (eg. cancer) to occur under certain conditions and levels of exposure".
However, industry and regulators fear that holding both processes at around the same time could be confusing, according to letters from US and Japanese regulators seen by Reuters.
"We kindly ask both bodies to coordinate their efforts in reviewing aspartame to avoid any confusion or concerns among the public," Nozomi Tomita, an official from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, wrote in a letter dated March 27 to WHO's deputy director general, Zsuzsanna Jakab.
The letter also called for the conclusions of both bodies to be released on the same day, as is now happening. The Japanese mission in Geneva, where the WHO is based, did not respond to a request for comment.
Debate
The IARC's rulings can have huge impact. In 2015, its committee concluded that glyphosate is "probably carcinogenic". Years later, even as other bodies like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) contested this, companies were still feeling the effects of the decision. Germany’s Bayer in 2021 lost its third appeal against US court verdicts that awarded damages to customers blaming their cancers on use of its glyphosate-based weedkillers.
The IARC's decisions have also faced criticism for sparking needless alarm over hard to avoid substances or situations. It has four different levels of classification – carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, possibly carcinogenic and not classifiable. The levels are based on the strength of the evidence, rather than how dangerous a substance is.
The first group includes substances from processed meat to asbestos, which all have convincing evidence showing they cause cancer, IARC says.
Working overnight and consuming red meat are in the "probable" class, which means that there is limited evidence these substances or situations can cause cancer in humans and either better evidence showing they cause cancer in animals, or strong evidence showing that they have similar characteristics as other human carcinogens.
The "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields" associated with using mobile phones are "possibly cancer-causing". Like aspartame, this means there is either limited evidence they can cause cancer in humans, sufficient evidence in animals, or strong evidence about the characteristics.
The final group – "not classifiable" – means there is not enough evidence.
"IARC is not a food safety body and their review of aspartame is not scientifically comprehensive and is based heavily on widely discredited research," Frances Hunt-Wood, secretary general of the International Sweeteners Association (ISA), said.
The body, whose members include Mars Wrigley, a Coca-Cola unit and Cargill, said it had "serious concerns with the IARC review, which may mislead consumers".
The International Council of Beverages Associations' executive director Kate Loatman said public health authorities should be "deeply concerned" by the "leaked opinion", and also warned it "could needlessly mislead consumers into consuming more sugar rather than choosing safe no- and low-sugar options."
Aspartame has been extensively studied for years. Last year, an observational study in France among 100,000 adults showed that people who consumed larger amounts of artificial sweeteners – including aspartame – had a slightly higher cancer risk.
It followed a study from the Ramazzini Institute in Italy in the early 2000s, which reported that some cancers in mice and rats were linked to aspartame.
However, the first study could not prove that aspartame caused the increased cancer risk, and questions have been raised about the methodology of the second study, including by EFSA, which assessed it.
Aspartame is authorised for use globally by regulators who have reviewed all the available evidence, and major food and beverage makers have for decades defended their use of the ingredient. The IARC said it had assessed 1,300 studies in its June review.
Recent recipe tweaks by soft drinks giant Pepsico demonstrate the struggle the industry has when it comes to balancing taste preferences with health concerns. Pepsico removed aspartame from sodas in 2015, bringing it back a year later, only to remove it again in 2020.
Listing aspartame as a possible carcinogen is intended to motivate more research, said the sources close to the IARC, which will help agencies, consumers and manufacturers draw firmer conclusions.
But it will also likely ignite debate once again over the IARC's role, as well as the safety of sweeteners more generally.
Last month, the WHO published guidelines advising consumers not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control. The guidelines caused a furore in the food industry, which argues they can be helpful for consumers wanting to reduce the amount of sugar in their diet.


No reason for EU to discriminate over AstraZeneca jabs, Khairy says again

The European Union (EU) should not discriminate over where AstraZeneca vaccines are produced as the same formula is used at all its manufacturing facilities, National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin reiterated today.In the wake of reports that the EU would only recognise the AstraZeneca vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency, Khairy said he would get AstraZeneca to inform the EU that all their manufacturing sites implement good manufacturing practices.“So there is absolutely no reason for the EU to discriminate one AZ (AstraZeneca) facility from the other,” he told a joint press conference on PICK developments with Health Minister Dr Adham Baba today.Khairy who is science, technology and innovation minister said he would also discuss the issue with the EU ambassador to Malaysia to get clarity on the actual immigration policy for the EU with regards to vaccination.He said all countries should allow entry to travellers vaccinated with World Health Organization (WHO)-listed vaccines.“That would be the most fair outcome in the recognition of vaccines for travellers. As long as a vaccine has been listed by WHO, then countries should accept travellers who have been vaccinated using those vaccines,” he said.


From counterculture to extreme sport: Sarawak’s push to rebrand skateboarding

At the civic centre park in Kuching, Arif Taqif makes his way to the skate park carrying a backpack filled with notebook, pens, the odd gum wrapper and a lone paperclip.For all intents and purposes, he looks like any other student heading for a lesson.But Arif is only five years old, and he is on his way for class at the Kuching School of Skateboarding.In many places, skateboarding is considered a counterculture activity, associated with rebellion and disobedience.But Denny Zulfikar, founder of Kuching School of Skateboarding, is out to change the face of the activity from an act of resistance to an extreme sport.Denny began the school in 2016 and has since taught hundreds of students ranging from children as young as Arif to even adults interested in the activity.Students practise at the skate park in Kuching as Denny and his assistant Ezra Shah look on.Under the three-month programme which Arif is attending, children up to age 12 gather every weekend at the skate park. When they are not cruising, they participate in other activities such as design classes.They are also introduced to local professionals in the sport for civic engagement and leadership lessons.But Sarawak skateboarding athlete Mohd Nur Firdaus Marzuki says awareness of the activity as an actual sport is still low.Firdaus himself turned down an offer to represent Malaysia at the Asian Games in 2018 despite winning first place in the qualification rounds as he was told that he would receive no allowance.“There aren’t many commercial opportunities in Malaysia because the sports industry is too small,” he said to MalaysiaNow.“If you watch our badminton games, there are so many commercials. But you don’t see this is you watch skateboarding activities here.”Denny encourages a student as she weaves her way through a row of skittle cones at the skate park in Kuching.Things took a turn for the better when he was chosen as one of seven skateboarding athletes to represent Malaysia at the SEA Games in the Philippines in 2019.“That was the first time we were regarded as national athletes,” he said.There, the national team won two medals, one gold and one bronze. But still, Firdaus acknowledges that Indonesia has the best skateboarders in the region, attributing this to the facilities available in the neighbouring country.“Indonesia has an international standard skate park for athletes to conduct their training,” he said.Back in Sarawak, though, things are looking up for local skateboarders too with the construction of the Sibu Youth Space which houses the first official skate park in the state.Located on the banks of Sungai Rajang, the park opened to the public in November last year and has been attracting many visitors, especially young skateboarders and extreme sports enthusiasts from around Sarawak.A student practises a flip at the skate park in Kuching.Both Denny and Firdaus hope that the park will be just the beginning of the sport’s development in the state as well as the country as a whole.“To groom young talents, we need to build more proper facilities,” said Denny, who was appointed last month by the Sarawak Sport Corporation as the state’s official skateboarding coach.“If we really want to produce skateboarding athletes for the Olympics, the sports ministries at both the state and federal levels should focus on developing national teams for both street and park events.”Such facilities were non-existent when athletes like Firdaus were training for events such as the SEA Games.“He had to train by himself, at public places,” Denny said.


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Former PMs Mahathir, Muhyiddin sued over axed HSR project

A man has filed a lawsuit against former prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin for alleged abuse of public office and negligence over the cancellation of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project.
Mohd Hatta Sanuri, 47, who filed the suit through Messrs Mohaji, Hazury & Ismail on Dec 30 last year, also named former minister in the Prime Minister's Department (economy) Mustapa Mohamed, former transport minister Wee Ka Siong and the government as defendants.
In his statement of claim, Hatta said Mahathir, who was the seventh prime minister, committed tort of misfeasance in public office when he decided to postpone the HSR project, causing the government and the Malaysian people to pay compensation of almost RM46 million to the Singapore government.
He claimed that Muhyiddin, who was the eighth prime minister, also committed tort  of misfeasance in public office by terminating the project, causing the Malaysian government and the people to pay RM320,270,519.24 in compensation for the cancellation of the bilateral agreement between Malaysia and Singapore.
Hatta claimed that Mustapha, who was responsible for managing the project, committed a similar offence by shelving the project, while Wee committed tort of misfeasance in public office by denying Malaysians their right to a first-class transport system with the cancellation of the HSR project.
He is seeking a court order to declare the cancellation of the project null and void, as well as for the defendants to pay RM1 million in compensation to him and all Malaysians for wrongfully and negligently cancelling the HSR project.
On Jan 1, 2021, Malaysia and Singapore announced the termination of the 350km HSR project after failing to reach an agreement on the changes proposed by Malaysia before the expiry of the project agreement on Dec 31, 2020.
Accordingly, Malaysia paid Singapore S$102.8 million (RM320.27 million) for costs incurred for the development of the HSR project.
The HSR would have shortened the travelling time from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore to 90 minutes.
The case management of the suit has been set for Feb 2 before High Court senior assistant registrar Nur Shasha Hidayah Nor Azahar.


Balik kampung exodus to become a trip down memory lane?

Every Raya morning, Putri Eliza Megat Nazam would wake up early to help prepare breakfast for her family, a spread which always included lemang, ketupat rendang and other mouth-watering favourites associated with the celebration.After the Raya prayer, family members would gather in the living room at her grandmother’s house in Perak to seek each other’s forgiveness.Central to this tradition for many Malay families are the “atuk” and “nenek” or the grandparents at home in the village.These family elders are the reason hundreds of thousands of Malaysians like Putri Eliza brave hours of traffic on the highways each year as they head back to their home towns in an exodus from the cities popularly known as “balik kampung”.Traffic jams and crowded R&R stops are the hallmark of this annual migration as families scattered across the country reunite for a few precious days.But for many households, the balik kampung phenomenon is slowly fading into the history books as older relatives die and younger ones build their lives in the city.For Putri Eliza, things began changing after the deaths of her grandparents in 2019.“After that, each family celebrated Raya morning separately before going to visit each other. We no longer gathered at grandmother’s house,” she said.For many households, the balik kampung phenomenon is slowly fading into the history books.And although she and her family still return to their home town for Hari Raya, the atmosphere there is no longer the same.In Putri Eliza’s case, it was her grandparents’ deaths that signalled the beginning of change. Others no longer travel back to the village as their parents have moved to the city.According to statistica.com, 76.61% of Malaysians lived in urban areas and cities as of 2019.The website also noted an increase in the country’s urban population from 66% in 2004 to 74% in 2014. Such growth is expected to continue as those from rural areas migrate to urban centres in search of economic opportunities.Zaid Ahmad, of Universiti Putra Malaysia’s department of government and civilisation, said while massive migrations can still be seen, balik kampung trips will likely decrease in the years to come, mostly due to urbanisation.While authorities made plans for development and urbanisation, he said, tradition had taken a back seat.“We did not take into account the social and cultural aspect of urbanisation and the impact of the migration on our value system and our lives.“The fact that there are fewer students in rural areas shows that urbanisation is taking over kampung life,” he said to MalaysiaNow.He said Malays, like other Asians, value kinship and stress the importance of blood relations which translates into big, extended families.But as more and more people become urbanised, he said, such values would slowly erode, affecting the balik kampung culture.“The second and third generations of city migrants no longer have any memories of kampung life. They do not yearn as much as their parents to go back to the kampung during festive seasons.“This is compounded by the deaths of the old folks, the centre of these families,” he said.“The reason why balik kampung is still alive and kicking is because the first generation still lives. In some cases, even the first generation won’t come back.”Zaid said the problem is managing the shift from rural to city life, taking into consideration the local value system.“In some cases, even the first generation won’t come back.”He said a counter-narrative of sorts is needed to retain the attraction of life in the village.“Reverse migration can be done to attract young people to work in rural areas if we want to keep our culture and value system.“This can be done with proper planning, with an emphasis on accessibility and infrastructure development in rural areas.”He envisioned a scenario in which people can live in the village but work in the city with the use of public transport such as high-speed trains.“Their lives in the village can be as modern as that in the city, and they can also enjoy the rural ecosystem and the ties of kinship.”Left to its current trajectory, he said, kampung life would soon be relegated to stories and tales, or portrayed only in films and books.For him, this is a bigger long-term threat than the Covid-19 crisis.“The people will return to their villages once the pandemic is over,” he said. “For now, the tradition is still alive. It’s the long-term shift that needs to be addressed.”Back in Perak, Putri Eliza wants to keep the tradition alive even though celebrations are not the same without her grandparents.“We will still go back to the kampung to meet our extended families. But perhaps we won’t stay as long as we used to. Maybe three days, tops.”


New cases hit triple-digit mark at 111

New Covid-19 cases hit the triple-digit mark today with 111 recorded in the past 24 hours.According to a health ministry infographic, the bulk of these – 107 – were local transmissions while the remaining four were imported.Of the local cases, 76 involved citizens with 67 recorded in Sabah, seven in Kedah, one in Selangor and one in Pahang.The remaining 31, involving foreigners, were reported in Sabah (30) and Kedah (one).All four of the imported cases involved foreigners, with two detected in Kuala Lumpur and one each in Johor and Selangor.However, no new deaths were reported, leaving the toll unchanged at 133.A total of 30 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 9,696 or 90.73% of all cases which, as of today, stood at 10,687.There are now 858 active cases, four of which are being treated in the intensive care unit with three in need of respiratory assistance.