Daily cases creep past 10,000

Another 10,089 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,914,220.Another 6,460 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,812,614.Meanwhile 137 are in the ICU, including 83 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 71 are in need of respiratory assistance including 35 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 10,089 cases reported today, 77 (0.8%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 10,012 (99.2%) are in Category One and Two.


Thermometer sales red hot in the pandemic

Populations all over the world are by now familiar with the procedure they must follow when entering business and commercial buildings in this topsy-turvy year.As 2020 kicked off and governments were just beginning to get their heads around what was happening to the world, one of the first signs of a fightback was having handheld infrared temperature readers held up to the foreheads of people by a security guard before they were waved through into the mall, office or station.Nearly 12 months further down the Covid-19 line, procedures have become somewhat more sophisticated.Even the more befuddled of people confidently scan the MySejahtera QR code with their smartphones and bend into the handsfree infrared temperature reader, relaxing as the green lights flash and the beep declares them fit to enter and join the rest of the healthy.The security guard barely looks up from his own phone to wave people into the mall anymore.As temperature screening became a requirement in daily life, the demand for thermometers surged around the world, following the advance of the virus.Market research company Mordor Intelligence reports that the Asia-Pacific body temperature monitoring market has, not unexpectedly, boomed since governments began requiring business owners to invest in non-contact infrared (IR) thermometers.These devices, unlike traditional mercury thermometers, are faster, non-invasive, and measure the skin temperature rather than internal body temperature.MalaysiaNow performed a simple survey to find out how much money thermometer manufacturers and suppliers are making in the boom.Traditional thermometers which go in the mouth or ear show pretty much no increase in sales, being hardly ideal for use with multiple members of the public by untrained security personnel.Non-contact IR devices are either handheld or handsfree.Both types have made big money for their predominantly Chinese manufacturers and local suppliers and retailers.As with everything, thermometers bought from brick-and-mortar stores and pharmacies are more expensive than those bought online.The MalaysiaNow survey shows the offline store price of handheld IR thermometers ranges from RM150 to RM250. Most of these are from high-end brands like Neutrovis, Microlife, and Uright.Handsfree thermometers are more expensive, ranging from RM180 to RM300.Online, handheld IR thermometers can be found for as little as RM16, while handsfree IR thermometer sets are available for just RM70.A pharmacy based in Shah Alam told MalaysiaNow their handsfree thermometer sets cost RM290 while the handheld is RM150. They sell about 10 of each in a month, generating at least RM4,000 turnover.However, a local online platform sells an average of 4,000 handsfree units a month at RM100 each, earning them RM400,000. In the same period, they sell up to 2,000 handheld units for RM25 each, making them around RM50,000.A major manufacturer in China reports selling 150,000 handheld thermometers per month at RM36 each, making RM5.4 million.As for the more expensive handsfree instruments, a manufacturer told MalaysiaNow they sell 150,000 a month for RM60 each, generating RM9 million a month.It may not rely on mercury rising anymore but the body-temperature-reading business will likely continue to do well until Covid-19 is declared no longer a threat.


MCO in KL, Selangor, Johor and Penang extended to March 4

The movement control order (MCO) in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor and Penang has been extended another two weeks to March 4.Sabah, Sarawak, Melaka, Kelantan, Labuan, Putrajaya, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Kedah and Negeri Sembilan meanwhile will come under conditional MCO.Perlis is the only state that will be placed under recovery MCO.At a press conference today, Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said SOPs for the states under CMCO and RMCO would remain the same as they were under the previous CMCO and RMCO last year.The two-person limit for vehicles will be maintained in states under MCO while in states under CMCO and RMCO, the number of passengers can follow vehicles’ seating capacity.The 10km travel restriction meanwhile will be lifted in all states regardless of MCO status.However, the ban on inter-district and interstate travel will remain in place.The MCO, known as MCO 2.0, was implemented in six states on Jan 13. It was later extended to cover the entire country with the exception of Sarawak which remained under CMCO with the exception of certain districts.


Sorry.


Croatia stun Brazil in penalty shoot-out to reach World Cup semi-finals

Croatia stunned favourites Brazil to reach the World Cup semi-finals on Friday, winning 4-2 on penalties after a nailbiting last-eight tie finished 1-1 at the end of extra time.
Marquinhos missed the crucial spot-kick in the shoot-out, hitting the post when he had to score to keep Brazil in it after Rodrygo's earlier attempt had been saved by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic and Croatia converted all four penalties.
It was a remarkable turnaround after Brazil had looked set for victory when Neymar opened the scoring with a wonderful strike midway through extra time that allowed him to equal Pele's Brazilian record of 77 international goals.
But Bruno Petkovic hit back at the other end in the 117th minute for Croatia to force a shoot-out, and Zlatko Dalic's team followed up their win over Japan on penalties in the last round with this victory, which must go down as their greatest ever triumph.
"We are very, very proud but this is not the end. We want to go further still," said Dalic.
"It is the second time (in a row) Croatia have been in the semi-finals and the players are going wild."
As they advance to the last four, Brazil will have to wait at least another four years before winning a record-extending sixth title.
Neymar – who left the pitch in tears – had fired Brazil into the lead at the end of the first half of extra-time, working one-twos with Rodrygo and Lucas Paqueta before rounding goalkeeper Livakovic to score.
But it did not break Croatia's resistance as the 2018 World Cup finalists hit back.
"It is difficult, but while we are sad life goes on, so we need to lift our heads up," Brazil skipper Thiago Silva told broadcaster Globo.
"I am very proud of the boys, of what we did, but unfortunately that is football."
Brazil, though, had never played with the same attacking flair as in their last-16 win over South Korea.
Croatia were as obdurate and difficult to break down as ever, and they have now gone to extra time in eight of their last nine major tournament knockout matches, with the exception being their defeat to France in the World Cup final four years ago.
It was never going to be easy for Brazil to play with the same freedom and joy as in their demolition of the Koreans, when they celebrated their goals with choreographed dance moves that seemed to upset some onlookers.
Fear of losing
But the challenge for Brazil coach Tite's side – given the huge pressure that is always on the Brazilian national team at a World Cup – was to not let the fear of losing remove all that joy.
The stakes get higher as the tournament progresses and Brazil came into Friday's game at Doha's Education City Stadium looking to avoid falling into another trap set by an accomplished European side.
Brazil had been knocked out of the last four World Cups at either this stage or in the semi-finals, every time by European opposition.
Croatia may be a nation of just four million people but they got to the final four years ago and Luka Modric, their inspiration then, remains one of the finest players on the planet at 37.
It turns out that a midfield three of Modric, Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic and Inter Milan's Marcelo Brozovic can hold its own against Brazil too.
The Selecao had scored four times in the first 36 minutes against South Korea. Here they managed just three attempts on target in the first half, and nothing seriously troubled the Dinamo Zagreb shot-stopper Livakovic.
Brazil nearly scored within two minutes of the second half as an Eder Militao cutback was almost turned into his own by Josko Gvardiol, before Livakovic produced saves from Richarlison, Neymar and Paqueta.
Further Livakovic stops from Neymar and from Paqueta followed, draining some of the belief from a tense Brazilian support.
It seemed as if they were heading for defeat when Neymar broke the deadlock, but Croatia showed all their resilience to equalise when Petkovic applied a first-time finish to a low centre by fellow substitute Mislav Orsic.
Then came penalties, and Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Modric and Orsic all converted for Croatia, while Rodrygo and Marquinhos came up short.
Neymar, supposed to take Brazil's final kick, did not get the chance, and his tournament ends in tears.


In two Chinese cities, civil servants told to help offload unsold homes

Some Chinese civil servants have been given an additional responsibility: to help offload a big housing stock as cautious homebuyer sentiment threatens to deepen a property malaise.
Sixian, a small city in the eastern province of Anhui, has required civil servants to sell property to their friends and family, the Chinese financial media outlet Yicai reported on Wednesday.
"Civil servants should mobilise their friends and relatives to take practical action towards purchasing homes," Yicai cited the Sixian government as saying.
Sixian is not alone in calling on civil servants to help sell homes.
Officials in Shimen, a small city in Hunan province in the south, are taking similar steps.
In a video clip circulating online, a Shimen official said at a property fair: "I hope attendees including officials will take the lead in purchasing one more house" even if you have homes, Yicai reported.
More than 10,000 housing units, totalling 980,000 square metres, are for sale by 19 developers at Shimen's real estate trade fair that opened on Tuesday, said Yicai, predicting it would take at least 20 months to sell those homes.
Authorities in Sixian and Shimen did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Already fragile demand was further undermined by a mortgage boycott across the country last month as cash-strapped developers suspended construction of unfinished projects due to a liquidity crisis or strict Covid-19 precautions.
Chinese cities and developers have resorted to offering to take fruit and other crops as down payments.
Official indicators for July were bleak, with property investment and sales tumbling and prices unchanged, though hundreds of stimulus measures have been imposed by more than 230 cities this year，including subsides, smaller down payments and cuts in mortgage rates.


Bank Negara on the right track but too optimistic about growth

Bank Negara’s assessment for the Malaysian economy in the coming year shows the difficulties of forecasting during a period of significant disruption in economic activity.On one hand it is correct in highlighting that the balance of risks is on the downside but on the other it has a very buoyant outlook for economic growth during what is likely to be a very turbulent year.Given that Malaysia has been in lockdown for the first three months of 2021, BNM’s forecast that the economy will grow by 6.0-7.5% for the full year looks optimistic and may be due solely to comparing this year with the low base of last year. A more realistic view of underlying growth in 2021 would be around 3% which does not indicate such a strong rebound.In fact, BNM’s analysis of growth potential is tucked away in the back of its report and is consistent with our view that this crisis would leave us with a completely different economy. We calculated that underlying growth could be about 0.75% lower while BNM estimates 1.3%-1.5%. This is a significant structural break.We should remember that this time last year BNM forecast the economy could actually grow by 0.5% during 2020 or at worst suffer a mild 2.0% contraction which shows how difficult it is to forecast during a structural break like the one we are experiencing.BNM’s predictions are in line with the 6.0% growth forecast by the World Bank last week but in April last year the World Bank forecast was also far off. It predicted only a mild 0.1% contraction, revised down to -3.1% in June and -4.9% in September.This all proved to be off-target. The economy contracted by 5.6% and would have contracted by 9.6% according to the finance ministry if not for the stimulus packages.This outcome was more in line with our assessment in June of a more than 7% contraction without a significant policy injection. This year we expect the economy to grow between 3% and 4% with low inflation at around 1%. Moody’s Analytics is also forecasting in that range and, like us, expects Malaysia to reach pre-Covid GDP by mid-2022.BNM’s analysis of inflation looks much more realistic and it has been very clear about the factors likely to affect prices and therefore the monetary policy stance in the coming months. This is exactly what a central bank should do. Price stability is a central component of a successful economy that also protects society from rising costs of living.It is likely that core inflation will remain low at around 1% and within the BNM range of 0.5-1.5%. Non-oil inflation will be flat around zero. This low inflationary scenario continues the trend of the last five years and is in-line with our assessment that at the tipping point mid-year, the economy will remain in a low inflation zone.Headline inflation may be affected by oil prices but we already saw the biggest impact of this cost-push during the last three months. Headline inflation will show only a temporary blip and should not be used to guide interest rate policy as BNM correctly notes.In fact, a cut in interest rates is likely to have little effect now and an increase in interest rates would severely harm sentiment and so should be avoided. In these circumstances BNM is right to say that monetary policy will be accommodative.The big issue to watch is the impact of the “rakyat stimulus” from the disbursement of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) savings through the i-Sinar programme which we now know is worth RM52 billion. In addition there is RM9 billion from lower EPF contributions and there was previously RM19 billion from the i-Lestari scheme.This is almost RM80 billion of direct spending from consumer savings and more than twice the amount of direct spending through government schemes such as the wage subsidies or the cash transfer programmes. We need to see how this will affect the economy and whether it will be spent or saved or used to pay-off debts and rebalance consumer finances.It is also interesting to note that BNM acknowledges the contribution of oil and gas and palm oil to the future prospects of the economy, which is something that international agencies will never acknowledge. The truth is that these forms of unfashionable economic powerhouses will push growth in Malaysia through to 2030 and beyond and they deserve more attention.Also to its great credit, BNM has been very clear that despite its strong growth forecasts the downside risks are high. This is very sensible because of uncertainty about the positive impact of external demand, the disappointing registrations for vaccines which we hope will not delay the roll-out and the possibility of further containment restrictions in the movement control orders.There are three areas of significant structural disruption highlighted by BNM which are exactly the areas that need immediate policy attention. The first are the risks to the finance sector due to higher debt risk, the loan moratorium and lower bank earnings. BNM is right to keep an eye on these areas but its reputation for prudential supervision is second to none in Asia and so this is well under control.The second is the significant shift in the labour market which has caused higher unemployment and underemployment as well as a shift to freelance, part-time and lower security “gig-economy” jobs. This is a clear structural break in labour market conditions which has social as well as economic considerations.The third is the need for reform of social protection and in this respect BNM, the government and the wider policy community must begin a discussion of the benefits of a social market economy which balances the economic efficiency of a competitive marketplace with the equitable considerations of a social welfare reform. It is good that BNM has placed this firmly on the agenda and we look forward to this discussion.The detailed analysis of the BNM reports shows that it has identified structural changes due to the Covid-19 crisis which is fully consistent with our analysis of the current condition of the economy. It has also highlighted key areas which need to be address urgently. There is a new Malaysia to shape and BNM has shown us part of the way forward.Paolo Casadio is an economist at HELP University and Geoffrey Williams is an economist at Malaysia University of Science and Technology.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


US warns Covid ‘becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated’

US health authorities on Friday pleaded with Covid vaccine holdouts to roll up their sleeves and get their shots, as cases, hospitalisations and deaths surged.“There is a clear message that is coming through: this is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Rochelle Walensky told reporters.The agency reported more than 33,000 new cases on Thursday, bringing the seven-day average up to 26,306, a 70 percent rise on the week before.The seven-day average of hospital admissions is about 2,790 per day, an increase of 36%. And after weeks of declines, the seven-day average of deaths was 211, an increase of 26%.The spikes are focused in communities with low vaccination rates, and “unvaccinated Americans account for virtually all recent Covid-19 hospitalisations and deaths” said Jeff Zients, White House coronavirus response coordinator.The new wave is driven by the Delta variant, which now accounts for more than 80% of new cases, according to the covSpectrum tracker.A recent study in the journal Virological shows Delta grows more rapidly inside the body compared to past strains, and people who are infected shed much more of it in the air, greatly increasing the likelihood it will be transmitted.Vaccines, including those made by Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, remain highly effective against the variant, but the United States’ immunisation campaign has drastically slowed in recent weeks.President Joe Biden set July 4 as a target for 70% of adults to have received one or more doses, but as of July 15 the figure was still only 67.9%. At the present rate the goal won’t be achieved until the end of the month.Parts of the country that voted for former Republican president Donald Trump in the 2020 election have significantly lower vaccination rates than those which voted for Democrat Biden, and are now at the centre of the surges.Hotspots include Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana.But health officials are hopeful that, since 80 percent of the most vulnerable age group of over-65s are fully vaccinated, the rise in hospitalisations and deaths won’t be as dramatic as the spike in cases.This would follow the pattern seen in Israel and Britain, highly vaccinated countries struck by Delta waves.An expert panel convened by the CDC will next week be examining whether immune-compromised people, whose bodies mounted a subpar response to Covid vaccines, may require a third dose, said Walensky.


MCO reinstated in 6 states as PM warns of breaking point

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today announced a two-week lockdown across six states including the Klang Valley area, warning that the healthcare system had hit the breaking point as Covid-19 numbers remain firmly entrenched in the four-digit range.He also announced a ban on interstate travel across the country.The lockdown period in Penang, Selangor, the federal territories, Melaka, Johor and Sabah will run from Jan 13 to Jan 26, with inter-district travel in these states banned for the same duration.Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan meanwhile will be placed under conditional MCO while Perlis and Sarawak will come under recovery MCO.In an address aired live, Muhyiddin said stricter measures must be taken to break the chain of infections and reduce the number of daily cases to a controllable level.“Our healthcare system is at the breaking point.”This follows weeks of concern over Covid-19 infections which breached the 3,000 mark for the first time on Jan 7.For states under MCO, movements will be restricted to within a 10km radius. Two people per household will be allowed to leave the house for groceries and travel in the same vehicle.Social activities will be banned, including large-scale gatherings for events such as wedding feasts, conferences, courses, religious events including for Thaipusam, meetings, seminars and team sports.Five sectors categorised as essential are allowed to remain open: manufacturing, construction, services, trade and distribution, and plantations and commodities. However, only 30% of the management workforce will be allowed to work from the office while the number of support staff needed at any point will be determined by individual employers subject to SOPs including physical distancing.For sectors not categorised as essential services, employers must work from home.In states under MCO, eateries are only allowed to provide takeaway services. For states under CMCO and RMCO, eateries can continue operating as usual according to SOPs.Students sitting for public examinations such as SPM for the 2020 and 2021 sessions will be allowed to attend school subject to strict SOPs.For religious activities, only committee members of mosques and houses of worship will be allowed on-premise with a limit of five people. For states under CMCO and RMCO, religious activities are allowed to continue with attendance capped according to SOPs.People will be allowed to leave their homes for leisure activities only with other members of the same household, with a two-metre distance between one another at all times.


India’s tech hub bans protests after hijab row escalates

India’s tech hub Bangalore banned protests around schools and other educational institutions for two weeks Wednesday, a day after all high schools in Karnataka state were shut as a row over an Islamic headscarf ban intensified.Muslim students and community members have mounted protests across the southern state since a government-run high school last month told girls to not wear hijabs in class – an edict that soon spread to other institutions – triggering counter-demonstrations in turn.Footage has gone viral of one hijab-wearing student being pursued by Hindu men yelling “Jai Shri Ram” (Hail Lord Ram) as she arrives at PES College in Mandya, and shouting “Allah-u Akbar” in response.Many from India’s 200 million strong minority Muslim community see the latest stand-off as part of a larger trend of persecution under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government.“Restricting these girls to exercise their right to freedom of religion is against the fundamental rights that are guaranteed under the constitution and forcing the students to remove hijab is denying them the dignity that is also a constitutional right,” said Sumayya Roushan, President of the Girls Islamic Organisation in Karnataka.“Moreover, here the right to education of the students is at stake.”Bangalore police commissioner Kamal Pant issued an order restricting protests around educational institutions in the state capital for two weeks as protests elsewhere “have led to violence, disturbing public peace and order.”A judge at Karnataka’s top court began hearing a petition challenging the legality of the headscarf ban Tuesday, but on Wednesday passed it to a larger panel to consider.Many leaders from Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party, which rules Karnataka, have backed the ban, which has also triggered communal confrontations on campuses as many Hindu classmates blame protests for disrupting their education, and insist they too should be allowed to wear religious symbols.At Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College in Udupi one student said: “Those students who wore the hijab started this row first.“If they end it, we will also end it. If they wear a hijab then we are also forced to wear saffron to compete with them.”Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday appealed for calm after state police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd at one government-run campus before announcing a three-day shutdown of all state high schools.“I appeal to all the students, teachers and management of schools and colleges… to maintain peace and harmony,” he said.


New cases fall below 5,000

Another 4,979 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,471,642.Another 6,127 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,374,761.Meanwhile 562 are in the ICU, including 501 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 326 are in need of respiratory assistance including 220 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 4,979 cases reported today, 85 (1.7%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 4,894 (98.3%) are in Category One and Two.


Up to RM61,000 flood aid for victims who lost their homes, says PM

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today said that the government’s assistance for flood victims could reach up to RM10,000 for each head of household.For victims whose houses were completely destroyed in the floods, meanwhile, the assistance could reach up to RM61,000.Ismail said this assistance was one of the government’s efforts to alleviate the victims’ burdens without having to take out their savings from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).He said with the cash assistance, they would be able to keep their savings and annual dividend of about 5%.“I hope the assistance will give a new light to the Keluarga Malaysia,” he said in his New Year 2022 message broadcast live on television tonight.Ismail said the distribution of the assistance, which includes the compassionate aid (BWI), began on Dec 27, just 10 days after the floods compared to the months needed previously.“This will benefit more than 45,000 heads of households and the number will increase as we identify more victims who were not evacuated to relief centres. As of today, 20,000 heads of households had received the aid,” he said.He said the assistance also included a cash voucher of RM500 for the purchase of electrical appliances for each family of flood victims to replace the items damaged in the floods, to be implemented from Jan 7.He said each victim would also be offered free car towing and repair service fees by Proton and Perodua, in addition to a 50% discount on spare parts, while other companies had also offered free car towing services and a discount of at least 25% on spare parts and repair fees at registered service centres.Other initiatives include a RM1,000 voucher for repair or purchase to replace private vehicles that have suffered total damage.Ismail said cash aid of up to RM5,000 will also be provided for house repairs and that for each victim whose house was totally destroyed, the government would help cover the cost up to RM56,000 to build a new one.He said since NGOs and volunteers were also doing their part to donate home essentials to victims, the government had agreed to give cash of RM2,500 to each affected family to avoid duplication.The prime minister said the government was committed to ensuring that all aid and assistance is improved from time to time and distributed to the victims as soon as possible.“I would like to thank all the security agencies, civil servants, NGOs, volunteers and individuals who have been working tirelessly to help and coordinate flood relief missions and post-flood clean-up operations.“The same goes for aid and donations from the corporate sector, including GLCs and GLICs. You are all unsung heroes,” he said, adding that despite the tragedy and grief, the floods had highlighted the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia which is the spirit of togetherness among the people regardless of race, religion and social status.


Umno, BN to go solo in GE15

Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) yesterday said they would go solo in the 15th general election (GE15), following PAS' decision to strengthen its collaboration with Perikatan Nasional (PN) for the coming polls.
"With that, Umno together with BN will go solo by maintaining the party’s image that has always focused on moderation, to restore stability and prosperity for the people of various races and religions in this country," BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said in a statement.
Earlier, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the party had resolved to strengthen cooperation with PN to unite the ummah in a decision made during the party’s central committee meeting.
Zahid had reportedly said that Umno would only return to the negotiation table with PAS if the latter met three conditions: leave PN, sever political ties with Bersatu, and officially declare that it had separated from PN and Bersatu.
Zahid, who is also Umno president, said although he had expected PAS’ decision, the party had never closed the door on efforts to unite the ummah with sincerity and honesty.
Meanwhile, PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, in a statement on Facebook, said PAS' decision to remain with PN had lifted the spirits of the coalition and encouraged it to be more organised and united in gaining the support of the people.
The Bersatu president also hoped that PN would receive the people's mandate in GE15 to form a government that would truly focus on their well-being and prosperity.


Palace meetings leave Malaysians with a heavy dose of fake news, and humour too

Dozens of doctored images and documents have been making the rounds on social media, giving Malaysians yet another dose of “news” on the “impending collapse of the government” in the wake of a series of royal audiences granted to opposition politicians by Istana Negara this week.From fake press statements claiming the withdrawal of support by ruling parties for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to posters featuring pictures of a “new” Cabinet line-up, the bulk of material has been circulating on WhatsApp.Much of it is premised on sarcasm and humour, a familiar take on current issues in the country.This time, the psy-war has been kicked up a notch with politicians’ speeches turned into deprecating clips as a cloud of speculation continues to hover over the timing of the audiences, with the national vaccination drive gaining momentum in the push to achieve herd immunity by year-end.Some have churned out posters including one comprising an array of pictures showing a prominent politician sweeping the floor outside the palace gates and another showing the same individual arriving to meet the Agong in a luxury car.Others have turned to a cross between sarcasm and psy-war, exemplified in posters showing “new” Cabinet line-ups complete with politicians’ pictures and their future portfolios.One such poster names Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, the Umno leader who was sacked from his chairmanship of national transport firm Prasarana last month, as the transport minister – one among the many politicians who would supposedly make up a new coalition government between Pakatan Harapan and Umno.Some material meanwhile has fallen squarely in the fake news category including a page from a joint press statement by PAS and Warisan – parties that are unlikely to team up over any issue.The statement, which bore the signatures of the parties’ secretary-generals, said the Islamist and Sabah-based groups were backing Foreign Minister Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to replace Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.This explosion of humour and fake news comes almost three months after PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim’s admission in March that he had entered into negotiations with Umno for a possible alliance.Anwar was also the target of digital humour in September last year, when he announced that he had “strong” and “formidable” numbers to form the government on the back of the Sabah election campaign.MalaysiaNow reported in March that digital humour was fast replacing traditional methods of political propaganda.And with the lockdown still in place, many creative minds will have enough time on their hands to come up with more content in the coming days.


17 killed, 100 injured in Bangladesh building blast

At least 17 people were killed and more than 100 injured after an explosion struck an office building in the Bangladeshi capital's commercial district on Tuesday, police and medics said.
The cause of the blast remained unclear but fatal building fires and explosions are common in Bangladesh, where safety enforcement is often lax.
The blast shook the lower floors of a seven-storey building in Gulistan, a major hub for wholesale goods in Dhaka shortly before 5pm (1100 GMT).
Several floors of the building and the side walls were destroyed in the explosion, which sent rubble and splinters flying into crowded streets.
"At least 17 people have died, including two women," police inspector Bacchu Mia told AFP.
More than 112 people were treated for head wounds, fractures and other injuries at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, hospital director Nazmul Islam told AFP.
"The pattern of the injuries shows that it was a huge explosion," he said, adding that hundreds of doctors and nurses were mobilised.
He said some injured people were also sent to other hospitals in the city.
Even though rescuers got to the scene within seven minutes of the blast, the extent of the damage has hampered their efforts to reach people who may still be stuck inside, according to fire department chief brigadier general Main Uddin.
"It’s risky to enter the building now," he said. "We needed reinforcements for columns and beams to continue rescue (efforts) on the ground floor and the underground," Uddin said.
"There is still the possibility of people stuck inside the building," he said.
He added that there was no gas line under the building and no sign of explosives.
"We are trying to find the reason (for the blast)," he said.
Anxious relatives crowded the blast site looking for missing loved ones.
A bus driver caught in the blast said 30 of his passengers were injured when his vehicle was passing the building as the blast hit.
"I heard a loud explosion and then I was hit in the head by a flying object," he told reporters.
Another witness said people were trapped on the second, fourth and fifth floors of the building before firefighters arrived and rushed them to hospital.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque visited the injured in the hospital and told reporters that most of the fatalities were caused by head injuries.
No substantial fire broke out in the building, which housed dozens of warehouses, shops selling bathroom fittings and other commercial spaces.
"Our officers are investigating whether it was an act of sabotage or an accident," Dhaka police commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruq told reporters.
The military also sent its bomb disposal unit, Rashedul Alam, an army spokesperson said.
Explosions and fires due to gas cylinders, faulty air conditioners and bad electrical wiring are frequent in Bangladeshi buildings and factories.
An explosion at an oxygen plant near the southern port city of Chittagong on Saturday killed seven people.
A fire and subsequent explosions at a container depot in the same town in June last year killed more than 50 people.


Energy war as West caps Russian oil price, Moscow keeps gas pipe shut

Rich countries agreed on Friday to try to cap the global price of Russian oil, while Russia delayed the re-opening of its main gas pipeline to Germany, as both sides raised the stakes in an energy war between Moscow and the West over Ukraine.
Russia's state-controlled energy giant Gazprom blamed a technical fault in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. But the high-level manoeuvres in energy politics underlined the pervasive impact of the conflict, far beyond Ukraine's borders.
The announcements came as Moscow and Kyiv traded blame over their actions on one of the war's most dangerous frontlines – the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, where UN inspectors arrived a day earlier on a mission to help avert a catastrophe.
Gazprom said it could no longer provide a timeframe for restarting deliveries through the pipeline, an announcement that will deepen Europe's difficulties securing fuel for winter at a time when it faces an energy-driven surge in living costs.
Nord Stream 1, which runs under the Baltic Sea to supply Germany and others, had been due to resume operating after a three-day halt for maintenance on Saturday at 0100 GMT.
Moscow has blamed sanctions, imposed by the West after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, for hampering routine operations and maintenance of Nord Stream 1. Brussels and Washington accuse Russia of using gas as an economic weapon.
The US said it has been collaborating with Europe to ensure sufficient supplies are available for winter.
Earlier on Friday, finance ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US – said a cap on the price of Russian oil was meant to "reduce... Russia’s ability to fund its war of aggression while limiting the impact of Russia’s war on global energy prices" which have soared.
The Kremlin – which calls the conflict "a special military operation" – said it would stop selling oil to any countries that implemented the cap.
Nuclear fears
The six-month-old Ukraine conflict has killed thousands and reduced cities to rubble. In recent weeks fears have grown over a potential disaster at Zaporizhzhia, Europe's biggest nuclear power plant.
Inspectors from the UN International Atomic Energy Agency team, led by its chief Rafael Grossi, braved intense shelling to reach the site on Thursday.
Grossi, after returning to Ukrainian-held territory, said the physical integrity of the plant had been violated several times. On Friday he said he said he expects to produce a report early next week, and two IAEA experts would stay on at the plant for the longer term.
The site sits on the south bank of a huge reservoir on the Dnipro River, 10km across the water from Ukrainian positions.
Both sides have accused the other of shelling near the facility which is still operated by Ukrainian staff and supplies more than a fifth of Ukraine's electricity in peacetime. Kyiv also accuses Russia of using it to shield its weapons, which Moscow denies. Russia has so far resisted international calls to pull troops out of the plant and demilitarise the area.
Ukraine's state nuclear company said Russia had barred the IAEA team from the plant's crisis centre, where Kyiv says Russian troops are stationed, and that would make it difficult to make an impartial assessment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the IAEA team to go further, despite the difficulties met.
"Unfortunately we haven't heard the main thing from the IAEA, which is the call for Russia to demilitarise the station," Zelensky said in a video streamed to a forum in Italy.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Ukraine was continuing to use weapons from its Western allies to shell the plant, raising the risk of a nuclear catastrophe. He rejected assertions by Kyiv and the West that Russia had deployed heavy weapons at the plant.
Several towns near the plant came under Russian shelling on Thursday, Zaporizhzhia regional council mayor Mykola Lukashuk said. Reuters was unable to independently confirm this.
A reactor at the site was reconnected to Ukraine's grid on Friday, a day after it shut down due to shelling near the site, Energoatom said.
Counter-offensive
Ukraine started an offensive this week to recapture territory in southern Ukraine, mainly further down the Dnipro in neighbouring Kherson province.
Both sides have claimed battlefield successes in the initial days of what Ukrainians bill as a potential turning point in the war, although details have been scarce so far, with Ukrainian officials releasing little information.
Ukraine's southern command spokesman, Natalia Humeniuk, said on Friday Ukrainian troops had destroyed ammunition depots and pontoon bridges to hamper movement of Russian reserves.
"Our successes are convincing and soon we will be able to disclose more information," she said.
Moscow has denied reports of Ukrainian progress and said its troops had routed Ukrainian forces.
Reuters could not independently verify those claims.
Ukraine's general staff on Friday said Russian forces had shelled dozens of cities and towns including Kharkiv – Ukraine's second largest city – in the north and in Donetsk region in the east.


Mid Valley Megamall announces temporary closure after fire

Mid Valley City today confirmed reports of a fire at Mid Valley Megamall, saying the popular shopping centre will be closed until further notice.
In a statement on Facebook, it said the blaze broke out at the external TNB substation and was contained by the emergency response team.
A team from the fire and rescue department meanwhile arrived on scene at 10.42am. No injuries or casualties had been reported as of 11.38am.
Mid Valley also said that power supply would be temporarily disrupted.
A spokesman for the fire and rescue department meanwhile said that a statement would be issued soon.


Worldwide increase in stillbirths, maternal deaths, as collateral damage of pandemic, study shows

Rates of stillbirth and maternal deaths rose by around 30% during the Covid-19 pandemic, with pregnancy outcomes getting worse overall for both babies and mothers worldwide.This is according to an international data review published on Wednesday in the Lancet Global Health journal.Pooling data from 40 studies across 17 countries, the review found that lockdowns, disruption to maternity services, and fear of attending healthcare facilities all added to pregnancy risks.“The pandemic has had a profound impact on healthcare systems,” said professor Asma Khalil, who co-led the research at St George’s, University of London, the UK’s only university dedicated to medicine, science and health.“The disruption has led to the avoidable deaths of both mothers and babies, especially in low- and middle-income countries,” she said.The review found an overall increase in the risks of stillbirth and maternal death during the pandemic, and found the impact on poorer countries was disproportionately greater, reports Reuters.It also found significant harm to maternal mental health.Of the 10 studies included in the analysis that reported on maternal mental health, six found an increase in postnatal depression, maternal anxiety, or both.The study did not analyse the direct impact of Covid-19 infection itself during pregnancy, but was designed to look at the collateral impact of the coronavirus pandemic on antenatal, birth and postnatal outcomes.Commenting on the findings, Jogender Kumar of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in India said they highlighted worrying disparities in healthcare.“In resource-poor countries, even under normal circumstances, it is a challenge to provide adequate coverage for antenatal checkups, obstetric emergencies, universal institutional deliveries and respectful maternity care,” he wrote in a commentary. “The Covid-19 pandemic has widened this gap.”


Bolsonaro faces political ban at Brazil trial

Far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro risks losing his right to run for office for eight years, as Brazil's electoral court begins delivering its ruling Thursday on charges stemming from his unfounded allegations against the voting system.
The Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE) is trying the former president on charges he abused his office and misused state media when, in July 2022, he convened foreign diplomats for a meeting in which he insisted Brazil's electronic voting machines were susceptible to large-scale fraud.
Armed with a PowerPoint presentation but no hard evidence, Bolsonaro spent nearly an hour making his case to the assembled ambassadors at the presidential palace briefing, which was broadcast live on public TV.
Prosecutors say the event violated electoral law, given that it was held in the middle of Bolsonaro's polarizing campaign for Brazil's October 2022 elections, which he narrowly lost to his leftist arch-rival, now-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Insiders say Bolsonaro will almost certainly be convicted, taking him out of the next presidential elections, in 2026.
The 68-year-old ex-army captain reiterated Wednesday that he had done nothing wrong.
"There was no criticism or attack on the electoral system" at the meeting, he told journalists.
"I simply explained how elections work in Brazil."
But he appeared to be coming to terms with his likely fate.
"We know the signs aren't good, but I'm keeping calm," he said Sunday.
"We're not going to panic over the outcome... We want to stay alive, keep contributing to the country."
Bolsonaro absent
Bolsonaro is not expected to attend the audience, which opens at 9am (1200 GMT) in Brasilia.
He will be following it from the southern state of Porto Alegre, where he will be holding political meetings, his press office told AFP.
The TSE's seven judges are unlikely to finish reading their rulings Thursday, sources said. Further audiences have been scheduled for June 27 and 29 if necessary – and the case could be extended even longer.
Bolsonaro, who trailed Lula throughout the 2022 race, said at the meeting with diplomats that he wanted to "fix the flaws" in the electronic voting system Brazil has used since 1996 to ensure the "transparency" of the elections.
"We still have time to resolve the problem, with the help of the armed forces," he said.
The accusations surged to the forefront again on January 8, when his supporters ran riot in the presidential palace, Supreme Court and Congress a week after Lula's inauguration, insisting the elections had been fraudulent and demanding the military intervene.
Both Bolsonaro's unsubstantiated allegations of election fraud and the attack on the capital drew widespread comparisons to his political role model Donald Trump and the latter's bid to hang onto power after his loss in the 2020 US presidential election.
'Large base'
Bolsonaro, who spent three months in the US state of Florida after his election loss, has made few public appearances since returning to Brazil in March to serve as honorary president of his Liberal Party (PL).
But he remains a powerful force in Brazilian politics, where conservative parties hold a strong majority in Congress.
Bolsonaro "has a large base that is very much influenced by him," said political scientist Marco Antonio Teixeira, of the Getulio Vargas Foundation.
Even if convicted, "he'll act behind the scenes and use his vote-winning power and influence to help other candidates," he said.
But Bolsonaro faces a raft of other legal woes, from five Supreme Court investigations that could potentially send him to jail – including over the Jan 8 attacks – to police probes into allegations of a faked Covid-19 vaccination certificate and diamond jewelry snuck into the country from Saudi Arabia.


New infections at 2,450 as 5 more deaths logged

Another 2,450 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,965,666.
There were 3,000 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,901,917.
There are now 27,156 active cases, of which 25,217 or 92.9% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0.0%) are at quarantine centres while 1,848 (6.8%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 91 are in ICU with 63 in need of respiratory assistance.
Another five deaths were reported, including one who was brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 36,593.


Al Jazeera episode signals Saudis’ bid to revive influence with Putrajaya

Putrajaya’s hard stance on Qatar-based global news channel Al Jazeera is a sign that the once powerful Saudi lobby is returning to its former influence on the policies of the Malaysian government, MalaysiaNow has learnt.Diplomatic sources have spoken of efforts to pressure the authorities into coming down hard on Al Jazeera, whose documentary on Malaysia’s treatment of migrants during the lockdown earlier this year sparked a string of actions against the news channel’s journalists.Al Jazeera, financed by the Qatari government which is locked in a cold war stand-off with Riyadh and its Gulf allies, has condemned Malaysian police investigations into its journalists over the documentary aired on its 101 East programme in July.“Locked Up in Malaysia’s Lockdown” investigated the plight of thousands of undocumented migrant workers who were arrested during raids in Kuala Lumpur despite earlier assurance by the authorities that no immigration swoops would be conducted on foreign workers during the movement control order (MCO), Malaysia’s version of the pandemic lockdown which was eased in June.Al Jazeera’s brush with Malaysian authorities was not the first the news channel had faced with Muslim governments around the world, especially those aligned politically and theologically with Riyadh.The news channel is banned in Egypt, which, incensed by its coverage of the popular protests that temporarily ousted the military regime in 2011, accused it of spreading fake news. It is also banned in UAE, a key ally of the pro-Washington alliance in the Gulf led by Riyadh.Saudi Arabia has a long-established foothold in Muslim communities worldwide, and Malaysia is no exception.In the 80s, Islamic centres and schools were awash with petro-dollars to spread teachings inclined to Wahhabism, the doctrine that has dominated Saudi Arabia for close to a century.But it was during the Najib Razak administration that Saudi influence reached a peak.The good relations came to an abrupt end following Najib’s fall from power in 2018, with Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s government taking a more critical stand on Saudi policies in the Middle East and announcing a scale-back of Malaysia’s support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen.Critics in the recent past had warned of a slide in Malaysia’s Muslim bureaucracy towards the Wahhabi strand of Islam promoted by Saudi scholars, thanks to flourishing Saudi-Malaysia ties, in part due to Putrajaya’s need to maintain cordial relations to secure a bigger annual haj quota.But it was the 2018 closing down of the proposed King Salman Centre for International Peace in Kuala Lumpur, seen as Riyadh’s initiative to ramp up support among Muslim governments, which brought Saudi-Malaysia ties to an all-time low. The situation was worsened by the KL Summit, at which three of Riyadh’s greatest foes – Iran, Turkey and Qatar – gathered in Kuala Lumpur, sparking angry reactions from the kingdom.Nonetheless, it will take more than a charm offensive for the Saudis, whose closest allies have recently been busy establishing diplomatic ties with Israel, to revive its influence in Malaysia.“That development (warmer ties with Israel) has cost the Saudis what remaining goodwill they enjoyed in the Sunni world,” a Central Asian diplomat told MalaysiaNow.Nur Hasliza Mohd Salleh contributed to this report.


Schools alone not to blame for Covid-19 outbreaks, experts say on SOPs

Experts say SOP compliance is not the only factor for consideration when it comes to Covid-19 outbreaks in schools, as cases related to so-called education clusters mount amid a surge in infections across the country.While adherence to health guidelines plays a role in keeping infections at bay, they say other circumstances should also be taken into account.Aminuddin Awang, president of the National Union of the Teaching Profession, said the source of infection in many cases is unclear.“When Covid-19 cases are reported in schools, we are not sure where they come from,” he told MalaysiaNow.“The student may have been infected with the virus outside the school compound, so we can’t attribute the outbreak to the school entirely.”Just this week, Kelantan health authorities said 259 secondary school students had tested positive for Covid-19 from April 3 to 16.State health director Dr Zaini Hussin said 111 primary school students had also tested positive for the virus.In Petaling Jaya, meanwhile, the district health office announced the closure of 19 schools for disinfection and screening after the emergence of Covid-19 clusters.Aminuddin said the education ministry had provided a complete guideline for the safe operation of schools during the pandemic.But he added that SOP compliance among students was not the schools’ responsibility alone.He said many might only follow SOPs while on the school premises, and disregard them once they leave school.Health experts agreed that schools are not necessarily an amplifier of Covid-19, saying cases linked to schools simply reflect the prevalence of the virus within the community.Dr Lim Kuan Joo, an honorary council member of the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations, Malaysia, said Covid-19 cases in schools were difficult to avoid as students could become infected at various places outside the school compound.“A student could be infected at home, or while travelling in crowded buses and trains that carry passengers from multiple sources.“All these are opportunities for the transmission of an airborne virus,” he told MalaysiaNow.However, he added that crowded classrooms and a lack of temperature screening in schools could contribute to the overall problem.Dr Subramaniam Muniandy, president of the Malaysian Medical Association, said keeping schools open during the pandemic requires a collective effort.He said adhering to SOPs outside the school compound is as important as following them at school, adding that teachers, parents, canteen operators, pupils and transport providers all have a role to play.“Selangor is one of the states recording the highest number of new cases of Covid-19, so it is important for people in the state to understand the risk and ensure they adhere to the SOPs at all times,” he said.Aminuddin suggested that schools reconsider the earlier rotation model proposed by the education ministry, saying this could help ensure better compliance with SOPs which could prevent Covid-19 outbreaks in schools.“Schools outside red zones and high-risk areas should consider adopting the rotation model,” he said.“Divide students from one class into smaller groups and have them attend classes on alternate days. This would prevent the overcrowding of pupils at schools.”


Singapore court to hear Nagaenthran’s appeal as family pleads for second chance

Singapore’s top court will today hear the last-ditch appeal of a Malaysian man facing execution despite concerns he is mentally disabled, a case that has triggered an international outcry.Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam was arrested in 2009 for trafficking a small amount of heroin into the city-state, which has some of the world’s toughest drugs laws, and sentenced to death the following year.After losing several appeals during more than a decade on death row, the 34-year-old was finally scheduled to be hanged several months ago.But the plan sparked widespread criticism due to concerns he has intellectual disabilities, with the European Union, UN experts and British billionaire Richard Branson among those condemning it.He lodged a final legal challenge, which was delayed after he contracted Covid-19, but it will go ahead Tuesday at the Court of Appeal.Campaigners fear chances of success are slim and Nagaenthran may lose and be hanged soon afterwards, in what would be the first execution in Singapore since 2019.Concerns are also growing that his hanging will be the first in a series in the near future, as activists believe authorities are gearing up to execute three other drug traffickers.Nagaenthran’s family are anxiously awaiting the outcome of today’s hearing.“We are worried about what’s going to happen,” his sister Sarmila Dharmalingam told AFP from the family home in Tanjung Rambutan, in Perak.“We are stressed and frightened thinking of my brother’s current situation”.She urged the Singapore government to “spare him from the gallows, give him a second chance”.Rights groups have been ratcheting up pressure on Singapore, with Amnesty International researcher Rachel Chhoa-Howard this month criticising the government for planning to resume “cruel” executions.“It is high time for Singapore to re-establish a moratorium on the death penalty as a first step towards full abolition,” she said.


Daily vaccine jabs top 500,000 for 3 days running

The number of daily Covid-19 jabs administered in the country has exceeded 500,000 doses for three consecutive days with 552,701 given yesterday.On Monday, 521,923 doses were dispensed nationwide while a record high of 553,871 doses were administered on Tuesday.Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said of the total doses given out yesterday, 353,771 were first doses and 198,930 were second doses.A cumulative total of 18,946,048 Covid-19 jabs have been administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, with 12,841,212 people having received a first shot and 6,104,836 their second.


Zahid’s graft case postponed after Covid infections at lawyer’s office

Submissions at the end of the prosecution for former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption case involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds, scheduled at the Kuala Lumpur High Court tomorrow, have been postponed to Aug 24.Zahid’s lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh, when contacted by Bernama today, said the hearing was postponed due to the temporary closure of his office after several staff there tested positive for Covid-19.“I made the application (to postpone the proceedings) to the court on Aug 2 because of the difficulty in accessing the trial documents at the office. The court has allowed the postponement,” he said.Deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran, who leads the prosecution team, confirmed the postponement.The hearing before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah was previously fixed for six days on Aug 5, 6, 9, 11, 13 and 24.On March 19, the prosecution closed the case after calling 99 witnesses to testify.Zahid, 68, is facing 47 charges – 12 on criminal breach of trust, eight on corruption and 27 on money laundering – involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.


Homeless man in Sarawak gets helping hand to secure vaccination slot

A homeless man in Sarawak who did not know how to register for vaccination against Covid-19 was given a helping hand by a team from the social welfare department in Kuching.Mohd Firuz Abu Bakar had told MalaysiaNow that he wished to be vaccinated but did not know how or whether he was eligible for a jab.He used to work with a welding company in Kuala Lumpur but had been living on the streets of Kuching for four years.Responding to the report by MalaysiaNow, the team from the social welfare department met Firuz at the open air market building in the capital city and helped him register under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.They also gave him and another homeless person who was with him food aid and offered to move them to transit centres.However, both declined the offer, saying they preferred to be independent.The team then recorded their location for follow-up action and gave them advice on precautionary measures to ward off the virus. They also told them to go to the social welfare department if they ever require further help.In a statement, the department and divisional health office said they were committed to ensuring that all citizens in Sarawak could be vaccinated regardless of status.They also said they were collecting more data and information on the homeless in the state for follow-up action to help them register for vaccination.


Thousands protest in Athens after Greece's deadly train crash

Clashes erupted briefly between police and a group of demonstrators in central Athens on Sunday on the fringes of a protest by thousands of students and railway workers over Greece's deadliest train crash in living memory.
A small group of protesters hurled petrol bombs at police, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades. The protesters then disperses to nearby streets.
At least 57 people were killed and dozens were injured on Tuesday when a passenger train with more than 350 people on board collided with a freight train on the same track in central Greece.
After protests over the past three days across the country, some 10,000 students, railway workers and groups affiliated with leftist parties gathered in an Athens square on Sunday to express sympathy for the lives lost and to demand better safety standards on the rail network.
"That crime won't be forgotten," protesters shouted as they released black balloons into the sky. A placard read: "Their policies cost human lives."
The train, travelling from Athens to the northern city of Thessaloniki, was packed with university students returning after a long holiday weekend. The disaster has triggered an outpouring of anger, as well as a sharp focus on safety standards.
Railway workers, who also lost colleagues in the accident, have staged rotating walkouts since Wednesday to denounce cost-cutting and underinvestment in the rail infrastructure, a legacy of Greece's debilitating debt crisis from 2010 to 2018.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government has blamed human error for the crash. However Mitsotakis said on Sunday that human error should not deflect from responsibilities for a long-suffering railway network.
"As prime minister, I owe everyone, but most of all the relatives of the victims, an apology," he wrote on Facebook. "Justice will very fast investigate the tragedy and determine liabilities."
A station master in the nearby city of Larissa who was on duty at the time of the crash was charged this week with endangering lives and disrupting public transport.
The station master, who cannot be named under Greek law, appeared before a magistrate on Sunday after his lawyer requested extra time on Saturday to respond to the charges following new information concerning the case. Those proceedings were ongoing.
Railway workers' unions say safety systems throughout the rail network have been deficient for years as a remote surveillance and signalling system has not been delivered on time. They have called on the government to provide a timetable for the implementation of safety protocols.
Mitsotakis said on Sunday that if there had been a remote system in place throughout the rail network "it would have been, in practice, impossible for the accident to happen".
Greece would soon announce action, he said, adding that Athens would seek expertise from the European Commission and other countries on improving rail safety.
Pope Francis said on Sunday his thoughts were with the crash victims. "I pray for the dead, I am close to the injured and their relatives, and may Our Lady comfort them," he said in his weekly address to crowds in St Peter's Square, Rome.


New president Biden to roll back Trump policies, remake US role in climate crisis

President Joe Biden committed the US to rejoining the Paris climate accord, blocked an oil pipeline project and froze Arctic drilling in a raft of executive orders signed hours after taking office Wednesday.But for the Democrat who has pledged to roll back four years of environmental harm done by his predecessor Donald Trump, that’s just the start.Experts say that Biden will have to rebuild the credibility the US lost in the eyes of the international community, by setting concrete goals for emissions reductions on the path to net zero by 2050.Next, he’ll need to realise his US$2 trillion climate plan, which would place green action at the heart of the economy and its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, while ensuring a long term shift that can’t be rapidly undone under a future Republican president.“I think it’s important that the US shows that it means business at home,” David Waskow of the World Resources Institute told AFP.The WRI is advocating for the US to set a 45-50% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.Biden has also said he will convene the leaders of major economies for a climate summit within 100 days of his inauguration.Among the executive orders Wednesday, the Biden administration submitted a letter to the UN that formally triggers a 30-day process to reenter the Paris climate agreement.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the action and the prospect of “the leadership of US in accelerating global efforts towards net zero” emissions, calling on the president to adopt an “ambitious” plan to fight global warming.French President Emmanuel Macron lauded Biden’s decision to return to the accord, telling him “welcome back” in a congratulatory message.Biden also scrapped the Keystone XL pipeline connecting the Alberta oil sands to coastal refineries in Texas – a move that threatens to strain ties with Canada.Still, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who had pressed Biden to reverse his decision on the pipeline, vowed to “work together to advance climate action and clean economic growth”. The two leaders are due to speak Friday.Beyond Paris, the US federal government has numerous levers at its disposal, from imposing strict methane limits on new oil and gas infrastructure, to gearing federal contracts towards renewable energy and zero-emissions vehicles.The Trump administration took an axe to a host of environmental regulations, and a fact sheet sent to reporters from the new administration vowed to “immediately review and take appropriate action” on all these measures.Biden on Wednesday also placed a temporary moratorium on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, where Trump’s administration had issued leases on its last full day in office.While former secretary of state John Kerry will lead US climate negotiations abroad, the domestic front will be headed up by Gina McCarthy, whom Biden has picked as the first national climate adviser.Infrastructure planBiden will present to Congress next month an infrastructure-focused “Build Back Better Recovery Plan” – separate from the US$1.9 trillion Covid-19 and economic stimulus package he’s seeking.This is where things can potentially become more tricky, given the Democratic Party’s razor thin control of the Senate.The package is expected to be similar to the US$2 trillion green climate plan Biden outlined during his campaign.It promises “to meet the climate crisis, build a clean energy economy, address environmental injustice, and create millions of good-paying union jobs.”“The challenge will be to bring Republicans on board with a clean energy infrastructure package that could systematically reduce American emissions,” Paul Bledsoe, a climate advisor to former president Bill Clinton, told AFP.Bledsoe predicted Biden will initially be expected to try to work with Republican colleagues to reach the 60-vote threshold required to pass most legislation – though if that doesn’t pan out there are processes to pass laws with a simple 51-vote majority.“Embedding climate action fully into the way in which we build the economy, the way in which we generate jobs and ensure an equitable recovery, all of that is what will make this something long lasting,” said Waskow.The political and technical challenges are great, and there will be pressure on Biden not to pivot from fossil fuels too quickly – particularly natural gas, which has helped the US lower its net emissions for a decade and is seen as a crucial “bridging” energy.But it also comes at a time of record-high recognition of climate change and desire for action among the US public.A survey conducted after the election and published last week by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication found a majority of voters from both parties support policies to reduce carbon pollution and promote clean energy.53% of voters said that global warming should be a high or very high priority for the president and Congress, while 66% said that developing sources of clean energy should be a high or very high priority.


Lodge report if MACC probes leaked to media, says deputy minister

Individuals can lodge a police report if details of ongoing investigations with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) leaked to the media.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh said the anti-corruption agency does not permit disclosure of information as it is a crucial component of investigations.
"But if there are leaks, this can be addressed by making a police report so that it can be investigated," he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
The law minister said this in response to a question from Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan (PN-Bersatu), who raised concerns over local media reports disclosing investigation data by citing anonymous sources within MACC.
Wan Saiful said this could undermine the integrity of the anti-graft agency as it involves information from ongoing investigations.
"I have experience dealing with MACC, and I think this is one thing that needs immediate attention from the government," he said.
He also questioned whether the information leakage by certain officers at MACC was intentional.
The Bersatu MP then called on the government to rectify these weaknesses, adding that the public must be able to trust that investigations conducted by MACC are transparent and not driven by ulterior motives.
Last year, Wan Saiful was probed by MACC for soliciting and receiving bribes worth RM6.9 million in relation to a JanaWibawa project worth RM232 million.
He was subsequently arrested on those charges.


Increase in airfares will be investigated, transport ministry assures

The transport ministry has asked the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) and airline companies to immediately investigate the increase in airfares during the festive season.Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong said he conveyed the matter during a special meeting chaired by him yesterday, which also involved Mavcom, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and domestic airlines.He said the meeting was to find solutions following public complaints about an increase in flight fares between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, as well as Sarawak, in conjunction with the Aidilfitri celebration.Wee said CAAM had approved an extension of operating hours for air traffic control services at the required airports and assistance for airlines in planning for additional capacity, especially with the approaching festive season.“The transport ministry is committed and will make every effort to reduce airfares to ease the people’s burden. The ministry, through Mavcom, will inform the public about the outcome of discussions with the airline companies soon,” he said in a statement today.Wee said checks by Mavcom found that airfares on April 30 – the peak travel date for the Hari Raya season – had increased compared to the average airfares in 2019.“This increase is due to increased operating costs, especially the increase in jet fuel prices, as well as limited resources for airlines to increase full capacity.“The dynamic pricing mechanism also uses artificial intelligence in the process of determining the fare price,” he said.He said airline companies were also facing problems in immediately increasing flight capacity due to the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that aircraft also need to go through a process of maintenance, repair and overhaul before they can be approved for safe service.Wee said for April 2022, the frequency of flights to Sabah and Sarawak was still low, at only 68% compared to 2019.


Sorry.


First vaccine dose cuts transmission and hospitalisation, UK studies show

Data from two separate studies published in the UK on Monday, one in England and another in Scotland, have shown vaccines against Covid-19 are effective in cutting disease transmission and hospitalisations from the first dose.Analysis from Public Health England has shown the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech reduces the risk of catching infection by more than 70% after a first dose. That risk is reduced by 85% after a second dose.The public health body’s study of real-world data also showed vaccinated people who go on to become infected are far less likely to die or be hospitalised.Hospitalisation and death from Covid-19 is reduced by over 75% in those who have received a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, according to the analysis.“This crucial report shows vaccines are working – it is extremely encouraging to see evidence that the Pfizer vaccine offers a high degree of protection against coronavirus,” Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.Britain is one of the countries hardest-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, with 120,757 deaths.It was the first nation to begin mass vaccinations in December and more than 17 million people have now received at least a first vaccine dose – one-third of the UK’s adult population.“We will see much more data over the coming weeks and months but we should be very encouraged by these initial findings,” Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at Public Health England, said.‘National evidence’At the same time a study in Scotland has shown the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccinations have led to a reduction in Covid-19 admissions to hospitals after a first dose.The study, led by the University of Edinburgh, found that by the fourth week after receiving the initial dose the Pfizer vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalisation from Covid by up to 85%.The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine reduced the risk by 94%.“These results are very encouraging and have given us great reasons to be optimistic for the future,” Aziz Sheikh, who lead the research, said in a statement.“We now have national evidence – across an entire country – that vaccination provides protection against Covid-19 hospitalisations.“Roll-out of the first vaccine dose now needs to be accelerated globally to help overcome this terrible disease,” he added.The research compared the outcomes of those who had received their first jab with those who had not.It found that vaccination was associated with an 81% reduction in hospitalisation risk in the fourth week among those aged 80 years and over, when the results for both vaccines were combined.‘Extremely promising’The project, which used patient data to track the pandemic and the vaccine roll-out in real time, analysed a dataset covering the entire Scottish population of 5.4 million between Dec 8 and Feb 15.Some 1.14 million vaccines were administered to 21% of the Scottish population during the period.The Pfizer vaccine was received by 650,000 people in Scotland, while 490,000 had the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.It is the first research to describe the effect of the vaccinations on preventing severe illness resulting in hospitalisation across an entire country.Previous results about vaccine efficacy have come from clinical trials.The study team said the findings were applicable to other countries using the Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines.The data reported “is extremely promising”, said Arne Akbar, the president of the British Society for Immunology.“Although there does seem to be some difference in effectiveness levels measured across age groups, the reduction in hospitalisations for the older age groups is still impressively high,” he said.“We now need to understand how long-lasting this protection is for one dose of the vaccine.”


PN backbenchers pledge ‘solid support’ for budget, PM

Backbenchers from the ruling bloc who include MPs from Bersatu, Barisan Nasional (BN), PAS, GPS as well as party-less MPs have expressed “solid support” for the 2021 budget, adding to the 20 BN ministers and deputy ministers who pledged loyalty to Perikatan Nasional (PN) yesterday.In a statement ahead of a crucial vote which could decide whether the government continues to hold power, the PN Backbenchers Club said all MPs from the ruling alliance had made a “collective decision” to ignore their differences and ensure the people’s well-being.“Our priority is to fight the Covid-19 pandemic for the sake of the people’s well-being.“We will also give our full commitment, support and trust to the leadership of the Pagoh MP as the prime minister,” the statement added, referring to Muhyiddin Yassin.Tomorrow’s parliamentary vote on the 2021 budget could turn into a test of support for Muhyiddin, as any defeat of the budget bill could mean that he has lost the support of MPs.Some within the ruling bloc, such as former prime minister Najib Razak and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, have echoed the views of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in criticising the budget.Both Najib and Anwar said their support would be contingent on several amendments, while former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad made it clear today that he and three others from his Pejuang bloc will not support the budget tomorrow.Earlier this week, MalaysiaNow reported attempts by a senior Umno leader to lobby fellow MPs to oppose the budget.But it is learnt that the campaign has so far received a cool response from the MPs, including from the so-called “court cluster”, the group of former leaders from the previous BN government who are facing multiple charges of corruption.“There are currently five MPs with Najib while the rest prefer to see the budget passed,” an Umno source told MalaysiaNow.“Apart from Zahid, there are four others who represent constituencies in Perak, Johor and Kelantan who are with Najib.”


Umno lawyer freed of RM15 million money laundering charges

The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today acquitted and discharged Umno legal adviser Mohd Hafarizam Harun of money laundering charges involving RM15 million which he allegedly received from former prime minister Najib Razak.Judge Suzana Hussin made the ruling after deputy public prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusoff informed the court that the prosecution was withdrawing all three money laundering charges against Hafarizam, who agreed for the cases to be compounded.“Based on the application from the deputy public prosecutor and the compound that had been settled in this case, the court acquitted and discharged the accused from all three charges, with the bail money (RM200,000) returned,” said Suzana.Lawyer Hasnal Rezua Merican, representing Hafarizam, told the court that the compound offered by the prosecution had been settled and applied for his client to be acquitted and discharged of all three charges.“Based on the principle that a compound cannot stand together with a charge, this means the offence committed has been settled through compound. When the compound has been paid, a new charge cannot be imposed, therefore I request for the court to acquit and discharge my client,” he said.No objection was raised by the prosecution.The case had been set for case management today and the court had set Aug 12 for the hearing.Hasnal, when met by reporters, said the compound payment amounting to RM590,587.26 was settled by his client yesterday.Hafarizam, 49, said he was grateful to Attorney-General Idrus Harun for agreeing to withdraw the charges against him, and to the court for acquitting and discharging him of the charges.“I am very grateful to Allah because I finally get to continue my life as a free man. The charges have had a huge impact on my life, family and profession,” he added.On the first count, Hafarizam was charged with receiving RM7.5 million in proceeds from unlawful activities through an AmIslamic Bank Bhd cheque dated April 16, 2014 belonging to Najib, which was deposited into the account of his legal firm, Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak.The offence was allegedly committed at CIMB Bank Bhd, Putra World Trade Centre, Jalan Tun Ismail, on April 17, 2014.The charge, framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, provided for imprisonment of up to 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the proceeds from unlawful activities or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.For the second and third charge, Hafarizam was alleged to have received RM4 million and RM3.5 million in proceeds from unlawful activities through two cheques, dated Nov 7, 2014 and Jan 21, 2015, belonging to Najib which were deposited into the account of the same legal firm.He was charged with committing the offences on Nov 12, 2014 and Feb 12, 2015, respectively, at the same place.The charges were made under Section 4(1)(b) of the same law which also provides for imprisonment of up to 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the proceeds from unlawful activities or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.On Aug 3 last year, Hafarizam was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on two counts of money laundering involving RM15 million. However, he was charged again on the same day with three counts of similar charges involving the same amount.


We never jumped ship, say Penang Bersatu reps

Four Bersatu assemblymen today maintained that they had never jumped ship, saying two of them were elected on a Bersatu ticket while the other two had contested on a PKR ticket but were dismissed from the party.
They also said that they would instruct their lawyers to look into the matter of the recent court decision on Article 14A of the Penang state constitution, voicing concern that it could lead to government abuse of its provisions.
"We respect the decision of the Federal Court, but we do not agree with it," they said.
"We have asked our lawyers to review the matter to allow us to carry out our duties as assemblymen."
Adding that the provision was open to abuse, they said it had been wrongly used against them.
A seven-man Federal Court bench ruled yesterday that Article 14A of the Penang state constitution was not void, saying it was consistent with Article 10 (1)(c) of the Federal Constitution.
Article 14A states that an assemblyman shall vacate his seat if, having been elected as a candidate of a political party, he resigns or is expelled from the party or, having been elected otherwise than as a candidate of a political party, he joins a political party.
In 2020, Sungai Acheh assemblyman Zulkifli Ibrahim, Seberang Jaya rep Afif Bahardin, Bertam assemblyman Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq and Telok Bahang rep Zolkifly Md Lazim filed three writs of summons against the state legislative assembly and its speaker, challenging the motion based on Article 14A, brought in October of that year, for them to vacate their seats and make way for by-elections.
Zulkifli and Afif were sacked from PKR in 2020 while Khaliq and Zolkifly are Bersatu members.
The state legislative assembly and speaker, represented by Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and Surendra Ananth, filed an application to refer the matter to the Federal Court last year.
In their statement today, the assemblymen said political parties could not have the absolute power to dictate and determine the decisions of representatives.
"As elected representatives, we represent all of the people in our constituencies," they said.
"We will make decisions based on what we believe is in the best interest and needs of our voters, and not merely on the party's demands."
The tabling of the motion for the four of them to vacate their seats has been postponed pending the completion of the suit.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said their fate will be determined by the state exco on Aug 5.


1,153 new cases, 5 new clusters

Another 1,153 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 91,969.Selangor recorded 401 new cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur (281), Sabah (199), Perak (82) and Johor (75).Penang recorded 30 cases, Labuan 19, Negeri Sembilan 18, Pahang 16, Kedah 13, Kelantan 10, Putrajaya four, Melaka three and Sarawak two.Five new clusters were detected: Keris Residence (Sabah), Brumas (Sabah), Tapak Bina Zuhrah (Selangor), Long Panji (Kelantan) and Jalan Timah (Johor).The Tapak Bina Zuhrah cluster, a workplace cluster involving the district of Petaling, has seen 49 positive cases so far.The Keris Residence cluster in Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran, also a workplace cluster, has seen 41 positive cases so far.The Jalan Timah cluster, another workplace cluster in Johor Bahru and Kulai, has seen 26 positive cases so far.The Brumas cluster in Kalabakan has seen 16 positive cases while the Long Panji cluster in Kota Bharu and Machang has seen 11.Meanwhile three other clusters ended: Softwood LD (Sabah), Rajawali (Penang) and Besi Demak (Sarawak).Active cases stand at 15,294 with 112 in the ICU and 56 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 998 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 76,242.However, one more death was reported, pushing the virus toll to 433.


Shift to Phase 3 postponed for Sarawak’s southern zone

Sarawak’s southern zone covering Kuching, Bau, Lundu, Samarahan, Simunjan, Asajaya, Serian and Tebedu will not be moving to Phase Three of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) today as scheduled.The state disaster management committee (JPBN) in a statement said that the move was postponed until Covid-19 cases in the zone show a declining trend.“This means that only the northern zone (Miri, Limbang, Bintulu), central zone (Sibu, Mukah, Kapit) and western zone (Sarikei, Betong, Sri Aman) will move to Phase Three of NRP beginning Aug 4.”Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had said that Perlis, Sarawak and Labuan would be moving to Phase Three of the NRP.The decision on Sarawak’s southern zone was also agreed upon by JPBN after receiving advice from medical experts and based on the existing SOPs.Yesterday, Sarawak recorded 494 Covid-19 cases, bringing the cumulative number to 78,211, and two more deaths from the viral infection, bringing the total number so far to 464.JPBN also announced three new clusters including the Pasar Stutong 2 cluster (Kuching), detected at a market in Jalan Stutong, with 51 individuals out of 140 screened found to be positive for Covid-19.The Mega Suai cluster in Subis was detected at an oil palm plantation placed under enhanced movement control order (EMCO) where 24 out of 351 people screened were found to be positive.The Jalan Kemena Industry Estate 38 cluster in Bintulu meanwhile involved the workers’ quarters of a plywood factory at the Kemena Industrial Area, also placed under EMCO. Seventeen individuals out of 85 screened were found to be positive for Covid-19.


72 migrants arrested in Pudu raid

A total of 72 foreigners were arrested in an Op Patuh operation jointly conducted by the immigration department and police in Pudu yesterday.Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said they raided a building at 5pm and checked 245 individuals, 72 of whom were found to have committed various immigration offences including not having valid travel documents.Those arrested comprised 43 men and 29 women, aged 25 to 50 and of different nationalities, he said in a statement today.He said the building, believed to be a prostitution den, was in squalid condition with the lifts and corridor and staircase lights not working properly.“Enforcement officers had to break down doors because most of the occupants refused to cooperate and hid inside the houses with the lights switched off.“Some of the immigrants hid in spaces created out of renovated walls and tried to flee but failed,” he said.Khairul said those arrested were taken to the Bukit Jalil Immigration Depot after undergoing Covid-19 tests.They are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.


Take your Covid booster jab, even if you’ve recovered, Khairy says

Some two and a half million Malaysians who contracted Covid-19 and recovered are still encouraged to take their booster shots despite having some level of antibodies from the disease, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today.Speaking at a press conference, he said booster jabs should be taken three months after recovery, especially by those in the high-risk group such as senior citizens.He said this would provide greater protection, especially as the efficacy of vaccines decreases over time.“We are of the view that even if you have gotten infected, it is better if you receive your Covid-19 booster shots,” he said.“We will continue to recommend both vaccination and booster jabs even for people who have recovered from Covid-19. That is the stand of the health ministry.”He also said that the scientific data for boosters had shown promising results.“Until new scientific evidence presents otherwise,” he added. “We will update from time to time as we get better evidence.”Some 2.6 million Malaysians have contracted Covid-19 since the virus was first detected in the country early last year.Of these, 2.5 million have recovered while 68,755 cases remained active as of yesterday.The death toll from the virus stands at 30,195.Currently, the US Food and Drug Administration says the natural immunity of those who have recovered alone will not be able to fight against Covid-19, as the degree of immunity against the virus varies significantly.


PM agrees for Parliament to convene before Aug 1

Putrajaya today said that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has agreed for Parliament to convene as soon as possible, with a with a decision to be made at the Cabinet meeting on July 7.“The federal government always upholds the commands of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in all matters related to the administration of the country including on Parliament sittings.“In this regard, the prime minister as head of the parliamentary council has decided to call a Parliament sitting as quickly as possible before Aug 1,” law minister Takiyuddin Hassan said in a statement today.The Agong’s latest call for Parliament to convene came on June 29, after an audience with Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun and their deputies.He also made a similar call in the wake of a special meeting of the Malay rulers on June 16. This was followed by a separate statement by the rulers themselves, voicing support for the king’s stand.They also said they saw no need for the emergency period to extend beyond its scheduled deadline of Aug 1.The state of emergency was declared in January amid a spike in Covid-19 infections which also saw the enforcement of the second movement control order across large parts of the country.Under the emergency declaration, Parliament and state assembly sittings have been suspended.Azhar and Rais said after their audience with the king that the ruler had expressed his view that a Parliament sitting should be held before Aug 1, adding that they had stated the commitment and full readiness of Parliament to do so.Earlier today, Pakatan Harapan leaders urged MPs to gather at Parliament on July 19 if they did not hear any response from the prime minister on the matter by July 5.PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also accused Muhyiddin of committing treachery towards the Agong by not reconvening Parliament before Aug 1.


PM's meetings with state leaders just 'taking care of business', say analysts

Analysts say that meetings between the prime minister and state leaders to discuss economic and financial matters are nothing out of the ordinary, as both sides need to ensure an open line of communication to facilitate cooperation between the central and state governments.
Jeniri Amir, a senior fellow at the National Professors Council, said Malaysia practises a federal system, meaning it is the responsibility of the federal government to attend to requests from state administrations, including on allocations.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, he said this was also in line with democratic practices and reflects a professional attitude in setting aside party ideologies in order to resolve the issues faced by the people.
"We practise a federal system, so there's no problem," he said.
"It is the federal government's responsibility to help and to channel the appropriate allocations to each state government regardless of political party."
Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli previously expressed disappointment with Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, saying he had politicised the bilateral meeting between him and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the meeting at the prime minister's invitation was not to beg for charity, but to discuss matters on the development of the state.
Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said such meetings were normal.
"It is a quite common practice for state leaders to meet with the prime minister to discuss especially urgent needs of the state, regardless of political affiliation.
"I remember last time Najib Razak and Lim Guan Eng also met in Putrajaya and Penang – it’s just taking care of business, no hard feelings," he said.
When asked about double standards between the central and state governments, James Chin of Australia's University of Tasmania said there was no denying that this would continue to be the case.
"You will always have double standards," he said. "Obviously, Anwar would want to promote Pakatan Harapan, especially when states like Kelantan and Terengganu which are led by PAS will use government funds to support their political agenda."
He, too, said it was "very normal" for state leaders in the peninsula to meet with the prime minister, especially if they happened to be from the same party.
"States in the peninsula rely on the federal government for their budget," he said.
Jeniri meanwhile said that double standards also exist at the state legislative assembly level, where opposition-held areas are often seen as receiving less attention than those led by government representatives.
"But whether at the federal or state level, this is something that should not happen."