New cases dip to 11,900 as 36 more deaths logged

Another 11,994 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,292,585.Of the total number of cases recorded, 90 were in Category Three and above.There were 16,603 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,099,786.A total of 541 cases were admitted to hospital, with 217 (40.1%) in Category Three and above and 324 (59.9%) in Category One and Two.Of the 90 cases in Category Three and above reported yesterday:* 24 (26.67%) were not vaccinated or had not completed their vaccination;* 30 (33.33%) had received two doses of vaccine;* 36 (40.00%) had received a booster jab;* 53 (58.89%) were aged 60 and above;* 58 (64.44%) had comorbidities; and* 1 (1.11%) was a pregnant woman.There are now 157,571 active cases, of which 153,859 or 97.6% are undergoing home quarantine.Meanwhile, 341 (0.2%) are at quarantine centres while 3,174 (2.0%) have been hospitalised.A total of 197 are in ICU with 108 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 54.6%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 22.7%.Another 36 deaths were reported, including nine who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 35,228.The country’s infectivity rate as of April 7 was 0.83.


Dr M’s parliament officer positive for Covid-19

The parliament liaison officer to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad tested positive for Covid-19 in a screening test conducted at the Parliament building on Thursday, the Langkawi MP’s office said today.However, it added that the officer had not come into contact with Mahathir himself.“He is asymptomatic and is currently undergoing home quarantine,” a representative told MalaysiaNow.“Mahathir did not meet with him and had tested negative for the virus after the RTK test conducted that same day,” the representative said, adding that the officer had been fully vaccinated.Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah previously said that 11 people had tested positive for the virus during the Parliament screening on July 29.Of these, 10 cases were detected through RTK Ag Saliva tests and one through RT PCR.Noor Hisham said health teams would conduct investigations, risk assessments and contact tracing, and put in place preventive measures including the cleaning and disinfection of the Parliament building.The special sitting of the Dewan Rakyat was postponed on Thursday on the advice of Noor Hisham due to the detection of Covid-19 cases.Members of the opposition from Pakatan Harapan said it was a conspiracy to prevent the debate of the emergency ordinances in Parliament.


Hotels, malls brace for weekend crowds ahead of another pandemic-era Ramadan

Malls, hotels and supermarkets have been packed as Malaysians take advantage of the leeway allowed in health SOPs after more than a year of disruptions caused by Covid-19, and the crowds are only expected to grow this weekend ahead of the Ramadan fasting month which begins next week.The Covid-19 restrictions, ranging from minimal under the recovery movement control order (RMCO) to near-absolute under the enhanced version, continued into the new year with several states including Penang, Selangor and the capital city of Kuala Lumpur still under conditional MCO.But even the conditional phase, one step up from the MCO which saw only essential services allowed to remain open, is enough to send Malaysians flocking out from their homes.Hotel operators who spoke to MalaysiaNow said their rooms have been almost fully booked ahead of Ramadan.Badrul Rezal Baharudin, general manager of Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur, referred to the change as a “comeback”.He said up to 80% of the hotel’s rooms have been booked, with halls filled due to functions and events on weekends.Even on weekdays, at least 70% of the rooms are booked by local travellers.“It’s been so long since we’ve been busy like this,” Badrul said.But while he has been eagerly anticipating a revival of such crowds, he acknowledges that the influx of visitors means more challenges in implementing SOPs.A family at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur waits as their luggage is loaded onto trolleys to be brought to their rooms by bellboys.According to the guidelines provided by the National Security Council, hotels must limit the number of guests in halls to 50% of the area’s capacity in order to ensure adherence to the physical distancing rule.Only a certain number of guests are allowed to use the hotel facilities at any given point, necessitating in some cases reservations upfront.Such measures would have been more difficult to implement a year ago, Badrul said. At that point, he said, people were still getting used to the new norm.Now, steps like wearing face masks and checking temperatures are second nature but he is careful about the hotel staff letting their guard down.“We still need to take the SOPs seriously and ensure that our guests abide by the regulations.”But in an industry where customer satisfaction is paramount, this is sometimes easier said than done. “We have to be very tactful,” Badrul said.‘Still adjusting’Nuruddin Hamzah, who works at a popular supermarket chain in Puncak Alam, Selangor, agreed that it is difficult to ensure that everyone follows the SOPs.He said he had observed many flouting the physical distancing rule although most customers would follow the directive on face masks and hand sanitiser.“Most visitors don’t keep a distance between themselves at the checkout counter,” he said. “The only thing keeping them apart is the length of their shopping trolleys.”He said there had been an increase in the number of customers since the restrictions were relaxed, especially on weekends.He also noted a drop in the number of online orders, saying most appeared to prefer physical shopping over having to deal with the uncertainty of placing orders online.Health experts meanwhile said a fourth wave of infections could be forthcoming if SOPs are ignored in the wake of the government’s move to relax restrictions.Shoppers throng a mall in Kuala Lumpur which was placed under conditional movement control order early last month.Dr Subramaniam Muniandy, president of the Malaysian Medical Association, said this is especially the case at crowded places and ahead of the Ramadan and Hari Raya season.“It’s possible for a fourth wave to come if someone who has Covid-19 joins in the large crowds at malls,” he told MalaysiaNow.“The problem is, people are becoming more relaxed. Even if you are vaccinated, you shouldn’t take this virus for granted.”He also warned of the possibility of mutant variants such as the South African and UK strains.“In another year, these mutant variants could become very difficult to handle if we are not careful.”He said the ongoing vaccination programme should not be used as an excuse to disobey the SOPs.“Though the vaccination may work, it’s not very specific,” he said. “We must look at this from the point of view that we have another year of the pandemic to go.“Covid-19 is not going to go away easily.”


‘Selective prosecution’ in 1MDB charges, Anwar told PKR MPs

Anwar Ibrahim’s recent claim that Umno leaders were spared from corruption investigations after they left the party to join Bersatu under the Pakatan Harapan administration is no surprise going by his recent closed-door meetings with party leaders, a highly reliable source close to PKR told MalaysiaNow.It said during a meeting with PKR MPs last week, Anwar not only defended his overtures to Najib Razak, but also claimed that the 1MDB charges which were also at the centre of multiple counts facing former prime minister, were an example of selective prosecution during the 22-month administration of Dr Mahathir Mohamad.The source told MalaysiaNow that during the meeting on March 16 with PKR MPs and state leaders in Petaling Jaya, Anwar explained his discussions with Umno for a possible political cooperation.“This led several PKR MPs to ask if the talks and cooperation involved the Umno court cluster,” the source said, referring to the phrase used for a group of former government leaders who are facing a string of charges.It also said Anwar “appeared unsettled” by the question.“He said the 1MDB cases against Umno leaders were selective prosecution by Mahathir.”The source added that Anwar’s claim angered several MPs, who pointed out the extent of the 1MDB scandal.Najib is facing 42 charges of criminal breach of trust, graft, abuse of power and money laundering involving five criminal cases linked to the 1MDB scandal.He was convicted of seven charges last year, and faces the prospect of being sent to jail for 12 years pending his appeal.The 1MDB scandal, which triggered investigations in several countries including the US, was the main theme of Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) general election campaign in 2018 which culminated in the historic fall of Barisan Nasional.The meeting on March 16 was held after PKR suffered the loss of three MPs, who pledged their support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his Perikatan Nasional government.The three were Tebrau MP Steven Choong, Julau MP Larry Sng and Kuala Langat MP Xavier Jayakumar.Following the meeting, Anwar, at a widely publicised press conference, declared there would be no further defections from his party.On Monday, he met with top officials from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over his criticism that the agency had spared former Umno politicians who jumped to Bersatu.He then urged the former and current attorney-generals to explain why cases against them were dropped as he claimed.Meanwhile, the same source said Anwar during the March 16 meeting had sought to justify cooperation with Umno by saying that there were also dozens of “PH court clusters”, and that the issue should not be raised.“By this, he meant DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who is facing graft charges and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu whose former political secretary is being tried for corruption.“Anwar also mentioned the PH court clusters during his media conference,” the source said.At the press conference, Anwar had explained the possibility of working together with Umno which he first raised in an interview with a Malay daily.“Don’t make assumptions about this matter as if there is already an understanding. I see many commenting, speaking as if there is an agreement in place. They raise the question of the court cluster, the question of investigations.“I want to say, if it’s about MACC investigations, in PH there are dozens who are just waiting to be charged.”


‘Cleansing season’ in PKR as Anwar loyalists clash in post-Azmin turmoil

PKR is heading for its latest internal crisis since reverting to an opposition party, this time in the form of an intense struggle for influence between two loyalists of its president Anwar Ibrahim.This comes as a long simmering tension between Anwar’s political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador and party vice-president Rafizi Ramli reaches a boiling point.Rafizi, who has been out of the party limelight since losing a fierce battle for the number two post against Mohamed Azmin Ali two years ago, has lately appeared to have difficulty disguising his dislike for Farhash.“You should really rein in your office,” he had said on June 18, taking aim at Farhash, the Perak PKR chief who has managed to position himself as the de facto number two leader in his capacity as Anwar’s political secretary.A PKR elected representative who spoke anonymously to MalaysiaNow said what used to be Rafizi’s direct line to the president’s office now appears to have been blocked by Farhash.Rafizi is largely seen as having control over the Youth wing through its chief, Akmal Nasir.Casualties of the clean-up include key leaders in this wing aligned with Farhash.It is learnt that so far, the leadership committees of two state Youth wings have been dissolved, with their chiefs told they were being relieved of their positions with immediate effect to make way for a “reshuffle”.They include Selangor PKR Youth chief Najwan Halimi and his Perlis counterpart Azam Karap, according to documents sighted by MalaysiaNow.Others from the central Youth leadership booted out of their positions were vice-chief Syed Badli Shah, deputy secretary Muhammad Naqib Nasaruddin and deputy strategic director Fahrulrazi Zailan.Syed Badli, who has been building an image for himself in the party by promoting Anwar as the future prime minister, condemned his sacking as the work of internal saboteurs while stopping short of naming Rafizi.“This move will not be able to stop my voice from defending the party and Anwar.“Because my main duty right now is to replace the current government. This should be the focus, not getting busy with sacking,” he said.Rafizi has in recent times repeatedly warned Anwar against surrounding himself with the so-called “Kartel2”, a reference to the faction of Azmin that left the party alongside about a dozen MPs.“This is what the people in your office cultivate – another rotten culture in PKR to become #kartel2.“And they are using your name to justify everything. One day when they don’t get what they want, they will betray you, again!” Rafizi had said in a social media post.A PKR state assemblyman, when contacted, said the development would be a greater challenge for Anwar than the Azmin-Rafizi rivalry.“It’s because both Farhash and Rafizi are his blue-eyed boys, and unlike the case with Azmin who was clearly seen as being in Anwar’s bad books, Anwar this time cannot afford to upset either one,” the assemblyman said.


India slams public’s ‘gross violations’ of Covid-19 measures

The Indian government on Monday slammed huge crowds at popular northern tourist spots, saying such “gross violations” of Covid-19 health measures could spark a new surge in infections.The vast nation of 1.3 billion people was hit by a record-breaking wave in cases and deaths in April and May that pushed the healthcare system to its breaking point.The crisis has since eased, with numerous states removing restrictions and reopening holidaying spots.With northern India sweltering in the summer heat ahead of the arrival of the annual monsoon, big crowds travelled to the picturesque Himalayan states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.There was public outrage after pictures and video emerged on social media of traffic congestion on the way to the popular sites and large numbers of people – some maskless – visiting shopping districts with no social distancing.“The virus is still between us… One mistake can give the virus a chance to spread among us,” senior health ministry official Lav Agarwal warned Tuesday during a media briefing.Images of crowded areas that included markets in the capital New Delhi and financial hub Mumbai were showed during the briefing with the words “gross violations of Covid appropriate behaviour can nullify the gains so far”.“The pictures are frightening,” added Balram Bhargava, the director-general of the country’s lead pandemic agency the Indian Council of Medical Research.Two markets in Delhi were ordered shut by authorities this week for being overcrowded, according to local media.India has reported more than 30 million infections and over 400,000 deaths. Experts say the actual numbers could be much higher amid claims of underreporting.


New cases back to 4 digits at 1,290

Another 1,290 Covid-19 cases were reported today, pushing total confirmed infections in the country to 51,680.Of these, 660 were reported in Sabah and 407 in Selangor.A significant number of cases in Sabah originated from clusters linked to temporary detention centres, lock-ups and prisons (250), while in Selangor 245 cases came from the Teratai cluster and another new cluster in Hulu Langat called the Kapas BJ cluster. Both are work-related clusters involving foreigners.Kuala Lumpur recorded 72 new cases, Perak 48, Negeri Sembilan 32, and Kelantan 17.Labuan and Johor recorded 15 each, Sarawak and Penang eight each, Kedah seven, and Melaka one.Active cases stand at 13,222 with 110 in the ICU and 37 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 838 patients were discharged, taking total recoveries to 38,092.However, four more deaths were recorded, bringing the virus toll to 326.


Court will decide whether Parliament can or cannot stand suspended

It beats me why Lokman Abd Halim compares schools with Parliament.Make no mistake: both are important institutions of the nation.But lest Lokman forgets, Parliament is the third branch government based on the Westminster system which Malaysia adopts. At the heart of this is the concept of the separation of powers between the three branches of government: executive, legislature and judiciary.It is a core convention that the executive, commonly referred to as the government, must be able to command and retain the confidence of Parliament. It is a principle that determines the relationship between the two branches of government: parliament and executive.According to Lord Bingham of Cornhill in the case of Bobb v Manning [2006] – on appeal from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the Privy Council – the conduct of government by a prime minister and Cabinet collectively responsible and accountable to Parliament lies at the heart of Westminster democracy.Ministers are accountable to Parliament through such mechanisms as their duty to answer parliamentary questions and to appear before parliamentary committees, and through parliamentary scrutiny of the delegated legislation which ministers make. By these means, the policies of the executive are subjected to consideration by the representatives of the electorate, the executive is required to report, explain and defend its actions, and citizens are protected from the arbitrary exercise of executive power.As we live in a representative democracy, Parliament exists because the people have elected its members. The government exists because it has the confidence of Parliament. It has no democratic legitimacy other than that. This means that it is accountable to Parliament for its actions, remembering always that the actual task of governing is for the executive and not for Parliament or the courts. (see judgment of Lady Hale, President of the Supreme Court of the UK, reading the judgment of the apex court together with Lord Reed, in R (on the application of Miller) v The Prime Minister; Cherry and Ors v Advocate General for Scotland [2019])If the longer our schools are suspended, the more unmotivated our children are to study anymore and the closer they are to becoming the “lost generation”, then the longer Parliament stands suspended, the greater the risk that a responsible government may be replaced by an unaccountable government.It is the antithesis of the democratic model.If Parliament stands suspended and thus prevented from carrying out its constitutional role and functions as a legislature and as the body responsible for the supervision of the executive, then let the court be the ultimate adjudicator whether any branch of government has exceeded whatever authority the constitution has committed it to.As observed by Bhagwati J in the Supreme Court of India in State of Rajasthan v Union of India AIR [1977] SC 1361:“This court is the ultimate interpreter of the constitution and to this court is assigned the delicate task of determining what is the power conferred on each branch of government, whether it is limited, and if so, what are the limits and whether any action of that branch transgresses such limits. It is for this court to uphold the constitutional values and to enforce the constitutional limitations. That is the essence of the rule of law.”“Where there is manifestly unauthorised exercise of power under the constitution, it is the duty of the court to intervene. Let it not be forgotten, that to this court as much as to other branches of government, is committed the conservation and furtherance of democratic values. The court’s task is to identify those values in the constitutional plan and to work them into life in the cases that reach the court.”The court adjudicates solely on constitutional provisions and not on why schools can re-open but Parliament cannot convene.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


US makes face masks a must on all public transport

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued a sweeping order requiring the wearing of masks to protect against the spread of Covid-19 on virtually every form of public transportation throughout the country.The order, issued late Friday, extends to travel on airplanes, trains, buses, taxis, ride-shares, subways, ferries and ships.It expands on one of the first executive orders signed by President Joe Biden, which required masking for interstate travel as part of a larger strategy to reduce the spread of Covid-19.The new order, which also covers intrastate travel, takes effect at 11.59pm Monday (0459 Tuesday GMT).“Wearing masks on our transportation systems will protect Americans and provide confidence that we can once again travel safely even during this pandemic,” the order states.“Therefore, requiring masks will help us control this pandemic and aid in reopening America’s economy.”The CDC order covers passengers and transportation operators both during travel and while waiting in transportation hubs.It says operators must make “best efforts” to enforce mask-wearing, and if necessary should disembark anyone refusing to comply.It says, without providing much detail, that enforcement will ultimately be the responsibility of the federal Transportation Security Administration, as well as of “cooperating state and local authorities.”Noncompliance will constitute “a violation of federal law”, according to the order.Exemptions to mask-wearing are allowed for people eating, drinking or taking medication, as well as those communicating with the hearing-impaired. Masks can also be briefly removed during identity checks.The US has the world’s worst Covid-19 statistics, but the numbers of cases and hospitalizations have declined for the past two weeks, with some experts partly crediting improved adherence to masking and social-distancing measures.One of Biden’s first official acts after his inauguration Jan 20 was to order mask-wearing on federal property. He has said consistent mask-wearing could save 50,000 American lives by April.But former president Donald Trump frequently mocked the practice – and was rarely seen wearing a mask – making enforcement of the new standard more problematic in some parts of the country.


A divorced mum’s long wait for her child’s citizenship

I am a Malaysian woman who was married to a foreigner. We registered our marriage overseas in Country A in 2013 and filed it with the Malaysian embassy there, also in the same month of 2013. In 2015, I transferred to Country B where I now live to stay with my husband who worked there.I miscarried once before getting pregnant again in 2016. The process was not smooth. I was constantly bleeding. Due to my first miscarriage and the bleeding throughout my pregnancy, the doctor advised me not to travel and to take bed rest.I had no choice but to deliver my child in Country B due to health concerns. My daughter was born on July 24, 2017. I consulted the Malaysian embassy in Country B and they informed me that I could apply for Malaysian citizenship for my child as I had all the required documents.We filed the citizenship application at the Malaysian embassy in Country B in September 2017. In the mail exchange with embassy, I was told that the application would take one year to process. Little did I expect that I would have to wait for three years for an outcome. The status of my application is still pending.My child required a visa in Country B. Since she could not get Malaysian citizenship, I had no choice but to accept my then-husband’s nationality, and she now holds a Country A passport.In November 2018, I learnt that my husband had been unfaithful. My marriage did not work out.In January 2019, I was able to secure employment which helped pay the rent and let me raise my daughter on my own. In July 2020, I got a legal letter from my ex-husband to proceed for a separation and, after that, towards a divorce. He agreed to give me full custody of our daughter and he also agreed that I could take my daughter to live in Malaysia.However, until now, I still await Malaysian citizenship for my daughter. I have also learnt from friends that living in Malaysia with a non-citizen child can be very challenging.Until the child is six years old, she gets a long-term social visit visa (to be renewed every six months) and after six years, once she is in school, she will have to be on a student visa just like any other foreigner’s child (with no rights by virtue of being the daughter of a Malaysian).She will not get healthcare at the same rate as Malaysian children. Access to national schools is not easy for non-citizen children and financially, it will be difficult for me to send my child to an international school.What is my future going to be if my daughter does not obtain a Malaysian identity – running to Putrajaya every six months to renew her visa, paying high fees at the hospital? Every time her passport needs to be renewed, I will have to beg her father for help. My daughter will always be considered second-class when it comes to her application to attend a national school. She will only be able to secure admission if there is space at the school.I really feel so helpless and stressed. I have also heard that the government can make it possible for a single mother to pass her citizenship to her child. I really hope and pray hard that my daughter’s citizenship can be granted.Whether I am a married or single mother, shouldn’t I be able to pass my citizenship to my child? I am not sure why it should take three years for a citizenship application to be processed.Malaysia is my country, where I want to raise my child. My family is there and, as a single mother, I need this support from them. I need my country to grant citizenship to my child.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Indian droughts and cyclones fuel trafficking fears for climate migrants

Climate disasters such as droughts are like a “silent poison” in India as a rising number of people end up migrating to survive and risk being trafficked, researchers said on Wednesday.Migration is a coping strategy for many communities in India in the face of economic woes and extreme weather events, yet this leaves hundreds of thousands of people vulnerable to forced labour or exploitative working conditions, a new report found.While climate change is worsening poverty and inequality in the country, policymakers have rarely considered it as a driver of human trafficking, said the authors of the research entitled “Climate change, migration and vulnerability to trafficking”.“Slow onset disasters like drought are taking a particularly disturbing toll,” said Ritu Bharadwaj, senior researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).“Like a silent poison spreading through communities, they are going unnoticed and unchecked, allowing traffickers to exploit people driven to utter desperation.”The report found that 2020 was a particularly extreme year, as climate-related hazards – including cyclones and floods – affected nearly 20 million people in India.That year alone, the nation suffered its worst locust attack in decades, three cyclones, a nationwide heat wave, and flooding which killed hundreds and forced thousands more to evacuate.Using data from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, the report said that in 2020, 3.9 million people were displaced in India due to such disasters. About 2.3 million are expected to be uprooted annually due to ‘sudden-onset hazards’, it found.This year so far India has seen increased spells of heat waves in many parts of the country, with climate scientists predicting that the situation will only worsen in the future.Drought and debtThe research covered 420 households in 14 villages across Kendrapara in eastern Odisha state – where cyclones and floods are frequent – and Palamu in neighbouring Jharkhand, which has seen emergency (distress) migration due to recurring droughts.Overall, 76% of the respondents had migrated and more than half cited the loss or lack of livelihood because of climate change as their reason for moving.According to the research, 42% of those who had left their homes in Palamu due to drought had experienced forced or bonded labour, debt bondage, withheld wages or exploitative conditions.In Kendrapara, 16% had experienced the same issues.Bharadwaj said that while governments had effective flood and cyclone warning systems in place, including protocols of relief and rehabilitation, in case of droughts it was not so.Indian states often waited for droughts to turn “severe” before declaring a disaster and providing relief, forcing many more people to migrate to survive, she added.The study found that most of those migrating were men who had been farming when their livelihoods were wiped out by climate-related disasters, leaving the jobseekers with little bargaining power to negotiate wages or choose the type of work.A Covid helpline started by Jharkhand’s government to assist migrant workers stranded in other states responded to almost 1 million calls from March 2020 to April 2022, the report said.The calls led to the rescue of 21 bonded labourers from a brick kiln in Chhattisgarh state, and the rescue of 60 migrants held captive by an agent in Tamil Nadu state, it added.“In coastal Odisha, the labour agents are very active as people struggle to rebuild their homes and lives destroyed by back-to-back cyclones,” said Umi Daniel, director of migration and education at non-profit Aide et Action and report co-author.Both Odisha and Jharkhand have traditionally reported high numbers of trafficking cases. Labour agents are active in both states, trapping families in debt bondage by giving them large loans that they are required to pay off by working.While tens of thousands from Odisha are trapped in bonded labour in brick kilns, young girls from Jharkhand are trafficked as domestic help to India’s cities, anti-slavery activists say.Johnson Topno, regional head of programme with charity Partnering Hope into Action (PHIA Foundation), which ran the helpline for the Jharkhand government, said that women are more vulnerable than men to the threat of trafficking when migrating.“Their security is a big concern and often their wages are not paid,” he said during a panel discussion about the report.“A villager in Palamu, which is in a rain shadow area, told me during the research that they had not really achieved freedom despite being free. Things need to change.”


Don't cause polemics, Loke tells DAP leaders after civil service remarks

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook yesterday urged DAP leaders at all levels not to cause any polemics in the community.
He said that DAP, as one of the parties that make up the federal government, should act and play its role as a government party, to resolve the issues raised by the people.
"We are part of the government. The role of the government is to solve problems and not to raise problems.
"For me, if any leader or party causes any polemics in society, especially (because) we know the environment and also the political sentiments in our country, it is counter-productive. Not productive at all (to raise issues without solutions)," he said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.
He said this when commenting on the statement of Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, who asked the government to implement reforms in the public service sector as according to him, it was now dominated by the Malays.
Loke said it was time for the grassroots and the party leaders to change their way of thinking, and to continuing defending the party's political culture which he said always understands the people and looks after its attitude and approach, to avoid becoming arrogant.
On whether any action would be taken against Ramasamy, Loke said that DAP would use its own channels and approach in dealing with the issue.
"Any views from friends, I will say thank you but we have our own way to handle it," he said.


Prasarana says no compromise on possible corruption in MRT, LRT projects

Prasarana Malaysia Bhd today said it takes a serious view of media reports citing sources claiming that there were elements of bribery in public transport infrastructure construction projects.The public transportation operator in a statement today said these involved the MRT and LRT projects.“Prasarana does not compromise over any form of corruption in any of its affairs.“We will closely follow the development of the case and liaise with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to get an accurate picture before taking follow-up measures,” it said.Prasarana also urged the public not to speculate on the matter.


Brazil nixes Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine

Brazil’s health regulator voted against importing the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine on Monday.Anvisa said that due to lack of “consistent and reliable data”, its board had unanimously decided to recommend against the import of Sputnik V.About 14 states in Brazil had appealed for an urgent import of Sputnik to counter a growing wave of Covid-19 infections.Anvisa said that it was not flexible in terms of “product safety”.Gustavo Mendes, the medicines and biological products manager of Anvisa, said that a crucial issue the board noticed was the presence of adenovirus in the vaccine, which could produce a “serious” defect.The decision follows a previous statement from Anvisa, expressing “critical issues” around the effectiveness of the vaccine.Russian scientists claim that the vaccine is 97.6% effective against Covid-19, based on data collected from 3.8 million people in a “real world” assessment.The EU hasn’t yet approved the jab, saying it needs more information on the tests and manufacturing process.However, it has been approved in several countries, including India, making it the third Covid-19 vaccine to be approved by the DCGI. The first batch is expected to reach India by the end of May, RepublicWorld is reporting.Dr Reddy’s, a multinational pharmaceutical company in Hyderabad, and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) started conducting clinical trials of Sputnik V in September 2020.The vaccine will be imported in a frozen condition from RDIF.A Dr Reddy’s official mentioned that domestic manufacturing of the vaccine is expected to get ramped up from Q2.RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev has said it has partnered up with five Indian drug companies and he expects over 50 million doses to be manufactured in India by this summer.India’s hope to control the current spread of the virus depends heavily on vaccination. However, new cases are currently climbing to record-breaking heights.


Najib’s 1MDB trial delayed again as judge decides against hybrid proceeding for now

Najib’s 1MDB trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court was postponed yet again as his MySejahtera status is still yellow, classifying him as a person under surveillance (PUS).Earlier, justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah dismissed the prosecution’s request to conduct the trial in a hybrid manner, in which Najib and his lawyers would join the proceedings through video conferencing.“After hearing submissions by both parties and upon reflecting on the matter, I have decided against hybrid proceedings for now, but I am not ruling it out for the future,” said the judge who then allowed the proceeding to be adjourned to Dec 16.Yesterday, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib applied for the court to allow a hybrid proceeding under Section 15A of the Courts of Judicature (Amendment) Act 2020, which would enable the court to conduct a remote proceeding with Najib, who is barred from entering the court complex due to his MySejahtera status.The section enables the Federal Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Court to conduct proceedings through a live video or television link or any other electronic means of communication.The defence is set to cross-examine the 13th prosecution witness, former 1MDB chief financial officer Azmi Tahir, when the trial continues on Thursday.Najib, 68, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.


Sorry.


Schools close as France locks down for third time

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday ordered France into its third national lockdown and said schools will close for three weeks to stop a third wave of Covid-19 infections.With the death toll nearing 100,000, intensive care units in the hardest-hit regions at breaking point and a slower-than-planned vaccine rollout, Macron has been forced to abandon his goal of keeping the country open to protect the economy, reports Reuters.“We will lose control if we do not move now,” the president said in a televised address to the nation.His announcement means that movement restrictions already in place for more than a week in Paris will now apply to the whole country for at least a month, from Saturday.Departing from his pledge to safeguard education from the pandemic, Macron said schools will close for three weeks after this weekend.Daily new infections in France have doubled since February to average nearly 40,000. The number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care has topped 5,000, exceeding the peak hit during a six-week-long lockdown late last year.“Everyone should limit their contacts with other people,” Macron said, adding that people would be given the Easter weekend to get themselves to where they want to spend the lockdown.France’s nationwide 7pm curfew will remain in place and people are again being asked to work from home.The president said “the end of the tunnel” was in sight if people respected the new measures.Parliament will debate the measures before voting on them on Thursday, according to the prime minister’s office.The new lockdown risks slowing the pace of France’s economic recovery from last year’s slump by forcing the temporary closure of 150,000 businesses.The set-back for France, the euro zone’s second-largest economy, may also dampen Europe’s hopes of bouncing back swiftly from the pandemic, in the way that the US and Chinese economies are doing.France’s new lockdown underlines the cost of the European Union’s slow rollout of anti-Covid vaccines with just 12% of its population inoculated.Neighbouring Britain has inoculated nearly half its population and is re-opening its economy just as France closes down once again.


AGC objects to Muda’s bid to challenge RoS rejection of registration

The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) today objected to the application for leave for judicial review by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and 12 others to challenge the decision of Registrar of Societies (RoS) in rejecting their application to register Muda as a political party.Senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambali said the objection was made on the grounds that the application was premature and an abuse of court process.“We argue that the applicants did not appeal to Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin before filing for leave for judicial review as provided under Section 18 of the Societies Act 1966 and that Muda had 30 days from Jan 6 to make its appeal.“The court set Feb 4 for a decision on the judicial review application,” he told reporters after attending the virtual hearing of the application before High Court judge Mariana Yahya today.Syed Saddiq and the 12 other founding members of Muda were represented by lawyers Tommy Thomas, Ambiga Sreenevasan and Lim Wei Jiet.In a statement, Muda’s lawyers said the AGC objected to the leave on the basis that the remedy of appeal against the RoS’ decision to the minister had not been exhausted.“We contended that, through various representations, the minister had essentially pre-judged the matter and therefore it would be of no utility to appeal to him. Further, and in any event, the court is not precluded from considering this matter at the substantive stage,” their statement said.On Jan 12, the 13 applicants filed their application for leave for a judicial review by naming the RoS and home minister as the first and second respondents to seek an order to cancel the RoS’ decision refusing to register Muda as a political party under Section 7 of the Societies Act 1966.Syed Saddiq, who is also the former Bersatu youth chief, in his supporting affidavit, said they received a letter from the RoS on Jan 6, which stated that Muda’s application did not meet the First Schedule of the Societies Act 1966 and that the application was rejected in accordance with Section 7 (3) (e) of the act.“There is an omission from the RoS to explain in detail the small paragraph or provision under the First Schedule which is not complied with by Muda. We could not find out about the alleged non-compliance and could not correct it.“Muda has fully complied with all the provisions of the First Schedule of the Societies Act 1966. Therefore, there is no basis to reject Muda’s registration application,” he said.


Hong Kong unleashes security law, charges 47 activists

Police in Hong Kong have charged 47 activists with “subversion”, in the most sweeping use yet of the territory’s controversial security law.The 47, among a group of 55 arrested in dawn raids last month, were told to report to police stations for detention ahead of court appearances on Monday, says the BBC.Beijing enforced the law criminalising “subversive” acts last year, saying it was needed to bring stability but critics say it has silenced dissent and stripped Hong Kong of its autonomy.UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemned the move as “deeply disturbing” and said it showed how the law was being used to “eliminate political dissent”.Those ordered to report to the police are pro-democracy activists who had helped run an unofficial “primary” election last June to pick opposition candidates for 2020 legislative elections, which were then postponed.Beijing and Hong Kong officials say the primary was an attempt to overthrow the government.The 39 men and eight women, aged between 23 and 64, are scheduled to appear before West Kowloon Magistracy on Monday.They are some of the territory’s best-known democracy campaigners and include veterans such as Benny Tai and Leung Kwok-hung, and younger protesters like Gwyneth Ho, Sam Cheung and Lester Shum.Jimmy Sham, 33, a key organiser of the 2019 protests, remained defiant as he went to the police station.“Democracy is never a gift from heaven. It must be earned by many with strong will,” he said. “We will remain strong and fight for what we want.”Before turning herself in, Gwyneth Ho posted: “I hope everyone can find their road to peace of mind and then press forward with indomitable will.”Bail is unlikely and the charges carry a maximum term of life imprisonment.About 100 people have so far been arrested under the security law, including prominent China critic and media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who was denied bail and is in detention awaiting trial.Trials can be held in secret and without a jury, and cases can be taken over by the mainland authorities.


Murmurs of discontent over Umno’s ‘recycled’ face in Rengit

Barisan Nasional’s (BN) decision to field Umno Supreme Council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi in the state seat of Rengit for the upcoming election in Johor may backfire on the coalition, as voters take to social media to air their dissatisfaction with the move.Puad was among those who had supported the court cluster led by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Najib Razak.He was also one of several Umno leaders who had frequently criticised Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin on Facebook during the latter’s tenure as prime minister.Now, though, the tables appear to have turned, with many social media users accusing him of riding on the popularity of others in order to gain support.Similar sentiments were expressed even by BN supporters who were unhappy with Umno’s decision to snub Rengit incumbent Ayub Jamil, who had held the seat for four terms.Checks on Facebook and Twitter found that voters in the constituency were calling for a younger candidate with a clean record.Many questioned his principles while others described him as a “recycled” candidate, a reference to Umno’s lack of new faces at elections.At a food stall near the town of Rengit, several customers voiced similar dissatisfaction with Puad’s candidacy.Ismail speaks to MalaysiaNow about Mohd Puad Zarkashi’s candidacy in Rengit.Ismail, who runs his own business, said the entire situation was strange.“How could he even consider running for the seat?” he said. “How many times has he failed already?“We understand, this is his area because he is the Batu Pahat Umno chief. But we also know that he might lose.”Ismail said the majority of voters in Rengit are from the Malay community, and many have questioned BN’s decision since Puad was named on nomination day.While few have displayed outward signs of discontent, he said, their displeasure would be made known on polling day.“Voters here are mostly Malay,” Ismail said. “If they feel that they cannot vote for BN’s candidate, they will support PAS instead, which is contesting under the PN banner.”Puad won the parliamentary seat of Batu Pahat at the 12th general election, defeating PAS candidate Muhammad Abdullah with a majority of nearly 13,000 votes.He last contested at the 13th general election, at which he defended his Batu Pahat seat. However, he lost to PKR’s Mohd Idris Jusi with a majority of 1,524 votes.He was not nominated to contest the seat again at the 14th general election, and was instead replaced by Batu Pahat Wanita Umno chief Haliza Abdullah.An assistant at a tyre shop who asked to be called Tien Wee said he had heard older customers complain about Puad’s candidacy this time around.“Those uncles asked what Puad could do after just sitting around for so long,” he said, referring to Puad’s long break from representing the people.“If you look at his posters, even, it looks like he really enjoys just sitting,” he added. “He hasn’t even won yet and he’s enjoying himself.”Puad is up against three other candidates for the Rengit seat: PN’s Mohd Huzair Lajis, Nizam Bashir Abdul Kariem Bashir of Pejuang and PKR’s Khairuddin A Rahim who won the Senggarang state seat at the 14th general election.Another resident who introduced herself as Afiqah said she understood little of politics. Even so, she added, she could not understand why Puad had been nominated.She said when Rengit was under the care of Ayub, there had been peace and harmony among the various communities.Economic development was also stable, although not very fast, she said.“My father was a staunch supporter of BN,” she told MalaysiaNow. “If he were still around today, he would be so angry with BN. How could they field Puad?“He can just stay on Facebook like he always does, criticising everyone he doesn’t like.“He doesn’t need to run in an election.”


South Korea daily Covid-19 cases top 100,000 for first time, curfew eased

South Korea’s new daily Covid-19 cases topped 100,000 for the first time amid an Omicron outbreak, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on Friday, though deaths have remained relatively low in the highly vaccinated country.Authorities announced on Friday they would slightly ease a curfew on businesses from 9pm to 10pm, but retain other measures such as a six-person cap on private gatherings, a seven-day quarantine for international arrivals, mask mandates in public spaces, and vaccine passes for a range of businesses.The measures would be in place until at least March 13, officials said, after the March 9 presidential election.As cases have surged, South Korea has scaled back the tracking, tracing, and quarantining strategy that helped it keep earlier waves in check.Now people with few or no symptoms are being treated at home rather than health facilities, and only people in priority groups get immediate access to free PCR tests.Others must first take a rapid antigen test for faster initial diagnosis.Some experts forecast daily cases could still double or triple, but authorities say so far serious cases have remained manageable, and deaths relatively low.More than 58% of the country’s 52 million population has received vaccine booster shots. Overall more than 44 million people, accounting for 86.2% of the population, are fully vaccinated.The KDCA said 109,831 new Covid-19 cases had been reported as of midnight on Thursday, bringing the country’s total to 1,755,809. An additional 45 deaths were reported, for a total of 7,283.


Arau Umno urges BN-PN cooperation for Melaka polls

Former Perlis Umno strongman Shahidan Kassim has called for cooperation between Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the Melaka state election next month, in yet another sign of open rebellion against party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.He said the Arau Umno division had unanimously agreed to work with Bersatu and PAS, which are in PN, in order to ensure victory in the Nov 20 polls.“We would give a bad impression about the formation of the current government, as it was established between political parties that sat together,” the Arau MP told MalaysiaNow today.“Deputy president Mohamad Hasan said Umno is strong. If Umno is strong, just ask for more seats,” he added.The comments of the federal territories minister appear in line with those of Umno Supreme Council member Zahidi Zainul Abidin who had also urged the Malay party to cooperate with others in the run-up to the Melaka polls.Questions continue to swirl about cooperation between Umno, the country’s largest Malay party, and other parties following the statement by Zahid yesterday that no decision had yet been made.This is despite Zahid earlier ruling out any cooperation with PAS or Bersatu in next month’s polls.PN secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin meanwhile said political cooperation with Umno would be forged in the near future.The Melaka state assembly was dissolved after Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali lost his majority backing following the move by four assemblymen to withdraw their support for him.The four were led by former Melaka chief minister Idris Haron (Sungai Udang).The other three were Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor), Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu) and Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas).Shahidan, who was sacked by Zahid as Perlis Umno chairman, said the party’s chances of winning the state polls would be slim if it decides to contest alone.There are 28 seats in the Melaka state assembly. BN had held 12, DAP seven, Bersatu two, PKR two and Amanah two. The remaining three seats were held by independents.


Reporters’ watchdog group files complaint against Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi murder

Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has accused Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and several top officials of committing crimes against humanity in a criminal complaint filed in Germany, Reuters is reporting.The complaint, filed on Monday with the German public prosecutor general in the Karlsruhe Federal Court, includes allegations of arbitrary detention of more than 30 journalists and the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.Prince Mohammed has denied any involvement in Khashoggi’s killing. Other Saudi figures named in the RSF filing could not be reached by Reuters for comment and the Saudi government’s media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said in a statement: “Those responsible for the persecution of journalists in Saudi Arabia, including the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, must be held accountable for their crimes.”The watchdog group said it filed the lawsuit in Germany because of that country’s principle of universal jurisdiction, allowing its courts to prosecute crimes against humanity committed anywhere in the world.It also said other names could be added to the complaint at a later stage.The other officials named in the RSF complaint included Mohammad al-Otaibi, the Saudi Istanbul consul general at the time of Khashoggi’s murder.The filing follows the publishing of a declassified intelligence assessment by the United States last Friday which concluded that Prince Mohammed approved the operation to “kill or capture” Khashoggi.Washington is coming under criticism for failing to sanction the prince.Saudi Arabia said it completely rejected “the negative, false and unacceptable” intelligence assessment.


Health ministry hopes white paper gets full support

The health ministry is hoping that the health white paper, which is deemed the beginning of the journey to achieve a more sustainable and competitive Malaysian health system, will get full support from the government and all levels of society.
Health director-general Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said the health white paper is expected to be tabled at Parliament in June to get bipartisan support from MPs before steps towards implementation can be carried out.
“Conceptually, it is complete and encompasses all aspects of health, but we need to start optimising the strategies and planning from now.
“We hope it will receive full support as this effort does not only involve the health ministry. It requires comprehensive efforts of the society and the government to make the Malaysian health system more efficient,” he told reporters after attending the health white paper town hall session for the northern zone in Georgetown today.
Radzi said among the issues raised during the town hall session were the improvements in the health services, which are often plagued with over-crowding issues, especially at the emergency department and health clinics.
Apart from that, he said the health ministry is also striving to change society’s approach from seeking treatment to ensuring overall well-being by promoting preventive measures.
He said the health white paper will also focus on healthcare financing constraints as the drastic increase in the demand for health services and the rising cost of healthcare have also threatened the sustainability of healthcare funding.


Company owners held over false information in RM6 million projects

Two company owners have been arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for allegedly submitting documents with false information to obtain supply contracts worth more than RM6 million between 2017 and 2018.Sources said the suspects, aged 35 and 36, were arrested at 10.10am and 11.10am yesterday at the Sabah MACC office in Kota Kinabalu.They submitted the documents containing false information to the Sabah federal treasury to get contracts for supplying food to the police in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan, the sources added.They are expected to be charged in the Kota Kinabalu Special Sessions Court on Corruption on Sept 10.Sabah MACC director S Karunanithy, when contacted, confirmed the arrests, saying they would be charged under Section 471 of the Penal Code.


Australia struggles to quash persistent coronavirus outbreaks

Sydney was battling a fresh Covid-19 cluster on Tuesday just as Melbourne’s latest outbreak receded, highlighting Australia’s difficulty in quashing persistent small virus flare-ups.Ten people were diagnosed with Covid-19 in Sydney overnight, taking the cluster that first emerged in the city’s Bondi Beach area last week to 21 cases.New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said health officials expected the outbreak in Australia’s most populous city to continue growing in the coming days, after several people were infected in just “fleeting” non-physical contact with a case in a cafe and a large shopping centre.In response, the government has reimposed mandatory mask-wearing in public transport and retail outlets across much of greater Sydney, but it has stopped short of ordering a lockdown.The outbreak is thought to have started when a man who works as a driver for international flight crews contracted the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus, which was first identified in India.“We also need to recognise that this Delta variant… is actually a gold medallist when it comes to jumping from one person to another,” Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney.It comes as restrictions on Melbourne’s five million residents continued easing, with new cases slowing to a trickle in recent days.New Zealand and several Australian states have announced the removal of travel restrictions imposed last month as dozens of cases were detected in Melbourne and the city endured a two-week lockdown.Canberra has maintained strict international border closures since March 2020 – even limiting its own citizens’ travel to and from the country – in an effort to shut out Covid-19.But the virus has repeatedly escaped hotels used to quarantine returning travellers, and health experts say the outbreaks will continue until large numbers of Australians are vaccinated.Australia has administered 6.7 million doses to date in a population of 25 million, with only a small fraction having received both jabs.The country has recorded about 30,000 cases of Covid-19 and 910 deaths during the pandemic.


Najib and family invited by princes for yacht holidays, ex-aide tells court

The Kuala Lumpur High Court was told yesterday that Najib Razak and his family had holidays on board several yachts in southern France, Greece and Italy from 2009 to 2013 at the invitation of the princes of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.Najib’s former special officer, Wan Ahmad Shihab Wan Ismail, 48, said the information on the holiday destinations came from fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.The 16th prosecution witness said that in August 2009, he was contacted by Jho Low and informed that Najib and his family would be having a holiday in southern France at the invitation of a Kuwaiti prince and a his friend, Syeikh Hamed, on board their yacht, the RM Elegance.Wan Ahmad Shihab said Jho Low also gave him the telephone number of a man named Mr Sahle to make the holiday arrangements.He later confirmed the matter with Najib before contacting Mr Sahle to provide information on the holiday including the list of names of the group, holiday duration and other requirements.“Joining the holiday were Rosmah Mansor, her children Nor Ashman, Nooryana Najwa and Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz. Apart from that, some friends of Najib also joined including Bustari Yusuf and one of his children.“The entire holiday entourage was about 20 people including bodyguards, maids and household staff,” he said, reading out his witness statement during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib.Wan Ahmad Shihab said on the second or third day of sailing, Najib informed him that a Saudi prince on another yacht nearby was inviting the former prime minister and his family for an evening drink on board his boat.“I later informed Mr Sahle to provide a small boat (tender) for us to go to the Saudi prince’s yacht. As far as I remember, the Saudi prince was Prince Turki.“On arrival at the yacht, we were greeted by Prince Turki and a man who identified himself as Tarek Obaid,” he said, adding that he did not know the purpose of the meeting. When he entered the reception area of the boat, he added, he found that Jho Low was with them.On the second holiday in the waters of Greece and Italy in mid-2010, Wan Ahmad Shihab said Jho Low told him that a Saudi prince had invited Najib and his family for a vacation on his boat before giving him the telephone number of the boat captain” Mike Hitch.“The group comprised 17 people including Najib, Rosmah, Riza Shahriz, Nooryana Najwa, Nor Ashman, myself, escort officers and household staff as well as a friend of Najib. Upon arrival in Athens, Greece, we were received by Mike Hitch and brought to the Golden Odyssey yacht.“Upon arrival at the boat, I found Bustari and several acquaintances of Najib there. They were present as members of the holiday entourage but they took commercial flights by themselves and arrived on their own one day earlier,” he said.The witness said on the fifth day of sailing on the Golden Odyssey, he was contacted via SMS by a woman, Natasha, who was a friend of Rosmah, and asked about the location of the boat and if they had arrived in Rome as she was bringing several guests to meet Rosmah.“I told Natasha via email the location where the yacht would be anchoring in Rome and I gave the number to Hitch for him to contact directly. A day later, after the boat anchored in Rome, I saw Natasha on the boat with Rosmah.“I did not pay any attention to her as I did not interfere in Rosmah’s matters. At the end of the visit, I returned to Malaysia earlier on a commercial flight from Cote D’azur Airport, Nice, France, as I had some personal matters to attend to,” he said.On the holiday in 2013, Wan Ahmad Shihab said Najib and his family were invited for a vacation in southern France on board the Topaz, owned by Sheikh Mansour, a prince from Abu Dhabi. Also seen were Mohamed Badawy Al-Husseiny, a director of Aabar Investments PJS with Robert Baker, a professional golf trainer, he said.Wan Ahmad Shihab said that night, a man named Robert Shepherd announced that he was preparing to receive Riza at the Topaz and that when Riza arrived on the Topaz, he found Jho Low and Joey McFarland, the producer of “Wolf Of Wall Street”, with Riza.“I did not know the purpose of Jho Low and McFarland’s presence but I assumed their presence was to holiday together. When Jho Low and McFarland were on board the boat, I always saw them together and heard their conversation focused on making a Hollywood movie,” he said.Wan Ahmad Shihab said no payment was made for accommodation on the three vacations as Najib and his family had gone on invitation.Najib, 68, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes amounting to RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.The trial before justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues today.


Blogger pleads not guilty to insulting king on Facebook

Blogger Aspan Alias pleaded not guilty in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today to a charge of posting insulting remarks against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on his Facebook account in May.Aspan, 69, was charged with the improper use of network facilities by initiating the transmission of offensive communications with the intention to annoy others using a Facebook account with the profile name “Aspan Alias” at 2.47pm on May 16.The post was read at 9am on May 18 at the Cyber Crime and Multimedia Investigation Division Office at the Commercial Crime Investigation Department, Bukit Aman police headquarters, on the 27th floor of Menara KPJ in Wangsa Maju.The charge was framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to one year or both, with the individual also liable for a further fine of RM1,000 for every day the offence is committed after conviction.Judge MM Edwin Paramjothy allowed Aspan, represented by lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, bail of RM3,000 with one surety and set Dec 10 for mention.Deputy public prosecutor Najihah Farhana Che Awang prosecuted.


Anwar clocks in for duty at Perdana Putra

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today commenced his duty at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya.
He arrived at the main block of the Perdana Putra building, which houses the Prime Minister's Office, at about 9.55am.
He was received by Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd  Zuki Ali.
Also present were Public Service Department director-general Mohd Shafiq Abdullah, Attorney-General Idrus Harun, Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and army chief Zamrose Mohd Zain.
Anwar then clocked in at his office on the fifth floor of the building.
The Tambun MP later joined a prayer led by the Prime Minister’s Department integrity officer Muhd Redza Ahmad before signing a welcome book.
Earlier, Anwar waved to reporters who had camped outside the compound of Perdana Putra waiting for his arrival.
He also mingled with the civil servants waiting for his arrival at the lobby of Perdana Putra.
Anwar, 75, took his oath as the 10th prime minister before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah yesterday.
At his maiden press conference as prime minister, Anwar stressed that a unity government would be formed with the participation of several parties to ensure the stability of the country and economy as well as to uphold the spirit of the Federal Constitution.
He said the three largest components of the unity government are Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and Gabungan Parti Sarawak.


South Africa sees spike in child infections

Doctors in South Africa said Friday there had been a spike in hospitalisations among young children after Omicron swept through the country but stressed it was early to know if they were particularly susceptible.In the week since South Africa alerted the world of the new Covid variant, infections have spread faster than in the country’s three previous waves.The first cluster of cases centred around university students, and then spread quickly among young people who seem to have spread it to older people.But scientists and health officials said they had seen increasing hospital admissions in children under five, along with higher positivity rates among children aged 10-14.Wassila Jassat, from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, said: “We’ve seen quite a sharp increase across all age groups, particularly in the under fives,” referring to hospitalisations.“The incidence in those under fives is now second-highest, and second only to the incidence in those over 60,” she told a news conference.Scientists cited several possible reasons. One is that children under 12 are not yet eligible for vaccines in South Africa. Doctors have reported anecdotally that both children and parents testing positive have not been vaccinated, she said.NICD’s head of public health Michelle Groome said the virus was spreading faster than at any point in the pandemic in Gauteng, the province where Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria are located.“Preliminary data suggests Omicron is more transmissible and has some immune evasion,” she said.South African scientists on Thursday reported that the reinfections were three times as likely with Omicron, compared to the Delta or Beta strains.Although generally patients are showing milder symptoms, Groome cautioned that the onset of serious illness would only be expected over the coming two weeks.The country recorded 11,535 new cases Thursday, mostly in the epicentre Gauteng.That is five times more than the reported cases just one week ago, when South African scientists alerted the world to the new variant.


Covid jab maker BioNTech to build factory in Singapore

Covid jab maker BioNTech said Monday it would build a factory in Singapore that could produce hundreds of millions of doses of vaccines based on its mRNA technology per year in Southeast Asia.Construction of the manufacturing plant and a regional headquarters in Singapore will start this year, and the site could become operational by 2023, the German company said in a statement.“With this planned mRNA production facility, we will increase our overall network capacity and expand our ability to manufacture and deliver our mRNA vaccines and therapies to people around the world,” said BioNTech chief executive Ugur Sahin.The vaccine produced by BioNTech jointly with Pfizer of the US became the first Covid-19 jab to be approved for use in the West late last year.It is now supplying more than 90 countries worldwide, and is expecting to ramp up its production to up to three billion doses by the end of the year from 2.5 billion doses expected previously.The pace will further accelerate to more than three billion doses in 2022.Messenger RNA genetic technology trains the body to reproduce spike proteins, similar to that found on the coronavirus.When exposed to the real virus later, the body recognises the spike proteins and is able to fight them off.US pharmaceutical firm Moderna uses the same technology for its vaccine.


Think tank challenges protest over vaccine pricing

A public health think tank today defended the government’s vaccine procurement strategy, saying concerns over pricing are the result of “misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy theories”.The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy said this is especially in the wake of the vaccine prices revealed by Belgium.“The Malaysian government has stated that it has allocated RM3 billion for the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines which is expected to cover at least 70% of the population.“It has not and is not expected to pay RM3 billion for just 10 million vaccines,” Galen CEO Azrul Mohd Khalib said.On the prices revealed by Belgium, he said the list is for the entire European Union, which has a population of 447 million.“It is not pricing just for Belgium,” he added. “The EU pricing also does not include vaccine logistical costs to vaccination sites.”In a statement, he said much of the protest over vaccine pricing is also due to the exclusion of middlemen or tender agents from the deals.“This is what happens when the government deals directly with the supplier and no middle men such as tender agents are involved.“A lot of public money is saved, and the cost involved is reduced significantly.”Last month, the government said it had inked a deal with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech for a supply of vaccine to be delivered beginning first quarter of 2021.The initial agreement will see 12.8 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine delivered to immunise 6.4 million people or 20% of Malaysians.Malaysia has also signed an agreement with the Covax Facility to procure Covid-19 vaccine for 10% of Malaysians.Azrul said estimates by his centre put the price of the Pfizer vaccine at US$19.50 per dose, meaning a total of about US$249.6 million or RM1 billion.However, citing the statement by science minister Khairy Jamaluddin in the Dewan Rakyat that Malaysia had secured the vaccine at less than RM100 for a single dose, including the logistical costs which will be handled by Pfizer, he said the total cost for that vaccine would likely be about RM1.2 billion.“For Covax, we estimate that it would cost RM275 million (RM86 per person) and for AstraZeneca, RM89.6 million (RM28 per person),” he added.


Saifuddin uses ministerial power to exempt Umno from Societies Act

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has used his ministerial power to exempt Umno from a clause in the Societies Act, allowing the party to forego elections for its top two posts.
This followed a call by Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob on party chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to make public a letter from the Registrar of Societies (RoS) reportedly approving the no-contest motion passed at the recent general assembly.
In a statement, Saifuddin said his ministry received Umno's no-contest motion from secretary-general Ahmad Maslan on March 3.
He said based on the powers vested in him under Section 70 of the Societies Act, he was exempting the party from abiding by a provision under Section 13 of the same act.
The provision states that the RoS may cancel the registration of any society if it is found to have contravened any provision of the Societies Act.
But Section 70 of the same act gives the home minister the power to exempt any society from these provisions.
There had been conflicting media reports on the contents of a letter from the RoS, which reportedly approved Umno's no-contest motion.
This prompted Ismail to urge Zahid to make the letter public.
"One says RoS rejected it, but the next day, another says it was approved. People are confused," he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.


Sorry.


Penang developer linked to undersea tunnel case falls to his death

A prominent developer believed to be a key prosecution witness in the Penang undersea tunnel graft case fell to his death at a condominium in Pulau Tikus early today.Chinese daily Sin Chew reported that Ewe Swee Kheng fell from the 17th floor of a luxury apartment at 2am, and that his body landed in the swimming pool.The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) meanwhile confirmed that Ewe had been a prosecution witness and said it had been informed of his death.Ewe was the managing director of Penang-based property developer Ewein Bhd.He was arrested by MACC in 2018 as part of the investigation into the undersea tunnel project.Ewein said at the time that neither it nor its subsidiaries were involved in the project.In the trial which is ongoing at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng faces four charges of soliciting bribes and abuse of power in relation to the construction of an undersea tunnel and paired roads worth RM6.3 billion.Once complete, the 7.2km tunnel would be the first undersea road link in the country, connecting Butterworth in the mainland to George Town on the island. The construction is a joint undertaking between the state government and Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd.


Last night out for French cities ahead of virus curfew

Millions of French people prepared Friday to enjoy a last night of freedom before a Covid-19 curfew in Paris and other large cities, after officials warned that new efforts were needed to curb an alarming surge in new cases.The curfew, which aims to keep some 20 million people home from 9pm to 6am, was unveiled by President Emmanuel Macron this week as the number of new infections and deaths raised the spectre of hospital overloads like those seen in March and April.Health authorities reported Thursday a record 30,621 new cases in the past 24 hours and 88 deaths, and over 200 new Covid admissions to intensive care units.While the curfew has broad public support – a Harris Interactive poll after Macron’s announcement found 70% approval – officials in several cities worried about the heavy social and economic costs of a measure set to last at least a month.The new nighttime restrictions come into force for the first time at midnight on Friday in the capital and eight other major regional cities.Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is pressing the government to ease the rules for theatres, cinemas and other cultural venues so that patrons can return home later, with details on the rules in the capital expected later Friday.Restaurant owners have also complained bitterly about a measure they say makes little sense given the strict social distancing rules they have already applied, and noting that groups of less than six can still gather for lunch.“I’ve never seen anything like this in the 50 years I’ve been here,” said Stain Roman, manager of La Mere Buonavista restaurant in Marseille, another city facing the curfew.She said she would close down entirely at night, as have hundreds of other restaurants across France. “What else can we do? Our employees have to be home by 9pm,” she said.Marseille’s Mayor Michele Rubirola – herself a doctor – contested a measure she said resulted from the government’s insufficient efforts to bolster hospital systems over the last few months.She said residents were paying the price “by the loss of their daily pleasures, their freedom, or through economic hardship, because the bar and restaurant industry is being hit extremely hard.”‘Everybody home’Prime Minister Jean Castex confirmed Thursday that the curfew requires nearly all businesses would have to shut their doors, except for essential services, with “everybody home from 9 to 6”.A signed attestation or an electronic version downloaded to a phone will be needed for people walking their dogs or other exceptions, or risk a fine of €135 (US$160) — the same as during the two-month lockdown during the height of the pandemic.That prompted the French cinemas federation to warn of “extremely serious” consequences for the sector, urging authorities to let people return later for films that end after 9pm.Officials have also outlawed wedding celebrations and other parties in public venues as well as student parties, and urged people to limit gatherings in private homes to six people as well.“We have to act. We need to put a brake on the spread of the virus,” Macron said Wednesday, when he also put the entire country back under a health state of emergency.The move notably requires all restaurants to require clients to provide contact details so that authorities can contact them if a coronavirus infection is reported.


From court bench to witness box for ex-CJ and AG

Former chief justice Zaki Ami and former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali whose long legal careers saw them on the bench on numerous occasions have been speaking from the witness box as witness and plaintiff in separate trials.Needless to say, the view has been quite different.Zaki, who was chief justice for three years from 2008, laughed when asked whether he felt nervous about testifying before a judge for the first time as a witness.“No, not nervous, but I was a little anxious. As a judge, I was used to sitting on the bench. As a counsel, I was used to sitting where the lawyers usually sit.“However, last Wednesday, I sat in the witness box,” said Zaki, who was a practising lawyer before being appointed as a Federal Court judge in September 2007, the first such direct appointment in Malaysian judicial history.Zaki said it was an interesting experience as well as a historic moment for him to be testifying in court.“My first attendance in court was in 1987 when I was a lawyer. Last week, I attended court as a witness,” he said.“It was an interesting and great experience waiting in the witness room with the other witnesses before being called to testify. As the former chief justice in Malaysia and (as a chief justice in) Dubai, it was a historic moment for me,” he said, adding that not many judges or lawyers could tell such a story to their grandchildren.In November 2018, Zaki made headlines after he was appointed as chief justice of the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts which deals with civil and commercial disputes in Dubai, one of the world’s leading financial centres.Last Wednesday, he was the sixth prosecution witness in the Sessions Court at the trial of former Sabah infrastructure development minister Peter Anthony who is facing charges of using false documents relating to a system maintenance contract.He testified in his capacity as chairman of the Universiti Malaysia Sabah board of directors from April 3, 2013 to July 31, 2018.Apandi, who is now a practising lawyer, was a Federal Court judge prior to his appointment as attorney-general in 2015.He said it was his first time testifying in court and that he regarded it as a great experience.“I did not feel nervous because the courts have been my playground. I am used to attending court every day. I am used to seeing witnesses take their oath and give evidence. I was calm and cool when I testified,” he said.Apandi, who was attorney-general from July 27, 2015 to June 4, 2018, had testified in the trial of his defamation suit against DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang before High Court judge Azimah Omar.


Medicine supply under control, avoid panic buying, health ministry says

The health ministry has assured that the supply of medicine in the country is still under control, advising the public to avoid panic buying.Deputy minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said the people should understand that the effectiveness of medicine in treating a disease is the same regardless of brand or manufacturer.“For example, there are various medicines for high blood pressure. Some are patented while others are generic, but all of them have the same effect.“So, if brand A is not available, we can replace it with medicine from brand B,” he told reporters after officiating an event in Kuala Lumpur today.He added that the ministry was constantly monitoring the situation and would take stern action against any quarter who tried to take advantage by manipulating the prices of medicines in the market.


Vietnam police summon noodle seller after ‘Salt Bae’ parody video

Police in Vietnam have summoned a beef noodle seller who filmed himself imitating Nusret Gokce, or “Salt Bae”, days after a top Vietnamese official was caught on camera eating gold-encrusted steak at the Turkish celebrity chef’s London restaurant.Bui Tuan Lam, 38, from the central city of Danang, said his intention in making the video, which shows him ceremoniously slicing boiled beef and flamboyantly sprinkling green onions into a bowl of noodle soup, was not to mock any particular individual.“The video I made was for fun and for advertising my beef noodle shop. More customers have been coming since I posted it,” said Lam, who added it was not clear if the police summons was because of his video.Last week, Gokce uploaded a video of himself feeding Vietnam’s Minister of Public Security, To Lam, gold leaf encrusted steak at his London restaurant, where a steak sells for up to 1,450 pounds (US$1,960).Days later, Facebook said it had unblocked the ‘#saltbae’ hashtag, having found the tag had been blocked globally after the footage emerged.Police in Vietnam routinely summon activists and people publicly critical of the ruling Communist Party for questioning. Danang police did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.Lam, who has previously criticised authorities on Facebook, said he had been “raising his voice for a better society”, and that police had previously summoned him for a meeting in April, without saying why.He described himself in a Facebook post uploaded alongside the video as “Green Onion Bae”.Images of To Lam’s golden dinner have caused a stir both on and offline in Vietnam, with many questioning how such a high-ranking Party official allowed himself to be filmed indulging in such expensive food amid a state crackdown on corruption.


Now, PH wants probe on MACC adviser

Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders today called for an investigation into the chairman of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) advisory board following his statement this week clearing MACC chief Azam Baki of conflict of interest in the purchase of company shares in 2015.In a statement signed by PKR’s Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah’s Mohamad Sabu, DAP’s Lim Guan Eng and Upko’s Madius Tangau, they said the controversy had jeopardised MACC’s integrity and credibility at both the local and international level.“The Presidential Council calls for the MACC chief as well as Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman Abu Zahar Ujang to be investigated by an independent body and placed on leave for the duration of the probe over the possible failure to carry out their duties in accordance with the law,” they said.Zahar had said at a press conference on Wednesday that the board members were satisfied with Azam’s explanation of the matter.He also said that no further investigation would be conducted, and that a royal commission of inquiry would not be necessary although the matter would be referred to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob following calls by opposition leaders for government action.Azam himself said he would take legal action against those who had accused him over the matter, saying the shares in question had been transferred to his brother’s account.He also spoke of an agenda to erode public trust in the anti-graft agency.The Securities Commission Malaysia however said that Azam had gone against the law in sharing sharing central depositories accounts.It said every securities account opened with a central depository must be in the name of the beneficial owner of the deposited securities or an authorised nominee.It also said it would be in touch with the parties involved, including Azam, for an explanation and to verify the statements made.The PH leaders said Zahar had too readily accepted the explanation given, and that a more open and thorough investigation should have been held as the matter involved the alleged purchase of shares worth millions of ringgit in public-listed companies.“We repeat our stand that a full investigation should be carried out by an independent body with no links to the MACC, not just against the current chief commissioner but also those who served in the past.”They also urged the police to open an investigation paper to look into whether any laws had been broken.


Rights group urges criminal action on army personnel found guilty of assault

Rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has called for a criminal investigation into army personnel caught on video assaulting migrant workers, with action to be taken against them if they are found guilty of the offence.LFL coordinator Zaid Malek said “the culture of impunity” among enforcement authorities was a “serious problem” that had become more apparent during the movement control order (MCO) period.“The unclear SOPs have led to abuse of power by enforcement authorities who have arbitrarily and inconsistently enforced the rules and regulations imposed during the MCO.“The unlawful assault and mistreatment of migrant workers is yet another example of this abuse,” he said.Adding that the “real culprits” behind the increase in Covid-19 infections are “certain large money-making corporations that have failed to comply with the law at the expense of migrants workers health and well-being”, he said migrant workers are the victims and should not be vilified.MalaysiaNow reported earlier this week that video clips had emerged showing men in uniform employing brutal and inhumane tactics on migrant workers believed to be under quarantine for Covid-19.Andy Hall, a migrant worker rights activist based in Nepal who has knowledge about the clips, told MalaysiaNow that the incidents happened in Meru, Klang.Armed Forces chief Affendi Buang later said an investigation into the clips is ongoing, and that preliminary action had already been taken.He also said the personnel in question had acted “a little beyond bounds”.“I know this member acted a little beyond bounds and I apologise about the matter.“But at the same time, members of the Armed Forces do not behave as they please. If they did, surely many cases of assault would have taken place,” he said.In a statement, Zaid said it was regrettable that the Armed Forces had chosen to “trivialise” alleged acts of assault by its personnel.“Assault is not merely a disciplinary issue; it is a crime under the law, and should have been condemned in an unqualified manner. Criminal probes must be instituted against said personnel.”Adding that the matter was taken seriously only after the videos surfaced online, he said the authorities should be aware that “under no circumstances can they inflict any physical harm to anyone even if they are in breach of MCO regulations”.“Their duty is and has always been to safeguard the people, including migrants and refugees, from further spread of Covid-19 and they must execute their duties within the confines of the law.”


US CDC no longer recommends students quarantine for Covid-19 exposure

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer recommend quarantines or test-to-stay programs at schools or daycare centers for people exposed to Covid-19, the agency said in updated guidelines on Thursday.
The agency also said it was no longer recommending unvaccinated people quarantine after exposure as around 95% of the US population has either been vaccinated, had Covid-19 already, or both.
"This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but also helps us move to a point where Covid-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives," CDC scientist v said in a statement.
The CDC said it had updated its recommendations that people exposed to Covid-19 should wear a high quality mask for 10 days and test on the fifth day after exposure, regardless of vaccination status.
"Both prior infection and vaccination confer some protection against severe illness, and so it really makes the most sense to not differentiate with our guidance or our recommendations based on vaccination status at this time," Dr Massetti told reporters.
The CDC's school guidance also removed recommendations to keep children in cohorts in order to reduce the likelihoood of Covid-19 exposure.
While the agency removed its test-to-stay recommendations for schools, it did say schools could consider implementing screening for Covid-19 for high-risk activities like close contact sports or at key times of the year.


Kim Jong Un's sister slams 'idiot' South Korean president

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has described South Korea's president and government as "idiots" and a "faithful dog" of the US, state media reported Thursday.
Kim Yo Jong's vitriol follows Seoul this week saying it was considering fresh unilateral sanctions on the North over recent missile tests, including an intercontinental ballistic missile launch last week.
"This disgusting act shows more clearly that the south Korean group is a 'faithful dog' and stooge of the US," Kim said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"I wonder what 'sanctions' the south Korean group, no more than a running wild dog on a bone given by the US, impudently impose on the DPRK," she said, using the acronym of the North's official name. "What a spectacle sight!"
Pyongyang always refers to South Korea with a lowercase "s", an apparent sign of disrespect.
Kim accused South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol of creating a "dangerous situation" and compared him unfavourably to his more dovish predecessor Moon Jae-in, under whom, she said, Seoul "had not been our target".
"I wonder why the south Korean people still remain a passive onlooker to such acts of the 'government' of Yoon Suk Yeol and other idiots," she said.
North Korea tends to issue statements before carrying out a provocation, Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul said, adding: "There may be an armed demonstration against South Korea and the US soon."
Friday's ICBM launch was the latest in a record-breaking blitz of recent Pyongyang launches, and officials and analysts in Seoul and Washington have warned they could culminate in a seventh nuclear test.
North Korea has a long history of colourful personal attacks against foreign leaders, and analysts have often noted the country's failure to use "diplomatic language".
"Basically, they can't speak well of the countries they consider enemies," said Go Myong-hyun, a researcher at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.
Before US President Joe Biden was nominated as a candidate, Pyongyang called him "a rabid dog" that "must be beaten to death with a stick" and famously referred to his predecessor Donald Trump as a "mentally deranged US dotard".


China's Xi urges greater innovation amid tech curbs from US

China's President Xi Jinping, on an inspection tour of a major industrial province, renewed his call for greater innovation and technological self-reliance, as the US intensifies curbs on Chinese access to advanced technologies.
China should accelerate the upgrades of key technologies and core products, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Friday, citing Xi during his visit to a company's high-tech manufacturing zone in eastern Jiangsu province.
"With the rapid development of information technology and the emergence of disruptive technologies at any time, it is necessary to maintain a solid footing on the path of innovation and contribute to the realisation of high-level self-reliance in technology," Xi said.
Xi's call to strengthen technological innovation comes as US-China tensions over semiconductors that began with the Trump administration's trade war intensify under President Joe Biden's leadership.
Washington is mulling new restrictions on sales of artificial intelligence microchips, following a sweeping set of export controls last year to cut China off from certain semiconductor chips made anywhere in the world with US equipment.
The US is also considering restricting flow of its investments and know-how into Chinese companies working on advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
To protect the development of China's technology sector, Xi has increasingly called for more self-reliance and the need to achieve scientific breakthroughs, turning even to state firms to win the "battle" of key core technologies and safeguard China's industrial security.
Earlier this week, China abruptly announced export controls of two metals widely used in semiconductors and electric vehicles aimed at protecting its national security and interests, with Chinese state media and a policy adviser saying it was "just a start."
The US is seeking a healthy competition with China based on fair rules that benefit both countries, not a "winner-take-all" approach, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday in Beijing.
Yellen's trip to China comes weeks after a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who agreed with Xi that the mutual rivalry should not veer into conflict.


Busy week for Singapore's hangman ahead of first post-pandemic National Day do

Singapore is set to hang a total of four prisoners in the coming days, a record number of executions in the city-state matched only by the recent state executions of four democracy activists in Myanmar.
It is understood that there will be double executions on Aug 2 and 5, ahead of Singapore's first post-pandemic National Day celebration on Aug 9.
MalaysiaNow has learnt that one of the four prisoners is a Malaysian who was among 17 death row prisoners involved in a historic suit against the Singapore government, accusing it of ethnic bias in their prosecutions.
Another fellow plaintiff set to be hanged is Abdul Rahim Shapiee, a 45-year-old Singaporean Malay.
Singapore has so far executed two of the plaintiffs, whose suit was thrown out last year, and whose lawyers were slapped with heavy fines over charges of "abusing the process".
Human rights campaigner Kokila Annamalai said Rahim's family was notified of his impending execution this morning.
"His sister, who received the call while alone at work, is rushing to see him after Friday prayers today," the vocal anti-death penalty activist said in a series of Twitter posts.
"She is one of the most active members of our Family Support Network, often providing care, comfort and support to other family members. Today, her world comes crashing down," she added.
It is understood that the families of the three other prisoners have not consented to the publication of their names.
All four were convicted of charges under Singapore's draconian drug laws, which have come under increasing scrutiny in recent months.
Lawyers and activists have pointed out that those executed are mostly from poor families, hired as mules by drug kingpins who have largely escaped arrest, an argument that Singapore courts have rejected.
The frequency of the executions had also prompted Amnesty International to urge the international community to step up the pressure against Singapore.
"Rather than having a unique deterrent effect on crime, these executions only show the utter disregard the Singaporean authorities have for human rights and the right to life," the global rights group said on July 22, the day that Nazeri Lajim, a 64-year-old Singaporean who had been addicted to drugs since the age of 14, was executed.
A day earlier, Nazeri, who could not get a counsel to represent him amid the climate of fear following actions against lawyers representing death row prisoners, made a desperate plea to the judges for more time to see his family members before his execution.
The PAP-led government has rejected calls for a review of the drug penalty, insisting that it has been effective even as neighbouring Malaysia announced that it was abolishing its mandatory death penalty.
In just over three months since February, Singapore has carried out six hangings, including that of Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, a Malaysian diagnosed with a low IQ, which made his execution illegal under international treaties as well as the Singapore constitution.
Nagaenthran was hanged in April despite pleas for leniency from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob as well as British aviation magnate Richard Branson.


Selangor Sultan did not forbid Bon Odori event, says Jais

The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) will not prevent anyone from attending the Bon Odori event, scheduled for July 16 at the Shah Alam National Sports Complex, says its director Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad.In a statement yesterday, he said the decision followed a command by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who gave no consent to any decision on the matter without a study and due consideration.“His Royal Highness is of the opinion that many cultures are linked to religion but religion need not necessarily be present in a culture. The sultan also stated that practising something is different from viewing it.“His Royal Highness is also not worried because if the faith of Muslims is strong and true, they will not be convinced of or practise anything that is contrary to the creed of Ahlul Sunnah wal Jama’ah,” he said.Shahzihan said the Selangor sultan also ordered that all matters be decided upon with fairness and impartiality in a multiracial and multi-religious society like Selangor’s.“In this regard, His Royal Highness has ordered Jais and the Shah Alam City Council officials to attend the (Bon Odori) event to see for themselves what takes place at the event.“The sultan himself attended the event some years ago and did not see anything which could erode the faith of Muslims. It is a social programme for the industry workers of the many Japanese companies that operate in Selangor,” he added.Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur, Alumni of Look East Policy Society (Aleps) president Zulfiqat Zainuddin said the annual Bon Odori festival was an activity to promote Japanese culture in Malaysia and had no element of Buddhism.He said Aleps had been helping the main organiser, the Japan Club Kuala Lumpur, promote the event to the public.“From the views and explanations of the Japanese embassy and the main organiser, we use the Bon Odori festival as a platform to introduce Japanese culture to Malaysians,” he said when contacted by Bernama.