Even Agong must step down if charged, what about DPM, asks Mahathir

Dr Mahathir Mohamad today cited a constitutional amendment passed during his first term in power as he continued to question the controversial appointment of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as deputy prime minister despite the criminal charges against the Umno president.
Mahathir, whose administration in 1993 removed the immunity of the rulers from criminal action, pointed to a provision in the constitution allowing even the Agong to cease his role as ruler if charged with an offence.
"It reads as follows: 'The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall cease to exercise the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong if charged with an offence'," Mahathir said, quoting Article 33A of the Federal Constitution.
"It is obvious that being charged with an offence is so serious that a person such as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong would cease to exercise the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"It does not say that he would have to be found guilty before His Majesty ceases to exercise his function. Being charged is clearly serious enough for the constitution to prescribe the cessation of his function," he added.
Zahid is facing 47 criminal charges related to the misuse of funds from charity foundation Yayasan Akalbudi. He was slapped with another 40 graft charges in the foreign visa case, of which he was acquitted earlier this year.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim nevertheless appointed the Umno president as his deputy, giving him in addition the important rural and regional development portfolio in the Cabinet.
Zahid was instrumental in pushing Anwar to the top post, successfully silencing protests from Umno leaders in order to join hands with the Pakatan Harapan chairman following the hung parliament in the aftermath of the Nov 19 polls.
Mahathir said earlier this month that Zahid's appointment showed that Malaysia does not hold to the rule of law.
"If we want to clean up the country, we cannot choose people who are considered to have committed crimes," he told reporters on Dec 7, days after the announcement of Anwar's Cabinet line-up.
"Yes, he has not yet been found guilty, but if someone is facing even one case in court, it is enough to show that he is not qualified to be a leader."
Mahathir today said that Zahid had nevertheless been given the second highest post in the country.
"Is the deputy prime minister a more senior functionary that he should be better treated than the Yang di-Pertuan Agong?
"There is a need for reform here, methinks," he said, before taking a jibe at critics who had urged him to retire.
"Okay. I will look after my grandchildren now. Just ignore this," he quipped.


Sorry.


Cops say Lokman Adam’s video criminally intimidating

Police say the video uploaded to social media by Lokman Noor Adam was said to be criminally intimidating and contained the use of vulgar words against the leadership of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Huzir Mohamed said the act was committed during a live telecast on Facebook.“The Classified Criminal Investigations Unit of the CID prosecution and law division has begun investigating a report lodged on the matter.“Police also seized the gadget believed to be used to upload the video. The suspect has been remanded for one day for further investigation,” he told Bernama when contacted today.Huzir said the case is being investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for the improper use of network facilities or service and Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 for the use of indecent words.He added that the investigation is being conducted professionally and fairly without any pressure or directive from any party.Huzir also urged all parties to allow the police to complete their investigation in a transparent manner, saying stern action would be taken against those who deliberately threaten public order and security.Bernama reported today that police had confirmed the arrest of the former Umno Supreme Council member yesterday for allegedly making a seditious statement on Facebook.


Talks with Singapore in the pipeline for mutual recognition of vaccine certs, says Muhyiddin

Malaysia and Singapore will undertake efforts to recognise each other’s Covid-19 vaccination certificates to facilitate border crossings, National Recovery Council (MPN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin says.Muhyiddin said he had recently discussed this with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who agreed in principle.For the time being, he said Singapore was being cautious about opening its borders as both countries are still dealing with Covid-19 cases, while the vaccination process on both sides of the border is not yet completed.“Malaysians want to visit Singapore and they want to come here too as both countries share close ties, including daily business activities.“And when the borders can’t be opened, this turns out to be a big problem,” he told reporters after a meeting with Johor Bersatu leaders here today.To date, the only cross-border activity allowed involves lorry and trailer drivers who have had their vaccine shots in Singapore.Muhyiddin said if there is a breakthrough between both countries on the matter, it will also pave the way for similar talks with other nations including Thailand.“In our meetings, we have already started discussing the (possibility of) opening up our borders, either for foreign tourists or just for Malaysians.“We will also examine data and science and seek the views of experts, including at the health ministry level and also look at border security issues under the home ministry,” he said.Besides border crossing, Muhyiddin said issues concerning unemployment, including among graduates in the country, and underpaid employees will also be discussed at the MPN meeting next Monday.“Unemployment among graduates was already an issue even before the pandemic, but maybe it is a more stressful situation now. What we did when I was prime minister was to work on job initiatives through the National Employment Council.“I expect Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to continue with this effort to generate as many job opportunities as possible. Our previous target was 500,000 jobs,” he said.He said with the opening of more economic sectors such as tourism and manufacturing, there would soon be more jobs and options available, including for those currently being underpaid.


Death toll hits 1,400 as new cases stay above 2,000

Another 2,340 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 381,813.Selangor reported 526 cases, followed by Sarawak (429), Kelantan (370), Kuala Lumpur (291), Sabah (172), Johor (170) and Penang (111).Pahang reported 81 cases, Melaka 63, Kedah 55, Perak 38, Negeri Sembilan 24, Putrajaya six, Labuan two and Terengganu and Perlis one each.Active cases stand at 21,687 with 248 in the ICU and 101 in need of respiratory assistance.Eleven more clusters were detected:1. Jalan Anggerik 21 (Johor Bahru in Johor; 651 screened, 13 positive)2. Pengkalan Batik (Alor Gajah in Melaka; 196 screened, 37 positive)3. Anggerik Cempaka (Baling in Kedah; 87 screened, six positive)4. Jalan Langat Ceria (Hulu Langat, Petaling, Klang, Kuala Langat, Gombak and Sepang in Selangor; 144 screened, 50 positive)5. Sungai Lemayong (Meradong in Sarawak; 151 screened, 69 positive)6. Pintasan Kampung Jawa (Barat Daya, Timur Laut and Seberang Perai Tengah in Penang; 151 screened, 69 positive)7. Putra Tiga (Putrajaya; 33 screened, eight positive)8. Duranda Emas (Serian in Sarawak; 75 screened, 19 positive)9. Taman Mesra Bako (Kuching and Samarahan in Sarawak; 721 screened, 50 positive)10. Pagar Siput Dua (Kota Tinggi in Johor; 169 screened, 36 positive)11. Jalan Perai Jaya (Seberang Perai Utara, Seberang Perai Tengah and Seberang Perai Selatan in Penang; 14 screened, 11 positive)Eight others ended, leaving 343 active clusters across the country.Another 1,910 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 358,726.However, 11 more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 1,400.


Rahmah haj packages top choice for 35% of pilgrims

35% of the 8,500 pilgrims who use the haj package services offered by haj pilgrimage operators (PJH) opted for Rahmah haj packages priced at RM50,000 and below.
PJH operations director Mohd Zawawi Bostam said the slight price difference between the Rahmah haj packages and the haj fee for muassasah pilgrims was one of the factors that led them to choose the package.
According to him, this also contributed to a 20% increase in the number of PJH pilgrims for this year’s haj season, compared to previous years.
Speaking to reporters in Mecca, he said pilgrims who choose the Rahmah haj package will enjoy facilities such as a three-star hotel or higher and accommodation closer to the mosque.
In addition, he said about 2% of PJH pilgrims choose packages priced between RM100,000 and RM250,000.
Mohd Zawawi said that for this year, Lembaga Tabung Haji had issued licences to 22 travel agencies to operate as PJHs, offering a total of 250 haj packages.
In the meantime, he said the PJH operations office will monitor all the travel agencies involved to ensure that they provide the promised services to pilgrims.
“If an operator fails to comply with the stipulated terms and conditions, the company may receive a verbal warning, be fined, and have its licence suspended or revoked,” he said.
Malaysia received a haj quota of 31,600 pilgrims for the 1444 Hijrah haj season from the Saudi Arabian government.


China logs nearly 40 million entry-exit trips in two months

China logged 39.72 million entry and exit trips from Jan 8 to March 7, according to National Immigration Administration data, showing the revival in travel after Covid-19 restrictions were dismantled.
The numbers were up 112.4% year-over-year.
Data showed 122,000 visas and residence permits for foreigners were issued by immigration administration agencies nationwide by March 7, up 33.1% from before the policy U-turn.
Chinese citizens flocked to travel sites and airports after the country re-opened its borders, allowing people to take advantage of travel after being cut off from the rest of the world.
During the recent Lunar New Year in late January, holiday trips surged in the country.
The number of people entering and leaving the country hit 1.013 million on Feb 25, exceeding one million in a single day for the first time since 2020, said the National Immigration Administration.


Biden urges Americans to leave Ukraine as fears of Russian invasion mount

US President Joe Biden urged Americans Thursday to immediately leave Ukraine, as Russia’s live-fire drills and build-up of troops around the ex-Soviet state deepened fears of an invasion.Washington-Moscow tensions are at their highest since the Cold War, with some US estimates saying some 130,000 Russian soldiers are grouped in dozens of combat brigades near the border with Ukraine.“American citizens should leave now,” Biden said in a pre-taped interview with NBC News.“We’re dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It’s a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly.”Biden reiterated that under no circumstances would he send US troops to Ukraine, even to rescue Americans in case of a Russian invasion.“That’s a world war. When Americans and Russians start shooting one another, we’re in a very different world,” he said.Biden’s remarks were released hours after Russia rolled its tanks across Belarus for live-fire drills that drew an ominous warning from Nato and added urgency to Western efforts to avert war on the continent.Nato said Russia’s deployment of missiles, heavy armor and machine-gun toting soldiers marked a “dangerous moment” for Europe some three decades after the Soviet Union’s collapse.Western leaders have been shuttling to Moscow in an effort to keep the lines of communication open, giving Russia a chance to air its grievances about Nato’s expansion into eastern Europe and ex-Soviet states.But they have also sought to project their resolve in the face of what they is Russian escalation of an already-tense situation.“Russia should not underestimate our unity and determination as a partner in the EU and as an ally in Nato,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned.In a bid to “reduce chances of miscalculation” during the drills, US and Belarusian defense chiefs held rare telephone talks, the Pentagon said Thursday.Russia has also sent six warships through the Bosphorus for naval drills on the Black Sea and the neighboring Sea of Azov.Kyiv condemned their presence as an “unprecedented” attempt to cut off Ukraine from both seas.Moscow and Minsk have not disclosed how many troops are participating, but the US has said around 30,000 soldiers were being dispatched to Belarus from locations including Russia’s Far East.‘Disappointed’Russia’s defense ministry insisted the exercises would center around “suppressing and repelling external aggression” and the Kremlin has promised the troops will go home after the exercises.But Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said “the accumulation of forces at the border is psychological pressure from our neighbors”.Kyiv has launched its own military drills expected to mirror Russia’s games, but officials have said little about them out of apparent fear of escalating tensions.Russia is seeking written guarantees that Nato will withdraw its presence from eastern Europe and never expand into Ukraine.The US and Nato have officially rejected Russia’s demands.Washington has however floated the idea of the sides striking a new disarmament agreement for Europe – an offer viewed as dramatically insufficient by Moscow.British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was the latest Western diplomat to travel to Moscow on Thursday, where she reported receiving promises from her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that the Kremlin had no plans to invade Ukraine.“We need to see those words followed up by actions,” she told reporters after the talks.But Lavrov said he was “disappointed” by the talks, saying the military drills and the movement of troops across Russia’s own territory had spurred “incomprehensible alarm and quite strong emotions from our British counterparts and other Western representatives”.‘Warning time going down’Truss’ trip came just days after French President Emmanuel Macron conducted a round of shuttle diplomacy between Moscow and Kyiv, before briefing Scholtz about progress in Berlin.The German chancellor will travel to Kyiv and Moscow next week for separate meetings with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders – including his first in-person meeting with Putin.His position on the new Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany will be under particularly close scrutiny.In Washington this week, Scholz had been largely evasive about Biden’s pledge to “bring an end” to the critical energy link should Russia invade Ukraine.The chancellor later said it was a conscious decision “not to publish the entire catalog” of potential sanctions “because we can gain a little bit of power” by remaining vague.The flurry of diplomatic activity included a meeting between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.“The number of Russian forces is going up. The warning time for a possible attack is going down,” Stoltenberg said at a news conference with Johnson.“Renewed Russian aggression will lead to more Nato presence, not less,” he added.But Johnson stressed after a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda – one of Ukraine’s strongest allies in Europe – that Western states must “tirelessly pursue the path of diplomacy”.


‘Eek!’ Covid mutation reported in Indonesia as jabs run short

Indonesia has reported its first case of a more infectious new variant of the coronavirus, which is suspected of reducing vaccine protection.However, the government on Tuesday said vaccines being used in the country could withstand the mutation.The new variant contains the E484K mutation first identified in South Africa and Brazil.It is nicknamed “Eek!” by scientists for its apparent “scary” ability to evade natural immunity from previous Covid-19 infection and to reduce protection offered by current vaccines.Siti Nadia Tarmizi, a senior health ministry official, said on Tuesday that the one case had recovered and did not infect close contacts.However, Herawati Sudoyo, deputy director for fundamental research at the Eijkman Institute, which specialises in medical molecular biology and biotechnology, said the ability of vaccines to overcome the mutation has yet to be determined.The first case of the variant comes as the country prepares for a reduced supply of the AstraZeneca shot due to export curbs imposed by the Indian manufacturer in order to prioritise its domestic supplies.Indonesia’s health minister said on Monday only 20 million of the 30 million doses it had ordered from the Indian Serum Institute for a March-April delivery were available due to the export curbs.He called for the vaccination programme to be readjusted and prioritised for the elderly.With around 1.5 million cases and nearly 42,000 deaths so far, Indonesia has the highest caseload in Southeast Asia and one of the worst epidemics in Asia.Its vaccination programme aims to inoculate 181 million people and, after the shipment delays of the Indian AstraZeneca vaccine, will be relying heavily on a vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac.


UK airports to relax aircraft liquid rules from 2024

The UK government announced on Thursday that it will significantly relax limits on taking liquids in carry-on luggage at airports from June 2024.
Currently, only containers of less than 100ml are allowed in the aircraft cabin at international airports, provided they are placed in clear bags at security checks.
Larger containers have to be checked in the hold, and electronic devices such as laptops must also be removed from bags.
But under a new bill to be presented to parliament on Thursday, limits for liquids will be raised to two litres.
Electronic devices will also no longer have to be checked separately, the Department for Transport said in a statement.
The rules, introduced in the early 2000s to prevent the use of liquid explosives on planes, have become a bind for travellers, regularly holding up queues.
The relaxation comes as a result of new technology being deployed at major airports in the UK over the next two years, the department said.
The "cutting-edge" machines will give security staff more detailed three-dimensional images of what people are carrying in their bags.
Similar CT X-ray technology uses "highly advanced threat-detection algorithms" and is being rolled out at other airports around the world, said Transport Secretary Mark Harper.
"By 2024, major airports across the UK will have the latest security tech installed, reducing queueing times, improving the passenger experience, and most importantly detecting potential threats," he added.
Rules on liquids were tightened after a British man, Richard Reid, tried to blow up a transatlantic jet in December 2001 using homemade explosives hidden in his shoes.
The International Air Transport Association, which represents airlines, said it hoped the industry and passengers would be given "plenty of notice" of any changes.
It also called for it to be "coordinated globally".


Risk of mosquito-borne diseases rising in Europe

Europe recorded almost as many locally caught cases of dengue in 2022 as it had over the previous 11 years, new figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) show.
There were 71 cases of the disease - which generally causes fever and muscle pain but can be more severe and even sometimes fatal - last year, mainly in France. Between 2010 and 2021, there were 74 cases.
The health agency warned at a press conference on Thursday there is an increasing risk of a number of mosquito-borne diseases in the European region, including dengue, zika, chikungunya and West Nile virus, linked to the changing climate and the spread of mosquitoes carrying the viruses.
“If this continues, we can expect to see more cases and possibly deaths from diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and West Nile fever," said Andrea Ammon, ECDC director. "Efforts need to focus on ways to control mosquito populations, enhancing surveillance and enforcing personal protective measures.”
The agency said that the mosquito species Aedes albopictus, which spreads chikungunya and dengue, was moving further north and west in Europe. Aedes aegypti, which spreads diseases including dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya, became established in Cyprus last year and could make further inroads, it said.
While the rates of some mosquito-borne diseases in Europe have not risen dramatically in recent years or even fallen slightly, such as malaria and zika, others have seen a "striking" rise, particularly dengue, the ECDC said.
Dengue rates are rising globally. This year, the disease was found in the Sudanese capital for the first time, and Peru recently declared a state of emergency in most regions due to a surge in cases.
The World Health Organization warned on Wednesday about a potential further rise in infections due to the El Nino weather event impacting weather patterns worldwide.


Small business casualties mount under prolonged lockdown

When the latest lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 was enforced throughout the country on June 1, hairstylist Thelma Mukit knew her business would be in for a tough time.Before the pandemic hit Malaysia early last year, she had six workers at her salon in Kuching, Sarawak. Now, she can only afford to keep two.Like thousands of other small businesses in the state, hers is not considered an essential service. Each time a lockdown is declared, the shutters must come down again.This has had a devastating impact on her finances.Even before the lockdown, customers had been few and far in between. These days, Thelma struggles to pay the rent, digging deeper each week into the cash she had held in reserve.“We are not like the large companies that can afford to pay their monthly costs,” she told MalaysiaNow. “As a small business owner, I am not able to flush out enough money to continue paying salaries.”This is a particular sorrow for her as her salon had over the years employed workers from the rural areas, helping them earn an income.Some 1,000km away in Melaka, Syahir Naser had to close down his catering business which took a hit after social events were banned.Once, he had made up to RM120 on a good day, organising food and canopies for events and renting out his PA system. But by the middle of the third movement control order, his landlord had told him to pack up.“Otherwise, I would still be earning some money,” he said. “Even RM70 a day would be enough for me.”Now, Syahir does what he can to get by, working several jobs and renting his PA system to restaurants. He is also a food deliveryman, a lawn care service provider and a part-time lorry driver.“I am not sure that I have the confidence to start my catering business again,” he said. “But I have also forked out a lot of money for it, so I have to.“My wife offered to help with the business but honestly, I don’t even know when we can start again,” he added.Essential but still slowBack in Sarawak, some 30km away from the Kuching city centre, Miah Seman has been able to stay open for business as she runs a small grocery store.Speaking to MalaysiaNow in Kampung Sri Kandong, though, she said the movement restrictions had taken a toll on small traders, especially those who operate roadside stalls.“I don’t even know when we can start again.”“I felt sorry when the Iban women traders from the next village told me that they could not open for business as usual,” she said.“So I asked them to put their goods such as their woven mats and baskets at my grocery store. After all, only my shop is allowed to operate at this time, and it is the closest to their village.”But while Miah can still run her store, business has suffered badly due to Covid-19. The lockdown restrictions on travel, in particular, have left their mark.Normally Miah’s village, located by the road leading to the Rambungan ferry to Lundu, receives many visitors, especially since the completion of the Telok Melano-Sematan highway.“Anyone who wants to go to the Jentayu Strawberry Farm, or Matang Wildlife, or who wants to watch the Rafflesia flower bloom at Gunung Gading National Park in Lundu will pass through this village.“This area has received many visitors, especially during weekends and holidays. Because of this, I was able to earn at least RM800 per month. But now, with the travel restriction in place, my sales have dropped to RM200,” she said.Yesterday, the government announced another round of financial assistance under the RM150 billion Pemulih plan, including a six-month automatic moratorium on the repayment of bank and study loans, discounts on electricity bills and cash and food aid.This came in the wake of another announcement that the lockdown under the movement control order, scheduled to end on June 28 after having been extended once before, would continue until several key threshold indicators for the country’s progress in terms of the pandemic are met.While some are struggling to survive, Chua Yong Seng has had to throw in the towel, at least for now.“Our lives these days are so unpredictable, I don’t dare take the risk anymore.”He used to rent a ground-floor shop lot which provided more space for his printing machines. Now, he has been forced to downsize as he can no longer afford the RM4,000 rental for the bigger space.“We still had to pay rent even when we couldn’t operate during the lockdown,” he said.“After three months we decided to move out because we couldn’t afford it anymore.”But he disagrees with those who say printing shops should be allowed to open during the lockdown period.“Most of our customers are businesses as well. So if our customers’ business is halted during the lockdown, it means they won’t be needing our services.”Like Syahir, he is hesitant about looking too far ahead during such turbulent times.“Our lives these days are so unpredictable, I don’t dare take the risk anymore,” he said.“How much more do I have to spend just so that this business can be saved? How much more do I have to lose?”


Political stability crucial for Malaysia in moving forward, says Perak sultan

The most crucial precondition for Malaysia at the moment in moving forward effectively is political stability, says Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah.
He said political stability will allow planners to focus more fully on the longer term and put into place the policies and measures that are necessary to build confidence among investors.
"Further strengthening of our institutions is thus another priority, as it is these that will ensure the effective implementation of the various policies that will propel us forward," he said in Kuala Lumpur today.
He said Malaysia has strong institutional foundations in many respects and needs to muster the political will to drive the nation’s institutions forward in a progressive way.
He also said that the country must find alternative means to prosper, bringing in fresh approaches such as that of the circular, "doughnut", or "mission" economy, to build economies that work for the planet as well as its inhabitants.
Sultan Nazrin said the nation’s developmental model must also be inclusive as the approach in areas from education and human capital development to poverty and inequality must entail the inclusion of all Malaysians, irrespective of ethnicity and religion.
"We are all equally part of Malaysia’s success – in the present and past – as we have built our shared prosperity together and into the future, as we meet its complex challenges together," he said.


Daily caseload hovers at 9,700 as another 12 deaths logged

Another 9,705 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,382,402.There were 14,346 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,238,471.There are now 108,522 active cases, of which 105,745 or 97.4% are undergoing home quarantine. Meanwhile, 375 (0.3%) are at quarantine centres while 2,268 (2.1%) have been hospitalised. A total of 134 are in ICU with 81 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 52.3%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 15.6%.Another 12 deaths were reported, including six who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 35,409.


Mas Ermieyati made PAC chairman

Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin was today appointed as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the 15th Parliament term.
The former deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department replaces Wong Kah Wong, who had chaired PAC since August 2020.
The matter was proposed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Mas Ermieyati is the second woman to be appointed to the post, after Noraini Ahmad.
Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi meanwhile was appointed as vice-chairman.
PAC, meant to check public provisions authorised by Parliament, has between six and 12 members appointed by the committee.


20 schools in Penang closed for 2 days over Covid-19 cases

Twenty primary and secondary schools in Penang have been ordered to close for two days due to Covid-19 infection cases, Penang Education director Abdul Rashid Abdul Samad says.“The schools were ordered to close for two days to enable sanitisation work to be carried out and for the school management to reassess the risk before any decision (on whether to extend the closure) can be made,” he told Bernama when contacted.Without giving details on the schools involved, Rashid said affected students would continue their studies through the home-based teaching and learning or PdPR method according to their school timetable.


Millions of workers to get free vaccines as immunisation drive comes to factories, industrial sites

Tens of thousands of employees in the manufacturing sectors will be given jabs under the fourth phase of the government’s massive Covid-19 vaccination drive known as Pikas, a public-private partnership immunisation programme aimed at private sector employees.Under the voluntary programme, several ministries will collaborate with the science, technology and innovation ministry to deliver vaccines to workers in their respective sectors.For its part, the international trade and industry ministry (Miti) announced today that the free vaccination programme will begin on June 16 with on-site vaccination at factories and industrial locations for companies with a minimum of 1,000 employees.It said priority would be given to companies involved in sectors such as electrical and electronics, food processing, iron and steel, medical devices, personal protective equipment, oil and gas, and rubber products for medical use.“Employers shall not deduct administration fees paid to private medical general practitioners and for usage of privately run vaccine administration centres from the employee’s salary, including in cases where the employee was no longer employed by the company before full immunisation of the employee,” Miti said in a statement.The following are frequently asked questions on Pikas, prepared by Miti:1. What is Pikas?Pikas is the acronym for Program Imunisasi Industri Covid-19 Kerjasama Awam-Swasta. It is aimed at employees of companies with which the international trade and industry ministry (Miti) has been tasked to coordinate the immunisation programme for the economic sector. Several other ministries will also be responsible for their respective sectors.The objective of this public-private programme is to facilitate the government’s efforts to accelerate vaccination for the rakyat and achieve herd immunity by increasing the vaccination uptake among the Malaysian workforce and reducing the number of Covid-19 workplace clusters.This would protect the well-being of employees and consequently help expedite Malaysia’s economic recovery.Pikas is a public-private partnership programme supported by the private sector that will provide the usage of worksites, convention and exhibition centres as pusat pemberian vaksin (PPVs) that include the services of medical, non-medical and security personnel.2. How can I register for Pikas?Companies can download the application form from the Miti website. The completed form may be submitted by the respective industry associations and business chambers of commerce to [email protected]3. When can my company register? Is there a deadline for submission?Registration will commence on June 13, 2021. Companies are required to read the FAQ and terms and conditions of the programme that will be available on the Miti website.It is a prerequisite for companies to ensure that all of the workers participating in Pikas have registered through MySejahtera for PICK. There is no deadline for Pikas registration.4. Who can apply for Pikas?Companies from the manufacturing sector can apply under Pikas. Agriculture, construction, plantation and retail sectors can be referred to the respective ministries as follows:• Agriculture – Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries• Construction – Construction Industry Development Board, Ministry of Works• Plantation – Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities• Retail – Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs5. Is the vaccination free?Vaccines are free. The government through the health ministry will supply the vaccines without cost to the PPVs.6. How will Pikas be implemented?Vaccination through Pikas will be implemented through two models.Model 1 is vaccination at common-use PPVs while Model 2 refers to on-site vaccination within the factory premise or at identified and approved locations.7. Is vaccination through Pikas mandatory for all employees and employers?Pikas participation is on a voluntary basis. Companies and employees are encouraged to register for Pikas to help accelerate the immunisation rate of the community.8. Can the company include dependents of employees in the application?No, this initiative is strictly for workers and does not extend to dependents, family members or close associates.9. How will the company and employees be notified if the application is approved?Appointment information such as the date and location of vaccination will be notified to the employee via MySejahtera and SMS. Company representatives as registered in the application will be notified via email.10. I have registered to participate in PICK through MySejahtera. What will happen to my application if I choose to participate in Pikas?It is a prerequisite for employees to register for PICK through MySejahtera before the company registers for Pikas. Employee will be notified via MySejahtera of the vaccination date and PPV location under Pikas.If the employee has received an earlier vaccination date under PICK, the AstraZeneca opt-in programme or any other programme, the employee will not be vaccinated under Pikas.11. I have enrolled to take part in other state-organised immunisation programmes. Will this affect my application in Pikas?The government has assured that anyone who registers for vaccination will be eligible to be vaccinated regardless of the immunisation programme.12. Can I change the vaccination date under Pikas once it is assigned to me?You are encouraged to follow the Covid-19 vaccination date as scheduled in MySejahtera. However, if you are unable to participate in the immunisation programme at the given date due to valid circumstances, kindly inform the health ministry at 1-800-888-828 to reschedule the date. Kindly take note, you are only allowed to reschedule the vaccination date once.13. Can I request a specific type of vaccine to be administered to me?Types of vaccines given will be identified by the Covid-19 Vaccine Supplies Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKAV) and based on the location of the PPV.You must be present at the PPV according to your schedule. You may refuse the type of vaccine to be administered after the registration process at the PPV.It is important to note that you may only refuse vaccine administration a maximum of two times, after which your name will be removed from the immunisation programme and you will have to re-register in MySejahtera should you wish to participate again in the immunisation programme.14. Whom should I refer to for further enquiries?Further enquiries may be directed to [email protected] or Miti’s call centre at 03-62071193/ 03-62071194 (Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm).MODEL 1: VACCINATION AT COMMON-USE PPVs15. Who can apply for Model 1?Any company which is interested in sending its employees for vaccination at the PPV nearest the company’s location.16. In the event that the employee registered for Pikas leaves the company before full immunisation under Pikas, will the company still be required to bear the cost of the subsequent vaccination?Companies are required to bear in full the administrative costs for their workers selected to participate in Pikas. Companies should encourage their employees to complete their immunisation requirements in full.17. Pikas requires companies to pay for the vaccination of its employees. Can the company deduct from its employees’ salary to reimburse the payment?All costs under this programme must be borne by the company. Employees should not be obliged to pay for the vaccination cost.18. What if the number of workers present on the vaccination day is less than the number of workers registered?The payment to PPVs is governed by the contract entered into between the participating company and the PPV operator.Once a company is notified of the vaccination date, the PPV will make arrangements for the vaccination of the registered number of employees.It is the responsibility of the employers to ensure that all employees selected for this programme are present on the vaccination day. Companies may replace the workers with other workers scheduled to be vaccinated the following day.MODEL 2: ON-SITE VACCINATION19. Can companies choose their own facilities as PPVs?Yes, companies or groups of companies are allowed to identify suitable facilities for the PPVs. The Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) will arrange for the site to be inspected and advise the company accordingly.A company, or collectively with other companies, will need to have at least 1,000 workers for on-site vaccination. The collective companies will need to identify and prepare a PPV for the vaccination of their employees.20. What are the conditions for on-site vaccination?a. At least 1,000 workers have registered.b. A company may combine with other companies within the same locality to account for the 1,000 employees.c. Companies with subsidiaries located in different states are not allowed to be grouped together in one PPV as no interstate movement is permitted.21. What happens to the vaccines that are brought to the on-site PPV location in the event that there are not enough workers to be vaccinated on that day?The number of doses to be administered for the day will be according to the number of workers registered for vaccination. If, however, the number of workers scheduled to be vaccinated on that day falls short, companies may replace the workers with other workers scheduled to be vaccinated the following day.22. What are the criteria for setting up an on-site PPV?a. Able to accommodate up to 1,000 people per day;b. Ample space to accommodate five main stations, namely screening, registration, consultation, vaccination and monitoring. The proposed layout is as shown below:c. Able to accommodate an ambulance for emergency purposes as recommended by CITF; andd. Approved by CITF and Miti following on-site inspection.The number of vaccines administered at the PPV will be subject to availability and the number of medical officers assigned at the on-site PPV.23. As the company representative, I received confirmation via email that my company’s application for vaccination at the selected Pikas PPV has been approved. What arrangements should my company make?Once informed of the date of vaccination, companies are required to make the following arrangements:a. Confirm company’s participation to the assigned Pikas PPV venue operator;b. Formalise agreement with Pikas PPV venue operator – submit the signed agreement to the venue operator prior to the first vaccination date;c. Make full payment to the Pikas PPV venue operator at least five working days before the vaccination date; andd. Arrange the necessary logistics for the workers to and from the Pikas PPV.24. What is the administration cost under Model 1 and Model 2?The government provides free vaccines to employees for both Model 1 and 2 under Pikas. The breakdown of the estimated administration cost per dose per worker is as follows:No.ItemPPVOn-site1.VaccineFreeFree2.Vaccine administration cost to ProtectHealthRM15RM153.PPV venue costRM30Contingent on on-site venue preparation cost which will differ based on size, layout and other costs to set up the venueTotal (per dose per worker)RM45RM15 + PPV preparation cost


People shouldn’t be arrested for criticising leaders, says minister Saifuddin

Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah today said he disagreed with the move by authorities to arrest several individuals for criticising the country’s leaders.He said such arrests should not take place as Malaysia is a country that upholds the principles of democracy.“If it is fake news, then of course we will investigate. As a democratic person I do not agree with anyone being arrested because they have criticised political leaders unless it has to do with religious issues or the rulers,” he said at an online press conference today.“I may not agree with your criticism but I will defend your right to speak,” he added.Although he did not mention specific names, Saifuddin is believed to have been referring to the arrest of several people who had criticised Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor on Facebook.On Aug 10, the police arrested two men for making comments deemed as negative about Sanusi following a report made by his special officer.On Aug 9, meanwhile, a senior citizen aged 61 was remanded for uploading a video said to have humiliated the menteri besar.Saifuddin urged politicians and the public alike to be guided by the constitution in their speech, not only their emotions.He gave the example of lawyer and former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram.“They speak according to the provisions of the Federal Constitution as there are some who question the legitimacy of the prime minister.“But many of us who speak do so based on emotions and extreme political tendencies. We encourage debate but let it be based on facts and the constitution,” he said.


Over 4,000 students lost parents to Covid-19

More than 4,000 students had lost parents or guardians to the Covid-19 pandemic as of Sept 13 with over 100 left orphans through the loss of both father and mother, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun told the Dewan Rakyat today.She cited figures from the education ministry showing that 4,422 pupils at schools registered with the ministry had lost parents or guardians while 154 were completely orphaned.“The women, family and community development ministry is very concerned about the welfare of these children who require the appropriate assistance,” she said.She said the government in announcing the budget for 2021 had agreed to boost the monthly assistant rate for the child assistance scheme as well as aid for homeless patients under the welfare department.“Children aged seven and below will be given RM200 each while those over the age of seven will receive assistance of RM150 each.“For the first time, the maximum rate of aid for children has been raised from RM450 per family to RM1,000,” she added.She said counselling would also be made available to children who are experiencing emotional stress due to the loss of their parents.Malaysia had recorded 23,443 deaths due to Covid-19 as of Sept 19.According to the health ministry’s CovidNow website, the seven-day average of actual deaths each day at that point was 110.


WHO slams senseless ‘greed’ prolonging pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) blasted the senseless “greed” of rich countries considering Covid-19 booster vaccinations while the most vulnerable in other nations were left exposed to the virus.Striking an increasingly exasperated tone, WHO said the world would look back on itself with shame if it knowingly chose to leave the world’s weakest at the mercy of the pandemic.The UN’s health agency also scolded vaccine manufacturers prioritising deals for booster third doses rather than first and second shots for the completely unvaccinated healthcare workers and elderly people in poorer nations.WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference that the question he was most often asked was when the pandemic would end.“We can end it very soon, because we have the tools now,” he said – but for the lack of decisive global leadership.Tedros said vaccine nationalism was “prolonging the agony” and there was only “one word that can explain this… it’s greed”.Rolling out booster doses while the virus rips through other parts of the world was counter-productive, he argued.Tedros insisted: “It doesn’t even make any sense. It makes no sense.”‘Look back in shame’WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said four countries had announced a booster programme and a handful of others were known to be considering the move.She stressed that there was currently “no scientific evidence to suggest that boosters are definitely needed”.Tedros took aim at vaccine manufacturers.“Instead of Moderna and Pfizer prioritising the supply of vaccines as boosters to countries whose populations have relatively high coverage, we need them to go all-out to channel supply to Covax,” he said.He was referring to the programme that is seeking to provide equitable access to doses for the most vulnerable.WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said that in a crisis, the most beneficial and life-saving choices had to be made first.“We will look back in anger and we will look back in shame if we don’t now move to use the increasing production capacity that’s coming on line… to protect the most vulnerable,” he said.‘Catastrophic waves’Tedros announced that two more sites making AstraZeneca’s vaccine under licence – in Australia and Japan – had now been given WHO’s emergency use listing green light, adding to the plants in Europe, India and South Korea already churning out AstraZeneca doses.“If AstraZeneca does it, why can’t others?” asked Tedros, urging manufacturers to let other plants produce their jabs.AstraZeneca jabs have made up the vast majority of doses supplied so far through Covax.More than 3.35 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been injected in at least 216 territories around the world, according to an AFP count.In high-income countries, as classified by the World Bank, 86 doses have been injected per 100 inhabitants.That figure stands at just one dose per 100 in the 29 lowest-income countries.Tedros noted that last week marked the fourth consecutive week of increasing Covid-19 cases globally, and after 10 weeks of decline, deaths are increasing again.“The Delta variant is ripping around the world at a scorching pace,” he said, “driving catastrophic waves of cases” in countries with low vaccination rates.Delta has been found in more than 104 countries and is soon expected to become the dominant Covid-19 strain circulating worldwide, said Tedros.


North Korea fires suspected long-range missile

North Korea fired what was apparently an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), South Korea said on Friday, a day after it launched a smaller missile and warned of "fiercer military responses" to the US boosting its regional security presence.
Japan's Coast Guard also reported the launch. South Korea's defence ministry said the missile appeared to be an ICBM, which is North Korea's longest-range weapon and is designed to carry a nuclear warhead as far as any location in the continental US.
A day earlier, North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile while its foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, warned of "fiercer military responses" to US moves to boost its military presence, saying Washington was taking a "gamble it will regret".
In a statement carried by state media, Choe condemned a Sunday trilateral summit of the US, South Korea and Japan during which those countries' leaders criticised Pyongyang's weapons tests and pledged greater security cooperation.
This year North Korea has conducted a record number of ballistic missile tests, which are banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions that have sanctioned the country over its missile and nuclear weapons programmes.
The North has also fired hundreds of artillery shells into the sea recently as South Korea and the US staged exercises, some of which involved Japan.


Govt to study proposal for EPF Account 1 withdrawals

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin says the government is studying the suggestion to allow certain groups such as laid off workers to withdraw funds from their EPF Account 1.“I have discussed with the finance ministry and we basically agree and are prepared to study the proposal for contributors who really need to withdraw allocations from Account 1,” he said today.Earlier this year, the government allowed a reduction in contribution rate of workers from 11% to 7% as well as i-Lestari withdrawals from Account 2 of RM6,000 per contributor.Almost 70% of EPF members opted to reduce the workers’ contribution to 7.0%, pushing disposable income to close to RM700 million per month, Muhyiddin said in an interview with Bernama.Adding that over 30% of EPF members have savings of less than RM5,000 in their accounts, he said EPF savings might not necessarily address contributors’ cash flow problems.“We will study the method to facilitate the process for those who need support and announce the decision soon,” he said, adding that consideration will be given to certain groups who have been badly affected.He also said Malaysia was the only country that had provided a blanket moratorium on loans as part of efforts to address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.“There’s no other country that took the approach taken by Malaysia by offering an automatic moratorium to all borrowers. This method has advantages in that it gives assistance to many, quickly.”However, because many borrowers had made use of this facility, he said it had reduced funds for those in need while banking institutions also had less funds to provide new loans.“Thus, the government is switching to a more targeted approach.”As of Oct 16, more than 650,000 applications for loan repayment assistance had been made, comprising 603,500 individual applications, 43,000 applications from SMEs, and 3,500 applications from other businesses.Of these, he said, the approval rate was 98%.


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Malaysia agrees to abolish mandatory death penalty

The government has agreed to abolish the mandatory death penalty and substitute it with other forms of punishment to be decided by the courts, law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said today.In a statement, he said the decision followed his presentation of a report on the matter during a Cabinet meeting on June 8.“The government also accepted in principle and noted the recommendations of the special committee to review alternative sentences to the mandatory death penalty, which were explained in the study report,” he said, referring to the committee led by former chief justice Richard Malanjum.Wan Junaidi added that the Cabinet had agreed for further scrutiny and studies to be conducted on the proposed substitute sentences for 11 offences carrying the mandatory death penalty, one offence under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, and 22 offences carrying the death penalty at the court’s discretion.He said further studies would be carried out in collaboration with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the legal affairs division, the Prime Minister’s Department and other relevant ministries and agencies.“This is important to ensure that the amendments of the related acts take into account the proportionality and constitutionality of any proposal to the government in time to come,” he said.Wan Junaidi also said that the government would study feasibility matters related to the direction of the country’s criminal justice system, such as the establishment of a pre-sentencing procedure and a sentencing council, the development of sentencing guidelines, the creation of a law commission, prison reforms and the implementation of sentences based on the principle of restorative justice.“This decision shows the government’s commitment to ensuring that the rights of all parties are protected and guaranteed, reflecting the transparency of the country’s leadership in improving the dynamic criminal justice system,” he said.Crimes punishable by death in Malaysia include murder, treason, drug trafficking, terrorism and the possession of fire arms.


China drafts law to punish parents for children’s bad behaviour

China’s parliament will consider legislation to punish parents if their young children exhibit “very bad behaviour” or commit crimes.In the draft of the family education promotion law, guardians will be reprimanded and ordered to go through family education guidance programmes if prosecutors find very bad or criminal behaviour in children under their care.“There are many reasons for adolescents to misbehave, and the lack of or inappropriate family education is the major cause,” said Zang Tiewei, spokesman of the Legislative Affairs Commission under the National People’s Congress (NPC).The draft family education promotion law, which will be reviewed at the NPC Standing Committee session this week, also urges parents to arrange time for their children to rest, play, and exercise.Beijing has exercised a more assertive paternal hand this year, from tacking the addiction of youngsters to online games, deemed a form of “spiritual opium”, to clamping down on “blind” worship of internet celebrities.In recent months, the education ministry has limited gaming hours for minors, allowing them to play online games for one hour on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only.It has also cut back on homework and banned after-school tutoring for major subjects during the weekend and holidays, concerned about the heavy academic burden on overwhelmed children.At the same time, China is urging young Chinese men to be less “feminine” and more “manly”.In its “Proposal to Prevent the Feminisation of Male Adolescents” issued in December, the education ministry urged schools to promote on-campus sports such as football.


Defiant Wong Tack to stand as independent after dropped by DAP for Bentong

DAP's incumbent MP for Bentong, Wong Tack, today announced that he would defend his seat as an independent after the party said he would be replaced by Ketari assemblyman Young Syefura Othman in the 15th general election (GE15).
He also said he had been told by DAP that he was "not fit" for its overall strategy for the Nov 19 polls.
Speaking at a press conference, Wong said he had been fielded as a candidate in Bentong since 2013.
"After the success of Himpunan Hijau, I was sent in by the grassroots to contest in GE13," he said, referring to his environmental movement which had been at the forefront of protests against the Lynas rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan.
He said Lim Guan Eng, the DAP secretary-general at the time, said the party had "reached an understanding" that he would stand as its candidate for Bentong, and that this would have "a positive impact" for the then Pakatan Rakyat pact.
"Today, DAP decided to end this understanding," he added.
Earlier today, Lim's successor Anthony Loke Siew Fook said Wong had turned down an offer to be fielded in Cameron Highlands instead at the election this time around.
"The party had to make a decision and move on," Loke said.
Bentong, traditionally seen as a Barisan Nasional fortress, was held by MCA's Liow Tiong Lai from 1999 to 2018.
While Wong contested the seat at the 2013 polls, it was not until the next election in 2018 that he defeated Liow.
Speaking today, he said that people decide on their own paths and destinies.
"The choice is ours," he added. "We have no interest in playing political games, particularly party politics.
"The people are not pawns in a game of chairs."
He added that he would continue to serve in his home town, saying he remained committed to serving the people.


Early voting kicks off for Sarawak polls

Early voting for the 12th Sarawak state election, involving security forces personnel and their spouses, began at 7.30am today.A total of 12,585 military officers, personnel and their spouses are expected to cast their ballots, as well as 10,458 police officers, personnel and their spouses.The early voting process will continue until 5pm.A total of 349 candidates are contesting in the state polls, with polling set for this Saturday.


Daily cases drop to 1,208

Another 1,208 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 324,971.Selangor recorded 379 cases followed by Sarawak (251), Penang (142) and Johor (118).Negeri Sembilan recorded 80 cases, Kuala Lumpur 61, Terengganu 39, Perak 37, Sabah 29, Kedah 27, Kelantan 25, Pahang 17, Melaka two and Putrajaya one.Active cases stand at 15,511 with 155 in the ICU and 70 in need of respiratory assistance.Thirteen new clusters were detected:1. Perusahaan Amari (Gombak in Selangor; 24 screened, eight positive)2. Sungai Puloh (Klang in Selangor; 103 screened, 18 positive)3. Jalan Mega Lima (Johor Bahru in Johor; 89 screened, 22 positive)4. Batu Tiga Lama (Petaling and Kuala Selangor in Selangor; 221 screened, 20 positive)5. Jalan Delima (Johor Bahru in Johor; 80 screened, 21 positive)6. Batu 19 (Kulai and Johor Bahru in Johor; 57 screened, nine positive)7. Jalan Tanjung (Bintulu in Sarawak; 127 screened, 19 positive)8. Industri Gunung Mas (Tampin and Kuala Pilah in Negeri Sembilan; 188 screened, 32 positive)9. Jalan Lapan Belas (Cheras in Kuala Lumpur; 15 screened, seven positive)10. Chendering Height (Marang and Kuala Nerus in Terengganu; 132 screened, 10 positive)11. Jalan Sekerat (Kuala Muda and Kulim in Kedah; 52 screened, 17 positive)12. Tapak Bina Meha (Kulim in Kedah; 78 screened, 10 positive)13. Kampung Air Batang (Rompin in Pahang; 27 screened, 15 positive)Six others ended, leaving 431 active clusters across the country.Another 1,973 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 308,247.However, three more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 1,213.


Iran woman arrested for ‘cycling without hijab’

A young woman has been arrested in central Iran for “insulting the Islamic hijab”, state media said Tuesday, after a video appeared to show her cycling without a veil.“A person who had recently violated norms and insulted the Islamic veil in this region has been arrested,” Mojataba Raei, governor of Najafabad, told Irna news agency.A short video shot with a mobile phone was circulated Monday on social media networks showing a bare-headed woman cycling in front of a mosque.The long-haired woman, whose head was pixellated, appeared to raise her right arm in the air from time to time as she rode the bike.Irna said the video of the woman “riding her bike without a veil in the main square” and “in front of a big mosque” provoked protests from residents and clerics in Najafabad.Under Islamic law in force in Iran since its 1979 revolution, women must wear a hijab that covers the head and neck and that conceals their hair.But many women have pushed the boundaries over the past two decades by allowing their veils to slide back and reveal more hair, especially in Tehran and other major cities.“Her motive for committing this action is being investigated,” the governor of Najafabad said, without disclosing the detained woman’s identity.“The residents of this city are holding a protest rally today (after) the unprecedented violation of norms,” he added.


Italy blocks AstraZeneca vaccine shipment to Australia as EU still short of jabs

The Italian government has blocked the export of 250,000 doses of locally manufactured Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia.Italy is the first EU country to use the bloc’s new regulations allowing exports to be stopped if the company providing the vaccines has failed to meet its obligations to the EU. Reports indicate the move has been backed by the European Commission.Australia has said losing one shipment would not badly affect its rollout. It began its vaccination programme last week using the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.AstraZeneca is on track to provide only 40% of the agreed supply to EU member states in the first three months of the year, citing production problems for the shortfall.In January, then Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte described delays in vaccine supplies by both AstraZeneca and Pfizer as “unacceptable” and accused the companies of violating their contracts.The EU has been widely criticised for the slow pace of its vaccination programme. Under the EU vaccine scheme, which was established in June last year, the bloc has negotiated the purchase of vaccines on behalf of member states.Italy explained the move by saying that Australia is not on a list of “vulnerable” countries, that there was a permanent shortage of vaccines in the EU and Italy, and that the number of doses was high compared with the amount given to Italy and to the EU as a whole.This is the first such ban under a new EU scheme in which manufacturers must request authorisation to export from the country in which the vaccine is produced.


Prison Department denies video recording of Najib in jail

The Prison Department today denied that any video recording had been made by any media agency involving former prime minister Najib Razak, who is serving a 12-year jail term for the misappropriation of tens of millions in SRC International funds.
In a statement, it said that checks of a video that has been making the rounds on social media found that it had been recorded by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) for use in a series before Najib was sent to jail.
"The video which was aired on TV1 on Oct 24, 2022, was related to the history and background of Pekan, Pahang, and is not related to politics," it added.
"The public is asked to refrain from spreading information without first checking its veracity.
"Legal action can be taken against irresponsible individuals."
Chatter on social media had claimed that the video was proof of airtime given to Najib during his time in jail.
It was alleged that the video was part of an exclusive slot produced by the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia or Finas.


1MDB withdraws US$1 billion suit against legal firm, partner

1MDB has withdrawn its US$1 billion lawsuit filed against legal firm Wong & Partners and its partner Brian Chia Hock Gee.Based on copies of court documents obtained by the media, 1MDB as the plaintiff withdrew its suit against both defendants on July 19.The draft, approved by High Court deputy registrar Siti Aisyah Ahmad, also stated that the writ of summons had been withdrawn with no liberty to file afresh and no order as to costs.1MDB, through its writ of summons filed on May 7, alleged that the defendants, together and separately, violated their statutory duties towards the company on behalf of Najib Razak and businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, and their associates, causing 1MDB to suffer losses of US$1 billion.1MDB had sought US$1 billion in compensation and payment of legal fees of RM664,821.21.On May 10, the finance ministry confirmed that 1MDB and its subsidiary SRC International Sdn Bhd had filed 22 civil suits to seek its assets of over RM96.6 billion, including RM300 million, from various local parties.The ministry said the writ of summons was filed on May 7 in six suits by 1MDB and 16 by SRC International.The suits filed by 1MDB were against nine entities including two foreign financial institutions and 25 individuals, while SRC International filed suits against eight entities and 15 individuals over various forms of misconduct.


Kelantan tells Putrajaya to fulfil 2018 pledge on oil royalty

The Kelantan government has expressed regret at the government's refusal to channel oil royalties to the state, saying it goes against a decision by Putrajaya under the previous Pakatan Harapan government led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad to make such payments to all states including those under opposition rule.
This followed statements by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli and law minister Azalina Othman Said that Kelantan and Terengganu were not eligible for payments from Petronas as the oil extracted was from outside the range of three nautical miles belonging to the states under the Regional Sea Act 2012.
But Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob said the state assembly had rejected this reasoning in 2015 as it felt that the federal government was trying to stop states from being paid oil royalties by limiting their territories.
"In Clause 1(1) of the agreement between the Kelantan government and Petronas on May 9, 1975, it is clearly stated that Petronas should pay cash to the state government in an annual payment equal to the amount of 5% of the value of the petroleum found and obtained in Kelantan," said Ahmad.
He also cited the minutes of a meeting by the National Finance Council in June 2018, stating that the "goodwill payment" would be abolished and cash payments for petroleum given to Kelantan and Terengganu "without taking into account the status of the states which are controlled by the opposition".
Ahmad said the state government had participated in a series of negotiations with prime ministers from 2013 to 2021, adding that the discussions were joined by the Petronas chairman and senior officers.
"As such, the state government urges the federal government to settle the petroleum payments directly to the state government for the benefit of the people," he added.
Last week, PAS MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to uphold the Kelantan sultan's decree for the fulfilment of petroleum payments to the state according to the agreements signed.
"The joint-development area, a petroleum mining area that overlaps with Thailand, is only 145km from the Bachok beach.
"But the government decided in 1996, when Anwar was finance minister, to move the landing to Songkhla, which is 230km away.
"If you want to raise the dignity of the Malays, where are the Malays in Songkhla? If you want to help the hardcore poor, it should have been done in Bachok," he said during his debate on the Supply Bill 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat.


Rio postpones carnival indefinitely – ‘Waiting for a vaccine’

Rio de Janeiro’s world-famous carnival has been postponed for the first time in a century as Brazil continues to reel from the coronavirus pandemic.The president of Rio’s League of Samba Schools has announced the pandemic means it will be impossible to safely hold the massive traditional parades next February.In a pandemic, Rio’s carnival, the world’s biggest and liveliest, is an epidemiologist’s worst nightmare.Every year, tightly packed crowds sing and dance through the city streets and jampack the iconic Sambadrome for enormous parades featuring scantily clad dancers, armies of drummers and all-night partying at close quarters.But not in 2021.Brazil’s first confirmed coronavirus case was on 26 February, just one day after 2020’s carnival ended.As the number of infections grew, the samba schools that star in the annual parades halted preparations for 2021. This at least removed the cloud of uncertainty that was hanging over the city.Leisa, the independent samba league, did not give a new date for the festival.“It’s increasingly difficult to have carnival without a vaccine,” Leisa president Jorge Castanheira said. “There is no way to have carnival without safety.”Samba school drummer Laudo Braz Neto said the children he taught before the pandemic took hold are now disappointed but there is no way to put on carnival without being able to safely gather.“Carnival will only happen again when the whole world can travel. It’s a spectacle the world watches, and brings desperately needed income here,” he said. “I have no hope for 2021.”The money that nearly two million carnival tourists bring to the city’s poorest every year will be sorely missed.Rio City Hall has yet to announce a decision about the street parties that take place across the city, though many have already been cancelled.Brazil has the world’s third-worst coronavirus outbreak after the United States and India, with more than 4.6 million cases.Rio de Janeiro’ s metropolitan region, home to 13 million people,  has so far recorded more than 15,000 deaths from Covid-19.


Flood-weary villagers hope for change in Melaka election

For over a decade, the villagers of Kampung Sungai Putat in Melaka have been struggling with the problem of floods.Many have become tired of dealing with the constant need to move out from their homes whenever it rains too heavily.Kamsiah Joned, 67, said the area often floods due to the high currents and heavy rainfall which cause the water from the river to overflow into the village.Over the years, the flooding has become more frequent and the water levels keep rising.“It used to be that the water would rise to knee-level or a little above that. Now, it’s much worse.“Those of us who live here are very worried,” she said to MalaysiaNow.The residents of Kampung Sungai Putat blame the frequent floods on the water from the nearby river which rises over the banks whenever it rains heavily.Another villager, Fatimah Kassim, 65, said the floods had cost her thousands of ringgit in losses as she must constantly replace her furniture and electrical appliances.“This is not a new thing,” she said. “Every monsoon season and towards the end of the year, I have to prepare to move to a temporary evacuation centre where I spend the next few days.“Then I go home and clean my house.”Even this is a tricky business as the receding waters often leave behind unwanted guests such as centipedes and leeches.Checks by MalaysiaNow in the area near Sungai Putat found that the floods caused by the rising water in the river also affect several residential spots such as Taman Bukit Beruang Utama.Ibrahim Sarif and his wife, Tuan Anisa Tuan Teh, keep their fridge above ground level on two chairs in an effort to protect it from the frequent floods in the area.Ibrahim Sarif and his wife, Tuan Anisa Tuan Teh, who live in the area, are both in their 70s. They said this year’s flooding was especially severe, and that residents have been questioning the source of the problem.This year alone, they have had to deal with flooding three times along with the damage incurred to their possessions.“The water that comes flooding into the area can reach waist-level,” they said. “It’s also slimy and smells bad.”They are fortunate that their children come and help them clean their house each time the flood waters subside. Still, it takes them nearly a week to get everything sorted out.They told MalaysiaNow that many who rented homes in the area had moved out as they were unable to put up with the problem anymore.For the elderly couple, though, the area has been their home for more than 20 years. To cut their losses whenever it floods, they buy only cheap furniture which is easily replaced the next time around.A motorcyclist makes his way down a road in Kampung Sungai Putat, whose location on a slight incline makes it more susceptible to floods.When asked if the authorities were aware of the problem, Kamsiah, Fatimah and Anisa said they had received visits from several parties including representatives who brought them food and conducted surveys of the area.But they are still frustrated as the problem appears to have no end.They urged those who are elected to lead the state to take a more aggressive approach to resolving the issue and ending the suffering of the people there.“Sometimes we receive visits from politicians, but we only get some contributions and food,” Kamsiah said.“We are grateful for what they give, but we hope that this problem can be speedily resolved.”Anisa meanwhile said she no longer knew whom to turn to.“I hope those in charge will pay more attention to our plight,” she said.All three major political coalitions contesting the Melaka state election this weekend – Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional – have pledged to address the issue of flooding if they win the polls.


A world of difference as PH, PN campaigns wind up in Tambun

As campaigning winds down towards election day tomorrow, competing parties in the hot seat of Tambun in Perak appear to be taking different approaches to the end of the two-week period given to canvass for support from voters.
A total of four candidates are competing for votes in Tambun, although the main fight is widely seen as being between the incumbent, Ahmad Faizal Azumu of Bersatu, and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
In the Pakatan Harapan (PH) camp, the flurry of activity looks set to continue until the very last minute, with election workers still going out around the clock.
Near the main PH operations room, a team heading out with a four-wheel drive full of red flags and banners stopped to talk to MalaysiaNow.
"The boss told us to put them up and make sure that they are everywhere," a youth sitting in the rear of the vehicle said.
"We will have to see where there is still space. Maybe in the parks near the Malay neighbourhoods, because there are a lot of blue flags there."
But despite the buzz of ongoing activity, some residents in the area said they were still waiting for a chance to see Anwar.
"He hasn't come this way yet," Man, who lives in Kampung Tengku Hussein in Manjoi, said.
PN camp
Over at the Kampung Manjoi cluster, meanwhile, a member of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) operations room said the coalition was now winding down its efforts after weeks of hard work.
He said the last instructions he had received from Faizal were to take care of the coalition's image and reputation among the voters of the largest village complex in Malaysia.
"Don't do things that will annoy people, like asking the youth to go on a flag-carrying campaign," he said.
"People don't like it when it's noisy. We are relaxed, calm. We'll leave everything to God."
Political observers previously said that Anwar appeared to be scrambling for Malay support in the wake of surveys showing a trust deficit among members of the ethnic community.
Anwar himself has dismissed claims of a drop in support for PH in the rural areas.
Meanwhile, campaigns by the candidates from Barisan Nasional and Gerakan Tanah Air, Aminuddin Md Hanafiah and Abdul Rahim Tahir, appeared low-key to non-existent.
Voters in the Tambun town area said they had seen neither hide nor hair of either candidate since the start of the campaign period.
"It looks like they don't stand a chance," Ummi, a pisang goreng vendor, said to MalaysiaNow.
"We know who the BN candidate really is, and the GTA candidate, we have no idea at all."


Fashion-forward but at what cost?

Early this month, a popular clothing retail chain set up a corner in one of its stores in Kuala Lumpur stocked with clothes – donated by customers for the use of others.Its target demographic: the homeless.The story of Uniqlo Malaysia’s initiative quickly spread, drawing doubt and praise alike.“A great effort…was skeptical initially when we donated it but seeing is believing. Way to go,” Facebook user Kumarappan Alagappan said.Others were more pessimistic.“Being a Malaysian, more likely undeserving people will take the clothes than the homeless,” Afnan Amirruddin said.“If it doesn’t give me the instant gratification, then I’m out.”If consumers are willing to make purchases as part of a do-good campaign, the fact still remains that they are buying.Marketing executive Michaela Siew would shop at such brands, especially if they allow her to contribute a percentage of what she spends to charity.But, she adds, “as long as it is within my budget”.Ultimately, price and preference will still win out.‘Not hard to produce an ethical product’For Bella Rahim, though, altruism is her guiding star.“When I buy something, I must always know what the company values are,” she told MalaysiaNow.“For example, I stopped buying from this Canadian cosmetics brand because I know they test on animals. I have stopped buying from a lot of brands because their values do not coincide with mine.“I don’t think it’s that hard to produce an ethical product.”But no matter how well-intentioned such campaigns are, there is always room for abuse, as noted by Facebook user Afnan regarding the Uniqlo initiative.Elias agreed, saying he lauds genuine acts of charity. “But I am concerned about their implementation,” he added.“A free-for-all like this tends to bring out the worst in people, and knowing the level of moral hazard among Malaysians, especially, how do we know that the free clothes are going to rightfully deserving recipients?”


Brazilian senator resigns after money found in underwear

Brazilian lawmaker Chico Rodrigues was forced to resign from the senate on Thursday after police found cash hidden in his underwear during a search of his home, a report by Anadolu Agency (AA) said.It said the raid was “part of a probe by the Comptroller General’s office” into the alleged misappropriation of 20 million reais (US$3.5 million) of public funds to fight the coronavirus, according to a statement released by the communications ministry.About 30,000 reais (US$5,000) was found at the congressman’s house, AA said, quoting the Crusoe magazine and the Folha newspaper. Part of the money was found in his underwear.Rodrigues said he would prove he had no involvement with corruption.“My home was invaded for having done my job as a lawmaker, getting resources for the state to combat Covid-19,” he said.“I believe in justice and I will prove that I have nothing to do with any illicit act.”Rodrigues represents the state of Roraima in the senate and has been chosen as deputy leader of President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration.Bolsonaro said the raid was evidence that his government was fighting corruption regardless of whom it reaches.


TikTok to add screen time limits for young users

TikTok on Wednesday said it would introduce automatic daily screen time limits of one hour for accounts belonging to under-18s, as the social media platform faces criticism over its addictiveness among young users.
Teenagers will have to enter a passcode to continue watching after 60 minutes and those aged below 13 require a parent or guardian to set or enter a passcode to release an additional 30 minutes, TikTok said.
The short-form video-sharing app said the changes would be implemented "in the coming weeks".
If a young person's access to TikTok is via a family pairing account, parents can set a maximum screen time for their child based on the day of the week, TikTok added.
The Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin, is restricted to 40 minutes of daily use for under-14s and is inaccessible for them between 10pm and 6am.
The new feature adds to existing measures to control young people's screen time such as a prompt introduced last year that encourages teenagers to enable screen time management and a weekly inbox notification summarising a user's screen time.
But young users will still be able to deselect the time limit feature or lie about their age, as on other platforms.
The Chinese social media site has faced criticism over the soaring amount of time children aged between four and 18 spend scrolling through videos suggested to them based on their tastes and algorithms.
According to a recent study by parental control app Qustodio, minors spent on average one hour and 47 minutes on TikTok per day in 2022.
Concerns about data protection in the West have also affected the site owned by Chinese company ByteDance, with the European Union's institutions recently ordering their staff to purge the app from their devices.
The White House has given US federal agencies 30 days to remove TikTok from government-issued devices and Canada has implemented a similar measure.


Najib proposed 1MDB joint venture with Aabar through Jho Low, witness tells court

The High Court was today told that the joint venture between 1MDB and International Petroleum Co (IPIC) subsidiary, Aabar Investment PJS (Aabar), was proposed by Najib Razak through wanted businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.Former 1MDB chief financial officer Azmi Tahir said he was personally informed of the matter by Jho Low, and that Abu Dhabi Malaysia Investment Company (Admic) was registered in the British Virgin Islands on March 5, 2013, by 1MDB’s lawyer Jasmine Loo.Azmi said he did not know in detail the real purpose of Admic’s establishment, adding however that since it had been set up by Loo, it would most likely have been what Jho Low wanted.“I was actively being directed by Jho Low following the proposal to enter into a joint venture with Aabar at the end of 2012, where I, as CFO, would be involved in all actions involving the financial process.“This includes the time in 2013 when Jho Low and Najib were working to ensure the success of the ‘G to G’ (government-to-government) joint venture involving Abu Dhabi and Malaysia,” said Azmi.He said this when reading out his 127-page witness statement at Najib’s corruption and money laundering trial involving RM2.3 billion in funds belonging to 1MDB.The 12th prosecution witness said the proposed joint venture between Abu Dhabi and Malaysia was begun with Parcel A.1.0 in TRX, but it was not implemented due to some changes later, even though he as the CFO was not involved in the technical and financial studies.“Then there was another joint venture plan with Aabar relating to investment and real estate development, but I was not involved there as well, because it was under the supervision of the investment division as well as Loo. As far as I know, this joint venture also did not materialise.“After both of them (the joint ventures) failed, Jho Low planned a third joint venture called ‘Project Catalyze’ and he instructed Loo to lead the project because it involved US$6 billion in fundraising, whereby Loo was more proficient in (dealing with) the currency,” he said.Azmi said at the beginning of the discussions on the project, Jho Low had proposed the use of a “letter of comfort” from the finance ministry as a guarantee for the issuance of bonds.“This project was an instruction from Najib through Jho Low, whereby Jho Low had instructed to speed up the process, especially in terms of getting the bonds issued. Because of that, it was done in a hurry and very fast,” he said.Azmi was then referred to a letter of support dated March 14, 2013, signed by Najib who was finance minister at the time, representing the Malaysian government.The witness said the letter was intended to support the issuance of US$3 billion in bonds and as a government guarantee, which would assume responsibility for the funds in the event that 1MDB failed to make the repayments.“Najib approved this letter of support by signing it within a short period of time. It was in line with what Jho Low had informed us, that Najib would approve it and we did not have to worry about the approval,” he said.Najib, 68, faces 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 continues before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.


PN feeling confident in northern Selangor

Hulu Selangor, located in the north of Malaysia's richest state, is a tourist hotspot and a haven for nature lovers.
But despite its small-town feel, the constituency is bigger than the entire state of Melaka.
It is also the only spot in Selangor that is home to a Felda settlement.
And behind the natural scenery and peaceful village atmosphere lies the possibility that the shift in Malay support first seen at the 15th general election (GE15) last year might continue at the state polls to come.
Hulu Selangor has three state constituencies: Hulu Bernam, Kuala Kubu Bharu and Batang Kali.
Previously held by Barisan Nasional (BN) and then PKR, it was one of several federal seats in Selangor which fell to PAS as part of PN's shock headway in Malay majority seats throughout the country.
Hasnizan Harun, its current MP, said voters in the constituency used to be loyal to Umno.
Now, though, he said, they had begun to open up.
"Before this, it was difficult for PAS to make inroads in certain areas, especially Felda settlements.
"Now, they have no reservations about inviting me to their programmes," he said in an interview with MalaysiaNow.
Hasnizan, the Selangor PAS treasurer, also said that the party's relationship with Umno under the Muafakat Nasional (MN) pact remained intact despite what he described as the "different direction" taken by the central Umno leadership.
He said this was partly why PAS had succeeded in penetrating Umno's strongholds in Malay-majority areas.
"Our ties with our friends in MN were never cut, and were linked with our victory in Hulu Selangor."
The Islamist party previously lost elections by tens of thousands of votes, especially in Felda areas.
At the 14th general election (GE14) in May 2018, it came in third in the race for the Batang Kali state seat.
At GE15, Hasnizan said, PN's machinery had moved into the rural districts where other candidates had not gone – a move to which he attributed his election win.
In Batang Kali, Harumaini Omar from Pejuang is the incumbent while Hulu Bernam and Kuala Kubu Bharu were won by Rosni Sohar from BN and Lee Kee Hiong from Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Of the three seats, PN is aiming to take Batang Kali and Hulu Bernam which are both Malay-majority constituencies.
Kuala Kubu Bharu, on the other hand, may prove more of a challenge as Malays form only 50% of the electorate.
Selangor as a whole has 56 seats in its legislative assembly. Of these, PH won 51 at GE14 while BN took four and PAS one.
PH later lost six seats with Bersatu's exit from the coalition.
Hasnizan said he was confident that PAS would be able to win over BN supporters who were unhappy with the coalition's decision to join hands with PH at the federal level.
For the moment, he said, the focus is on public interest issues such as rural infrastructure, health clinics and community colleges.
He said some residents in Serendah had also complained about the East Coast Rail Line project, claiming that lorries and trucks involved in the construction had used residential roads, causing damage and endangering children.


Major casualties for PKR, Umno as Malay vote swings to PN

Anwar Ibrahim's daughter Nurul Izzah was among the casualties of a major swing in Malay votes towards Perikatan Nasional (PN) at the 15th general election (GE15) yesterday.
Nurul Izzah lost to PN's Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan from PAS by a majority of 5,272 votes, returning the seat to the Islamist party four decades after it was first won by Anwar.
The defeat was seen as a personal blow to Anwar as Permatang Pauh had long been considered a symbol of his political career, ever since he won it for the first time in 1982.
Only members of his family had contested the seat, including during his absence from the political scene when he was jailed for sodomy, and when he moved to Port Dickson after his release in 2018.
Anwar himself won narrowly in Tambun this election, with a majority of 3,700 votes.
Barisan Nasional (BN) likewise lost seats that for decades had seen the same Umno leaders as their MPs.
Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor's reign in the administrative capital of Putrajaya came to an end with the victory of PN's Radzi Jidin, while the country's longest serving MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was finally booted out of Gua Musang in Kelantan.
Radzi won 16,002 votes against Ku Nan's 13,692, and Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Noraishah Mydin Abdul Aziz who got 5,988 votes.
In Gua Musang, Razaleigh lost by a razor-thin margin of 163 votes to PAS' Mohd Aziz Abu Naim.
Meanwhile, PN bagged another federal territory through its candidate Suhaili Abd Rahman who defeated BN and Warisan candidates in Labuan – another seat which had only seen a BN candidate.
Elsewhere, it made surprise gains in seats considered as Malay heartlands.
Among the casualties was none other than Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who just four years ago was credited with bringing down six decades of BN rule.
The country's oldest candidate and two-time prime minister came second-last in a five-cornered contest, winning only 4,566 votes, while PN's Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah got 25,463.
PN also took Tanjung Karang, Kepala Batas, Padang Rengas and Pasir Salak, long considered as Umno bastions and which had remained with BN even when it lost federal power in 2018.
Among other Malay semi-rural seats, the coalition bagged Gerik, Padang Besar, as well as Kulim Bandar Baharu where Roslan Hashim defeated PKR strongman Saifuddin Nasution by more than 13,000 votes.
In Hulu Selangor, which has changed hands between BN and PH over the last three general elections, PN candidate Hasnizan Harun obtained 46,823 votes, defeating PH's Sathia Prakash Nadarajan who won 45,261 500, and BN's Mohan Thangarasu from MIC who got 27,050 votes. PN also won in Kapar, a three-term PKR constituency in Selangor, defeating its incumbent Abdullah Sani.
The victories are seen as significant, especially in anticipation of a split in Malay votes seen as benefitting PH.


Storm brewing in Malaysian debt capital market as new entity set to take control of RAM rating agency

The independence and credibility of RAM Holdings have come under question following the green light from the Securities Commission (SC) for the acquisition of the credit rating firm by CTOS Digital Bhd, MalaysiaNow has learnt.MalaysiaNow can also reveal that CTOS Digital, which is linked to Creador, a multibillion private equity firm owned by Brahmal Vasudevan, was given approval by the SC to acquire a more than 51% stake in RAM, the company established by Bank Negara Malaysia in 1990 to support the local debt capital market.RAM is accepted as the industry leader in credit ratings by many fund managers, and its credit opinions have become a crucial reference for banks as well as financial regulators.But one hurdle CTOS faces is a clause in RAM’s constitution barring any individual stakeholder from owning more than 20% of shares in the company.To overcome this, a proposal is being put to vote at RAM’s upcoming annual general meeting (AGM) to amend the clause, allowing this limit to be breached.MalaysiaNow has sighted the proposal which was included in the notice of the June 9 AGM distributed to members.Under the current provision, the prescribed limit to paid-up share capital for each shareholder in RAM is 20%, a level designed to ensure the agency’s independence.The proposed amendment would however see a drastic change, allowing a member to hold more than 20% of the paid-up capital as long as “the prior approval of the SC and/or any relevant authority… has been obtained in accordance with the law, regulations and guidelines from time to time imposed by the SC and/or any relevant authority for that member to hold interest in shares in excess of the prescribed limit”.The AGM notice sighted by MalaysiaNow further informs members that the SC on April 28, 2022 gave its approval for CTOS to own majority shares in RAM, as well as any subsequent increase in shares.CTOS currently holds 11.52% paid-up capital in RAM, which will be increased to 19.25% “pending completion of administrative steps”, according to a request from CTOS to amend RAM’s constitution ahead of its AGM.The request will be placed under “special business” during the AGM, which is set to be held as a hybrid meeting.‘Death of financial integrity’The proposal was met with alarm by several fund managers and bankers who spoke to MalaysiaNow on condition of strict anonymity.Some pointed out what they described as the “gradual subversion of RAM” over the years, saying non-banking as well as foreign entities were among more than a dozen shareholders in the agency.“This exercise will be the final nail in the coffin as far as RAM’s credibility is concerned, considering that CTOS is owned significantly by a private equity firm, and recently listed on Bursa Malaysia.“With the green light to own RAM, it has the ultimate control over RAM which is supposed to act as an independent credit rating agency,” said a senior executive at a Kuala Lumpur-based equity firm.Adding to the fear is the potential conflict of interest of individuals in CTOS.“We know for a fact that at least one CTOS non-executive director is sitting on the SC board of directors,” a capital market analyst told MalaysiaNow.“So when it is only CTOS that has been given the nod to acquire 51% in RAM, it is not only classic conflict of interest but the death of integrity in Malaysia’s financial sector, especially when its credit reports have implications in the bonds market.“This is detrimental to Malaysia as the issuing of debt ratings is now dictated by a single entity.”The fund manager also pointed out that Malaysia was already grappling with paying very heavy interest payments to 1MDB-related bonds.“Some of those bonds were approved by the SC. The basis for the approval of the tenure and coupon of those bonds has also raised eyebrows. There are many questions on this, given the price of what we have to pay as interest on the 1MDB family of bonds.“The public must be aware that this is no small decision.”MalaysiaNow is attempting to contact the relevant parties for a response.


Throwing stones won’t help, educationists say on teacher with ‘bad English’

Educationists have rallied to the defence of a science teacher who recently came under fire on social media for mispronouncing English words in a programme on an educational TV channel, saying mocking others for their level of proficiency will not help improve the standard of English in the country.The teacher, Rafidah Rahmat, was heavily ridiculed for her presentation on DidikTV in which she uttered sentences with poor intonation in addition to mispronouncing a number of words. An 88-second clip of her speaking went viral on social media, with many criticising and poking fun at her.Noor Azman Zainol, an English teacher at a public school, said it was unfortunate that Rafidah had borne the brunt of the disparagement just because she happened to be in front of the camera.“If her English was not good enough, who cast her? Was she not coached at all?” he asked.“Surely these people are to be held accountable for the overall quality of the TV programme,” he said.Noor Azman, who is also a senior administrative assistant at SMK Seri Badong, said Malaysia’s standard of English had deteriorated over the years.“Before correcting someone, we should ask ourselves: are we doing it to help the person or to make fun of the person?”However, he said degrading Rafidah’s English in public would discourage her and others, especially students, from using the language for fear of making mistakes and experiencing similar ridicule.Surinderpal Kaur Chanan Singh, an associate professor at Universiti Malaya, agreed. She said mispronounciations should be corrected through constructive feedback, not by mocking the person who made the mistakes.“Before correcting someone, we should ask ourselves: are we doing it to help the person or to make fun of the person?“If it’s the latter, then it’s best to keep quiet. If it’s the former, then feedback given privately is best. Mocking people is counterproductive and achieves nothing but to humiliate people,” she told MalaysiaNow.Surinderpal, who heads the university’s faculty of languages and linguistics, added that it is important to distinguish between bad grammar and the Malaysian accent.“The Malaysian way of pronouncing words in English is not necessarily a bad thing,” she said.“It’s part of the different varieties of English across the world. It actually has value and is a distinct part of our culture and identity.”In Rafidah’s case, she said, the issue is incorrect use of stress and intonation when speaking in public. She suggested that people be trained to speak normally in public, taking into account intonation and enunciation.Pronouncing words in a Malaysian accent is not necessarily a problem as long as the message gets across, she added.“The more mistakes you make out of more trial and error, the more things you learn.”“Understanding the message means more to me than being rigidly correct with grammar or pronunciation. We should be helping people grow in terms of proficiency and confidence in speaking in English.”Helping is key, Noor Azman agreed. He said those with a poor command of English should be corrected through positive rather than negative reinforcement.Gaining fluency and accuracy in language is helped by practice, he said.“The more mistakes you make out of more trial and error, the more things you learn.”And for those who still trip here and there, Surinderpal said they should not allow themselves to be negatively affected.“If you are corrected for mispronunciation, accept it as constructive feedback, improve yourself and move forward.“Immerse yourself in speaking, reading and writing English on a regular basis. Force yourself to read English newspapers, listen to newscasters who speak English well. If we do it once in a while, it’s not going to help at all.”