Nik Aziz's son to be fielded again, this time with PKR

Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz, the son of a former Kelantan menteri besar, will contest the 15th general election (GE15) in Perak on a PKR ticket, party chief Anwar Ibrahim announced today.
Anwar however declined to reveal further details on whether Nik Omar, the son of former PAS leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, would be fielded in a state or federal seat.
At the last general election in 2018, Nik Omar, representing Pakatan Harapan (PH), was defeated in a three-way fight against Barisan Nasional and PAS for the state seat of Chempaka, winning just 2,418 votes.
When asked if he had left Amanah for PKR, Nik Omar remained vague.
"The important thing is that we are united in PH," he said.
"Being here is proof of our commitment to bringing about a government that is centred on justice."
Aside from Nik Omar, the names of six other candidates were presented: Zainal Azman Abu Seman, Hassan Basri Awang Mat Dahan, Nor Aishah Mydin Abdul Aziz, Saipol Yazan Yusop, Juftri Joha and Fathin Amelina Fazlie.
The six, consisting of former senior civil servants, academics, and youth, will be fielded in Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang and Perlis.
According to Anwar, an official announcement of PKR's candidates will be made this Friday.
PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said the seven candidates announced today were part of the party's initiative to field individuals with professional backgrounds instead of only politicians.
"We are following the request of voters who want new faces and professionals."


Ex-Perlis MB charged with submitting RM1.18 million false claims for 'trip to London'

Former Perlis menteri besar Azlan Man was charged in the Kangar Sessions Court today with five counts of submitting false claims worth more than RM1.18 million between 2013 and 2017.
Azlan, 64, pleaded not guilty to the charges before judge Norsalha Hamzah.
According to the charge sheet, Azlan, in his capacity as Perlis menteri besar at the time, allegedly used several documents containing false particulars to make claims for an overseas holiday in London when there was no such trip.
The documents included invoices and quotations for return air tickets and hotel accommodation issued by Sri Kedawang Travel & Tours (W) Sdn Bhd and Aidil Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd, and a Perlis state government order form AM 75E allegedly used in making claims for air tickets, hotel accommodation and transport.
The offences were said to have been committed at the Perlis State Secretary’s Office, Kompleks Dewan Undangan Negeri, Persiaran Wawasan between December 2013 and December 2017.
He was charged under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and is liable to punishment under Section 24(2) of the same act.
The section provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the false claims involved, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Norsalha granted Azlan bail of RM50,000 with one surety for all of the charges and ordered him to surrender his passport to the court.
Azlan was represented by Burhanudeen Abdul Wahid while the prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib.
Akram asked the court to fix mention of the case within the next month, saying Azlan was expected to be slapped with five charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 in a Kuala Lumpur court on Wednesday.
He also suggested that the case at the Kangar Sessions Court be transferred to Kuala Lumpur to facilitate the trial process.
The court then fixed May 12 for mention.
Azlan was the Pauh state assemblyman from 2013 to 2018, before winning the Bintong state seat in 2018. He failed to defend the seat at the last general election in 2022.
He served as Perlis menteri besar from 2013 to 2022.


Election of deputy speaker postponed

The election of a Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker to fill the post vacated by Azalina Othman Said has been postponed to the next sitting, the second meeting of the fourth session of the 14th Parliament scheduled for October.The motion on the election of a deputy speaker was originally listed in the Order Paper of the ongoing first meeting of the fourth session of the 14th Parliament.Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the postponement was to enable an amendment to Article 57 (1)(b) of the Federal Constitution to increase the number of deputy speakers from two currently to three.“We may make a regulation for one of the deputy speakers elected later to be a representative from the opposition,” he said when tabling a motion on the postponement of the election today.The motion was passed by majority voice vote.Article 57 (1)(b) states that the House of Representatives shall from time to time elect two deputy speakers from among the members of the House.Wan Junaidi said he had discussed with the Attorney-General’s Chambers for the proposed amendment to be tabled for first reading at the end of the current meeting.Earlier, Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru) questioned the need to defer the election and asked Wan Junaidi to justify tabling the motion on postponement when there were many parliamentary matters to be implemented, including on the transformation of Parliament and Budget 2022.Azalina resigned on Aug 23, leaving Mohd Rashid Hasnon as the only deputy speaker.


Lethal Liverpool smash Manchester United for seven in record win

Liverpool brought Manchester United's bandwagon to a shuddering halt as Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah all scored twice in a record 7-0 hammering of their arch-rivals to boost their Premier League top-four hopes at Anfield on Sunday.
A week after a resurgent United claimed their first trophy since 2017 by winning the League Cup and amid talk of a title push they were blown away either side of halftime as Liverpool recorded their biggest ever margin of victory in the fixture.
United had looked marginally the better side for 43 minutes before Gakpo's superb finish from Liverpool's first attempt on target gave the hosts the halftime lead.
Within five minutes of the restart it was all over as a contest with Nunez making it 2-0 with a header after some comical United defending before a lightning Liverpool counter-attack led by Salah ended with Gakpo finishing in style for 3-0.
With United in disarray Salah got in on the act with a clinical finish in the 66th minute and Nunez then sent a header past a helpless David De Gea in the 75th.
Salah then rubbed salt into United wounds with a close-range effort to score a record 129th Premier League goal for the club before Roberto Firmino came off the bench to make it seven.
Liverpool had thrashed United 4-0 at Anfield last April but considering the reversal of fortunes for the two clubs since that day this result was a major surprise.
United's sobering defeat, described by Sky Sports pundit and their former defender Gary Neville as a 'disgrace' left them in third place on 49 points and surely out of the title race as they are 14 points behind leaders Arsenal.
Liverpool's fourth win in five league matches lifted them above Newcastle United into fifth on 42 points, three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand.


Lay off arrests of undocumented migrants to ensure successful vaccination rollout, Suhakam tells govt

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) today welcomed the government’s decision to provide vaccinations free of charge for foreigners as well as citizens, urging it to ensure that undocumented migrants who come forward to participate in the national vaccination programme are not arrested and penalised for their status.In a statement, it said the move was recognition of the principle of access to health for all in the country, in line with the principles of non-discrimination and equal treatment as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.“Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right that should be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their status,” it said.“The right to health contains entitlements which include the right to a system of health protection providing equal opportunity for everyone to access healthcare.”In its decision announced on Feb 11, Putrajaya said extending free vaccination to all was part of the government’s humanitarian responsibility.It also said this would help ensure that it reaches its target of attaining herd immunity.While priority will be given to Malaysians once vaccinations begin at the end of the month, Putrajaya said foreign workers are also part of the local community and have contributed to the nation’s economy.Malaysia has so far secured Covid-19 vaccine supplies from five companies at a total price of over RM2 billion, enough to inoculate more than 80% of the population and achieve herd immunity.The Pfizer vaccines will be the first to arrive in Malaysia at the end of the month, despite the recent controversial export curbs by the European Union on vaccines produced in the bloc.Suhakam welcomed the move as well as the government’s readiness to work with other parties including NGOs to ensure an effective immunisation programme for all.However, it maintained that undocumented workers who come forward should not be penalised.“While we understand the powers within the immigration laws provide for the arrest of those without valid documents, the urgency during this pandemic demands that a safe and secure environment must exist in order for all persons to come out voluntarily for vaccination.”


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Alternative or modern medicine? Which will reliably relieve chronic pain?

Plant extracts, magical spells, desperate prayers, and as a last resort a dagger heated in an open fire, used to be just about all that stood between the sick and an early grave.Nowadays, much of the world enjoys modern healthcare in sanitary surroundings and lives about twice as long as their ancestors.Modern pills and potions can be effective against the ailments that befall many people at some time, and who rely on antibiotics and other drugs, and when all else fails, a scalpel straight from the autoclave.And yet, many individuals and cultures still believe in traditional or ancient remedies, especially when modern medicine has failed them, but more and more as a first choice for certain lifestyles.In fact, what is now called alternative medicine, is enjoying a boom in many developed countries.Ayurveda, reflexology, and Chinese traditional medicine are some of the popular forms of alternative treatment that people turn to in desperation or fashion.Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which local suction is created by placing heated cups on the skin to draw blood toward the surface.What is now called alternative medicine is enjoying a boom in many developed countries.Cupping is characterised by most doctors as a pseudoscience, and its practice as quackery. There is no good evidence it has any health benefits, and there are some risks of harm, especially from wet cupping and fire cupping.Nevertheless, some people will swear by it. Others will be ready to give it a go.The effectiveness of most alternative medicine is unclear as measurable statistics are scarce. Perceptions of effectiveness largely boil down to personal and anecdotal experience.For many, their first experience of alternative treatments comes on the recommendation of a friend.Hisham, a 50-year-old in Kuala Terengganu, suffers from trigger fingers due to long hours using a computer mouse.“For that, normal doctors usually just give you pain killers,” he told MalaysiaNow.The pain became so bad that he was ready to try anything to relieve it.A friend who suffers from a similar problem recommended that he visit a local reflexology centre, where, he told Hisham, they had relieved his pain.Reflexology is built on the ancient Chinese belief in qi, or “vital energy” which flows through the body. When a person feels stressed, their body blocks qi which can cause an imbalance that leads to illness. Reflexology aims to keep qi flowing.Body parts and internal organs respond to different pressure points on the feet, hands and ears, and reflexologists use maps of these points to determine where they should apply pressure.Hisham decided to try it.He told MalaysiaNow that after six treatment sessions over two months, reflexology has improved his trigger fingers.“My hands are much better and almost back to normal. Before, it hurt when I bent my fingers but now there is much less pain,” he said.According to people he met at the centre, most patients see improvement in their conditions before too long.Score one for alternative medicine.Suganthi, a 60-year-old from Shah Alam, is not so convinced.She suffers from peroneal tendonitis: chronic ankle pain that usually occurs after a bad sprain or overuse caused by prolonged training and which usually develops over time.Suganthi suffers from it in her right foot.When she first complained of the pain, several friends recommended she try traditional Chinese medicine.Her mother had suffered multiple fractures a few years earlier and traditional Chinese treatments had worked for her, so Suganthi thought it worth trying.“They rubbed on a kind of herbal paste and wrapped my foot in a bandage which they left on for days,” she told MalaysiaNow.The effectiveness of most alternative medicine is unclear as measurable statistics are scarce.After enduring several sessions of treatment, she felt no improvement.“The pain didn’t go away,” she said. “I had paid RM120 per session for nothing.”Still desperate for an effective treatment, she then resorted to a modern doctor and ended up undergoing a surgical procedure which relieved some of the pain, but not all.After that, a friend recommended that she try acupuncture.“It wasn’t expensive, so I was willing to try it. But it didn’t work either.”So, she returned to modern medicine.“After the acupuncture, the doctors gave me a second operation, but nothing changed. I’ve been living with the pain for 10 years now,” she told MalaysiaNow, gesturing at her foot.Both modern and alternative medicine had let her down again.Family and friends still try to persuade her to give alternative medicine another try.“This time, they’re always recommending I should go for Ayurveda treatment,” she said.Ayurveda is the traditional Hindu system of medicine, based on the idea of balance in bodily systems, which uses diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing.“So far I have refused to try it,” she told MalaysiaNow. “I just don’t have any confidence in traditional medicine anymore.”Though she didn’t see positive results, she considers that there are pros and cons when it comes to alternative medicine.She advises people to always consult medical experts before embarking on a course of alternative treatment.So, when daggers drawn from open fires and scalpels from autoclaves have both let you down, what next?When you’ve tried everything else, should you, like Suganthi, just learn to live with the pain?


Indonesia set to penalise sex outside marriage in overhaul of criminal code

Indonesia's parliament is expected to pass a new criminal code this month that will penalise sex outside marriage with a punishment of up to one year in jail, officials have confirmed.
The legislative overhaul will also ban insulting the president or state institutions and expressing any views counter to Indonesia's state ideology. Cohabitation before marriage is also banned.
Decades in the making, the new criminal code is expected to be passed on Dec 15, Indonesia's deputy justice minister, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, told Reuters.
"We're proud to have a criminal code that's in line with Indonesian values," he told Reuters in an interview.
Bambang Wuryanto, a lawmaker involved in the draft, said the new code could be passed by as early as next week.
The draft has the support of some Islamic groups in a country where conservatism is on the rise, although opponents argue that it reverses liberal reforms enacted after the 1998 fall of authoritarian leader Suharto.
A previous draft of the code was set to be passed in 2019 but sparked nationwide protests. Tens of thousands of people demonstrated at the time against a raft of laws, especially those seen to regulate morality and free speech, which they said would curtail civil liberties.
Critics say say minimal changes to the code have been made since then, although the government has in recent months held public consultations around the country to provide information about the changes.
Some changes that have been made include a provision that could allow the death penalty to be commuted to life imprisonment after 10 years of good behaviour.
The criminalisation of abortion, with the exception of rape victims, and imprisonment for "black magic", remain in the code.
According to the latest draft dated Nov 24 that was seen by Reuters, sex outside marriage, which can only be reported by limited parties such as close relatives, carries a maximum one-year prison sentence.
Insulting the president, a charge that can only be reported by the president, carries a maximum of three years.
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, has hundreds of regulations at the local level that discriminate against women, religious minorities, and LGBT people.
The changes to the code would be a "huge a setback to Indonesian democracy", said Andreas Harsono of Human Rights Watch.
The deputy justice minister dismissed the criticism, saying the final version of the draft would ensure that regional laws adhered to national legislation, and the new code would not threaten democratic freedoms.
A revised version of the criminal code has been discussed since Indonesia declared its independence from the Dutch in 1945.


Ringgit is fourth most undervalued currency, says latest global purchasing power index

The Malaysian ringgit should be worth 58.9% more against the US dollar, or RM1.72 per dollar, instead of its current level of around RM4.19, according to the latest Big Mac Index released this week by The Economist.Since 1986, the Big Mac Index has been comparing purchasing powers around the world using the price of the world’s most recognisable burger as its benchmark.The index is based on the theory of purchasing-power-parity (PPP), or the notion that in the long run, exchange rates should move towards the rate that would equalise the prices of an identical basket of goods and services in any two countries.The index, which the Economist says is never not to be taken as a precise gauge of “currency misalignment”, has now been globally accepted.In its latest edition, the ringgit emerges as the fourth most undervalued of 55 currencies tracked, each measured by GDP per capita and after taking into account differences in the standard of living.“A Big Mac costs RM9.99 in Malaysia and US$5.81 in the US,” the survey report said.“The implied exchange rate is 1.72. The difference between this and the actual exchange rate, 4.19, suggests the ringgit is 58.9% undervalued,” it added in reference to the ringgit’s market value earlier this week.What this means is that anyone who earns in ringgit will be able to buy fewer things in the US or any other country because the currency is undervalued.But the ringgit is not alone.Among the world’s other most undervalued currencies on the Big Mac index are the Turkish lira, undervalued by 67.9%, the Indonesian rupiah (undervalued by 59.3%) and the Russian ruble (undervalued by 70%).Meanwhile, the index finds the Swiss franc and the Norwegian krone as the world’s most overvalued currencies.The raw index does not tell the full story of currency valuation.Due to PPP, the cost to produce a Big Mac is cheaper in poorer countries.To address this, The Economist said it has factored in another important indicator – GDP-adjusted index – to reach a more accurate conclusion.At market exchange rates, a Big Mac costs US$2.39 in Malaysia, 58.9% less than in the US (US$5.81).But based on differences in GDP per person, a Big Mac should cost 37.2% less.This suggests that the ringgit is 34.6% undervalued.“It is worth pointing out that it is common for poor countries to seem cheap relative to rich ones in any simple comparison of prices,” The Economist said, noting that in most countries, “the price of a burger is about what you would expect given the country’s GDP per person”.On the adjusted index too, Malaysia’s currency remains heavily undervalued at sixth place, but less so than when dealing with straight conversion data.Using this measure, the Russian ruble is the most undervalued currency relative to the US dollar, by as much as 52.1%.This is below the Romanian leu at 36%, the Hong Kong dollar at 45% and the Taiwanese dollar at 38.5%.Adjusted for GDP per capita, Uruguay has the most overvalued currency at 39.8%.


North Korea stockpiled Chinese masks, vaccines before reporting Covid-19 outbreak

In the months before it acknowledged its first official Covid-19 outbreak, North Korea suddenly imported millions of face masks, 1,000 ventilators, and possibly vaccines from China, trade data released by Beijing showed.Two weeks ago state media revealed the outbreak, fuelling concerns about a lack of vaccines, medical supplies and food shortages. Chinese data show that even before that announcement, the North had begun stocking up.North Korea is not known to have conducted any significant Covid-19 vaccine campaign. In February, however, China exported US$311,126 worth of unidentified vaccines to its neighbour, according to the data released this month. China reported no other vaccine exports to North Korea for any other month this year, or all of last year.From January to April, the last month for which data is available, the North bought more than 10.6 million masks from China, having bought none in December 2021.In those four months, China also exported nearly 95,000 thermometers, more than 33 times than the total amount of 2021.China exported 1,000 non-invasive ventilators to North Korea in April, worth US$266,891, as well as laboratory supplies that could be used in Covid-19 test kits. Other medical imports included rubber gloves and protective clothing.Overall China’s exports to North Korea hit US$98.1 million in April, the highest since January 2020 when the figure was US$186.8 million.North Korea shut its borders to nearly all trade for most of the pandemic, only recently allowing a trickle of supplies and products into the country on trains and ships from China.Three aircraft from North Korea’s Air Koryo arrived in China and returned to Pyongyang last week carrying medical supplies, a diplomatic source said.


Keeping China fed as inflation surges brings risk for commodity prices

Bedevilled by high fuel and fertiliser costs, along with a labour crisis driven by Covid-19 restrictions, China risks a smaller autumn harvest that could supercharge demand for commodities just as the world can afford it least.Global food prices have spiked since Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine, a major world producer of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, driving costs to record highs.Moscow stands accused of pushing the globe to the brink of catastrophe by blockading Ukrainian ports and seizing commodity stocks, driving up prices and leaving the world’s poorest nations facing hunger.China is relatively self-reliant, producing more than 95% of its needs in rice, wheat and maize.But relentless Covid disruptions – caused by restrictions on the movement of goods and farm workers – on top of higher fertiliser and fuel costs and issues with access to equipment, threaten the autumn harvest of key crops such as soybean and corn.Experts caution even a small rise in demand from the world’s most populous nation could drive global commodity costs up sharply.“The last thing the global market needs right now is for China to become a more active buyer,” said Even Pay, an agriculture analyst with consultancy Trivium China.Corn prices hit a nine-year high in April, while soybean prices traded near a 10-year high this month.China is the last major economy to adhere to a zero-Covid policy.How that manifests itself in the next harvest is uncertain, but Pay said “last-mile logistics” have been complicated by virus restrictions in rural areas afraid of the spread of the disease.“Villages have been very resistant to letting outsiders in during Covid-control periods,” she added.If China ends up going to the global market to fill any shortfall, there will be “a big impact” on prices, said Darin Friedrichs, co-founder of agriculture research firm Sitonia Consulting.Seeds of doubtFor now, Beijing is keeping a close eye on the country’s wheat harvest.At a meeting last month, Premier Li Keqiang said a strong summer harvest with manageable prices depended in part on “unimpeded” access of workers and machines to wheat-growing provinces from eastern Anhui to northern Shanxi.China has harvested about 80% of its winter wheat crop so far, according to state media, although Friedrichs cautioned that prices are 25% higher than last year, at about 3,000 yuan (US$450) per tonne.While a decent wheat harvest is good news to world markets, “Covid-related disruptions haven’t gone away”, according to Pay, who added that prices of fertilisers and fuels were riding high.China has “massively ramped up its wheat, corn, barley purchases” in recent years, from below 20 million tonnes a year around four years ago to some 50 million tonnes now, according to Andrew Whitelaw, an analyst at Thomas Elder Markets.But global inflation and uncertainty will make it expensive for China to import more.Already, China has bought newly harvested wheat for its reserves at sky-high prices this month.The political dimension of feeding China’s vast population has not been lost on Beijing.President Xi Jinping has said China should make “unrelenting efforts to ensure grain security”, state media reported.The issue has grown in importance since 2020, when the coronavirus spread worldwide, said Friedrichs.“There were worries about global disruptions to supply chains, and now we have the global food crisis – that’s redoubled focus on food security,” he said.


Private Adam, man at the centre of 1987 KL shootings, dies

Adam Jaafar, better known as Private Adam, died yesterday at the Penang Hospital due to a lung infection.His sister, Hawa, 56, when contacted by Bernama, said her brother died at about 9am while receiving treatment at the hospital.“Before this, my brother was fine, he was healthy except for the occasional fever which is normal… the only thing was last week he was admitted to hospital and the medical examination showed he had a lung infection,” she said today.She said his remains were buried at the Datuk Keramat Muslim Cemetery after zohor prayers. He was 57.Hawa said the family was saddened by her brother’s death but had accepted it as fate and prayed that his soul would be blessed and placed among the pious.Adam, the eldest of eight siblings, had been a good and caring brother, she added.In October 1987, Adam, then a 26-year-old soldier, ran amok and went on a shooting spree at Jalan Chow Kit which left one person dead and several others wounded.He escaped the death penalty and was sent to Tanjung Rambutan Hospital for 10 years after he was certified as insane at the time of committing the offence.


Record 117,563 vaccine jabs administered in a single day

A total of 117,563 doses of vaccine were administered yesterday, the most daily jabs since the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) was implemented 100 days ago on Feb 24.The Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee said of the total, 109,827 received their first jab while 7,736 others received their second dose.“The total number (of vaccine doses given) will keep increasing,” the committee added in a Twitter post.As of yesterday, 3,330,436 individuals nationwide had completed both doses of Covid-19 vaccine.Yesterday, PICK coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the government had set a target of administering 150,000 vaccine shots per day this month before increasing it to 200,000 shots by July.Khairy, who is also the science, technology and innovation minister, said the target would be achieved through the establishment of more vaccination centres, including 1,000 private clinics nationwide, as well as through use of the drive-thru system.


Selangor top in dengue cases last week

Selangor recorded the highest number of dengue cases at 748 in the 39th epidemiological week (ME 39) from Sept 25 to Oct 1, says health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
It was followed by Sabah with 173 cases, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (163), Johor (131), Negeri Sembilan (46), Penang (42), Kedah (40), Kelantan (33), Pahang (31), Perak (24) ), Sarawak (13), Melaka (11), Terengganu (three) and Perlis and Labuan (one each).
"In ME 39, the number of dengue fever cases reported was 1,460 compared to 1,533 in the previous week, which is a decrease of 73 cases. Two deaths were reported in ME 39 in Sabah," he said in a statement today.
He said the number of dengue hotspots continued to increase from 48 localities in ME 38 to 55 in ME 39. Of these, 33 are in Selangor, followed by Sabah (16) and Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (six).
Meanwhile, Noor Hisham said chikungunya surveillance recorded three cases in ME 39, all in in Selangor, bringing cumulative chikungunya cases to 649.
For Zika surveillance, a total of 1,488 blood samples and 15 urine samples were screened and all were negative.
Noor Hisham also advised all parties to ensure their areas are free from mosquito breeding grounds, especially during the transition phase of the northeast monsoon from Oct 3 to early November which causes heavy rain and strong winds.


RM42 million from SRC ‘peanuts’ for Najib, prosecution tells appeals court

The RM42 million in SRC International funds utilised by Najib Razak was peanuts for him, the Court of Appeal was told today.Ad hoc prosecutor V Sithambaram submitted this before a three-member bench led by judge Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil in the hearing of Najib’s appeal against his conviction and jail sentence for the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.The other two judges on the bench were Has Zanah Mehat and Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera.Sithambaram said the RM42 million was peanuts for the former prime minister as he had earlier taken a RM2.6 billion donation.“In this case, Najib had full control over the company (SRC International) and whenever he needed money, he took it. My Lord, earlier, he had taken RM2.6 billion, this is just ‘kacang’ (peanuts) for him,” said Sithambaram.Last year, Najib testified at the Kuala Lumpur High Court that he had received a RM2.6 billion donation from the Saudi royal family between 2011 and 2014.The High Court on July 28 last year sentenced him to 12 years’ jail and fined him RM210 million after finding him guilty on seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of position involving RM42 million in SRC International funds.The hearing of the appeal continues.


Los Angeles ambulances told not to take all Covid-19 sufferers to hospital

Ambulance paramedics in Los Angeles County, California, have been told not to transport patients who have extremely low chances of survival.The directive comes as officials say hospitals are overrun with patients and the region could soon hit over 1,000 Covid-related deaths per day.Emergency workers have also been told to ration oxygen, which is in short supply due to the pandemic.New York City issued a similar directive to ambulance workers in April 2020 at the height of the city’s Covid outbreak, instructing them not to bring in patients who were unable to be resuscitated at the scene.The LA County Department of Public Health reported over 9,000 new Covid cases on Monday, and an additional 77 deaths. The county, which is the worst hit in the US, has recorded over 800,000 coronavirus cases and nearly 11,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic.Hospitals in California, which are already at maximum capacity, have begun warding patients in gift shops, parking lots and outdoor tents. Ambulances are having to queue outside hospitals for hours as they wait for Emergency Room workers to take their patients.Dr Marianne Gausche-Hill, the medical director of LA County’s Emergency Services Agency, who issued the latest directives, told CBS News that ambulance workers will continue to work to save lives of patients at the scene.“We are not abandoning resuscitation,” she said. “Treating heart attack and stroke patients at the scene can increase chances of survival but what we’re emphasising is the fact that transporting Covid-19 patients who cannot be resuscitated leads to very poor outcomes.”The US as a whole has now broken its record for the number of coronavirus patients in hospital.On Monday, 2,800 Americans were admitted for Covid-19, the highest daily total yet. This brings the total number in hospital to 128,210, according to the Covid Tracking Project. Over 23,000 patients were listed as in intensive care.In California, the number of patients in hospital for coronavirus has doubled in the past month. The LA mayor said on Sunday that a new infection occurs there every six seconds.


Zahid claims trial to amended charge in charity foundation case

The prosecution in the case of former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds today amended a money laundering charge by making changes to the number and value of the cheques in question.“I understand this (amended) charge is to make the sentence heftier for me. Thank you… I plead not guilty,” Zahid said.He made the plea after the amended charge in the money laundering case involving the Yayasan Akalbudi funds was read to him before High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah before commencement of the trial.Deputy public prosecutor Harris Ong Mohd Jeffry Ong had applied to the court to amend the 27th charge in terms of value and number of cheques.The amendment saw “RM6,885,300.20” and “30 cheques” replaced with “RM7,511,250.20” and “35 cheques”.According to the amended charge, Zahid allegedly committed the offence by being directly involved in a transaction involving proceeds from illegal activities by ordering Omar Ali Abdullah to convert for him cash amounting to RM7,511,250.20 into 35 cheques that were later handed over to Messrs Lewis & Co for the purpose of opening fixed deposit accounts in Maybank.Zahid, who is Bagan Datuk MP, was alleged to have committed the offence at Marhaba Enterprise Sdn Bhd, Jalan Bukit Bintang on March 29, 2016 and July 15, 2016.He faces 47 charges – 12 for criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit in funds belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.The money laundering charges under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 are punishable under Section 4 (1) of the same law which provides for imprisonment of up to 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the proceeds from unlawful activities or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.


More graves found at another former indigenous school in Canada

Hundreds of unmarked graves have been found near a former Catholic residential school for indigenous children in western Canada, local media reported late Wednesday.Excavations at the site around the former school in Marieval, Saskatchewan, began at the end of May.They followed the discovery of the remains of 215 schoolchildren at another former indigenous residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia, which sent shock waves through Canada.The finds revived calls on the Pope and the Catholic church to apologise for the abuse and violence suffered by the students at these boarding schools, where they were forcibly assimilated into the dominant culture.In a statement quoted by several Canadian media, including CBC and CTV, the native Cowessess community said it had made “the horrific and shocking discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves” during excavations at former Marieval boarding school.“The number of unmarked graves will be the most significantly substantial to date in Canada,” the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations said in a statement.Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said the news was “absolutely tragic, but not surprising. I urge all Canadians to stand with First Nations in this extremely difficult and emotional time.”After the discovery of the Kamloops remains, excavations were undertaken near several former schools for indigenous children across Canada, with the assistance of government authorities.The Marieval residential school in eastern Saskatchewan hosted indigenous children between 1899 and 1997 before being demolished and replaced by a day school.Some 150,000 Native American, Metis and Inuit children were forcibly recruited up until the 1990s in 139 of these residential schools across Canada, where they were isolated from their families, their language and their culture.Many were subjected to ill-treatment and sexual abuse, and more than 4,000 died in the schools, according to a commission of inquiry that concluded Canada had committed “cultural genocide” against the indigenous communities.


Taps running again in 73% of affected areas

Some 73.37% or 948 of the 1,292 areas hit by an unscheduled water disruption in seven regions in the Klang Valley had their water supply fully restored as of 6.30am today.In a statement, Air Selangor said the remaining 344 areas were in the process of having their supply restored.Hulu Selangor became the first area to record 100% water supply resumption, followed by Kuala Selangor (99.25%), Petaling (91.78%), Gombak (72.99%), Kuala Langat (50%), Kuala Lumpur (47.37%) and Klang/Shah Alam (38.42%).Air Selangor said consumers who had received their water supply were advised to use it prudently to facilitate the process of restoring supply to other areas.Efforts are being intensified to stabilise the water supply distribution system to enable supply to be restored to areas that are still affected, it added.The Sungai Selangor Phase 1, 2, 3 and Rantau Panjang water treatment plants were forced to stop operation on Thursday due to pollution at the raw water source.


Party applications to join BN being fine-tuned, says sec-gen

The applications by six parties to become Barisan Nasional (BN) components are being fine-tuned by the coalition’s secretariat.
BN secretary-general Zambry Abdul Kadir said the matter was one of the issues on the agenda discussed at the BN Supreme Council meeting last night.
"The Supreme Council would like to express its appreciation and thanks to the parties for their interest and readiness to be together with BN," he told reporters after attending the meeting at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
The meeting was chaired by BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi with BN deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan and vice-chairmen Wee Ka Siong, S Vigneswaran and Arthur Joseph Kurup in attendance.
MIC representative M Saravanan, Umno representatives Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Mahdzir Khalid, and MCA representative Mah Hang Soon were also present. Meanwhile, Zambry said the Supreme Council also agreed to establish BN Puteri to coordinate women youth movements of its component parties, with Umno Puteri chief Zahida Zarik Khan appointed as its chief.
He said the Supreme Council also decided to extend Hishammuddin Hussein’s appointment as BN treasurer-general for another two years.
Hishammuddin, who is also Sembrong MP, was appointed to the post on Oct 23, 2020, replacing Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.


Updates: The wait for the 10th PM

The wait continues for Malaysians who have been on tenterhooks since Saturday to learn which coalitions will form the new government following the inconclusive results of the Nov 19 polls.


Chinese cargo spacecraft successfully docks with space station module

A Chinese freighter spacecraft, carrying supplies, equipment, and propellant, docked with the Chinese space station’s key module Tianhe on Sunday, the official news agency Xinhua reported.The Tianzhou-2, or “Heavenly Vessel”, blasted off on a Long March-7 Y3 rocket on Saturday from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on the southern island of Hainan, the China Manned Space Engineering Office said.Tianzhou-2 carried supplies and food for the crew of the Shenzhou-12, which will be launched next month for a three-month stay on the station.Tianzhou-2 is the second in a series of missions needed to complete construction and assembly of China’s first self-developed space station in 2022, and follows the launch of Tianhe, the first module, in late April.From June until 2022, four manned spacecraft and four cargo spacecraft will also be launched by the smaller Long March-7 and 2F rockets, which have a maximum low Earth payload of 14 tonnes and 8.8 tonnes, respectively.When complete, the three-module space station will rival the International Space Station (ISS), operated by countries including the United States, Russia, and Japan. China was barred from participating in the ISS by the US.Next year, China will launch the two other core modules – Wentian and Mengtian – using the Long March 5B, its biggest and most powerful space transport vehicle, capable of sending 25 tonnes of payload into low Earth orbit.The same rocket was a source of worry earlier in May as it re-entered the atmosphere after delivering Tianhe into orbit.Warnings of an uncontrolled re-entry of the rocket’s core stage revived memories of debris from the flight of the first Long March 5B in May 2020, which damaged buildings when it smashed into inhabited areas of Ivory Coast.Remnants from the latest rocket finally fell into the Indian Ocean, but China drew criticism for not being transparent about the timing of the re-entry and trajectory.


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Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna making US$1,000 profit every second, according to analysis

Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna are making combined profits of US$65,000 every minute from their highly successful Covid-19 vaccines while the world’s poorest countries remain largely unvaccinated, according to a new analysis.The companies have sold the vast majority of their doses to rich countries, leaving low-income nations in the lurch, said the People’s Vaccine Alliance (PVA), a coalition campaigning for wider access to Covid vaccines, which based its calculations on the firms’ own earning reports.The Alliance estimates that the trio will make pre-tax profits of US$34 billion this year between them, which works out to over US$1,000 a second, US$65,000 a minute or US$93.5 million a day.“It is obscene that just a few companies are making millions of dollars in profit every single hour, while just 2% of people in low-income countries have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus,” Maaza Seyoum of the African Alliance and People’s Vaccine Alliance Africa said.“Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna have used their monopolies to prioritise the most profitable contracts with the richest governments, leaving low-income countries out in the cold.”Pfizer and BioNTech have delivered less than 1% of their total supplies to low-income countries while Moderna has delivered just 0.2%, the PVA said.Currently, 98% of people in low-income countries have not been fully vaccinated.The three companies’ actions are in contrast to AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, which provided their vaccines on a not-for-profit basis, though both have announced they foresee ending this arrangement in future as the pandemic winds down.PVA said that despite receiving public funding of more than US$8 billion, Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna have refused calls to transfer vaccine technology to producers in low- and middle-income countries via the World Health Organization, “a move that could increase global supply, drive down prices and save millions of lives.”“In Moderna’s case, this is despite explicit pressure from the White House and requests from the WHO that the company collaborate in and help accelerate its plan to replicate the Moderna vaccine for wider production at its mRNA hub in South Africa,” the group said.While Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has dismissed technology transfer as “dangerous nonsense,” the WHO’s decision to grant emergency use approval to the Indian-developed Covaxin earlier this month proves that developing countries have the capacity and expertise, PVA added.PVA, whose 80 members include the African Alliance, Global Justice Now, Oxfam, and Unaids, is calling for pharmaceutical corporations to immediately suspend intellectual property rights for Covid vaccines by agreeing to a proposed waiver of World Trade Organisation’s Trips agreement.More than 100 nations, including the US, back that move, but it is being blocked by rich countries including the UK and Germany.


Rejecting PKR, DAP just an election strategy, says Zahid

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today said the party's rejection of cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) as well as Bersatu was only an election campaign strategy.
"The rejection of any cooperation with PKR, DAP and Bersatu was to face the 15th general election and not for post-election.
"Secondly, this collaboration is based on the instruction of the Agong who wants a unity government to be formed," he said in a Facebook post.
Zahid, who faced pressure to quit as Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman over the coalition's poor performance in the recent polls, led efforts to boost the numbers needed by Anwar Ibrahim to form the government, committing BN's 30 MPs in support of the PH leader.
Umno, which had long clung to its "No Anwar, no DAP" stand, also agreed to cut ties with Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional (PN) at its general assembly last year.
It said in the wake of the Nov 19 election that it would support the king's proposal for a unity government but not one led by PN.
PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin had repeatedly said before the election that Anwar and Zahid would join hands to form a coalition government in the event that Umno lacked the support needed to rule alone.
"Zahid himself has said that he is ready to form an alliance with any party that works with Umno.
"But he rejected Bersatu at the Umno general assembly. Since he has done so, who is he likely to choose? PH?" he said at a ceramah on Nov 11.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Pejuang chairman, had previously said the same about cooperation between Anwar and Zahid.


No political interference in high-profile cases, MACC assures

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday assured that investigations into cases involving politicians are free from government interference.MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had given his commitment to the agency to crack down on corruption cases involving politicians and government officials.“The current government does not interfere, and the prime minister himself gave his word that he would not interfere in corruption cases whether by political leaders or government officers,” he said on a programme aired online last night.“Even if there are allegations about Cabinet members, he said to go ahead. He does not want to get involved.”Azam added that politicians had never meddled with the handling of cases throughout his career as MACC chief.He also pledged that investigations into high-profile cases would not be influenced by any such interference.“I do not deny that there are those who have asked,” he added. “It wouldn’t be logical if no one asked.“But I assure you, they only asked. They will not affect our decisions in the course of our investigations.“We will still investigate.”


Malaysia sees 78.6% drop in tourist arrivals thanks to Covid-19

Malaysia suffered a 78.6% drop in tourist arrivals between January and September this year compared to the corresponding period last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.The country only recorded 4.29 million tourist arrivals in that period this year compared to 20.1 million in 2019, the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia) said in a statement today.It said the lower number of tourist arrivals also saw receipts from tourism drop by 80.9% to RM12.6 billion during that period this year from RM66.1 billion in 2019, with per capita expenditure registering a decline of 10.7%, from RM3,289.30 in 2019 to RM2,938.40 this year.“The continued decline in number of arrivals is due to the closure of international borders since March 18, which is a part of the government’s proactive decision in its efforts to curb the spread of the pandemic in Malaysia,” Tourism Malaysia said.Malaysia’s top 10 tourist-generating markets continued to be dominated by Singapore (1,543,627), Indonesia (710,118), China (403,055), Thailand (372,075), India (155,448), Brunei (135,848), South Korea (119,364), Japan (73,891), Australia (72,369) and the Philippines (65,601), it said.Tourism Malaysia said negative growth has been observed for tourists from every regional market, namely the short-haul market (-78.8%), medium-haul market (-80.0%) and long-haul market (-74.0%).In terms of the number of excursionists or daily visitors to the country, it said Malaysia recorded a total of 1.73 million arrivals from January to September 2020, a drop of 74.9% compared to 6.90 million who visited Malaysia in the corresponding period last year.“As a result of the huge impact of the pandemic on the global community, other countries too are not spared from the effects on their tourism performance,” Tourism Malaysia said.According to data from the Pacific Asia Travel Association, neighbouring Asean countries like Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia recorded a similar decrease of more than 70$ in tourist arrivals due to travel restrictions imposed to combat the pandemic in the respective countries, it said.


Only 33% of disabled people registered for vaccination so far

Only 195,395 or 33.8% of the 577,352 disabled people nationwide have registered for Covid-19 vaccination so far, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun said today.She said advocacy and awareness programmes to help the disabled register would be increased through further cooperation with NGOs.“There are two issues, registration and administering the vaccine. I hope more of the disabled will register to receive the vaccine through this effort.“Discussions are also being held on providing drive-through vaccination for the disabled. Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), the Malaysian Association for the Blind complex has been made a vaccine administering centre, which can help this group be vaccinated quickly,” she said.She said parties should also go to the ground to help vaccinate those in need.“This would definitely benefit the disabled who have registered for vaccination as they wouldn’t need to go far to receive the vaccine. We hope there will be more of such groups,” she added.Yesterday, Khairy Jamaluddin, the coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, said 30 vaccination trucks would be mobilised to low-cost housing areas and construction sites in the federal capital to accelerate the vaccination process.


Abu Dhabi's Ipic, Aabar to pay RM8 billion to settle 1MDB dispute

Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Investment Co (Ipic) and its unit Aabar Investments PJS have agreed to pay US$1.8 billion (RM8.06 billion) to settle a legal dispute over the scandal at state fund 1MDB, the finance ministry said today.
Malaysia in 2018 filed a challenge in a London court against a settlement agreement between 1MDB and Ipic that had been negotiated a year earlier during the leadership of former prime minister Najib Razak. Najib was sentenced to 12 years in jail last year after being found guilty in a 1MDB-related corruption case.
In its challenge, the government had argued that the 2017 settlement was procured by fraud.
The finance ministry said today that the Abu Dhabi companies, 1MDB and the Minister of Finance (Incorporated) had reached a settlement in respect of proceedings in the London Court of International Arbitration and the London High Court.
"With this settlement, Malaysia and Abu Dhabi look forward to continue working together for the prosperity and economic benefit of both countries in the future," the ministry said in a statement.
1MDB is the subject of corruption and money-laundering investigations in at least six countries.
An estimated US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB by high-level officials of the fund and their associates between 2009 and 2014, the US Justice Department has alleged.


Survival of the fittest for Zoo Negara

For decades, Zoo Negara has been a tourist draw for local and international visitors alike who flock to the park in Ulu Klang, Selangor, to take in the sight, sound – and smell – of the thousands of animals which live on the grounds.
Today, though, the question for some might be the extent to which the zoo has kept up with the times, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic which caused widespread closures throughout the country for the better part of two years.
A recent visit to the zoo found many of its facilities unchanged and a dated air hanging about the place.
The glass of the aquarium and penguin enclosure was dirty and smudged, and the posters featuring the different animals were faded and worn.
At some displays, there was a lack of information about the animals inside, leaving visitors to wonder about what they were looking at, or to pull out their phones for a quick Google search.

Visitors walk past a row of gift shops at Zoo Negara.

Zoo Negara was opened to the public nearly six decades ago, in 1963.
It was a huge hit throughout the 1980s, attracting crowds of visitors as Kuala Lumpur had none of the major attractions and shopping malls that it now boasts.
In 1986, it received a further boost with the opening of a KFC branch which the fast food franchise actively promoted on television.
And while its appeal may have faded throughout the years, it remains a strong tourist draw, especially on weekends and public holidays.
In 2021, the zoo entered the media spotlight with reports of financial difficulties brought on by the pandemic.
This marked the start of a series of initiatives by NGOs and other groups to collect donations and contributions to ensure that the animals could continue receiving good care.
But it also saw many asking how the zoo could end up in such circumstances despite its decades of success.
Back on its feet
More than two and a half years after the onset of Covid-19, the zoo appears to have regained its footing.
MalaysiaNow's trip to the zoo found thousands of visitors including tourists and families with young children admiring the animals in their enclosures.

Families stop for a meal at an eatery at the zoo.

The aquarium, reptile exhibition and tiger enclosure were particular hits, while interactive sessions with snakes and giant tortoises pulled in the crowds as well.
Yet here and there, visitors were also reminded of the zoo's age.
The lake, which was the setting of a scene in the film "Masam-Masam Manis" starring P Ramlee, is now home only to birds on the hunt for fish.
And with the KFC branch there long closed, visitors are left to choose from a selection of cafes, some of which stretch the budget more than others.
For many, a trip to the zoo remains an experience to be enjoyed and remembered.
But with more and more attractions popping up throughout the Klang Valley, it might be hard put to continue bringing in the crowds without some measure of revamp.


Johor Bersatu says no copycat act against Umno after Perak ‘betrayal’

Bersatu in Johor has dismissed talk that it could replicate Umno’s act in Perak by moving a confidence motion on Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad.Johor Bersatu’s election chief Abdul Latiff Ahmad also dismissed talk that the party could take such “revenge” on Umno, which engineered the ouster of Ahmad Faizal Azumu as Perak menteri besar on Friday.Bersatu, which held the post of Johor MB when the party was part of the 22-month-old Pakatan Harapan government, had subsequently switched support to Umno’s Hasni.Hasni rules with a two-seat majority, with support from 29 of the 56 assemblymen.Thirteen of the 29 assemblymen – almost half of the ruling bloc in Johor – are from Bersatu (12) and PAS (one).“If PN decides not to support it and the state budget is not passed, it could turn into a no-confidence vote against the menteri besar.”Both parties are components of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, and have openly opposed Perak Umno’s move to oust Faizal who was due to table the state budget.Latiff said a similar move in Johor could cost Umno.“If PN decides not to support it and the state budget is not passed, it could turn into a no-confidence vote against the menteri besar,” Latiff told MalaysiaNow.“For the sake of political stability, PN reps must be present to show their support,” the Mersing MP added.In the Perak vote, a confidence motion moved by an Umno assemblyman saw Faizal opposed by 48 assemblymen from Umno and Pakatan Harapan.This came as differences between him and Umno reached a peak over the appointments of key administrative officers, including his political secretary.Faizal, who officially resigned yesterday, only obtained 10 votes from fellow reps in Bersatu, PAS and two independents. The sole Umno man who abstained was Aznel Ibrahim, whom Faizal appointed as his political secretary.Yesterday, Bersatu’s Kempas assemblyman and former Johor MB Osman Sapian said he would not rule out a “revenge act” in the state assembly.“I was saddened and shocked by the news (of Faizal’s ouster), when we are together in the eight-month-old federal and state governments,” he was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia, adding that Bersatu representatives in the Johor state assembly could copy the act.


Malaysiakini fails in review bid to overturn contempt conviction

A seven-member panel of the Federal Court today dismissed a review application by Malaysiakini to overturn a Federal Court decision finding the online news portal guilty of contempt over comments by its readers.The panel, led by justice Zaleha Yusof, held that the arguments raised in today’s review proceedings by Malaysiakini’s counsel Malik Imtiaz Sarwar had been raised in the committal proceedings before the previous Federal Court panel.She said the court was not persuaded by the submissions raised by the counsel on issues pertaining to allegations of a breach of natural justice.Zaleha added that since the matter was a public interest case, the court would not make any order as to costs.The other judges presiding were Zabariah Mohd Yusof, Hasnah Mohammed Hashim, Mary Lim Thiam Suan, Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal, Rhodzariah Bujang and Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah.The court proceedings were conducted online.On Feb 19 last year, in a 6-1 majority decision, a seven-member Federal Court bench led by Court of Appeal president Rohana Yusuf found Malaysiakini guilty of contempt of court for facilitating the publication of five readers’ comments and fined the company RM500,000.Mkini Dotcom paid the fine.The Federal Court, on June 17, 2020, allowed the attorney-general’s ex-parte application to obtain leave to commence committal proceedings against Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd, the company operating the Malaysiakini news portal, and its editor-in-chief Steven Gan over its readers’ comments on an article published by Malaysiakini on June 9, 2020, entitled “CJ orders all courts to be fully operational from July 1”.The Federal Court, however, found Gan not guilty of contempt of court.In the review application filed only by Mkini Dotcom, the company sought to set aside the earlier Federal Court decision and for a re-hearing of the contempt proceedings.


Report: Firms involved in Russian, Indian financial sleaze had a part in 1MDB theft

An investigation into leaked documents that show funds held under the names of prominent individuals worldwide has identified two offshore funds involved in high-profile frauds in India and Russia as also being involved in the theft of 1MDB funds, Malaysiakini reports.The news portal, which earlier named several prominent Malaysian politicians and businessmen who appeared in the so-called Pandora Papers, said two investment funds based in Curacao, an offshore financial haven in the Caribbean, had taken part in the transfer of some RM1.5 billion siphoned off from 1MDB between 2012 and 2013.It said the funds had siphoned off money raised from government bonds in 2012 and transferred it to a company owned by an associate of Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, the fugitive Malaysian businessman whose involvement in the 1MDB scandal has been documented by US authorities.Another US$1.59 billion (RM5.3 billion) was stolen from bonds raised with investment bank Goldman Sachs in 2013.The US Department of Justice had said part of the money from the bonds was transacted to former prime minister Najib Razak’s bank account.Najib is currently appealing against a conviction over charges related to some RM42 million in funds found in his account from 1MDB-linked SRC International Sdn Bhd, the company he helmed as the finance minister.Malaysiakini reported that the link between the 1MDB and Russian scandals was discovered through documents involving Aleman, Cordero, Galindo & Lee (Algocal), a Panama law firm.It said the two Curacao-based funds which transferred 1MDB money, Enterprise Emerging Markets Fund (EMMF) and Cistenique Investment Fund, were involved in major financial scandals in Russia and India between 2009 and 2015.It said EMMF and Cistenique, each with shares in Russian bank Vneshprombank, were linked to the embezzlement of US$2 billion that led to the closure of the bank, on the back of a major scandal where loans were issued to shell companies.Meanwhile, EEMF was named for its involvement in several money laundering and corruption scandals involving a prominent Indian jeweller.Malaysiakini reported that while the DoJ had not named the two funds in the unearthing of the 1MDB scandal, they were reported to be in liquidation “with no indication if any proceeds made through the 1MDB scandal are to be recovered”.


Global Covid-19 cases near 250 million as Delta surge eases

Worldwide cases due to Covid-19 were approaching 250 million on Sunday as the surge from the Delta variant eases and more normal trade and tourism resume, although some countries in eastern Europe are experiencing record outbreaks.Over the last three months, the daily average number of cases has fallen by 36%, according to a Reuters analysis.Even though the spread has slowed, the virus is still infecting 50 million people every 90 days due to the highly transmissible Delta variant, the analysis showed. It took nearly a year to record the first 50 million Covid cases.Health experts are optimistic that many nations have put the worst of the pandemic behind them thanks to vaccines and natural exposure, although they caution that colder weather and upcoming holiday gatherings could increase cases.“We think between now and the end of 2022, this is the point where we get control over this virus… where we can significantly reduce severe disease and death,” Maria Van Kerkhove, an epidemiologist leading the World Health Organization (WHO), told Reuters.In addition to vaccines, doctors now have better treatments. Britain on Thursday became the first country in the world to approve a potentially game-changing Covid-19 antiviral pill jointly developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics called molnupiravir. Studies showed it could halve the chances of dying or being hospitalised for those most at risk of developing severe Covid-19 when given early in the illness.Infections are still rising in 55 out of 240 countries, with Russia, Ukraine and Greece at or near record levels of reported cases since the pandemic started two years ago, according to a Reuters analysis.Eastern Europe has among the lowest vaccination rates in the region. More than half of all new infections reported worldwide were from countries in Europe, with a million new infections about every four days, according to the analysis.Several Russian regions said this week they could impose additional restrictions or extend a workplace shutdown to fight a surge in Covid-19 cases as the country witnesses record deaths due to the disease.More than half of the world’s population has yet to receive a single dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to Our World in Data. Less than 5% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose.WHO and other aid groups last month appealed to leaders of the world’s 20 biggest economies to fund a US$23.4 billion plan to bring Covid-19 vaccines, tests, and drugs to poorer countries in the next 12 months.“Vaccine inequity remains the biggest barrier to reaching our coverage targets,” Paho assistant director Jarbas Barbosa, urging authorities to prioritise the elderly, frontline workers, and people with pre-existing conditions, to protect them from overburdening the healthcare system.


Myanmar forces disperse rallies with 3 reported dead in anti-coup crackdown

Myanmar security forces violently dispersed anti-coup rallies around the country on Sunday, with reports of at least three protesters killed in the crackdown.The junta has ratcheted up its use of force over the weekend against the massive street movement demanding it yield power and release ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.Police and soldiers had already fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon on demonstrations in recent weeks in an effort to bring the civil disobedience campaign to heel, with live rounds used in some isolated cases.Large numbers were again mobilised on Sunday morning to scatter building crowds in several parts of the country that had gathered in response to online calls for protesters to once again flood the streets.Three men were killed and at least 20 others injured when security forces moved on a rally in the southern coastal hub of Dawei, according to a volunteer medic and local media reports.Pyae Zaw Hein, a rescue worker, told AFP the trio had been “shot dead with live rounds”, while the injured had been hit by rubber bullets.“There could be many more casualties as well because more wounded people keep coming in,” he added.Local media outlet Dawei Watch confirmed that three had died in the incident.Officers in the commercial hub Yangon began dispersing one crowd in the downtown area minutes before the slated beginning of the day’s protest, but it was unclear whether they used live rounds.“Police started shooting just as we arrived,” said Amy Kyaw, a 29-year-old primary school teacher in a downtown Yangon neighbourhood.“They didn’t say a word of warning. Some got injured and some teachers are still hiding in neighbours’ houses.”Live broadcasts on social media showed security forces using tear gas to clear some crowds in Yangon as well as water cannon further north in Mandalay, the country’s cultural capital.Weeks of unrestSince the military takeover on Feb 1, Myanmar has been roiled by giant demonstrations and a civil disobedience campaign encouraging civil servants to walk off the job.Sunday’s crackdown followed a similar wave of violent action against angry but largely peaceful anti-coup rallies around the country a day earlier.Several journalists documenting Saturday’s assaults by security forces were detained, including a photographer from the Associated Press in Yangon.Near the city’s main university, police fired several stun grenades to clear a crowd at a protest hotspot.More than 850 people have been arrested, charged or sentenced since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners monitoring group.But the weekend crackdown was expected to raise that number dramatically, with state newspapers reporting 479 arrests on Saturday alone.International condemnation of the coup has been fierce, with the United States, the European Union and other major powers denouncing violence against protesters and demanding the junta relinquish power.Suu Kyi has not been seen in public since she was taken into custody during pre-dawn raids in the capital Naypyidaw as the coup was launched.She is due to face court there on Monday under obscure charges for possession of unregistered walkie-talkies and violating coronavirus restrictions on public gatherings.But her lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told AFP he had still been unable to meet with the Nobel laureate ahead of the hearing.“As a lawyer, I put my trust in the court and… a fair trial,” he said. “But in this period of time anything can happen.”State media announced late on Saturday that authorities had terminated the posting of the country’s United Nations envoy, who gave an impassioned plea for help on behalf of Myanmar’s ousted civilian government.“We need… the strongest possible action from the international community to immediately end the military,” Kyaw Moe Tun had told the General Assembly in New York.UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the body had not been told of the diplomat’s firing and that Kyaw Moe Tun remained Myanmar’s representative for the time being.At least five people have been killed since the coup – four of them from injuries sustained at anti-coup demonstrations.The military has said one police officer has died while attempting to quell a protest.


'Underdog' PN candidate not backing down from 6-way fight in Setiawangsa

Lawyer and activist Nurul Fadzilah Kamaluddin is a newcomer to the political arena but is not shying away from a fight with more established names for the parliamentary seat of Setiawangsa in the Nov 19 polls.
Fadzilah, who represents Perikatan Nasional, is one of a number of young candidates with professional careers being fielded by the coalition.
She is up against the incumbent, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad of Pakatan Harapan, and four others.
Nik Nazmi won the seat in 2018, beating his competitors from Barisan Nasional and PAS with a majority of 14,372 votes.
Fadzilah, who is chief of Bersatu young women's wing, said she see politics as the best platform to help the people.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, she said she had been active in the field as a lawyer for a number of years already.
"I became more active in 2020, when I began interacting more with the people to offer them help following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic," she said.
When asked about her odds against big names like Nik Nazmi, she said she was optimistic although she preferred not to be overconfident.
"Every candidate has his or her own strengths," she said.
"We don't have a specific strategy, but we are looking to draw in the youth votes. So apart from going down to the ground, we are also actively campaigning on social media and trying to bridge the gap with the youth."
Fazilah, who has worked as a lawyer for eight years, said if she is chosen to represent the people of Setiawangsa, she has 10 initiatives to offer based on feedback from the residents.
This includes attending every event, official or unofficial, to become more familiar with the people and tackle their problems more effectively.
"I have also received complaints about hawkers, with many saying there has been no action yet."


US bans palm oil imports from Sime Darby

The US has banned imports from palm oil giant Sime Darby Plantation whose products are found in numerous household goods over concerns that its workers face a litany of abuse.The move against Sime Darby, one of the world’s biggest producers, marks the second time the US has blocked shipments from a palm oil company in the Southeast Asian nation in recent months.Palm oil is a common ingredient in items ranging from processed foods to cosmetics, with Malaysia and neighbouring Indonesia producing 85% of the world’s supply.But activists have long claimed that low-paid workers on plantations face abuse, and also blame the industry for driving destruction of rainforests to make way for plantations.Announcing the ban late Wednesday, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said there was evidence Sime Darby workers face abuses including sexual and physical violence, withholding of wages and restrictions on movement.The ban “demonstrates how essential it is for Americans to research the origins of the everyday products that they purchase,” said CBP acting commissioner Mark A Morgan.The decision, which came into force Wednesday, means that all Sime Darby palm oil and palm oil products from Malaysia are banned from entering US ports.The company, which supplies major firms like Nestle and Unilever, runs a network of sprawling plantations, and employs migrant workers from countries including Indonesia and Bangladesh.Earlier this year, anti-trafficking group Liberty Shared had petitioned the CBP to ban imports from Sime Darby over concerns about labour abuse.In October, the US banned imports from another Malaysian palm oil producer, FGV Holdings, following a lengthy probe that found indications its workers faced abuse.Sime Darby did not respond to requests for comment. On its website, the company says it believes “we have a responsibility to respect, support and uphold fundamental human rights.”


Lawyer Shafee, ex-second finance minister trade barbs at Najib’s 1MDB trial

Najib Razak’s 1MDB trial got off to a fiery start this morning with the former prime minister’s lead counsel and former second finance minister Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah getting into an argument over how the latter dealt with documents related to 1MDB.The exchange began when Husni, the 20th prosecution witness, repeatedly answered that all 1MDB documents were handled by Najib and that he was just following orders, saying “Saya yang menurut perintah” (I who follow orders).Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah then asked him to explain what he meant.Husni: That is what I have explained to you… you listen carefully. All 1MDB letters went to the minister. I just had to sign… saya yang menurut perintah… what else can I do. These two projects, namely 1MDB and SRC International Sdn Bhd, did not follow the SOPs for companies under the Ministry of Finance. It all came from the top… you didn’t work there, you don’t know anything.Shafee: That is why I am asking you… you are the one who knows.Husni: Then you must understand what I am saying.Shafee: I understand what you said. Don’t quarrel with me, I am the one asking questions.Husni: I am not quarrelling with you.Shafee: You are quarrelling! Just answer the question, don’t be arrogant.Husni: I am not arrogant!Shafee: You are arrogant!Here, judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah interjected and asked the witness to answer the question posed by Shafee.To this, Husni replied: “Your Honour, he is trying to put the blame on other people.”Sequerah: He has a duty to perform.Husni: Even if it’s a duty, he should at least be honest.To this, Sequerah said the prosecution would give the witness the opportunity to argue later and that he need not to worry about it.Najib, 68, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.The trial continues before Sequerah.


What EPF savings are and aren’t

With the opening of the economy, it doesn’t make any sense to allow EPF contributors to continue dipping into their old-age savings which have been largely depleted after the withdrawal programmes of i-Lestari, i-Sinar and i-Citra that were initiated during the lockdown periods over the last two years.Here’s a quick refresher: i-Lestari was introduced by the EPF in 2020 to alleviate the financial woes faced by their contributors during the economic lockdown due to Covid-19 measures. This allowed EPF contributors to utilise funds in their respective Account 2 of their retirement savings.Traditionally, Account 2 withdrawals had already been allowed for certain uses such as education or housing. In that respect, i-Lestari was not as startling a policy as what followed suit, which was the i-Sinar in November 2021. i-Sinar allowed contributors to finally access funds from the “sacred” Account 1, something that was practically untouchable before one’s retirement.This Account 1 had always been the most protected and core to the very idea of Parliament establishing the EPF in the first place back in 1951. Subsequently, another programme called i-Citra early this year also allowed drawdowns from Account 1.Account 1 is definitive of what we mean by retirement funds to see Malaysians through their golden years, and simply put, there just isn’t enough of it left today.Going by EFP’s estimates, one would need to have at least RM240,000 in their savings if one were to spend an average of RM1,000 per month for 20 years after retirement. And RM1,000 a month is paltry even by today’s standards, not to mention the inflation over the coming years.The shocking data revealed by EPF show that 67% of its contributors do not even have that amount in their savings. How are they to survive their retirement if we continue to allow contributors to withdraw more funds from their Account 1 today?I am sure many Malaysians are bewildered by the constant badgering by the likes of Umno Youth head Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and his party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. These leaders have incessantly lobbied for the EPF to extend the i-Citra programme and allow even more outflows of up to RM10,000. Perhaps it made sense to do so before when the country was under economic lockdown, but with the economy already open, it is time all this stopped.I am grateful that the government has stood firm on this issue and not yielded to pressure from populist political leaders. Even the oft-critical Malaysian Trades Union Congress yesterday backed the stance not to allow more withdrawals under i-Citra. Some labour unions such as National Union of Seafarers of Peninsular Malaysia and Union Network International-Malaysia Labour Centre also have voiced deep concern over the issue and asked EPF not to indulge requests for further i-Citra programmes. The Malaysian Employers Federation also echoed similar sentiments today.Do we want contributors past their retirement age to keep breaking their bones in the job market just so they can put food on the table? Have people like Asyraf thought of how this may strain our public healthcare system and welfare funds, if our elderly do not have enough savings in the future?Politicians are fond of stoking topics that can help them gain brownie points. But people like Asyraf and Zahid should not sacrifice the country’s long-term interests for short-term political gains. Doing so would be highly irresponsible.Our economic rebound is gaining momentum. According to the statistics department, unemployment was recorded at 4.3% in October this year. This is the lowest since April 2020. More jobs are available now as employers expand their businesses. In other words, the argument about having to dip into one’s EPF savings due to a lack of jobs and income is a weak one.Another argument made for the withdrawal of EPF savings is that it will allow contributors to use their savings as capital to start a business or repay debts.Yet, there are numerous microcredit schemes available out there for a myriad of business activities, offering low interest charges and even up to six months’ repayment moratorium. They were introduced by the government to stimulate the economy, and many from the B40 and even M40 can take advantage of this for business purposes.Furthermore, if EPF contributors have problems servicing their individual loans, they can seek the help of AKPK to restructure their debts. I believe many Malaysians have found relief from overwhelming debt commitments through AKPK programmes. EPF savings are meant for retirement, not as seed money to start a business or pay off debts.People like Asyraf should stop politicising this issue and stop promoting a short-sighted mentality among their supporters. Not when there are credible alternatives to solve personal or business financial woes as mentioned above. I am glad that the government and EPF have stood firm on this. Please do not falter.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


After public outrage, Najib revokes application for free RM100 million home

Najib Razak today said he would revoke his application for a free premium plot of land in an exclusive part of Kuala Lumpur, following public outrage in the wake of revelations by MalaysiaNow that the property would cost the government RM100 million including the construction of a new house for the former prime minister.“I understand the difficult times faced by the people. The nation’s priority should be the people.“As this issue has created an uncomfortable atmosphere, I suggested to the prime minister to look into it and withdraw the allocation,” he told a press conference in Melaka.Saying he was eligible for the privilege accorded to him as a former prime minister, Najib added that he did not want his application to become an issue in the Melaka election, where he has been actively campaigning for Umno candidates.Najib however claimed that he had been in the dark about the value of the property, which an investigation by MalaysiaNow identified as a plot of land bigger than the size of two football fields in Bukit Petaling, a posh neighbourhood in the heart of the capital.“It’s not my job to evaluate land, that’s the job of the authorities,” he said.His announcement comes 24 hours after Langkawi MP Dr Mahathir Mohamad questioned the move to grant Najib privileges by invoking the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act, which allows several housing allowance options as a token of appreciation for former prime ministers.MalaysiaNow, which first revealed details of the “gift” last week, has learnt that Najib had picked the most expensive option in the form of a plot of land measuring some 120,000 sq ft with a market value of close to RM70 million, on which a house would be built by the government at a total cost of RM100 million including the land value.A reliable source said Najib had made a site visit of the land before officially submitting his request to the Prime Minister’s Department early this year, even as he was busy accusing the administration of Muhyiddin Yassin of ignoring the welfare of Malaysians affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.The request only received serious attention after the appointment of Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who replaced Muhyiddin following a coup engineered by Najib and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi with the backing of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.It was also learnt that the move by Ismail to approve the gift for Najib had drawn protests from several ministers, including Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Mohamed Azmin Ali, Khairy Jamaluddin and Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, all of whom are key leaders in parties that make up the current government.


Kinder chocolate products in Malaysia safe, health ministry assures

The health ministry today assured that Kinder chocolate products in the country are safe following reports that 150 salmonella cases linked to the brand have been detected in nine European countries.The ministry said data checks through the Food Safety Information System of Malaysia from 2021 until now showed that none of the products involved had entered the country.“Information from the International Food Safety Authorities also confirms that the products in question were not exported to Malaysia,” it said in a statement issued by Mohd Salim Dulatti, the ministry’s senior director of food safety and quality.“Most of the Kinder chocolates that enter Malaysia are imported from Poland, Italy, Germany, India, and a handful of other countries.”Nonetheless, it said that it would boost its monitoring of Kinder chocolate products at the country’s entry points to ensure that none of the tainted products enter the local market.As of April 8, 119 confirmed and 31 probable cases of salmonella had been reported in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK.European authorities pointed to a Kinder chocolate factory in Belgium that had since been closed.Italian confectionery giant Ferrero which owns the factory and also makes Nutella and Tic Tac candies meanwhile apologised for the spate of salmonella cases.Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can cause symptoms including diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps in humans, and is one of the most common food-borne infections.Most cases are caused by the ingestion of food contaminated with animal or human faeces.


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One-third of US military refusing Covid-19 vaccine, says Pentagon

Pentagon officials said Wednesday that about one-third of the US military are declining to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, despite significant coronavirus infection levels in the forces.Major General Jeff Taliaferro revealed the high refusal rate in congressional hearing, as the US Defense Department continues to classify Covid vaccines as optional because they have yet to receive full approval from the Federal Drug Administration.“Acceptance rates are somewhere in the two-thirds territory,” said Taliaferro, stressing that the figure is based on “very early data”.Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that there was no detailed military-wide data on vaccinations, but said more than 916,500 had been administered so far.Kirby said the level of refusal is on par with that of the general population, where the vaccine has not been offered nearly as widely.“We in the military basically mirror the acceptance rates of American society,” Kirby told reporters.The government has tapped the military and National Guard to help vaccinate the general public people.Kirby said that by the end of this week, more than one million members of the military will have received vaccine shots.The Pentagon makes most standard vaccinations mandatory for military personnel.But because the covid vaccines have only been approved on an emergency basis, they cannot be forced on people, Kirby said.“There is a real limit, legally, that we have, to make it mandatory for our troops and their families.”He noted that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has received the vaccine.“What the secretary wants is for the men and women of the department to make the best and most informed decision for them and their health and the health of their families,” Kirby said.


German companies can’t ask about employees’ vaccine status, says minister

German companies will not be granted the right to find out whether their employees are vaccinated against Covid-19, although provisions could be made for some particularly risky workplaces, the labour minister said on Wednesday.Many countries are making vaccination mandatory for some sectors – such as healthcare staff or public sector workers – and some companies – particularly in the US – have started demanding that employees are inoculated.But Germany has strict data privacy laws because of its history of Nazi and Communist state surveillance of citizens, meaning that companies have no right to find out about health issues relating to their staff.German businesses have been pushing to be able to ask staff about vaccination and the government is trying to get more people to get the shots as infections rise again. Almost 61% of the population has had both shots and 65% at least one.The Cabinet agreed on Wednesday that companies must allow their employees time off to get vaccinated and said companies could take into account the vaccination status of their staff if they knew it when deciding on protective measures.Labour Minister Hubertus Heil told ARD television he understood that many employees were also interested in knowing the vaccination status of their colleagues, but German law means that employers cannot ask for this information.“Health data of employees is particularly sensitive,” Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht told the Funke media group, but added that granting employers the right to that information might be possible in particularly risky workplaces.Heil said pragmatic solutions were needed, for example in hospitals or prisons.Exemptions to privacy laws have already been made to allow restaurants to reopen, with staff and customers required to show that they are vaccinated, cured or test negative.Heil said the same could apply to other risky environments but that such a move would be up to the health minister.Several thousand people marched through the streets of Berlin on Saturday and Sunday in unauthorised protests against coronavirus vaccinations and restrictions.The country reported 13,531 new cases on Wednesday and 23 fatalities, bringing the total number of cases to more than 3.9 million and the death toll to 92,223.


Train shooter brought down by American veterans gets life in France

A French court has sentenced an Islamist militant to life in jail over an August 2015 attack on a high-speed train travelling from Amsterdam to Paris.Moroccan Ayoub El-Khazzani, opened fire, wounding two passengers before being overpowered by three Americans who were also travelling on the train.He told the trial last month he had been under orders from Paris attacks mastermind Abdelhamid Abaaoud to kill Americans and members of the European Commission.In the end, he said he had been unable to carry out the plan. When American vet Spencer Stone came at him “it was too much – I let him grab me”, he told the court.The events inspired a movie directed by Clint Eastwood.El-Khazzani was found guilty of attempted murder as part of a terrorist enterprise over the attack, which happened three months before the Islamist attack in Paris which killed 130 people in the Bataclan theatre massacre.Three other men were found guilty of helping the 31-year-old plan the attack and given sentences of between seven and 27 years as accomplices.Earlier this month, one of the three Americans hailed as heroes for overcoming El-Khazzani told the court his main aim had been to survive.Spencer Stone, a 28-year-old military veteran described via video from the US how he and his friends had seen El-Khazzani pick up a Kalashnikov rifle and open fire.The train attack came just seven months after 17 people were killed during a militant Islamist attack against the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket.A Paris court on Thursday found 14 people guilty of involvement in those attacks.


No instructions to Amanah man on promoting palm oil, says Zuraida

Putrajaya today denied claims by an Amanah MP that he had been sent to Iran to discuss the purchase of palm oil from Malaysia, in the aftermath of outrage over his absence during the floods crisis which left his constituents in Selangor struggling to piece back their lives.Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said there was no truth to the claims by Hulu Langat MP Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus.“I have received confirmation from the Strategic Planning and International Division that no information was given or requested of YB Hulu Langat regarding the matters raised in the reports,” she told MalaysiaNow.Yesterday, Hasanuddin told reporters that his meeting with the Iranian deputy president was extended as he had raised the issue of palm oil in order that the Middle Eastern country would purchase more of the commodity from Malaysia.He had previously come under fire from social media users after posting a picture of himself at a mountain ski resort in Gunung Tochal, Iran on Dec 18 as his constituency was flooding due to the heavy rain.Many had urged him to return home and to fulfil his duty as an elected representative to help those affected by the unprecedented floods.He later said that he had been following the flood developments in Hulu Langat and was trying to book the earliest flight back to the country.He has since been seen in Hulu Langat, monitoring the situation of flood victims around his constituency.


Schools in Phase 4 states must be ready to reopen, says Radzi

All schools in Phase Four states under the National Recovery Plan have been urged make the necessary preparations before face-to-face schooling commences on Oct 3.Education Minister Radzi Jidin said among the matters that schools should pay attention to is providing a good ventilation system to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infections, in particular those involving the Delta variant.“As what the health minister had advised in the context of the Delta variant, what is important is the ventilation, not only in classrooms, special rooms and offices. All other confined areas in the school should be well ventilated.“Recommendations are to schools (under Phase Four), apart from Langkawi and two other areas, namely Labuan and Negeri Sembilan which will begin their school session (face to face on Oct 3) and so their preparations must be thorough,” he said in a statement.He said curtains and posters hung in classrooms or special rooms should be removed to ensure ventilation is at its best.He said even though the school session would only involve examination classes, early preparations need to be done before face-to-face school sessions for other classes are allowed.Earlier, Radzi visited four schools in Pulau Tuba, Langkawi to observe preparations at the schools to receive students when the school session begins.The schools he visited were Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Langkawi, Pulau Tuba; SK Lubuk Cempedak, SK Pulau Tuba, and SK Selat Bagan Nyior.“Overall, I see the schools here are ready to accept students when they re-open,” he said.


Pakistan expects heavy monsoon rain raising risk of floods

Heavy monsoon rain is expected to hit Pakistan on Monday and last for several days, the weather office said, raising the risk of flooding in areas still recovering from a devastating deluge last year.
Large swathes of the South Asian country were submerged last year due to extremely heavy monsoon rains and melting glaciers, a phenomenon linked to climate change that damaged crops and infrastructure and killed at least 1,700 people.
Heavy thunder and rain was expected from Monday evening in the capital, Islamabad, as well as in the cities of Lahore and Peshawar, spreading to other areas until Saturday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said.
The weather office warned that flooding was possible in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore, with the risk of flash floods in hilly western areas late this week.
Pakistan has received commitments of more than US$9 billion (about RM42 billion) from international donors to help recover from last year's floods with rebuilding efforts estimated to cost about US$16.3 billion.


New infections top 2,000 as another 5 deaths logged

Another 2,007 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,840,879.
There were 1,407 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,778,736.
There are now 25,769 active cases, of which 24,713 or 95.9% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0.0%) are at quarantine centres while 1,014 (3.9%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 42 are in ICU with 19 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 60.9%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 11.4%.
Another five deaths were reported, including one who was brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 36,374.


Govt agrees to write off debts of Felcra participants

The government today agreed to write off the debt of Felcra Bhd participants and disburse payments amounting to RM181.5 million in 2/2022 interim profit distribution for its participants.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he was informed that the Felcra board of directors had approved the proposal to request that the government write off the outstanding debts of the Felcra participants, amounting to RM233.8 million for less viable projects.
"As of December 2021, a total of 323 projects involving 22,173 hectares had been identified as less viable projects. If the yields are low, how can they pay the debts?" he said at a programme with Felcra participants, Risda smallholders and Orang Asli at Arena Merdeka in Tapah today.
However, Ismail said matters pertaining to the cancellation of the Felcra participants’ debts needed to be brought to the Cabinet meeting for approval.
He said he hoped these could be submitted to the Cabinet after the 15th general election.
Meanwhile, Ismail announced that a total of 74,949 Felcra participants nationwide would receive 2/2022 interim distributable profits amounting to RM181.5 million.
"Payments will be disbursed in stages from today," he said.
The prime minister said he was happy that Felcra Bhd had managed to continue its good performance, recording an increase of almost RM51 million or 38.1% in profit compared to last year.
He said Felcra had also succeeded in developing abandoned and less viable land into estates owned by the participants and congratulated the agency for raising the value of rural land. For the Risda smallholders, Ismail said assistance in the form of a one-off grant amounting to RM15,000, with RM10,000 for the purchase of equipment and RM5,000 for training purposes, had been provided for the youth.
The government has also approved RM191 million in monsoon aid of RM600 each to be distributed in November and December for 232,319 Risda smallholders.
Ismail, who used to be the rural and regional development minister, said Risda was allocated RM3.019 billion under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
He said Risda was also allocated RM269 million under the 12MP for entrepreneurship programmes, expected to benefit 77,183 smallholders, and expressed confidence in Risda achieving its aim to increase the income of smallholders to RM4,500 per month per family in 2025.