Another extension of contract for 2,000 housemen expected in Budget 2021

More than 2,000 government trainee doctors, dentists, and pharmacists may see their contracts extended another six months, the third time such an extension has been given since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Malaysian shores early this year, MalaysiaNow has learnt.But a health ministry source said details of the extension and costs involved would only be made known in the 2021 budget, to be tabled this Friday.It is believed that health officials are anticipating a greater demand for manpower in terms of frontliners as the battle against the virus continues, with a sharp rise in number of cases since last month.There are also concerns that hospital wards for critically ill patients with non-communicable diseases have been short-staffed amid the focus on Covid-19.Such patients include those suffering from cancer, kidney disease, and diabetes.“We can make use of more trained doctors without needing to import them, to replace the many specialists who have been working hard to treat Covid-19 patients,” the source told MalaysiaNow.The health ministry initially extended the contracts of some 2,000 trainee doctors, dentists, and pharmacists by six months in April, during the first few weeks of the Covid-19 crisis.A second extension was announced in September.


Phase 1 of cash aid to be stepped up, says Anwar

Payments of the first phase of People's Cash Aid will begin in January instead of March 2023, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today.
He said the government had agreed to continue several of the aid initiatives announced in the 2023 budget, and in doing so, would increase the amount and make the payments at an earlier date.
"The Phase 1 payments involving an allocation of RM2 billion will benefit almost nine million recipients where RM300 will be disbursed to each household and RM100 to single recipients.
"I hope the early disbursement will help alleviate the burden currently faced by the people," he said when tabling the special allocation (mini budget) for service expenditure at the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.
The government will also continue giving the early schooling aid of RM150 to all pupils this January, regardless of their parents' income limit, in addition to social welfare assistance to poor households, the elderly and the disabled.
Meanwhile, to ensure the welfare of rubber smallholders during the monsoon season, the government plans to channel additional assistance of RM200 to the group this January.
"So far, the government has already disbursed the monsoon season aid for the months of November and December amounting RM600 to almost 320,000 rubber smallholders," Anwar said.
In another development, the government will examine plans to increase allocations for the management of disasters and floods following the flood situation seen as more severe than expected.
Anwar said RM400 million in allocations were earlier channelled to the National Disaster Management Agency for early preparedness initiatives in flood areas, assuring that additional financial resources will be provided when necessary.
He said various government agencies are already on standby with their machinery to help the people
The Consolidated Fund (Expenditure Into Account) Bill 2022 that provides for RM107.72 billion in civil service expenditure was passed without a debate.


Death toll crosses 13,000 as daily cases under 20,000 for second day

Another 19,631 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 1,444,270.Selangor recorded 5,753 cases, Sabah 2,103, Kedah 1,863, Kuala Lumpur 1,765, Johor 1,309, Penang 1,275, Kelantan 1,268 and Perak 1,101.Sarawak recorded 835 cases, Pahang 670, Melaka 623, Terengganu 498 and Negeri Sembilan 490.Putrajaya recorded 41 cases and Perlis 37. No new cases were recorded in Labuan.Active cases stand at 252,147 with 1,054 in the ICU and 525 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 16,468 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 1,179,046.However, 293 more deaths were reported, including 44 who were brought in dead, pushing the virus toll to 13,077.


Govt to talk to banks, PM says on moratorium for flood victims

The government will hold talks with banks on allowing a moratorium for debtors affected by the recent floods, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said this followed the appeal from the government in Johor, which was badly hit by the floods.
He said so far, only Maybank and CIMB had agreed to give a moratorium of six months.
"We have also contacted other banks to emulate the move taken by Maybank and CIMB," he said during Minister’s Question Time today.
Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi yesterday appealed to the prime minister to consider a moratorium of three to six months for flood victims in the state.
Onn Hafiz said the initiative would help ease the burden of the people who might have suffered huge losses due to the floods. Meanwhile, Anwar said there was no need to declare a state of emergency in Johor as the flood situation was under control, with power outages and impassable road issues in most areas resolved by the relevant authorities.
"So, what’s the reason to declare a state of emergency? There is no need for it," he said in reply to Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau), who asked why the government did not declare a flood emergency, especially in Johor.


More praise for Najib from PKR leadership

A PKR MP has poured praise on Najib Razak as party leaders move to end hostilities in the wake of the many public statements by their president Anwar Ibrahim in alignment with the former prime minister as well as several Umno politicians.Yesterday, Hang Tuah Jaya MP Shamsul Iskandar Akin, among Anwar’s loyalists in the top echelons of PKR, said Najib had shown good leadership when he conceded defeat to Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the 2018 general election.Speaking to news channel Astro Awani last night, Shamsul, the PKR information chief, said Najib could have used state powers to disrupt the transition of power from Barisan Nasional to PH.“Look at Najib. I once mentioned in the Dewan Rakyat, ‘He’s the most hated prime minister.’“But when he lost the 14th general election, he handed over. At that time, we had all sorts of things, the ‘National Security Council’, it could be used to create chaos and so on, but it didn’t happen,” he said.Shamsul then hit out at Muhyiddin Yassin, saying the prime minister’s administration had brought about “uncertainty”.The comments follow a plan by Anwar to cooperate with Umno.The PKR strongman recently admitted that his party had been in talks with Umno for a possible tie-up at the next polls.Such an understanding was already at play as early as October last year, when MalaysiaNow revealed the contents of a letter from Najib and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to the palace, expressing support for Anwar’s bid to become prime minister.Last month, in an episode which embarassed Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders, Zahid and Anwar issued two separate but almost identical statements calling for Parliament to convene during the virus emergency. The statement by Zahid, issued his capacity as BN chairman, was later withdrawn.Since last year, Anwar and Najib have been taking similar stands on many issues, such as on pressing the government to allow bigger withdrawals from the Employees Provident Fund as well as questioning the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.Their coming together, however, has raised concerns among several opposition MPs.At least eight MPs have issued statements warning Anwar against any move to work with Umno and “kleptocrats”, a term first used by the US authorities in exposing billions of dollars siphoned off from the 1MDB scandal in which Najib was embroiled.


Saudi Arabia to lift travel curbs on ‘immunised’ citizens

Saudi Arabia will permit citizens immunised against Covid-19 to travel abroad from May 17, the interior ministry said Sunday, more than a year after Saudis were barred from external trips.The ministry said three categories of people would be considered immunised – those who have received two doses of the coronavirus vaccine, those administered a single dose at least 14 days prior to travel, and people who have recovered from the infection within the last six months.Saudis under the age of 18 – an age group that is not receiving vaccines – would also be allowed to travel from May 17, provided they carry an insurance policy approved by the central bank, the ministry said in a statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency.“The decision to lift the suspension on citizens travelling outside Saudi Arabia will go into effect at 1am on May 17,” the ministry said, adding that the kingdom will re-open its land, sea and air borders.The policy represents an incentive for citizens, barred from travelling abroad since the pandemic began, to get vaccinated.The kingdom’s health ministry said it has administered more than nine million coronavirus vaccine doses, in a country with a population of over 34 million.The country has reported more than 419,000 coronavirus infections and nearly 7,000 deaths from Covid-19.Last month, Saudi Arabia permitted only people immunised against Covid-19 to perform the year-round umrah pilgrimage from the start of Ramadan, the holy fasting month for Muslims.It is unclear whether that policy, which comes amid an uptick in coronavirus infections in the kingdom, would be extended to the annual haj pilgrimage later this year.


Malaysia urges IPEF to focus on market access element

Malaysia has called on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) member countries – especially the US – to focus on the market access element, namely capacity building and technical assistance as part of its initiative.
International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali said the IPEF was an instrument of economic diplomacy that aimed to strengthen cooperation between member countries.
He said the IPEF was different from other free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as it had a clear market access element.
“IPEF members are countries with different backgrounds and varying development levels.
"As such, through the element of capacity building and technical assistance, we can reduce or close the development gaps between the countries," he said during the question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Azmin was responding to a question by Wong Hon Wai (PH-Bukit Bendera) about the difference between the IPEF and CPTPP and how Malaysia can balance economic diplomacy with China which is not a member of the IPEF.
The IPEF currently comprises 14 countries: the US, Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Azmin said the IPEF was able to boost economic resilience and competitiveness, regional interconnectivity and prosperity, as well as assist in the post-pandemic economic recovery process.
He said the proposed inclusion of the market access element was submitted during the virtual two-day IPEF ministerial level meeting which started on Tuesday.
He also expressed Malaysia's readiness to participate in all four pillars of the IPEF framework, namely trade; supply chains; clean energy, decarbonisation and infrastructure; tax and anti-corruption.
He said Malaysia's involvement in the first pillar was important as the country did not have a bilateral economic cooperation platform with the US apart from the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.
"The IPEF is seen as a suitable platform for both countries to discuss various matters related to trade such as sharing efforts to improve Malaysia's position in the Trafficking in Persons Report.
"(We are also) able to increase cooperation with the US government to strengthen Malaysia’s ability to comply with the latest international regulations and standards and further reduce the issuance of withhold release orders to Malaysian companies," he said.


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Deputy CM died of heart complications, says Sarawak govt

Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister James Jemut Masing died of heart complications, not of Covid-19, the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) said today.In a statement, it said Masing’s last Covid-19 test before his death had come back negative.Masing passed away at the Normah Sarawak Medical Centre in Kuching at 7.05am.Earlier edia reports had said that Masing, the Parti Rakyat Sarawak and assemblyman for Baleh, had died of complications from Covid-19.Ukas said a ceremony for last respects would be held at the Association of Churches in Sarawak on Wednesday morning, from 8.30am to 9.30am for dignitaries followed by a public session from 9.30am until 2pm.His remains will then be taken to Nirvana Memorial Park, Kuching.


New Covid-19 cases down 6.6% last week

The number of new Covid-19 cases decreased by 6.6% to 26,678 during the 32nd epidemiological week (ME 32/2022) from Aug 7 to 13.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said for the same period, 60 fatalities were recorded, the same as the week before.
"The number of recoveries in ME 32/2022 increased by 1.1%, from 28,604 cases to 28,905 cases.
"The daily average of active cases for ME 32/2022 was 44,706, which is a decrease of 2.7% compared to the previous week," he said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, the admission of Covid-19 patients to hospitals and public Covid-19 quarantine and treatment centres (PKRC) per 100,000 residents for patients in Category One and Two increased by 5.3% while the same rate for those in Category Three, Four and Five increased by 11.4%.
Noor Hisham said the occupancy of ICU beds increased by 2% and 1% each for PKRC beds and non-critical beds.
He said the percentage of Covid-19 patients requiring ventilators increased by 0.3% in ME 32/2022 compared to ME31/2022.
He said positive Covid-19 cases monitored by Covid-19 assessment centres (CACs) across the country also showed an increase.
"The number of patient arrivals at CACs increased by 3.9%, new cases undergoing monitoring at home rose by 2.1% while cases referred by CACs to PKRC and hospitals was up by 66.4%," he said.
In the meantime, he said the average RT value showed a decrease of 2.0%.


Perak leads as 1,638 new cases reported

Another 1,638 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 349,610.Perak recorded 494 cases followed by Selangor (352) and Sarawak (290).Penang recorded 92 cases, Johor 83, Sabah 73, Kuala Lumpur 67, Kelantan 64, Pahang 35, Negeri Sembilan 25, Melaka and Kedah 20 each, Labuan 12, Putrajaya seven and Terengganu four.The spike in Perak was attributed to the Jalan Pelabuhan cluster which was announced on Feb 20. Of the 494 cases reported in the state, 486 or 98.4% were from this cluster.Active cases stand at 14,432 with 167 in the ICU and 81 in need of respiratory assistance.Seven new clusters were detected:1. Kampung Binyu (Kuching, Bintulu, Samarahan and Simunjan in Sarawak; 231 screened, 68 positive)2. Jalan Merdeka (Johor Bahru in Johor; 112 screened, 29 positive)3. Simpang Tiga Merotai (Kalabakan and Tawau in Sabah; 36 screened, 10 positive)4. Jalan Kenanga (Alor Gajah in Melaka; 176 screened, 11 positive)5. Jalan Bandar Sembilan (Petaling in Selangor; 26 screened, 21 positive)6. Teknologi Peramu Jaya (Kuantan and Pekan in Pahang; 94 screened, 36 positive)7. Jalan Kubota Sentral (Tawau in Sabah; 28 screened, nine positive)Thirteen others ended, leaving 357 active clusters across the country.Another 1,449 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 333,892.However, three more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 1,286.


NY cops hunt attacker who hospitalised Chinese American

A 61-year-old Chinese American man was viciously assaulted and kicked repeatedly in the head in New York City, police have said.The man was collecting cans when he was attacked from behind, knocked to the ground and kicked in the head on Friday evening. He was taken to hospital in critical but stable condition.Surveillance video released by the police appears to show the attacker stamping on the victim’s head, reports the Associated Press.Police have not specified a motive, but the NYPD’s hate crimes task force is investigating the attack, the latest in a troubling rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in New York and around the country.Mayor Bill de Blasio called the attack “outrageous” on Twitter. “Make no mistake, we will find the perpetrator and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” de Blasio said on Saturday.The attack recalled last month’s assault near Times Square in which a woman who immigrated from the Philippines was knocked to the ground and stamped on by an attacker who shouted anti-Asian slurs. A parolee convicted of killing his mother nearly two decades ago was arrested for that attack.The US Senate passed legislation last week aimed at fighting the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The measure would expedite the review of hate crimes at the Department of Justice and provide support for local law enforcement in response to thousands of reported violent incidents in the past year.Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday he would direct the state hate crimes task force to offer assistance in investigating Friday’s attack in East Harlem.“I’m sickened to learn of yet another bigoted act of violence against an Asian American man,” the governor said in a statement. “This is not who we are as New Yorkers, and we will not let these cowardly acts of hate against members of our New York family intimidate us.”Police did not release the victim’s name, but multiple news outlets identified him as Yao Pan Ma, a former restaurant worker who lost his job because of the pandemic and was collecting cans to make ends meet.The victim’s wife, Baozhen Chen, 57, pleaded for police to find her husband’s attacker in an interview with the New York Post.Speaking in Mandarin, she said, “Please capture him as soon as possible and make him pay.”


National Guard on streets as ex-cop in Floyd death released on bail

The governor of Minnesota has activated the National Guard “out of an abundance of caution” over public safety concerns and the chance of civil unrest following the release from jail of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer accused of killing George Floyd.Chauvin has been released on a US$1,000,000 non-cash bond.Floyd, a black man, died in May after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for at least eight minutes as Floyd pleaded that he couldn’t breathe.Video of Floyd’s killing sparked worldwide protests against racism and police brutality.Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder.Three other officers who were at the scene are charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. They previously posted bail of US$750,000 and have been free pending trial.All four officers were fired and are scheduled to face trial together in March, but the judge is considering a request to have them tried separately.Defence attorneys for Chauvin have asked for charges against him to be dismissed, arguing that Floyd’s alleged drug use, not the improper use of force was to blame for his death.Floyd’s family lawyer Ben Crump said in a written statement, “The system of due process worked for Chauvin and afforded him his freedom while he awaits trial. In contrast, George Floyd was denied due process, when his life was ended over a US$20 bill.”


Two-year-old in US accidentally shoots and kills father

A two-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his father in Florida after his parents left a loaded gun unattended, local authorities said Monday.When police officers, alerted by a 911 call, arrived at the victim’s home near Orlando on May 26, they found the child’s mother Marie Ayala providing CPR to her husband, Reggie Mabry.Law enforcement initially believed the 26-year-old, who died shortly afterward in hospital, had shot himself, but the eldest of the couple’s three children later told investigators that the trigger was pulled by his two-year-old brother, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said at a news conference.The gun was in a bag that Mabry had left on the ground and the child came across it and shot his father in the back while he was playing a video game on a computer, court documents said.The five family members, including a five-month-old girl, were in the same room at the time of the incident.Both parents were on parole at the time after multiple offences of child neglect and drug use, the sheriff said.“Gun owners that do not properly secure their firearms are just one split second away from one of these tragedies happening in their homes,” Mina said.“Now these young children have effectively lost both of their parents. Their father is dead. Their mother is in jail, and a young child has to live their life knowing that he shot his father,” the sheriff added.Such tragedies are not uncommon in the US.In August 2021, another two-year-old child found a gun that had been left in a Paw Patrol backpack and fatally shot his mother in the head while she taking part in a video conference.The latest accident also comes as the debate over gun regulations rages in the country, after several deadly mass shootings in a supermarket, hospital and primary school, among others.


Labuan first to achieve herd immunity against Covid-19

Labuan today completed fully vaccinating 80% of its adult population, becoming the first among federal territories and states in the country to achieve herd immunity against Covid-19.The federal territory has immunised 54,800 of the 68,500 adults listed as eligible for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK).The Labuan Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) and the Labuan Disaster Management Committee described the programme as a difficult task but acknowledged that great team work had resulted in the success of the exercise.“We are pleased to have achieved herd immunity three days earlier than the targeted date of July 30,” Labuan CITF chairman Rithuan Ismail said.“The achievement is the success of the people on the island, who are aware of the importance of vaccination against Covid-19, and teamwork from the task force and committee as well as the volunteers, namely the Privo Team (Prihatin Volunteers).“The number of people vaccinated in June was less than 14,000 but it rose drastically to 40,800 in 37 days and (to the figure) today,” he told Bernama after witnessing an individual getting a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, to complete the immunisation of 54,800 people, at the drive-through vaccination centre at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah Labuan International Campus.The Labuan Covid-19 Immunisation Programme was launched on Feb 27 by senator Bashir Alias who became the first person in Labuan to receive a shot of vaccine.Overall, the vaccination exercise in Labuan proceeded smoothly despite a spike in the number of cases and the emergence of the Delta variant.As of yesterday, Labuan had recorded a cumulative total of 9,607 cases of Covid-19 and 146 deaths from the disease. Eight cases were recorded yesterday but no deaths.Labuan CITF had recorded 95.7% or 65,521 of the 68,500 adults in the population receiving a first dose of vaccine as of yesterday.In a move to expedite the achievement of herd immunity, the CITF and Labuan Natural Disaster Management Committee, led by Labuan Health Department personnel, had extended the vaccination push to include a house-to-house exercise to cover people with disabilities (PwD) and the bedridden.“We also implemented walk-in and drive-thru vaccination, coordinated by the people’s representative council, which saw an overwhelming turnout of residents from 27 villages to the vaccination centres,” he said.Labuan had established nine vaccination centres, including one at the international ferry terminal for workers in the shipping, and oil and gas sectors.The Labuan Natural Disaster Management Committee and CITF are led by the health department with representatives from the Labuan Corporation, National Security Council, police, Civil Defence Force and fire and rescue department.Labuan Health Department director Dr Ismuni Bohari said Labuan folk must be ready to live with Covid-19 and continue to adhere to the SOPs.“At least for one to two years, we will have to live with the pandemic. We must ensure our family members and friends are fully vaccinated to protect ourselves against Covid-19,” he said.


Over 47,000 flood victims still at relief centres

More than 47,000 flood evacuees are still sheltering at temporary relief centres (PPS) in three states, with Johor recording the highest number as of 8am today.
In Johor, the number of evacuees increased to 45,048 people this morning compared to 42,852 last night, although the floods have started to recede in some districts.
According to the state disaster management committee (SDMC), Batu Pahat is the worst affected district with 35,099 people relocated, followed by Muar with 4,094 and Tangkak with 2,436.
It also said that floodwaters in several districts such as Mersing, Kota Tinggi, Kluang and Segamat, are receding.
A total of 10 rivers are still above the danger level, including Sungai Batu Pahat at the Bekok Dam (Batu Pahat) at 19.94m; Sungai Muar in Buloh Kasap (Segamat) at 9.30m and Sungai Muar in Bukit Kepong (Muar) at 4.96m.
The weather in the state is expected to be sunny today. In Pahang, the SDMC secretariat reported that the number of flood evacuees remained at 2,248 people from 659 families this morning, placed in 15 PPS around Rompin.
According to the website publicinfobanjir.water.gov.my, Sungai Keratong in Rompin was still above the danger level this morning.
In Melaka, the number of evacuees in Jasin dropped to 523 people from 141 families this morning compared to 557 victims from 149 families last night, all of whom are at five PPS.


Book on censorship banned in Singapore

Singapore has banned a book on censorship over “offensive images” including controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, authorities said.The city-state is majority ethnic Chinese but has a sizeable Muslim minority, and has strict laws to curb hate speech and actions promoting ill-will between religious or racial groups.The book, “Red Lines: Political Cartoons and the Struggle Against Censorship” is banned from distribution in Singapore, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said on Monday.It has been deemed “objectionable” because it contains reproductions of cartoons published by French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, which led to violence and protests overseas, the regulator added.“The offensive Charlie Hebdo cartoons first appeared in 2006 and have been widely labelled as irresponsible, reckless and racist,” it said in a statement.“Red Lines” is by Cherian George, a Singaporean media professor now based in Hong Kong, and Sonny Liew, an award-winning Singaporean cartoonist.Published in August, it features interviews with censored cartoonists around the world and explores censorship in graphic form.In response to the ban, George said the authors “did not agree with how Charlie Hebdo used cartoons that promoted anti-Muslim attitudes in Europe”.“We showed a small number of them as examples of hate speech,” he said in a statement to AFP. “The intention was to educate readers about how some cartoons can harm vulnerable minorities in the West.”He said they knew some countries, like Singapore, would not accept the images and were prepared to edit the book for these markets, but the city-state chose to ban the book instead of letting them make the changes.According to the IMDA, the book also contained denigratory references to Hinduism and Christianity.Anyone convicted of importing, selling, distributing, making or reproducing an objectionable publication faces a fine of up to S$5,000 (US$3,700), imprisonment of up to a year, or both.The French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo first joined some other European titles in publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in 2006.In 2015 a massacre at its office killed 12 people, after it reprinted some of the controversial images.A French teacher was beheaded by an extremist last year after showing his class Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons of the Prophet.After French President Emmanuel Macron defended the right to publish cartoons, angry protests erupted in Asia and the Middle East.


Maoist guerrillas kill at least 22 Indian security forces

At least 22 Indian security personnel were killed by Maoist fighters, in one of the bloodiest attacks by the extreme left-wing insurgent group this year, officials said on Sunday.“We can confirm that 22 Indian force members have been killed by Maoist fighters,” said a senior government official in Raipur, the capital of mineral-rich Chhattisgarh.Security personnel belonging to the Central Reserve Police Force’s elite CoBRA unit, the District Reserve Guard, and the Special Task Force were attacked on Saturday in the tribal-dominated Chhattisgarh state during an anti-insurgency operation.They were killed in a gun battle that lasted for four hours in the border district of Sukma, 540km south of Raipur, Reuters reports.Home Minister Amit Shah said the government will not tolerate such bloodshed and “a befitting response will be given to prevent such attacks”.The Maoists, also known as Naxals, have waged an armed insurgency against the government for decades.They claim to be fighting on behalf of India’s poorest, who have not benefited from a long economic boom in Asia’s third-largest economy.Since 1967 the group, seen as the greatest threat to the country’s internal security, has gained control over huge areas in central and eastern India, establishing a so-called “red corridor”.The militant guerrillas operate from dense forests, and their operations against the Indian administration and regular forces are shrouded in secrecy.The group has not yet claimed responsibility for the latest attack.Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter that the “sacrifices of the brave martyrs will never be forgotten. May the injured recover at the earliest.”Last month, five policemen were killed and several others were injured in a blast in what police said was a Maoist strike targeting a bus carrying more than 20 security personnel.


Invisible Asian Americans suffering major job losses, business closures

Asian American workers have in just a few months gone from having the lowest unemployment rate in the US to one of the highest.From Vietnamese nail salons and Cambodian donut shops to Malaysian banana leaf restaurants, Asian-owned businesses are going under but nobody seems to notice.The coronavirus pandemic is taking a heavy toll on other minorities like Latinos and African Americans, attracting national headlines but Asian American job losses are a lot less visible.“Asian Americans are absolutely overlooked,” said Marlene Kim, an economist at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. “People have the sense that Asians are a model minority with good jobs and are still doing OK.”But people of Asian ancestry and their businesses are facing rising levels of racism and xenophobia directed at them during the pandemic, says a report in Science News.Many people associate Asians with the origins of Covid-19 and take their business elsewhere.Nearly 25% of Asian Americans are employed in industries such as restaurants, retail, and personal services such as nail salons, all of which are being hit hard.Location is at the root of many new challenges. Asian Americans tend to be concentrated in places like New York and California, where the virus is taking a heavy toll.Many say President Donald Trump hasn’t helped by repeatedly talking about the “Chinese virus” or the “China plague”.Paul Ong of the University of California, Los Angeles, noted that Chinatown in LA suffered an earlier and longer fall in customer numbers than the city’s other ethnic commercial neighbourhoods.“People are avoiding these areas partly because of the myth that somehow we are involved with the spread of the coronavirus,” Ong told NPR. “That is untrue and unfair but it has a huge impact on our ethnic economy.”This can be a real problem for Asian Americans who are new to the country or have limited English skills. In pre-pandemic times, the social and economic networks of immigrant communities could open doors and create opportunities. But Ong warned that over-reliance on those networks can be a trap during a crisis like Covid-19.“If you’re in an ethnic sector and all the restaurants are being shut down, your opportunity to find work is minimal if not non-existent.”


Recommendations on Melaka polls by pandemic management panel to be presented to Cabinet

The recommendations of the Special Committee on Pandemic Management on the implementation of the Melaka state election will be tabled at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow, says Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.He said the state polls not only involved health factors, but also touched on legal and constitutional issues.“We (the health ministry) will discuss again at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow. This involves health, legal and constitutional factors, so we will take note of any decision by the Cabinet.“The ministry will prepare whatever SOPs are required if it (the state polls) goes ahead,” he said after an official visit to Hospital Kuala Lumpur today.The Melaka state assembly was dissolved on Oct 4 following the move by four assemblymen – Idris Haron (BN-Sungai Udang), Nor Azman Hassan (BN-Pantai Kundor), Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Ind-Pengkalan Batu) and Noor Effandi Ahmad (Bersatu-Telok Mas) – to withdraw their support for Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Sulaiman Md Ali.The Election Commission (EC) was officially notified of the dissolution of the 14th Melaka state legislative assembly on Oct 4 by Melaka state legislative assembly speaker Ab Rauf Yusoh after the Umno-led state government lost its majority in the assembly.Based on Article 19(4) of the Melaka state constitution, an election must be held within a period of 60 days from the dissolution of the state assembly.


What Djokovic and further EPF withdrawal advocates have in common

I recently read a news article where Umno Youth claimed that based on a survey, many Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributors had wanted a further RM10,000 withdrawal from their retirement savings under the i-Citra scheme.Some had also asked that the loan moratorium for bank borrowings be extended until the end of this year.The survey only polled 20,000 contributors while there’s 15 million workers in Malaysia.Is Umno Youth so bereft of new ideas?As a Malay youth, I am deeply worried about my community getting carried away by this issue. Why am I worried?The reality is that half of EPF contributors have less than RM10,000 in their savings, and of that number, 55% are Bumiputras. In fact, 79% of those who have less than RM1,000 in their savings are also Bumiputras.Since Covid-19 hit our shores, I had made three withdrawals to help tide me over. Cumulatively I have withdrawn RM21,000 but some of my friends took out up to RM71,000 – the maximum quantum allowed under the various schemes.I also enjoyed the automatic loan moratorium, and in July last year, my application for a targeted moratorium was approved as well. These helped keep me afloat after my salary was slashed by almost half due to the pandemic.The EPF withdrawals and the loan moratoriums provided me with some breathing space as far as my debt obligations were concerned.True, if I were able to withdraw another RM10,000 from my EPF, I would use a portion of it to settle my loan. But I would still have outstanding loans, and the quantum might even increase due to the loan restructuring. In other words, even with further EPF withdrawals, my ability to service the loans remains the same.What Umno Youth has failed to consider when pushing for further EPF withdrawal are the structural issues that have impacted career prospects as well as jobs and business opportunities of the Malays.To me, those fighting for i-Citra withdrawals are like the anti-vaxxers group.Both groups are self-centred and have little regard for communal well-being.These groups are clearly driven by their self-interests, and if we allowed them to continue, the country will be doomed! They are like the anti-vaxxer tennis player Novac Djokovic who insisted on travelling to Australia to compete; or the unvaccinated pilgrims to Mecca who infected their fellow travellers with Covid-19.Their selfish behaviour is at the expense of others’ safety and lives.There’s nothing wrong with pressing for more EPF withdrawals or asking for further extensions of the loan moratoriums. But these stop-gap, short-term measures are paving the road to ruin because they do not come with suggestions on overcoming structural issues like a corresponding rise in higher wages.If further EPF withdrawals are allowed, the adverse impact will not be felt immediately, but in the distant future, like maybe 10 years from now. Surely government policies must strike a balance between the people’s immediate needs and long-term interests.In 10 years’ time, will those who now advocate further EPF withdrawals champion the plight of those who do not have enough old-age savings?The finance minister and many economists have warned that allowing further withdrawals will result in many more contributors living below the poverty line when they retire, and that social security must be looked at holistically, which I believe is currently being studied by EPF. I look forward to these social security reforms. In fact, since the pandemic began, the finance ministry has enabled more gig workers and the self-employed to be covered by Socso and EPF, some even with matching contributions by the government. This is a step in the right direction.I hope the rakyat will not be hoodwinked by baseless arguments on further EPF withdrawals or loan moratoriums. These are just cheap political arguments used by those who have run out of ideas on how to rebuild this country.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


EU regulator says AstraZeneca clot risk ‘very rare’ as nations battle virus surges

The EU’s medicines regulator said Wednesday that blood clots should be listed as a rare side effect of the AstraZeneca jab but the benefits continue to outweigh risks, as several countries battle fresh virus surges amid vaccine shortfalls.A number of nations have suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine for younger populations after it was earlier banned outright in several places over blood clot scares.The UK on Wednesday said it will adopt new medical advice to offer most people under 30 an alternative to AstraZeneca if possible, after reporting 19 deaths from clots among people who received the shot.The debate comes as countries from Germany to Ukraine and India face new waves of the virus that has now killed more than 2.8 million people.Governments are scrambling to secure much-needed vaccine doses, with Australia the latest nation to complain of shortages that it blamed on EU export controls.The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said Wednesday that blood clots should be listed as a “very rare” side effect, encouraging countries to continue its use.The announcement came after the EMA examined 86 blood clotting cases, 18 of which were fatal, out of around 25 million people in Europe who received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Most of the cases were in women aged under 60.But EMA chief Emer Cooke said no particular risk factor had been identified and the clots may be linked to an immune response to the vaccine.“The benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19 overall outweigh the risk of side effects,” she told a news conference.“It is saving lives.”‘Plausible but not confirmed’The World Health Organization’s (WHO) vaccine experts on Wednesday echoed EMA’s findings, saying a causal relationship between the vaccine and blood clots was “plausible but is not confirmed”.“We believe the benefit-risk balance is very much in favour of the vaccine,” said WHO in response to an AFP query.AstraZeneca itself said two studies by British and European regulators “reaffirmed” that the benefits of its vaccine “far outweigh the risks”.Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands are among countries not recommending the shot for younger people.Britain’s decision to offer an alternative jab if possible to most people under 30 came after data showed 79 blood clots and 19 deaths among people who had received one of 20 million AstraZeneca doses administered in the UK.AstraZeneca’s vaccine has been administered in at least 111 countries, more than any of its rivals, according to AFP data. It is being used both in wealthier countries and poor nations, largely as part of the Covax scheme to ensure equitable access to vaccines.The controversy surrounding the jab has marred a global vaccine rollout that will help countries emerge from a pandemic that has ravaged the world’s economy and subjected much of humanity to some form of confinement.In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed support for a snap lockdown to stem rising cases, after decentralised measures failed to quell outbreaks.Hard-hit France imposed tighter measures this week, as French Open organisers announced the tennis tournament would be delayed by one week until May 30 in the hopes of accomodating more fans.Ukraine on Wednesday reported record new deaths and hospitalisations after tightening measures in the capital.Canada’s most populous province of Ontario was ordered into a four-week lockdown, while Qatar reimposed strict measures.India, which registered a 24-hour record of almost 116,000 new cases on Wednesday, said it too would rollout tougher curbs with new curfews in place in 20 cities, including the capital New Delhi.Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro however doubled down on his opposition to lockdown measures, despite the country registering its deadliest day yet on Tuesday with more than 4,000 deaths.“We’re not going to accept these policies of ‘stay home, close everything, lock down,'” he said.Amnesty slams hoardingAustralia was facing vaccine woes of its own, after just 700,000 of a contracted 3.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were delivered.Prime Minister Scott Morrison blamed the EU for the shortages, accusing the bloc of “strict export controls”.More than 694 million doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered globally, according to an AFP tally, with just a handful of countries leading the pack by a wide margin.Israel has inoculated 61% of its people with one dose, while the US has administered 33% with a first shot.Amnesty International said in its annual report that wealthy countries are failing a test of global solidarity by hoarding Covid vaccines.Echoing calls to help hard-hit nations, G20 finance ministers and central bankers agreed to extend a moratorium on debt interest payments for the poorest countries.Meanwhile in the UK, where around 60% of adults have received a first dose, health workers started rolling out the Moderna jab, the third approved after AstraZeneca and Pfizer.“I’m an unpaid carer for my grandmother so it is very important to me that I get it, so I can care for her properly and safely,” said 24-year-old Elle Taylor.


Minister shares rationale behind green light for ‘non-essential’ gold stores

The green light for some non-essential businesses to operate during the movement control order (MCO) is crucial to protect the local economy in small towns, Putrajaya says in response to criticism from several quarters over the opening of some retail outlets.Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said these include goldsmiths and jewellery stores, among more than a dozen retail sectors allowed to open during the MCO period.He said the move would allow those in the lower income group to exchange their jewellery for much needed cash following their loss of income due to the economic impact of the pandemic.He said the decision was made after the ministry took into account grievances from businessmen in small towns and concluded that goldsmiths are a crucial part of the local economic chain.“They help people pawn their jewellery in exchange for cash,” Nanta told MalaysiaNow.“They are not those who visit those expensive jewellery stores.”Yesterday, none other than Najib Razak questioned why goldsmiths were allowed to operate despite not being included under essential services.The former Umno president, who has emerged as the most vocal critic of the government – which includes his party – referred to a notice by leading jewellery franchise Habib Jewels telling customers it was open for business as usual.“Essential service for whom?” Najib had asked in a Facebook post.But Nanta said the greater beneficiaries were the common people.“Let’s not talk about the big outlets or Habib Jewels, because there are many jewellery outlets which operate from small shops and are owned by ordinary businessmen,” he said.“So we felt there was a need to help this group continue their transactions, which is why we allowed them to operate.“They are not those who visit those expensive jewellery stores.”“From the ministry’s perspective, it is not about beauty ornaments, but about helping the low-income groups.”The MCO was reinstated this week following mounting pressure on public health facilities after months of spikes in Covid-19 cases which have so claimed close to 600 lives.Nanta said people frequent the smaller goldsmiths for more than their personal jewellery needs.He said the government had no choice but to extend the same permission to operate under the MCO to other shops in the same category, adding however that it was never the intention to meet the needs of the wealthy.“From the ministry’s perspective, it is not about beauty ornaments, but about helping the low-income groups.”Other than goldsmiths, the government also allows shopping complexes and mini marts to operate, in addition to retails stores dealing in furniture, electronics, stationery, hardware, pet food, automobile, repair and spare parts.The authorities have however warned businesses to adhere to strict health SOPs such as the use of MySejahtera tracing app, face masks and body temperature checks at entrances.


Racism and the Palestinian boycott of Israel

Claims made by Democratic New York City mayoral candidate, Andrew Yang, in a recent op-ed in the Jewish weekly, “The Forward”, point to the prevailing ignorance that continues to dominate the US discourse on Palestine and Israel.Yang, a former Democratic presidential candidate, is vying for the Jewish vote in New York City. According to the reductionist assumption that all Jews must naturally support Israel and Zionism, Yang constructed an argument that is entirely based on a tired and false mantra equating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.Yang’s pro-Israel logic is not only unfounded, but confused as well. “A Yang administration will push back against the BDS movement which singles out Israel for unfair economic punishment,” he wrote, referring to the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.Yang compared the BDS movement to the “fascist boycotts of Jewish businesses”, most likely a reference to the infamous Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses in Germany of 1933.Not only does Yang fail to construct his argument in any historically defensible fashion, he claims that BDS is “rooted in anti-Semitic thought and history”.BDS is, in fact, rooted in history, not that of Nazi Germany, but of the Palestinian General Strike of 1936, when the Palestinian Arab population took collective action to hold colonial Britain accountable for its unfair and violent treatment of Palestinian Muslims and Christians. Instead of helping Palestine achieve full sovereignty, colonial Britain backed the political aspirations of White European Zionists who aimed to establish a “Jewish homeland” in Palestine.Sadly, the efforts of the Palestinian natives failed, and the new state of Israel became a reality in 1948, after nearly one million Palestinian refugees were uprooted and ethnically cleansed as a result of a decidedly violent campaign, the aftershocks of which continue to this day. Indeed, today’s ongoing military occupation and apartheid are all rooted in that tragic history.This is the reality that the boycott movement is fighting to change. No anti-Semitic, Nazi – or, according to Yang’s ahistorical account, “fascist” – love affair is at work here; just a beleaguered and oppressed nation fighting for its most basic human rights.Yang’s ignorant and self-serving comments were duly answered most appropriately, including by many anti-Zionist Jewish intellectuals and activists throughout the US and the world. Alex Kane, a writer in “Jewish Currents” tweeted that Yang made “a messed up, wrong comparison”, and that the politician “comes across as deeply ignorant about Palestine, Palestinians and BDS”. US Muslim congressman, Ilhan Omar, and the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) added their voices to numerous others, all pointing to Yang’s opportunism, lack of understanding of history and distorted logic.But this goes beyond Yang, as the debate over BDS in the US is almost entirely rooted in fallacious comparisons and ignorance of history.Those who had hoped that the unceremonious end of the Donald Trump administration would bring about a measure of justice for the Palestinian people will surely be disappointed, as the American discourse on Palestine and Israel rarely changes, regardless which president resides in the White House and what political party dominates the Congress.So, reducing the boycott debate to Yang’s confused account of history and reality is, itself, a reductionist understanding of US politics. Indeed, similar language is regularly infused, like that used by President Joe Biden’s nominee for United Nations envoy, Linda Thomas-Greenfield while addressing her confirmation hearing at the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee on Jan 27. Like Yang, Thomas-Greenfield also found boycotting Israel an “unacceptable” act that “verges on anti-Semitism”.While the presumptive envoy supported the return of the US to the Human Rights Council, Unesco and other UN-affiliated organisations, her reasoning for such a move is merely to ensure the US has a place “at the table” so that Washington may monitor and discourage any criticism of Israel.Yang, Thomas-Greenfield and others perpetuate such inaccurate comparisons with full confidence that they have strong support among the country’s ruling elites from the two dominant political parties. Indeed, according to the latest count produced by the pro-Israel Jewish Virtual Library website, “32 states have adopted laws, executive orders or resolutions that are designed to discourage boycotts against Israel”.In fact, the criminalisation of the boycott movement has taken center stage of the federal government in Washington DC. Anti-boycott legislation was passed with overwhelming majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in recent years and more are expected to follow.The popularity of such measures prompted former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, to declare the Israel boycott movement to be anti-Semitic, describing it at as “a cancer” at a press conference in November, alongside Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, while in the illegal settlement of Psagot.While Pompeo’s position is unsurprising, it behooves Yang and Thomas-Greenfield, both members of minority groups that suffered immense historical racism and discrimination, to brush up on the history of popular boycott movements in their own country. The weapon of boycott was, indeed, a most effective platform to translate political dissent into tangible achievements for oppressed black people in the US during the civil rights movement in the mid-20th century. Most memorable, and consequential of these boycotts was the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955.Moreover, outside the US, numerous volumes have been written about how the boycott of the white supremacist apartheid government in South Africa ignited a global movement which, combined with the sacrifices of black South Africans, brought apartheid to an end in the early 1990s.The Palestinian people do not learn history from Yang and others, but from the collective experiences of oppressed peoples and nations throughout the world. They are guided by the wisdom of Martin Luther King Jr, who once said that “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed.”The boycott movement aims at holding the oppressor accountable as it places a price tag on military occupation and apartheid. Not only is the Palestinian boycott movement not racist, it is essentially a rallying cry against racism and oppression.Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and editor of The Palestine Chronicle.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


PM announces TVET scholarship programme for B40 students

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today announced a scholarship programme dubbed “Dermasiswa B40 TVET”, specifically for B40 students pursuing studies in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) at public higher learning institutions under the higher education ministry this year.He said this was to motivate and encourage more students to pursue their tertiary studies in TVET, adding that the first intake of the programme would involve 1,000 students.“The government projects that each intake of the programme will involve a financial implication of RM36.41 million,” he said when officiating at the National TVET Week 2022 in Shah Alam today.He said he was confident that the programme would provide more opportunities for the youth, especially from B40 households, to gain access to education at a higher level and build their own careers in the TVET field.He said TVET had been identified as one of 14 game changers in the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) as it was time for TVET to be the main choice of youths in preparing themselves for the future, like in other developed countries.Also present were Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad, Education Minister Radzi Jidin, Human Resources Minister M Saravanan, Rural Development Minister Mahdzir Khalid and Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu.At the ceremony, the prime minister also announced that National TVET Day would be celebrated on June 2 every year to recognise the contributions of many quarters to TVET.“It is also in conjunction with the establishment of Politeknik Ungku Omar, which is the country’s earliest institution, providing TVET education since 1969,” he said.He said the government’s concern for TVET was proven through the provision of high funding, in which 80% of public TVET providers offer programmes for free, and a total of 171,412 TVET programmes at the diploma and bachelor’s degree levels were offered from 2019 to 2021.The prime minister said although public awareness of the lucrative income offered to those who work in the TVET sector had increased, it had yet to achieve its target.He spoke of a need for a paradigm shift to create a more positive perception of TVET with the support of parents, youths and the industry.“There are many social media platforms that can be optimally utilised to promote TVET, including b” showcasing the success of TVET graduates and alumni, thus making it a career of choice,” he said.Ismail also urged the industry to be a strategic partner by promoting TVET, highlighting career opportunities and allowing students to conduct field visits.“I believe that this can increase participation, thus making TVET the main catalyst in producing a highly skilled local workforce like in developed countries,” he said.


Delta variant among reasons for spike in cases, says Noor Hisham

The Delta variant of Covid-19, which has been detected in almost every state, is believed to be among the reasons for the sharp increase in cases in the country, says health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.He said the Delta variant spreads quickly and infections can occur within a short time through airborne transmission.“The Delta variant spreads quickly, at the onset of infection, the R-naught (R0) is 5.8, meaning if 100 are infected, it can spread to 800 (people) in a short period of time,” he said at a special press conference yesterday.It was also attended by Health Minister Dr Adham Baba, health deputy director-general (public health) Dr Chong Chee Keong and health ministry secretary-general Mohd Shafiq Abdullah.But Noor Hisham said the vaccines used in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) had proven effective against the Delta variant.“In the case of 2,779 (vaccinated) health workers infected (with Covid-19), there were also Delta and Beta variants but the majority of them were in Categories One and Two (of the severity of the disease).“This is good news, meaning the vaccines we are using today are still effective, even for the Delta variant in the country. The only difference is the Delta variant spreads quickly,” he said.


North Korea fires missile hours after warning of 'fiercer' response

North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile Thursday, Seoul's military said, the latest in a record blitz of launches as Pyongyang warned of a "fiercer" military response to the US and its allies.
Washington has been seeking to boost regional security cooperation and ramp up joint military drills in response to increasing provocations from the nuclear-armed North, which views all such moves as evidence of US aggression.
US President Joe Biden discussed North Korea's recent missile tests with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping earlier this week, and also spoke with leaders from Tokyo and Seoul, as fears grow that the reclusive regime will soon carry out its seventh nuclear test.
Washington's moves to bolster its "extended deterrence" and stage joint exercises with regional security allies are "foolish acts", North Korea's minister of foreign affairs, Choe Son Hui, said Thursday in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA.
The more Washington boosts security cooperation with Tokyo and Seoul, "the fiercer the DPRK's military counteraction will be", Choe said, referring to the North by its official name of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the military had "detected around 10.48am (0148 GMT) one short-range ballistic missile fired from the Wonsan area in Kangwon province".
The missile flew approximately 240km at an altitude of 47km and speed of Mach 4, the military said.
"South Korea and the US reaffirmed their strong joint defense posture through joint missile defense drill conducted today," it said, referring to a planned exercise.
Japan also confirmed North Korea had fired a missile, with the prime minister's office saying Pyongyang's actions "including repeated launches of ballistic missiles threaten the peace and safety of our country and the regional and international communities".
Experts said Thursday's missile launch was timed to coincide with the statement from Pyongyang's foreign minister. Cheong Seong-chang, a researcher at the Sejong Institute, told AFP it was an attempt to send a message to the United States and Japan.
UN gridlock
North Korea conducted a flurry of launches earlier this month, including a Nov 2 barrage in which it fired 23 missiles – more than during the whole of 2017, the year of "fire and fury" when leader Kim Jong Un traded barbs with then US president Donald Trump.
That blitz came as hundreds of US and South Korean warplanes, including B-1B heavy bombers, participated in joint air drills. Such exercises draw strong reactions from the North, which sees them as rehearsals for an invasion.
Experts say North Korea is seizing the opportunity to conduct banned missile tests, confident of escaping further UN sanctions due to Ukraine-linked gridlock at the United Nations.
China, Pyongyang's main diplomatic and economic ally, joined Russia in May in vetoing a US-led bid at the UN Security Council to tighten sanctions on North Korea.
Pyongyang has also been under a self-imposed coronavirus blockade since early 2020, which experts say would limit the impact of any additional external sanctions.
Biden pushed China's Xi to use his influence to rein in North Korea when the pair met on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
Washington has responded to North Korea's sanctions-busting missile tests by extending exercises with the South and deploying a strategic bomber.
"Choe Son Hui's threatening statement and North Korea's most recent missile launch are attempts to signal that Pyongyang won't back down under international pressure," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.
Biden also held talks with his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday to discuss ways to address the threat posed by the North.
Easley said it was clear that Biden, Yoon and Kishida had taken "substantive steps on trilateral coordination", even as Xi ended his Covid-linked isolation with a "relative charm offensive" at the G20 summit.
"At some point, Chinese interests will prefer exerting pressure on Pyongyang rather than face a more strategically united US, South Korea and Japan," Easley said.


Pilgrims arrive in Mecca for second pandemic haj

Pilgrims began arriving in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca Saturday for the second downsized haj staged during the coronavirus pandemic, circling Islam’s holiest site in masks and on distanced paths.The kingdom is allowing only 60,000 fully vaccinated residents to take part, seeking to repeat last year’s success that saw no virus outbreak during the five-day ritual.This year’s haj, with participants chosen through a lottery, is larger than the pared-down version staged in 2020 but drastically smaller than in normal times, stoking resentment among Muslims abroad who are barred once again.After boarding buses to Mecca’s Grand Mosque, pilgrims began performing the “tawaf”, the circumambulation of the kaaba, a large cubic structure draped in golden-embroidered black cloth, towards which Muslims around the world pray.Many carried umbrellas to protect themselves from the scorching summer heat.“Every three hours, 6,000 people enter to perform the tawaf of arrival,” haj ministry spokesman Hisham al-Saeed told AFP. “After each group leaves, a sterilisation process is carried out at the sanctuary.”Golden ticketThe haj, usually one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings with some 2.5 million people taking part in 2019, is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be undertaken by all Muslims with the means at least once in their lives.It consists of a series of religious rites, formally starting on Sunday, which are completed over five days in Islam’s holiest city and its surroundings in western Saudi Arabia.Among the chosen ones this year was Ameen, a 58-year-old Indian oil contractor based in the eastern city of Dammam, who was picked for the ritual along with his wife and three adult children.“We are overjoyed,” said Ameen. “So many of our friends and relatives were rejected.”Like the other countries of the Gulf, Saudi Arabia is home to significant expatriate populations from South Asia, the Far East, Africa and the Middle East.“I feel like I won a lottery,” Egyptian pharmacist Mohammed El Eter said after being selected.“This is a special, unforgettable moment in one’s life. I thank God for granting me this chance, to be accepted among a lot of people who applied,” the 31-year-old said.On Sunday the pilgrims will move on to Mina, around 5km away from the Grand Mosque, ahead of the main rite at Mount Arafat, where it is believed that the Prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon.‘Restrict exposure’Chosen from more than 558,000 applicants through an online vetting system, the event is confined to those who have been fully vaccinated and are aged 18-65 with no chronic illnesses, according to the haj ministry.The experience for some women in attendance has been boosted by them no longer being required to be under male supervision – a stipulation dropped over 18 months ago.“So many women are also going with me, so I am very proud that we are now independent (and) we don’t need any mahram (male guardian),” said pilgrim Bushra Ali Shah, a Pakistani resident of Jeddah.The haj ministry has said it is working on the “highest levels of health precautions” in light of the pandemic and the emergence of new variants.Pilgrims are being divided into groups of just 20 “to restrict any exposure to only those 20, limiting the spread of infection”, ministry undersecretary Mohammad al-Bijawi told official media.Saudi Arabia has so far recorded more than 507,000 coronavirus infections, including over 8,000 deaths.Some 20 million vaccine doses have been administered in the country of over 34 million people.The haj went ahead last year on the smallest scale in modern history. Authorities initially said only 1,000 pilgrims would be allowed, although local media said up to 10,000 eventually took part.No infections were reported as authorities set up multiple health facilities, mobile clinics and ambulances to cater for the pilgrims, who were taken to the religious sites in small batches.‘Biggest challenge’In normal years, the pilgrimage packs large crowds into congested religious sites, but even this year’s downscaled events are seen as a potential mechanism for contagion.Worshippers were last year given amenity kits including sterilised pebbles for the “stoning of Satan” ritual, disinfectants, masks, a prayer rug and the ihram, a traditional seamless white haj garment, made from a bacteria-resistant material.Hosting the haj is a matter of prestige for Saudi rulers, for whom the custodianship of Islam’s holiest sites is their most powerful source of political legitimacy.But barring overseas pilgrims has caused deep disappointment among Muslims worldwide, who typically save for years to take part.The haj ministry received anguished queries on Twitter from rejected applicants about the tightly-controlled government lottery.


Despite surging numbers, light at the end of Malaysia’s Covid tunnel?

Malaysia could soon see some light at the end of the tunnel amid similar hopes in Europe, health experts say after more than two years of battling the Covid-19 pandemic and over 32,000 lives lost.In Europe, the World Health Organization (WHO) said last week that the end of the pandemic could be in sight due to high vaccination rates, the milder Omicron variant and the end of winter.Calling this “a ceasefire that could bring us enduring peace”, WHO Europe chief Hans Kluge spoke of the possibility of “a long period of tranquility”.He added however that this would depend on vaccination campaigns and intensified surveillance to detect new variants.Some countries such as Denmark, Norway and Sweden are slated to remove pandemic restrictions, banking on booster shots and high rates of previous infections to keep hospitalisations manageable amid record numbers of cases driven largely by the Omicron strain.France and Spain meanwhile have announced that face masks will no longer be mandatory in outdoor settings, although most countries are maintaining basic social distancing measures.Speaking to MalaysiaNow, public health expert Dr Sanjay Rampal Singh said European authorities had decided to live sustainably with the virus for the long term.However, he said that seasonal trends differ between Malaysia and European countries due to climate and environmental factors, as well as population mobility.“We are due for a very large outbreak in the coming months secondary to the Omicron variant,” he said.“But we should not be influenced by the total daily cases. Rather, we should focus on preparing our public health and primary care services to efficiently manage cases with appropriate referrals for hospital care.”Daily case numbers hit a four-month high of 10,089 yesterday although the number of patients in ICUs and on ventilators are on the decline and Covid-related deaths have remained low.Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was reported as saying last week that Covid-19 restrictions would be gradually lifted although the use of face masks will remain mandatory.Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob meanwhile said on Jan 25 that more SOPs could be relaxed once the Covid-19 vaccination process in the country, including the administration of booster doses, is complete.However, he added that this would depend on the recommendations and advice from the health ministry.Sanjay said the continuous use of face masks and enforcement of physical distancing would be very costly during periods of low and moderate community transmission.“Intensive public health and social measures should be recommended sparingly during periods of high community transmission and when our healthcare system is under the threat of becoming overwhelmed,” he said.This follows a report by MalaysiaNow last month that SOP compliance appeared to be on the decline due to so-called SOP fatigue despite the detection of the Omicron strain in the country last December.Epidemiologist Zainal Ariffin Omar was of the view that Malaysia could already enter the endemic phase due to its high vaccination rate.“Our facilities and health resources are ready and experienced. The level of preparedness and resilience is also high,” he said, adding that the focus now should be on vaccination, SOPs and surveillance as well as community engagement and empowerment.Nearly 100% of Malaysia’s adult population have been fully vaccinated with more than half given a third booster dose as well.The majority of teenagers have also been fully vaccinated, while vaccination for children aged five to 11 began this month.But Dr Lam Sai Kit, a senior fellow at the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, said the country was not yet ready to enter the endemic phase.In a statement, he said Malaysia’s ability to handle a surge in cases would be put to the test with the mass movement of people during Chinese New Year as well as the Johor state election to come.“We must ensure we have the country’s situation under control, which will include case reduction, adequate contact tracing, sample testing and genome sequencing, reducing hospitalisation rates, severe disease, and excess mortality,” he said.Nonetheless, he said Malaysia is heading in the right direction as long as the people do not let their guard down.“There is a good chance that we will be in a good position to get out of the pandemic phase and enter the endemic phase before long,” he said.On whether Malaysia could follow in Europe’s footsteps, Sanjay said the country’s management of the pandemic would depend on the public’s perception of the harm and benefits of both infections and intervention measures.“As the virus will be around for the coming years, it has become more important to find sustainable ways to live with it,” he said.


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Labuan seeing exponential increase in active Covid cases

The number of active Covid-19 cases in Labuan has seen an exponential increase of 63-fold, with the total number of daily cases reaching over 200 in the past few days.Labuan Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) chairman Rithuan Ismail said the island, which had fewer than 30 active cases early last month, now had 1,885.“Meanwhile, four clusters, namely Victoria Merdeka, Simpang Sahari, Simpang Sungai and Patau-Patau are showing a sharp upward trend with a daily increase of more than 10 cases each.“We have also recorded new fatalities daily for the past few days, taking Labuan’s death toll to 39 as of yesterday,” he told Bernama today.Rithuan said as of yesterday, the cumulative cases of the Victoria Merdeka cluster stood at 361, followed by Simpang Sahari (320), Patau-Patau (249) and Simpang Sungai (156), while cases at the Layangan cluster had remained at 58 for a few weeks.According to him, the number of people testing positive after having close contact with Covid-19 patients had also increased to over 10%.“The number of people undergoing treatment and quarantine at Labuan Nucleus Hospital has risen to 155 compared to 134 at the low-risk quarantine centre of Labuan Corporation’s Dewan Serbaguna and 40 at the Bahagian Teknologi Pendidikan Tinggi, Jalan Sungai Lada.“The number of cases at the Covid-19 Assessment Centre meanwhile has increased steadily to 1,555. The centre which is to assess the levels of infection of individuals opened a few days ago,” he said.Labuan health department director Dr Ismuni Bohari said the Labuan Industrial Training Institute’s hostel, used again as a low-risk quarantine centre, commenced operations yesterday with 50 patients from Dewan Serbaguna shifted to the premises.“The remaining patients there will be shifted today and tomorrow as we will turn the premises into a temporary Covid-19 hospital ward soon,” he said.Labuan recorded 209 new Covid-19 cases today, bringing the island’s total number to 4,961.


Home ministry confirms no leak of JPN data

Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin today said that an internal investigation by the National Registration Department (JPN) had found no data leak following claims that the personal information of millions of Malaysians had been put up for sale online.In a statement, he said JPN also confirmed that no such data leak had occurred before.“The home ministry always works to ensure that the data of Malaysians in the care of JPN is guaranteed and secure,” he added.An IT expert had claimed on Twitter that the personal data of four million Malaysians being kept by JPN was apparently put up for sale online for about RM35,000.Adnan Shukor also shared a screenshot showing the seller offering the data leaked through the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).The tax agency is one of 10 government bodies on a shared platform called myIDENTITY where data from JPN is shared.According to the screenshot, a total of 32GB of data in 19 files contain the information of those born between 1979 and 1998, with details such as addresses, mobile numbers and photographs, as well as race, religion and MyKad identification numbers.LHDN yesterday denied any leak of personal information, saying all data in its care is protected by accredited security technology.It also said it was working with JPN, the National Cyber Security Agency and the National Security Council to review all possibilities in connection with the claim.Hamzah today said the home ministry would ensure that all agencies which use data from JPN on myIDENTITY take immediate security measures and adhere to the policy of use to prevent any breach of data by irresponsible quarters.


259 secondary students in Kelantan positive for Covid-19 in 2 weeks

A total of 259 or 56% out of the 464 individuals who tested positive for Covid-19 in Kelantan between April 3 and 16 were secondary students, according to state health director Dr Zaini Hussin.He said the rest were primary school pupils (111 individuals or 24%); teachers, school staff and other individuals aged above 19 (86 individuals or 19%); and children below the age of seven (eight individuals or 2%).Kota Bharu recorded the highest number of positive cases at 189, followed by Tumpat (113), Tanah Merah (55), Pasir (36), Machang (20), Bachok (17), Pasir Puteh (15), Kuala Krai (8), Jeli (7) and Gua Musang (4), he said when connected today.Zaini said based on the department’s study, the quick spread of the coronavirus at schools, especially at student hostels, was caused by various factors.“It was also found that some school managements had failed to comply with the SOPs, causing transmission of the disease,” he said.He added that looking at the current situation and the detection of new clusters, the department anticipated the number of new Covid-19 cases in the state to reach 200 or 300 each day.


Muhyiddin refused MoF move to pass vetting process to PMO for projects under post-pandemic scheme

Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin rejected a suggestion that his office undertake the evaluation of companies vying for government contracts under a special fund focused on empowering high-performing Bumiputera contractors during the post-pandemic period, MalaysiaNow has learnt.
The Bersatu president was among those called in by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in a probe of allegations that his party received millions of ringgit in political donations from contractors who were awarded projects during his time.
Among the claims made by ruling party leaders is that Bersatu received some RM300 million from a contractor in exchange for the award of contracts by Muhyiddin's administration, which governed during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic before it was toppled due to the defections of MPs engineered by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former leader Najib Razak.
Muhyiddin, who is also the Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, has repeatedly denied the wrongdoings alleged by PKR and Umno leaders including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, saying investigations will show that Bersatu's finances are in order.
He also warned of a "witch-hunt" to target opposition parties in order to deprive them of funds ahead of six state elections this year.
MalaysiaNow understands the investigation is centred on JanaWibawa, a programme approved by the Cabinet in November 2020, designed to empower Bumiputera companies rated from three to five stars which meet the standards of the Construction Industry Development Board apart from technical and financial capabilities.
Under JanaWibawa, approved as part of efforts to jumpstart the post-pandemic economy, contracts were awarded through direct negotiation or pre-qualification tender.
A main goal of JanaWibawa was to speed up the approval of projects to reverse the impact of the Covid-19 lockdowns on the building sector.
The task of evaluating companies eligible for projects under JabaWibawa was given to the finance ministry.
But a source said the finance ministry had wanted the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to carry out the task of evaluating companies tendering for projects under JanaWibawa.
"This was rejected by Muhyiddin, who argued that the jurisdiction over the acquisition of projects falls under the MoF, not the prime minister," the source told MalaysiaNow, adding that the matter was relayed to then treasury secretary-general Asri Hamidon.
"It was simply not proper for the PMO to be deciding which companies fulfil requirements for projects. That was how the powers of the prime minister and the finance ministry were separated during that time.
"Since then, the MoF has remained the one tasked with vetting all contractors before they are given projects under Janawibawa," the source added.
MalaysiaNow has contacted Asri for a response.


Khairy questions MCO excuse for delay in Undi 18

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today questioned the Election Commission’s (EC) grounds for delaying the move to lower the voting age from 21 to 18, saying the law minister had stated in parliament not five months ago that the change could be implemented as scheduled in July this year.EC chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh had said yesterday that while preparations are on track, current developments and the fact that the country remains under movement restrictions due to Covid-19 had affected its plans.He said the move to lower the voting age to 18 would likely be implemented only after Sept 1, 2022.But Khairy said law minister Takiyuddin Hassan had said in Parliament last November that the July 2021 target would remain for both the lowering of voting age and implementation of automatic voter registration.Takiyuddin, in a written reply, had said that preparations were expected to be completed within 18 to 24 months from the date of approval by the Senate on July 25, 2019.“Not even five months after his reply in the Dewan Rakyat, the EC has announced a delay of over a year, from July 2021 to September 2022,” Khairy said.He said the EC’s statement was also at odds with another statement on June 7 last year in which the chairman had said that preparations including for amendments to existing laws and regulations and the provision of systems and infrastructure would be complete by July this year.“The excuse that the movement control order (MCO) has jeopardised the EC’s plans and preparations is also unreasonable given that the MCO was implemented more than a year ago.”In a statement, he said the necessary amendments to the Federal Constitution had received the full support of all MPs and senators in July 2019.“Lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 and the automatic registration of voters is not the ambition of the previous government only,” he said.“The EC’s statement yesterday about the implementation of Undi 18 and automatic voter registration is very disappointing and cannot be accepted.”He also asked the EC to clarify its work of engaging with political parties and NGOs, saying this is no longer a matter of consequence as Undi 18 has already been passed at the highest level of the country’s law-making process.“The engagement process should be able to take place at all times without the slightest need to affect the time line previously announced.”


SPM papers rescheduled for 431 candidates affected by floods

The education ministry will reschedule the 2022 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination for 431 candidates who are stranded and unable to reach their designated examination centre or nearby centre due to floods.
In a statement today, the ministry said the examination board (LP) was in the midst of collecting the details of the affected candidates.
"The rescheduling of the exam will be implemented after getting confirmation from the state education director," it said.
The ministry said the continuous heavy rain yesterday had affected 17 examination centres in Johor, Pahang and Sarawak, seven of which were unable to open after the roads to the centres were cut off.
It said that 195 flood-affected candidates in Johor and Pahang had been moved to nearby examination centres with the help of government agencies to sit for the exam. The ministry said that the management of the 2022 SPM examination in a flood situation was based on the Circular on the Preparedness of Floods that Threaten the Examination Process (Op Payung) No. 1/2001.
As of this morning, a total of 27,467 flood victims had been evacuated to relief centers in five flood-affected states, namely Johor, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah and Melaka.
The education ministry also advised SPM candidates to immediately inform their schools or state education departments if they are stranded.
Candidates can also contact the flood operations room at the LP headquarters and the state education departments.


Poser over confidentiality of palace docs after politician’s office leaks letter to press

A copy of a letter from the Comptroller of the Royal Household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun has been mysteriously leaked to several media outlets by the office of a prominent opposition party leader, raising questions on whether the confidentiality of communication involving the palace has been compromised.MalaysiaNow has learnt that the leaked letter in PDF format was made available by an aide to the politician to several editors in both the broadcast media and online portals.However, it appears that the copy of the letter which has since been shared on the internet is not the copy received by Azhar, as it does not carry a stamp of receipt by the speaker’s office.MalaysiaNow has contacted Fadil for clarification over how the letter could have surfaced in public.While the letter is now public knowledge, MalaysiaNow is not at liberty to report on its contents.A similar question was raised late last month when a PKR MP in Perlis shared the image of a letter purportedly penned by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.As of press time, the post by Kangar MP Amin Ahmad sharing the letter had yet to be taken down despite the personal nature of the document.


Former Mara Inc chairman charged with corruption, money laundering involving RM20 million

Former Mara Incorporated Sdn Bhd (Mara Inc) chairman Mohammad Lan Allani was today charged in two Sessions Courts with 22 counts of corruption and money laundering totalling RM20.45 million involving property deals in Melbourne, Australia.Lan, 65, pleaded not guilty to the charges which were read out separately before judges Azura Alwi and Rozina Ayob.He is charged with 17 counts of receiving bribes, three counts of attempting to receive bribes and two counts of money laundering for, among others, approving a proposal paper titled “Proposed Acquisition of a Student Accommodation Building and a Commercial Retail Block known as Dudley International House, 7-13 Dudley Street, Caulfield East, Victoria 3145, Melbourne, Australia” between 2012 and 2013.The offences were allegedly committed at various locations, including Solaris Mont Kiara, Maybank Mont Kiara Branch, a restaurant in Bukit Kiara and CIMB Bank in Jalan Sagunting, Kota Kinabalu.He was allowed bail of RM400,000 with one surety and ordered to surrender his passport to the court until disposal of his case.The courts fixed April 8 for case mention.


Indonesia hikes fuel prices to rein in ballooning subsidies

Indonesia raised subsidised fuel prices by about 30% on Saturday, as the government moves to rein in ballooning subsidies despite a risk of mass protests.
The price of subsidised gasoline was raised to 10,000 rupiah a litre from 7,650 rupiah, while that of subsidised diesel rose to 6,800 rupiah a litre from 5,150 rupiah, energy minister Arifin Tasrif said.
"I actually wanted domestic fuel prices to remain affordable by providing subsidies, but the budget for subsidies has tripled and will continue to increase," President Joko Widodo told a news conference.
"Now the government has to make a decision in a difficult situation. This is the government's last option," said Jokowi, as the president is known.
Southeast Asia's largest economy had already jacked up its 2022 energy subsidies to 502 trillion rupiah (US$34 billion), triple the original budget, pushed by rising global prices of oil and a depreciating rupiah currency.
If prices were not raised, the budget would have ballooned to 698 trillion rupiah, said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
She estimated total energy subsidies would range between 591 trillion and 649 trillion rupiah for this year following the price hike, assuming the average crude price stays between US$85 and US$100 a barrel the rest of the year.
High energy subsidies had restrained Indonesia's inflation, at 4.69% in August, allowing the central bank to delay raising interest rates until last month, well behind regional and global peers.
Hariyadi Sukamdani, head of the Indonesian Employers Association, said price pressure from the fuel price hike would not be too much, predicting inflation will top 6% at the end of the year.
"If prices of goods are too expensive, people won't buy. We can't raise prices too much," he said.
Businesses are using unsubsidised fuels, but the price hike will affect logistics costs, Hariyadi said.
Still, accelerating inflation could put pressure on Bank Indonesia (BI) to tighten monetary policy more quickly. The bank holds a two-day policy meeting ending on Sept 22.
Bank Mandiri economist Faisal Rachman estimated inflation could accelerate to between 6% and 7% and BI could raise the policy rate to 4.25% this year from 3.75% now.
Faisal forecasts 5% economic growth this year despite the fuel price increase, supported by commodity exports and post-pandemic mobility, adding that the government's cash distribution could help cushion some of the impact on consumption. The economy grew 5.44% in the April-June quarter.
The government has allocated an additional 24.17 trillion rupiah for cash handouts to help the poor cope with the policy's impact, Jokowi said.
Politically sensitive
Fuel prices are politically sensitive in Indonesia, and the changes will have major implications for households and small businesses, as subsidised fuel accounts for more than 80% of state-owned oil giant Pertamina's sales.
The last fuel price hike was in 2014, months after Jokowi took office, aiming to free up fiscal space. That sparked protests across the archipelago.
The opposition Labour Party has arranged a protest involving thousands of workers for Tuesday, chairman Said Iqbal, who also heads a trade union, told Reuters. He called on parliament to pressure the government to cancel the price hike.
"This will hurt purchasing power," he said. "Wages have not increased for three years and inflation is bound to rise sharply."
Small protests against any price hike, mostly led by students, had erupted in the recent days in several cities.
After the price hike announcement, Pertamina said it was committed to ensuring adequate fuel supplies nationally. Cars were seen queuing in some stations in the capital Jakarta after the announcement.
Pertamina, Asia's biggest gasoline importer, had deferred some of its gasoline deliveries for September ahead of the price hike, due to an expected drop in fuel demand, traders said.
Decades ago Indonesia was a major oil exporter, becoming a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries in the 1960s, but its oil output declined and it turned to net oil importer in the 2000s. Indonesia is still an exporter of gas.


Law on rewarding ex-leaders not meant to shower luxury, says Dr M

Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said a law introduced during his first term to reward former prime ministers is meant to show appreciation for their services, not to shower them with luxury, in a response to Najib Razak’s attack on him following the revelation that the government planned to gift the convicted former leader with a RM100 million property.“Usually the reward is in the form of an existing government house.“It is not intended to give luxury or wealth to the former prime minister,” Mahathir said in a blog post.He said former prime ministers were already given pensions, gratuities and allowances, which were enough for them build their own homes.“That’s what I did,” he said.His comments follow the outrage created by revelations that Najib had applied for a premium plot of land in Kuala Lumpur bigger than the size of two football fields with the compliments of the federal government, on which a house would also be built costing Putrajaya a total of RM100 million.MalaysiaNow, which first provided details of the request, said Najib had invoked the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act, where former prime ministers are given several housing allowance options.MalaysiaNow also reported that Najib went for the most expensive option in the form of a piece of property tucked in the exclusive neighbourhood of Bukit Petaling, with a land value of some RM60 million.The move, reportedly endorsed by Najib’s fellow Umno leader and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, drew protests from several Cabinet ministers including senior ministers Tengku Zafrul Aziz and Mohamed Azmin Ali, as well as Umno’s Khairy Jamaluddin and PAS’ Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.After Mahathir raised the matter in the Dewan Rakyat, Najib shot back saying he had only applied using provisions that Mahathir had introduced.Following the public outrage, however, Najib backed down, saying he was revoking his application and calling for a review of such entitlements for former leaders.Mahathir today said other former leaders including himself had not been given the kind of luxuries for which Najib had applied.“Tunku Abdul Rahman, who became the Malaysian prime minister and succeeded in gaining independence for the country, only got a wooden house.“Tun Razak’s house was turned into a monument. Even Tun Hussein did not get anything of high value,” said Mahathir, referring to the three prime ministers before him.Mahathir said he himself had not claimed anything for his 22 years of leading the government other than a pension and RM10,000 monthly housing allowance.He said he had declined the government’s offer for a free piece of land in Putrajaya, adding that after his retirement in 2003, he decided to buy the land for the same sum offered to civil servants.“Every year I pay RM6,071 in quit rent, as well as RM1,792 in assessment tax.”Mahathir said Malaysia had become a laughing stock worldwide over the way it treats a “convict who embezzled billions of ringgit”.“We can appreciate the contributions of a prime minister but not to the point of turning him into a millionaire. Their actual contributions should also be considered.“For a prime minister who ruined the country to the point of being sentenced to prison, should we gift up to RM100 million, while the man who gained independence for the nation is given only a wooden house with a tiled roof?” asked Mahathir.Since his downfall in 2018, Najib has been slapped with multiple charges of corruption, money laundering and abuse of power related to the 1MDB scandal.Last year, he was sentenced to 12 years’ jail after being convicted of seven charges related to the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International.A decision on his appeal has been fixed on Dec 8.


Leaked pictures of Bella’s injuries not from police, court told

A police officer told the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today that photographs showing the injuries inflicted on Bella, a 13-year-old girl with Down syndrome, which were posted on the Facebook page of a women’s rights activist, were not leaked by the police.Mior Samsul Abdul Rahman, an analyst at the audio video investigation unit of the forensic laboratory, said he did not know where the activist, Mona Din, obtained the pictures posted on her Facebook account on Aug 12, 2021.When asked by lawyer Asiah Abd Jalil, representing Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, if the pictures were leaked by Mona Din from a mobile phone in police custody, he said he did not know.Asiah: I put it to you that when the inspector was analysing the contents of the mobile phone and completing a report on Aug 9, 2021, the mobile phone was with the police at all times. Agree?Mior: Yes, the mobile phone was with me all the time.However, he disagreed with Asiah’s suggestion that there were other officers besides him who had handled the mobile phone and leaked the pictures to the public.Earlier, Mior, who is the 10th prosecution witness, said all of the case items were analysed according to the stipulated procedures and that the equipment used to analyse the items was in good condition.Mior, in his witness statement, said that on July 22, 2021, he received an application for an analysis to be conducted on the case and received an iPhone with a Maxis SIM card sent by one Inspector Suhaili Mahad.He said the request was from an investigating officer on the injuries as seen in photographs taken from videos dated June 24, 2021.Siti Bainun, 30, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of neglecting and abusing Bella, to the point of causing the girl to suffer physical and emotional injuries.She was charged with committing the act at a condominium in Wangsa Maju between February and June 2021 under Section 31 (1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years, a fine of RM50,000 or both, upon conviction.The trial before judge Izralizam Sanusi continues.


International police boffins take down ‘most dangerous botnet’

A combined international police force has seized thousands of computers running one of the world’s most dangerous hacking networks that netted its controllers millions of dollars from innocent computer users.The Emotet network obtained access to victims’ computers via malicious email attachments, then sold that access to criminals who installed more dangerous malware.Police IT experts from the UK, EU, US and Canada worked together to disrupt Emotet and find its designers.Europol called it “one of most significant botnets of the past decade” and one of the main “door openers” to computer systems worldwide.It said in a statement, “Once this unauthorised access was established, these were sold to other top-level criminal groups to deploy further illicit activities such as data theft and extortion through ransomware.”Dmitry Smilyanets, from Recorded Future, said: “A working botnet is a very complicated and gentle system. Even if the creator and his support and operators are not arrested, they likely will not try to rebuild. They have enough cash to retire in peace or start a new criminal adventure.”Emotet was initially a banking trojan, designed to spy on victims’ computers and steal login details.Victims would receive an apparently important Word document attachment marked for their attention. When opened, it would ask them to “enable Macros” – a seemingly innocent feature built into Microsoft Word.It was that action which actually opened their computer up to attackers, enabling them to access financial details and other critical and potentially lucrative personal information.Lotem Finkelstein, of Check Point Software, said his company had been tracking Emotet for years. “It was the most successful and prevalent malware of 2020 by a long way. It constantly adjusted its phishing emails to victims’ interests and global events – for example, the Covid-19 pandemic or major shopping seasons such as Black Friday.”He said that its demise “would protect the public from cyber-threats that have caused losses of millions, if not more, of dollars”.


Petronas sees shaky oil demand ahead due to Covid

State energy firm Petronas said today that it anticipates recovery in oil demand from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic to remain fragile and uncertain in the next few years.In its activity outlook report for 2022-2024, released today, Petronas said, “The path towards sustained oil demand recovery remains fragile and uncertain due to the emergence of new Covid-19 variants that trigger fresh waves of lockdowns.”It said industry players were optimistic about economic recovery but remained cautious. “The smarter approach would be to strengthen efforts collectively and be ready to face oil price volatility,” it said.After 2024, Petronas said it foresees a positive outlook for drilling rigs activity while continuing to enhance and upgrade capability. It also expects a steady outlook for fabrication of fixed structures and subsea facilities as it continues efforts to monetise its oil and gas resources.Liquefied natural gas spot prices were expected to be volatile in the coming years due to weather pattern and potential policy changes that can alter supply-demand dynamics, it said.