The decline of the US empire

The world is on the cusp of a tectonic change that will propel a new world order with multipolarity at the core of its international relations, displacing the unipolar world led by the US since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
In modern times, the world has never seen unipolarity until the demise of the Cold War when the Soviet Union, due to internal factors, was dismembered in 1991 and caught everyone by surprise.
If ever unipolarity existed, it was in ancient times where first the Persian (Achaemenid Empire) became a superpower followed consecutively by the Greek (Macedonian Empire), the Romans, and then the Muslims (Islamic Caliphate).
In modern times, if we go as far back in history as the Ottoman Caliphate before reaching its zenith in the 16th century when much of Asia and Europe were under its control, the Ottomans had to contend with its two rivals in its backyard in the form of the Safavid Dynasty in Persia (present-day Iran) and the Mughal Empire in India.
Even at the height of the colonial period in the 18th century when Europe reigned supreme, the power that was, i.e., the British Empire, was constrained and balanced by France, and the British and French in turn were constrained and balanced by the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.
By the early 20th century, the British Empire had to face off twice with another superpower, Germany, which led to two world wars – World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945).
Out of the ashes of World War II, Pax Americana was born – a term widely used after WWII when the US overcame Nazi forces, ushering in a period of relative peace in the Western world, which coincided with the military and economic dominance of the US.
But this was not unipolarity, as US hegemony then was constrained and balanced by a new superpower, the Soviet Union, which later led to the Cold War engagement or détente, thus creating a bipolar world.
At the core of détente is a related concept of the balance of power, which suggests that states may secure their survival by preventing any one state from gaining enough military power to dominate all others.
If one state becomes much stronger, the theory predicts it will take advantage of its weaker neighbours, thereby driving them to unite in a defensive coalition.
Some realists maintain a balance-of-power system is more stable than one with a dominant state (unipolarity), as aggression is unprofitable when there seems to be equilibrium in the balance of power among rival coalitions.
But today this theory is discredited. References to it, even by professional historians and international lawyers, commonly imply either that it was a system for war, which repeatedly failed, or that it was a system for making war, which often succeeded in its purpose.
However, the acid test for its usefulness lies in not so much whether it is a system of war or a system for making war; rather it should be evaluated in terms of its utility in preventing the occurrence of a world war, and not just any war.
It took an intervening 21 years for WWII to occur after WWI, but up until today, i.e., 78 years after WWII, there is no WWIII yet.
No doubt this has put us on a nerve as never before because the existence of nuclear weapons means the threat of WWIII with its concomitant horrific destruction and annihilation will always be there and seems imminent.
Surely, the principle of balance of power and détente must have played some part in preventing WWIII all this while.
Also, it is a misnomer to call the period after 1945 Pax (the Latin for peace) Americana. It is Pax Americana only in so far as the US and Europe are concerned where there was relative peace.
In other parts of the world then, peace has become a rare commodity, beginning with the Arab-Israeli conflict in 1948, which is still ongoing and instigated by the Zionist movement, France and Britain via the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration, and later with the complicity of the US and the Soviet Union.
The Sykes-Picot Agreement was a 1916 secret treaty between the UK and France, with assent from the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy, to define their mutually agreed spheres of influence and control in an eventual partition of the Ottoman Empire.
The Balfour Declaration was a public statement issued by the British government in 1917 during WWI, announcing its support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, which was then an Ottoman region with a small minority of the Jewish population.
This was later followed by:
- Korean War in 1950-53 instigated by both the US and China, - The overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mossadegh in 1953 (instigated by the US),- Vietnam War in 1955-75 (instigated by France and later the US and Soviet Union),- Invasion of Afghanistan in 1979-89 by the Soviet Union,- Iran-Iraq War in 1980-88 (instigated by the US), and - First Gulf War in Iraq in 1990-91 (instigated by the US).
One cannot be blamed for thinking that Pax Americana was a sort of gang-up between the US and Europe to transfer the core geopolitical problems of the European colonial period to Asia and the Middle East.
What finally killed bipolarity then was not wars, détente or balance of power, but the failure of the Soviet Union to manage its centrally planned economy, as the empire has grown too big for its economy to be manageable, which in the past was the initial faux pas of the decline of all empires.
We already had an inkling of the emergence of unipolarity with the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 when an American neo-con, Francis Fukuyama gleefully wrote that this marked the “end of history”.
“What we may be witnessing is not just the end of the Cold War or the passing of a particular period of post-war history, but the end of history as such: that is, the end point of mankind’s ideological evolution and the universalisation of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government,” said Fukuyama in his 1989 essay.
Oh, how off-the-mark Fukuyama was, as to this day, Western liberal democracy is still not the norm in many parts of the world.
Herein lies the credo of the neo-con – the supremacy of Western liberal democracy, with its concomitant regime change via colour revolution, also known as meddling in the affairs of other sovereign countries.
And they are so fixated on it that there is no reverse gear whenever things went wrong after they had embarked on this journey of regime change.
It is as if these neo-cons are being conned (pun intended) by their own ideology that they become so impervious to all the painful lessons of their failed adventures of the past that have put the US and its empire into what it is now today – declining considerably.
Neo-conservatism (neo-con) is a political movement that began in the US during the 1960s among liberal hawks who became disenchanted with the increasing pacifist foreign policy of the Democratic Party and with the growing New Left and counterculture of the 1960s, particularly the Vietnam protests.
They typically advocate the promotion of democracy and interventionism in international affairs including peace through strength, and espousing disdain for communism and political radicalism.
They became politically influential during the Republican presidential administrations of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, peaking in influence during the administration of George W Bush when they played a major role in promoting and planning the 2002 invasion of Iraq.
While not identifying as neo-cons, senior officials like Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld listened closely to neo-cons advisers regarding foreign policy, especially the defence of Israel and the promotion of American influence in the Middle East.
From the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Iraq in 2003, and the Arab Spring in the early 2010s (read: the mayhem in Syria and Libya), to the Maidan revolution in Ukraine in 2014, and the recent escalation in Taiwan, the world has not seen protracted peace for far too long at the hands of US hegemony.
And in concert with adopting the economic liberalisation policies like privatisation, deregulation and globalisation, among others, the damage to the world economy that the neo-cons had wreaked is devastating.
These economic policies in essence are something neutral but they are being harnessed effectively by the neo-cons in the corridors of power to serve their overarching credo of attaining the supremacy of Western liberal democracy, with regime change via colour revolution at its core.
And they have upped the ante in unravelling the usefulness of all these economic policies by “weaponising” the dollar via a shock and awe sanction on their enemies.
We are seeing the reaction now in terms of the boomerang effect of the sanction, and most importantly, the move to a multipolar world with one aspect of multipolarity gaining traction – the de-dollarisation attempt of many countries.
This will surely erode the eminent position of the US dollar as the reserve currency of the world in the near future.
Jamari Mohtar is the Editor of 'Let’s Talk!', an e-newsletter on current affairs.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Zahid says okay with Umno losing power in Melaka

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today said he was okay with the fact that his party might lose power in Melaka after four state assemblymen declared that they had lost confidence in Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali.He said it was only apt that the state assembly be dissolved and snap polls held.“I’m alright with Umno losing the state government, but I think it’s better to have a state election once the state assembly is dissolved.“Let’s give back the mandate to the people to choose the best government to rule the state and the country, Insha Allah,” he said when debating the motion on the 12th Malaysia Plan at the Dewan Rakyat today.The Bagan Datuk MP said the mandate should be returned to the people to choose a new government for Melaka following the state’s latest political crisis.Earlier today, Idris Haron (BN-Sungai Udang), Nor Azman Hassan (BN-Pantai Kundor), Noor Effandi Ahmad (Bersatu-Telok Mas) and Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Independent-Pengkalan Batu) declared that they have lost confidence in Sulaiman’s leadership.The Barisan Nasional-led Melaka government is represented by 17 assemblymen, comprising 14 from Umno, two from Bersatu and one BN-friendly independent, while the opposition has 11 seats – seven from DAP, and two each from PKR and Amanah, respectively.


North Korea says no new fever deaths, Covid situation under control

North Korea said on Tuesday there were no new deaths among fever patients in the country, the first time since it flagged a Covid-19 outbreak nearly two weeks ago, adding that it was seeing a “stable” downward trend in pandemic-related cases.The Covid-19 wave, which North Korea first declared on May 12, has fuelled concerns over a lack of vaccines, inadequate medical infrastructure and a potential food crisis in the country of 25 million.But the North said it was reporting “successes” in stemming the spread of the virus, and that there was no new fever death reported as of Monday evening despite adding 134,510 new patients.It marked a third consecutive day the daily figure stayed below 200,000 and the first time for the North to report no new deaths since announcing the number of daily fever patients, according to the official KCNA news agency.Apparently deprived of testing supplies, North Korea has not confirmed the total number of people testing positive for the coronavirus, instead, reporting the number with fever symptoms.The total number of such cases, tallied since late April, rose to 2.95 million, while the death toll stood at 68, according to KCNA.“In a few days after the maximum emergency epidemic prevention system was activated, the nation-wide morbidity and mortality rates have drastically decreased and the number of recovered persons increased, resulting in effectively curbing and controlling the spread of the pandemic disease and maintaining the clearly stable situation,” KCNA said.Credibility doubtedMany analysts, however, doubt the credibility of the figures, saying they only demonstrate how hard it is to assess the actual scale of the Covid-19 wave in the isolated country.“Through a mix of inadequate testing, disincentives at lower administrative levels to report serious outbreaks, cases, deaths, and whatever political motivations the top echelons may harbour, we have stats that are essentially nonsense,” Christopher Green, a Korea specialist at Leiden University in the Netherlands, wrote on Twitter.North Korea has said authorities were distributing food and medicine across the country, with military medics deployed to help distribute drugs and conduct health exams.The KCNA also said North Korea was expanding the production of essential medicine supplies, though it did not elaborate exactly what types were being produced.South Korea and the US have proposed to help North Korea fight the pandemic, including with vaccines, but Pyongyang has not responded to the offer.“Statistically speaking, the daily announcement is hardly comparable to international standards and appears more aimed at the domestic audience,” said Moon Jin-soo, an associate professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine, referring to the North’s reported fatality rate of 0.002%.South Korea’s Covid-19 fatality rate stood at 0.13% as of Tuesday.South Korea’s spy agency earlier told lawmakers the daily figure announced by North Korea appears to include non-Covid-19 patients as a number of waterborne diseases were already widespread in the country before it announced the coronavirus outbreak.


Anwar's administration, slow to protect press freedom?

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is known as the face of freedom fighters for his "reformasi" (reform) movement during the leadership of Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the late 1990s. He was jailed twice in 1999 and 2015 for sodomy and corruption charges which were aimed at ending his political career.
After more than two decades of repression, he was sworn in as Malaysia's 10th prime minister in 2022 but civil society groups and opposition parties are keeping a close eye on how he and the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition he leads are honouring press freedom while maintaining national security.
So far, the signs are not promising.
In March, Anwar said he and his government would not tolerate any attempts to incite religious and racial sentiments that would disrupt national security. This came after a programme organised by the youth ministry to allow people to visit places of worship and learn about other religions stirred controversy.
In Malaysia, freedom of speech under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution is not absolute and may be restricted by law in the interest of preserving national security, public order or morality and international relations.
However, the notion of national security is a broad and diverse concept that can be subject to rhetorical interpretation and potentially misused by those in power to suppress dissent.
To protect national security, Malaysian authorities have been utilising laws with broadly worded terms, including the colonial-era Sedition Act 1948, the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
Recent efforts by the communications and digital ministry to strengthen some laws have raised concerns about curtailing freedom of speech. The proposed amendments to Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, also known as "Akta Sakit Hati" or the "Hurt Feelings Act", could increase penalties for offences. There were nearly 100 arrests and investigations made under the act last year including against activist Fahmi Reza during the Perikatan Nasional administration.
Communication and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil has justified that the proposed amendments to the act could help curb sensitive issues relating to race, religion and the royal institution, also known as the 3Rs. Even the police have established a special team to investigate cases involving the 3Rs. Since March, seven investigations have commenced involving insults to the royal institution (four cases), religion (two) and racial elements (one).
On press freedom, the government also recently backtracked on its pledge to review and repeal draconian laws that restrict journalists, including the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 which grants the authorities the power to suspend any publication or prevent its importation if the minister is satisfied that it is potentially "likely to be prejudicial to public order, morality, security, or which is likely to alarm public opinion, or which is likely to be contrary to any law or is otherwise prejudicial or is likely to be prejudicial to the public interest or national interest".
Journalists and news organisations have criticised the decision, saying it contradicts the ongoing commitment to set up a Malaysian media council towards media self-regulation and the liberalisation of media and publications licensing.
Civil society organisations such as Lawyers for Liberty and Suara Rakyat Malaysia are concerned about the state of freedom of expression and press freedom, as the government continues to use sedition laws to investigate citizens for participating in public rallies and online criticism.
The sedition law makes it an offence for any act, speech, text, publication or other things that are defined as having "seditious tendencies" which are imprecise and without clear boundaries.
The Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 also contain broad terms such as "obscene", "indecent", "false", "menacing", and "offensive", which give authorities wide discretion to prosecute anyone they deem to have violated these provisions, resulting in blanket bans on anonymous speech.
In Malaysia, conversations around safeguarding national security have focused on maintaining peace and harmony within its diverse, multiracial society. Citizens are told to be aware of sensitive issues that could pose a threat to the social fabric of the nation. This has continued even after PH assumed power for the second time in 2022.
Amid calls for speedy reform, a PH representative said the government is committed to reforms but will take a "staggered" approach. But how fast these reforms happen is open to debate. Some argue that rapid change is necessary to address urgent social and political issues. They say real change can only be achieved through immediate and sweeping action and that PH leaders missed their chance for much-needed media reforms when they first took over the government in 2018.
In contrast, others argue that slow and steady reform is more effective in achieving sustainable change. They believe that rapid change can be destabilising, leading to unintended consequences such as public disorder or racial tension. In Malaysia, especially, it is crucial to carefully consider the pace and extent of reforms to avoid such consequences.
As a coalition that promises greater civil liberties, the PH administration faces the difficult task of balancing national security and press freedom, and achieving this balance will require careful consideration and tactful strategy.
Kow Kwan Yee is a lecturer at the School of Communication & Creative Arts, UOW Malaysia KDU University College.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Ex-senior minister, business tycoon under MACC probe over RM2.3 billion embezzlement

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has initiated several investigations under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 against a prominent business figure and a former senior minister concerning the misappropriation of state funds amounting to over RM2.3 billion.
According to sources, the investigation is a continuation and extension of revelations made by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists regarding suspected transactions that took place in several offshore financial centres.
"The investigation relates to the purchase and ownership of shares in a listed company by a major state company, allegedly orchestrated by the former senior minister.
"It is also believed that these share purchase and ownership transactions contributed to the country's economic downturn and the depreciation of the Malaysian ringgit in the late 1990s, and were misused to bail out the individuals involved from suffering more severe losses," the source added.
The source further stated that the investigation encompasses transactions arising from the sale of shares in the said listed company.
The investigation includes the ownership of valuable assets that have been identified by the MACC as being held by the businessman with "Tan Sri" title, the former senior minister, and their family members, estimated to be worth billions of ringgit both within and outside the country.
The source also revealed that the MACC has recorded statements from approximately 14 witnesses in recent weeks, including statements from the business figure and former senior minister, in connection with the sensitive documents exposed by the Pandora Papers.
When contacted, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed the matter and said investigation are ongoing under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 on the offence of abuse of power for gratification, and Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 on the offence of money laundering.


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Apex court upholds death sentence of ex-tow truck driver for murder of AmBank founder

The Federal Court today upheld the conviction and death sentence of a former tow truck driver for the murder of AmBank founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi in 2013.A three-member bench led by Court of Appeal president Rohana Yusuf also affirmed the 18-year jail term on Koong Swee Kwan for attempting to murder Najadi’s wife Cheong Mei Kuen.The bench, which also comprised Federal Court judges Abdul Rahman Sebli and Hasnah Mohammed Hashim, dismissed Koong’s final appeal against his conviction and sentence.Justice Rohana said that evidence against Koong was overwhelming.Koong’s lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik said his client’s last recourse would be to appeal for clemency to the Pardons’ Board.He submitted in the appeal that his client’s defence was not fairly and justly assessed by the trial judge as required by the law.Koong, 52, known as Sei Ngan Chai, was sentenced to death on Oct 27, 2017 for killing Najadi, 75, after a retrial of his case. He was also sentenced to 18 years in jail for attempting to murder Cheong.The man was charged with committing the offences in the parking lot of the Kuan Yin Temple in Lorong Ceylon between 1.30pm and 2pm on July 29, 2013.On Sept 5, 2014, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Azman Husin sentenced Koong to death for Najadi’s murder and 18 years’ jail for the attempted murder of Najadi’s wife.However, on Dec 14, 2016, a five-man Federal Court bench set aside Koong’s conviction and ordered the case to be retried in the High Court after ruling that Azman could have been prejudiced since he had heard the appeal of a taxi man, Chew Siang Chee, who was facing charges of possession of pistol and bullets. Chew was said to have driven Koong away after the shooting.Chew was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail on two charges by the Sessions Court for possessing a pistol and live bullets. However, he was acquitted by the Court of Appeal in 2015.The retrial of Koong’s case was heard by then judicial commissioner Ab Karim Ab Rahman, who is now a High Court judge.Deputy public prosecutor Tetralina Ahmed Fauzi argued that the Koong’s conviction was safe as there were overwhelming evidence to support it.She said the High Court judge had followed Section 182 of the Criminal Procedure Code in deciding that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.


Govt's plan for facing economic challenges on the agenda at Dewan Rakyat

The government’s plans for the economic turmoil expected to occur this year will be on the agenda at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Based on the order paper, Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai) will ask the finance minister whether the government is ready to provide incentives and assistance such as wage subsidies, special grants to SMEs, Employee Provident Fund withdrawals and other assistance as done by the previous government.
Riduan Rubin (independent-Tenom) meanwhile will ask the finance minister about the government's plan to raise financial awareness among Malaysians.
Muhammad Ismi Mat Taib (PN-Parit) will ask the plantations and commodities minister whether the government plans to increase the rubber production incentive rate from RM2.50 to RM4.50.
And Hassan Abdul Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang) will ask the tourism, arts and culture minister about the steps taken by the government to address the increased cost of performing the umrah in Saudi Arabia.
After the question-and-answer session, the Dewan Rakyat will continue debating the Supply Bill 2023 at the policy level for the fifth day.


Deadly firefight at Kabul airport as US boosts airlift

Western security forces exchanged fire with unidentified gunmen Monday at Kabul airport, as US President Joe Biden sought to speed up the chaotic evacuation of tens of thousands of people from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.One Afghan was killed and three others were injured in a dawn firefight that according to the German military erupted between Afghan guards and unknown assailants.German and American troops “participated in further exchange of fire”, the German army said in a statement.This was the latest episode in a chaotic operation overseen by the US army that has seen about 30,000 people evacuated from Afghanistan since the Taliban marched into Kabul on Aug 15, taking effective control of the country.The Taliban, infamous for an ultra-strict interpretation of shariah law during their initial 1996-2001 rule, have repeatedly vowed a softer version this time.But terrified Afghans continue to try and flee, overwhelming the operation at Kabul airport and leading to tragic scenes in which at least eight people have died.The Taliban’s victory ended two decades of war as they took advantage of Biden’s decision to withdraw nearly all US troops from the country.Biden, who has redeployed thousands back to Afghanistan to oversee the evacuations, has insisted he wants to end the US military presence and the airlifts by Aug 31.But with the European Union and Britain saying it would be impossible to get everyone out by then, Biden is under pressure to extend the deadline.Speaking at the White House, Biden said Sunday he hoped the airlift would not be extended, but said talks were underway to explore that possibility.“There’s discussions going among us and the military about extending,” Biden said.He acknowledged the tragic scenes at the airport, which have also included babies and children being passed to soldiers over razor-wire fences and men clinging to the outside of departing planes.But he said they were part of the cost of departure.“There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see,” he said.‘Peace and calm’Biden spoke after the Taliban, who have been holding talks with elders and politicians to set up a government, slammed the evacuation.“America, with all its power and facilities… has failed to bring order to the airport,” Taliban official Amir Khan Mutaqi said.“There is peace and calm all over the country, but there is chaos only at Kabul airport.”In the streets of the capital, the Taliban have indeed enforced a calm of a kind, with their armed forces patrolling the streets and manning checkpoints.Visually, they have also been looking to stamp their authority, ensuring the tri-coloured national flag is replaced with their white banner.At a roadside in Kabul at the weekend, young men sold Taliban flags, which bear in black text the Muslim proclamation of faith and the regime’s formal name: “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”.“Our goal is to spread the flag of the Islamic Emirate throughout Afghanistan,” said seller Ahmad Shakib, who studies economics at university.


Only the rich affected by subsidy cuts, says PM

The move to cut government subsidies only affects the rich or T20 group and that, too, is at a minimal rate, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
"The subsidy reduction only involves the rich T20 households. Can't they do with fewer subsidies?
"I have to take away some from those well off in order not to burden the poor," he said during the Minister's Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.
He said this in reply to a supplementary question from Radzi Jidin (PN-Putrajaya) on the decision to reduce government subsidies in solving the problems faced by the people following the fall of the ringgit.
Citing the electricity subsidy as an example, the prime minister said 90% of the people were not affected by the reduction, as it only has an impact on the T20 households with their big houses.
He said the government has also not increased electricity tariffs for small and medium industries or SMEs as well as the food industry.
"The cut in electricity subsidy was not aimed at the masses (but) only the wealthy in the T20 group. So why do we have to make this a political issue? Who are we championing?
"Furthermore, in terms of the haj subsidy, the price hike did not affect the people as the increase only involved the T20 group.
"If you are already filthy rich, you don’t expect Tabung Haji to subsidise your trip to Mecca. Some have complained, but I have to be firm on that," he said.
On May 22, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, told the high-income group (T20) in the country that they would not be given electricity subsidies and haj financial assistance.
He said the main database or Padu would be used to manage and coordinate the distribution of subsidies to eligible groups.


Heavy rain forces highway closures in Klang Valley

Several stretches of highway in the Klang Valley were blocked and toll plazas closed due to the heavy rain since yesterday which has caused floods and forced motorists to find alternative routes.The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) on Twitter named the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE), and Shah Alam and Bukit Raja toll plazas.According to an update at 6.07pm today, flooding at KM8.3 southbound on the NKVE from Shah Alam to Setia Alam had blocked all lanes, and a mandatory exit lane had been created at the Subang toll plaza.All lanes northbound on the NKVE from Setia Alam to Shah Alam were also blocked.Likewise, all lanes northbound and southbound at KM3.0 (Shah Alam/Seafield) on the ELITE were blocked.Floods at KM8.7 northbound from Setia Alam to Shah Alam also forced the closure of all entry lanes at the Bukit Raja toll plaza since 3.36pm and at the Shah Alam toll plaza since 2.29pm.In USJ, motorists driving towards Shah Alam on the NKVE had to make a detour to Exit 104 Subang due to flooding.Tens of cars were seen marooned on the Federal Highway while Jalan Raja Muda Musa in Kampung Baru was inundated and traffic jams had formed in Jalan Kuching, Jalan Kinabalu, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and Jalan Ipoh.In Shah Alam, roads connecting Setia Alam with Bandar Bukit Raja and Meru were under two metres of water in some places.People had also swarmed grocery and convenience shops for essentials as they were worried the floods could continue.


Singapore study finds throat spray effective in reducing spread of Covid-19

A team of clinician-scientists in Singapore has found that oral hydroxychloroquine and povidone-iodine throat spray are effective in reducing the spread of Covid-19 infection in high transmission settings.The study findings were published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, following a randomised clinical trial conducted among 3,037 healthy migrant workers quarantined in Tuas South Dormitory, a large multi-storey dormitory.“The repurposing of existing drugs is an important global strategy against Covid-19,” said lead author Raymond Seet, a senior consultant at the neurology division at the National University Hospital’s (NUH) Department of Medicine.“Until mass vaccination is successfully implemented globally, non-pharmacological interventions such as masking and physical distancing are the only proven measures to mitigate transmission of Covid-19,” he added.The study found that the frequency of Covid-19 infection was significantly lower in participants receiving hydroxychloroquine and povidoneiodine throat spray as compared with vitamin C used as a comparator medication, while no statistical differences observed between zinc/vitamin C and ivermectin, compared with vitamin C.Reduction in the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the hydroxychloroquine and povidoneiodine throat spray groups remained statistically significant after adjustments were made for potential confounders such as previous room exposure, age, nationality, compliance with medications and baseline seropositivity within the same cluster.“These drugs could be used to complement existing safety measures in settings where transmission is high while awaiting rollout of a vaccine.“Further research could analyse the effects in other populations such as older people and women, and in those with compromised immune system and other significant comorbidities, over more prolonged periods of time,” said Seet.The team of clinician-scientists are from NUH, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine); NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore and National University Heart Centre, Singapore.


MACC clears judge Nazlan

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has cleared judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali following its investigation into allegations of corruption and conflict of interest in handling the case of Najib Razak, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar told the Dewan Negara today that MACC also found no criminal elements in its investigation of Nazlan, adding that the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) agreed.
He said MACC had initiated an investigation as soon as they received a report alleging the existence of criminal elements involving the judge.
"MACC conducted a thorough investigation and found no criminal elements, and this was approved by AGC," he said in response to a question from Senator Kesavadas A Achyuthan Nair.
Nazlan, who currently serves as a Court of Appeal judge, convicted Najib on seven charges of breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering involving RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd (SRC) funds on July 28, 2020.
Najib was sentenced to 12 years' jail and fined RM210 million.
Kesavadas also questioned the seriousness of the anti-graft agency in investigating corruption and abuse of power issues involving leaders, especially former prime ministers.
Anwar emphasised that MACC must carry out its responsibilities and duties independently and impartially, including when conducting investigations into political figures and former leaders.
He added that people who perceive MACC's investigations as politically motivated should base their opinions on facts rather than purely political sentiments to avoid confusing the public.
"If there are high-profile cases with strong grounds for prosecution based on the investigation, it is the responsibility of MACC and AGC," he added.


New Zealand grants automatic paid leave after miscarriage

New Zealand’s parliament has unanimously passed legislation giving working mothers and their partners the right to paid leave after suffering a miscarriage or stillbirth, in what is believed to be one of the first provisions of its type in the world.The bereavement allowance, passed by parliament late Wednesday, gives employees three days’ leave when a pregnancy ends with a stillbirth, rather than forcing them to use their sick leave.Lawmaker Ginny Andersen said a stillbirth should be recognised with dedicated bereavement leave but the stigma that still surrounds the issue meant many people were reluctant to discuss it.“The grief that comes with miscarriage is not a sickness; it is a loss, and that loss takes time – time to recover physically and time to recover mentally,” she told parliament.Andersen said the leave extends to a woman’s partner if she suffers a miscarriage, as well as to people who were attempting to have a child through surrogacy.She said the law continued the New Zealand parliament’s role in pioneering women’s rights, most notably on voting rights, equal pay and decriminalising abortion.“I can only hope that while we may be one of the first, we will not be one of the last, and that other countries will also begin to legislate for a compassionate and fair leave system that recognises the pain and the grief that comes from miscarriage and stillbirth,” she said.


Agong accepts Muhyiddin’s resignation

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin following a brief audience at the Istana Negara today, MalaysiaNow understands.This is the second time the Malaysian government has collapsed since the 2018 general election, causing a power vacuum in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.In search for majority, Anwar sent reps to AzminIt’s cool to ‘whack’ government, says DAP’s PuaNajib’s ‘klepto’ group to give Anwar the numbersMuhyiddin’s resignation, which means the resignation of the government as well, was also confirmed by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin in a post on his Instagram.“The Cabinet has tendered our resignation to the Agong. Thank you for the opportunity to, once again, serve the nation.“May God bless Malaysia,” said Khairy.Muhyiddin is expected to give a live address on television.


Greeks rally to protest at deadly crash as rail workers strike

Thousands of striking transport workers, students and teachers started rallying in central Athens and in the northern city of Thessaloniki on Wednesday to protest over Greece's deadliest train disaster on record.
The crash on Feb 28 killed 57 people and has stirred public outrage over the crumbling state of the rail network. Striking workers say years of neglect, underinvestment and understaffing - a legacy of Greece's decade-long debt crisis - are to blame.
The conservative government, whose term expires in July, promised on Wednesday to fix the ailing railway system.
Many of the around 350 people aboard an intercity passenger train that collided head-on with a freight train while travelling on the same track were university students heading to the northern city of Thessaloniki from Athens after a long public holiday weekend.
"We won't stay alive by chance, we will live as we wish," said a banner held by young protesters outside parliament in Athens, where rallies were expected to culminate. "Murderers", read another one.
The disaster has led to protests across Greece with more than 10,000 people rallying in Athens on Sunday. Tens of thousands were gathering in Athens and Thessaloniki on Wednesday.
Rail workers have staged rolling, 24-hour strikes since Thursday, bringing the network to a halt. They say their demands for improvement in safety protocols have gone unheard for years and have promised to "impose safety" to ensure that a crash will not be repeated.
"We have an obligation towards our fellow humans and our colleagues who were lost in the tragic accident," the main railway workers union said in a statement.
The conservative government, which was initially planning to call elections in the coming weeks, has blamed the crash mainly on human error and deficiencies it says have not been fixed over the past decades.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has handed the portfolio to one of his closest aides, state minister George Gerapetritis, after the former transport minister resigned.
On Wednesday, Gerapetritis said rail passenger services, suspended since the crash, may resume by the end of March if absolute safety is secured. He promised funds would be invested in upgrading infrastructure and hiring staff.
He also promised to shed light to the causes of the crash.
"I understand the anger that people feel," he said.
Greece's largest public sector union ADEDY participated in the 24-hour walkout. City transport workers walked off the job in solidarity, disrupting metro, tram and bus services in the capital. Ships also remained docked at ports as seamen participated in the labour action.
Students and teacher groups have said they will take part in the rallies in central Athens.
"It's not the time to fall silent, it's time to speak up and fight," a teachers' union said in a statement.
Greece sold its state-owned railway operator, now called Hellenic Train, to Italy's state-owned Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane in 2017 during its debt crisis. The sale was a term in the country's bailout agreements with the European Union and the Washington-based International Monetary Fund.
Gerapetritis would meet transport experts from the European Commission, which has promised technical support, later on Wednesday.


Rising death toll prompts Indonesia to extend Covid curbs by a week

Indonesia has extended its Covid-19 restrictions by a week to Aug 2 to try to curb infections, President Joko Widodo announced on Sunday.The country is now Asia’s Covid-19 epicentre with hospitals swamped, particularly on the densely populated island of Java and on Bali, where oxygen supplies are running thin.“I’d like to thank all Indonesians for their understanding and support for the curbs that have been effective for 23 days,” the president, known as Jokowi, said, adding that Covid infections and hospital bed occupancies had declined, without specifying by how much.He said the government would gradually adjust restrictions on “some activities”, while allowing traditional markets and restaurants with outdoor areas to open, with some limitations. Some businesses, from salons and laundries to vehicle repair shops, are now allowed to open.The average number of Covid-19 deaths reported each day has been increasing for 10 days straight, a Reuters tracker shows.The country last reported 1,566 deaths on Friday, bringing cumulative deaths to more than 83,000.Total infections have climbed to more than three million, though health experts say that both deaths and case numbers have been undercounted.Senior Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who oversees the Covid response on Java and Bali, said on Saturday that “deaths have risen due to a number of factors: full hospitals, patients admitted with low saturation, or dying unmonitored in self-isolation”, adding that ICUs would be added in areas which have reported the highest number of deaths.Less than 7% of Indonesia’s population of 270 million has been fully vaccinated, with Southeast Asia’s largest country primarily reliant on shots produced by China’s Sinovac Biotech.Representatives of two of the world’s leading coronavirus research groups in the US have expressed concerns that the situation in Indonesia is ripe for the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant.“The more infections in a community, the more a chance for a new variant,” said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle.He also expressed concern about the Eid al-Adha festival and the “activity around it”.Indonesia’s Covid-19 task force banned public travel nationwide for the festival week and deployed thousands of security personnel around the country to enforce the travel ban, after a similar order at Eid al-Fitr in May did little to stop people from travelling.Other Asian countries are seeing some of their worst outbreaks to date, as Vietnam and Thailand face new anti-virus rules.


GPS sticks with BN-PN-GRS combo for federal govt

Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) today maintained its stance on forming the federal government with Perikatan Nasional (PN), Barisan Nasional (BN) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
In a statement issued by the Sarawak premier's office, it said this combination would represent Malaysians from all ethnic and religious groups.
"Given the political instability in the peninsula, GPS is of the opinion that the mandate of the people should be respected," it said.
"GPS therefore leaves it to the wisdom of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in line with the authority provided for in the constitution, to appoint a prime minister who will lead a strong government in adminstering the country."
It added that the interests of the country should be prioritised, and the formation of a stable government over any personal interests.
The general election on Saturday saw Pakatan Harapan together with Muda winning 82 seats, followed by PN (73), BN (30), GPS (23), GRS (six) and Warisan (three).
Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat and Parti Bangsa Malaysia won one seat each while the independent bloc won two.
GPS had said after the election that its MPs as well as those from GRS would back Muhyiddin Yassin and his PN coalition.
However, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi later denied that MPs from his bloc had agreed to join forces with GPS and GRS to work with PN, issuing a stern reminder that only he has the mandate to decide who BN MPs support.
He and several other BN leaders held talks with PH leaders at the Seri Pacific Hotel in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, with no conclusive results.
PN meanwhile has repeatedly said that it has the support of more than 112 MPs to form the next government.
A deadline given by the palace for the submission of statutory declarations by MPs was extended to 2pm today.


PM to explain 'Allah' appeal withdrawal in Dewan Rakyat

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will explain the government's decision to withdraw the appeal against a High Court decision over the use of the word "Allah" in Christian publications in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Based on the order paper, the matter will be raised by Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai) during the Minister's Question Time at 10am.
On May 15, the home ministry and the Malaysian government were reported to have withdrawn their appeal against the decision of the Kuala Lumpur High Court which ruled that Christians can use the word "Allah" and the three other Arabic words in the publication of their religious material for learning purposes.
At the same session, Rodziah Ismail (PH-Ampang) is also scheduled to ask about issues related to the government's governance in implementing the 5G internet network while Tan Hong Ping (PH-Bakri) wants to know if the operating hours of the National Scam Response Centre will be extended to 24 hours.
Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) will ask about the government's plans to overcome the congestion problem reported at toll plazas following the implementation of the radio frequency identification or RFID technology system. Aminolhuda Hassan (PH-Sri Gading) will ask about the school academic calendar issue.
After the session, the Parliament sitting will continue with the presentation for the second reading of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023, Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2023 and Fees (Department of Broadcasting Malaysia) (Validation) Bill 2023.
This Dewan Rakyat sitting which will last for 11 days from yesterday until May 25 will resume on June 6 until June 16.


Over US$200 billion potentially stolen from US Covid relief programmes, watchdog says

Over US$200 billion (about RM934 billion) from the US government's Covid-19 relief programmes were potentially stolen, a federal watchdog said on Tuesday, adding that the US Small Business Administration (SBA) had weakened its controls in a rush to disburse the funds.
At least 17% of all funds related to the government's coronavirus Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) schemes were disbursed to potentially fraudulent actors, according to a report released Tuesday by the SBA's office of inspector general.
Over the course of the pandemic, the SBA disbursed about US$1.2 trillion of EIDL and PPP funds.
The SBA disputed the more than US$200 billion figure put forward by the watchdog and said the inspector-general's approach had significantly overestimated fraud.
The agency said its experts put the potential fraud estimate at US$36 billion and added that over 86% of that likely fraud took place in 2020, when the administration for former president Donald Trump was in office. President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.
The fraud estimate put forward by the inspector general for the EIDL programme stood at more than US$136 billion while the PPP fraud estimate was US$64 billion.
The US is probing many fraud cases pegged to US government assistance programmes. In May 2021, Attorney-General Merrick Garland launched a Covid-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force.
Last year, the US Justice Department tapped federal prosecutor Kevin Chambers to lead its efforts to investigate alleged fraud schemes intending to bilk government pandemic assistance programmes.
In September 2022, the inspector-general for the US Labor Department said fraudsters likely stole US$45.6 billion from the US' unemployment insurance programme during the coronavirus outbreak by applying tactics like using Social Security numbers of deceased individuals.
Also in September, federal prosecutors charged dozens of defendants, who were accused of stealing US$250 million from a government aid programme that was supposed to feed children in need during the pandemic.
Earlier this year, a separate watchdog report said the US government likely awarded about US$5.4 billion in Covid-19 aid to people with questionable Social Security numbers.


Still wobbly from MCO, Melaka businesses fear another lockdown if Covid cases spike after polls

When the government announced the gradual reopening of the social and economic sectors last month after almost two years of on-again, off-again lockdowns to curb the spread of Covid-19, businesses in Umbai, Melaka, heaved a sigh of relief.Many of them were small business owners who ran grilled fish stalls or sold trinkets and souvenirs. Heavily dependent on tourist movements, they welcomed the reopening of state borders with open arms.The arrival of domestic visitors brought new life to the Pernu-Umbai jetty, where tourists flocked to enjoy the famous seafood served at the many stalls.Little by little, they began to regain a little of the ground they had lost throughout the many lockdowns.Now, their biggest fear is losing this newfound life if Covid-19 infections begin to increase again after the Melaka state election this weekend.Mohd Yunus Shafie owns a family-run business at the jetty selling grilled fish.Mohd Yunus Shafie is grateful that his grilled fish business survived the previous lockdowns but is worried about what might happen if another round of curbs are imposed.He said the area had been lifeless throughout the movement control order (MCO) period.“We really had no other customers,” he told MalaysiaNow.Once state borders were reopened, tourists began trickling in but Yunus held back from starting up his stall again.He waited a week before firing up his grill, encouraged by some of his other friends who had also reopened their stalls.“We are a family-run business, so finding workers was not a problem,” Yunus said.“Some of the other stalls are still having a hard time running because they don’t have enough workers.”Yunus’ business is among those which received assistance and grants throughout the MCO period.He is grateful that his business has been able to survive the various lockdowns and measures put in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19.Customers choose from the selection of seafood at the Pernu-Umbai jetty food court.There are a total of 16 stalls and businesses at the jetty under the Pernu Umbai grilled fish association.The association’s treasurer, Kamsiah Salleh, said the campaign period for the state election which began on Nov 8 had not had the expected effect.“No real crowds have come here except politicians who come to visit,” she told MalaysiaNow.While business owners registered with the association have begun to make payments for their rental arrears, with the infectivity rate of Covid-19 crossing 1.0, Kamsiah is still not at ease.Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in announcing the development, had warned that it was an early sign of a spike in positive cases.Hospital bed usage for Covid-19 patients in Melaka is also at a worrying level.While life is slowly creeping back to the Pernu-Umbai jetty food court, many tables remain empty due to concerns over Covid-19.According to the CovidNow portal, Melaka has a 82.8% rate of hospital bed usage, the third highest in the country behind Terengganu and Kelantan.“We are worried, but not as worried as before because now we have vaccines,” Kamsiah said.“We need to learn to live with Covid-19, just that there are risks for those who have other health problems.”While she is confident that the government will not impose a total lockdown again, she said people could decide not to travel to other states if they expect case numbers to rise, especially within the first two weeks after the election.This is a possibility raised by health experts who say that a new wave of Covid-19 could hit next month.Kamsiah, who runs a souvenir stall, said they could only hope for high sales during weekends and school holidays.Yunus meanwhile said not much could be done apart from adhering to the SOPs.“We have separated our tables to allow for physical distancing, and we make sure that all of our customers are fully vaccinated.“We just hope there will not be another MCO. If they close the borders again, we are done for.”


Papua New Guinea to start Covid-19 campaign with jabs from Australia

Papua New Guinea will kick off its coronavirus vaccination program by the coming weekend, beginning with 8,000 AstraZeneca doses from neighbouring Australia.The Pacific Island country of nine million people is desperately trying to prevent its basic health system being overwhelmed by a surge in Covid-19 cases, amounting to nearly 4,000 cases by Wednesday.The rapidly spreading outbreak has already claimed 37 lives, including a member of parliament.Nobody in the country has been vaccinated so far, and Prime Minister James Marape has said he will be the first to receive the jab to show they are safe for everyone.However, in a statement he said the vaccines will not be compulsory.“The government will not force anyone to take the vaccines, but you cannot stop doctors and others if they choose to take this or another vaccine,” he said.Marape said Australia is trying to procure another one million doses for PNG, and he urged citizens to not take “this sort of help for granted when globally medical supply is tight”.Canberra is worried an “uncontrolled” outbreak could produce a new variant of the virus that would affect not only PNG but the wider region, including Queensland.Australia’s chief health officer Brendan Murphy described their procurement discussions with Europe as “very tense” on Wednesday.“AstraZeneca are doing everything they can, our diplomatic colleagues are doing everything they can,” Murphy said. “If we don’t succeed in getting any overseas jabs we will certainly be discussing with government about whether we can deploy some more of our local product.”Last week, PNG increased restrictions by shutting pubs, clubs and gaming sites, banning large gatherings and making face masks mandatory.


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Nuclear plant loses power line as Moscow, West energy row escalates

A critical nuclear power plant in Ukraine again lost external power, international energy officials said on Saturday, heightening concerns as the energy battle between Moscow and the West ramped up in recent days amid the ongoing war.
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia plant – the largest in Europe – saw its last remaining main external power line cut off even as a reserve line was able to continue supplying electricity to the grid, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
Only one of the six reactors remained in operation at the station, the agency said in a statement posted on its website.
The plant, controlled by Moscow since Russian troops invaded Ukraine in late February, has become a focal point of the conflict, with each side blaming the other for nearby shelling.
Meanwhile, the standoff over Russian gas and oil exports ramped up this week as Moscow vowed to keep its main gas pipeline to Germany shuttered and G7 countries announced a planned price cap on Russian oil exports.
The energy fight is a fallout from President Vladimir Putin's six-month invasion of Ukraine, underscoring the deep rift between Moscow and Western nations as Europe steels itself for the cold months ahead.
"Russia (is) preparing a decisive energy blow on all Europeans for this winter," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address on Saturday, citing the Nord Stream 1 pipeline's continued closure.
Zelenskiy earlier blamed Russian shelling for the nuclear plant's cutoff last week that narrowly avoided a radiation leak.
Moscow has cited Western sanctions and technical issues for energy disruptions, while European countries have accused Russia of weaponizing supplies as part of its military invasion.
Nuclear concerns
Kyiv and Moscow have traded accusations about attacks on the Zaporizhzhia plant, which was captured by Russian forces in March but is still operated by Ukrainian staff and connected to the Ukrainian power grid.
An IAEA mission toured the plant on Thursday and some experts have remained there pending the release of a report by the UN nuclear watchdog in coming days.
Last week, Zaporizhzhia was severed from the national grid for the first time in its history after transmission lines were cut, prompting power cuts across Ukraine, although emergency generators kicked for vital cooling processes.
Meanwhile, the IAEA on Saturday said remaining inspectors noted one reactor was "still operating and producing electricity both for cooling and other essential safety functions at the site and for households, factories and others through the grid."
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, in a statement, said the fifth reactor was switched off "as a result of constant shelling by Russian occupation forces" and that there was "insufficient capacity from the last reserve line to operate two reactors."
Deteriorating conditions amid the shelling have prompted fears of a radiation disaster that the International Red Cross has said would cause a major humanitarian crisis.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia ofstoring heavy weapons at the site to discourage Ukraine from firing on it. Russia, which denies the presence of any such weapons there, has so far resisted international calls to relocate troops and demilitarise the area.
Russia's defence ministry on Saturday accused Ukrainian forces of mounting a failed attempt to capture the plant, but Reuters was unable to verify the report.
Turkey on Saturday also offered to facilitate the situation. Read full story
Gas and oil
In its announcement on Friday that it would not resume shipments through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline as had been expected, Russia's state-controlled energy giant Gazprom blamed a technical fault.
Gazprom said on Saturday that Siemens Energy was ready to help repair broken equipment but that there was nowhere available to carry out the work. Siemens said it has not been commissioned to carry out maintenance work for the pipeline but it is available.
Nord Stream 1, which runs under the Baltic Sea to supply Germany and others, had been due to resume operating after a three-day halt for maintenance on Saturday at 0100 GMT.
The indefinite delay to resuming gas deliveries will deepen Europe's problems securing fuel for winter with living costs already surging, led by energy prices.
Finance ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US – on Friday said a cap on the price of Russian oil aimed to "reduce... Russia’s ability to fund its war of aggression whilst limiting the impact of Russia’s war on global energy prices".
The Kremlin said it would stop selling oil to any countries that implemented the cap.
The Ukrainian armed forces' general staff on Saturday said its forces had repelled Moscow's advancements in various areas, particularly in eastern Ukraine as Russian forces sought to push through the Donetsk region.
Fighting also continued in the Kharkiv region and the south, Zelenskiy said on Saturday.
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb 24 in what it calls "a special military operation." Kyiv and the West have said it was an unprovoked aggressive war against a former part of the Soviet Union.
More than six months later, Russia has pressed ahead as the United States and other countries have pledged fresh military aid for Kyiv.
Ukraine had launched a counter offensive earlier this week after several weeks of relative stalemate in the conflict that has seen thousands killed and millions displaced. It targets the south, particularly the Kherson region, occupied by Russians early in the conflict.


RM360,000 to TS Consultancy not to help Umno in voter registration, Zahid tells court

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday denied in the Kuala Lumpur High Court that two cheques amounting to RM360,000 issued by Yayasan Akalbudi to TS Consultancy & Resources were intended to help Umno with the registration of voters in 2015.Ahmad Zahid, 69, who was Umno vice-president in 2015, also said that he was not aware that that the company, which provides training services, was set up by Umno for the registration of voters.“I have stated that the RM360,000 payment made by Yayasan Akalbudi to TS Consultancy was for the printing of the Quran,” he said, adding that the Quran printing was also in line with giving to charity as laid out in the memorandum and articles of the foundation.He said this when questioned by deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran while defending himself on 47 charges: 12 of criminal breach of trust, eight of bribery and 27 of money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit in Yayasan Akalbudi funds.Raja Rozela: Do you agree or disagree, Datuk Seri, as Umno vice-president at that time, that you were not informed (of the initiative to establish TS Consultancy)?Zahid: It was never discussed during the Umno Supreme Council meetings, let alone with me (as vice-president).Raja Rozela: Datuk Seri, don’t you remember the testimony of TS Consultancy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar in court, who said that his company was funded by the Umno headquarters?Zahid: No, I was not aware.The former deputy prime minister also disagreed with Raja Rozela’s suggestion that he had been briefed by Wan Ahmad about the company’s need for Yayasan Akalbudi’s financial assistance.He said what Wan Ahmad told him was that the mandate for the printing of the Quran had been given to Restu Foundation, chaired by Latiff Mirasa.On the RM10 million cheque from Yayasan Akalbudi to Armada Holdings Sdn Bhd, a company that imports and supplies coal, Zahid said the cheque signed by him was for investment purposes.Zahid said he met Armada Holdings CEO Wasi Khan @ Wasiyu Zama Israr and Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, the husband of singer Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin, to hold discussions on a coal project in October 2015.“Your Honour, the explanation given by Wasi is that the company (Armada) intended to be a supplier of coal to TNB’s subsidiary (TNB Fuel Services Sdn Bhd) and Datuk ‘K’ (Khalid) explained in detail to Armada about the charges imposed by TNB to register as a contractor,” he said.When asked by Raja Rozela if he knew that Armada Holdings was not yet incorporated when the RM10 million cheque was given to him, Zahid replied: “Not to my knowledge.”Raja Rozela: This means that due diligence (checking before the decision) supposedly by Datuk Seri was not complete.Zahid: Yes, incomplete.The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues today.


PAC pans ‘unsatisfactory’ management of MM2H programme

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today ticked off the way the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme has been managed, calling it unsatisfactory and urging immediate improvements to ensure that it achieves its original objectives.PAC found among others that the data and documents of MM2H participants were not systematically maintained. As a result, it said, their activities, expenses and asset ownership could not be verified.“In addition, there was no complete record to identify the overall value of properties owned by MM2H participants. Property ownership data was only recorded if the purchase of the property involved the use of fixed deposits (FD) which is attached to the requirements of the MM2H programme,” PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh said in a statement today.As such, he said, PAC recommended that the role of the tourism, arts and culture ministry in promoting the MM2H programme be strengthened in order to achieve the original goal of stimulating the country’s economy in tourism sub-sectors such as education, healthcare, real estate and automobile industry.He said improvement measures are needed as the MM2H programme is able to contribute to the country’s revenue and economic growth in various sectors.Meanwhile, the home ministry was advised to enhance its data storage application system especially in terms of monitoring the number of participants according to categories that are divided into new applications and extension applications, participants’ activities and expenses, asset ownership and other issues.“The new policy on the MM2H programme must be customer-friendly and more competitive compared to neighbouring countries.“The participation criteria should be more flexible according to the diversity of the targeted participants. Engagement sessions with all stakeholders should be intensified before the new policy is finalised,” Wong said.A total of three proceedings on the MM2H programme were held on Nov 24, Dec 1 and Dec 2 which saw five witnesses called: Auditor-General Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid, tourism ministry secretary-general Noor Zari Hamat, MM2H Consultant Association chairman Anthony Liew Yong Huat, Home Ministry deputy secretary-general (policy and control) Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud.


Anwar says PH will join emergency bipartisan body

Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim says its MPs will join a bipartisan committee announced by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, after initial threats to boycott it.“We welcome it, and we will send representatives,” Anwar said in an online press conference, adding that three names have been forwarded to the authorities.“We have decided to give our cooperation.”However, he said the committee would not have executive powers but would only act in an advisory role, adding that the Parliament would be more effective.Yesterday, prominent social critic Chandra Muzaffar urged the opposition to join the committee, saying the move to include them was unprecedented.“The committee itself is very much in line with democratic norms and principles. It provides a role for the opposition. The opposition should make use of it, to participate and give its views,” Chandra told MalaysiaNow.“If the opposition cares for the people, they should participate and not throw bricks from outside.“Take it for what it’s worth. If they feel it is not working, that’s a different matter, but they should give it a chance,” he said.Anwar meanwhile said a suit he planned to file on the state of emergency was not to challenge the declaration, but to call for parliamentary sittings to be held throughout the period.“This is so that the issues of the people can be debated, the mistakes of the government and efforts to manage Covid-19 can be corrected, and more importantly the principles of good governance are implemented, so that the emergency powers will not be used without any check and balance,” he said in the online press conference.Muhyiddin had earlier said that Parliament and state assemblies would not convene during the six-month emergency period which ends in August.Under the constitution, the Agong has the constitutional power to summon a parliamentary sitting anytime during an emergency.


New cases surge past 9,000 to record high

Another 9,180 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 817,838.Selangor recorded 4,400 cases, Kuala Lumpur 1,271, Negeri Sembilan 899, Kedah 417, Sarawak 406, Sabah 323, Johor 315, Perak 241, Melaka 222, Pahang 214, Kelantan 151 and Penang 142.Terengganu recorded 82 cases, Labuan 80, Putrajaya 16 and Perlis one.Active cases stand at 80,665 with 959 in the ICU and 465 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 5,713 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 731,193.However, 77 more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 5,980.


Fierce fight ahead if Khairy contests Seremban, says DAP MP Loke

DAP's Anthony Loke Siew Fook predicts a fierce fight for his parliamentary seat of Seremban if Umno's Khairy Jamaluddin is fielded there at the 15th general election (GE15), as recently suggested by the Umno Youth wing in the constituency.
Loke, the DAP secretary-general who has held the seat for nine years, said Khairy was a politician of calibre, who would prove a strong opponent in whichever constituency he contests.
"If he really does run in Seremban, the competition will be intense," he said in a Facebook post, adding that it would be one of the "hottest" seats in GE15.
Khairy, the health minister in Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's Cabinet, said on Sept 4 that he would not defend his parliamentary seat of Rembau at the general election to come.
He said he had been asked to give way to Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, to allow him to contest the seat instead.
Khairy, who has held the Rembau seat since 2008, said he did not yet know which parliamentary seat he would contest instead, adding that he was also open to the idea of not contesting at all.
Seremban Umno Youth chief Zool Amali Hussin later suggested that Khairy contest in Seremban, citing among others an increasing number of young Malay voters in the constituency.
"It would be a great loss if Khairy does not contest in GE15," Zool was reported as saying.
"Let him run in Seremban, a seat traditionally contested by MCA."
Loke however said he was ready to defend his seat against Khairy or any other candidate nominated by the opposing side.
"Let the people of Seremban evaluate and judge if I am qualified to continue representing their interests and speaking on their behalf in Parliament," he said.


New cases dip to 30,246 as 113 more deaths reported

Another 30,246 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 3,711,199.Of the total number of cases recorded, 223 were in Category Three and above.There were 26,653 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 3,367,542.A total of 1,929 cases were admitted to hospital yesterday, with 734 (38.1%) in Category Three and above and 1,195 (61.9%) in Category One and Two.Of the 223 cases in Category Three and above reported yesterday:* 58 (26.01%) were not vaccinated or had not completed their vaccination;* 107 (47.98%) had received two doses of vaccine;* 58 (26.01%) had received a booster jab;* 120 (53.81%) were aged 60 and above;* 53 (23.77%) had comorbidities; and* 1 (0.45%) was a pregnant woman.There are now 310,160 active cases, of which 297,924 or 96.1% are undergoing home quarantine.Meanwhile, 3,278 (1.1%) are at quarantine centres while 8,570 (2.8%) have been hospitalised.A total of 388 are in ICU with 225 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 59.6%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 43.8%.Another 113 deaths were reported, including 41 who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 33,497.The country’s infectivity rate as of March 9 was 1.06.


In freedom index among Muslim countries, Malaysia ranks midway

Malaysia has been ranked somewhere in the middle of a list showing how Muslim-majority countries fare in terms of personal freedom, but joins almost all others in falling short of the world average, according to a recent study on freedom in the Muslim world conducted by a Washington-based institute.The study released last month by The Cato Institute, a think tank which conducts research on a wide range of policy issues, also found that more than 1.8 billion of the world’s 1.9 billion Muslims live in nations where personal freedom is below the world average.CountriesPersonal freedomBosnia and Herzegovina8.04Albania8.01Burkina Faso7.39Kyrgyz Republic7.05World average6.98Senegal6.97Kazakhstan6.69Lebanon6.52Indonesia6.38Sierra Leone6.27Jordan6.23Mali6.15Azerbaijan6.10Tunisia5.97Kuwait5.97Niger5.92Bahrain5.91Nigeria5.90Turkey5.74Malaysia5.70Morocco5.68Tajikistan5.49Chad5.49Pakistan5.47Bangladesh5.37Guinea5.37Qatar5.24Algeria5.2Oman5.2United Arab Emirates5.09Libya4.83Mauritania4.83Brunei Darussalam4.76Gambia4.64Iran4.48Saudi Arabia4.32Sudan3.97Egypt3.95Iraq3.47Yemen2.75Syria2.53Source: Human Freedom Index 2019.The study looked at several categories of personal freedom – rule of law, security and safety, freedom of movement, religion, association, assembly and civil society, expression and information – measured in the Human Freedom Index, considered the most comprehensive freedom index so far created, covering 162 countries.In one list measuring the personal freedom of some 40 Muslim-majority countries, Malaysia scored 5.70, above neighbouring Brunei (4.76), but well behind Indonesia (6.38), which ranked among those with greater personal freedom.Yet, like most others, all three Southeast Asian Muslim states ranked below the world average for personal freedom (6.98).Only four Muslim countries – two European, one African and a former Soviet republic – scored above the world average in terms of personal freedom, making them, according to the study, the freest in the Muslim world. They are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Burkina Faso and Kyrgyzstan.Free speechAlmost half of the Muslim countries scored about 7.00, the global average score on freedom of expression being 7.75.Malaysia was among the countries which scored lower than 7, ranking below Middle East sheikhdoms such as Qatar and Kuwait, and well below Indonesia which scored 7.52. Bosnia again emerged on the top of the list, followed by Albania, Lebanon, Senegal, Nigeria and Tunisia, all of which scored above 8.Malaysia also ranked lower than Iran and Pakistan in terms of religious freedom, and is among the Muslim countries accused of having the worst records in religious freedom, with Saudi Arabia placed at the bottom.The study defines religious freedom as the freedom to establish and operate religious bodies without legal and regulatory restrictions, as well as without harassment and hostility.In terms of women’s freedom, Malaysia achieved a score of 5 out of 10.Major Muslim countries such as the UAE, Iran, Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia came out last with scores of about 2.Kazakhstan achieved a full score of 10, while other Central Asian and European nations such as Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Albania followed closely.Turkey also got a high score of 9, despite the study naming Turkey as one of three “worst trend-setters” in their records of personal freedom.Rule of lawDespite the grim findings, Malaysia is among the better ones when it comes to rule of law, another area of The Cato Institute’s study.It joins Jordan, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania with above the world average scores on rule of law.In its report, researchers also attempted to find out whether the level of freedom in Muslim countries is linked to how democratic they are.While globally, a country is freer when it is more democratic, the study said the involvement of political Islam in democracy means such a correlation is not relevant in the Muslim world.“One explanation is that democracies in the Muslim world, especially with the involvement of Islamist parties, tend to take an illiberal form, where human rights and freedoms, as they are universally defined, may be curbed by popular consent,” the think tank said, giving examples of how Turkey, despite its more democratic system, fared worse than more authoritarian countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Jordan and Burkina Faso in terms of personal freedom.


What happens to manifestos in the event of a coalition govt?

With fewer than 10 days left until Malaysians head to the polls, the major coalitions in the country have announced their manifesto vows to the people and are now working to gain as much support as they can before the clock strikes midnight on Nov 19.
Pakatan Harapan was the first to announce its manifesto on Nov 2, followed by Perikatan Nasional on Nov 6 and Barisan Nasional a day later.
But with a number of analysts predicting a coalition government in the absence of a clear majority by any single bloc, one question being raised ahead of election day is how these manifestos will be implemented in the event of such a scenario.
Analyst Mujibu Abd Muis said that forming a coalition government would not obstruct the implementation of the promises made prior to the election.
Nevertheless, he said, how the vows are carried out will depend on the decisions made by the coalitions involved.
"When it comes to manifestos, most parties will offer more or less the same things to the people: promises about the economy, the cost of living, sustainability and institutional reforms," he said.
"There might be only one or two points of difference, and these would probably centre on implementation and how to get things done."
Mujibu, of Universiti Teknologi Mara, said each manifesto would have its own advantages and drawbacks, while some might be described as idealistic or populist.
"Some promises are also just plain funny, like holidays on your birthday," he added.
Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs meanwhile said that manifestos were merely ammunition for elections, to rally support according to sentiments on current affairs.
But he also warned that voters were unlikely to decide on a candidate based only on the manifesto of his or her coalition.
"Many voters look more at party and personality," he said.
"So the track record of parties in fulfilling their promises once an election is over is not so good."


Editorial: Where we went wrong with our scoops

Over the last 24 hours, we published two reports on the latest political bickering in the country.Essentially, we reported about four people – two in their late 60s, one in his 70s, and another in his 40s – all of whom we said had been caught scheming in their own ways, but together, to overthrow the government by means of defections.Yes, our reports catapulted us to national fame, barely a month after our launch in September. Our mobile phones were beeping all day, our servers were brimming with traffic, and our close relatives and friends were all hoping for a little more “insider info”.Like any online portal, we celebrated these scoops, easily the hottest in the weeks-old saga of Anwar Ibrahim’s plan to become prime minister.And then, at around 6pm today, we realised that it may not have been the best move to go to press with the scoops. The health ministry announced a whopping 869 new infections for Covid-19, the highest in the 10 months since the pandemic was detected in Malaysia.What this means is 869 more people for our frontliners to treat in the coming days and weeks. 869 more beds will be occupied in our hospitals, 869 different sets of tools and equipment will be needed, and we will have 869 more reasons to worry that this, the greatest catastrophe in recent memory, is not yet over.In a way, we are guilty of distracting the Malaysian public from the state of war with which we are confronted. We diverted the nation’s attention to a set of tired politicians whose actions could trigger a general election, a phrase that in the parlance of this pandemic era means mass suicide in the name of democracy.We riled up the politicians we named – or, more precisely, their followers, for there was pindrop silence from Anwar Ibrahim, Najib Razak, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Maszlee Malik themselves over our damning reports implicating them.We angered their diehard fans as we left a good many of them dumbfounded and feeling betrayed. We invited wrath from their henchmen, who accuse us of fabrication.But we are not a phantom website. We are a recognisable news team, with a proper set-up and physical presence and editorial board. So if we are spreading fake news, report us, sue us.But that’s the least of our concerns. In fact, we are remorseful for the great Saturday distraction we made.Revealed: Najib, Zahid wrote to palace in support of AnwarRevealed: The lone ‘individual’ who signed pro-Anwar SDInfections hit new high of 869All this as tens of thousands of frontliners are busy battling the pandemic, giving up their sleep to take care of fellow humans, some of whom are in their death throes, ready to make it to Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah’s daily briefings which we follow with trepidation.In a way, we exposed the people jostling for power during a time of pandemic. A time of great social and economic destruction, a time when no politician in their right mind would want to occupy the top post other than to save themselves from an impending doom to their personal lives.But while we did that, we are aware that we could have made Malaysians forget the sufferings and the sacrifices of a greater part of the country.We apologise for the distraction. But if our action has played somewhat of a role in exposing the ugly truth of our political pandemic brought about by some of the very people we elected, then we say “you’re welcome”.


Mahathir loses bid to challenge appointments of Dewan Rakyat speaker, deputy

Azhar Harun and Azalina Othman Said will remain as Dewan Rakyat speaker and deputy speaker after the High Court today ruled that their appointments are valid.This follows the decision of judge Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid to allow the application by Azhar, Azalina, and two others to strike out an origination summons filed against them by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and four others to challenge the legitimacy of their appointments.Kamal said after studying the oral and written submissions of both plaintiff and defendants, he found that the appointments were valid and cannot be questioned by the court.“The first (Azhar), second (Azalina), third (Mohd Rashid) and fourth (Nizam Mydin) defendants’ originating summons to strike out the application is allowed.“The court will not set any cost after being satisfied that the issue was indeed of public interest,” he said.Kamal in his judgment said the pleading and the affidavits evidence showed that Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof had been removed from his office of speaker by way of a resolution and motion carried out by the Dewan Rakyat.“At another stage of the said sitting of the Dewan Rakyat on that day, Azhar and Azalina were elected to the office of speaker and deputy speaker by way of a motion that was brought and passed by Dewan Rakyat,” he said.The judge said Article 57 of the Federal Constitution expressly provides that it is the Parliament that determines the removal and election of the speaker and deputy speaker.“I view that any kind of matter or issue concerning the removal and appointment of the speaker and the deputy speaker ought to be examined, discussed, and resolved in Parliament.“The Parliament has exclusive jurisdiction over the matter and it has the absolute right to control its own proceedings.“Indeed, the decision of the Parliament on July 13, 2020, to remove Ariff as speaker and to appoint Azhar and Azalina as the new speaker and deputy speaker is conclusive,” he said.


Reaction to Malaysiakini verdict shows politics rule, not law

In their response to a recent Federal Court verdict that found online newspaper Malaysiakini guilty of contempt of court, some leading politicians, many civil society groups and a segment of society displayed an utter lack of appreciation of the ethical foundation of the right to free speech.With very little regard for the contemptuous and offensive remarks published by the newspaper concerned – remarks which Malaysiakini itself admitted were offensive – these public figures and others rallied to the portal’s defence.To defend the exercise of freedom of expression without considering the content and the issue at hand is foolhardy.Freedom of expression is not the freedom to abuse and to smear an institution – in this instance the Judiciary – that is fundamental to the rights of the people and the democratic structure of governance.The scurrilous and baseless allegations levelled at the judiciary had to be refuted in a firm and effective manner which is why the judges imposed a hefty fine on the newspaper.In fact, in a situation like this the people themselves should take a stand against those who appear to condone the misuse of free speech especially if they are leaders.Instead, what happened, as we have witnessed, was the opposite.A segment of society, presumably educated and well-heeled, including political leaders, joined hands and in a twinkling of an eye mobilised the half a million ringgit to settle Malaysiakini’s fine set by the Federal Court.What does this counter-move by a segment of the citizenry imply? Does it mean that even when a wrongdoing is so evident and the arguments against the wrongdoer have been so lucidly presented, for some of our citizens the wrongdoer is still the aggrieved party and therefore deserves support and sympathy?Is this because the wrongdoer enjoys an affinity of sorts with a segment of society which may be related to the political and social dichotomies of a communally divided society like ours?Conversely, is the negative reaction to the court’s verdict yet another manifestation of an erroneous view subscribed to by a portion of the non-Malay, non-Muslim populace that the judiciary is a Malay institution?It is doubtful if the communal factor is the main reason for negative reactions to important court decisions in each and every instance.Three episodes in the last few decades show that other forces may be at work.When a popular menteri besar who was also the national Umno Youth leader was found guilty of corruption by a learned, respected judge from the same Malay community, a sizeable section of the menteri besar’s mainly Malay supporters refused to accept the verdict.They maintained without an iota of evidence that the sentence against Harun Idris pronounced by Raja Azlan Shah (later His Highness Sultan of Perak) was politically motivated.In April 1999, Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy prime minister, was jailed for corruption and while in prison he was sentenced to another nine-year concurrent prison term in August 2000 for sodomy. He was freed in 2004 and then jailed again by the Federal Court in 2015, also for sodomy.On both occasions Anwar’s supporters argued that he was a victim of political chicanery. Because he had a cult-like following some of Anwar’s supporters to this day refuse to believe that he had indulged in the alleged sexual misdemeanours.We now have the case of former prime minister Najib Razak convicted of abuse of power, breach of trust and money laundering by a High Court in July 2020. His diehard supporters refuse to accept the verdict and remain convinced of his innocence. Najib has appealed to the Court of Appeal.Whatever the outcome of Najib’s appeal, it is obvious from all three instances that allegiance to the leader overrides the validity of court decisions.It is the triumph of politics and power over law and morality. Underlying it is perhaps a certain neo-feudal reverence for leadership.These are attitudes that have hampered and hindered the development of a strong sense of right and wrong within the political arena.It affects the non-Malay communities too. Blind loyalty to certain leaders which sometimes ignores their moral lapses is not uncommon in non-Malay politics today.It is because it is an attitude that has become pervasive a clear instance of contempt of court that defiles and denigrates the Judiciary does not evoke the response it should from the educated stratum of society.On the contrary, the wrongdoing is feted in the name of free speech and the wrongdoer elicits material and moral support from the people.It is irrefutable proof, if proof is needed, that ethical principles are weak within the educated stratum of Malaysian society and the Malaysian populace at large.Chandra Muzaffar has been writing on issues in Malaysian society for five decades.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


'Most vulnerable' US banks lost US$1 trillion in deposits in a year

JPMorgan Chase & Co analysts estimate that the "most vulnerable" US banks are likely to have lost a total of about US$1 trillion (about RM4 trillion) in deposits since last year, with half of the outflows occurring in March following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.
The team of JPMorgan analysts led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou did not name any of the banks they categorised as "most vulnerable" or say how many they included in this group.
"The uncertainty generated by deposit movements could cause banks to become more cautious on lending," they wrote.
"This risk is heightened by the fact that mid- and small-size banks play a disproportionably large role in US bank lending," they added in a note dated March 22.
Regulators closed SVB and Signature Bank earlier this month, marking the second and third largest failures in US banking history, respectively.
The speed at which customers withdrew their money from the two banks sparked concern of bank runs spreading to other institutions, prompting US authorities to backstop their deposits.
The failures amplified worries among customers who rushed to move their money to bigger banks that were perceived to be safer and hold a greater share of insured deposits.
Of the US$17 trillion of total US bank deposits, nearly US$7 trillion are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC), the JPMorgan analysts wrote.
"Fed rate hikes have been inducing a deposit shift via another channel: via creating losses in banks’ bond portfolios which in turn made depositors less comfortable with keeping uninsured deposits in banks with large unrealised losses on their bond holdings," they wrote.
A government guarantee on deposits could help stem the outflows from small and regional lenders, Panigirtzoglou wrote.
But that possibility appeared less likely after US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Wednesday that she was not considering such a proposal, which would require congressional approval. Bank risks were being reviewed on a case-by-case basis, she said.
Rising US interest rates, and banks' sluggish moves to raise the rates they pay depositors, have also contributed to the outflows in the last year, the JPMorgan analysts said.
Out of the US$1 trillion in deposits that were pulled out of the most vulnerable US lenders, half went to government money market funds, while the other half landed at larger US banks, the analysts wrote.


Annuar not contesting 'just rumours', says Kelantan BN chief

Claims that Ketereh incumbent Annuar Musa will not be contesting the 15th general election (GE15) are just rumours, Kelantan Barisan Nasional (BN) chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub said yesterday. Jazlan said he had already submitted the list of BN’s parliamentary candidates in Kelantan, including Ketereh, which will be finalised and decided by BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"My task is complete, and anything beyond that, I leave it to the party leadership to decide," he said when asked to comment on claims that Annuar, who is also communications and multimedia minister, had not been selected to defend Ketereh.
Speaking to reporters in Machang after the launch of Kelantan BN’s machinery, Jazlan said BN had the potential to win more than the nine parliamentary seats targeted for GE15 in Kelantan.
"I mentioned before our target of nine seats, but we could win more than that as support from voters in this state has been very encouraging," he said.
In GE14, BN won five of the 14 parliamentary seats in Kelantan.
Polling will be held on Nov 19, with nominations on Nov 5 and early voting on Nov 15.


No booze, no autographs: Tokyo 2020 unveils fan rules with a month to go

No alcohol, no hugs, no cheers and no autographs: Tokyo Olympic organisers unveiled tough new rules for spectators at the pandemic Games on Wednesday, as they marked one month until the opening ceremony.Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto warned festivities “will have to be suppressed” to keep the Games safe, and conceded that organisers will need to be “creative” to stoke a party atmosphere.Games chiefs decided on Monday to allow up to 10,000 spectators into competition venues, but Hashimoto warned them not to expect the kind of festival mood currently being enjoyed by football fans at Euro 2020.“In Europe, the venues are filled with celebration,” she said.“Unfortunately, we may not be able to do the same.”Spectators will need to clear several antivirus requirements, including temperature checks and mask-wearing, just to get into venues – with no refunds available for those who can’t.Once inside, they are forbidden from cheering or “making direct contact with other spectators” and will be asked to go straight home after events end.Asking athletes for autographs or “expressing verbal support” is also a no-no, as is waving a towel or “any form of cheering that could create a crowd”.“The festive mood will have to be suppressed – that has become a major challenge,” Hashimoto told reporters.“People can feel joy in their hearts, but they can’t be loud and they have to avoid crowds,” she added.“Those are the areas where we need to be creative, and we are putting in a lot of effort to come up with a new way of celebrating.”Spectators will also have to do without alcohol, even though it is allowed at other sporting events currently being held in Japan.Hashimoto said the ban was decided “to alleviate the concerns of the public as much as possible.”Japanese government spokesman Katsunobu Kato said it was “important that the guidelines are implemented appropriately” so that fans could “enjoy the Games in a safe and secure manner”.‘True values’With the July 23 opening ceremony nearing, organisers are scrambling to finalise preparations and win over a sceptical public, pledging the Games will be safe for locals and participants.Organisers have already begun arriving, including International Olympic Committee vice president John Coates, who accompanied Hashimoto on a tour of the Games’ gymnastics venue on Wednesday.Speaking to reporters Tuesday, former athlete Hashimoto said a stripped-back Games was a chance to refocus attention on the “true values” of the Olympics.“In recent years when I was participating as an athlete, there were concerns that this (event) has become so huge,” she said.“This time, I feel that the true values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games are finally being discussed.”It may not be a line that convinces everyone, with athletes facing restrictions including daily testing and a ban on travel except between venues and the Olympic Village.Domestic opposition to the Games has softened in recent weeks, but around half of Japan’s public still don’t want the event to open in four weeks’ time, polls show.On Saturday, a Ugandan Olympic coach tested positive on arrival in Japan, despite the team reportedly being vaccinated and testing negative before travel.The rest of the delegation has now been put in quarantine until July 3.The frantic pace of preparations may have taken its toll on Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who has been admitted to hospital suffering from exhaustion.Addressing fears of a fun-free Games, Hashimoto said hoped the Olympics would showcase Japan’s “culture of hospitality and caring about each other.”“I hope such spirit of caring about each other, will become the legacy of the Games.”