6 Indonesians drown off Johor coast

Six Indonesian women drowned off the coast of Johor after their boat capsized during a suspected attempt to enter the country illegally, officials said, in the latest migrant tragedy in the area.Their bodies were found Tuesday afternoon after the boat carrying 13 undocumented Indonesians coming from Pulau Batam ran into trouble off Johor.Senior coastguard official Nurul Hizam Zakaria said in a Tuesday statement that fishermen reported the incident after finding six survivors not far from the coast.Authorities and fishermen then found another survivor and the six drowned women before calling off a search before 4pm.Nurul Hizam confirmed that two boat handlers, who were among those aboard the vessel, were handed over to police on suspicion of people smuggling.The incident comes a month after 21 Indonesian migrants lost their lives after their boat capsized off Johor.Indonesians seeking work sometimes try to illegally enter neighbouring Malaysia via risky sea crossings, but accidents occasionally happen due to bad weather.Relatively affluent Malaysia is home to millions of migrants from poorer parts of Asia, many of them undocumented, and they work in industries including construction and agriculture.


‘Give him a second chance’: Nagaenthran’s sister pleads for his life

The sister of a Malaysian man facing imminent execution despite concerns he is mentally disabled has pleaded with Singapore to give him a “second chance”.Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, sentenced to death in 2010 for trafficking a small amount of heroin into Singapore, was originally set to be hanged last week after losing a series of appeals.The execution in the city-state, which has some of the world’s toughest drugs laws, was postponed after the 33-year-old contracted Covid-19, but campaigners fear the delay will be short.His family are not giving up, however, with his sister Sarmila Dharmalingam urging the city-state to “give him a second chance”.“We hope the Singapore government will spare his life,” the 35-year-old told AFP in an interview Sunday from the family home in Tanjung Rambutan in Perak.“He is suffering from an intellectual disability.”Nagaenthran’s case has sparked a storm of criticism, with the European Union and United Nations rights experts speaking out against it, and a clemency petition getting around 85,000 signatures.A last-ditch court challenge is being mounted and while chances of success look slim, Sarmila and her family are holding out hope.“All our family members are holding prayers for his life to be spared,” said the housewife, who is ethnic Indian and a member of the Hindu minority in mostly Muslim Malaysia.“I believe in miracles… With God’s grace, a miracle will happen.”Last-ditch challengeNagaenthran was arrested aged 21 as he tried to enter Singapore from Malaysia with a bundle of heroin weighing about 43g – equivalent to about three tablespoons – strapped to his thigh.Campaigners say he has an IQ of just 69, a level recognised as an intellectual disability, was coerced into transporting the drugs, and was struggling with an alcohol problem at the time.But Singapore, which insists the death penalty is an effective deterrent against crime, has shown little sign of heeding calls for clemency.The home affairs ministry said earlier this month that psychiatrists had stated during previous court proceedings that Nagaenthran was not intellectually disabled.Legal rulings also concluded that he “clearly understood the nature of his acts”, which were aimed at paying off debts, it said in a statement.A written appeal from Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was also brushed off, with his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong responding that Nagaenthran had been given “full due process under the law”.‘He wants to come home’Sarmila – one of Nagaenthran’s three siblings – recalled the shock when her family received a letter from Singapore authorities on Oct 26 informing them her brother would be hanged on Nov 10.Preparations for Deepavali were halted so the family could figure out how his mother, who works as a cleaner, and other relatives could travel to Singapore to see him before the execution.Naganethran’s eldest sister, Sarmila struggles to accept her brother is a convicted drug smuggler and still has fond memories of playing childhood games with him.He was a “lovable person. He was very caring”, she said.During more than a decade behind bars, Nagaenthran developed a passion for arts and crafts, making cards for his family back home to mark occasions such as Mother’s Day.His sister believes he was coerced into drug smuggling, as he was “timid and easily influenced by others”.Rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, say the planned execution would breach international laws against capital punishment for people with mental disabilities.If it goes ahead, it would be the first hanging in Singapore since 2019.During recent prison visits, relatives have found Nagaenthran “erratic and depressed”, according to Sarmila.“He knows he is going to be hanged but… he says he wants to come home and take care of his mother,” she said.Fighting back tears as she clutched a photo of Nagaenthran as a child, she pleaded: “I want my brother to come home.”


Veteran rocker Amy pans proposal on EPF savings as collateral for bank loans

Malaysia's veteran rock singer Suhaimi Abdul Rahman, better known as Amy Search, has hit out at a recent suggestion by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for Employees Provident Fund (EPF) savings to be used as collateral for personal loans, saying the move will only benefit banks which collect interest.
"Borrowing from banks is subject to interest, because no bank lends money without interest as the money belongs to the people (depositors).
"And if you don't pay, the interest increases. Ultimately, the total interest on the loan plus on the late payment will spiral.
"So the banks reap the biggest profit," the singer, best known as the vocalist for the band Search, said in response to a Facebook video on the proposal.
On March 9, responding to growing calls for a special withdrawal from EPF, Anwar again shot down the idea but said he would consider allowing contributors to apply for bank loans using their savings in the retirement fund as collateral.
He said this was the best way to help people in the present circumstances.
Amy warned that in this scenario, any failure to settle a bank loan would result in the seizure of EPF savings.
"What does the bank care? Everything is stated in the signed agreement. Be careful my friends, don't let your EPF money run out due to interest.
"So borrowing money from the bank by making EPF savings collateral is not a wise move," he added.


Covid rages in Iraq as vaccinations lag

In the stores and buses of Iraq masks are rare even as Covid-19 spreads widely, vaccines are viewed with suspicion and the sick see hospitals as a last resort.At Al-Shifaa Hospital in the capital Baghdad, the ramifications are clear.“More than 95% of those sick with Covid-19 in intensive care are unvaccinated,” said Ali Abdel Hussein Kazem, assistant director of the facility.Half of the 40 intensive care beds are occupied in the department, where irregular beeping from monitors and IV machines is constantly heard.Al-Shifaa hospital has been turned into a Covid treatment centre since the start of the pandemic and can treat 175 patients.Linked to breathing devices, an old man and a young woman share a large room, where a family member is allowed to monitor them – masked and in a white protective outfit.Next door, a man in his 60s fidgets, pushing away his blanket. An asthmatic, he is also hooked up to a ventilator.“He says he is suffocating,” an alarmed relative said, summoning a doctor.Iraq’s public health system, already worn down by decades of war, under-investment and corruption, has struggled to cope with the coronavirus.Since January, Iraq’s 40 million people have been confronted with a fourth coronavirus wave but – unlike other countries – the government has not imposed any restrictions.Iraq has recorded more than 2.2 million infections and 24,000 deaths since the pandemic began two years ago, but data released by the authorities indicates that infections are now declining to around 2,000 new cases per day.Despite 1,400 vaccination centres, officials struggle to overcome scepticism about the jabs, which health experts around the world say are saving lives.Help from abroadFewer than 10 million people in Iraq, about a quarter of the population, have been vaccinated, said health ministry spokesman Seif al-Badr.Among them, not even seven million have received two doses, and those with a booster number less than 100,000.In neighbouring Iran, 66% of the 83-million population have received two doses.“About 90% of the sick are older than 60,” said Al-Shifaa’s intensive care director Mohammed Salih, as he made his morning rounds, checking X-rays and giving instructions.“Most have chronic conditions: diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease,” Salih said, accompanied by doctors and nurses from Doctors Without Borders (MSF), a charity which is assisting the hospital.Along with training that aims to “sustain the care”, the MSF programme begun in November provides physiotherapy and mental health care, said Daniel Uche, a physician who heads the project.Countering misinformation is another priority.“Most of the pregnant women we admitted in our facility are not vaccinated because they are afraid for their precious babies, that maybe if they take the vaccine it will have an effect” on the infant, said Uche.Salih said he noticed another trend: “Most of the patients come in only after reaching a critical stage.”They prefer to stay at home because of “social media” and “rumours” which minimise the gravity of the coronavirus or which raise suspicions about the vaccines, he added.Those are the latest challenges for a health system crippled by decades of war and especially an international embargo under the dictator Saddam Hussein, who was toppled in a US-led 2003 invasion.“People are afraid of hospital because of rumours that say they won’t get proper care, and that we won’t be interested in looking after them,” a nurse said, requesting anonymity.Two deadly fires at public hospital Covid-19 units last year sparked outrage among the population. One blaze killed more than 80 people in Baghdad in April and three months later another claimed at least 60 lives in Nasiriyah, southern Iraq.‘Be careful’Authorities acknowledge that challenges abound for a sector dealing with ageing equipment and shortages.Badr, the ministry spokesman, said the health infrastructure in some provinces “was entirely destroyed” in the war against the Islamic State group jihadists from 2014-2017.The health budget of the oil-rich country does not even receive two percent of state expenditures.“For previous governments health care was not a priority,” said Badr, adding that even though the system is challenged it is ready to help those who are sick with Covid-19.“We have thousands of beds available for people who would have breathing difficulties. We also have medicine and the necessary equipment, as well as vaccines,” he said.At Al-Shifaa, Farouk Naoum, 75, is leaving hospital after his recovery. He was among the minority of Iraqis vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine but despite the protection it offered, he still got infected.“You have to be careful, very careful,” he said after his 31 days of treatment.


Woman shot dead in US Capitol was veteran, Trump supporter

The woman who died Wednesday of a bullet wound during the violent storming of the US Capitol was shot by police, authorities said.The only fatality tied to Wednesday’s unrest was the woman, reportedly a dedicated Donald Trump backer and air force veteran who was among a throng of supporters of the president that invaded the US legislature.Washington police chief Robert Contee said three other people, one woman and two men, had died Wednesday in the area around the Capitol, but did not link those deaths to the violence.Each of the three “appeared to have suffered medical emergencies which resulted in their deaths”, Contee told reporters.Contee said 52 people had been arrested Wednesday, 26 of them on the grounds of the Capitol, for curfew violations, unlawful entry and weapons charges.Fourteen police were injured, one seriously after he was pulled into a crowd and assaulted, he added.He also said two pipe bombs had been discovered near the Capitol, one at democratic Party offices and the other at Republican Party offices.In addition, a vehicle was discovered parked on Capitol grounds with a long gun and Molotov cocktails inside.Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser announced an extension of the city’s state of emergency for 15 days through the Jan 20 presidential inauguration of Joe Biden, amid fears Trump and his supporters will continue to threaten violence over their unsupported claims that Biden’s election win was fraudulent.“I know that I speak for all of us when I say that we saw an unprecedented attack on our American democracy incited by the US president, and he must be held accountable,” Bowser said.Trump was blamed for the death of the woman, one of thousands of supporters he urged to descend on the Capitol after a midday rally at the White House in which he told them that he lost the Nov 3 election due to massive fraud.They flocked to the Congress just as it opened a joint session to certify Biden as the election winner.Strong Trump supporterThe dead woman was identified in US media as Ashli Babbitt, a backer of the president from San Diego, California who had served in the United States Air Force.She was shot amid chaotic and violent scenes inside the Capitol building, where some security personnel drew their guns to protect lawmakers as protesters advanced.“She was a strong supporter of President Trump,” San Diego TV station KUSI reported, citing the woman’s husband.Babbitt identified herself as a veteran on her Twitter account and noted her love for the US. She had recently retweeted messages in support of Trump and from those coming to Washington for Wednesday’s rally.“Nothing will stop us….they can try and try and try but the storm is here and it is descending upon DC in less than 24 hours….dark to light!”, she wrote in a tweet on Tuesday.“I really don’t know why she decided to do this,” her mother-in-law reportedly told the station about her trip to Washington to join pro-Trump protests.


Govt mulls return of iconic Penang ferry

The government is considering bringing back the iconic Penang ferry, the services of which were terminated in 2020.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the ferries were still available for service and spoke of plans for them to operate again in the future.
"We will look into what form of operation this iconic ferry will take, whether it will be a tourist ferry, a roro ferry or a museum ferry.
"We will hold discussions with the Penang Port Commission regarding this later," he told reporters in Penang yesterday.
Loke also said the plan could face some challenges in terms of operation as the old terminal had long been refurbished to accommodate new ferries.
"The refurbishment project on both the island and mainland terminals currently cannot accommodate the iconic ferry operations involving four-wheeled vehicles," he said.
The oldest form of transport in Penang, the ferry service, as an alternative route from Seberang Perai to the island and vice versa, was replaced by speedboat services on Jan 1, 2021.
The speedboats are only used to transport pedestrians while the ferry only carries motorcycles and bicycles.
Loke said the new ferry services would begin operations on Aug 1, carrying only pedestrians and motorcycles.
He said although there had been requests for the new ferry service to also transport four-wheeled vehicles, the four new pre-booked ferries only had the capacity for pedestrians and motorcycles.


Cancer survivors encouraged to take Covid-19 jab, says deputy health DG

There is no problem with cancer survivors and people with disabilities taking the Covid-19 vaccine, says deputy health director-general (research and technical support) Dr Hishamshah Mohd Ibrahim.He said those who have taken the BCG shot to prevent tuberculosis will not face any issues in receiving Covid-19 vaccine shots, either.“For cancer survivors who had their last treatment three to six months prior (to receiving the vaccine shots), they do not have any problem taking the vaccine. The same with people with disabilities, no problems.“We do encourage them to get the vaccine because they are from the high-risk groups, besides those with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart, kidney and other chronic diseases,” he said on Bernama TV’s “Ruang Bicara” programme last night.Those on immunosuppressants, such as cancer patients, however are not advised to take the vaccine for the time being until their treatment ends.Hishamshah said for now, there is no clear data confirming that anyone who received BCG shots previously would be protected from the Covid-19 virus.“Although there is a theory claiming there is protection, there is no clear data on it. (Although) many of us were given the BCG vaccine, there are still many who have been infected by Covid-19,” he said.


The TikTok factor in GE15

The 15th general election (GE15) just over a week ago and the campaign period before it saw political parties turning to social media as an alternative battlefield in the race to win the support of the youth.
Of the roughly 21.1 million voters eligible to cast their ballots in the election, some four million were between 18 and 21 years of age.
Data analyst expert Mohd Hafeez Nazri said the impact of social media use had been evident even during the 2018 election.
Then, though, the platform of choice had been different.
"At GE14, they used Facebook as their main channel for information," Hafeez said.
"Now the winds have changed and TikTok has been the medium of choice for the past two to three years."
Citing data on social media use, he said the number of TikTok users in Malaysia had increased to 14.4 million over the last two years.
Twitter users meanwhile numbered 4.4 million while Facebook still topped the list with 21 million.
Hafeez said the shift towards TikTok had influenced campaigns and strategies for GE15, especially those targeted at the youth, describing this as part of a larger change in the overall pattern.
He said the goal was to reach large target groups through the use of a single platform which would make things easier to manage.
Social media was the obvious choice, especially in terms of creating short videos and live-streaming political talks and events.
A study in June by independent pollster Merdeka Center showed that the youth spent much of their time on the internet, for entertainment purposes (32%), studies (17%) and to gather information on current affairs (16%).
It also said then that only 40% of Malay youths would turn out to vote if GE15 was held in the near future.
Nevertheless, its projection appeared off the mark as many first-time voters participated in the general election on Nov 19.
Social media pros and cons
The use of technology and the harnessing of digital developments was apparent in the rise of blogs during the time of the fifth prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
By the end of Najib Razak's administration, the election narrative had shifted to Facebook and Twitter, dominated by talk on the 1MDB scandal which played a significant role in Najib's downfall.
But for all of the benefits of using social media, Hafeez said political parties should also be aware of the pitfalls and weaknesses.
Chief among these are the limited access to the internet in some areas, as well as the fact that older voters are less savvy with such tools.
While social media use could cast a wide net, Hafeez said, certain target groups could also be left out.
"If we look at the data, 43% or more than 50% of social media users are actually men," he said.
"So how will parties target women if they rely only on social media platforms? Such issues need to be assessed and reviewed if political parties really want to campaign online. But even this depends on the ultimate goal, whether it's on the macro or micro level."


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Indonesia confirms first monkeypox case in citizen returning from abroad

Indonesia has confirmed its first monkeypox infection, detected in a person who had returned from an unidentified country with documented cases, a health ministry spokesman said on Saturday.
The 27-year-old male tested positive in the capital Jakarta late on Friday, Mohammad Syahril told a news conference.
The Indonesian national, who is doing "well" and showing only mild symptoms, is self isolating at home, said Syahril, who did not say where the patient had come from.
"We have followed up with tracing of close contacts and will check up on them," he said, adding the government is in the process of procuring around 10,000 vaccines for monkeypox.
The health ministry is urging calm and has reassured the public that monkeypox is treatable. It has so far tested 22 suspected cases from across the country, of which all were negative.
Neighbouring Singapore reported its first local case of monkeypox last month and had confirmed 15 cases as of Aug 5. Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Thailand have also confirmed cases.
The World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency, with more than 40,000 confirmed cases of monkeypox, including a handful of deaths, in over 80 countries where the virus is not endemic.


In JB, 121 fined RM1,000 for lack of physical distancing

Police issued compound fines of RM1,000 each to 121 people last night for failing to observe physical distancing as required under the recovery movement control order at an unlicensed entertainment centre in Taman Mount Austin, Johor Bahru.Johor police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said police also arrested a man claiming to be the manager, as well as a Myanmar man and a Vietnamese woman who did not have identification papers on them.The 121 people, who ranged from 20 to 40 in age, were caught in a raid at about 10pm.In a statement, Ayob Khan said they tested negative for drugs when subjected to a urine test.


First case of AstraZeneca jab blood clotting recorded in South Korea

South Korea has recorded its first case of blood clotting linked to the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, with one man being hospitalised, Reuters is reporting.Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong revealed on Monday that an unnamed man in his 30s had to be hospitalised for a persistent headache and muscle cramps after he was vaccinated on April 27.“His condition has improved since then and we understand there is no big problem though he still needs monitoring,” Jeong added.South Korea currently uses AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna vaccines in its vaccination programme. Over 4,600,000 doses of these vaccines have been administered in the country.Around 3.27 million people in South Korea have received at least one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine so far.Two weeks ago, South Korea announced that it would trial the mixing of AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines in an effort to speed up vaccinations.AstraZeneca’s vaccine, also known as Vaxzevria, has been linked to a number of cases of potentially fatal blood clotting in several countries, with deaths recorded in Canada, the UK, Norway, Slovakia, and beyond.As a result, the vaccine has been suspended in several countries and restricted to those in older age brackets – whose benefit from the jab is deemed to outweigh the risk – in other countries.On top of links to blood clotting, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has also been investigating reports of AstraZeneca’s vaccine causing Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare condition that affects the nerves. It mainly affects the feet, hands and limbs, causing problems such as numbness, weakness and pain. It can be treated and most people make a full recovery.AstraZeneca has said it is working to understand individual cases and “possible mechanisms that could explain these extremely rare events”, while Johnson & Johnson has said that no clear causal relationship has been established between the vaccine and the clots.Last week, a group of German scientists claimed to have found the cause of the rare blood clots linked to the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccines, and they say the jabs could be altered to prevent the problemThe research, led by Professor Rolf Marschalek from Goethe University, in Frankfurt, was published on Wednesday. It suggests the problem lies with the adenovirus vector technology used in the vaccines. Viral vector vaccines use a modified version of a different virus to deliver important instructions to the nucleus of cells so as to produce a spike protein and trigger an immune response in the body.Marschalek and his team believe some parts of the spike protein can split apart and create “mutant” versions that trigger the blood clots, in what the paper termed the “Vaccine-Induced Covid-19 Mimicry” syndrome.“With the data we have, we can tell the companies how to mutate these sequences in a way that prevents unintended splice reactions,” Marschalek said in an interview with the Financial Times.Since the start of the pandemic, South Korea has recorded nearly 140,000 cases of Covid-19 and 1,957 deaths.


Govt signs agreement for Merck Covid-19 pill

The health ministry today signed a letter of undertaking for 150,000 complete patient courses of Merck’s experimental oral Covid-19 antiviral drug Molnupiravir for the treatment of those who contract the highly contagious virus.Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the agreement inked with Merck Sharp & Dohme was part of preparations to transition to the endemic phase of Covid-19.“It will increase our arsenal of innovative new treatments in our battle against Covid-19, apart from vaccination and other public health measures,” he said.In a statement, he cited data from studies by Merck indicating that the drug could reduce by about 50% the likelihood of hospitalisation.“It is also effective against more virulent strains such as Gamma, Delta and Mu,” he said.However, he said that the drug, while effective, did not mean that vaccines were no longer needed.“The role of vaccines is to reduce infections and prevent more severe cases,” he said.“Molnupiravir does not prevent the spread of infection. It is only beneficial for those who have already been infected.“We need both to reduce the patient burden of Covid-19 and to have a bigger impact in efforts to prevent and control the spread of the virus.”Molnupiravir is designed to introduce errors into the genetic code of the coronavirus and would be the first oral antiviral medication for Covid-19.


Rosmah fails again to remove Sri Ram and nullify corruption case

Rosmah Mansor today failed in her bid to nullify her corruption trial over a RM1.25 billion hybrid solar project in Sarawak and to remove Gopal Sri Ram as the lead prosecutor in the case.This followed the decision of a three-member bench led by Court of Appeal judge Hanipah Farikullah allowing the preliminary objection raised by the prosecution on Rosmah’s appeal.Hanipah, in the unanimous decision, said the bench agreed with the prosecution’s contention that the criminal court has no jurisdiction to grant the declaratory relief sought by Rosmah as the appellant.“We are of the view that the reliefs must fall within the matters allowed under the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). However, there is nothing in the CPC that confers powers and jurisdiction to the High Court to exercise its criminal procedures to grant declaratory orders.“Based on the foregoing reasons, it is our considered view that the High Court in the exercise of the criminal procedures has no jurisdiction and power to grant the reliefs sought by the appellant.“Therefore, we allow the prosecution’s preliminary objection and the appellant’s appeals are dismissed,” she said, adding that the bench could not proceed to hear the merit of the appeal.The other bench members were judges M Gunalan and Hashim Hamzah.The panel made the ruling after hearing submissions by Sri Ram and counsel Jagjit Singh and Akberdin Abdul Kader, who appeared for Rosmah.Before the hearing began, Jagjit apologised to the court on behalf of Rosmah for not being present in court for last Thursday’s proceedings.“(We) express profound apology for the absence of the appellant last week. She expresses her sincerest apologies,” the lawyer said.Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, was appealing against the High Court’s decision on Sept 24 rejecting her application to nullify her entire trial in an effort to be freed of all three charges and to remove Sri Ram as the lead prosecutor in the case.Rosmah is facing a charge of soliciting RM187.5 million and two charges of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through her former assistant Rizal Mansor as a reward for assisting Jepak Holdings to secure a RM1.25 billion project to equip 369 schools in rural Sarawak with solar hybrid power.On Oct 4, the Court of Appeal rejected Rosmah’s application to adjourn her corruption trial while waiting for the decision on the appeal.Following the decision, Rosmah, 69, testified as a defence witness during the hearing held at the High Court on Oct 5. The trial is scheduled to resume on Dec 8.


Germany’s 7-day Covid incidence rate hits record high

Germany’s incidence rate measuring the number of new coronavirus infections per 100,000 people over the last seven days soared to 201.1 on Monday, a record since the pandemic erupted more than a year ago.The figure, published by Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI), surpasses the last high, which had been 197.6 reached on Dec 22, 2020.While many more people in the country have had the jab than at that point last year, vaccination rates have stagnated at under 70%, with officials pleading in the last days for the population to get the jab.“For the unvaccinated, the risk is high that they will become infected in the coming months,” warned RKI chief Lothar Wieler on Wednesday.In the eastern state of Saxony, where the incidence rate is more than twice the national average at 491.3, unvaccinated people face new restrictions from Monday.Access to indoor dining and other indoor events will be limited to those who are fully vaccinated or can show proof of recovery.The new rules are the toughest state-wide restrictions in Germany against non-inoculated people. Only children as well as those who cannot receive jabs for medical reasons will be exempt.The surge in German cases comes with the country in political limbo following September’s general election.The incoming coalition parties, aiming to form a government by early December, have so far ruled out mandatory jabs and said there will be no new lockdowns – at least not for the vaccinated.


Grim start to 2021 for Brazil with 200,000 Covid deaths

Brazil’s Covid-19 death toll passed 200,000 Thursday amid a surging second wave, dousing optimism that 2021 will bring respite anytime soon for a country whose government’s erratic handling of the pandemic has drawn scathing criticism.The new coronavirus has now killed 200,498 people in Brazil, according to health ministry figures – the second-highest toll worldwide, after the US, where the number stands at nearly 363,000.Brazil reported a record number of new cases – 87,843 – and the second-highest number of daily deaths – 1,524 – since the pandemic began.Many expected the pandemic to ease in 2021, but in Brazil, this year has started with a firestorm of controversy over holes in the government’s vaccination plan and far-right President Jair Bolsonaro’s continued Covid-19 denialism.The situation stands to get a lot worse in Brazil before it gets better, warns Paulo Lotufo, an epidemiologist at the University of Sao Paulo.“I don’t even know how we’re going to get through January,” he told AFP.“A lot of health workers are exhausted. People have had to deal with a huge amount of suffering.”Vaccine fightBolsonaro, who has defied expert advice on managing the pandemic at every turn – railing against lockdowns, face masks and other “hysteria” – has stuck to the same script as the world starts vaccination campaigns.Critics accuse him of fuelling anti-vaccine skepticism by saying he does not plan to be vaccinated and joking the jab could “turn you into an alligator”.Brazil has yet to set a start date for its vaccination drive.Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello said Thursday it would begin “by Jan 20, in the best-case-scenario… and at the latest by early March.”The government has struggled to obtain enough vaccine doses for Brazil’s 212 million people. Authorities fell flat last week when they tried to purchase enough syringes, securing less than 3% of the 300 million it tendered.“The government’s list of mistakes in responding to the pandemic is unparalleled worldwide,” said political analyst Sylvio Costa, founder of the news site Congresso em Foco.“Bolsonaro is the most obstinate and obsessed of the Covid denialists, and it’s creating a catastrophe.”The president, who comes up for re-election next year, meanwhile faces a conundrum: on Jan 1, the government stopped making monthly Covid relief payments to 68 million low-income workers.The programme had helped him weather the pandemic with his popularity intact, but fuelled a skyrocketing deficit.Bolsonaro said Tuesday that “Brazil is broke,” blaming the “press-fuelled virus.”Analysts forecast Latin America’s biggest economy will report a contraction of 4.36% for 2020 and an underwhelming rebound of 3.4% this year.Horror show sequel?After finally bringing down the curves of infections and deaths from September to November, Brazil is now seeing uncomfortable reminders of the pandemic’s worst days.Hospitals in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have recently reported intensive care units more than 90% full.In the Amazon rainforest city of Manaus, where there were haunting scenes last April of mass graves and corpses piled in refrigerator trucks, the health system is saturated again.With hospitalisations in Manaus recently hitting the highest level of the pandemic, the city has again deployed refrigerator trucks to store cadavers. A court on Saturday forced the state government to shut non-essential businesses for 15 days.Unlike in the first wave, suburban and rural areas are now struggling with high caseloads, too.Across Brazil, the number of Covid-19 deaths rose 65% from November to December.Experts fear another surge in January, after many Brazilians ignored social distancing guidelines with large Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.The sprawling country last week confirmed its first two cases of the new, more contagious strain of the virus that emerged in Britain.The plight of Brazil and other countries struggling to control the virus matters beyond their borders, said the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.“The fact is that no one is safe until we are all safe,” it said.“The nature of this virus means that the world can only be as strong as the weakest health system.”


Singapore to execute ethnic Malay man involved in racial bias suit

Singapore has scheduled another execution of a man convicted of possession of cannabis, some three weeks after hanging Tangaraju Suppiah for a similar offence despite international protest.
Muhammad Faizal Mohd Shariff, 36, was one of 17 ethnic Malay death row inmates involved in a historic suit accusing the Singapore state of racial bias in its prosecution of capital punishment cases.
The suit was thrown out last year with prominent rights lawyer M Ravi, who represented the prisoners, being slapped with heavy fines after being accused of abuse of process by the attorney-general.
"This is yet another instance of the death penalty being disproportionately applied against the minorities who form a disadvantaged segment of the society, which was recently highlighted by the United Nations in condemning the execution of Tangaraju," said Ravi.
It is understood that Faizal, who was arrested in 2016 with possession of 1.6kg of cannabis, will be executed in the wee hours of May 17, according to practice.
Earlier today, a court of apeal judge threw out an application for his case to be reviewed.
"It is very concerning that 64.9% of the death row inmates are of Malay ethnicity," added Ravi, whose criticism of Singapore's prosecution of drug offenders facing the death penalty resulted in him being suspended for five years.
Ethnic Malays represent just over 13% of the island's population.
"There is even considerable disparity between the percentage of Malays sentenced to death for drug offences, and the percentage of Malays in prison for all offences (about 55%) or the percentage of Malays arrested for drug consumption (49.3%)," he added.
Ravi also repeated his call for a review of Singapore's drug laws, including a study of the disproportionate percentage of ethnic Malays on death row.
"Until such time, all executions must be put on hold," he said.
Last year, two of the 17 plaintiffs in the suit were executed, including Nazeri Lajim, a 64-year-old Singaporean who had been addicted to drugs since the age of 14, and who maintained that the drugs he was caught with were for his personal consumption.
Last month, the Singapore government was heavily criticised over the execution of 46-year old Tangaraju, who was convicted in 2017 of "abetting by engaging in a conspiracy to traffic" 1,017.9g of cannabis.
The case drew attention from the United Nations, rights groups as well as British aviation tycoon Richard Branson, who has frequently criticised Singapore's death penalty for drug trafficking and highlighted how the drug lords who hire mules from poor families have largely escaped punishment.
Critics have spoken of a climate of fear within Singapore's legal fraternity about representing death row inmates, after several vocal lawyers including Ravi were penalised or lost their licence to practise for taking up late-stage death row cases.
The PAP-led Singapore government, which has ruled the republic since its exit from Malaysia, has rejected criticism of its death penalty, saying it has been effective in controlling the drug menace.


Southwest Airlines CEO sees industry-wide pilot shortage persisting for 3 years

Southwest Airlines Co CEO Bob Jordan said on Thursday that an industry-wide shortage of pilots is expected to last for three years due to the challenges carriers face in training new aviators.
Jordan, speaking at the Bernstein Conference, said the Dallas-based airline has about 40 planes that it currently cannot fly because of pilot constraints.
"The constraint is really the ability to put them through the training centre because it's full," he said.
Analysts at Jefferies estimate the US is 10,000 pilots short.
American Airlines has said it has as much as 50 underused mainline jets and about 150 regional aircraft grounded as the company does not have enough trained pilots.
Jordan expects the supply of pilots to improve by the end of the year, allowing the airline to get the planes off the ground.
The company is also grappling with Boeing's aircraft delivery delays, forcing it to rein in capacity growth plans.
Southwest, one of the biggest customers of Boeing's Max planes, expects 70 deliveries of the 737-8 jet this year instead of the planned 90 after the US planemaker disclosed a manufacturing issue with some of the workhorse aircraft.
Jordan said Southwest needs a "stable" jet delivery schedule to plan its capacity.
"The biggest thing that we're working on is reflowing the order book with Boeing, so that the deliveries are steady, measured, known, we can count on them," he said.


In Kelantan, traditional food trumps mamak shops

Fauziah was born and raised in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, but often turns down requests by her husband and children to have breakfast at some of the mamak shops in the vicinity.
For her, there is nothing interesting about the food prepared by the Indian-Muslim restaurants – at least, not in comparison with the traditional Malay food in the state.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, she said Kelantan had its own culture, especially in terms of food.
There, she said, locals begin tucking into heavy or high-calorie dishes first thing in the morning – nasi kerabu, rice with fish or chicken gravy, or the porridge known throughout the state as nasi air.
"Other people eat light things like toast, roti canai or nasi lemak at the most.
"But here, the food culture is very different. So the mamak shops in Kelantan are never as full as the local eateries."
Throughout Kota Bharu alone, there are more than 10 mamak shops in operation.
Other restaurants meanwhile promote individual specialties like nasi kandar, thosai and tandoori chicken.
In Jalan Kebun Sultan, for instance, the Nasi Kandar KB restaurant is a hit, with long queues forming every day.
At the mamak shops, though, things are often much quieter.
In Jalan Pengkalan Chepa, for example, a visit found only two tables occupied at lunch hour.
When greeted, one of the customers said that mamak shops in Kelantan are normally frequented only by the Indian community.
"Our appetite is not always the same, either," he added.
"Some days we prefer to eat rice at mamak shops, other days we eat at the Malay outlets.
"But I've often heard complaints from people who say they avoid going to mamak shops because they think they're dirty."
He said many Malays in Kelantan were also confused about the concept of mamak shops.
"We know that the food is cooked by Indian Muslims, but at Indian shops they are not usually Muslim," he said.
"But they cook rice, roti and chicken the same way as mamak shops."
Thai menu
But Fauziah's sister, Noriah, an entrepreneur and caterer in Pasir Mas, disagreed with the notion that Kelantanese have a bad impression of mamak shops.
She said there were two main reasons why the locals did not appear to have taken to such outlets.
Firstly, she said, the menus offered by mamak shops were designed by Thai eateries conducting business in Kelantan.
She added that customers who visit Thai restaurants in the state often come across the same types of food.
"They cook it Thai style," she said. "In Kelantan, people eat roti canai with sweet daal curry or condensed milk.
"They also eat 'wet' mee goreng the way the Thais cook it."
Secondly, she said, both mamaks and Thai restaurants operate under the same "one-stop centre" concept where customers can enjoy a variety of cuisines under the same roof, from snacks to main courses, drinks, desserts and even Western food.
"Even some tomyam shops sell sisha now, because they copy the mamak shops," she said.
Noriah agreed with Fauziah that Kelantan's food culture was difficult to change as the locals would choose traditional food nine out of ten times.
She said it was this attitude that had made Kelantan known as a food haven, with many dishes available only in the state.
"You can find kuih akok in Kuala Lumpur, but it's not the same as the akok in Kelantan," she added.
"The same goes with other dishes. Only people from Kelantan will understand."


Rocket attack on Afghan capital as president gives Eid speech

At least three rockets landed in the Afghan capital Tuesday ahead of a speech by President Ashraf Ghani marking the start of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility, it was the first rocket attack on Kabul since the Taliban launched a series of offensives to coincide with the final drawdown of foreign troops from the war-wracked country.The early morning holiday calm was shattered by the sound of incoming rockets heard across the heavily fortified Green Zone that houses the presidential palace and several embassies, including the US mission.“All the rockets hit three different parts,” said interior ministry spokesman Mirwais Stanikzai.He said three rockets appeared to have been fired from a pickup truck.“Based on our initial information, we have no casualties.”Minutes after the attack, Ghani began an address to the nation in the presence of some of his top officials.The presidential palace was attacked last year as hundreds of people gathered to watch President Ashraf Ghani’s inauguration ceremony, prompting some to flee.The jihadist Islamic State group (IS) claimed responsibility for the two blasts, with no reports of casualties.Tuesday’s attack coincides with a sweeping Taliban offensive across the country as foreign forces wind up a troop withdrawal scheduled to be complete by Aug 31.It also comes a day after more than a dozen diplomatic missions in Kabul called for “an urgent end” to the insurgents’ ruthless military offensive, saying it was at odds with claims they want to secure a political deal to end the conflict.The statement follows another round of inconclusive talks in Doha over the weekend between the Afghan government and the Taliban that many hoped would kickstart the ailing peace process.Little progress“The Taliban’s offensive is in direct contradiction to their claim to support a negotiated settlement,” the statement read.“It has resulted in loss of innocent Afghan lives, including through continued targeted killings, displacement of the civilian population, looting and burning of buildings, destruction of vital infrastructure, and damage to communication networks.”For months, the two sides have been meeting on and off in the Qatari capital but have achieved little, with talks appearing to have lost momentum as the militants make battlefield gains.A joint statement late Sunday said they had agreed on the need to reach a “just solution”, and to meet again next week.“We also agreed that there should be no pause in the negotiations,” Abdullah Abdullah, who oversees the Afghan government’s delegation, told AFP on Monday.He noted, however, that neither side was currently pursuing a joint ceasefire during the talks, despite urgent calls from Afghan civil society and the international community to end the fighting.The Taliban and government have previously announced ceasefires during some religious holidays.Following the weekend summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his administration hoped to start talks with the Taliban over the group’s refusal to let Ankara run the Kabul airport after US troops withdraw from Afghanistan.Turkey has been negotiating with US defence officials over an offer to secure the airport, which is key to allowing countries to retain a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan after the troop withdrawal.Last week, the Taliban called Turkey’s offer “reprehensible”.Fighting, meanwhile, continued in Afghanistan, with both the Taliban and government claiming gains in various parts of the country.Over the weekend, the Taliban’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada said he “strenuously favours” a political settlement – even as the hardline Islamist movement continues its offensives.The Taliban has been capturing districts, seizing border crossings and encircling provincial capitals as foreign forces prepare to fully exit by late August.In Washington, the State Department said that some 700 interpreters and their immediate family members who are fleeing Afghanistan will be relocated to an army base in the state of Virginia.


UN warns of ‘colossal’ collapse of Afghan banking system

The UN on Monday pushed for urgent action to prop up Afghanistan’s banks, warning that a spike in people unable to repay loans, lower deposits and a cash liquidity crunch could cause the financial system to collapse within months.In a three-page report on Afghanistan’s banking and financial system seen by Reuters, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said the economic cost of a banking system collapse – and consequent negative social impact – “would be colossal.”An abrupt withdrawal of most foreign development support after the Taliban seized power on Aug 15 from Afghanistan’s Western-backed government has sent the economy into freefall, putting a severe strain on the banking system which set weekly withdrawal limits to stop a run on deposits.“Afghanistan’s financial and bank payment systems are in disarray. The bank-run problem must be resolved quickly to improve Afghanistan’s limited production capacity and prevent the banking system from collapsing,” the UNDP report said.Finding a way to avert a collapse is complicated by international and unilateral sanctions on Taliban leaders.“We need to find a way to make sure that if we support the banking sector, we are not supporting Taliban,” Abdallah al Dardari, head of UNDP in Afghanistan, told Reuters.“We are in such a dire situation that we need to think of all possible options and we have to think outside the box,” he said. “What used to be three months ago unthinkable has to become thinkable now.”Afghanistan’s banking system was already vulnerable before the Taliban came to power. But since then development aid has dried up, billions of dollars in Afghan assets have been frozen abroad, and the UN and aid groups are now struggling to get enough cash into the country.The US is working with the UN, UNDP and other international institutions and countries “to find ways to offer liquidity, to infuse, to see to it that the people of Afghanistan can take advantage of international support in ways that don’t flow into the coffers of the Taliban,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price.‘Under the mattress’The UNDP’s proposals to save the banking system include a deposit insurance scheme, measures to ensure adequate liquidity for short- and medium-term needs, as well as credit guarantees and loan repayment delay options.“Coordination with the International Financial Institutions, with their extensive experience of the Afghan financial system, would be critical to this process,” UNDP said in its report, referring to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.The UN has repeatedly warned since the Taliban took over that Afghanistan’s economy is on the brink of a collapse that would likely further fuel a refugee crisis. UNDP said that if the banking system fails, it could take decades to rebuild.The UNDP report said that with current trends and withdrawal restrictions, about 40% of Afghanistan’s deposit base will be lost by the end of the year. It said banks have stopped extending new credit, and that non-performing loans had almost doubled to 57% in September from the end of 2020.“If this rate continues of non-performing loans, the banks may not have a chance to survive in the next six months. And I am being optimistic,” al Dardari said.Liquidity has also been a problem. Afghan banks heavily relied on physical shipments of US dollars, which have stopped. When it comes to the local afghani currency, al Dardari said that while there is about US$4 billion worth of afghanis in the economy, only about US$500 million worth is in circulation.“The rest is sitting under the mattress or under the pillow because people are afraid,” he said.As the UN seeks to avert famine in Afghanistan, al Dardari also warned about the consequences of a banking collapse for trade finance.“Afghanistan last year imported about US$7 billion worth of goods and products and services, mostly foodstuff… If there is no trade finance the interruption is huge,” he said. “Without the banking system, none of this can happen.”


Students, firefighters still battling Mount Kilimanjaro fire

The tallest mountain in Africa has a large fire burning on its slopes, with strong winds fanning the blaze and blowing smoke around the heights.The fire broke out on Sunday on the mountain slopes, and firefighters assisted by locals and students were still battling to contain it on Monday, the National Parks service (Tanapa) said.Their efforts have been hampered by the altitude as well as strong winds and dry weather which have caused the fire to spread fast.“The fire is still going on and firefighters and locals are continuing their efforts to contain it,” said Pascal Shelutete, a Tanapa official.The blaze started in the Whona area, a rest centre for climbers on the mountain, Shelutete said in a statement posted on Twitter. The cause of the fire is not yet clear, said the BBC.“The fire is big, and they are continuing to fight it,” Alex Kisingo, deputy head at the College of African Wildlife Management located near the mountain, told Reuters.“The college has sent 264 staff and students to help fight the fire,” Kisingo said. “They are working with local authorities to help deliver food and water to the firefighters.”The parks authority said in a statement that it had taken “every step to make sure that the fire will not endanger the lives of tourists, porters and tour guides”.The frequency of these fires “is a warning sign that we need to take urgent and effective measures to control fires,” Frank Luvenda, executive secretary of the Tanzania Environment Agency, told DW.Authorities in Tanzania have not yet confirmed the cause of the current fire. Blazes in the area sometimes begin because of lightning strikes, or tourists’ campfires getting out of control. Given the lack of tourists because of the coronavirus pandemic, this seems an unlikely cause.Although the current fire will have limited consequences on local wildlife, it is part of a worrying trend of larger, more frequent fires – that could be disastrous for local wildlife.Mount Kilimanjaro, which is nearly 6,000m high is a popular tourist destination and thousands of people climb it every year.UPDATE:The authorities in Tanzania suspect that porters who were warming food for a group of mountain climbers may have accidentally started a fire that broke out on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.“Though we are still investigating, it seems the fire that was lit to prepare food for the tourists torched the dry vegetation in the area and spread quickly,” said Tanzania National Parks official Pascal Shelutete.“The fire is now under control and we are ensuring that climbing activities are not affected,” he added.


MRT extension to Rawang, a ticket out of traffic jams in the Klang Valley?

For five years, Aliza Shah Muhammad Shah travelled from her home in Rawang to the capital city nearly every day.This gave her ample time to get used to the bad traffic – and to try out different ways of getting to work and back.She tried taking the nearest public transport to her home – the Rawang commuter station – but found this less efficient than she would have liked.“The Rawang KTM station is only a five-minute drive away from my house, but the KTM service has scheduling problems, unlike the MRT or LRT which come at closer frequencies,” she said.Aliza, who now works in Petaling Jaya, also tried taking the MRT from the Sungai Buloh station, but the trip from her home to the station took half an hour.“When I sat down and counted, the MRT fare and the parking fee was more than it would have cost for me to drive to work,” she said.“It also took a lot longer than it would have by car.”Rawang, a city to the north of the Klang Valley, has long struggled with traffic problems, especially in front of the Seri Garing school.It has two KTM stations: Rawang and Kuang. Both are located along the Rawang-Seremban line.According to the 2014 consensus, Rawang, which has a land size of 1,065.7 sq km, has just under 200,000 residents.It is linked to the Klang Valley by the New Klang Valley Expressway or NKVE and the Rawang Bypass which connects with Jalan Kuching in Kuala Lumpur.Jalan Kuching itself is notorious in the capital city for traffic congestion.The situation has given rise to suggestions for an extension of the MRT or LRT lines to Rawang to ease congestion on the roads for those working in Kuala Lumpur.The closest terminal station for the MRT in Rawang is Sungai Buloh, while the LRT equivalent is Gombak.Even so, the Sungai Buloh station is 18km from the Rawang city centre while the Gombak station is 26km away.Traffic engineering expert Munzilah Md Rohani said it made sense to extend the MRT and LRT lines to Rawang.“But studies must be done on travel demand to determine the extent of the route alignment and the location of the stations, to ensure that the services offered will be effective and efficient,” Munzilah, of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, added.She also suggested that other public transportation systems such as bus lines be made more efficient, especially in terms of travel time, capacity and passenger comfort.According to the Selangor State Public Transport Master Plan, 12 proposed public transport corridors have been identified but will require costs of up to RM65 billion.The goal is to increase the ratio of public transport to private vehicle use to 60:40 by 2035.The plan also includes an LRT line from north Rawang to Shah Alam.Munzilah said the government could also introduce a ride-sharing scheme for road users in the Klang Valley.“Incentives can be given to those who share vehicles to commute to work,” she said.On the suggestion of extending the MRT line to Rawang, she said it would help to have a station in the town.“If there was a station in Rawang, there would be no need to switch stations or travel to Sungai Buloh anymore,” she said.“The existing facilities have not been improved, and only add to the cost of travel. How are we supposed to encourage people to use public transport if it doesn’t benefit them?”


Singapore’s daily Covid cases hit record of more than 26,000

Singapore’s health ministry reported a record 26,032 Covid-19 infections on Tuesday and said it may take a few weeks before the current transmission wave peaks and subsides.“While the number of patients needing oxygen supplementation and ICU care is not high, there is a surge in demand for hospital beds, mostly for patients with underlying chronic illnesses to recover,” the health ministry said in a statement on Tuesday evening.It reiterated that people with mild or no symptoms who had tested positive should consider self-recovery at home to reduce the pressure on healthcare workers.Of the nearly 294,000 cases over the last 28 days, 99.7% had mild or no symptoms.About 91% of Singapore’s 5.5 million population have been fully vaccinated, with a further 66% receiving a booster jab.


China says military flight off Sarawak was ‘routine training’

China said Wednesday a flight by 16 military aircraft over hotly contested waters off Malaysia was routine training, after the country accused Beijing of breaching its sovereignty.The government scrambled fighter jets Monday to intercept the Chinese air force transport planes that appeared off Borneo over the South China Sea, where it has overlapping territorial claims with Beijing.Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein criticised the flight as an “intrusion” and said the government would lodge a protest with Beijing and summon the Chinese ambassador.But a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Kuala Lumpur said the “activities are routine flight training of the Chinese air force and do not target any country”.“According to relevant international law, Chinese military aircraft enjoy the freedom of overflight in the relevant airspace,” he said.The planes had not entered any other country’s territorial airspace, the spokesman added in a statement.The aircraft came within 60 nautical miles (110km) of the Malaysian part of Borneo, and did not respond to attempts to contact them, prompting Malaysia to scramble jets, according to the country’s air force.They turned back before entering Malaysian airspace over its territorial waters.But Hishammuddin said they had entered the country’s “maritime zone” – an area that extends much further from the coast – and described the incident as a “breach of the Malaysian airspace and sovereignty”.China has laid claim to nearly all of the South China Sea and has built numerous military outposts on small islands and atolls, angering other countries with competing claims to the waters.Malaysia-China relations are usually warm but Monday’s incident comes after a build-up in tensions over the sea, which is home to key shipping lanes and is believed to harbour rich oil and gas deposits.Last year, a Chinese survey ship had a long stand-off with a Malaysian oil exploration vessel off Borneo.Other claimants in the sea include Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan.The US has also sent warships through the waters to assert international rights to freedom of navigation, angering China.


Rosmah files new application to disqualify judge from hearing money laundering case

Rosmah Mansor has filed a new application to recuse High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan from presiding over her money laundering and tax evasion trial.This is the second time that the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak has filed an application after Zaini – who is also the judge in Rosmah’s solar hybrid trial – rejected her application to recuse himself from hearing the trial on Dec 14.Rosmah’s counsel Reza Rahim informed the court that the latest recusal application was filed yesterday at 5pm.“The latest recusal application is based on new grounds,” he said during the proceedings before Zaini today.Today’s proceeding was fixed to hear Rosmah’s application to stay the trial of the money laundering and tax evasion case, pending the disposal of her appeal to the Court of Appeal to recuse the judge.Rosmah’s other defence counsel, Geethan Ram Vincent, said they would also be filing a fresh application to disqualify former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram from acting as senior deputy public prosecutor in the case.Geethan said the defence team decided to file the disqualification application after receiving a copy of Sri Ram’s appointment letter (fiat) during proceedings today.“We take the position that if this fiat was general in nature, then well and good, but it specifically mentions that he (Sri Ram) only be given authority to prosecute in two cases (two files collectively referring to the solar corruption case) against my client.“The (money laundering and tax evasion) case before your lordship today was not spelt out here,” Geethan said.However, Sri Ram said the prosecution would be objecting to Rosmah’s application to disqualify him.Sri Ram said his fiat by the Attorney-General’s Chambers under Section 376 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code gave him wide-ranging powers to prosecute any case.He added that Rosmah’s previous attempt to disqualify him as prosecutor in the solar hybrid case was already dismissed by Zaini and the decision affirmed by the Court of Appeal on Dec 6, last year.Zaini fixed Jan 24 to hear all of the applications by Rosmah.Rosmah is facing 12 money laundering charges involving RM7,097,750 and five counts of failure to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).The offences were allegedly committed at Affin Bank, Bangunan Getah Asli branch, Jalan Ampang between Dec 4, 2013 and June 8, 2017, and at LHDN at Kompleks Bangunan Kerajaan, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim between May 1, 2014 and May 1, 2018.


Stupid, Muhyiddin says on Shahrir’s challenge to pull support for Johor MB

Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin today hit out at Umno veteran Shahrir Abd Samad, calling him “stupid” for challenging Bersatu to withdraw its support for Johor Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad.He said while he was able to do this, he was more concerned about the well-being of the people who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.“Even now, we can press a button and everything would fall. We are not afraid, but because I believe the people of Johor are more important, we do not want to face the same problems that happened in Melaka.“He tells Bersatu to pull its support, would that be smart or stupid?” he said at a press conference during a visit to the PN operations room in the Bemban state constituency today.He also described the former Johor Bahru MP as “evil” for issuing the challenge.Shahrir had earlier asked why there was no menteri besar candidate from Bersatu after the formation of the new state government last year.“Thinking of pulling your support so that there will be a state election in Johor, too? Feel free. Johor Umno is ready,” he had said in a post on social media.He was referring to a statement by Muhyiddin, saying the Barisan Nasional government in Johor would not be toppled due to the former prime minister’s attentiveness.Muhyiddin said as a person from Johor, he would not cause a similar situation in the state as had been “caused by Umno in Melaka”.“Shahrir is not making sense,” he said. “He lost in the last election, and he is upset.”Muhyiddin also said that the coalition’s candidate for Melaka chief minister will be announced before polling day. He said the delay in announcing PN’s choice for the post was part of the coalition’s strategy.He said the candidate would come from Bersatu if the party succeeds in winning enough seats and obtaining the support of other component parties.


6 states including Selangor, KL to remain under CMCO

Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Penang, Kelantan and Sarawak will remain under conditional movement control order (CMCO) until the end of the month while Perak and parts of Negeri Sembilan and Kedah will progress to the recovery phase or RMCO beginning March 19.Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said in Kedah, Kuala Muda and Kulim will remain under CMCO.In Negeri Sembilan, meanwhile, Seremban will remain under CMCO.Interstate travel is still prohibited although inter-district travel is allowed with the exception of Sabah and Sarawak.Ismail also said Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaars as well as tarawih prayers will be allowed nationwide subject to strict conditions.Ramadan bazaars will be allowed to operate from 3pm to 8pm while Aidilfitri bazaars may open from 10am until midnight.SOPs for tarawih prayers will be decided by the respective state Islamic religious authorities.Ismail also said 134 people were arrested over the past 24 hours for breaching MCO regulations, of which 127 were issued compound fines and seven remanded.


Hold GE15 after pandemic subsides, says Bersatu

Bersatu said last night that the 15th general election should only be held once the Covid-19 pandemic is under control and the situation has improved.This was decided at the party’s Supreme Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin who is also Bersatu president.In a statement after the meeting, Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan said the party’s main agenda is to focus all efforts on addressing the Covid-19 pandemic and reviving the economy.“Bersatu is committed to continuing our focus on efforts to improve the people’s well-being, especially in facing the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing floods.“The actions of some parties who continue to play politics at a time when the people are going through a major ordeal are not right,” he said.He added that Bersatu is committed to defending the political cooperation with parties in Perikatan Nasional (PN) to unite the ummah and the people.He said this approach would be continued in a fair and equitable manner to ensure the well-being of people from all walks of life and backgrounds.“In the context of PN, Bersatu will continue to strengthen political cooperation with other component parties, namely PAS, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP),” he said.Wan Saiful said Bersatu also called on all parties to show sincerity and earnestness through strong organisational discipline to ensure the political cooperation forged through PN continues to be respected and preserved.“Bersatu has decided to focus on consolidating the party’s strength through the practice of service and caring politics, as well as ensuring the entire machinery is on the ground to render assistance to those in need,” he said.


No need for PAS candidates to declare assets, says Hadi

PAS today said there was no need for its candidates to declare their assets ahead of the 15th general election (GE15).
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the party’s decision not to declare the assets of candidates did not mean it was not transparent.
He said that besides being a waste of effort, it was not an urgent matter.
However, he added that PAS would not stop any of its candidates from doing so if they wished.
"The declaration of assets cannot be done in these two weeks (of the campaign period). In any case, the people are already familiar with their own localities, so why the need to publicise (our) assets?
"We (PAS candidates and leaders) don’t have much anyway, others are declaring millions… for us, it is (only) hundreds of thousands and not even a million," he said in Marang. Hadi also said the issue of its MPs recording low attendance for Parliament sittings, as being played up by rival parties, would have no effect on support for Perikatan Nasional in GE15.
He said Parliament attendance is not the same thing as attending lessons in school as they both have different systems.


Man dies after crashing car, firing gunshots near US Capitol

A 29-year-old Delaware man died in an apparent suicide early on Sunday after crashing his car into a barricade near the US Capitol and firing shots into the air, police said.
While the man was getting out of the crashed car, it became engulfed in flames just after 4am (0800 GMT) at East Capitol Street and Second Street, US Capitol police said.
Police said the man was identified as Richard A York III of Delaware. "It is still not clear why he chose to drive to the Capitol complex," Capitol police said in a statement.
Earlier, police said "it does not appear the man was targeting any members of Congress, who are on recess, and it does not appear officers fired their weapons."
Police said the man then fired several gunshots into the air along East Capitol Street. As police responded and approached, the man shot himself, police said. No one was else injured.
The death is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, which did not immediately identity or any details of his motives.
There are security barricades around the Capitol Complex checkpoints that are closely guarded.
In April 2021, 25-year-old motorist Noah Green rammed a car into US Capitol police and brandished a knife, killing one officer and injuring another and forcing the Capitol complex to lock down. Police shot and killed Green.


Wisma Putra says ready to bring back Jho Low

The foreign ministry is ready to assist in bringing Low Taek Jho, popularly known as Jho Low, back to the country if his location has been identified, says minister Hishammuddin Hussein.The Sembrong MP said there was no reason for the ministry to do otherwise if it was told the location of the fugitive businessman by the police.Up until now, he said, Jho Low’s whereabouts could not be ascertained, including the possibility that he is in China, as claimed by RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) when interjecting in his winding-up speech on the Supply Bill 2021 at the Dewan Rakyat today.“Firstly, we don’t know whether or not he is in China. Secondly, if the police inform Wisma Putra of his exact location, there is no reason why Wisma Putra cannot assist in bringing him back to be brought to justice,” he said.Responding to Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) on allegations that Malaysian students were not allowed to return to their campuses in China even though the learning session has started, Hishammuddin said the issue would be discussed with the higher education ministry.“On our part, we will continue to communicate and discuss with China on matters pertaining to these students,” he said.On Rohingya refugees and UNHCR cardholders in the country, Hishammuddin reiterated that efforts to repatriate or relocate them to a third country remained Wisma Putra’s top priority.“We will continue to give priority through the Asean platform so that Myanmar will implement the suggestions together with UNHCR because previously, we accepted these refugees on UNHCR’s guarantee that they would be relocated to third countries.“We will use various platforms such as bilateral platforms with Bangladesh and Myanmar, regional ones with Asean, multilateral ones with the United Nations and countries of the same stand as us like Indonesia to find a solution to Rohingya issues,” he said.


June 15 hearing for bid by task force, govt to quash Tommy Thomas' suit

The High Court today fixed June 15 to hear the application of a special task force and the government to quash the suit initiated by former attorney-general Tommy Thomas regarding an investigation report on the contents of his memoir, "My Story: Justice In the Wilderness".
Thomas filed the suit, naming the special task force’s chairman Fong Joo Chung, seven other members of the team, as well as the government as defendants.
Besides Fong, the special task force comprised Hashim Paijan, Junaidah Kamaruddin, Jagjit Singh Bant Singh, Shaharudin Ali, K Balaguru, Farah Adura Hamidi and Mohd Najib Surip.
When contacted, senior federal counsel Nur Irmawatie Daud, representing all of the defendants, said the court also ordered the defence to file its written submissions on March 27.
"The plaintiff has also been ordered to file written submissions on April 10 and all of the defendants to file counter submissions on May 2, if any," she said after the online case management before judge Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh today.
Lawyer Haikaldin Mahyidin represented Thomas. Thomas, who was the attorney-general from June 2018 to February 2020, is seeking a declaration that the report is an invalid document and against the law.
In the originating summons, he claimed the publication of the report violated Sections 499 and 500 of the Penal Code and/or Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
He is also seeking a declaration that the publication of the report by the government violated his right to his reputation as protected by Articles 5(1) and 13(1) of the Federal Constitution.
The book, published in January 2021, sparked controversy which led to the Cabinet setting up a special task force on Oct 8, 2021 to conduct a study on the revelations it contained.
On Oct 13, 2022, the government declassified the special task force's report, which among others, recommended that Thomas be investigated for possible offences.


Agong welcomes Malaysia’s investment success post-pandemic

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong today welcomed the government’s efforts to accelerate and improve investment and trade performance post Covid-19, saying Malaysia’s “proactive actions” have been recognised in the global arena.Speaking his royal address at the opening of the First Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 14th Parliament today, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said Malaysia had been ranked as the most attractive investment destination for foreign investors among emerging Southeast Asian economies by the Milken Institute Global Opportunity Index 2022.“The performance in investments amounting to RM220.8 billion that were approved for the manufacturing and services sectors under the supervision of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority in 2021 is also outstanding and encouraging where 80,000 new jobs will be created for local talents,” he said.Adding that Malaysia’s trade performance had topped RM2 trillion for the first time in 2021, with total exports valued at RM1.24 trillion, he said the country had achieved its total export target of RM1.25 trillion for 2025 four years ahead of schedule.“We believe this success reflects foreign investors’ confidence in our economic fundamentals and investment ecosystem,” he added.The 2022 Milken Institute Global Opportunity Index, released last month, placed Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia at the top spots in emerging Southeast Asia.Malaysia received the highest ranking in the region due to its strong performance across all categories measured. Vietnam and the Philippines rounded out the top five countries in emerging Southeast Asia.


Najib the author of his own misfortune, apex court says in dismissing bid for review

The Federal Court in a 4-1 majority decision today ruled that Najib Razak was the author of his own misfortune whereby his appeal hearings in his SRC International case were not heard by the previous panel.
Justice Vernon Ong Lam Kiat, when reading out the majority judgment, dismissed the former prime minister’s application to review the decision of the previous Federal Court panel upholding his conviction, 12-year jail sentence and fine for the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.
"There was no denial of the applicant’s rights and there was no breach of natural justice in the case," he said.
The majority decision was agreed to by Federal Court judges Rhodzariah Bujang and Nordin Hassan, and Court of Appeal judge Abu Bakar Jais.
Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli, who chaired the five-member bench, dissented.
Ong said it was Najib's own counsel who had refused to make oral submissions from the onset of the appeal hearing last year, despite Hisyam Teh Poh Teik being allowed to do so by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who led the previous apex bench that dismissed the appeal.
On the postponement of Najib’s appeal raised by the defence, Ong said the court had absolute discretion to allow or not any adjournment and that the earlier panel had exercised its discretion judiciously.
"Therefore, there is no merit for a review of that decision," he said.
On Najib’s bid for a review of the discharge of his counsel, Hisyam, from representing him during the appeal, the judge said the court found that the applicant’s argument that the court had no power to disallow the discharge of counsel was untenable as the power was provided for in Rule 137 of the Federal Court Rules 1995.
Meanwhile, on Najib’s application for a review of his conviction and sentence, the court held that the earlier panel had considered 94 grounds of appeal, written submissions and previous decisions of the lower courts which heard Najib's case.
The majority judgment concluded that there was no merit for a review of the previous court’s decision to uphold the conviction and sentence against Najib, said the judge.
"The applicant contends that his right had been breached. However, here, it is clear that the applicant is the author of his own misfortune. We do not see any reason to review any decision of the earlier panel of the Federal Court.
"Having considered all of the records, the court finds that all earlier convictions against the applicant are safe, and that the sentences imposed against the applicant are not excessive, and, therefore, affirmed," said Ong.
On the application for a review of Tengku Maimun’s recusal, Ong said that the law on recusals was also well-settled based on the principle of the "real danger of bias" test.
He said the decision by Tengku Maimun not to recuse herself was supported by the other members of the panel in a separate judgment.
The judge added that there was no quorum failure in any regard as a judge can hear any recusal made against them.
On Najib’s application to adduce new evidence on then High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Ghazali, Ong said the court agreed that the earlier Federal Court’s decision denying the request was made on the correct assessment of the evidence before it.
He said the arguments by the applicant were also untenable.
"We stress that the review process under Rule 137 should not be abused. Accordingly, the review application is dismissed," said Ong.
The new evidence was on the discovery that in 2006, Nazlan was the general counsel and company secretary for Maybank Group, with the ultimate overall responsibility for the management and administration of all legal departments within the entire group.
Today's decision marks the end of Najib’s attempt to be acquitted as his review application before the apex court was his last avenue via court proceedings.
This means that Najib, 69, will serve out the remainder of his 12-year jail term at Kajang Prison.
On Aug 23 last year, the previous Federal Court panel led by Tengku Maimun dismissed the appeal by the former Pekan MP to overturn his conviction and sentence. Najib began his 12-year jail term at Kajang Prison that same day.
Najib had also filed for a royal pardon in September last year.
On Jan 5 this year, he filed a petition before the United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to ask for a release from prison or retrial of his SRC International case following an appeal hearing at the Federal Court which he claimed had serious defects and was contrary to the rules of international justice.
He was convicted and sentenced by Nazlan on July 28, 2020 to 12 years in jail and a fine of RM210 million.
On Dec 8, 2021, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court's decision, rejecting Najib’s appeal to set aside his conviction and jail sentence, as well as the fine.


Malaysians head to the polls in tightly contested election

Jailed former prime minister Najib Razak's graft-tainted party is seeking to cement its grip on power as the country goes to the polls on Saturday, but analysts say the race is too close to call.
Umno usually dominates politics in the country, but suffered a major defeat in the 2018 general election after a massive corruption scandal at state fund 1MDB.
The two governments that succeeded Umno, however, were plagued by infighting, allowing the party to creep back into power last year. Now, Umno will be seeking a stronger mandate in an election called ten months ahead of schedule.
Among the challengers is perennial opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, 75, who leads the ethnically-diverse Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. He is campaigning on an anti-corruption platform.
With age catching up, this election could be Anwar's last chance to fulfil a 20-year dream to lead the country.
He is up against the ruling Barisan National (BN) coalition, which is dominated by Umno and led by Najib loyalist Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. It also includes Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Umno remains hobbled by corruption allegations. Najib, who was at the centre of the 1MDB scandal, is currently serving a 12-year jail term.
Opposition parties say they are concerned the ex-prime minister could walk free and corruption charges against Zahid and other party leaders could be dropped if Umno wins.
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, 97, and another ex-leader Muhyiddin Yassin, 75, head two other coalitions contesting the elections.
'Fragmented political landscape'
Analysts said there was no clear frontrunner among the four coalitions seeking the 222 parliamentary seats at stake.
Malaysians will choose from a record 945 candidates across the nation, which also includes the states of Sabah and Sarawak.
"Voters can expect a plethora of candidates on their ballot papers, such that they will have a hard time deciding between candidates with similar positions," said Oh Ei Sun of the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia.
The number of eligible voters has risen from 18 million four years ago to more than 21 million, after the voting age was lowered in 2021.
About 1.4 million of the new additions are first-time voters aged between 18 and 20.
The majority of voters live in rural areas, where patronage politics continues to hold sway.
Analysts said the multiracial country would be in for further political instability if no coalition wins a clear majority.
"Unless PH can clinch an outright parliamentary majority... the dominant Umno party or one of the Malay Muslim parties would get to form a coalition government," Oh told AFP.
"Voters are likely to look forward to a similarly fragmented political landscape after the election, with a lot of horse-trading to form the next ruling coalition."
The election comes as Malaysians face soaring food prices, and parts of the country continue to be battered by flash floods due to monsoon rains.


'Umno still relevant': Zahid pans 'lifeless' perception

Umno remains relevant despite the perception that it is now akin to a "lifeless" party after its poor electoral showings since 2018, party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says. He said Umno, which had gone through various challenges throughout its 77 years, still had 26 MPs and four more from other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties.
"When we look within, we should not forget history but if we keep digging into history without preparing to move forward, we will end up nowhere.
"In 23 years, Umno will be 100 years old, meaning that in two more decades, when Umno is 100 years old, the outline of Umno's struggles may have changed."
He said despite being in the current government with only a small contribution of MPs, the party was functioning better compared to its ties with its partners in the previous government.
Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, said this in his mandate in conjunction with Umno's 77th anniversary celebrations in Kuala Lumpur last night.
On seat allocations for the elections to be held in six states this year, Zahid, who is BN chairman, said he was leaving it to BN deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan to lead the negotiations with parties in the coalition government.
"We leave it to the wisdom of the Umno deputy president (Mohamad) for the negotiations," he said.
The six states where elections are due this year are Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
On the unity government national convention this Sunday, Zahid said all 148 MPs backing the current government would attend the event where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is expected to deliver an important mandate.


New infections dip to 1,100 as 9 more deaths logged

Another 1,128 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,517,447.There were 1,547 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,460,546.There are now 21,202 active cases, of which 20,239 or 95.5% are undergoing home quarantine.Meanwhile, 20 (0.1%) are at quarantine centres while 918 (4.3%) have been hospitalised.A total of 25 are in ICU with 12 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 56.6%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 5.5%.Another nine deaths were reported, including four who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 35,699.


Kalwant hanged in Singapore after losing final appeal

Kalwant Singh was hanged in Singapore early this morning after losing his final bid to stay his death sentence for a drug trafficking offence nine years ago, in the latest execution of a Malaysian by the city-state following the controversial hanging of Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam in April.
His remains will be brought back to his family home in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, where he will be laid to rest after a funeral ceremony.
Kalwant was arrested in Singapore on Oct 24, 2013, for trafficking just over 60g of diamorphine into the island republic. He was 23 years old at the time.
He was handed the death penalty on June 1, 2016.
He filed a notice of motion on Wednesday to the Singapore Court of Appeal for a stay of his execution as well as a review of his conviction and sentence.
The court however dismissed his bid and he was hanged at Changi prison early today.
Kalwant's date with the gallows comes less than three months after the execution of Nagaenthran, which took place despite an international outcry and amid increasing scrutiny of the republic’s use of the death penalty.
Nagaenthran was hanged on April 27 in spite of efforts at both the domestic and international level to halt his execution.
He had an IQ of 69, a level recognised as a disability, and was reportedly coerced into committing the crime of drug trafficking.


Ecuador military, prison heads resign after jail riot

Ecuador is “seriously threatened” by drug trafficking mafias who want to “take control of all the country’s prisons,” President Guillermo Lasso said Monday, after the heads of the armed forces and the prison service quit following jail riots that left 68 people dead.Lasso said a “massive operation” was underway by the police and the army in the overcrowded prison in Guayaquil, where two days of fighting between inmates armed with guns, machetes and explosives claimed dozens of lives.The president said the country faced “one of the biggest crises in recent decades” and warned that the same drugs mafias “were bringing insecurity to our streets.”He promised joint action to end the repeated slaughters at the country’s prisons.Soldiers with rifles entered the perimeter of Guayas 1 prison, which includes several security rings, during the day, according to AFP journalists on the scene. But by the evening they had not yet entered the wings where the prisoners live, according to a military source.The 1,000 police and soldiers entered Guayas 1 “to control access and the external and internal perimeter”, Lasso said.Lasso was speaking after accepting the resignations of Vice Admiral Jorge Cabrera, head of the joint command, and Bolivar Garzon, head of the SNAI prisons agency.Social media posts showed gruesome images of prisoners beating and setting fire to bloodied bodies in an eruption the government labeled “barbaric.”“The country is under attack, under an international mafia of drug cartels,” presidential spokesman Carlos Jijon told the Teleamazonas network.This year, Ecuador’s violent, decrepit and overcrowded prisons have seen some of the worst rioting in the history of Latin American penitentiaries.More than 320 inmates have been killed so far in 2021, and the latest riot happened despite a state of emergency enforced in Ecuador’s prison system after even deadlier fighting in September.Jijon said many of the victims of the latest riot Friday and Saturday were “incinerated, mutilated” and many of the bodies “unrecognisable.”Lasso appointed army commander General Orlando Fuel as the new head of the joint command. Marlo Brito, who was head of the Center for Strategic Intelligence (CIES), took over from Garzon at the SNAI.Another riot in the same prison in Ecuador’s southwest in September left 119 dead – making it the largest such massacre in the country’s history, and one of the worst in Latin America.Prisoners with gunsNestled between the world’s biggest cocaine producers, Colombia and Peru, Ecuador has seen a surge of violence blamed on fighting between rival drug groups.The country of 17.7 million people is popular with traffickers because of its porous borders, a dollarised economy and major seaports for export.Seizures of drugs, mainly cocaine, reached a record of 155 tons between January and October 2021, while street crime and warring between gang-aligned prisoners has left more than 2,000 dead so far this year.Ecuador’s murder rate rose from 7.8 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2020 to 10.6 in the first 10 months of this year, according to the government.The prison system has 65 facilities designed for about 30,000 inmates but houses 39,000 – 8,500 of them in Guayaquil – Ecuador’s most populous city and its main port.The country has about 1,500 prison guards – a shortfall of about 3,000, according to experts.Corruption is rife, meaning that inmates can lay their hands on all sorts of contraband, including firearms and explosives.The resultant prison riots are gruesome, with bodies often burnt, beheaded and dismembered.Lasso declared two states of emergency after the prison unrest in September – one for the country’s jails and another to mobilise troops in the streets for 60 days in support of soldiers carrying out crime prevention patrols and searches.The Constitutional Court subsequently placed limits on the executive intervention, barring soldiers from the inside of prisons and authorising their mobilisation among civilians for no more than 30 days.Last week, a brand-new radar system Ecuador put up to look out for drug-transporting planes was damaged in an explosion the government said may have been a “terrorist” attack.


Double whammy as record 19,819 cases, 257 deaths logged

Another 19,819 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 1,183,110.Selangor recorded 8,377 cases, Kuala Lumpur 2,467, Kedah 1,371, Johor 1,162 and Kelantan 1,003.Sabah recorded 949 cases, Penang 867, Negeri Sembilan 800, Perak 662, Pahang 558, Sarawak 552, Melaka 508 and Terengganu 481.Putrajaya recorded 46 cases, Perlis 11 and Labuan five.Active cases stand at 210,522 with 1,069 in the ICU and 553 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 12,704 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 962,733.However, 257 more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 9,855.


Govt announces new cash aid, telco credit schemes

Some eight million Malaysians will benefit from the government’s cash aid programme, which has been renamed Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) from the previous Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH).Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, when tabling the 2021 budget today, said the government is increasing its allocation from RM5 billion under BSH to RM6.5 billion under BPR, to benefit 8.1 million people.Under the rebranded scheme, households with income of less than RM2,500 and one child will receive RM1,200, while those with two or more children will receive RM1,800.Households with income of between RM2,501 and RM4,000 will receive RM800 (for those with one child), and RM1,200 (two or more children).Households with income of between RM4,001 and RM5,000 will also be eligible for BPR. Those in this category will receive RM500 (for families with one child) and RM750 (two or more children).A fourth category of recipients are single Malaysians who earn a monthly income of RM2,500 and below, who will receive RM350.The government has also lowered the minimum age for singles eligible to receive the cash aid, from 40 to 21.In the budget today, Putrajaya also announced the Jaringan Prihatin programme, allocating RM1.5 billion for the B40 low-income group to have greater access to the internet.The programme will benefit eight million people, who will receive telecommunication credit worth RM180.“This assistance can be used for their internet subscriptions or to partly pay for the cost of a new mobile phone.”Zafrul said telecommunications companies will also offer free data packages worth RM1.5 billion.


US and Israeli subs send message to Iran by prowling strategic waters

A nuclear-powered US submarine has passed through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Persian Gulf in an apparent threat to Iran, while an Israeli sub reportedly made a similar incursion into the Red Sea.In a rare operations announcement, the US Navy said on Monday that the sub had passed through the narrow, strategically vital waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula amid rising tensions with Tehran.The Navy’s 5th Fleet based in Bahrain said the Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Georgia was accompanied by two surface warships.At least a fifth of the world’s oil supplies travel through this bottleneck and it is heavily patrolled by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ships, which has led to stand-offs with US naval forces operating in the area in the past.The submarine’s presence in these waterways signals, “the US commitment to regional partners and maritime security”, the navy said, “demonstrating its readiness to defend against any threat at any time”.The unusual transit through the Persian Gulf’s shallow waters was interpreted as underscoring American military might in the region, following the killing last month of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, an Iranian scientist named by the West as the leader of the Islamic Republic’s disbanded military nuclear programme and which Tehran has threatened to avenge, according to the Associated Press.Earlier this month, the US Air Force flew two nuclear-capable bomber aircraft to the Middle East in a mission described as a message of deterrence to Iran.Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Monday evening that one of Israel’s submarines transited the Suez Canal last week, with Egypt’s approval. However, the Kan report cited “Arab intelligence sources” while the Israel Defense Forces officially declined to comment.


Daily cases hover at 4,200

Another 4,262 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,663,034.Another 5,894 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,572,053.Meanwhile 463 are in the ICU, including 359 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 249 are in need of respiratory assistance including 163 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 4,262 cases reported today, 78 (1.8%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 4,184 (98.2%) are in Category One and Two.


Prominent Muslim scholar, ex-rector of IIUM dies at 85

Abdul Hamid AbuSulayman, one of the best known contemporary scholars in the Muslim world who oversaw the growth of Malaysia’s International Islamic University (IIUM), died today at the age of 85.Hamid, who authored many books on the subject of Islamic reform and education, was also chairman of the US-based International Institute of Islamic Thought.Born in Mecca, Hamid served as IIUM’s rector from 1988 to 1998, during which time the university’s population grew to become one of Malaysia’s largest centres for higher education.Hamid also personally oversaw the design and construction of the university’s sprawling campus in Gombak, which was a blend of modern and Islamic architecture.