UK may remove British judges from Hong Kong court over China’s ‘repression’

The UK is considering pulling its judges out of Hong Kong’s highest court, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Monday.This is the latest response to what the UK considers to be China’s breaches of its international obligations in the territory, reports Reuters.Britain ruled Hong Kong for over 150 years until handing it back to China in 1997 under a Sino-British Joint Declaration that guaranteed Hong Kong certain freedoms.The UK now says a new security law imposed on the territory by Beijing was in breach of those agreements.London has also objected to new rules imposed by mainland China to disqualify elected legislators in Hong Kong, and to punish political opposition and silence dissent.“This has been, and continues to be, the most concerning period in Hong Kong’s post-handover history,” Raab wrote.The Hong Kong government hit back at what it described as “sweeping attacks and groundless accusations” in the report, adding they were “irresponsible remarks”.The Chinese foreign ministry’s commission in Hong Kong expressed “strong indignation” at the report, according to the official Xinhua news agency. “Wake up and stop the old colonial dream of interfering in Hong Kong’s affairs!”Following a year of sometimes violent demonstrations, Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in June that punishes what authorities broadly define as secession, sedition and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in jail.Raab said he has begun consulting on what to do about British judges who currently sit on Hong Kong’s top court. “I have begun consultations with the president of the UK Supreme Court, concerning whether it continues to be appropriate for British judges to sit as non-permanent judges on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.”Western governments and international human rights groups have expressed concern the new law will crush freedoms in Hong Kong.


Waiting for the sound of the lion dance once more

The sound of drums, gongs and fireworks fills the air at a housing area in Subang Jaya, Selangor, as a brightly coloured lion leaps and twirls through the air.
Children shriek with joy as the lion dancers, dressed in bright red and yellow, tumble and somersault through their routine, shaking the huge lion's head to make its eyes blink at the onlookers.
Dean Lim and his children clap and cheer with the rest of the crowd, leaning over to pat the lion's furry shoulders.
As the performance comes to an end, Lim calls his grandchildren to take a picture with the troupe.
"Smile!" he says, immortalising their smiles in his phone's gallery.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Lim said his neighbourhood had been still and quiet for more than two years throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
Even before that, he said, he and his family were rarely in the country during Chinese New Year.
"We would go on trips to Australia and Japan, and most often of all to the US to shop or to visit our children who are working there," he said.
For 10 years, this was their routine.
"But the pandemic made me regret it," Lim added. "Stuck in the house, I found myself longing to hear the sound of fireworks again, and the music of the lion dance."
This year, as his family gathers to usher in the Year of the Rabbit, Lim has given his young grandchildren strict instructions.
"I told them to stay here, don't go anywhere. Because we want to see the lion dance.
"This is part of our tradition that has endured for thousands of years."
In Malaysia, lion dances are a common sight during Chinese New Year, at homes, malls and even on the streets where people of all communities gather to enjoy the performance.
Two dancers are required per lion, one to move the head and the other to form the rear end.
Accompanied by gongs, drums and cymbals, the lion dance is believed to bring good luck and prosperity.
The E-xin Dragon Lion Dance Group, which conducts training and performances throughout the year, estimates that a house performance can cost anywhere from RM800 to RM1,300.
Coordinator Aron Kong said the dance would depend on the type of event, whether an open house, a company event or a celebration at home.
"If the host has another event in the evening, we perform at his house as well," Kong added.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, he said most customers go for the RM1,300 package which he described as the price range for a regular performance.
"If they want a lion dance where the lion leaps from pole to pole, we charge them more, around RM3,000 and above.
"Usually requests like this are made by the bigger families."
While lion dances are associated with Chinese New Year, Kong said his team continues practising and performing throughout the year.
During the non-festive period, they participate in local and international competitions and do special performances for events like business launches.
Back in Subang Jaya, Lim said he and his grandson had looked since December for a lion dance team to go house to house for this year's new year.
He is determined to make this year's celebration more special even though he lost his second son to Covid-19 at the end of 2020.
"My grandson and I spent RM10,000 to sponsor lion dance performances at the homes of people we don't even know," he said.
"We hope that this will help make their celebrations more special as well."
As for the son whom he lost to Covid-19, Lim said the lion dances were for him as well.
"He would be happy to know about this," he said. "We are doing it in his memory. Happy Chinese New Year!"


How India’s most crowded city beat the odds, and the virus

When Covid-19 arrived in India, few places looked as vulnerable as Mumbai. But a year on, South Asia’s most crowded city has surprised many by tackling a vicious second wave with considerable success.Gaurav Awasthi even travelled hundreds of kilometres from his home on the outskirts of Delhi to get his ailing wife a hospital bed there, paying an ambulance more than a thousand dollars to drive 24 hours straight.“I cannot ever repay my debt to this city,” the 29-year-old told AFP, recounting an ordeal that saw him spend five days fruitlessly searching for a bed across several cities, including Delhi.“I don’t know if my wife would be alive today if it weren’t for Mumbai’s health facilities.”Bodies in wardsThe bodies began turning up early in India’s financial capital during the first wave of infections last year – a man collapsing on a busy road, a rickshaw driver slumped over the wheel, a corpse lying in the street – in a grim echo of the 1918 flu pandemic.By May 2020, Abhignya Patra was working 18-hour days at the massive Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, better known as Sion.“It was non-stop,” the 27-year-old anaesthesiologist told AFP.Patients’ relatives described distressing scenes inside packed wards, with one man telling AFP he had to change his sick mother’s diapers himself because staff were too overworked.A video shot inside Sion and widely shared on social media showed corpses wrapped in black plastic left on beds in a ward where patients were being treated.Every night, the city helpline fielded thousands of calls from desperate citizens, many with no chance of getting admitted to a publicly-funded hospital: Mumbai had just 80 ambulances and 425 ICUs for a population of 20 million.‘Chase the virus’Something had to change fast, said Iqbal Chahal, a no-nonsense bureaucrat who took over as Mumbai’s municipal commissioner last May.New field hospitals added thousands of beds, private facilities handed over their Covid-19 wards to the government and 800 vehicles were turned into ambulances.But these efforts could not combat the swift rise in infections.“We needed to chase the virus,” Chahal told AFP.A proactive approach focused on 55 slums including India’s largest, Dharavi, where a strict lockdown was accompanied by aggressive sanitisation of public toilets, mass coronavirus screening and a huge volunteer effort to ensure that nobody went hungry.All positive test reports in Mumbai were routed through “war rooms” manned by doctors who would triage cases and decide where to send the patient, irrespective of “whether he is a minister, a big shot or a slum dweller”, Chahal said.Forward thinkingAs 2020 wore on, it looked like India might have miraculously beaten the pandemic and lockdown restrictions were eased.But in Mumbai, authorities didn’t dismantle a single bed in the now-deserted field hospitals.This meant that when cases surged in March, the metropolis was much better prepared than many other Indian cities, where the healthcare system came close to collapse.In the capital Delhi and elsewhere, patients died outside hospitals and crematoriums were overwhelmed. But not in Mumbai.Despite having a much higher population density than many other cities, Mumbai has seen significantly lower mortality rates.The city still suffered close calls, Chahal said, recalling one night in April when six hospitals faced dire oxygen shortages, putting 168 patients at serious risk unless they were shifted to other facilities.Everyone survived.“We always expected a second wave,” Chahal said.‘Wake-up call’Patra recalls getting calls from colleagues in Delhi desperately searching for medical equipment.“As doctors, there is very little we can do in the absence of infrastructure,” she said.Ruben Mascarenhas, co-founder of Mumbai-based non-profit Khaana Chahiye, said he would get dozens of messages every morning from people begging for oxygen and drugs – but as the pandemic wore on, the requests mostly came from outside the city.He was, he says, “pleasantly surprised”, but is “very cautious about celebrating yet”.He is not the only one.An experienced marathon-runner, Chahal is already preparing for a third wave – expected to hit children hard – by stockpiling oxygen, building paediatric field hospitals and expanding capacity at public hospitals.“This has been a wake-up call for us,” he said.


More prestige but business might suffer, economist says on elevating Malay at global level

While boosting the use of Bahasa Melayu at the international level will help enhance Malaysia’s image and standing in the world arena, an analyst says it could also indirectly affect the country’s economic growth.For the past decade, economist Yeah Kim Leng said, Malaysia had been known for its use of English in business dealings and diplomatic relations with other countries.Now, he added, English had become a second language in the country.Yeah said trade and investment opportunities would be affected if foreign investors began moving away from Malaysia due to language barriers.“Given that English is the lingua franca for trade and industry and makes it easier for Malaysia to do business and create an attractive investment environment, the misconceptions that might arise due to a change in policy might not be widespread.“Nonetheless, it will affect investor confidence if the policy is implemented across the board, including in the private sector,” Yeah, of Sunway University, told MalaysiaNow.He added that it might help mitigate the impact on the economy if translation services were provided.He said the low take-up of English by local entrepreneurs could also make it difficult for them to enter the international market.“Conferences and meetings at the global level involving political leaders and government officials who are allowed to use their mother tongues are often accompanied by the services of interpreters,” he said.“As long as such services are provided, the choice of language will not affect the ability to efficiently communicate.”Last month, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said in a question-and-answer session at the Dewan Negara that he would hold discussions with Asean leaders to propose the use of Bahasa Melayu as a second language in the region.“We don’t need to feel embarrassed or awkward about using Bahasa Melayu at the international level,” he had said.“This effort to uphold the Malay language is also in line with one of the priorities of the Malaysian foreign policy framework launched by the government on Dec 7, 2021, namely cultural diplomacy which includes the element of internationalising the Malay language on the world stage.”Indonesian President Joko Widodo, at a recent joint press conference, had voiced agreement with the proposal.However, Indonesia’s minister of education, culture, research, and technology Nadiem Makarim opposed the suggestion, saying the republic’s own language was a better choice as it had a larger population and its language was more widely used than Malay.However Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, considered the authority on the national language, maintained that Malaysia’s image and dignity would be enhanced if Bahasa Melayu is recognised at the international level.Board chairman Awang Sariyan said the move would place Malaysia alongside 70% of countries in the world that are using their national language at international forums.“Malaysia’s works of knowledge and literature could also be furthered on the international level through translation,” he said.“This would elevate Malaysia’s civilisation to the world stage and provide economic value to the Malay language.”


Tourism players want hiring process for foreign workers simplified

At his hotel in Sepang, Selangor, Engku Azman is hard at work, taking care of guests.
Two years ago, when movement restrictions were enforced to curb the spread of Covid-19, his hotel was quiet and empty.
Today, though, it is bustling with activity.
Looking back at the movement control order (MCO) period, Azman said he never imagined that his small hotel business which he began after retiring from the health ministry in January 2020 would end up going through such an ordeal.
Within a span of mere months, business had ground to a halt.
What saved his hotel from going over the brink was the special Prihatin grant given by the government to hotel operators like himself.
But while the guests have begun to return, challenges remain, especially in hiring enough workers to keep things going.
At the moment, he is taking care of everything himself together with his son. During peak periods, he tries to find part-time workers and asks his relatives for help.
"If we offered high salaries, maybe a lot of people would want to work," he said.
"But we are only a small business. We have tried to get full-time workers at appropriate salary levels, but it's hard."
Azman agrees with the calls by the National Recovery Council (MPN) for the government to speed up and facilitate the application process for foreign workers, especially in critical sectors such as agriculture, tourism and manufacturing.
MPN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin had previously warned that a shortage of labour would stunt the recovery process for the sectors most affected by the pandemic.
The council has also repeatedly urged the government to accelerate recovery efforts for the tourism sector, and to come up with initiatives and aid to jump-start the industry which had been among the biggest contributors to Malaysia's GDP pre-pandemic.
Azman had hoped to slowly develop his hotel business by adding to the number of rooms.
At the moment, though, it is beyond his ability to do so.
The Selangor Travel and Tourism Agency Association said the hospitality sector was struggling to find workers as locals were not interested in tourism-related jobs.
Its president Fathir Badri Al Hadad said the labour shortage continued to be a major crisis despite the recovery in domestic and international tourism experienced so far.
He, too, said the government should work to resolve this issue by allowing applications by foreign workers.
He added that MPN's call for initiatives and aid would allow Malaysia to compete with neighbouring countries like Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.
"When the tourism sector recovers, the economy will be better," he said.
"The government needs to realise this. When it realises how much this sector contributes, I'm sure that help will begin in earnest."


New cases stay above 4,000 mark, 17 more deaths

Another 4,571 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 231,483.Selangor recorded 2,056 cases followed by Johor (664), Kuala Lumpur (481), Sarawak (270) and Melaka (238).Sabah recorded 175 cases, Perak 163, Penang 157, Negeri Sembilan 100, Pahang 78, Terengganu 69, Kedah 51, Kelantan 48, Putrajaya 20 and Labuan one.Active cases stand at 48,771 with 308 in the ICU and 135 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 4,092 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 181,886.However, 17 more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 826.


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Mouthwash can kill Covid-19 within 30 seconds but it’s not a silver bullet

Mouthwash is able to kill Covid-19 within 30 seconds of exposure to it in a laboratory, according to a recent scientific study reported by Sky News.The research, which was conducted at Cardiff University, found that mouthwashes containing 0.07% of the ingredient cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) showed “promising signs” of reducing Covid-19 in patients’ saliva.A 12-week clinical trial at the University Hospital of Wales will now help determine the accuracy of the findings.“Although this study is a positive step, more clinical research is now clearly needed,” said Professor David Thomas of Cardiff University, leader of the clinical trial. “We look forward to completing our trial in early 2021.”Nick Claydon, a specialist periodontist, said, “If these positive results are reflected in Cardiff University’s clinical trial, CPC-based mouthwashes could become an important part of people’s protective routine.”Other health professionals warn against over-optimism as mouthwash is unlikely to ever be a solution to personal protection because many things can kill a virus on contact but they’re not going to stop the source of the virus.Alcohol, chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide and a range of other compounds can all kill viruses on contact or shortly after, but the virus is constantly replicating in the upper respiratory tract.“It’s still in your nose, in the fluid on your vocal cords, and in your lung airways,” Donald Milton, who studies the transmission of viruses at the University of Maryland told CNN. “All of these and especially the vocal cords and lung airways are major sources of the virus in the air.”“Mouthwash or other disinfectants will do little to protect someone from inhaling the virus, said Leana Wen, Professor of Health Policy at George Washington University School of Public Health. “Washing out your mouth or nose won’t prevent the virus from being breathed in. But wearing a mask does, and so does keeping good physical distance.”So while swooshing and gargling should form part of our daily routines, mouthwashes are not going to keep Covid-19 at bay.


Nigerian forces kill children in airstrike over border in Niger, official says

The Nigerian military has killed and wounded children in an airstrike in neighbouring Niger, a local governor in Niger, state television and an aid agency said on Sunday, although Nigeria’s armed forces said they were still investigating.The attack took place in the village of Nachadé in the region of Maradi, Niger, on Friday, a few kilometres from the border with Nigeria, said Chaibou Aboubacar, the governor of Maradi. He said seven children were killed and five wounded.He did not say how he knew that Nigerian forces carried out the attack. Niger’s state television also said it was carried out by Nigerian forces, without providing evidence.“As a matter of policy, the Nigerian Air Force does not make any incursions into areas outside Nigeria’s territorial boundaries. That’s our policy,” Major General Jimmy Akpor, Nigeria’s Director of Defence Information, said. He said an investigation was underway.Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, which cared for some of the wounded, confirmed the strike. It said that 12 people died, including four children. Local inhabitants told MSF that Nigerian forces were pursuing targets who had fled a border town.The specific reason for the strike was not clear. It occurred in a region where banditry is common and where both governments fear that Islamist insurgents linked to Islamic State are gaining ground.


Canada's revenue agency investigates employees over pandemic benefits, 20 let go

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on Friday removed 20 of its employees from services and said it was investigating about 1% of its total workforce, thereby digging deeper into cases where workers may have inappropriately received pandemic benefits payments.
The tax agency is investigating a "limited number" representing about 600 of its employees, CRA said in an emailed statement.
CRA said the number of people being removed from service is "likely" to increase toward the completion of the review.
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit was rolled out in 2020 to offer broad support to millions of Canadians who lost their jobs amid coronavirus shutdowns.
It provided financial support to employed and self-employed Canadians who were directly affected by Covid-19. Eligible people received C$2,000 (RM7,048) a month.


Erdogan confronts polarised Turkey after historic win

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday confronted the tough task of uniting his deeply divided country after winning a historic run-off election to extend his two-decade rule to 2028.
Turkey's longest-serving leader brushed aside a powerful opposition coalition, a biting economic crisis and widespread anger following a devastating February earthquake to beat secular challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu in Sunday's vote.
But the four-point victory margin was Erdogan's narrowest of any past election, highlighting the sharp polarisation the Islamic-rooted conservative will contend with during his third and final term as president.
Erdogan attempted to sound conciliatory in a victory speech to thousands of jubilant supporters gathered outside Ankara's presidential palace, calling on Turks to "come together in unity and solidarity".
Kilicdaroglu remained defiant by vowing to "continue the struggle" against Erdogan and his AKP party, which has dominated Turkish politics since 2002.
"Our elders taught us to struggle... we will not lose or give up on this country with one election," Bugra Iyimaya, a 28-year-old academic, told AFP in Istanbul.
"We will resist and fight until the end."
Erdogan's elated supporters hailed the man they call "Reis" (chief) after he won the first run-off in Turkey's history.
"The person who is beneficial to our country won. I'm very happy because of his beliefs, the rest has no importance. The country comes first," street vendor Gursel Ozkok, 65, told AFP in Ankara.
"The man of the people won," blared the front page of Monday's pro-government daily Sabah.
'It could get ugly'
Having harnessed a coalition of nationalist, conservative and religious voters, Erdogan "will double down on his brand of populist policies... political polarisation is here to stay", said Emre Peker of the Eurasia Group consultancy.
Relieving Turks of the country's worst economic crisis since the 1990s is one of Erdogan's urgent priorities.
Years of development fuelled by infrastructure projects and a construction sector boom earned him huge popularity and a loyal voter base that has never abandoned him.
But inflation is now running at more than 40%, partly exacerbated by Erdogan's unorthodox policy of cutting interest rates to try and cool spiralling prices.
Analysts say Erdogan's lavish campaign spending pledges and unwavering attachment to lower interest rates will further strain banks' currency reserves and the lira, which edged down against the dollar on Monday.
"The current set-up is just not sustainable," noted Timothy Ash of BlueBay Asset Management, pointing to the tens of billions of dollars the central bank has blown to prop up the lira.
If Erdogan refuses to perform a U-turn on interest rates and abandon the lira, "it could get ugly", he warned.
A colossal reconstruction effort in Turkey's southeast is still at an early stage after February's earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people and destroyed entire cities.
The disaster compounded the economic difficulties as hundreds of thousands lost their livelihoods overnight and forecasters cut Turkey's 2023 growth outlook, with the damage estimated at more than $100 billion.
'Balancing act'
US President Joe Biden and Russia's Vladimir Putin were among the world leaders lining up to congratulate Erdogan, but major diplomatic conundrums lie in the 69-year-old's in-tray.
Nato partners are anxiously waiting for Ankara to approve Sweden's bid to join the US-led defence alliance.
Erdogan has blocked the bid, accusing Stockholm of sheltering Turkish opposition figures with alleged links to outlawed Kurdish militants.
Observers expect Erdogan to continue playing a bridging role between Russia and its Western partners for Turkey's benefit.
"Another five years of Erdogan means more of the geopolitical balancing act between Russia and the West," said Galip Dalay, an associate fellow at the Chatham House think tank.
"Turkey and the West will engage in transactional cooperation wherever its interests dictate it," not joining Western sanctions on Moscow for the war in Ukraine and seeking economically profitable relationships, he added.
Ties with neighbouring Syria remain at a low ebb after Turkey backed rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war. Recent Russian-mediated talks failed to achieve a breakthrough towards a normalisation of relations.
Monday also coincides with the anniversary of the 1453 conquest of Constantinople – Istanbul's old name – by the Ottomans, a symbolic commemoration following Erdogan's victory and his far-right nationalist allies' parliamentary majority.


Ex-1MDB CFO denies receiving bribes from Goldman Sachs

Former 1MDB chief financial officer (CFO) Azmi Tahir today denied that he had received bribes from Goldman Sachs to enable the latter to make significant profits from a US$1.75 billion bond issued in October 2012 by 1MDB Energy (Langat) Limited (1MELL).Azmi, 49, said this when cross-examined by Najib Razak’s counsel, Tania Scivetti, at the former prime minister’s trial over the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion in funds from 1MDB.The 12th prosecution witness disagreed with the counsel’s suggestion that his alleged failure to negotiate a lower interest rate for 1MELL had benefited the financial institution by enabling it to profit significantly from the higher interest rate charged, and denied having taken bribes from Tim Leissner, former banker of Goldman Sachs.Scivetti: I put it to you, with your inaction to negotiate a better interest rate for 1MDB, that you, Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi and Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman enabled Goldman Sachs to profit significantly from 1MDB, and in return for them to do so, Leissner and Goldman Sachs paid bribes to 1MDB officials which were you, Shahrol Azral, Hazem and others in the 1MDB management.Azmi: I disagree. I don’t know about the rest, but I disagree.Shahrol was CEO of 1MDB from 2009 to March 2013, while Hazem served as CEO until January 2015.Scivetti: Surely you would be aware from the news that Tim Leissner pleaded guilty to bribing 1MDB?Azmi: That’s why I say I don’t know about the rest, but for me, I disagree.Scivetti: The 1MDB officials that Leissner and Goldman Sachs officers pleaded guilty to bribing were in fact, you, Shahrol and Hazem?Azmi: No, I disagree.He also denied that he had conspired with Leissner, fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, as well as top officials of 1MDB in connection with transfers of US$790 million (RM3.3 billion) from 1MELL to Aabar Investments PJS Ltd.He likewise disagreed that he and the said individuals had conspired to manipulate and mislead the 1MDB board of directors as well as Najib, who was the shareholder at the material time over the US$790 million transactions.Scivetti: You know, 16 Goldman Sachs employees were charged over 1MDB scandal, but despite being a director of 1MELL and signing all the documents, you were not charged?Azmi: Correct.Scivetti: Shahrol, you and Hazem were not charged. I put it to you that you were not charged because you provided evidence against Najib.Azmi: I’m not sure.Scivetti: I’m asking you.Azmi: I disagree.Najib is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.The trial before justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues on March 14.


Aviation authority gets cracking amid flood of complaints over flight delays, no-shows

The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) is looking into the flood of complaints received from passengers who found themselves stranded due to delays and “indiscriminate” changes to flight schedules without prior notice during the festive season.It said it had directed the airlines in question to submit the relevant data regarding flight schedule disruptions from April 29 to May 9, adding that this would allow it to gain “an objective, accurate and comprehensive view of the situation”.The required data includes the actual scheduled flights versus the total number of rescheduled flights by “all airlines” that occurred throughout this period.Mavcom executive chairman Saripuddin Kasim also urged customers who had faced delays or flight issues and who had not received “the proper care” to lodge a formal complaint with the airline in question, and to forward their complaints to the commission.Mavcom meanwhile cited the Malaysian Aviation Consumer Protection Code (MACPC), which requires airlines to communicate any change in flight status to consumers “as soon as practicable”.In instances where delays continue for two hours or more, the operating airline must provide care including meals, telephone calls and internet access, it said.For delays of five hours or more, the airline should provide accommodation and transport, if a stay becomes necessary.“If the timing of the rescheduled flight does not meet the consumer’s purpose of travel, a refund of the flight ticket should also be made by the airline,” it said.Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said earlier today that AirAsia had been given 24 hours to provide feedback on consumer issues, including those related to flight delays and rescheduling, following a wave of complaints on social media.He said his ministry had compiled consumers’ grievances and complaints on the issue of AirAsia flight delays and made a preliminary study in terms of consumer interests under the ministry’s purview in addition to contacting the AirAsia management for feedback.He said among the issues revolving around the interests of consumers highlighted in the initial engagement with AirAsia were flight delays, the review of flight schedules of up to more than six hours, as well as consumers’ eligibility for compensation in the event of flight delays.Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong meanwhile said that all airlines involved must immediately rectify the issues experienced by passengers following the grouses aired over delays, rescheduling and technical problems.He said the authorities had also reprimanded the parties involved and told them to ensure strict compliance with technical, economic, and safety regulations.Saripuddin said Mavcom was in the midst of refining the MACPC to enhance the protection of consumers, especially during unprecedented situations.“This will be a priority for Mavcom, and we will continue to ensure that industry players remain compliant with the MACPC and that consumer rights are continuously upheld,” he said.


Two more cities fall to Taliban as thousands flee northern Afghanistan

The Taliban seized two more Afghan cities Tuesday – including one just 200km from Kabul – as tens of thousands of people fled their homes in the north for the relative safety of the capital and other centres.But despite the bloodshed, and with eight provincial capitals now toppled in the insurgents’ sweeping advance, US President Joe Biden gave no hint of delaying his deadline to withdraw all American troops by Aug 31, instead urging Afghan leaders to “come together” and “fight for themselves”.“I do not regret my decision” to withdraw US troops after two decades of war, Biden told reporters in Washington.He spoke after the insurgents won control of Farah city, capital of the same-named province, and Pul-e-Khumri in Baghlan, within hours of each other, officials in both centres told AFP.“The Taliban are now in the city,” Baghlan MP Mamoor Ahmadzai told AFP.“They have raised their flag in the main square and on governor’s office building.”The Taliban confirmed their seizure in separate tweets.Six of the other provincial capitals to have fallen since Friday are in the country’s north, with the insurgents setting their sights on Mazar-i-Sharif, the region’s biggest city.Its fall would signal the total collapse of government control in the traditionally anti-Taliban north.Government forces are also battling the hardline Islamists in Kandahar and Helmand, the southern Pashto-speaking provinces from where the Taliban draw their strength.Meanwhile, Washington’s special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was in Qatar to try and convince the Taliban to accept a ceasefire.Envoys from hosts Qatar, Britain, China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, the United Nations, and European Union were also due to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, a source told AFP.The US has already all but left the battlefield.Biden stressed that Washington would continue to support the Afghan security forces with air strikes, food, equipment and money for salaries.“We trained and equipped with modern equipment over 300,000 Afghan forces” over two decades, he said.“They have got to want to fight. They have outnumbered the Taliban.”Brutal treatmentThe Taliban have appeared largely indifferent to peace overtures, and seem intent on a military victory to crown a return to power after their ouster 20 years ago in the wake of the Sept 11 attacks.As fighting raged, thousands of people were on the move inside the country, fleeing newly captured Taliban cities with tales of brutal treatment by the insurgents.“The Taliban are beating and looting,” said Rahima, now camped out with hundreds of families at a park in the capital, Kabul, after fleeing Sheberghan province.“If there is a young girl or a widow in a family, they forcibly take them. We fled to protect our honour.”The UN’s International Organization for Migration said Tuesday that more than 359,000 people have been displaced by fighting this year alone.In the northern city of Kunduz that was captured by the Taliban over the weekend, residents said shops had begun to reopen in the centre as the insurgents focused their attention on government forces who had retreated to the airport.“People are opening their shops and businesses, but you can still see fear in their eyes,” said shopkeeper Habibullah.Another resident, living close to the airport, reported days of heavy fighting.“The Taliban are hiding in people’s houses in the area and government forces are bombing them,” said Haseeb, who only gave his first name.‘Atrocious situation’On Tuesday, the threat to Mazar-i-Sharif grew after the Taliban captured Sheberghan to its west, and Kunduz and Taloqan to the east.The Indian consulate in Mazar called on its nationals to board a “special flight” scheduled for later in the day.But Fawad Aman, spokesman for the ministry of defence, said Afghan forces had the upper hand in the city, a lynchpin for government control of the north.From Geneva, the UN warned the war was unleashing another humanitarian crisis.“Unless all parties return to the negotiating table and reach a peaceful settlement, the already atrocious situation for so many Afghans will become much worse,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.


87.2% of adults fully jabbed as total vaccine shots top 44 million

A total of 20,511,444 individuals or 87.2% of the adult population had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as of yesterday.Meanwhile, 23,736,676 or 94.3% have received at least one jab, including of the single-dose CanSino vaccine.In terms of total population, 62.8% have been fully vaccinated with 72.7% receiving at least one dose.A total of 211,517 doses of vaccine were administered yesterday, taking the cumulative number of vaccine jabs given under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to 44,145,505.


First lady at American Indian reservation as shot-uptake cuts virus deaths

US First Lady Dr Jill Biden spent the first day of a two-day trip to the Navajo Nation on Thursday hearing from female leaders about the needs of the country’s largest Native American reservation, the AP is reporting.Biden discussed  the effects of the pandemic on their community, along with vaccination efforts and their declining infection rates.The trip comes as the tribe reported no Covid-related deaths for 11 of the past 12 days. It’s also reporting far fewer daily cases than early on in the pandemic when the reservation had one of the country’s highest per-capita infection rates.The first lady kicked off her visit to the US Southwest with a tour of a vaccination clinic where early efforts to get people registered for shots helped propel the state’s standing as a national leader in vaccine uptake.The trip is Biden’s third to the sprawling reservation which extends into three states and covers 70,000 sq km, and her first as first lady.On Friday, Biden will visit a boarding school and a hospital both of which the tribe runs under contract with the federal government to administer vaccines.The tribe is approaching reopening slowly because of coronavirus variants identified among infections on their reservation.About half the reservation’s population is fully vaccinated, roughly twice the US rate.Residents of the Navajo Nation must wear masks and travel only for essential activity. Tribal roads are still closed to visitors.On Monday, the nation plans to reopen tribal parks to residents and increase capacity for businesses, gatherings and tribal casinos to 50%.“We’re not celebrating yet,” Navajo Nation president Jonathan Nez said during a virtual town hall on Wednesday. “The pandemic is still here.”Nez called the Biden-Harris administration “a key partner in our response to Covid-19”.President Joe Biden has proposed increasing the budget of the chronically underfunded Indian Health Service by US$2.2 billion. The agency provides primary care to more than two million Native Americans.


Trump pledges ‘orderly transition’ after Congress affirms Biden win

Outgoing US President Donald Trump on Thursday offered the clearest signal yet that he will voluntarily leave office on January 20, saying there will be an “orderly transition” to Joe Biden’s presidency.“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on Jan 20,” Trump said in a statement minutes after the US Congress formally certified Biden’s victory.“While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again,” he added, hinting at a potential 2024 run.


Building company fined RM45,000 for failing to ensure safety at SUKE construction site

Construction company Zhongshi International Sdn Bhd was fined RM45,000 by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today for failing to ensure safety at its construction site, resulting in the death of three workers in March.Judge Emelia Kaswati Mohamad Khalid meted out the fine on the company after its representative, human resources manager Sim Li En, pleaded guilty to the charge.The company paid the fine.The company was accused of failing to ensure the safety, health and welfare of its workers by failing to ensure the safe handling of its launching gantry during maintenance work, resulting in the accidental death of three Chinese-national workers – Wu Tongzheng, Ding Kunfu and Jiang Jinbao.The offence was committed at 3PT39 to 3PT41, Package CA3, Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) privatisation project at CH4200 to CH7800 Jalan Alam Damai, at 8.45am on March 22.The charge was framed under Section 15(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, which is punishable under Section 19 of the same act and carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to two years or both, upon conviction.During mitigation, Sim said the company had taken the appropriate measures to prevent accidents at the workplace and to avoid a similar incident.But prosecuting officer from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Abdul Rahim Sabri, requested a deterrent sentence.“This is a high-profile case that has received media coverage and involved the death of three people. I request the court to impose a maximum fine to serve as a lesson to other employers so that they can ensure the safe operation of machinery and reduce the risk of accidents at workplaces,” he added.On March 22, the media reported that three Chinese workers were killed while a driver was seriously injured following an incident where one of the components of a launching gantry fell at the SUKE Elevated Highway construction site near Puncak Banyan, Persiaran Alam Damai, Cheras.


In Muar, a battle between the incumbent and the locals

In Muar, a town close to Melaka in the northwest of Johor, candidates are gearing up for the last leg of the campaign period before voters head to the polls.
And on the ground, voters are deciding who they will support come election day on Nov 19.
The Muar seat is currently held by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman of Muda. Syed Saddiq won the seat at the 2018 general election on a Bersatu ticket, before the party's exit from Pakatan Harapan (PH), beating candidates from Umno and PAS with just over 53% of the votes.
This time, he will be defending the seat on a Muda ticket as part of an electoral pact with PH under which the latter agreed not to field candidates in areas contested by the youth-based party.
He is up against Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Mohd Helmy Abd Latif and Abdullah Husin of Perikatan Nasional (PN).
He also faces the question of whether he will succeed in retaining his seat, given that Muda is seen as less influential than his old party Bersatu, and the fact that his opponents are both locals from Muar.
Syed Saddiq himself hails from Pulai, Johor Bahru.
At Parit Jawa, a small fishing village about 15.8km from Muar, a young fisherman said he believed Muda's chances were good.
Mohd Sukri Tukimin, 21, voted for the first time in the Johor state election in March.
"Muda has a chance here," he said to MalaysiaNow. "Syed Saddiq provides aid – more than the assistance provided by BN.
"BN's odds are not good. Helmy is a local but I don't see him around."
And as for PN's candidate Husin, Sukri says he doesn't stand a chance.
For fishermen in Parit Jawa like Sukri, the biggest problem is cross-territory fishing activities which see fishermen from other areas such as Pontian crossing into the locality.
Two local Chinese fishermen who declined to give their names said the matter had been a thorn in their side for years.
One of them, who has lived in the village for nearly 40 years, said MPs had come to speak to the fishermen about the issue.
"But it's still unresolved," he added.
The other said this was due to corruption. "For the local Chinese, support will definitely go to Muda," he said.
Zainal Abidin Abdullah, who runs a food business in Parit Jawa, said all three candidates had an equal chance of winning.
"But youngsters will support Syed Saddiq," the 64-year-old said, describing the Muda president as a "good guy".
In the town of Muar itself, the atmosphere is more laidback with fewer flags and banners than in the villages.
Shop owner Yunos Ludin said he had benefitted from Syed Saddiq's financial aid.
"But if the BN candidate is a new face in the area, he might stand a chance," he added.
Fellow shop owner Ng, who has lived in Muar for more than 70 years, said Syed Saddiq was active in the area.
"BN might stand a chance, but still it's hard to say," he said.
A total of 68,925 individuals are eligible to vote in Muar. Of these, 67% are Malay, 32% Chinese and 1% Indian.


Health ministry to recommend reopening borders when booster uptake improves

The health ministry will only make recommendations to the government on the reopening of the country’s borders and relaxing the requirements for the quarantine period when the booster vaccination rate among the adult population and the Covid-19 vaccination for children improves.Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said although the booster vaccination rate among adults had surpassed 50% as of today, he wanted to see a higher number before making any recommendations.“The health ministry is still having internal discussions on what threshold values we feel comfortable with in terms of vaccination for children and booster vaccination for adults. We will be making recommendations to the quartet ministerial meeting.“I want to see a bit more (booster vaccination rate). I call on everyone who has yet to get their booster shot, to go get it, and to all parents to enrol their children in the immunisation programme,” he said at a press conference after launching the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Kids at Hospital Tunku Azizah Hospital today.He said 30% of senior citizens have yet to receive their booster shots, while experts have yet to recommend booster shots for adolescents.Khairy also advised the public not to panic over the recent increase in the daily tally of Covid-19 cases as the numbers were expected to rise following the spread of the Omicron variant.“What we need to do now is to look into the severity of the cases, not the number of cases. If we simply look at the number, of course we will be worried, but there is no need to panic.“The health ministry is constantly monitoring this important data and what we are seeing now is a lot more short stays in the hospital. So far, we are seeing a rise in cases which is not related to severity,” he said.He said the ministry is also monitoring the development of the new Omicron subvariant as reported by the World Health Organization on Tuesday.Khairy also said there are 180 active education clusters with most of the cases reported between Jan 1 and Feb 5 at boarding schools.However, he said no severe cases were reported.


AirAsia loses appeal against summary judgment over passenger service fees

The Court of Appeal today dismissed the appeals by AirAsia Bhd and AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) to set aside a High Court’s decision granting summary judgment to Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd (MASSB) regarding the payment of outstanding passenger service charges (PSC).The decision was delivered by a three-member bench comprising justices Has Zanah Mehat, Azizah Nawawi and See Mee Chun in court proceedings conducted online.“We find no merit in AirAsia’s appeals against the decision of the High Court in granting the summary judgment,” said Azizah who delivered the court’s unanimous decision.This upholds the decision by the Kuala Lumpur High Court which ordered AirAsia and AAX to pay RM40.73 million in PSC and RM792,381 in unpaid late payment charges (LPC) to MASSB, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB).The court also dismissed three appeals by AirAsia against the High Court’s refusal to allow the low-cost carrier’s application to strike out the lawsuit filed against them by MASSB.Azizah ordered AirAsia to pay costs of RM10,000 for each appeal, totalling RM60,000 for the six appeals filed by AirAsia and AAX.Three concern the High Court’s decision to grant summary judgment to MASSB and the other three were against the High Court’s dismissal of the companies’ application to strike out the lawsuit filed against them by MASSB.MASSB’s claims against AirAsia and AAX were for unpaid PSC at the rate set by the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) under the Mavcom (Aviation Services Charges) Regulations 2016, amended in 2017 and 2018.In her decision, Azizah said the sole dispute raised by AirAsia was that the new PSC rate stated in the regulations was a ceiling rate instead of a fixed rate.She said the court agreed with the High Court findings that AirAsia’s actual dispute was not between two aviation service providers but instead between AirAsia and Mavcom as it was Mavcom who prescribed the applicable PSC rate.Azizah said MASSB merely collects the PSC, adding that AirAsia’s actual dispute was against the decision of Mavcom to equalise the PSC rate between KLIA and klia2.“Accordingly, AirAsia ought to have addressed its PSC complaint by way of a judicial review against the commission’s (Mavcom’s) decision to increase the rate,” she said.Azizah said it was crystal clear that the current PSC rate was set at RM67, adding that there was nothing to suggest that the rate was a ceiling rate as claimed by AirAsia.MASSB was represented by lawyers Ivan Loo, Shannon Rajan, Eric Gabriel Gomez and Laarnia Rajandran while AirAsia was represented by lawyer Steven Thiru.


Myanmar’s Suu Kyi defiant in first comments since coup

Detained Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi said her ousted party would “exist as long as the people exist” during her first in-person court appearance since a February coup, her lawyer told AFP Monday.Since the Feb 1 putsch, Myanmar has been in uproar with near-daily protests and a nationwide civil disobedience movement, with more than 800 killed by the military, according to a local monitoring group.“We met with Amay Suu for 30 minutes,” lawyer Min Min Soe told AFP.“There wasn’t much time to talk within 30 minutes, but she sounded healthy and fully confident.”“She wishes her people to stay healthy and affirmed the NLD (National League for Democracy) will exist as long as people exist, because it was founded for the people,” Min Min Soe added.Nobel laureate Suu Kyi has been hit with a string of criminal charges including flouting coronavirus restrictions during last year’s election campaign and possessing unlicensed walkie-talkies.Myanmar’s junta has also threatened to dissolve her NLD political party, which swept elections in 2020, over alleged voter fraud.She had not been seen in public since she was placed under house arrest by the junta, with weeks of delays to her legal case and her lawyers struggling to gain access to their client.There was a heavy security presence in the capital Naypyidaw, an AFP correspondent said, with the road to the specially-constructed courthouse blocked off by trucks of police.


Morocco, France fans clash with police in Paris after World Cup win

French police fired tear gas on the Champs Elysees in Paris as fans were celebrating victories by France and Morocco in the World Cup, sending them to the tournament’s semi-finals.
Thousands of supporters had filled the famous Parisian avenue soon after the match between Morocco and Portugal, chanting, waving flags and honking their horns amid large police deployment. More joined them after France's win against England.
Reuters TV footage showed people smashing shop ventures and fights with police. Some fires could also be seen on avenue de Friedland close to the Champs Elysees.


Trust, the bigger challenge for GE15 victors

Elections are the crystallisation of political history: a moment in which one may see what the system is made of. They are like a snapshot of the country’s political dynamics at a certain point in history.
The election cycle includes the pre-election, election, and post-election period. Along this cycle, academics look at many elements including the debates, manifesto, nominations, media coverage and polling process to measure the quality of the election, and to weigh the degree of democratisation in the country.
The GE15 campaign having started, speculation is now going strong about possible outcomes: will Malaysia's democratisation progress or reverse?
Many threats have emerged in liberal democracies, including institutional rupture, the manipulation of digital platforms and the absence of common narratives. These threats are the expression of a hostility towards democratic values and the main symptom of a global erosion of trust in political power.
All types of regimes are challenged by this phenomenon. While Malaysia is not yet a liberal democracy, it can indeed suffer from the same dysfunctions that challenge mature democracies. This means Malaysia is at a complex moment of its political history, somewhere on the long road toward democracy, and already challenged by the lack of participation or faith, or both, of citizens in the democratic process.
It was this erosion of trust in the political representatives at the time that led to the historical political change in 2018 when Barisan Nasional (BN) lost its political monopoly of six decades to Pakatan Harapan (PH).
This change was perceived as a major step towards greater freedom, even if this new democratic ideal – branded by PH as the New Malaysia – was being brought to Malaysians by the controversial figure of one-time-autocrat-turned-democrat, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
However, the incessant political manoeuvres of PH and its successors became reasons for the further deepening of Malaysians’ disenchantment with democracy.
In a country where the same coalition had ruled for over 60 years, three governments in four years does not sound like democracy but political chaos. Chaos has, for 60 years, been the "fear factor" used by BN to remain in power by claiming that a power change would bring about instability.
BN was right as, in any system, the end of a monopoly opens up the possibility of political shifts, and greater political freedom means an expansion of the political offer and the fragmentation of historical blocs. However, if political change is expected and a sign of a healthy political system, politicking is not as it may reverse electoral choices.
The reversion of election results and the abuse of the people’s choice goes directly against democratic principles and leads to democratic disenchantment. We have witnessed the consequences of the perception by part of the US electorate that elections were "stolen", and their electoral choice thus not respected.
While this narrative was a mere orchestration or alternative reality, built by part of the Republican party, it was nonetheless a reality to the Trump supporters who resorted to extreme violence.
The real "fear" of any regime should indeed be the erosion of trust, as political boredom and lassitude trigger the very symptoms of political illness, and in extreme cases, lead to episodes of violence. Is there any cure?
In the wake of the erosion of trust in democratic institutions and to support and encourage the power shifts called for by many citizens, it is necessary to invent and promote alternative forms of political participation and governance. Malaysia should not wait to become a full-fledged democracy to implement new forms of democratic participation as such innovations would support the democratisation process.
Without over-idealising its potential, the experiences of citizen participation, whether ad hoc citizen assemblies or government-instigated citizen panels, have been conducted in Western democracies with some success. According to the Carnegie Foundation Europe, citizen participation can contribute to "rebooting democracy and creating at least a partial antidote to illiberal populism – to the extent that it addresses citizens’ frustration with not having an impactful say in public policymaking".
One of the areas in which citizen participation has shown interesting prospects is in the decision and implementation of solutions for the environment, sustainability and regenerative economy.
Climate change, induced by human activities, is impacting both urban and rural folks globally, but even more urgently, tropical and south-hemisphere countries in general. The shift of the Southern Hemisphere Westerlies poleward and the alteration of tropical rainfall patterns lead to an increase in natural disasters.
The fact that southern hemisphere countries, while being the less responsible for green gas emissions (with the exception of Indonesia and Australia), are the first to be impacted is well documented. Additionally, the lack of infrastructure, political will, and resources to develop both coping and prevention mechanisms are aggravating factors.
Malaysia’s awareness about climate issues is still recent, and the government has yet to implement any new policies. However, the question is not entirely absent from this campaign’s manifesto. Because the framework in which the government will respond to the urgency of climate change is rather new, it seems the best place to develop the direct involvement of citizens in decision and implementation mechanisms.
However, citizen participative innovation must be thoughtfully implemented as previous experiences in Europe indicate the need for selective participation to ensure the fair representation of every group in order not to reproduce education and social inequalities. It should in fact "improve other forms of democratic accountability, rather than undermining or overshadowing them".
At the end of the day, elections remain the most effective democratic tool – in a context where the process is conducted fairly. We can only hope the new government to be elected by Malaysians will show a little bit of creativity and design solutions to reverse both the erosion of trust and the erosion of natural resources.


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Covid test costs may exceed fares, deterring people from flying

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to ensure that high costs for Covid-19 testing do not put travel out of reach for individuals and families.To facilitate an efficient restart of international travel, Covid-19 testing must be affordable as well as timely, widely available and effective, the body argued.An IATA sampling of costs for PCR tests (the test most frequently required by governments) in 16 countries showed wide variations.Even taking the average of the low-end costs, adding PCR testing to average airfares would dramatically increase the cost of flying.Pre-crisis, an average one-way short haul airline ticket, including taxes and charges, cost US$200 (2019 data).A US$90 PCR test raises the cost by 45% to US$290.Add another test on arrival and the one-way cost would leap by 90% to US$380.Assuming that two tests are needed in each direction, the average cost for an individual return-trip could nearly double from US$400 to US$760.The impact of the costs on family travel would be even more severe.Based on average ticket prices (US$200) and average low-end PCR testing (US$90) twice each way, a journey for four that would have cost US$1,600 pre-Covid, could nearly double to US$3,040, with US$1440 being testing costs.“As travel restrictions are lifted in domestic markets, we are seeing strong demand, and the same can be expected in international markets,” said Willie Walsh, IATA director-general.“But that demand could be perilously compromised by testing costs – particularly PCR testing,” he said. “The impact will be greatest for short-haul trips of below 1,000km. With a fare of US$100, the tests will cost more than the flight.”He warned, “That’s not what you want to propose to travellers as we emerge from this crisis. Testing costs must be better managed. That’s critical if governments want to save tourism and transport jobs. Avoid limiting travel freedoms to the wealthy.”The World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Health Regulations stipulate that states should not charge for testing or vaccination required for travel, or for the issuance of certificates.Many states are ignoring their international treaty obligations, putting a travel recovery in jeopardy and risking millions of livelihoods, say analysts.High testing costs also incentivise the market for fake certificates.Of the markets surveyed by IATA, only France complied with WHO stipulation that the state bear the cost of testing for travellers.


Al Jazeera asks International Court to identify journalist's killers

Al Jazeera on Tuesday said it has made a submission to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot during an Israeli raid in the West Bank in May.
The submission followed an investigation by the television news network's legal team, Al Jazeera said on Twitter.
The ICC must identify the individuals who were directly involved in Abu Akleh's killing, Al Jazeera lawyer Rodney Dixon KC told a news conference in The Hague on Tuesday.
The ICC's Office of the Prosecutor has been investigating possible war crimes and crimes against humanity by either the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) or Palestinian groups in the Palestinian Territories since March 2021. It confirmed on Tuesday it had received a communication from the Al Jazeera Media Network.
"Any individual or group may send information (communications) on alleged crimes to the ICC prosecutor, who is duty bound to protect the confidentiality of the information received," it said in a statement.
"We do not provide comment on individual submissions."
The circumstances of Abu Akleh's killing are disputed.
Palestinian officials and Abu Akleh's family have said they believe she was killed deliberately by Israeli forces and have rejected Israeli statements that there were militants around where she was standing.
Israel's military said in September that she was likely unintentionally shot by an Israeli soldier but could have also been hit by Palestinian fire.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said on Tuesday: "No one will interrogate IDF soldiers and no one will preach to us about morals of combat, certainly not the Al Jazeera network."


Respectful or inappropriate? Teachers give their two cents on ‘second parent titles’

Educationists have expressed mixed reactions to the use of terms of endearment such as “daddy” or “abah” by students for their teachers, with some saying this could lead to a crossing of boundaries in the relationship and others appearing more comfortable with the practice.The issue surfaced after a video clip of students calling their tuition teacher by such terms during an online class went viral on social media.Some said it was part of Malaysian culture to show respect to elders through the use of these terms while others voiced concern that it could lead to problems in the long run.Normala Mukhtar, president of the parent-teacher association of SK Seksyen 17 in Shah Alam, said what is considered appropriate in this sense changes with time.“In my time, we didn’t have any problems calling our teachers ‘father’ or ‘mother’, especially when we were at boarding school. Such terms were respectful names for our teachers.“But in this era, I believe it would be better to have guidelines to prevent any controversial issues between teachers, parents and students,” she told MalaysiaNow.Norhaslinda Zakaria, a chemistry teacher at SM Sains Bagan Datoh, said these terms were inappropriate for use in an educational setting.“Some might think that the use of such titles will create closer bonds and relationships between teachers and students, but undeniably, there are repercussions to this,” she said, citing the possibility of sexual grooming.“Boundaries might not be respected, either,” she added. “I am not trying to be pessimistic here but anything could happen.”Yasoda, an English teacher at SMK St Bernadette’s Convent in Batu Gajah, said teachers as the older and wiser party should be the ones managing boundaries with students.Yasoda, who has taught for as long as she can remember, has no issues with students calling their teachers by parental terms as long as the teachers themselves know how to keep an appropriate distance.Speaking to MalaysiaNow, she said some students have a very close bond with their teachers and are more comfortable with them than they are with their own parents.Both Norhaslinda and Normala however said there are other ways that teachers can create a connection with their students, key among which is building a sense of trust.“When this trust is successfully created, such terms of endearment are absolutely unnecessary,” Norhaslinda said.She also criticised the trend of calling those in positions of power or influence by fatherly names in a professional setting.“My concern is that, along the way, people may lose the sense of respect that should be given to these individuals who must be respected in their fields of work,” she said.“While we are trying to close the gap between teachers and students, something else may be jeopardised.”Normala however chalked this up to Malaysia’s “budi bahasa” culture where it is normal for a person to be called “abah” or “daddy”, even in political settings.“I think this has become our culture,” she said, citing the example of former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin who was often referred to as “Abah”.Beyond concerns over sexual grooming and boundaries, there is also the issue of the job scope and responsibility of teachers.Norhaslinda said teachers, especially those at boarding schools, have enough on their plates as it is.She voiced concern that being given “second parent titles” might lead to the impression that teachers have the same responsibilities as parents.“Schools should be a safe place for students and it is the job of teachers to make sure of that. But it is out of teachers’ capacity to do more than that, what more carry out the tasks of a parent,” she said.Long-time teacher Yasoda, on the other hand, already considers herself as a second parent to some of her students who still keep in touch with her and share their problems even though they have left school.“They feel comfortable, that’s why they do that. So I think it’s okay for a teacher to be a second parent to students.”The caveat, she added, is that teachers must be aware of their boundaries and the distance that they should keep.At the end of the day, though, there are some areas in which a teacher’s job inevitably overlaps with the tasks of a parent.“Like it or not, we can’t deny that teachers spend most of their time with our kids,” Normala said.“Sometimes they know our children more than we do.”


Mindef told to get answers for conflicting statements on combat ship programme

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has asked the defence ministry to seek an explanation from Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation (BHIC) following a discrepancy in statements regarding the forensic audit report related to the littoral combat ship (LCS) programme.
PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh said in the proceedings attended by ministry secretary-general Muez Abdul Aziz yesterday, he raised the issue of the deletion (redaction/removal) of some information in the report.
"At the previous session (proceedings) before this, BHIC explained that the company received the deleted (redacted) forensic report from the defence ministry before it submitted the report to PAC.
"However, on Wednesday when the secretary-general of the ministry was present, he stated to PAC that the ministry never received the report, that it was a BHIC document, and it (the ministry) was not involved in the deletion (redaction)," he said in a press conference at the Parliament building yesterday.
Wong said the defence ministry would need to obtain an explanation from BHIC and submit comments to PAC regarding what had actually transpired.


China's Shenzhen shuts key electronics market to fight Covid

Authorities in China's southern city of Shenzhen temporarily closed the world's largest electronics market of Huaqiangbei and suspended service at 24 subway stations in a bid to curb an outbreak of Covid-19 on Monday.
Three key buildings of the sprawling area, comprised of thousands of stalls selling microchips, telephone parts, and other components to manufacturers, will stay closed until Sept 2.
Local community officials confirmed Monday's closure to Reuters, while three people working there said building managers had told them to work from home.
The same official Shenzhen channels called a halt to subway services at 24 stations in the central districts of Futian and Luohu.
On Monday, the tech hub of 18 million people reported nine symptomatic and two asymptomatic cases from testing the previous day.


Rare Einstein papers set record at Paris auction

Albert Einstein’s handwritten notes for the theory of relativity fetched a record €11.6 million (US$13 million) at an auction in Paris on Tuesday.The manuscript had been valued at around a quarter of the final sum, which is by far the highest ever paid for anything written by the genius scientist.It contains preparatory work for the physicist’s signature achievement, the theory of general relativity, which he published in 1915.Calling the notes “without a doubt the most valuable Einstein manuscript ever to come to auction”, Christie’s – which handled the sale on behalf of the Aguttes auction house – had estimated prior to the auction that it would fetch €2-3 million.Previous records for Einstein’s works were US$2.8 million for the so-called “God letter” in 2018, and US$1.56 million in 2017 for a letter about the secret to happiness.The 54-page document sold on Tuesday was handwritten in 1913 and 1914 in Zurich, Switzerland, by Einstein and his colleague and confidant, Swiss engineer Michele Besso.Christie’s said it was thanks to Besso that the manuscript was preserved for posterity.This was “almost like a miracle” since the German-born genius himself would have been unlikely to hold on to what he considered to be a simple working document, Christie’s said.Today, the paper offers “a fascinating plunge into the mind of the 20th century’s greatest scientist”, it said.It discusses his theory of general relativity, building on his theory of special relativity from 1905 that was encapsulated in the famous equation E=mc2.Einstein died in 1955 aged 76, lauded as one of the greatest theoretical physicists of all time.His theories of relativity revolutionised his field by introducing new ways of looking at the movement of objects in space and time.In 1913, Besso and Einstein “attacked one of the problems that had been troubling the scientific community for decades: the anomaly of the planet Mercury’s orbit,” Christie’s said.This initial manuscript contains “a certain number of unnoticed errors”, it added.Once Einstein spotted them, he let the paper drop, and it was taken away by Besso.“Scientific documents by Einstein in this period, and before 1919 generally, are extremely rare,” Christie’s added.“Being one of only two working manuscripts documenting the genesis of the theory of general relativity that we know about, it is an extraordinary witness to Einstein’s work.”Einstein also made major contributions to quantum mechanics theory and won the Nobel physics prize in 1921.He also became a pop culture icon thanks to his dry witticisms, and trademark unruly hair, moustache and bushy eyebrows.


Sri Ram to defend himself against Rosmah’s bid to disqualify him, court told

The High Court was today told that former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram will argue personally against Rosmah Mansor’s application to disqualify him as lead prosecutor in her corruption trial linked to the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustafa P Kunyalam informed the court of this during case management before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.“Sri Ram himself will lead the submissions because he said this affects him personally, so he will come and submit, that is my instruction,” Mustafa said.Counsel Jagjit Singh, who leads Rosmah’s legal team, stood to object, saying there was no locus standi for Sri Ram to do so.“Sri Ram cannot argue his own cause, although this is not a judge in his own cause, it affects him personally. It will become a mockery. This is highly improper and coming from an ex-judge, he should know better,” said Jagjit.But Mustafa cited the case of Anwar Ibrahim, in which Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s appointment as a deputy public prosecutor was challenged and Shafee appeared himself to defend his appointment.“We are guided by Anwar Ibrahim’s case. Shafee was asked to be disqualified, he submitted on his own, there was no issue, it was decided by a Federal Court judge,” he added.Rosmah’s other lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader replied that there was no issue about the fiat in Shafee’s appointment as deputy public prosecutor.“But here, the fiat (in Sri Ram’s appointment) is being challenged. He doesn’t have locus standi as far as the matter is concerned,” Akberdin added.Shafee was appointed by the attorney-general by fiat (authorisation) under Section 376 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and Article 145 (3) of the Federal Constitution to conduct the appeal in Anwar’s case.Zaini asked both parties to resolve the issue before the hearing of the application.“I don’t want any technical issues raised during the hearing. Please think about this matter,” the judge said, fixing June 3 to hear Rosmah’s application.Last Thursday, Rosmah, 69, filed two applications at the High Court seeking to nullify her entire trial in a bid to be acquitted of all three charges and seeking once again to remove Sri Ram as lead prosecutor in her trial.The applications were filed after the Court of Appeal, on April 8, allowed her appeal to obtain a copy of Sri Ram’s appointment letter after the prosecution agreed to provide it to the defence team.Rosmah brought the matter up for appeal after the High Court dismissed her application for Sri Ram’s appointment letter on Aug 19 last year.The appointment letter was not dated on or before Nov 15, 2018, the day when Rosmah was charged in court, and was not signed by then attorney-general Tommy Thomas. Instead, the letter was dated July 8 last year and signed by current Attorney-General Idrus Harun.On Feb 18, Zaini ordered Rosmah to enter her defence on all three corruption charges and fixed nine days, June 9,10,15,16,17,22, 23 and July 12 and 15, to hear the evidence from Rosmah and other defence witnesses.


No deferral, Najib's final SRC appeal to proceed on Aug 18

Najib Razak's main appeal to set aside his conviction and sentence in the RM42 million SRC International case will be heard on Aug 18.
This follows the decision of the five-man Federal Court panel led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, dismissing Najib’s application to postpone the hearing of his appeal.
"The main appeal will proceed on Thursday at 9.30am," Tengku Maimun said.
This is the former prime minister's final appeal after a three-man Court of Appeal bench on Dec 8 last year upheld the Pekan MP’s conviction, 12-year jail term and RM210 million fine handed down by High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Ghazali on July 28, 2020.
The other judges on the bench are Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim and Federal Court judges Nallini Pathmanathan, Mary Lim Thiam Suan and Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah.
In delivering the court’s decision, Tengku Maimun ruled that the request for a postponement by Najib’s lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik for a period of at least three to four months was unanimously refused as the right to a fair trial is that justice cannot be unduly delayed.
"In this regard, we remind ourselves of the Chief Justice’s Code of Ethics, which states that cases of this nature must be prioritised. The stark reality is that considerable public funds would be wasted if granting an adjournment in a case of this kind was an easier option.
"Article 8 of the Federal Constitution and the rule of law demand that the appellant be treated like any other accused. As such, we state again that while the appellant is entitled to his right to change his counsel, he was not entitled to make this choice at the expense of the court, the prosecution or the entire justice system," she said, adding that the defence had sought an adjournment of these appeals for the simple reason that they were not prepared.
Tengku Maimun added that the time taken on this case, especially the number of days fixed for hearing, meant that many other criminal cases and accused persons had had to wait their turn for their appeals to be heard.
"Justice delayed, in this case, is also justice denied to other accused persons," she said.
In the context of this case, Tengku Maimun said, the court unreservedly accepted the notion that the right to a fair trial is part and parcel of the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed by Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution.
"This leads us to the primary reason given by the counsel for the appellant in favour of an adjournment which we stated earlier. In short, an adjournment ought to be granted because the new defence team needs adequate time to prepare. In other words, they are not ready.
"We start by saying we agree that in appropriate cases, where the counsel is not ready to proceed for legitimate reasons, the court should be minded to adjourn a cause or matter. We do not think this is the case here," she said, adding that the counsel should make every effort to be ready for trial.
Tengku Maimun said the appellant had in fact been well aware of the dates fixed for the hearing and had elected to discharge his former solicitors and appoint Messrs Zaid Ibrahim and Hisyam as his solicitors and counsel respectively.
"This is his (Najib) right to do so but he cannot, after having made that decision, turn around and say that his new lawyers are not ready to proceed with the hearing of the appeals.
"The new lawyers, too, having accepted the brief, are not entitled to say that they need more time to prepare, knowing full well that the dates had been fixed well in advance," Tengku Maimun said, adding that the request for the adjournment and the grounds in support thereof were neither cogent nor reasonable.
Najib changed his legal team just 21 days ahead of the appeal, appointing Hisyam as his lead counsel and law firm Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners’ (ZIST) partners Liew Teck Huat and M Rueben as his new solicitors for the appeal.
On July 26, Najib discharged with immediate effect Messrs Shafee & Co, led by Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, from representing him in his final appeal.
He is currently out on bail of RM2 million with two sureties pending his appeal.
When met by reporters after the proceedings, Najib said he was shocked and bitterly disappointed with today's ruling.


Govt secretariat forms three committees, including election body

The government secretariat that met last night established three committees, including an election committee to draft strategies for the upcoming state elections, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says.
The other two committees are the strategy committee and the government and political agenda monitoring committee.
"The election committee will focus on the upcoming state elections, including the issue of seat allocations, to ensure a strong and united foundation between parties, including Sabah and Sarawak," he said at a press conference after chairing the secretariat’s first meeting at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur last night.
Anwar, who is also the Pakatan Harapan chairman, said the election committee would meet soon and involve the election director of every party.
He said there would also be a strategic communications committee to tackle extreme cases of slander, such as the recent Quran burning issue.
"There were false accusations where certain religious figures alleged that we (the government) did nothing, whereas we strongly objected, and the foreign minister summoned the Swedish ambassador, while I myself announced the distribution of a million copies of the Quran," he said.
Anwar said that the government and political agenda monitoring committee would prioritise the monitoring of policies, including those on the cost of living.
He announced Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusoff as the secretariat’s secretary-general, Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki as chief of the secretariat, and government party leaders as deputy chairmen.
"The chairman of each committee will be determined later, while the terms for each committee is to ensure that every policy is agreed upon together and decided at the Cabinet meetings.
"The secretariat will also provide its views on government policies and ensure that all views are considered as the policies are drafted," he said, adding that the secretariat would meet every month.


Anwar’s bravado causing jitters in the business community

Like most Malaysians, I have been hit by the unexpected economic downturn brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. But what is more unfortunate about the economic fallout which is beyond our control is that the problem has been compounded by unnecessary political wrangling, which is avoidable.Anwar Ibrahim’s recent moves to topple the government led by Muhyiddin Yassin have created ripples on the economic front. Since his announcement late last month of having secured enough MPs to support his bid to become the country’s ninth PM, an air of uncertainty has descended on the business community. I can vouch for this as I am part of the corporate community.The ringgit fell to a near two-year low on Sept 23 following Anwar’s announcement of having secured “convincing and formidable” support to form the next government. On the same day, Bursa Malaysians FBM KLCI shed 17.24 points at midday to 1,491.74.The speculation and uncertainties became so bad that Anwar had to issue a statement on Oct 12, one day before his audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, denying any links to the active movements involving certain counters on the bourse. But the damage had been done.This uncertainty has yet to subside as political blocs seem to be regrouping following Anwar’s palace audience, with Umno threatening to withdraw its support for Perikatan Nasional, and DAP and Amanah apparently willing to join forces with Umno and PAS.Personally, I got my fingers burnt in the share market during the period following Anwar’s announcement, despite the steady gains my portfolio had been making since the movement control order was relaxed in May.My losses may be insignificant in the larger scheme of things, but I can attest that the business community detests uncertainties like the one that followed Anwar’s announcement. Investors are spooked each time there’s a change in government, or even a potential change in one.We prefer certainty so that we can plan ahead and not be caught unawares by sudden policy changes or new administrative rulings. One good example of the disruptions brought about by changes in government is the Cabinet’s decision in August to re-tender the massive Klang Valley Double Tracking Project.The re-tendering was made despite the project being first awarded by the Barisan Nasional government before the 2018 general election. Subsequently, the PH government slashed the quantum for the project. After Perikatan Nasional came into power, the massive infrastructural project was re-tendered again.At the end of the day, it’s the public who are at the losing end due to the unnecessary delay. With investors spooked, a rising number are already exploring the possibility of putting their money in other emerging markets like Vietnam. The risk of capital flight is real.Anwar’s bravado in trying to trigger a change in government is most unnecessary, and, if I may add, selfish. Even during normal times, we can do without such uncertainty, much less at a time of unprecedented economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.To me, it borders on economic sabotage. Politics should not be at the expense of livelihoods or undermine our economic fundamentals during these trying times.A change of government can be made through the ballot box or in the legislature without spooking investors and heightening their anxiety. Anything beyond that during this time is selfish and only exposes one’s true colours.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Contact lost with passenger plane in Russia’s Far East

Contact has been lost with a passenger plane carrying more than two dozen people in Russia’s Far Eastern peninsula of Kamchatka, local officials said Tuesday.The An-26 was flying from Kamchatka’s main city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to the town of Palana when it disappeared and failed to land as scheduled, Valentina Glazova, a spokesman for the local transport prosecutor’s office, told AFP.She said 29 people were on board, including 23 passengers and six crew.“Search and rescue efforts are underway,” she said. “All that is known at this time, what has been possible to establish, is that communication with the plane was interrupted and it did not land.”She said the plane had been operated by a local aviation company in Kamchatka, a vast peninsula in Russia’s extreme Far East on the Pacific Ocean.Russian news agencies quoted local officials as saying there were 28 people on board, including six crew, and that there were one or two children among the passengers.There were conflicting reports of what may have happened, with one source telling news agency TASS the plane could have crashed into the sea and another telling Interfax it may have gone down near a coal mine close to Palana.A search had been launched involving at least two helicopters and rescue workers were on standby, the reports said.Lax safety persistsRussia, once notorious for plane accidents, has improved its air traffic safety record in recent years.But poor aircraft maintenance and lax safety standards still persist, and the country has seen several deadly air accidents in recent years.The last major air accident took place in May 2019, when a Sukhoi Superjet belonging to the flag carrier airline Aeroflot crash-landed and caught fire on the runway of a Moscow airport, killing 41 people.In February 2018, a Saratov Airlines An-148 aircraft crashed near Moscow shortly after take-off, killing all 71 people on board. An investigation later concluded that the accident was caused by human error.Russia also frequently experiences non-fatal air incidents that result in re-routed flights and emergency landings, usually stemming from technical issues.In August 2019, a Ural Airlines flight carrying more than 230 people made a miracle landing in a Moscow corn field after a flock of birds were sucked into the engines shortly after take-off.In February 2020, a Utair Boeing 737 carrying 100 people crash-landed on its belly in northern Russia after its landing system malfunctioned. All of the flight’s passengers and its crew survived.Flying in Russia can also be dangerous in the vast country’s isolated regions with difficult weather conditions such as the Arctic and the Far East.


Bukit Aman probes Anwar for urging Agong to revoke emergency

Police in Bukit Aman are investigating PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim over a statement he posted online calling on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to cancel the emergency declaration, MalaysiaNow has learnt.Perak police chief Mior Faridalathrash Wahid confirmed receiving a police report against the politician, saying it had been referred to Bukit Aman.“We only assisted in recording the statement, after which we will submit the report to them (Bukit Aman),” he told MalaysiaNow.The report claimed that Anwar had committed sedition by questioning the Agong’s constitutional power to declare emergency rule.On Jan 12, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah consented to a proclamation of emergency in a move to help efforts to combat the sharp spike in Covid-19 cases nationwide.The move was also seen as a way of ensuring political stability throughout the pandemic season, in the face of threats by several Umno MPs to revoke their support for the ruling bloc.Article 150 of the Federal Constitution empowers the Agong to declare a state of emergency where parliament can be suspended, if he is satisfied that the economy and public order are under threat.The move drew criticism from several opposition leaders, with Anwar announcing a letter-writing campaign to get MPs to request the Agong to revoke the proclamation.Anwar had also prepared a draft of the letter to be sent to the palace, and told MPs that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s move to declare an emergency was not valid.He later said he was not questioning the Agong’s powers.Yesterday, he filed a suit to get the court to declare Muhyiddin’s advice to suspend Parliament during the emergency as unconstitutional, rewording his earlier call upon the Agong to revoke the emergency.Mior said two other reports had been lodged in Kuala Lumpur and Seremban, aside from the report lodged in Perak.He said the investigations are being carried out under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code on causing public alarm and fear leading to offences detrimental to public peace, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act on the misuse of the internet.In the police report filed in Perak, activist Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah said Anwar had challenged the authority of the Agong stated in Article 150(8) of the constitution.According to the clause, the Agong’s decision is “final and conclusive”, and will not be subjected to any jurisdiction by the court to challenge its validity “in whatever form, on any grounds”.“So if the Federal Constitution states that it cannot be challenged and questioned on whatever grounds in any court, it follows too that it cannot be challenged and questioned outside the court,” Khalil said in his report sighted by MalaysiaNow.He said Anwar’s action was serious as he wields influence as the parliamentary opposition leader and the chairman of Pakatan Harapan.Khalil added that a Facebook post by Anwar on the matter had been removed.


AirAsia delays throw passenger plans into disarray

Yadawwiyyah Samani spent the month of Ramadan looking forward to the arrival of her oldest son who had left the family home in Johor Bahru to work in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.Eager to reunite with her child, Yadawwiyyah, 40, went ahead and bought a flight ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Johor. She paid RM104 for a seat on the flight which was scheduled to depart at 1.30pm on May 2.On the morning of the flight, her son Abdullah Aiman Abdul Ghaffar arrived bright and early at the AirAsia counter in KL Sentral. It was 10.30am; he had arrived in plenty of time for his flight at 1.30pm.However, he was told by the personnel at the counter that he would have to check in at klia2 instead.Aiman was taken aback but nonetheless made his way to klia2 where he was shocked to see the crowds milling about.It was 11.30am when he joined the queue for the AirAsia counter. It wasn’t until 1pm that he finally reached it.Back in Johor, Yadawwiyyah was waiting for her son’s call – but when the phone finally rang, it was not the news she had been expecting.“Aiman told me that the staff at the counter had said that he was too late,” she said. “He couldn’t board his flight.”The official then directed him to a counter set up to deal with such problems. But even there, he was forced to wait two hours before he could speak with the person in charge.By then, Yadawwiyyah and Aiman had only limited options if he was to make it home in time for Hari Raya. She got into the car and drove from the Senai International Airport where she had been waiting for his arrival to klia2 to pick him up.By the time she got there, it was 4.30pm. Along the way, she managed to contact a customer service personnel whom she asked about getting refunded for the ticket.“He told me that the company would take care of it,” she said.Nonetheless, it was with anger and frustration that she finally arrived at klia2. There, she railed at the AirAsia counter staff, demanding an explanation for her son’s experience.“We waited at the airport until dusk but received no logical explanation,” she said.As they waited, however, they heard stories from other passengers who swapped tales of their own experiences.“It was all very disappointing,” Yadawwiyyah said.She and Aiman started off for home but did not get there until 2am. The entire family ended up celebrating Hari Raya on the second day instead of the first.SafetyYadawwiyyah and Aiman were among the many passengers whose plans were upended by delays and unscheduled disruptions to flight schedules throughout the festive period.The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) said yesterday that it was looking into the flood of complaints and that it had directed the airlines in question to submit the relevant data regarding flight schedule disruptions from April 29 to May 9.Mavcom executive chairman Saripuddin Kasim also urged customers who had faced delays or flight issues and who had not received “the proper care” to lodge a formal complaint with the airline in question, and to forward their complaints to the commission.Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi meanwhile said that AirAsia had been given 24 hours to provide feedback on consumer issues, including those related to flight delays and rescheduling, following a wave of complaints on social media.AirAsia itself later apologised for the situation, saying “several factors and unavoidable incidents” had resulted in delays that were “beyond the airline’s expectations and control”.William Cheah, from Semporna, Sabah, had a similar story of frustration and disappointment.He booked two tickets on an AirAsia flight scheduled to leave at 3.40pm on May 9.“I specifically chose that time for safety reasons,” he told MalaysiaNow.“The tickets were for two young girls in our care who were 17 and 14 years old.”The girls had been in Semporna in order to carry out community service. Despite Cheah’s best efforts, their flight was unexpectedly delayed until 11.30pm.“The main problem for us heading to the airport at night was the road conditions from Semporna to Tawau,” Cheah said.“It’s very uncertain at night.”In the end, the girls’ flight was not ready to leave until 1am. Their legal guardian, a single mother waiting to pick them up in Kuala Lumpur, had to make the trip to the airport alone at 4am.“We wanted to avoid something like this,” Cheah said. “That’s why we picked a flight at three in the afternoon.“They arrived home safe and sound at 5am but the older girl had to go straight to school just two hours later.”MalaysiaNow’s efforts to obtain a response from AirAsia have so far failed.“We will inform you of any developments,” a spokesman told MalaysiaNow.