Why scientists think UK variant could be more deadly

The announcement that the coronavirus strain sweeping Britain could be more deadly as well as more transmissible has raised fresh concerns about the variant that has spread to dozens of countries.Initially British experts said that their evidence suggested the new strain circulating in the UK – one of several to have emerged internationally in recent months – was between 50% and 70% more transmissible.On Friday, however, the government said the new variant could also be 30-40% more deadly, although it stressed the assessment relied on sparse data.What has changed?In mid-January, two separate studies by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Imperial College London were presented to Britain’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag).They linked data from people who tested positive for the virus in the community – rather than in hospital – with death data and found a roughly 30% increase in the risk of death associated with the new strain.The groups used slightly different methods, but both matched people with the new variant to those with the older variants, taking into account other variables like age and location and controlling for hospitals being under pressure.Other studies by Exeter University and Public Health England also found higher deaths and both came up with even higher figures.Based on these analyses, Nervtag said there was “a realistic possibility” that infection with the new variant is associated with an increased risk of death compared with previously circulating variants.The increase in transmissibility associated to the variant was already causing alarm, because the more people the virus infects the more people will suffer serious illness and the risk of death.“Unfortunately, it looks as if this virus might be both” more infectious and potentially more deadly, John Edmunds, a professor in LSHTM’s Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, told a press briefing Monday“So it’s really a serious turn for the worse unfortunately,” he said.How reliable are the findings?Researchers said there were still uncertainties in the data and said the picture would become clearer in the next few weeks.Edmunds said the findings were “statistically significant”.But he said while the studies used information from those tested in the community, most people who die of Covid-19 go straight to hospital and are tested there.Researchers do not yet have that hospital information.Nervtag said this lag in data could be why the studies did not find evidence of an increase in hospitalisations of people with the new variant, which seems at odds with the findings of increased severity of disease.It also said the mortality data used in the research only covers 8% of the total deaths during the study period and said the results “may therefore not be representative of the total population”.Why more deadly?Researchers think it could be the same set of mutations that has made it more infectious – although all stress more study is needed.One mutation in particular increases the virus’ ability to latch on more strongly to human cells and Nervtag head Peter Horby, an emerging infectious disease professor at Oxford University, said evidence suggests this means it could make it easier to become infected.“If it’s then able to spread between cells much quicker within the lungs, that may increase the rate of disease and the rate of inflammation, which may then progress quicker than your body can respond to, so it could explain both characteristics of the virus,” he said.Bjorn Meyer, virologist at France’s Institut Pasteur, told AFP that the issue could be viral load.“The virus might not have evolved to be more deadly as such, but it might have evolved to grow more or better, which could cause more damage in a patient overall,” he said.Does this affect treatments?Horby, who also leads the recovery trial – which identified the steroid dexamethasone as effective for severely ill hospital patients – said there was “no evidence” that treatments would work less well.Anti-inflammatories such as dexamethasone “should work equally as well because it’s not related to the virus, it is related to the host response”, he said.Horby said overall improvements in therapies and treatments – including things like better strategies for hospital respiratory support – have brought down case fatality rates since the first wave and could even “offset any difference with this new variant”.As for the vaccines, a preliminary study this month from Britain and the Netherlands found the variant would not be able to evade the protective effect of current vaccines.Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna have also released early research suggesting their vaccines would still be effective against the strain.Don’t viruses weaken as they spread?Scientists have sought to challenge the belief that the virus will become get less virulent as it evolves to become more infectious.The virus that causes Covid-19 is already “very good at its job of getting transmitted” said Emma Hocroft, an epidemiologist at the University of Bern.“So I don’t think that we can make this assumption that it wants to be less severe. I don’t want to downplay that it is severe for many people, but for the majority of people, it’s not severe,” she told AFP.She said the ability to transmit before it kills was “a really low bar”, citing diseases like measles and HIV that have remained as dangerous.Graham Medley, a professor of Infectious Disease Modelling at the LSHTM, told the Monday press briefing that despite uncertainties in the new studies on the new variant in the UK, they should dispel the idea that it would become less virulent.“It’s certainly not the case that this is a more benign virus,” he said.


Activists, NGO leaders silent over Nurul Izzah's appointment

Activists previously vocal on issues of integrity have remained mum on the subject of Nurul Izzah Anwar's appointment as a senior economic and finance adviser to her father, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, amid criticism by those who describe the move as nepotism.
MalaysiaNow's attempts to obtain the views of Maria Chin Abdullah and Ambiga Sreenevasan were unsuccessful as of press time.
When contacted, Maria – a PKR member and the former MP for Petaling Jaya – said she had no comment as many had already aired their views on the matter.
"Many have already spoken, so let that be enough lest it turn into a controversy," she said.
Former Bersih chairman Ambiga, meanwhile, could not be reached.
Nurul's appointment sparked a barrage of criticism, due, among others, to Anwar's staunch objection to nepotism and cronyism during his time in the opposition.
Anwar defended the move, stressing that Nurul's appointment was on a pro bono basis. Nevertheless, the calls have continued for him to re-evaluate her role.
Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor had described Nurul's appointment as unusual, saying such a thing had never been done by any prime minister before.
He also raised concerns that it would be used as a benchmark for other political leaders to appoint family members to important positions in the government.
"If she isn't being paid, her role appears to be more like a social service," he said in a report by Berita Harian.
"It would be better for her to work at an NGO. But instead, she is advising on government policies, managing procurements, making sure that tenders are properly taken care of – that is the work of a government official."
Nurul, who lost her Permatang Pauh seat in the recent polls, said her appointment took effect on Jan 3.
She said her experience as an MP would come in handy when engaging with "experts in navigating economic governance, accountability and evidence-based policies".
She also said she had been busy meeting with business groups and stakeholders as part of the preparations for the upcoming budget to be tabled by her father.
Anwar later defended the appointment, saying Nurul was qualified for the role despite not having a suitable economics background.
He also said that he wanted Nurul to help the government, including by ensuring a transparent administration and the proper award of government tenders.
Economist Yeah Kim Leng said Nurul's appointment meant that her every move would be in the limelight.
Yeah, of Sunway University, said this would force the former MP to be careful and to ensure that none of her decisions could be questioned.
"From an alternative perspective, she will continue to be watched as she is seen as the daughter of the prime minister," he said.
"This will put her under constant pressure to do her best. From this perspective, nepotism will take a back seat while how well she performs, and whether she can come up with good solutions, will be the number one priority."


South Korea reports record 90,443 Covid cases, daily count doubles in a week

South Korea on Wednesday reported a daily record of 90,443 new coronavirus cases, as numbers nearly doubled within a week amid the spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant.The record count for Tuesday marked a drastic surge from 57,177 a day before and brought total infections in the country since the pandemic began to 1,552,851. Deaths remain comparatively low, though, with 39 fatalities on Tuesday and a total of 7,202 so far, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).The country of 52 million population has largely been a Covid-19 mitigation success story, thanks mainly to widespread wearing of masks, social distancing and aggressive testing and tracing.But authorities have shifted testing and tracing policy, in line with the less fatal Omicron variant’s spread, toward self-monitoring and diagnosis and at-home treatment starting this month.Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said the government was considering easing the current strict distancing curbs which include a 9pm curfew for restaurants, cafes and bars, and a ban on gatherings of more than six vaccinated people.More than 86% of South Koreans have been fully vaccinated and 58% have received a booster shot, KDCA data showed.


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South Korea prime minister calls for calm as Covid cases hit new record

South Korea’s prime minister on Wednesday called on people not to panic about a major increase in coronavirus infections as new daily cases surged past 170,000 for the first time.Serious cases and deaths are at manageable levels despite record cases caused by the highly infectious Omicron variant, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum told a pandemic response meeting.“Although our awareness and implementation of anti-Covid rules should not be loosened, there is no reason at all to fear or panic about the numbers of new cases as in the past,” he said, according to a transcript.South Korea reported 171,452 new coronavirus cases for Tuesday, another daily record and a sharp increase from 99,573 a day before, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on Wednesday.Deaths have slowly ticked up, reaching a near-record high 99 on Tuesday, but South Korean authorities say real-world data shows people infected with the Omicron coronavirus variant are nearly 75% less likely to develop serious illness or die than those who contract the Delta variant.A study by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) of some 67,200 infections confirmed since December showed the Omicron variant’s severity and death rates averaged 0.38% and 0.18%, respectively, compared with 1.4% and 0.7% for the Delta cases.Around 56% of 1,073 people who died over a five week period were either unvaccinated or had received only one dose, the study showed, with people aged 60 or older accounting for 94% of deaths, officials said on Monday.More than 86% of South Korea’s 52 million population have been double vaccinated and nearly 60% have received a booster shot.South Korea has approved Pfizer’s PFE.N Covid-19 vaccine for use with children aged 5-11, the country’s food and drug ministry said on Wednesday. Read full storyChildren should get one-third of the regular dose, administered twice with a three week interval, the ministry said in a statement. Children with significantly declined immunity can get a booster four weeks later.Kim said social distancing rules will be relaxed after the current wave peaks, which some experts estimate may come in mid-March.“Omicron’s spread is still racing to its peak, but once it is assured that severe cases and deaths can be stably managed, we will reform the broad framework of our anti-virus quarantine policy including social distancing,” Kim said.Current rules include mask mandates for public places, vaccine passes for certain locations and events, a six-person limit on private gatherings, a 10pm curfew for eateries and a seven-day quarantine for international arrivals.South Korea has reported a total of 2.3 million cases since the pandemic began, with 7,607 deaths.


Taliban promise ‘good news’ on girls’ education

Afghanistan’s interior minister promised “very good news” soon on the return of girls to secondary schools, in a rare interview broadcast Monday by CNN.At the end of March, the Taliban, who took power after US forces withdrew from the country last August, closed high schools and colleges for girls just hours after their reopening.The unexpected reversal, ordered by Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Taliban and of the country, outraged many Afghans and the international community.“I would like to provide some clarification. There is no one who opposes education for women,” said Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, long one of the most secretive Taliban leaders and who only showed his face in public for the first time in March.He argued that girls could already go to primary school. “Above that grade, the work is continuing on a mechanism” to allow girls to attend secondary school, he said in his first televised interview.“Very soon you will hear very good news about this issue,” he said.Haqqani hinted that the “mechanism” was linked to school dress codes, explaining that education should be based on Afghan “culture” and “Islamic rules and principles,” and referred “more broadly” to the issue of women wearing the hijab.After their return to power, the Taliban demanded that women wear at least a hijab, a scarf covering the head but revealing the face.But since the beginning of May, they have instead forced them to wear a full veil in public and preferably a burqa, which had been compulsory when they first ran the country between 1996 and 2001.“If someone is giving away their daughters or sisters, they do that based on total trust,” he said.“We must establish the conditions so that we can ensure their honor and security. We are acting to ensure this.”The Haqqani network that was founded by his late father and which he now heads is accused of carrying out some of the most violent attacks perpetrated by the Taliban in Afghanistan in the past 20 years.Sirajuddin Haqqani himself is still on the FBI’s most wanted list, with a US$10 million reward for any information that could lead to his arrest.On CNN, the minister said that “the last 20 years was a situation of defensive fighting and war” but that he wanted in the future “to have good relations with the US and the international community.”“We do not look at them as enemies,” he said, insisting that the Taliban intends to respect the agreement signed with Washington in 2020, in which they pledged not to let Afghanistan become a haven for terrorists targeting Americans again.


End political posturing over emergency, prominent thinker tells opposition leaders

One of Malaysia’s most prominent social critics has urged the opposition to prove it is serious about joining the battle against Covid-19 by accepting an offer to join the bipartisan committee to oversee the Covid-19 state of emergency.“The opposition should show greater maturity and sense of responsibility, and the public will appreciate this,” Chandra Muzaffar told MalaysiaNow.This comes as several senior Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders step up talk of challenging the proclamation in court, with threats to boycott the bipartisan committee to be formed in the coming days.Chandra said the announcement that the committee would include opposition MPs was unprecedented and a break from past emergencies the nation had seen.“The Covid-19 emergency declared last week was very specific in its orientation, with a clear deadline and period of time compared to the previous emergencies,” he told MalaysiaNow, responding to criticism against the move to declare an emergency.“The actual power related to the emergency this time is with the committee. Not the prime minister or the Cabinet.”He added that in 2013, then-prime minister Najib Razak had rescinded all past emergency proclamations as they had remained quietly in force.“I don’t think any government that comes after that would want to put in place an emergency as the main foundation of governance.”Malaysia had gone through several major emergencies which saw sweeping powers for the police and armed forces, including in the aftermath of the 1960 racial riots, and during the Confrontation with Indonesia.Chandra said this is no longer the case.“This is an emergency that is linked to a health crisis, ultimately to an economic crisis, both of which have a devastating impact on the people.“If the opposition cares for the people, they should participate and not throw bricks from outside.”He said being part of the emergency committee would not compromise the opposition as the committee is answerable to the Agong, and not the prime minister.“Take it for what it’s worth. If they feel it is not working, that’s a different matter, but they should give it a chance.“Given the war-like situation and the role offered to the opposition in the committee, I think the opposition should have adopted a more responsible approach,” Chandra added.


Floods cause havoc in Klang Valley as heavy rain continues

Dozens of residents in Setia Alam and Bukit Raja, as well as Meru in Klang, had to spend the night in their cars last night as the roads to their homes were flooded due to the heavy downpour since yesterday morning.In Setia Alam, the main roads connecting Meru to Bandar Bukit Raja in Klang have been in two to three-metre deep floodwaters since late last night, causing many road users who left work late to be stranded and unable to reach home until noon today.Heavy rainfall continued to lash the Klang Valley as of 1pm today.A Bernama check on the main road connecting Setia Alam to Meru found that vehicles were seen on both sides of the road that was only accessible by heavy vehicles.Mohd Faizol Adzhar Mohd Mohtar, 34, said he had to leave his car in a parking lot about 2km from his house in Bandar Bukit Raja and walk home.“I left my office in Kuala Lumpur at 9.30pm last night and I stopped for a dinner break because the traffic was congested. Upon reaching Setia Alam at about midnight, I found all the roads to my house were flooded.“It was raining heavily at that time and I decided to sleep in the car because I did not want to take the risk of wading through the floodwaters,” he told Bernama today.At about 10am today, he decided to walk 2km home because the floodwaters showed no signs of receding.Mohamad Imran Hakim Mohd Nazri, 19, who works at a restaurant in Setia Alam, said he had to sleep at his work premises as the surrounding area was flooded.“I finished work at the restaurant at about 12.30 midnight and by that time the water had risen as high as two metres outside the restaurant,” he said.Imran, who lives in Sungai Kapar Indah, about 10km from Setia Alam, described the floods as the worst he had ever experienced.“I am now still at work and can’t go home. I hope the rain will stop soon so that the water doesn’t rise again,” he said.


Opposition wants more details before joining Ismail’s ‘family meeting’

The opposition is asking Ismail Sabri Yaakob to clarify the terms of the Special Committee on Pandemic Management which the prime minister had said on Thursday would include representatives from the opposition, saying any decision on whether to work together will be made after that.Pejuang deputy chairman Marzuki Yahya said this was important for assessing the contributions and role to be played by opposition parties.“We want to see the contents of the establishment of the committee, as stated by Ismail,” the former Dewan Negara member told MalaysiaNow.“What are the contents? What is our role? What kind of cooperation would it be?“Then only will we make a decision on whether to support, agree or not.”Ismail had said that the inclusion of opposition members was part of a collective effort to involve all stakeholders to ensure the country’s recovery as planned, in line with the spirit of the Malaysian Family.The Malaysian Family is a tagline introduced during his inaugural speech as prime minister.Marzuki said the bloc’s stand was to prevent a repeat of what had happened with the National Recovery Council which he claimed had not followed the suggestions of Pejuang chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad.“This is why we want to know what Ismail’s plan is and what the work of the opposition will be.”Mahathir had proposed on June 12 the formation of a National Recovery Council similar to the National Operations Council or Mageran formed in the aftermath of the May 13 riots.He said the council’s role would be to reduce the number of new Covid-19 cases until herd immunity is achieved in the country.The Perikatan Nasional government led by Muhyiddin Yassin set up the council on July 16 to monitor the implementation of the National Recovery Plan.At the time, the council was chaired by Muhyiddin.Mahathir however criticised it, saying it had been politicised when Muhyiddin was appointed as its chair.Amanah communications director Khalid Samad agreed with the formation of the special committee and its involvement of the opposition.The Shah Alam MP said the committee would be better able to tackle the Covid-19 problem.“We just hope that Ismail can give us the details of what our role would be,” he told MalaysiaNow.Warisan Youth chief Azis Jamman said his party had no problem holding discussions with the government as part of efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.But he said Warisan also wanted to assess the subject matter of the committee first.“If it’s just for show, then there’s no point,” the Sepanggar MP said to MalaysiaNow.“It’s the same thing Muhyiddin offered before. He said ‘bipartisan’ but he never heeded our suggestions.“It’s like the Special Independent Emergency Committee,” he added. “We weren’t clear about its role either, let alone the need for it to be set up.”


Anwar to respond to Muhyiddin on Indonesia maritime border pacts

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he will respond to Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin’s question on the maritime border agreement signed with Indonesia recently in Parliament tomorrow.
Anwar said Muhyiddin's question would be answered during the Prime Minister's Question Time.
"I will answer in Parliament and let him (Muhyiddin) be there for the debate. I hope he will be present," he said in a press conference after chairing a National Economic Action Council meeting in Putrajaya today.
Muhyiddin had said that the prime minister signed the treaties during Indonesian President Joko Widodo's recent working visit to Malaysia despite maritime experts advising otherwise.
He reportedly urged the prime minister to provide an explanation of the treaties signed.
Meanwhile, on the distribution of seats ahead of the elections in six states, Anwar said discussions between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional were at the final stage.
The six states involved are Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.


Melaka’s women candidates, outnumbered but stealing the show

While only 14% of the candidates for the Melaka state polls are women, they have been stealing the limelight throughout the campaign period so far and ahead of the election slated to take place on Nov 20.Of the 112 candidates who submitted their names during nomination day on Nov 8, a grand total of 16 were women.In Sungai Rembai, however, Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Farzana Hayani has been the centre of attention. At 21, the UiTM graduate who holds a diploma in communications and mass media is the by far the youngest candidate this election.The oldest candidate meanwhile is also a woman: Kalsom Nordin, 68, of Barisan Nasional (BN) who is contesting the Pengkalan Batu state seat.BN’s candidate in Kesidang, Leong Hui Ying, started her campaign on the wrong foot when she became embroiled in controversy following the circulation of a video in which she said she was not fluent in Malay.Leong, who will be contesting an election for the first time, is up against DAP’s Seah Shoo Chin and Patrick Ng Chin Kae from Perikatan Nasional (PN).When met during the launch of her election manifesto, Leong, 29, appeared nervous and awkward when surrounded by the media.But this did not stop her from voicing her commitment to a cross-party cooperation on matters involving women, saying she was ready to work with politicians from the opposition bloc regarding issues concerning women and youth.Another woman candidate from BN who has been having her share of the limelight is Khaidhirah Abu Zahar, the daughter of the former Melaka chief minister and another new face in the contest for the Rim seat.Majority of women candidates from PNBefore the dissolution of the state legislative assembly, Melaka had two women assemblymen.The upcoming election will see PH fielding four women, PN six and BN five. Putra meanwhile has one woman candidate.In a recent interview with MalaysiaNow, PN’s candidate in Tanjung Bidara, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, said more women should have been fielded.In the Masjid Tanah parliamentary constituency, she said, PN had placed three women out of its five overall candidates.“Even though PN has only been around for two years now, fielding six women in this election is a good start,” she said.“This is why efforts are needed, so that women candidates will win this election and women will not be labelled only as filling positions.”Activists, too, have long monitored women representation in politics while the issue was brought up in the Dewan Rakyat in September.Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff had said that many women contest elections but few win.Women, the biggest voter groupIlham Centre executive director Mohamad Hisommudin Bakar said the small number of women candidates does not accurately represent the number of female voters who far outnumber male voters.There are some 254,666 women voters in the country as opposed to 240,529 men, a difference of 14,137.“There should be more women candidates participating in this state election,” he said to MalaysiaNow.But while none of the blocs involved hit the 30% quota demanded by activists, it would be a big step forward for women if PN chooses Mas Ermieyati as its candidate for chief minister.“Women candidates still lag behind men in terms of the number participating in the Melaka polls,” Hisommudin said.“More space and opportunity should be given so that more women become involved in the democratic process, or at least fulfil the 30% quota for women.”Meanwhile, Hanis Noor who is chief researcher at Iris Institute said whether women candidates were ready to hold such positions was irrelevant as it would have been a prerequisite for their preparation to be nominated as chief minister.“The people of Melaka prefer stability over novelty,” Hanis said.“The candidates for chief minister must show this quality through a charismatic and domineering character. And it is not impossible that female candidates must demonstrate this as well.”


Tunisian president says parliament suspended indefinitely

Tunisian President Kais Saied has extended his suspension of parliament “until further notice”, a month after sacking his premier and granting himself greater powers in a shock intervention opponents decried as a coup.“Parliament is a danger to the state,” he said on Tuesday during a meeting with Trade Minister Mohamed Bousaid.“The existing political institutions and how they operate represent a persistent danger to the state.”A statement from the presidency late on Monday extended an order freezing immunity for lawmakers and said Saied would address the people in the coming days, without elaborating.The Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, the main parliamentary force, expressed on Tuesday evening its “concern over the unconstitutional extension of the exceptional measures”.It reiterated its stance that Saied’s actions were a “flagrant violation of the constitution”.Tunisia, hailed as a rare democratic success story in the Middle East and North Africa, has been mired in political crisis since Saied’s intervention, which comes as the country struggles with dire economic woes and the Covid-19 pandemic.On July 25, Saied invoked the constitution to extend his authority, dismissing prime minister Hichem Mechichi and freezing parliament in what activists called a “purge” that has seen opponents, judges and businessmen arrested or banned from travel.Saied issued “a presidential decree extending the exceptional measures… regarding the suspension of Parliament and lifting of the parliamentary immunity of its MPs until further notice”, the presidency statement said.‘Preparing the ground’Last month’s intervention, which Saied said was necessary to prevent the country from collapse, sparked uncertainty for the North African nation.He has yet to appoint a new government or reveal a “roadmap” for his decisions despite repeated demands from political parties.France on Tuesday expressed hope that Tunisia would as soon as possible “be able to respond to the economic, social and health challenges it faces” and said it was monitoring the situation closely.While the president enjoys widespread popularity at home, his move sparked fears internationally that the cradle of the 2011 Arab Spring is regressing towards authoritarianism.Analysts expect Saied will announce new measures to reassure Tunisians and the international community.Political scientist Slaheddine Jourchi told AFP the decision had been expected.He said Saied wants to show “that he is not in a rush”.But his move also “prepares the ground for measures which could be more radical” such as “freezing or abolishing the constitution and dissolving parliament”, Jourchi said.“It has become clearer than ever that the president does not want anyone other than himself in power,” he added.The intervention has faced condemnation from judges and Saied’s opponents, in particular Ennahdha, the largest bloc in parliament.Several politicians, businessmen and judges, as well as members of parliament – who lost their immunity after Saied suspended the legislature – have said they have been banned from travelling abroad or put under house arrest without warning.Their claims have sparked condemnation, with critics denouncing “arbitrary” and “unjustified” measures.Popular supportA retired constitutional law professor, Saied has used Article 80 of the constitution adopted in 2014, which allows for exceptional measures if there is an “imminent danger” to national security, to justify his decision.“The freedom to travel is a constitutional right which I promise to guarantee,” he said last week in response to critics.“But some people will have to answer to the judicial authorities before being able to travel.”Many Tunisians have backed Saied’s move to strip parliamentarians of their immunity, seen as a long-overdue move against a corrupt and inept political class.Saied was voted into power in 2019 after a campaign in which he pledged to fight corruption.Ennahdha, seen as one of the key targets of Saied’s move, has called for a national dialogue – something the president quickly dismissed.Shortly before Saied’s latest announcement, Ennahdha announced the dismissal of its executive committee.Party leader and parliament speaker Rached Ghannouchi, who has faced criticism over his handling of the crisis, decided to form a new board “in order to meet the demands of the current period”, a party statement said.It has yet to react to Saied’s extension of the parliament freeze.


Keep a tab on social media use, mental health group warns amid hike in suicides

A mental health support group recommends keeping a check on the amount of time spent on social media, especially for those under severe emotional pressure, to prevent continuous exposure to content which could exacerbate feelings of anxiety especially in the wake of recent statistics showing an upward trend in the number of suicides.Anita Abu Bakar, president of the Mental Illness Awareness and Support Association (Miasa), said scrolling through news feeds on social media could have a detrimental effect on mental health.“Social media has been very helpful during this pandemic,” she told MalaysiaNow. “It’s also a simple way to stay connected with loved ones regardless of physical distance and can be an effective tool to maintain a strong and connected support system.“However, try to steer away from and limit time spent on social media where you can view others’ comments and opinions, which can help limit the amount of negative input.”She said time spent “pointlessly surfing” could also spark a downward spiral of overthinking which could affect daily thoughts and activities.According to statistics recently revealed by the police, 609 suicides were reported in 2019 and 631 in 2020.As of March this year, however, 336 cases had already been reported.Criminal Investigation Department director Abd Jalil Hassan said 468 cases were recorded during the first five months of 2021.“This means an average of two suicide cases happened every day from 2019 to May 2021,” he said.Anita suggested using social media intentionally and “picking the right information to consume”. She said this would also lead to less time spent on such platforms.“You will have more time to spend with family, or exercising or reading a book, or anything else that helps you practise mindfulness,” she said.She gave the example of directly messaging friends or family to ask how they are doing instead of visiting their social media profiles, saying this would streamline the use of social media and prevent endless scrolling.“We should intend to consume media that is true and verified and use social media to connect with peers and families,” she said.She said her organisation had been seeing an increase in the number of people reaching out during the pandemic.From August 2020 to May 2021, she said Miasa had received 8,250 calls, 16,500 WhatsApp messages, 7,887 private messages through social media platforms and 660 emails.“This pandemic has put a strain on people’s mental health to an unprecedented degree,” she said, adding that the rise in suicide-related cases could be due to many factors.She cited a study published in May examining the impact of the movement control order which listed the loneliness brought about by social isolation as well as intensified economic strain, especially among those in the B40 category, as potential risk factors.“A lack of resources and support may also contribute to this. Social isolation means that many are separated from their support systems,” she said.She also spoke of suicide copycats due to unsafe reporting by the media and footage of those who had either attempted suicide or taken their own lives.However, she said this did not mean that technology should be altogether dismissed as social media can play an important role in keeping families and friends connected, and even food deliveries can be made through courier services.She acknowledged that those who lack digital literacy would be less able to embrace this shift but said people should try to maintain contact with each other as much as possible.“It can also help to find as many creative or virtual social outlets and hobbies as possible,” she said.“Apply for a virtual class on any topic, or book clubs and exercise groups. Fill your time doing safe activities that prioritise your mental and physical well-being.”The following hotlines are available for those in need of a listening ear:Agape Counselling Centre MalaysiaHotline: 03-7785 5955 / 7781 0800The BefriendersHotline: 03-7956 8144 / 03-7956 8145Life Line Association MalaysiaHotline: 03-4265 7995


No conflict of interest in MACC chief’s shares purchase, says advisory board

The Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) today cleared Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki of any conflict of interest in the purchase of shares from certain companies in 2015.It said the conclusion followed testimonies from Azam himself regarding the controversy which recently ignited debate on social media after ACAB member Edmund Gomez raised the matter while announcing his resignation.ACAB chairman Abu Zahar Ujang said the board members were satisfied with Azam’s explanation, adding that no further investigation would be conducted.“The ACAB members have found no personal interest in the matter of the shares,” he said at a press conference today.“The purchase was made on the open market and without conflict of interest,” he said, adding that the shares were subsequently transferred to Azam’s brother, Nasir Baki.The ACAB secretariat also found that Gomez had never written regarding the issue, he said.On Dec 28 last year, Gomez was reported to have resigned from the board in an open letter.In it, he expressed disappointment that the ACAB had not met to discuss Azam’s shareholding which was raised in Parliament on Dec 14 and received widespread media coverage.The letter, addressed to Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel chairman Borhan Dolah, also questioned Azam’s ownership of some two million units of shares in a public listed company.It said the issue was raised before in November but had received no response from Borhan.Speaking today, Abu Zahar invited Gomez to meet with the ACAB and present proof of his claims.“We have not received anything from him,” he added.He said the board would refer the matter to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob following calls by opposition leaders for government action.However, he said a royal commission of inquiry would not be necessary.


Apex court declares stateless child a citizen in rebuke to home ministry

The apex court today ruled that a child born in Kuala Lumpur and adopted by a Malaysian couple in Penang in no longer stateless but considered a citizen by operation of law, in a landmark judgment to be taken as precedent on how the government should deal with all such cases in the future.A five-man panel led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said in a unanimous decision that the boy, now 17 and identified only as CYM to protect his identity, is a citizen of Malaysia by virtue of his birth within the federation of Malaysia, pursuant to Article 14(1)(b), Section (1) Paragraph (a) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution, read together with Section 19B of Part III of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution.“Since the child was found abandoned in the location aforementioned, it is presumed that he was born to a mother permanently resident there,” Tengku Maimun said in the summary judgment.“It follows that he is taken to fulfil the requirements of Section 1(a) of Part II read with Section 19B of Part III as he, having been born at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, was born within the federation and his mother is presumed to be permanently resident in the federation.“In the premises, it is our judgment that the child is quite simply entitled to citizenship by operation of law by virtue of Section 1(a) of Part II read with Section 19B of Part III.”CYM was abandoned at birth and later adopted by the couple who, according to the facts of the case, were under the impression that they had formally adopted him.A birth certificate was issued on Feb 20, 2004 but in April 2016, when CYM turned 12, the National Registration Department (JPN) declined to issue him a MyKad.The officer who inspected the birth certificate was said to have noted differences in the surnames of CYM and his sister TYS, whom the couple had earlier adopted as well.The couple surrendered the birth certificate and were issued a new one stating the amended details on Nov 3, 2016. However, the second birth certificate recorded the parents’ information as “not available” and the child’s citizenship status as “yet to be determined”.The couple then filed an originating summons at the High Court in Penang and were granted an adoption order on July 20, 2017. They subsequently applied for a new birth certificate and were issued a third one on Sept 21, 2017 stating the child’s citizenship status as “non-citizen”.Their initial arguments in court were rejected by the High Court and Court of Appeal, who followed earlier precedents holding that Section 1(a) must be construed with regard to the words “at the time of birth”.The courts also held that the word “parents” means biological parents and could not be stretched to mean “adoptive parents”.The couple then appealed to the Federal Court which ruled among others that there was nothing to suggest that they were lying about the fact of abandonment.It also set aside the previous judgments by the High Court and Court of Appeal, saying they should not be relied on as precedent in the future.It said that the case would now be precedent on how the home ministry, JPN and Registrar-General of Births and Deaths deal with all such future cases within the context of abandoned newborn children.“The home ministry, of which the respondent (Registrar-General of Births and Deaths) is an integral part, has all the important machinery of the state at its disposal to conduct appropriate investigations to ascertain the truth.“The respondent has not discharged its legal burden to rebut the presumption of permanent residence of the child’s mother in Section 19B. Further, the respondent did not directly address or respond to any of the positive averments made by the appellants regarding how the child was found abandoned, thus leaving those averments admitted,” it said.Instead of denying the child citizenship because it was unable to gather any evidence of his biological parents, it said, the respondent should have given effect to Section 1(a) of Part II read together with Section 19B of Part III.“They had no right or discretion to do anything else certainly much less render the child stateless,” it added.“In this regard and with respect, we are minded to observe that citizenship by operation of law is a right – a fundamental and constitutional right. It leaves absolutely no room for the exercise of subjective notions or presuppositions on what citizenship is.“The words citizenship ‘by operation of law’ could not be any clearer, and there is no room whatsoever for discretion.”


Omicron threat remains high in east Europe, says WHO

A new wave of infections from the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is moving towards the east of Europe, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, urging authorities to improve vaccination and other measures.Over the past two weeks, cases of Covid-19 have more than doubled in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Russia and Ukraine, WHO’s Europe regional director Hans Kluge said in a statement.The comments come at a time when several European countries including the Czech Republic and Poland have hinted at easing of Covid-19 restrictions next month if daily infection numbers kept falling.The WHO, however, stressed the continued need for measures such as rapid testing and masking, saying over 165 million Covid-19 cases have been recorded so far across the WHO European region, with 25,000 deaths in the past week.“Faced with the Omicron tidal wave, and with Delta still circulating widely in the east, this worrying situation is not the moment to lift measures that we know work in reducing the spread of Covid-19,” Kluge said.He also called on governments to examine local reasons for low vaccination rates. Less than 40% of those aged over 60 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan have completed their Covid-19 vaccine series, he said.


UiTM pioneer Arshad Ayub dies

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) pioneer Arshad Ayub died early this morning, his family confirmed today. He was 93.In a statement, they said that Arshad, an academic and a founding director of Institut Teknologi Mara, passed away at 2.06am.Arshad was born in Muar, Johor, on Nov 15, 1928. He was chairman of the board of directors of Universiti Malaysia and pro-chancellor of UiTM.He also held various prominent positions in the government, including a two-year stint as deputy governor of Bank Negara Malaysia under Ismail Mohd Ali, from 1975 to 1977.He was later appointed as secretary-general of the agriculture ministry.He was admitted to the ICU due to health problems on June 7.


Rafizi pressed further on 'broken promises' over Invoke shares

PKR's Rafizi Ramli has been further drawn into a public spat involving Invoke Solutions after acknowledging that the staff of the party-linked data firm had not been allocated shares despite a promise made five years ago to reward them for their hard work and contributions.
Yesterday, Rafizi, in response to questions on his inclusion of some RM17 million in Invoke shares as his personal wealth, said the staff would be rewarded "in the future", adding that this could happen once the company is listed on the stock exchange.
"When Invoke is listed, they all will have shares, and they all can live comfortably in their youth. But on condition that they must be intelligent, creative, work hard, brave and honest," the Pandan candidate said.
Bersatu leader Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said Rafizi had broken his promise on sharing Invoke wealth with employees, brushing off his latest pledge on the matter.
"Since he did not keep to his promise made five years ago, why should anyone believe his new promise?" he said today.
In 2017, Rafizi said he had not made a single sen from his investments in Invoke, adding that whatever capital he put in would be converted into shares to be distributed among "Invoke staff who have sacrificed all this while".
"I want them to know that Invoke is partly theirs because they are the ones who built it – so they should have a stake in Invoke," he had said.
But Latiff in his statement today again pressed Rafizi to explain why business tycoon Lee Choo Boo was the second biggest shareholder, followed by Rafizi's party colleague, Wong Chen.
He also said Rafizi's conduct was "an eye-opener for the people".
"If this is the way a top leader of Pakatan Harapan (PH) treats his employees, what will be the fate of ordinary Malaysian workers under PH rule?
"Will the interests of ordinary hard-working Malaysians be taken care of by PH or the interests of big business tycoons? Who will get the lion’s share of the country’s wealth under Harapan, the ordinary people or business tycoons?"
Rafizi came under scrutiny following his declaration of assets in which he listed RM16.7 million in shares from Invoke as part of a total of RM19.67 million in assets owned.
Besides the RM16.7 million declared as "investments", Rafizi listed RM1.1 million in his Employees Provident Fund account as of Oct 31, as well as RM1.6 million in two properties under his name including a three-storey house in Bukit Antarabangsa, Kuala Lumpur.
Former PKR man Rashid Hasnon had also grilled Rafizi, reminding him that Invoke was set up as a public-interest initiative.
"He has profited, and the profit is massive," said Rashid, who is an exco member of Johor Perikatan Nasional.
"He also said that even if there is profit, Invoke cannot use the profit for personal gain, including for shareholders like himself. These statements can also be found in his own website."


Influx of immigrants, refugees among 66 national security challenges identified by NSC

The National Security Council (NSC) has identified the influx of immigrants, refugee issues and cybersecurity as among 66 new challenges to the country’s security.NSC deputy director-general Rodzi Md Saad said these three issues were among the economic, social and political matters that had been identified, and which would be addressed under the National Security Policy 2021-2025.According to him, cybersecurity is seen as an issue that will dominate the scope of national security as the country moves towards the fourth industrial revolution (IR4.0).“Strong cybersecurity is very important as IR4.0 relies entirely on digital technology, and any issues involving its security will affect the government, economy and society, as we can see an increase in cases of online fraud in recent years.“The influx of unverified information can also pose a threat to national security because it could potentially be used to create a wrong perception of certain issues,” he said in a special virtual media briefing session held today in conjunction with NSC’s 50th anniversary celebration.He said that at present, people could post something on social media based on unverified information obtained through the internet, and that these writings had the potential to divide the people and threaten unity, which in turn posed a threat to national security.Rodzi said the influx of immigrants and Rohingya refugees was also seen as a threat to national security, and that the government had been working to address the problem.“The influx of immigrants and refugees has caused discomfort among the locals because it is thought that they will take away the rights of Malaysians.“It is also worrying that they are now seen to have controlled certain businesses. However, the government has started to take firm measures by carrying out Ops Benteng and tighter border control, and the efforts have seen results,” he said.He added that the National Security Policy is an inclusive policy that covers every level of administration and aspect of people’s lives.“The objective of this policy is to ensure that Malaysia remains sovereign, peaceful and prosperous,” he said.In the meantime, Rodzi said the NSC was also drafting a National Security Index (IKK) to transparently assess the level of national security.“The index is currently in the engagement stage with government agencies and other stakeholders, and is expected to be introduced in 2023,” he said.He said that the IKK would be used to assess the level of national security more comprehensively, and would cover all aspects that affect national security including political, economic and social matters.


Ex-CEO, 2 others remanded over RM24 million suspected bribery

Three individuals including the former CEO of a bank subsidiary were remanded for five days from today to assist the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation into a bribery case involving more than RM24 million.
The remand order was issued by magistrate Mohd Dinie Shazwan Ab Shukor against the former CEO, in her 50s, an unemployed 58-year-old man, and a 53-year-old financial consultant after MACC made an application at the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court.
According to sources, the three were detained by Putrajaya MACC at 6pm yesterday when they presented themselves to give their statements. The sources said they were suspected of receiving bribes of more than RM24 million as an inducement to approve loan applications of more than RM294 million by a local company.
The case is being investigated under Section 16 (a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.
Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur, MACC said it was tracking down a witness to assist in investigations into a corruption case in Selangor this year.
It identified him as L Mohan Raj, 26, whose last known address was No H-9 Rumah Kos Rendah Peringkat 3 and 4, Jerantut in Pahang.
Those with information are urged to contact investigating officer Ahmad Muaz Safuan Mohd Ali at 011-16133661 or [email protected]


Confidence vote, election of speaker in the spotlight as Dewan Rakyat sitting begins

The vote of confidence and election of a new Dewan Rakyat speaker will be the highlights of the first day of the Parliament sitting under the government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The vote of confidence to determine the legitimacy of Anwar’s appointment as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister on Nov 24 is listed as item number eight on the order paper.
It aims to prove that he has the support of the majority of MPs to lead the new government after the 15th general election (GE15) results led to a hung Parliament with no party or coalition able to garner a simple majority.
The first meeting of the first session of the 15th Parliament will run for two days beginning today and include the swearing-in of MPs who were elected during GE15, as well as the election of Dewan Rakyat deputy speakers.
The former Dewan Rakyat speaker, Azhar Harun, confirmed vacating the position on Dec 2.
According to media reports, former Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul is said to be Pakatan Harapan’s choice as speaker while Perikatan Nasional (PN) is said to be nominating former home minister Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad for the post.
Lanang MP Alice Lau of DAP and Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Md Nor of Barisan Nasional are also reported to be nominated for the posts of deputy speaker, while PN’s choice seems to be former deputy minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.
The order paper for today also lists the tabling of other government legislation and matters.
Anwar had announced during a media conference on Dec 5 that the first Parliament sitting would table and approve a special allocation or mini budget to pay civil service emoluments for January.


Rosmah’s ex-aide denies conspiring with prosecution

Rosmah Mansor’s former special officer today denied cutting a deal with the prosecution to testify as crown witness against her in her corruption case related to the supply and installation of solar energy to 369 schools in rural Sarawak.Rizal Mansor also disagreed with Rosmah’s counsel Jagjit Singh that he had made the deal with the prosecution in exchange for the four charges against him being dropped.Rizal, the 21st prosecution witness, is testifying in the trial of Rosmah who cases one charge of soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings’ ex-managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.On Jan 8, Rizal was acquitted and discharged of four charges of soliciting and receiving bribes of RM5.5 million for himself and Rosmah in relation to the solar hybrid project. This came after the prosecution withdrew the charges against him.When questioned by Jagjit about the charges against him, Rizal, who was placed in the witness protection programme, said the money stated was a political donation.“The four charges against you were soliciting and receiving bribes for yourself, and you still want the court to believe it is political donation,” said Jagjit, to which Rizal answered yes.Jagjit asked the question as Rizal had admitted in his witness statement to soliciting and receiving the money in question.When asked about his salary and assets, Rizal said he owned luxury cars such as an Audi, BMW and Mercedez Benz. He also said he had a house worth RM3.5 million.When asked to confirm that he had accumulated these assets while possessing the designation of Grade 48 special officer with a salary of about RM7,000, he said yes.He also acknowledged that he was sponsored by Saidi and his business partner Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah when he went to Mecca to perform the umrah in 2016 and 2017.However, he denied that his travels had been fully funded.When asked if he had made the trips using corrupt money, Rizal said it was a political donation.Rosmah was alleged to have received the bribes through Rizal as a reward for helping Jepak Holdings secure the hybrid photovoltaic solar system integrated project as well as the maintenance and operation of diesel gen-sets for 369 schools, worth RM1.25 billion, through direct negotiation from the education ministry.The offences were allegedly committed at Lygon Cafe, Sunway Putra Mall, Jalan Putra; Rosmah’s residence at Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta and at Seri Perdana, Persiaran Seri Perdana, Precinct 10, Putrajaya between January 2016 and September 2017.The hearing continues tomorrow before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.


15 arrested over party at KL condo

Fifteen people including a civil servant were detained for suspected involvement in a wild party at a luxury condominium, Jalan Ceylon Residences in Kuala Lumpur, early today despite the movement control under the National Recovery Plan.Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Mohamad Zainal Abdullah said the individuals arrested in the 1am raid comprised nine women and six men, all locals, aged between 17 and 45.“During the raid, police found traces of drugs, a loudspeaker and disco lights. Eleven of them, comprising eight women and three men, tested positive for drugs,” he said in a statement today.Zainal said the case is being investigated under Section 15 (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 17 (1) of the Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Regulations (Measures in Local Areas of Infection (National Recovery Plan) 2021 for engaging in social activities.The individuals involved have been remanded for three days until Saturday.


Defiant Ukraine marks Independence Day six months after invasion

Ukraine was "reborn" when Russia invaded six months ago, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday, marking 31 years of his country's independence from the Moscow-controlled Soviet Union with a vow to drive Russian forces out completely.
After days of warnings that Moscow could use the anniversary of Ukraine's Independence Day to launch more missile attacks on major cities, Kyiv was unusually quiet and the second biggest city Kharkiv was under curfew after months of bombardment.
The anniversary fell exactly six months after Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine.
In an emotional speech to his compatriots, Zelensky said the attack had revived the nation's spirit.
"A new nation appeared in the world on Feb 24 at 4 in the morning. It was not born, but reborn. A nation that did not cry, scream or take fright. One that did not flee. Did not give up. And did not forget," he said.
The 44-year-old leader, speaking in front of Kyiv's central monument to independence in his trademark combat fatigues, vowed to recapture occupied areas of eastern Ukraine as well as the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
"What for us is the end of the war? We used to say: peace. Now we say: victory," he said, days after his government laid out the hulks of burnt-out Russian tanks and armoured vehicles in central Kyiv in a show of defiance.
Russia's war effort in Ukraine has made little progress in recent months, after its troops were pushed back from Kyiv in the early weeks of the war.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told a meeting of defence ministers in Uzbekistan that Russia had deliberately slowed down what it refers to as its "special military operation" in Ukraine to avoid civilian casualties.
Warnings
On Tuesday evening, Zelensky warned of the possibility of "repugnant Russian provocations".
"We are fighting against the most terrible threat to our statehood and also at a time when we have achieved the greatest level of national unity," Zelensky said.
Ukraine's military urged people to take air raid warnings seriously.
"Russian occupiers continue to carry out air and missile attacks on civilian objects on the territory of Ukraine. Do not ignore air raid signals," the General Staff said in a statement on Wednesday.
Zelensky told representatives of about 60 countries and international organisations attending a virtual summit on Crimea on Tuesday that Ukraine would drive Russian forces out of the peninsula by any means necessary, without consulting other countries beforehand.
The war has killed thousands of civilians, forced more than a third of Ukraine's 41 million people from their homes, left cities in ruins, and jolted the global economy and security. It is now largely at a standstill with no immediate prospect of peace talks.
As well as Crimea, Russian forces have seized areas of the south including the Black Sea and Sea of Azov coasts, and chunks of the eastern Donbas region comprising the provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk.
Almost 9,000 Ukrainian military personnel have been killed in the war, its military said this week.
Russia has not publicised its losses but US intelligence estimates 15,000 killed in what Moscow describes as an operation necessitated by threats to its security. Kyiv says the invasion is an unprovoked act of imperial aggression.
Ukraine broke free of the Soviet Union in August 1991 after a failed putsch in Moscow, and an overwhelming majority of Ukrainians voted in a referendum to declare independence.
'Intensive' talks on plant
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said the UN nuclear watchdog hoped to gain access to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine within days if negotiations succeed.
Both sides have accused the other of firing missiles and artillery dangerously close to the plant, Europe's biggest, raising fears of a nuclear catastrophe.
Pro-Moscow forces took over the plant soon after the invasion began but Ukrainian technicians are still operating it. The United Nations has called for the area to be demilitarised.
Russia accused Ukraine on Tuesday of attacking the plant with artillery, guided munitions and a drone, drawing a denial from Kyiv's UN ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya.
"Nobody who is at least conscious can imagine that Ukraine would target a nuclear power plant at tremendous risk of nuclear catastrophe and on its own territory," Kyslytsya told an emergency UN Security Council meeting in New York called by Russia.
Ukraine's allies offered more military support on Wednesday.
Norway said it and Britain would jointly supply micro drones to help with reconnaissance and target identification.
The US, which has sent US$10.6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, will announce a new package of about US$3 billion as early as Wednesday, a US official said.
Advanced US missile systems appear to have helped Ukraine strike deep behind the front lines in recent months, taking out ammunition dumps and command posts.
In the latest mysterious fire at a Russian military facility, Russian officials said ammunition stored in southern Russia near the border with Ukraine spontaneously combusted on Tuesday.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod region, blamed hot weather for the fire, drawing ridicule from Ukraine.
"In a few months we will find out whether Russian ammunition can explode because of the cold," Ukraine's defence ministry said on Twitter.
"The five main causes of sudden explosions in Russia are: winter, spring, summer, autumn and smoking."


No voting allowed for Covid-19 patients

Those who are Covid-19 positive will not be allowed to vote in the Sabah state election on Saturday, Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob says.He said the decision was made at a special meeting of ministers to reduce the risk of virus transmissions.“We have considered. Those who are positive and receiving treatment in hospital will not be allowed to vote.“We do not want (to create) a polling cluster,” he said in a press conference in Putrajaya today.However, those who are symptomatic will be taken to a special polling area prepared by the Election Commission (EC) to cast their ballots, he added.Ismail also said those under quarantine will be allowed to vote but must apply to the district health office for an allotted time to be taken to the special polling area.Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal, who is Warisan president, had suggested that the EC provide the space and SOPs for Covid-19 patients to cast their ballots in the state election.A total of 16,877 people comprising police and military personnel as well as their spouses were eligible for early voting at 55 polling centres throughout the state today.Ismail also reminded candidates and party workers to practise strict self-regulation when campaigning.“For example, we are not against house-to-house campaigning but hope that the number involved can be reduced, that is, only one or two persons enter the house to meet voters,” he said.For ceramahs, the basic SOP limiting attendance to 30 people should be observed, he added.Asked about the time slots allotted by the EC for voting, Ismail said these were not meant as a rule, only a guide to prevent congestion at polling centres.“You can still go and vote if you cannot stick to the time suggested by the EC.“Do not misunderstand that you will not be allowed to vote outside the stated time,” he said.He also rubbished reports claiming that a four-day lockdown would be imposed in three villages in Semporna, Sabah.“I never announced that. It lacks logic because there has never been a four-day lockdown. Normally, an enhanced movement control order is for 14 days. So it’s fake news,” he said.


In court, ex-Goldman star recalls GE13 fears of opposition win that could risk 1MDB bond deal

In a US court, former Goldman Sachs partner Tim Leissner has admitted to taking US$60 million in kickbacks, lying to the bank about his corrupt deals, and twice forging divorce documents to take on new wives.Despite his history of deceit, Leissner is the key witness prosecutors are asking jurors to believe in the trial of Roger Ng, a former colleague of Leissner’s at Goldman who is charged with helping loot Malaysia’s 1MDB sovereign wealth fund during a scheme that lasted from 2009 to 2014.Leissner in 2018 pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money and violate an anti-bribery law, and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Ng, 49, pleaded not guilty to similar charges and is standing trial in Brooklyn federal court.In more than a week of testimony, Leissner has described his high-flying lifestyle as the lucrative 1MDB deals made him a “star,” and the steps he took to avoid getting caught.Leissner, 52, said he hoped coming clean would “clear this chapter of my life.”“It’s not the proudest time of my life, but at the time I wanted to make more money, even though I was well-paid,” Leissner testified.The charges stem from some US$6.5 billion in bonds Goldman helped 1MDB sell in 2012 and 2013. Prosecutors say US$4.5 billion of that was embezzled by officials, bankers and their associates, in one of the biggest scandals in Wall Street history.Goldman in 2020 agreed to pay a US$3 billion fine and have its Malaysia subsidiary plead guilty in US court. The bank said at the time it did not adequately “scrutinise the representations of certain members of the deal team.”Leissner said he and Ng, Goldman’s top banker for Malaysia, secretly liased with conspirators outside Goldman, and received kickbacks.Ng’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, argues Leissner is falsely implicating Ng to lower his own sentence. Prosecutors say Leissner’s assertions are backed by other evidence.Leissner said he spent the kickbacks on a US$15 million 170-foot yacht, apartments in London and New York, and an investment in Italian football team Inter Milan.In 2013 he met Kimora Lee Simmons, an American model and ex-wife of music producer Russell Simmons. They set a wedding date before Leissner finalized a divorce with another woman, so he forged divorce documents – the second time he had pulled such a stunt, he said.Through it all, Leissner said he privately worried about getting caught. While preparing the final 1MDB bond deal months ahead of the 2013 general election, Leissner said he was concerned the opposition could win and investigate the deal.The ruling Barisan Nasional won, but Leissner said critical press coverage of 1MDB kept him on edge. In February 2016, FBI agents served him with a subpoena. Hoping for a green card to live in Los Angeles with his new family, he said he hired a lawyer to explore cooperating.But he was arrested in June 2018. He said he pleaded guilty to lighten his sentence, aware it would dash his hopes of a green card. He and Lee Simmons are estranged, her lawyers said.“I hope that I don’t have to go to prison,” Leissner testified.


23.8% of children given first vaccine jab

A total of 846,486 children or 23.8% of those aged five to 11 had received their first dose of vaccine under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) as of yesterday.According to the CovidNow website, 14,578,408 individuals or 62.0% of the adult population have received a Covid-19 vaccine booster shot while 22,948,424 or 97.5% have completed their vaccination.A total of 23,228,204 individuals or 98.7% have received at least one dose.In terms of teenagers, a total of 2,800,661 individuals or 90% have completed their vaccination while 2,894,898 or 93% have received at least one jab.A total of 101,136 vaccine doses were administered yesterday, comprising 42,144 first-dose shots, 537 second doses and 58,455 booster jabs.This brings the cumulative total of vaccine shots given under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to 67,089,834 doses.


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Putin fast-tracks Russian citizenship in southern Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday fast-tracked citizenship for residents of two regions of Ukraine, prompting protests from Kyiv that the move violated its sovereignty.Putin signed a decree affecting residents of the southern region of Kherson, which is under the full control of Russian troops, and the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia which is partially controlled by Moscow.Moscow and pro-Moscow officials have said both regions could become part of Russia.“The simplified system will allow all of us to clearly see that Russia is here not just for a long time but forever,” the Moscow-appointed deputy leader of Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, told Russia’s RIA Novosti state news agency.“We are very grateful to Russian President Vladimir Putin for all he is doing for us, for protecting Russian people in historically Russian lands that have now been liberated,” he added.The new authorities want to help those wishing to “join the big family of Russia”, he said.The Ukrainian foreign ministry swiftly protested against the “illegal issuing of passports”.The move “is a flagrant violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as norms and principles of international humanitarian law”, it said in a statement.In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price voiced concern that the plan was part of “Russia’s attempt to subjugate the people of Ukraine – to impose their will by force”.“That is something that we would forcefully reject,” Price told reporters.The official order published Wednesday came on the heels of a 2019 decree that allowed the same fast-track procedure for residents of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, eastern Ukraine’s breakaway regions.Applicants are not required to have lived in Russia, do not need to provide evidence of sufficient funds or pass a Russian language test.Applications will be processed within three months and the Kherson region has already begun work on launching centres to issue Russian passports, Stremousov said.Several hundred thousand residents of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk regions have already received Russian passports.On Monday, the authorities in Kherson introduced the ruble as the official currency alongside the Ukrainian hryvnia. On Wednesday, officials installed by Moscow announced the same measure in parts of the region of Zaporizhzhia.


China premier issues warning on Covid-hit economy

China’s premier has sounded an unusually stark warning about the world’s second-largest economy, saying it must return to normal as the country’s zero-Covid strategy bites into growth.China is the last major economy welded to a policy of mass testing and rapid lockdowns to eliminate virus clusters, but the strict curbs have battered businesses.Restrictions on dozens of cities in recent months – including the manufacturing hubs of Shenzhen and Shanghai as well as the breadbasket of Jilin – have tangled supply chains and dragged economic indicators to their lowest levels in around two years.In some ways, the challenges now are “greater than when the pandemic hit hard in 2020”, Premier Li Keqiang told a State Council meeting on Wednesday, according to a readout by the official Xinhua news agency.“We are currently at a critical juncture in determining the economic trend of the whole year,” Xinhua quoted Li as saying.“We must seize the time window and strive to bring the economy back onto a normal track.”Li’s remarks are the latest in a growing chorus of calls from officials and business leaders for more balance between stopping the virus and helping the ailing economy.China’s retail sales plunged 11.1% on-year in April while factory output sank 2.9% – the worst showing since the early days of the Covid crisis.And the urban unemployment rate edged back towards its February 2020 peak, challenging policymakers’ full-year growth target of around 5.5%.In March and particularly in April, indicators such as employment, industrial production, electricity consumption and freight dropped “significantly”, Li said at the State Council meeting.He stressed the importance of coordinating virus control and economic development, according to Xinhua.Wilting growthChina’s current outbreak – fuelled by the highly transmissible Omicron virus variant – is the worst since the early days of the pandemic in 2020.Its biggest city and business hub Shanghai has been almost entirely sealed off since April, crushing businesses, while curbs are creeping in the capital Beijing.The government has offered tax relief and a bond drive to help industries, and President Xi Jinping earlier called for an “all-out” infrastructure push.But analysts have cautioned that growth will keep wilting until China eases its rigid virus controls.S&P Global Ratings this month lowered its full-year growth forecast for China from 4.9% to 4.2% due to Covid curbs.And Nomura analysts warned in a recent note that there is “increasing potential for negative GDP growth in the second quarter”.Wednesday’s State Council teleconference involved an unusually large cohort of provincial, city and county officials, Chinese outlet The Economic Observer reported.The economic woes come in a pivotal political year for Xi, who is eyeing another term in power at the Communist Party Congress this autumn.


South Korea says respects IAEA review of Japan's Fukushima wastewater plan

South Korea's government said on Friday it respected the UN nuclear energy watchdog's review of Japan's plan to discharge treated radioactive water from the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima plant into the ocean and said it met international standards.
Seoul announced its own assessment after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) gave the greenlight this week to Japan's plan, despite concerns over safety in some neighbouring countries and signs of a consumer backlash.
"Based on a review of the treatment plan of contaminated water presented by Japan, we have confirmed concentration of radioactive material meets standards for ocean discharge," Bang Moon-kyu, Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, told a briefing.
"Therefore the plan meets international standards including those of the IAEA," he said.
Bang said South Korea respected the findings of the IAEA since the report was based on a task force of global experts set up by an established international agency.
The plan to discharge the treated water from the Fukushima plant is also expected to "not have any meaningful impact on our ocean areas," Bang said.
South Korea has conducted its own review of the plan by Japan to release more than a million tons of treated radioactive water, most of which was used to cool the reactors destroyed by the March 2011 tsunami.
Bang said South Korea's assessment was contingent on the execution of the plan as laid out by Japan and it would conduct further review if there were changes.
The administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol has walked a fine line in its stance to Japan's discharge proposal, as it tries to improve ties with Tokyo even though the plan has been a contentious issue with local consumers concerned about safety.
The announcement comes as Rafael Grossi, director general of the IAEA, is due to arrive in South Korea on Friday for a three-day visit to explain the agency's findings after it approved Japan's plan this week.
On Thursday, a group of South Korean lawmakers from the main opposition Democratic Party held a press conference calling on Japan to consider other ways to handle the wastewater including burying it under the ground or through evaporation.
Grossi is also due to meet South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin during his visit.


Not a boycott, Zahid says on MCA, MIC move to sit out state polls

Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has dismissed the notion that the decision of MCA and MIC to sit out next month’s state polls amounts to a boycott.
The deputy prime minister said the two BN component parties had given their commitment to help the BN machinery in the six states facing elections.
"I do not think it is meant to be a boycott," Zahid, the rural and regional development minister, said when asked about the matter after an event in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The Umno president said that MCA president Wee Ka Siong informed him the previous night that MCA was committed to helping the BN machinery in the six states.
Zahid said MIC secretary-general RT Rajasekaran also expressed the same stand. He added that the BN Supreme Council would meet on Monday to coordinate the BN machinery and get the views of MCA and MIC.
On July 5, MCA and MIC announced that they would not contest the Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu state elections as they wanted to focus on preparations for the 16th general election.
The six states will go to the polls on Aug 12, with nomination set for July 29 and early voting on Aug 8.


UK moves to ban Hamas as ‘terrorist organisation’

Supporters of Hamas could face up to 14 years in prison if the British government succeeds in banning the group as a terrorist organisation, the Home Office said on Friday.Home Secretary Priti Patel will push for the change in parliament next week, arguing that it was not possible to distinguish between Hamas’ political and military wing.The al-Qassam Brigades military wing of the Islamist movement that rules the Gaza Strip has been banned in Britain since March 2001.But an outright ban under the Terrorism Act 2000 will bring it into line with the United States and the European Union.Patel, who is on a trip to Washington, said the move was “based upon a wide range of intelligence, information and also links to terrorism”.“The severity of that speaks for itself,” she said, calling Hamas “fundamentally and rabidly anti-Semitic”, adding proscription was required to protect the Jewish community.Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett applauded the news, calling Hamas “a radical Islamic group that targets innocent Israelis and seeks Israel’s destruction”.“I welcome the UK’s intention to declare Hamas a terrorist organisation in its entirety – because that’s exactly what it is,” he wrote on Twitter.Foreign minister Yair Lapid added in a statement: “There is no legitimate part of a terrorist organisation, and any attempt to differentiate… is artificial.”Lapid said the move was a result of “joint efforts” between the British and Israeli governments.If successful, flying Hamas’ flag, arranging to meet its members or wearing clothing supporting the group will be outlawed.Politically, it could force Britain’s main opposition to take a position on Hamas, given strong pro-Palestinian support on the hard left of the Labour party.Earlier this month, a man appeared in court for wearing T-shirts supporting Hamas’ military wing and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which was banned in Britain in 2005.On three occasions in June, Feras Al Jayoosi, 34, wore the garments in the Golders Green area of north London, which has a large Jewish population.


Understanding the concern of the other

The mainstream Western media is almost unanimous in demanding that Russia and Vladimir Putin stop their military operation in Ukraine immediately. This in their opinion is the only solution to the current conflict. However, if one attempts to understand how the current conflict had evolved, one would ask not Russia but the US-led Western alliance to bring down the political temperature as a first step.The roots of the present conflict have to be traced back to the end of the Cold War in 1991. The leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Russia’s predecessor, Mikhail Gorbachev felt that if peace is to greet the demise of the Cold War then the military posturing that signified that era should be buried once and for all.For his part, Gorbachev was prepared to dismantle the Warsaw Pact that the USSR helmed which was his country’s response to the US led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato). All that he asked for in return was a firm commitment that Nato would not expand eastwards, extend its military power to the states adjacent to Russia thus posing a security threat to the latter.Though the undertaking that Gorbachev sought was not engraved in written language, American leaders at that time like President Ronald Reagan and Secretary of State James Baker had some notion of the gravity of the verbal pledge they had given to their Russian counterpart.It is a pity that in the years that followed, the US government made no attempt to give substantive meaning to that pledge.On the contrary, in 1997, three former Warsaw Pact states, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland, were invited to hold talks on joining Nato. On March 27, 2020, all three joined Nato, in spite of protests from elements in the Russian leadership. A few other states that were once part of the USSR and others allied to Russia in the past have now joined Nato.It is against this background that one should view events in 2014 that exacerbated Russia-Ukraine ties in relation to Nato. These events are directly linked to the current conflict in Ukraine. The democratically elected president of Ukraine, Victor Yanukovich, who was not prepared to follow blindly the dictates of Western powers was unceremoniously removed from power through the manipulation of parliamentary procedures and replaced by a new regime more inclined towards Washington.Though the Yanukovich government was seriously flawed in some ways, his engineered ouster which strengthened the hands of neo-Nazi and fascist elements, spawned virulent anti-Russian rhetoric and spiked street violence has left deep scars upon Ukranian society. The separatist tensions and turmoil in parts of Eastern Ukraine in the last eight years that have taken the lives of at least 14,000 people can only be understood within the context of this post-2014 scenario.It is also this scenario that explains in part why Putin acted the way he did in Crimea in Eastern Ukraine. The overwhelming desire among the vast majority of the people of Crimea to re-link their land to Russia affirmed in the 2014 Referendum is irrefutable proof of how ordinary citizens view their security and well-being.This is why loose talk in Kiev and Washington in the last few months that “Ukraine should join Nato” or that “Ukraine should acquire nuclear weapons” in the end produced a backlash effect. It increased anxiety among both elites and citizens in Russia about security concerns.It is important to emphasise yet again that this concern for their collective security as a nation and as a people is what Putin, Sergei Lavrov and other Russian leaders have tried to convey to their counterparts in Washington, London, Paris, Berlin and indeed every other Western capital for more than 20 years since the end of the Cold War.Simply put, Russia does not want a Western military alliance – Nato – perched at its gate. The West has refused to address this very legitimate concern. Worse, it has wilfully chosen to brush aside Russia’s fear.Bluntly put, Moscow has now been provoked to act. Since Washington in particular was not willing to use diplomacy to address Russia’s fear, its concern, Moscow has opted for a special “military operation”. Moscow’s response is perfectly understandable. It is completely rational.Perhaps we should all remind Washington and the West of a fragment of their own history to help them appreciate better what is happening now in Ukraine. In 1962, there was a huge international political crisis. We thought we were on the verge of a world war. The USSR had deployed missiles in Cuba, on the soil of its ally, facing their common foe, the US. Cuba was just 90km from the US shoreline. The US president, John Kennedy, saw it as an act of provocation. He wanted the missiles removed immediately. Otherwise, he would attack Cuba. After some negotiations, Cuban leader Fidel Castro requested his Soviet friends to remove the missiles. The Cuban crisis was defused.In response to Castro’s decision, Kennedy, it is alleged, undertook not to overthrow Castro through illegal means. Whether he kept his word or not, it was not really tested because Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963 before he could complete his second term as US president. Some of his successors tried to undermine Castro but that is another story.Cuba 60 years ago is relevant to the present situation in Ukraine. Just as the US did not want Russian missiles at its doorstep in 1962, Russia in 2022 does not want overwhelming Western military power at its gate today. The Cuban leadership understood what had to be done to assuage American fears. One hopes that the US and Western governments today realise why it is so important to allay a legitimate Russian concern about its security.In a nutshell, both situations demand an appreciation of that ancient truth found in all spiritual and moral traditions: do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you. It is a truth that has been described as the fundamental ethic in relations between human beings, communities and states. It is, in plain language, the Golden Rule of Life. The US elite in particular has shown so little regard for this golden rule in international affairs.Chandra Muzaffar is president of the International Movement for a Just World.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Cherry-picking corruption cases

"Corruption is an insidious plague that has a wide range of corrosive effects on societies. It undermines democracy and the rule of law, leads to violations of human rights, distorts markets, erodes the quality of life, and allows organised crime, terrorism, and other threats to human security to flourish." (UN Convention Against Corruption 2004)
Will the scourge of corruption be eradicated by this "convenience government"?
Revolving door of corruption prosecutions
I have pointed out an evident pattern in Malaysia’s "revolving door of corruption prosecutions" in a previous article. Malaysia’s new normal of a political revolving door since GE14, 2018 – BN to PH and then back to BN/PN, and now PH/BN – is also proving to be a revolving door of corruption prosecutions.
We saw BN politicians being charged with corruption over 1MDB and other scandals after 2018 and these ongoing cases expose shocking behind-the-scenes tricks by these elected representatives. After the fall of the PH government in 2020, we witnessed the re-opening of the corruption cases involving PH politicians and which were rather foolishly dropped by the PH government after GE14.
Of course, the revolving door is maintained by the revolving series of MACC chairs and attorney-generals who are appointed by the government of the day. From their decision making, it seems that their mission is to punish the ruling coalition foes and to let off those who choose to be friendly, rather than ensuring that all of the corrupt, regardless of political persuasion, are brought to book.
Unfortunately, the new "convenience government" under the former reformasi champion Anwar Ibrahim failed to "hold high the banner of anti-corruption" when he appointed a deputy prime minister who is currently facing multiple corruption charges in court.
And true to the script of "Malaysia’s revolving door of corruption cases", he has alleged corruption by the previous PN regime to the tune of RM600 billion! This is certainly more sensational than the RM2.6 billion 1MDB scandal associated with the former BN administration. We hope the MACC will do their duty and follow this up.
Whatever happened to the LCS and LCA scandals?
This is all great stuff for pummelling the opposition, but does it add credibility to the government’s commitment to rid the nation of corruption? For example, what happened to all of the corruption cases that were trending just before GE15?
Before the GE15, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli was gung-ho about the littoral combat ships (LCS) scandal, revealing that the ex-deputy defence minister’s spouse was the owner of companies pocketing money from LCS project.
The report on the controversial LCS project by the special investigation committee on public governance, procurement and finance further revealed that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was involved in the procurement process. The report included evidence in the form of a letter sent by Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) on July 8, 2010, to Zahid asking for a letter of intent on the LCS project. The letter carried Zahid's handwriting that said "sila laksanakan" (please get this done) as well his signature and stamp as the defence minister.
Then there was the scandal of the multi-billion-ringgit Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) tender for 18 light combat aircraft (LCA) with allegations of impropriety by ministry personnel.
Will these cases be subsumed under the new sensational RM600 billion scandal allegedly committed by the previous PN government?
The people want all corrupt politicians to be charged
With this new normal of a revolving door of corruption prosecutions, it is not surprising that the public view such prosecutions with cynicism and scepticism. The citizens of this country want to see justice done without fear or favour – regardless of political affiliation or socio-economic status, whether the sum involved in the corruption is RM2.6 billion (in the case of the former prime minister) or RM2.6 million (in the case of the former chief minister of Penang). Justice should not only be done but should "manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done".
The decisions of the MACC chair and the AG are thus crucial to vindicate the public's interest in upholding an honest government and an independent judicial system. Whatever their political affiliation, it is the responsibility of all public servants to maintain a high ethical standard to serve the people effectively and honestly. This is easier said than done when these crucial posts are appointees of the prime minister of the day.
The defection of former PKR vice-president Xavier Jayakumar to the PN government just as MACC was closing in on his heels has exposed MACC’s lack of commitment to a truly independent graft-busting mission that all decent Malaysians expect. On this score, both BN and PH coalitions are equally guilty of treating corruption as a political game that is used against their opponents rather than a commitment to expose corruption, irrespective of whether the corrupt happens to be a friend or foe.
Zero tolerance for corruption
In the reformed Malaysia that Malaysians yearn for, there must be zero tolerance for corruption. We expect every case of corruption to be reported to the relevant authorities, nothing less than that. We also expect MACC to follow through with its investigations to a legitimate end.
Corrupt leaders and civil servants must be accountable to the people. Furthermore, they must pay back what they have corruptly obtained from the people and atone for their indiscretion. This is irrespective of whether the amount of money involved is RM2.6 billion in your personal bank account or RM2.6 million that you paid for a house.
An effective and independent MACC
First, the heads of anti-corruption commissions should be appointed through a process that ensures their independence, impartiality, neutrality, integrity, apolitical stance, and competence. Their appointment must be based on non-political, non-partisan criteria.
The degree to which MACC can function truly independently is vital to its ability to fight corruption effectively. The principle that these agencies should be independent is axiomatic. Being free from undue influence is generally stated in the form of being free from politics.
The ideal is that MACC is part of an "apolitical" law enforcement system and implements a clear set of laws to bring about the apprehension, conviction, and punishment of offenders. There should in fact be a statutory or constitutional basis for a claim to independence, asserting autonomy and limiting the powers of the executive. Other mechanisms relate to appointment, continuity, removal, and remuneration of AC officials.
This concerted effort to root out corruption requires strong impartial leadership and commitment, and a team of skilled investigators able to collaborate with other investigative and prosecuting bodies, accorded sufficient powers and resources to make its operations effective. Independence therefore means freedom from interference as well as the capacity to act.
To conclude, eradicating corruption from our midst involves enhancing the citizens’ voices by removing the restrictions that stifle dissent and open debate, including press freedom; judicial reform, especially the creation of an "independent" judiciary; civil service employment reform; the removal of unnecessary layers of bureaucracy; tough anti-corruption laws and the assurance of politically independent law enforcement agencies.
Any coalition that wants our support at the next general election must first declare their commitment to such reforms and demonstrate that they are serious about implementing them to rid the country of this scourge of corruption. We will not tolerate the cherry-picking of corruption cases by the government of the day to suit what looks like the "new normal" of a revolving door of corruption prosecutions.
Kua Kia Soong is a human rights activist.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Govt leaders being investigated as well, says Anwar

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today said that politicians from the government bloc were also being investigated by the authorities, adding however that details of these probes were uncertain.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, he said whether or not charges would be brought would depend on the Attorney-General's Chambers, with no government intervention.
"I don't know the specifics, but I am told that there are investigations against the opposition as well as the government bloc," he said during Minister's Question Time.
"I don't know the positions involved and so on, because I only asked the authorities and they confirmed that there are investigations ongoing."
Anwar was responding to an additional question from Rantau Panjang MP Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, who asked if any MPs from the government bloc were under investigation.
She also asked about funds received by parties to prevent disputes about selective prosecution.
Anwar said the existing laws allowed donations from any individual or body to political parties.
However, he said this would become a problem if the donation was found to have elements of bribery.
"If there are issues of bribery in PKR, that can be raised as well. I have no problem with that," he said.
"The only question is, we have to understand the law. There is nothing unlawful about anyone donating to political parties."


Fuel subsidies surged by up to 10 times since 2021, says finance minister

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz today said that world crude oil prices have shown a significant upward trend since the beginning of 2021, with the benchmark Brent crude rising to US$85 per barrel in January 2022 from US$55 per barrel in January 2021.Following this increase, he said the government has had to cover a significant increase in subsidies for petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) of up to 10 times, increasing from RM200 million for January 2021 to more than RM2 billion for January 2022.Coupled with the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, world crude oil prices have risen sharply to more than US$100 per barrel, the highest level since 2014, he said, adding that with this increase, the total petrol, diesel and LPG subsidies are expected to exceed RM2.5 billion a month.“If the world crude oil price remains above US$100 per barrel, the total subsidy for the whole of 2022 is expected to reach RM28 billion compared to RM11 billion for 2021,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.Tengku Zafrul said consumers currently pay only RM2.05 per litre for RON95 petrol although the actual cost in March reached RM3.70 per litre for petrol.“The government has had to cover the difference of RM1.65 per litre. For example, every time we go to the petrol station, if we refuel RM100 worth of petrol or about 49 litres, the amount paid by the government is RM81, as the total actual cost based on the market price is RM181 for 49 litres for RON95.”He said this meant that the government subsidised up to 45% of the total amount paid. As for diesel, he said consumers paid only RM2.15 per litre at petrol stations while the actual cost had also exceeded RM4 per litre.“The huge gap between retail prices at petrol stations compared to actual market prices will result in a higher risk of subsidy leakage due to the smuggling of petroleum products out of the country.“The government also cannot borrow to finance operating expenditure such as subsidy costs. Hence, the increase in subsidy costs needs to be offset by increased revenue and cost savings,” he said.