Time for a shake-up at the top, says FT Umno Youth chief as pressure mounts on Zahid

The Federal Territories Umno Youth has thrown its weight behind calls to change the party’s top leadership, saying party polls should be held this year to replace the current line-up.The wing’s chief Mohamed Nizham Abdullah Hamidi said not only should Umno be revamped, its top leaders should be acceptable to members as well as the public.“Umno needs a total revamp. Umno needs an Avengers team, someone who is not only accepted by the members but also by the people,” Nizham said in a statement cited by Astro Awani.The call comes in the wake of remarks by two divisional Umno Youth chiefs from Johor and Negeri Sembilan, urging party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to resign.In the last two days, Pontian Umno Youth chief Helmi Buang and his Seremban counterpart Zool Amali Hussin have openly called for Zahid’s removal, in a sign of growing disenchantment with their president’s recent move to support PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim’s bid to topple the government.In October, MalaysiaNow revealed the contents of a letter to the palace jointly written by Zahid and former party chief Najib Razak, expressing support for Anwar’s bid to become the prime minister through the defection of MPs.Since winning the Umno presidential contest weeks after the party’s fall from power in the 2018 election, Zahid has faced several calls from various Umno divisions to resign.In late 2018, Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki urged Zahid to take leave from his post, following multiple corruption charges against the former deputy prime minister. Zahid eventually took a break, but returned six months later despite his ongoing corruption trials.


Cops probing alleged sale of personal data from JPN

Police are conducting an investigation into the alleged sale of the personal data of Malaysians taken from the National Registration Department (JPN) database.Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Mohd Kamarudin Md Din said his team received a report in connection with the allegation carried by several local news portals yesterday.“Investigations are being carried out to determine the validity of the allegations, and we give our assurance that a full investigation will be conducted to ensure that the issue is addressed immediately,” he said in a statement.Kamarudin also urged the public not to speculate on the matter.Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin had said that the alleged sale of the personal details of 22.5 million Malaysians was not from JPN, but a collection of sellers from other sources.This follows reports of the alleged sale online of the personal data of more than 22 million Malaysians, as well as identification card verification snapshots of 800,000 individuals belonging to JPN and the Election Commission.


Now, MACC arrests Bersatu treasurer

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested the treasurer of Bersatu as an investigation continues into allegations surrounding the flow of funds into the party, The Star reports.
The report said Salleh Bajuri was arrested yesterday with a remand application submitted at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court today.
The Star also quoted a source as saying that MACC was trying to extend his remand, calling it an effort to taint Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional.
MalaysiaNow is awaiting a response from MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki.
Bersatu leaders have been the target of MACC in the wake of accusations by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other government leaders of the misuse of funds for party coffers.
Former prime minister and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin was among those questioned by MACC over contracts awarded under JanaWibawa, a post-Covid programme to help highly rated Bumiputera contractors affected by the pandemic.
This was followed by the arrest and charging of Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who claimed trial to two counts of bribery.


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Merck says deal inked with Singapore on Covid-19 antiviral pill

Merck announced on Wednesday a supply and purchase agreement that will provide Singapore with access to its experimental oral Covid-19 antiviral drug, the latest Asian country to try to snap up supplies.Molnupiravir is designed to introduce errors into the genetic code of the virus and would be the first oral antiviral medication for Covid-19. Merck is seeking approval by the US Food and Drug Administration for the pill.Singapore’s health ministry did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation of the Merck agreement.Australia has also bought the Merck pill, while Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia have been in talks to buy it. The Philippines hopes its trial of the pill would allow it access.The rush to order the drug comes after data from interim clinical trials released on Friday indicated it could reduce by about 50% the likelihood of hospitalisation or death for patients at risk of severe disease from Covid-19.Singapore reported a record 3,486 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, as it deals with its biggest outbreak so far. It has vaccinated more than 80% of its people against Covid-19.


Agong presented with Turkiye's highest award

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultah Ahmad Shah has been conferred the Turkish Order of the State, the highest award of the Turkish government, in conjunction with his state visit to Turkiye.
Sultan Abdullah received the award from Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace, becoming the first Asean head of state to be given the honour.
He is one of five heads of state conferred the award under the leadership of Erdogan.
The other recipients are the King of Saudi Arabia, King Salman Abdul Aziz; King Philippe of Belgium; Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi.
At the same ceremony, Sultan Abdullah bestowed Malaysia’s highest award, the Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota Negara (DMN), on Erdogan.
The DMN is accorded to a state ruler but is also bestowed on an honorary basis on a foreign head of state and other most esteemed people.
Other foreign heads of state conferred with the DMN are Queen Elizabeth, the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Khalifa Al-Tahni, King Salman Abdul Aziz and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha, the consort of the Sultan of Brunei.


June 23 hearing for bid to refer questions of law on MACC probe of judge

The Kuala Lumpur High Court has set June 23 to hear an application by two lawyers and an activist to refer to the Federal Court two questions of law regarding the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation against Court of Appeal judge Mohd Nazlan Ghazali.Judge Noorin Badaruddin set the date during case management attended by counsels A Surendra Ananth and Wong Ming Yen, representing the three individuals, and senior federal counsel Mazlifah Ayob, representing the defendants – MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki, MACC and the government.This was in reference to the originating summons filed by two lawyers, Nur Ain Mustapa and Sreekant Pillai, and activist Haris Fathillah Mohamed Ibrahim, seeking a declaration that the investigation conducted by MACC against Nazlan is unconstitutional.The two questions are whether criminal investigation bodies including MACC are only legally permitted to investigate High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court judges who have been suspended under Article 125 (5) of the Federal Constitution, and whether the public prosecutor is empowered to institute or conduct proceedings for an offence against serving judges pursuant to Article 145 (3) of the Federal Constitution.Mazlifah, when met by reporters, said the defendants had been given until June 2 to file their affidavits in response to the suit.Surendra said the court had ordered both parties to file their written submissions on or before June 22.In the suit filed on May 6, the three plaintiffs sought a declaration that MACC is not entitled to investigate serving judges unless they have been suspended or removed.They also sought a declaration that a public prosecutor is not empowered to institute or conduct any proceedings for an offence against serving judges of a court, and that the investigations against judge Nazlan are unconstitutional.Meanwhile, the three plaintiffs through a supporting affidavit filed with the originating summons, said the media had reported that the commission had commenced a probe against Nazlan over allegations of unexplained money in his account following official reports lodged with it regarding the matter.They claimed that the purported investigation was a violation by the executive branch of the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers.Nazlan, who convicted former prime minister Najib Razak of charges of misappropriating SRC International funds, had lodged a police report over news articles alleging that he was being investigated for unexplained money in his bank account.A statement released by the Federal Court chief registrar’s office on April 21 said Nazlan denied the false, baseless and malicious allegations aimed at undermining his credibility as a judge and disrupting the administration of criminal justice and the judiciary.


Too soon to say if Malaysia has weathered Omicron peak, says Khairy

Malaysia’s Covid-19 infectivity rate (Rt) was 1.06 yesterday, a 0.02 decrease from 1.08 reported on Saturday.Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said although the country’s daily Rt had steadily dropped to 1.05, it was too early to say that Malaysia had passed the peak of the Omicron variant, even with 96% of active cases recovering at home and hospital capacity under control.“If this trend continues, full border opening and more relaxed domestic measures will follow,” he said in a post on Twitter today.Meanwhile, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a social media update that Perak reported the highest Rt value at 1.32, followed by Labuan (1.27), Sarawak (1.24) and Terengganu (1.22).Malaysia reported 24,466 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, with only 105 cases in Category Three and above.


Why do people watch videos of other people eating?

In Malaysia, an unusual trend is taking place. People are filming themselves eating – and uploading the clips to social media where thousands click on the play button and let the videos roll.
This trend stems from the concept of "mukbang" – an amalgamation of the Korean words "muok-da" (eating) and "bang" (broadcast). Also known as eating shows, mukbang are essentially online broadcasts in which hosts eat while interacting with the audience.
The concept began gaining traction in 2018, and today, millions head to YouTube – just to watch people eat.
Locally, mukbang celebrities aim to satisfy their audiences through their varied menus and methods of eating.
For example, the most popular ASMR or autonomous sensory meridian response videos often result in viewers saying they feel calm and happy just listening to the sound of people chewing their food.
A local mukbang celebrity who spoke to MalaysiaNow said he picked up the habit of eating in front of the camera after watching South Korean video shows.
During the movement control order triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, he received a lot of "orders".
"Every time I ate, I would make a video call with anyone, including my friends at work," he said, requesting anonymity.
"After that, my friends asked me to make videos of a higher quality and prepare healthier food, and upload the clips to YouTube."
His first video only garnered some 300 views. But now, more than two years later, he has more than 13,000 followers.
The youth in his 20s said he preferred not to make videos of himself eating excessive amounts of food as he did not want anything to go to waste.
Nevertheless, he began receiving requests for a larger and more varied menu, and longer videos.
One of his most memorable communications with fans was with an Instagram user who told him that he had been bullied after his parents divorced.
"He watched my mukbang ASMR videos to release stress," he said. "It was a bit like mental therapy for him."
Mukbang videos have generated no small amount of debate, over matters from health and lifestyle to even nutritional aspects.
In the UK, for instance, at the peak of the mukbang trend in 2018, the government warned that it could have negative implications for the way people socialised.
But the local mukbang celebrity said such videos could also bring comfort to viewers.
"They enjoy watching other people prepare food and eat it, especially if they've been living alone for a long time," he added.
Dangers of obsession
Another woman celebrity in Johor said not everything about mukbang videos was positive.
Several years ago, she said, mukbang videos were all the rage because only a small number of people were confident enough to eat in front of the camera.
"But now, mukbang is all about marketing products," she said.
"They bring slimming products into the video, they put cosmetics. For what? For profit," the woman who likewise spoke to MalaysiaNow on condition of anonymity said.
She said those who agreed to promote products in their videos could be paid up to tens of thousands of ringgit based on the popularity of the celebrity in question.
"Followers who are obsessed will buy whatever they see," she said. "They don't stop to think whether the product is good or not.
"And the celebrities they idolise don't care about their safety. They prioritise their profit over everything else, because many are now making a living this way."


Anger over mosque T-shirt worn by rapper Jay-Z

A US-based designer has apologised for using a portrait of a historic mosque on Kenya’s island of Lamu on a T-shirt worn by celebrity Jay-Z.Worshippers became angry when they spotted WhatsApp photos of hip-hop music mogul Jay-Z wearing a T-shirt with a print of the mosque as he left a restaurant in Santa Monica, California, on March 30, CNN reported.Abubakar Badawy, the secretary-general of Riyadha Mosque and Islamic Centre, said the mosque leaders then objected to the T-shirt as it could be worn to “sacrilegious joints” like bars.Designer Zeddie Loky reportedly produced the T-shirt to promote Lamu, a Unesco-listed World Heritage site. Its 19th-century mosque is a top tourist attraction with manuscripts dating back to 1837 and is one of the oldest continuously functioning Islamic teaching institutions in East Africa.“Many people were angry about this and thought that the officials running the mosque were involved,” Badawy said.The consternation prompted him to write a public letter to Loky, the CEO of clothing design company Blkburd Genes.The letter said that worshippers “actually feel insulted by the photos of Jay-Z wearing Blkburd Genes T-shirt portraying our Riyadha mosque. Rest assured we neither consider it an honour or privilege for the historical mosque and its founder Habib Swaleh.”It added that “when wearers of these T-shirts end up in bars, clubs and at all sorts of sacrilegious joints” then it was an “affront” to those who revered the mosque.Badawy said he had since received a letter from Loky, promising to remove “all inappropriate portrayals”. The letter said the T-shirt had been part of a collection to celebrate Lamu.Loky said only 20 T-shirts, retailing for US$195 had been produced for “celebrity friends and their family”.They would be advised not to wear them in bars and clubs, it added.Badawy told the BBC that mosque officials were satisfied with the apology because there was “no malice” on the designer’s part, saying, “We need to forgive and be tolerant.”


Daily caseload crosses 2,600 as another 5 deaths reported

Another 2,605 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,563,188.There were 1,633 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,498,711.There are now 28,714 active cases, of which 27,465 or 95.7% are undergoing home quarantine.Meanwhile, 22 (0.1%) are at quarantine centres while 1,187 (4.1%) have been hospitalised.A total of 40 are in ICU with 24 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 62.4%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 9.0%.Another five deaths were reported, including one who was brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 35,763.


Guan Eng congratulates BN on Melaka victory

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today congratulated Barisan Nasional (BN) on its victory in the Melaka election, admitting that there had been weaknesses in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) election machinery.He said the absence of face-to-face campaigns was one of the factors which adversely affected efforts to woo Melaka voters, and that the weaknesses in the election machinery must be rectified especially in terms of social media campaigning.“We need to intensify and strengthen social media campaigns. In fact, we cannot win elections by relying on social media alone. We need to see the voters face-to-face and interact with them.“Although we are disappointed, we must not give up but continue our fight because political struggle is not temporary but a continuous endeavour,” he told reporters outside the High Court here today.Lim was attending the proceedings of his defamation suit against former Penang BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow concerning an article on Pulau Jerejak.In the Melaka election on Saturday, BN captured 21 of the 28 seats contested while PH won five seats and Perikatan Nasional took two.The election was held under strict SOPs which prohibited candidates from organising physical campaigns with the voters in their constituencies.


Consider granting Sarawak autonomy in education, says minister

Sarawak hopes that the new federal government under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will consider giving the state autonomy in education.
Sarawak Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the matter should be given due consideration as it was the aspiration of all Sarawakians.
"The autonomy, if granted, should include matters of policy and execution. However, the federal government would continue to provide the required funding," he told the Sarawak state assembly in his winding-up speech on the state’s budget for next year.
He said even though education falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government, the state government had always placed top priority on education matters.
This was evident through its efforts including on improving the physical development of schools and continuous professional development programmes for educators, he added.  On Nov 26, following a meeting with Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg, Anwar said relations between the federal and Sarawak governments would be closer and strengthened under the unity government.
Meanwhile, Sagah said that at the moment, there was no critical shortage of teachers in Sarawak. However, he said there were still issues with the placement of teachers due to teaching subject specialisation and family-related matters.
"It is a policy to put spouses together in the same location. We do not want the husband to teach in Lundu, while the wife teaches in Lawas.
"On a similar note, we have achieved the 90:10 ratio of Sarawakian to non-Sarawakian teachers. We must thank the education ministry for the endeavour to achieve the ratio as aspired by all Sarawakians," he said.
Sagah also said the construction of the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre would commence in the first half of 2023 and is expected to be completed within 24 months.


Malaysia secures over RM500 million investment from US manufacturing firm

Ferrotec (USA) Corporation has committed to investing more than RM500 million in Malaysia to set up its first manufacturing facility in Southeast Asia.Construction of the 8.13-hectare facility which will include a 800,000 sq ft manufacturing plant at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park, is expected to begin in a few weeks’ time.International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali said the global supplier of materials, components, precision systems, and worldwide leader in quartz material fabrication for the semiconductor industry, also committed to generating between 250 and 500 high-skilled jobs for Malaysians.“They are also committed to assisting SMEs in Malaysia in building the supply chain and ecosystem in the semiconductor industry.“This is a very positive development where the company not only wants to bring investment into Malaysia, but wants to see Malaysia continue to thrive in new technologies by involving local companies, especially SMEs,” he told Bernama and TV3 after holding a meeting with Ferrotec CEO Eiji Miyanaga on Monday (Tuesday local time).Azmin also suggested that Ferrotec, especially in the US and Japan, train Malaysian workers including students and professionals in the two countries.Azmin also met with leading US solar tracker company Nextracker Inc CEO and co-founder Marco Miller.Azmin said Nextracker would strive to enhance products from Malaysia to penetrate not only the US market but the global market as well.Speaking to Bernama after meeting Azmin, Miyanaga said the company has nearly 40 factories globally, and the facility in Malaysia would be its first large platform manufacturing site outside of Japan, China and the US.“We chose Malaysia because Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, has become a focal point of the supply chain for the industry.“We feel compelled to invest Southeast Asia,” he said.He said Ferrotec plans to employ between 250 and 500 local talents over the next three years, and to allow the facility to be run and operated by locals.“We want to invest in people, and we understand that it is going to take some time. Therefore, for the initial stage, we will bring in expats for a very short period to transfer the technology and train the locals,” he said.Meanwhile, Nextracker’s Miller said the company is currently doing US$100 million worth of business with two Malaysian companies, and is planning to expand its business in the coming years and make Malaysia a key manufacturing partner.“We chose Malaysia for its geographical location and dedicated, highly skilled workforce which manufactures our high-tech products,” he said.He said Nextracker is expected to see its Malaysian partners double the workforce from the current 400 employees in the near future to cater to its growing business.


Court denies children of late minister Jamaluddin leave to appeal over RM1 billion shares

The children of former minister Jamaluddin Mohd Jarjis, who was killed in a helicopter crash in 2015, today failed to get leave from the Federal Court to proceed with their appeal in connection with the inclusion of Rantai Wawasan Sdn Bhd shares worth RM1.044 billion in the list of their father's estate.
Ikhwan Hafiz Jamaludin, 35, and Nur Anis Jamaludin, 37, had sought to obtain leave to appeal against the decisions of the High Court and Court of Appeal which ruled in favour of their grandmother, Aminah Abdullah, to include three million Rantai Wawasan shares in the list of their father's estate.
A three-member Federal Court panel comprising Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli and Federal Court judges Nallini Pathmanathan and Rhodzariah Bujang dismissed their leave to appeal application in a 2-1 split decision.
Rahman and Rhodariah decided the majority decision while Nallini dissented.
In the decision delivered online, Rahman said the leave to appeal was dismissed as the two questions of law that they wanted the court to determine were related to concurrent findings of facts by the lower courts. He also said that their application for leave failed to meet the threshold requirement of Section 96 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.
Nallini dissented, saying leave ought to be granted as there were no concurrent findings of facts by the lower courts.
On Jan 3, 2019, Aminah, 88, sued her grandchildren, claiming that the shares of three companies – the Rantai Wawasan shares, six million Alpine Motion shares worth RM233 million and two Ivory Insights shares worth RM80 million – should be considered as part of her son's estate.
On Aug 13, 2021, Aminah won a partial victory in the High Court to include the three million shares from Rantai Wawasan in the list of her son's estate.
The High Court however ruled against Aminah in respect of the other company shares. The Court of Appeal on Aug 19 last year dismissed both the appeals by Aminah and her grandchildren, and upheld the High Court's decision.
Ikhwan Hafiz and Nur Anis subsequently filed leave to appeal to the Federal Court against the court decisions on the Rantai Wawasan shares.
Aminah meanwhile did not file leave to appeal against the court decisions relating to the Alpine Motion and Ivory Insights shares.
Lawyers Saheran Suhendran, Frank Wong and Rodney Gan represented Ikhwan Hafiz and Nur Anis, while counsels Zainur Zakaria, Pawancheek Marican and Suzilawati Ismail appeared for Aminah.
Jamaluddin, better known as JJ, a former science, technology and innovation minister, was killed in the helicopter crash while travelling from Pekan, Pahang, to Kuala Lumpur.


Deloitte to pay RM324 million in 1MDB, SRC International settlement

Deloitte PLT has agreed to a RM324 million (US$80 million) settlement to resolve all claims related to its fiduciary duty in auditing the accounts of 1MDB and SRC International Sdn Bhd from 2011 to 2014.In a statement, the finance ministry said the amount represents the largest 1MDB-related settlement by an audit firm in Southeast Asia.“The successful out-of-court settlement with Deloitte will expedite the payment of monies to fulfil 1MDB and SRC International’s outstanding obligations, which would otherwise be delayed by potentially protracted and costly court battles,” it said.Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said the settlement marked another success in the government’s continuing recovery efforts against parties involved in 1MDB, SRC International and related entities.“The government is determined to ensure that appropriate actions are taken against all individuals or entities involved, directly or indirectly, in the global 1MDB scheme,” he said.According to the ministry, the government in July 2020 successfully negotiated with Goldman Sachs Group Inc to reach a settlement worth RM15.8 billion (US$3.9 billion).“On Feb 26, 2021, the government also achieved a global settlement worth RM2.83 billion related to the involvement of a banking group in the 1MDB issue.“These settlements will neither affect nor compromise Malaysia’s claims against individuals like Jho Low and other parties related thereto, who are still being actively pursued in relation to the 1MDB scandal,” it said.The ministry also thanked the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Securities Commission Malaysia, Bank Negara Malaysia, the police force, the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption for their efforts in achieving the settlement.


CMCO extended to Jan 14 in Selangor, Sabah and KL

The conditional movement control order (CMCO) for Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Sabah and several localities in other states has been extended another two weeks until Jan 14, 2021, says Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob.He said the government decided on this after taking into consideration the advice and risk assessment of the health ministry based on the trend and increase in positive Covid-19 cases in these areas and the emergence of new clusters in Kuala Lumpur.The CMCO in these areas had been scheduled to end on Dec 31.Ismail said for Selangor, the CMCO would cover the whole state including Sabak Bernam, Hulu Selangor and Kuala Selangor, which were previously placed under recovery movement control order (RMCO).For other states, the CMCO was extended for Southwest Mukim 12 and Northeast Mukim 13 in Penang; Seremban (Negeri Sembilan), and Johor Bahru and Batu Pahat (Johor).


China's Xi promotes Mideast security, energy ties at Saudi summits

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday touted close security and energy ties with Gulf nations during summits in Saudi Arabia that have highlighted tensions with Washington.
On the third and final day of his visit, Xi attended a gathering of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council and a broader China-Arab leaders' meeting.
It was only Xi's third journey outside China since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Friday's talks followed bilateral sit-downs on Thursday with Saudi royals that yielded a joint statement stressing "the importance of stability" in oil markets – a point of friction with the US, which has urged the Saudis to raise production.
"China will continue to firmly support the GCC countries in maintaining their own security... and build a collective security framework for the Gulf," Xi said on Friday at the start of the China-GCC summit.
"China will continue to import large quantities of crude oil from GCC countries on an ongoing basis," he said, also vowing to expand other areas of energy cooperation including liquefied natural gas imports.
Additionally, Xi said China would make full use of a Shanghai-based platform "to carry out RMB [yuan] settlement of oil and gas trade" – a move that, if Gulf countries participate, could weaken the global dominance of the US dollar.
Asked at a press conference, as the summits came to close Friday evening, if Riyadh would agree to such a scheme, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said he had "nothing to add".
Oil from Saudi Arabia alone accounted for 17% of China's imports last year, and last month Qatar announced a 27-year natural gas deal with China.
Rejecting 'polarity'
Xi's visit comes amid persistent rancour between Saudi Arabia and the US, its long-time partner and security guarantor, over oil production, human rights issues and regional security.
It follows US President Joe Biden's trip to Jeddah in July, before midterm elections, when he failed to persuade the Saudis to pump more oil to reduce prices.
Xi's arrival in the kingdom on Wednesday earned a rebuke from the White House, which warned of "the influence that China is trying to grow around the world".
Washington called Beijing's objectives "not conducive to preserving the international rules-based order".
Saudi officials have repeatedly stressed that they value deep ties with Washington but will not hesitate to explore relationships elsewhere.
"We are very much focused on cooperation with all parties and I think competition is a good thing," Prince Faisal said on Friday, adding that Riyadh will also continue to have strong relations with the US "across the board".
"We will continue to work with all of our partners and we don't see it as a zero-sum game by any means," he added.
"We don't believe in polarity."
Trade talks
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's 37-year-old de facto ruler, addressed both summits on Friday, promising "continuing Arab-Chinese cooperation to serve our common goals and aspirations of our peoples".
The Gulf countries, strategic partners of Washington, are bolstering ties with China as part of an eastward turn that involves diversifying their fossil fuel-reliant economies.
At the same time China, hit hard by its Covid lockdowns, is trying to revive its economy and widen its sphere of influence, notably through its Belt and Road Initiative which provides funding for infrastructure projects around the world.
One area of focus for the China-GCC summit was a free trade agreement under discussion for nearly two decades.
Drawing those negotiations to a close would be "a matter of prestige for Beijing", said Robert Mogielnicki of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.
"It's not as simple for the GCC states, which seem to be more invested in advancing bilateral ties and are engaged in varying degrees of regional economic competition with their neighbouring member states."
No breakthrough was announced on Friday.


Korean Air jet evacuated before takeoff after bullets found on board

A Korean Air Lines Co Ltd jet with 230 people on board was evacuated on Friday morning after two live bullets were found before takeoff at Incheon International Airport in South Korea, police said.
The Manila-bound plane, which was originally scheduled to take off at 7.45am (2245 GMT on Thursday), departed Incheon at around 11am (0200 GMT), after security checks identified no immediate terror risk, according to the police.
The 9 millimetre bullets were found by a passenger shortly before the jet was to take off with 218 passengers and 12 crew members on board, leading to the plane to return to the terminal.
"We are looking into how the bullets got into the plane," a police officer said.
A Korean Air official said the airline was monitoring the results of the police investigation.
South Korea has strict gun laws with illegal possession of a firearm subject to a prison sentence of up to 15 years and a fine of up to US$75,300 (about RM340,000).


Double record again as daily deaths, infections hit new highs

Another 7,478 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 533,367.Selangor recorded 2,455 cases, Kuala Lumpur 760, Sarawak 640, Johor 587, Kelantan 547, Kedah 542, Penang 420, Negeri Sembilan 370, Perak 264, Sabah 229, Melaka 230, Terengganu 177 and Pahang 171.Labuan reported 49 cases, Putrajaya 29 and Perlis eight.Active cases stand at 66,208 with 756 in the ICU and 377 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 4,665 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 464,727.However, 63 more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 2,432.


Things to know about income tax in Malaysia

Silently, we have entered the year 2021 and the season of submitting income tax forms has started. Let us review our knowledge of income tax so that we are better prepared to furnish our income tax form this year.Scope of taxationIncome tax in Malaysia is imposed on income accruing in or derived from Malaysia except for income of a resident company carrying on a business of air/sea transport, banking or insurance, which is assessable on a world income scope.Income attributable to a Labuan business activity of Labuan entities including the branch or subsidiary of a Malaysian bank in Labuan is subject to tax under the Labuan Business Activity Tax Act 1990 instead of the Income Tax Act 1967 (unless the Labuan entities opt to be taxed under Income Tax Act 1967).In short, any income or gain from employment, business and any commercial activity is subject to tax.Basis of assessmentAll income of persons other than a company, cooperative or trust body are assessed on a calendar year basis.The year of assessment (YA) is the year coinciding with the calendar year. For instance, YA 2020 is the year ending Dec 31, 2020.Responsibilities of employees/businessesDeclare yearly income, submit tax return form and pay tax payable within the stipulated period.Business income: Latest by June 30Other than business income: Latest by April 30Married taxpayers may opt for joint or separate assessments to optimise tax reliefs and enjoy tax savings.Appoint certified accountants and tax agents to assist you in managing your tax affairs.Keep income, tax relief and business records as well as documents for a period of seven years for audit purposes.Income tax reliefIncome tax relief is a deduction from a total income which an eligible taxpayer can claim for money expended in the assessment year. Income tax reliefs are set by the government and LHDN. Income tax reliefs can help reduce our chargeable income, and thus our tax payable. If planned properly, we can have significant tax savings.Income tax rebatesIncome tax rebates, on the other hand, are a type of deduction which reduces the amount of tax charged. It is given to an individual resident in Malaysia in a basis year for a year of assessment. There are three types of tax rebates, i.e:• SelfA rebate of RM400 is granted to an individual whose chargeable income does not exceed RM35,000. [Subsection 6A(2)(a) of ITA 1967.]• Husband and wifeA rebate of RM400 is granted to an individual whose chargeable income does not exceed RM35,000 and where he / she has been allowed a deduction of RM4,000 for the spouse. [Subsection 6A(2)(b) / Subsection 6A(2)(c) of ITA 1967.]• Zakat and fitrahPayment of obligatory zakat and fitrah in the basis year. [Subsection 6A(3) of ITA 1967.]Tax reliefs vs tax rebatesThe difference between the two is: a tax relief is deduction from the total income to derive your chargeable income, whereas tax rebate is deducted from the income tax charged.Tax computation for resident individuals:Record keepingApart from declaring income and claiming your tax relief truthfully, submitting the tax return form and paying the tax payable within the stipulated period, taxpayers are also responsible for keeping all tax records in order.Receipts and supporting documents must be kept for a period of seven years after the end of the year in which the return form is furnished to LHDN, for future reference and inspection if required. Failure to comply with the request may lead to prosecution under section 119A of ITA 1967 and if convicted they can be fined RM300 to RM10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.Records that need to be kept include:* Record of income* Record of sales/purchases* Record of business expenses* Bank statements* Payment vouchers* Business receipts and tax deductions receipts* Other records relating to income taxFor further details, please logon to www.hasil.gov.my.


Forget Merdeka Day, Malaysia Day enough, says Nazri

Padang Rengas MP Nazri Aziz today suggested that the government abolish Merdeka Day and replace it with Malaysia Day once the amendments to the Federal Constitution have been passed.He said retaining the definition of Merdeka Day would have no meaning for the Federation of Malaysia which was formed on Sept 16, 1963.“We must drop Aug 31 as Merdeka Day because it has caused two schools of thought – Merdeka as well as Malaysia Day.“If we truly wish to mean Malaysia as a nation, get rid of Merdeka Day,” he said when debating the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat today.Nazri also called for an end to the sentiment of differentiating between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak, saying the constitution is the Malaysian constitution and not the Malayan constitution.“It’s all right to read in history textbooks that the peninsula gained independence on Aug 31, 1957, but what we should celebrate in the future is Malaysia Day so that the issue of only Sabah and Sarawak celebrating Malaysia Day will no longer arise,” he said.The amendments to the constitution which are being read for the second time today provide, among others, a new definition of “Malaysia Day” and to change the definition of “the federation” in line with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 signed on July 9, 1963.Nazri, the former law minister, also said the issues arising between Putrajaya and Sabah and Sarawak need not be brought to court.“We need external parties to make decisions,” he said, referring to the courts.“Courts are where people go to get a divorce. Next time, if there is a problem between the federation and Sabah and Sarawak, we do not need to take it to court.“Each party has its own ministries, what need is there to go to court?” he added in voicing his full support for the amendments.


Man accused of attacking condo guard charged with murder

A businessman who was charged in the Ipoh Magistrate’s Court in January with causing grievous hurt to a condominium security guard was brought to court again today to face an amended charge of murder, following the death of the victim last month.The charge was amended after the police reclassified the death of the security guard, who was attacked while on duty at the swimming pool of the condominium in December last year, as a murder case.However, no plea was recorded from Ahmad Noor Azhar Muhammad, 33, after the amended charge was read out to him before magistrate Noor Azreen Liana Mohd Darus.Noor Azhar was charged with murdering S Thava Sagayam, 64, on the seventh floor of Menara Majestic, Jalan CM Yusuff in Ipoh, between 8am and 9.30am on Dec 29 last year.The charge, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, provides the death sentence upon conviction.Noor Azhar was previously charged under Section 335 of the same law with voluntarily causing hurt on provocation.The court set Oct 18 for mention.State prosecution director Azlina Rasdi prosecuted while lawyer Ariff Azami Hussein represented the accused.


37.3% of children given first jab, 67% of adults boosted

A total of 1,323,892 children or 37.3% of those aged five to 11 had received a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) as of yesterday.According to the CovidNow website, a total of 2,851,056 teenagers or 91.6% of those aged 12 to 17 have been fully vaccinated.Meanwhile, 2,947,622 or 94.7% have received at least one dose of vaccine.A total of 15,758,429 individuals or 67% of the adult population have received a Covid-19 booster dose while 22,952,209 or 97.6% have completed their vaccination.A total of 23,228,125 individuals or 98.8% have received at least one dose of vaccine.Yesterday, a total of 51,867 vaccine doses were administered, with 4,949 as first doses, 1,438 as second shots and 45,480 as booster jabs.This brings the cumulative number of vaccine doses given under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) to 68,849,462.


Mahathir reveals 8 Pejuang candidates as talks ongoing to avoid clashes with PN

Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said that his party Pejuang is involved in talks with Perikatan Nasional (PN) to avoid multi-cornered fights at the coming polls.
The former prime minister also unveiled eight candidates, including himself, who will be contesting under the Pejuang banner.
He added that a decision on more than 100 other candidates would depend on the outcome of negotiations with PN.
Aside from Mahathir, who will be defending his Langkawi seat, other candidates include his son Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun) and Amiruddin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu).
Also named by Pejuang today were Che Asmah Ibrahim (Sepang), Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi (Tapah), Harumaini Omar (Hulu Selangor), Mohd Shaid Rosli (Kuala Selangor) and Khairuddin Abu Hassan (Titiwangsa).
Mahathir said the candidate names had been decided on by the pact, and voiced hope that there would be no clashes with the candidates from Perikatan Nasional (PN).
"When we wish to cooperate with PN, we hope that all eight of these candidates will be accepted," he said in a press conference at Putrajaya today.
Mahathir said on Oct 19 that GTA, which comprises Pejuang, Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra), Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Berjasa) and Parti Perikatan India Muslim Nasional (Iman), would cooperate with neither Umno nor Pakatan Harapan (PH) in facing the 15th general election (GE15).
He said while GTA's main enemy remained Umno, working with PH would cause the movement to lose the Malay vote.
On the possibility of cooperation with PN, he said GTA was considering the option contingent on whether its component parties were in line with his cause.
"We want to see if they are aligned with us or not," he said.
"Are their leaders involved in crime, and do they have the same principles as GTA? Cooperation might be possible."
Speaking today, Mahathir also said that several minor issues remained unresolved.
He said while both sides might agree to cooperate, the candidates to be fielded should also be suitable and avoid clashes in their individual constituencies.
"We are of the view that this cooperation will result in a large number of candidates," he said.
"And we have no problems if there are candidates for the 120 seats promised, maybe even more."
He added that the results of the talks with PN would be announced on Nov 2.
In August, GTA said it wished to contest 120 of the 122 parliamentary seats up for grab, with an eye on Malay-majority seats, especially in traditional Umno areas.


Private jets take off as the rich protect themselves from the masses

Soaring numbers of wealthy flyers have been boarding private jets to avoid the risk of catching Covid-19 from other passengers on scheduled flights.Commercial airlines, even national flag-carriers, are going bust with the fallout from pandemic restrictions but private jet operators have seen bookings take off since Covid-19 announced that it meant business worldwide back in March.Not only do private jet passengers avoid sharing a plane with possibly infected strangers, they also side-step dealing with busy airport terminals as they can often drive straight onto the tarmac to catch their flight if it’s domestic.Even if it’s an international flight, passport checks can be arranged in secure lounges away from the lines and hurly-burly.In August, private jet bookings overtook 2019’s numbers, despite commercial flights plummeting.“Increased interest in private jet travel took off earlier this year, with enquiry levels double our usual volumes and flight bookings ahead of last year during the summer peak,” said Adam Twidell, CEO of UK-based private jet travel provider PrivateFly. “Currently we remain well ahead of last year in terms of flight sales.”Hiring a 14-seat jet for a one-way trip from New York to London typically costs around US$100,000 (RM400,000).And once your shiny Gulfstream has taxied you to your private arrivals lounge and your deep-cleaned Lincoln limo has deposited you at the private entrance to your hotel, the safety doesn’t stop there.Luxury hotel chains are reporting that wealthy customers are willing to pay a lot more to be kept away from other guests and crowded lobbies.Last week, InterContinental Hotels revealed that its suite-only brands are outperforming the rest of its portfolio by a large margin.


Don't go on witch hunt, Bung Moktar says on MCA's call for Zahid to resign

Every Barisan Nasional (BN) leader must be responsible for the results of the 15th general election (GE15) and not point fingers to say who is at fault, says Sabah BN chairman Bung Moktar Radin.
As such, he said, the call by MCA for BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to resign was too much.
"A loser is always a loser who should accept our loss and not blame others. I think MCA is too much in asking for the (Umno) president to step down," he told reporters when attending the Umno Supreme Council meeting at Menara Dato Onn in Kuala Lumpur last night.
Penang BN chairman Musa Sheikh Fadzir said MCA should instead respect Umno which helped the component party win two parliamentary seats in Johor: Ayer Hitam and Tanjung Piai.
Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajid Dusuki meanwhile said MCA should take responsibility for the party’s failure to gain support and win the votes in Chinese-majority areas in GE15.
MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon had said MCA believed that Zahid was no longer qualified to lead BN as chairman and urged him to resign honourably.
In GE15 on Saturday, BN won just 30 out of the 178 parliamentary seats it contested, its worst election performance ever.


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1,103 new cases, majority in Klang Valley

Another 1,103 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, pushing total confirmed infections in the country to 48,520.The majority of new cases – 544 – were reported in the Klang Valley, of which 392 were recorded in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 385 cases were reported at the Tapak Bina Damanlela cluster.Selangor recorded 151 while Sabah recorded 288. Perak meanwhile recorded 116 and Negeri Sembilan 90.Active cases stand at 12,601 with 102 in the ICU and 39 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 821 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 35,606 or 73.4%.However, four more deaths were reported, bringing the virus toll to 313.


Pfizer Covid jab declines faster than AstraZeneca, study shows

The effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19 declines faster than that of the AstraZeneca jab, according to a new study published on Thursday.“Two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech have greater initial effectiveness against new Covid-19 infections, but this declines faster compared with two doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca,” researchers at Oxford University said.The study, which has not been peer reviewed, is based on the results of a survey by Britain’s Office for National Statistics that carried out PCR tests from December last year to this month on randomly selected households.It found that “the dynamics of immunity following second doses differed significantly” between Pfizer and AstraZeneca, according to the university’s Nuffield Department of Medicine.Pfizer had “greater initial effectiveness” but saw “faster declines in protection against high viral burden and symptomatic infection”, when looking at a period of several months after full vaccination, although rates remained low for both jabs.“Results suggest that after four to five months effectiveness of these two vaccines would be similar,” the scientists added, while stressing that long-term effects need to be studied.The study’s findings come as Israel is administering booster shots, after giving 58% of the population two shots of the Pfizer jab.The US is also set to offer booster vaccines to boost antibody levels following concerns over declining effectiveness of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.The Oxford research also found that protection was higher among those who had already been infected with the virus.The study examined two groups of more than 300,000 people over 18, first during the period dominated by the Alpha variant, which emerged in Kent, southeast England, and secondly from May 2021 onwards, when the Delta variant has been dominant.It confirmed that vaccines are less effective against Delta, which was first seen in India.The AstraZeneca vaccine is the most widely offered in the UK, while those under 40 are offered Pfizer or Moderna due to blood clotting concerns.


Philippines’ Duterte seeks senate seat, avoids battle with daughter

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte backed away from political retirement on Monday to launch a late bid for a senate seat, avoiding a clash with his own daughter for the vice-presidency just hours before a 2022 election deadline.Despite last-ditch efforts by supporters to convince her to succeed her father, Sara Duterte-Carpio is set to contest the vice-presidency and her father a seat in the senate, two of the most powerful posts in a country where they have built considerable political clout in the past six years.Duterte had said last month he would quit politics after leaving the presidency and voters were kept guessing over both his and his daughter’s intentions right up until Monday’s deadline for changing candidates.With their decisions made, the spotlight for the presidency could shift to the controversial son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.“This seals Marcos’s position as the frontrunner in this race,” said Richard Heydarian, an author, columnist and academic who specialises in politics.“With Sara not in the race, then this race becomes all about beating Marcos.”Duterte-Carpio, 43, had been tipped to run for president after leading all opinion polls this year in preferred candidates. Marcos has said he wants her to be his running mate, which could give his candidacy a significant boost.Analysts had suggested the Duterte family might seek prominent posts to prevent a political vendetta after the president leaves office, including legal action at home or abroad over the thousands of killings in his signature war on drugs.Political dynastiesMarcos, a former senator, is part of the Philippines’ most famous dynasty, with mother Imelda and sister Imee between them serving as congresswoman, governor and senator.Elections next year indicate a Duterte dynasty taking shape too, with the president’s two sons running for congress and city mayor.Rodrigo Duterte is barred from seeking re-election as president.Though Marcos Jr’s run for the presidency has stirred anger among victims of his father’s brutal era of martial law, “Bongbong”, or “BBM”, as he is known, has led a new opinion poll on who should succeed Duterte next year, with a commanding lead over his rivals.Marcos had 47% support in the Social Weather Stations poll conducted three weeks ago, commissioned by Stratbase Institute, which asked respondents who they would vote for as president.The poll results showed the other presidential candidates far adrift, with incumbent Vice-President Leni Robredo with 18%, and Manila mayor Francisco Domagoso on 13%, followed by boxing icon Manny Pacquiao with 9%.The poll did not include Christopher “Bong” Go, Duterte’s closest aide, who only joined the presidential race on Saturday.The Southeast Asian nation of 110 million people holds elections in May 2022 for positions from president down to governors, mayors and local officials.


Najib's account 'sensitive' as he was a politically exposed person, bank officer tells court

An AmBank officer told the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday that he had to be careful in handling Najib Razak’s personal bank account as it was deemed a sensitive account belonging to a politically exposed person.
AmBank Private Banking Capital Market head Yap Wai Keat, 57, said it was also because a large amount of money was being remitted via two transactions to the former prime minister's personal bank account with the code name AmPrivate Banking-MR in 2011.
"At that point of time, Najib was our prime minister and there was a large amount of money being transacted.
"If the currency market actually knew, in terms of the amount, it (currency market) would have taken a position ahead and it would affect the ringgit value," he said during cross-examination by Najib’s counsel Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed at Najib’s trial on the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion from 1MDB.
Yesterday, the 38th prosecution witness testified that he was tasked with executing the conversion of the money, from US dollars to ringgit, remitted by a Saudi prince, Prince Faisal Bin Turki Bin Bandar Al Saud, on Feb 2 and June 14, 2011.
Referring to the two Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) documents, Yap said US$9,999,977 was converted to RM30,449,929.97 on Feb 24, 2011, and another US$9,999,970 was converted to RM30,179,909.46 on June 14, 2011.
Wan Aizuddin then asked him whether the currency market would be affected if the beneficiary was not Najib and the amount of money coming in was only US$10 million, which the witness answered in the negative.
"No, the market would not be affected because US$10 million is not much as compared to the amount coming into Najib’s account.
"You have to be careful because the amount (of money) was much larger, that’s why I think Najib’s relationship manager (AmBank officer Joanna Yu) created the code name AmPrivate Banking-MR for him," Yap said.
Najib, 69, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues on Oct 3.


Appointment of MySejahtera developer did not follow procedure, says PAC

The appointment of KPISoft as the developer of the MySejahtera application was not in accordance with the procedures for government procurement, a report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) shows.
PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh said the committee had found no minutes or supporting documents other than the non-disclosure agreement between the National Security Council (MKN) and KPISoft, now known as Entomo.
"The CSR concept proposed by KPISoft (Entomo) caused uncertainty about the true direction of the acquisition of MySejahtera," he said in a statement today.
"The government was confused about the appointment of KPISoft, the CSR concept, and its duration as well as the ownership of the MySejahtera application.
"The CSR concept was apparently used as a mechanism to obtain government projects without undergoing the proper procurement procedures."
The MySejahtera application was developed following the onset of Covid-19 in Malaysia. It was used, among others, for contact tracing, monitoring the health status of Covid-19 patients, location check-ins, and the storing of vaccination records and certificates.
A total of two proceedings on the issue were held on April 14 and 21 this year, with eight witnesses called up including Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, and treasury secretary-general Asri Hamidon.
PAC also found that the ceiling price of RM196 million set for a period of two years for the acquisition of MySejahtera was high and contradicted the concept of CSR.
The report has revealed contradictions in statements by the government regarding the ownership of the application.
Khairy previously said that the data in the application was the full and absolute property of the government.
But Wong said that KPISoft (Entomo) had acknowledged itself as the owner of the application's intellectual property.
"The Cabinet's decision referring to the government taking over the ownership of MySejahtera from the application developer shows that the application was, in principle, still owned by the developer," he said.
"As of April 2022, the government had yet to register the intellectual property for MySejahtera on MyIPO, which could see the ownership of the application claimed by its developer."
Other issues had also previously arisen regarding the use of the application, including the alleged leak of user data to external parties.
PAC submitted four recommendations, including for a review of the decision to award the contract for MySejahtera through direct negotiation.
It also urged the government to take over the entire application through the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit.
"The government needs to take a more prudent approach in all procurement processes. All offers through CSR are welcome. However, the terms of CSR offers should be clearly stated and should not be used as an alternative way for direct negotiations," it said.
"It should ensure full government ownership of the MySejahtera application, and guarantee the security of users' personal data in the application in addition to ensuring that the data is not misused."


Najib’s stepson sued for alleged misappropriation of 1MDB funds

1MDB and its three subsidiaries have filed a suit against Riza Aziz, the stepson of former prime minister Najib Razak, for the alleged misappropriation of US$250 million in funds to finance movie productions and purchase real estate.1MDB and its three subsidiaries – 1MDB Energy Holdings Limited, 1MDB Energy Limited and 1MDB Energy (Langat) Limited – as the plaintiffs, filed the writ of summons on May 7 through Messrs Shearn Delamore & Co, naming Riza and two of his companies, Red Granite Pictures Incorporated and Red Granite Capital Ltd, as the first and third defendants.The companies also named New York-based law firm Shearman and Sterling as the fourth defendant.In their writ of summons, they said that in 2011 and 2012, Riza and his two companies had received approximately US$250 million in funds from them which was allegedly misappropriated for their personal benefit and for the benefit of their associates, including for financing movie productions and purchasing real estate.The companies claimed that Riza, who controlled the two Red Granite companies, should have known that the money which originated from 1MDB was misappropriated to them for their benefit.“The law firm Shearman and Sterling (fourth defendant) permitted Riza and Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, an associate of the first defendant (Riza) who was directly involved in the misappropriations, to use the law firm’s interest on lawyer accounts to launder a substantial portion of the misappropriated funds received by the first to third defendants, as well as misappropriated funds received by Jho Low from the plaintiffs into the US and represented Riza and Jho Low in connection with various purchases and transactions involving the misappropriated funds.“The fourth defendant had knowledge, being either actual knowledge or knowledge which is to be inferred from wilful blindness or reckless indifference and had failed to make the necessary enquiries, that the funds in question were the proceeds of crime,” the writ said.The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that Riza is liable to account for the misappropriated funds and unjust use of the funds, and are seeking the repayment of the misappropriated funds.The case was called up for case management today before senior assistant registrar Noordura Mohamed Din, who fixed Aug 17 for further case management via e-review.On May 10, the finance ministry confirmed that 1MDB and its subsidiary SRC International Sdn Bhd had filed a total of 22 civil suits to recover assets worth over RM96.6 billion, including about RM300 million against various local parties. The ministry said the writs filed on May 7 comprised six by 1MDB and 16 by SRC International.The writs filed by 1MDB are against nine entities, including two foreign financial institutions and 25 individuals, while those filed by SRC International are against eight entities and 15 individuals for various wrongdoings.


Will applying for pardons become a new trend in Malaysia, lawyer asks

A lawyer has sounded a note of caution about Umno's pardon bid for jailed former leader Najib Razak, calling it a critical situation for the country's legal system.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Rafique Rashid said it was all too easy to place such applications in the context of strengthening the government of the day.
He also warned against manipulating political issues and personalities to the point of ignoring the law and the judicial system.
"It's as though committing a crime is acceptable as long as you are a known politician," he said.
"And this, despite crimes such as embezzlement and the abuse of power and taxpayers' money."
Rafique's comments come amid talk that the Pardons Board is discussing a pardon for Najib, who is currently serving a 12-year jail term at Kajang Prison.
The effort for a pardon, spearheaded by Najib's party Umno, came after the Federal Court rejected the former prime minister's final appeal for a review of his conviction and sentence in the SRC International case.
Rafique said it was possible that such attempts would become a norm for politicians convicted of crimes.
"Will we eventually reach that point?" he added.
Lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla meanwhile said that the issue could raise concerns over whether a royal pardon under the absolute jurisdiction of the Agong involved the pardon of punishment as well as of conviction.
He said the question was closely linked to the pardon efforts for Najib, as the former leader could ask for a pardon for both.
In the case of Anwar Ibrahim, who was pardoned by the king in 2018 after Pakatan Harapan's victory at the 14th general election, he said the PKR president said that he had been pardoned of his sentence as well as his conviction.
"It's as if the criminal record no longer existed," he said.
He said there was no question of issuing a pardon for punishment as this was at the discretion of the Agong.
"But can the Agong cancel convictions as well, which are the discovery of wrongdoing by the courts?
"That was the issue that arose when Anwar was pardoned," he said.
In Anwar's document, he said, there was no mention of him being pardoned of his conviction. But if Najib's document stated the cancellation of his conviction, he added, this might be challenged again.
"Then, the court will have to make a decision because for Anwar's case, there was no court decision. The court found no remission of conviction.
"This is an interesting question because when the constitution and laws are played with, it will come back to haunt those who played with them."
Haniff previously represented his client Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz in challenging the validity of the pardon given to Anwar in 2018.
In January, though, a three-man panel led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat unanimously rejected the application for leave to appeal, saying the matter had become academic.
Tengku Maimun said that the court found no grounds to suggest that any misrepresentation had been made in the advice offered to the king by the Pardons Board.


RM620 million losses due to non-compliance in financial management, audit report shows

The non-compliance of federal ministries and departments in terms of financial management led to issues involving irregular payments, loss of public funds and wastage amounting to RM620.07 million in 2020.Auditor-General Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid said of the RM510.49 million in irregular payments, RM499.19 million involved payments for maintenance service claims without verification at the National Security Council level.Meanwhile, of the RM104.79 million loss in public funds, RM81.69 million involved unclaimed penalties not imposed by the immigration department while RM4.79 million involved equipment that was received late and not installed at Istana Budaya.“To enable corrective action and improvements to be taken, the auditor-general has submitted 29 recommendations, namely four recommendations for verification of financial statements and 25 recommendations for compliance audits of federal ministries and departments to be considered for implementation by ministries and departments,” he said.He said this in a statement to Bernama after the Auditor-General’s Report on the federal government’s financial statements and the 2020 Federal Ministries and Departments Compliance Audit were tabled at the Dewan Rakyat today.Nik Azman said compliance audits involving a total of RM899.44 million had been carried out on three ministries and five federal departments, covering aspects of contract management (RM772.40 million), government procurement (RM54.8 million) and revenue collection (RM72.24 million).Meanwhile, in the Emphasis of Matter on the Federal Government’s Financial Statements, the auditor-general said that the federal government’s debt in 2020 amounted to RM879.560 billion or 62.1% of gross domestic product (GDP).Federal debt increased by RM86.562 billion or 10.9% compared to RM792.998 billion or 52.4% in 2019.According to the auditor-general, 50.4% or RM98.058 billion of the RM194.555 billion in new loans in 2020 was used to finance the principal repayment of matured loans.“This shows that the government is dependent on new loans to repay mature loans and the use of Development Fund funds amounting to RM8.265 billion for the repayment of private financing initiative liabilities and guarantee commitments,” he said.Besides this, a total of RM2.65 billion was used to pay for the health ministry’s hospital and clinic support as well as the maintenance of facilities in the education ministry which was previously paid for using operating expenditure allocations.“Development Fund funds financed through loans should in fact be used to finance physical development projects that contribute to the creation of new capital that can enhance the country’s development and have a high multiplier effect to generate economic activity,” he said.Meanwhile, federal government revenue declined 14.9% to RM225.075 billion in 2020 from RM264.415 billion the previous year while Covid-19 expenditure amounted to RM38.019 billion.Operating expenditure declined 14.7% to RM224.6 billion, a decrease of RM38.743 billion compared to 2019 while development expenditure amounted to RM51.36 billion, a decrease of RM2.813 billion or 5.2% compared to RM54.173 billion in 2019.Nik Azman said overall, the federal government had a deficit of RM87.645 billion with a deficit-to-GDP ratio of 6.2%, compared to 3.4% or RM51.37 billion in 2019.According to the statement, the Auditor-General’s Report contains three main components, namely the verification of the federal government’s financial statements for the year ended Dec 31, 2020, the federal government’s financial analysis, and the compliance audit of federal ministries and departments.Nik Azman said overall, the federal government’s financial statements showed a true and fair view of the government’s financial position for the year ended Dec 31, 2020 and that its accounting records were orderly and up to date.This is the second tabling of the report in the Dewan Rakyat this year after the Auditor-General’s Report 2019 Series 2 was tabled on Sept 28. Also today, the National Audit Department briefed members of the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament on the main issues of the audit findings.The report can be accessed by the public through http://www.audit.gov.my while issues in the report’s Compliance Audit of Ministries and Federal Departments 2020 will be uploaded on the Auditor-General’s Dashboard Portal.


Abu Dhabi to allow non-Muslim civil marriage under family law shakeup

Non-Muslims will be allowed to marry, divorce and get joint child custody under civil law in Abu Dhabi according to a new decree issued on Sunday by its ruler, state news agency WAM said.It is the latest step in the United Arab Emirates – where personal status laws on marriage and divorce had been based on Islamic shariah principles, as in other Gulf states – to maintain its competitive edge as a regional commercial hub.The decree from Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan, who is also president of the UAE federation of seven emirates, said the law covers civil marriage, divorce, alimony, joint child custody and proof of paternity, and inheritance.It aims to “enhance the position and global competitiveness of the emirate as one of the most attractive destinations for talent and skills”, WAM said.The report described the civil law regulating non-Muslim family matters as being the first of its kind in the world “in line with international best practices”.A new court to handle non-Muslim family matters will be set up in Abu Dhabi and will operate in both English and Arabic.The UAE last year introduced a number of legal changes at the federal level, including decriminalising premarital sexual relations and alcohol consumption, and cancelling provisions for leniency when dealing with so-called “honour killings”.These reforms, alongside measures such as introducing longer-term visas, have been seen as a way for the Gulf state to make itself more attractive for foreign investment, tourism and long-term residency.


Govt parties against sabotage bids, says PM

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today said that all political parties in the coalition government have expressed their commitment not to entertain any attempt to sabotage the government led by him.
He said the support was shown by the leaders of Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah during the unity government national convention held yesterday at World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
"The assembly (convention) has assured that at least for years to come, no attempts of sabotaging will be entertained," he said at the prime minister's department monthly assembly in Putrajaya.
He said the convention was a clear indication that the coalition government was strong and stable.
The government's journey is now more organised and some of the programmes implemented have helped to strengthen the country, he added.
Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the existing political stability in the country had contributed to several good performances, including the better-than-expected gross domestic product expansion of 5.6% in the first quarter of 2023.
"If you look at the figures from the Department of Statistics, the first quarter is much better than what was projected in November and December last year... inflation decreased, the number of unemployment also decreased and investment increased," he said.
On Friday, Anwar said the government was confident of achieving its economic growth forecast of 4.0% to 5.0% for 2023 despite the global economic challenges and uncertainties, supported by strong economic fundamentals and implementation of budget 2023 measures.
He said the increase in investment in Malaysia required all parties at the central and state levels to work simultaneously to enable a smooth investment process.
"States and municipalities must work together so that the approval level can be accelerated. This will ensure that we can maintain a more convincing pace of growth and highlight commitment and seriousness," he said.
Previously, Anwar said that the investment projects from China, involving Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely) and Rongsheng Petrochemical Co., are expected to start by May.
Geely's investment projects are in Pahang and Tanjung Malim, Perak, while Rongsheng's projects are in Pengerang, Johor and Terengganu.


New Year hopes shine through poverty and hardship for family on the breadline

At KMC Flats, a predominantly ethnic Chinese neighbourhood in the Kuching city centre, the air is thick with excitement as residents welcome the Lunar New Year.It is one of the state government’s many public housing schemes, and the majority who live here are low-wage earners.Among them is a family of four: an elderly couple, both wheelchair-bound, and their two children who have special needs.For Tan Heng Eong, 71, and his wife Chang Ted Nyuk, Chinese New Year has always been a meaningful but simple affair.Part of this is due to their condition – apart from being confined to his wheelchair, Tan also suffers from visual impairment and a serious skin disease which makes getting around even more difficult.The family lives in a public housing scheme predominantly occupied by those in the lower income bracket.Thankfully their only daughter, Mei Ching, takes care of them both.Last night, the family shared a simple reunion dinner to usher in the Year of the Ox.“I prepared the meal for my family using anything that was available in the kitchen,” Mei Ching told MalaysiaNow.This resourcefulness, born from years of making do with what they have, is a hallmark of poverty.For a long time now, this is how Mei Ching has been cooking Chinese New Year meals for her family.She is 34, but her scrawny physical build belies her true age.Despite the hardships she faces every day, she is the picture of gratitude.She only received formal schooling up to Standard 2. She struggled to communicate in Malay as she spoke to MalaysiaNow about her hope that the Year of the Ox will bring much joy for her and her family.For her, the Covid-19 movement restrictions and the muted celebrations are a blessing in disguise as many of her neighbours won’t be leaving town to celebrate.This means she and her family will get to share the food they bring.Mei Ching spends her days taking care of her parents while her older brother, who has a speech disability, goes out to work. He is paid daily wages for doing menial jobs.The condition of the toilet in the family’s home at KMC Flats in Kuching.Recently, the family’s plight caught the attention of Hope Place, an NGO that has been helping the underprivileged community in Kuching, distributing food and medical supplies as well as helping during emergencies.Mei Ching and her father also receive aid from the welfare department – RM250 and RM350 each every month.But this is hardly enough to sustain a family of four in the city.Mei Ching’s brother lost his fixed job during the movement control order last year.“His take-home pay is not much, just about RM15 to RM20 each day. With that little money, he cannot afford to feed his family,” said Hope Place founder Kevin Wan, whose organisation is bent on helping the family.


School sessions to resume online from June 13 and 14

School sessions will resume for 25 days from June 13 and 14 through home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) before the term break begins on July 25 and 26 due to the continuing spike in Covid-19 infections, Education Minister Radzi Jidin said today.He said the school session for states in Group A – Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu – will run from June 13 to July 16 while the session for other states in Group B will go from June 14 to July 17.He said the same would apply for private schools, international schools and schools for expatriates registered with the education ministry.“There are some that ask what will happen next after the end of the term break,” he said at a press conference today.“The education ministry will inform parents and students of this at least a week before the school session is opened, based on the situation at the time.”On the matter of educational television programmes, he said the ministry would continue using Didik TV, Ok TV and Astro Tutor TV.“We will continue broadcasting for 15 hours a day,” he said. “We see during this time that support for PdPR is growing each day.”Responding to suggestions by parents that schools be opened only for special needs students, Radzi said this was up to the National Security Council.He added that the ministry was always working to ensure that teachers are able to carry out PdPR.“From time to time, we monitor the implementation of PdPR, not only at the school, district and state levels. We also monitor to ensure that we can resolve any issues that arise so that students can have access throughout the PdPR period.”He urged teachers to attend their vaccination appointments to boost the number of those who have received their Covid-19 shots.He said more than 70,000 teachers have received at least one dose of vaccine so far.“Schools will not open until the end of July, and I have had talks with Khairy Jamaluddin, the coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, so that we can increase the level of vaccination among teachers under the education ministry.”On the calendar for 2022, he said his ministry is working on it but that it would depend on the current situation.


Death toll passes 800 as 4,284 more cases recorded

Another 4,284 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 226,912.Selangor recorded 1,572 cases, followed by Johor (964), Kuala Lumpur (651), Sabah (190) and Sarawak (148).Negeri Sembilan recorded 133 cases, Kedah 124, Penang 122, Perak 106, Pahang 66, Kelantan 65, Terengganu 55, Melaka 53, Labuan 21 and Putrajaya 14.Active cases stand at 48,309 with 307 in the ICU and 141 in need of respiratory assistance.Thirteen more clusters were detected:1. Jalan City (Sepang in Selangor; 112 screened, 48 positive)2. Jalan Aman (Hulu Selangor in Selangor; 255 screened, 38 positive)3. Jalan Pulai 55 (Johor Bahru in Johor; 58 screened, 42 positive)4. Batu Tiga Setengah (Batu Pahat in Johor; 119 screened, 19 positive)5. Taman Koperasi (Kepong in Kuala Lumpur; 23 screened, 15 positive)6. Kandi Sungai Besi (Cheras in Kuala Lumpur; 267 screened, 10 positive)7. Ladang Tangkarason (Beluran in Sabah; 16 screened, all positive)8. Bandar Lama (Tawau in Sabah; 56 screened, 24 positive)9. Jalan Satu KKIP (Tuaran and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah; 194 screened, 30 positive)10. Mayang Pasir (Timur Laut, Barat Saya, Seberang Perai Utara, Seberang Perai Tengah and Seberang Perai Selatan in Penang; 217 screened, 47 positive)11. Lebuh Karak (Bentong in Pahang; 170 screened, eight positive)12. Tapak Bina Presint Tujuh (Putrajaya; 136 screened, nine positive)13. Tembok Pengkalan Chepa (Kota Bharu in Kelantan; 511 screened, 76 positive)Another five ended, leaving 412 active clusters across the country.Another 3,804 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 177,794.However, 18 more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 809.


Experts warn of Singapore-style virus spike if Malaysians get complacent

Health experts have warned that the recent downtrend in daily Covid-19 infections is no guarantee that cases will not spike again, as was recently the case in Singapore after the city-state reopened its economy.On Monday alone, Singapore posted 3,174 new infections and 14 virus-related deaths.The republic’s spike in cases began after the government adopted a “living with Covid-19” approach in June, when daily infections hovered around 20 cases.Other countries such as the UK and China are also facing a surge in cases, speaking calls by some for a return of restrictions on movements.Dr Yahya Mat Arip, a virologist from Universiti Sains Malaysia, said Malaysia too might experience a new wave of Covid-19.“The people need to realise that this could be a possibility if we do not pay attention to the ongoing efforts to keep the virus at bay, and begin behaving in a complacent manner,” he told MalaysiaNow.“For the sake of the economy and the social sector, flexibility has been given to the people. The responsibility is now on the people themselves to continue complying with the SOPs.”He added that the people could no longer complain about a “failed government” if they bring trouble upon themselves.“We all have to be part of the solution and not the problem,” he said, urging the public not to let their guard down simply because of the drop in case numbers.Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah recently said that new infections had declined by 20.7% from 52,321 cases during the 41st epidemiology week to 41,508 in the 42nd.He said the usage of ICU beds and death rate had also dropped in tandem with the decline in cases.Cases involving the use of ICU beds went down 16.5% during the 42nd epidemiology week while cases requiring intubation dropped 14.4%.The infectivity rate or R-naught value has remained stable at 0.88%.Yahya said while the country appeared to be on the mend, it had yet to win the battle, adding that efforts must be continued to ensure that those who have not been vaccinated register for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.He gave the example of measles which took more than 10 years to bring under control once vaccinations began in the late 1960s, with results only seen in the 1980s.Only 1,077 cases of measles were logged in 2019, and 478 in 2020.“We should learn from that experience,” Yahya said.“Compliance with preventive SOPs is important as even those who are fully vaccinated can still be infected and transmit the disease to others.“It also takes time to build up immunity within the community,” he added.Dr Sazaly Abu Bakar, director of the Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Center, said whether Malaysia will experience another spike in cases depends on the number of people tested.“If we only screen those who need hospital treatment, cases will drop until the baseline and then rise again as is happening in other countries,” he said.While virus-related deaths might decline, he added, the number of cases including of long Covid, might not.“Malaysia is now at the point where there are no restrictions on nearly all activities,” he said.“So there’s not much that can be done anymore except to take care of your own family by adhering to SOPs.”He also urged the health ministry to find a better way to treat patients in order to bring down the rate of Covid-19 deaths.


Uneasiness in Malaysia not ruled out as Australia gets nuclear subs

There may be some “residual uneasiness” in Malaysia following the announcement of a new defence pact comprising Australia, the UK and the US which will see Australia obtaining the technology to deploy nuclear-powered submarines, an expert says.Thomas Daniel, an analyst with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia, said the alliance dubbed Aukus was a serious indication of the US’ commitment in the Asia Pacific.Speaking to MalaysiaNow, he noted that the agreement would see the US sharing some of its most sensitive military technology with Australia, which would become only the second nation after Britain to access US nuclear technology for the submarines.“Malaysia, like most Southeast Asian countries, might have some residual uneasiness about how yet another defence-focused pact involving Asean dialogue partners with presence in this region will impact regional tension,” he said, adding that ties in the region are already under stress.Daniel was referring to the presence of major powers in the region, particularly in the much disputed South China Sea.China has built many military installations on artificial islands in the area, and Beijing has laid claim to a vast portion of the maritime territory, causing unease among its Southeast Asian neighbours including Malaysia.The US and its allies, meanwhile, have deployed warships and other military assets in response.The new Aukus alliance to strengthen military capabilities in the face of growing rivalry with China was announced on Sept 15.It sparked a strong reaction from China which accused the US of setting off an arms race.China’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Wang Wun, meanwhile called the move a “sheer act of nuclear proliferation”.It also received backlash from France which lost an A$40 billion deal with Canberra for the sale of conventional submarines to Australia. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian went as far as to call the move “a stab in the back” on the part of Australia.Daniel pointed out that the submarines under the Aukus deal would be nuclear powered, not armed, adding that external regional players have long operated such assets in Southeast Asia.“The Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone has not been signed by any nuclear armed state,” he added.To date, six countries possess nuclear-powered submarines: the US, UK, China, Russia, France and India. The Aukus pact is expected to see Australia receive eight such craft.Australia is already a member of the Five Power Defence Arrangements and the Five Eyes alliance. The former is a defence cooperation involving the UK, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia while the latter is an intelligence-sharing alliance between five English-speaking democracies, comprising the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.Unlike either of these two alliances, Daniel said, Aukus has a specific aim of addressing Australia’s long-term defence and security priorities.He added that being an ally of the US does not guarantee American trust when it comes to defence technology.“American submarines are among the best there are, and its technology is among the most closely guarded secrets,” he said.“The US has only ever shared submarine tech with the UK, which magnifies how significant Aukus is for Australia.”On China’s response, which saw foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian saying the three countries should abandon their “Cold War mentality”, Daniel said the bulk of criticism would land on Australia especially given reports that Canberra had taken a lead role in proposing the pact.However, he does not believe that Aukus will be enough to push ties between China and Australia to a point of no return.For Malaysia, meanwhile, not much can be done about the recent developments, he said.“Whatever we say, it is unlikely that it will make much of a difference.“But the reality is that we are in the midst of a time of strategic flux with no immediate or certain outcome in sight. Both Asean and its external partners know that the former isn’t able to offer a serious alternative or address that flux with any certainty.”


Woman charged with murdering 11-year-old girl in Johor

A woman was charged in the Batu Pahat Magistrate’s Court today over the death of an 11-year-old girl in Yong Peng last Thursday.
No plea was recorded from Sembakavali, 34, when the charge was read out before magistrate Nurasidah A Rahman, who then set Sept 13 for mention.
Sembakavali was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code with murdering the girl, N Maha Letchumi, at a house in Taman Bukit Tropika, Yong Peng, at about 4.55pm on July 14.
She faces the death sentence if found guilty.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Izzati  Rozman prosecuted, while Sembakavali was unrepresented.


It’s not just about age, Mahathir says on seniors behind the wheel

As the debate continues over whether the elderly are fit to drive, arguably Malaysia’s most well-known senior citizen says age is not the only factor to be taken into consideration when discussing road safety.At the ripe old age of 96, Dr Mahathir Mohamad is still game for highway spins himself, and has no qualms about getting behind the wheel.Speaking in an interview with MalaysiaNow, the veteran statesman who made headlines as the oldest prime minister in the world after taking up the position for the second time in 2018 said most senior citizens can still think rationally and are strong enough to continue driving.“I can still drive long distance, for instance from Kuala Lumpur to Alor Setar by myself,” he said, navigating traffic in the capital city during a recent drive with MalaysiaNow in his trademark Proton car.While it’s been some time since he last attempted such a trip, he says he is still more than comfortable driving even on highways associated with fast-moving traffic.“Malaysia’s modern highways were built big enough to have three lanes,” he said. “By rule, the slow lane is on the left and the fast lane is on the right. You can remain in the middle lane when driving at a constant speed or when not overtaking.“The elderly can use the left lane if they are driving slowly so that other drivers can speed up, using the other two lanes.”Mahathir, who founded Malaysia’s national car company Proton in the 1980s, is known for hopping behind the wheel and has been videoed driving many times, including chauffeuring high-profile individuals such as heads of state from other countries.In 2019, he drove Indonesian President Joko Widodo to a lunch at Seri Perdana, the prime minister’s official residence in Putrajaya.Four years earlier, he had taken Widodo on a test drive in a Proton car at the Sepang race circuit.In 2018, meanwhile, he was filmed driving a Porsche amid a heavy downpour at a time when his political adversaries were mocking his age.Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Mahathir said the issue of dangerous driving is less related to age than it is to individual choices.“Old or young drivers is not the question here,” he said, adding that accidents might also occur due to poor road infrastructure.Debate on the matter arose late last month after the police proposed that the government the issuance of driving licences to senior citizens.Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Azisman Alias said the health condition of senior citizens could be a contributing factor to road accidents.He said senior citizens also need to undergo a medical check-up and get a doctor’s approval confirming that they are fit to drive.“As people age, they are more likely to suffer from health conditions such as Alzheimer’s and blurred vision which can indirectly cause accidents on the road,” he said.Mahathir acknowledged that many senior citizens are in poorer health compared to younger drivers.However, he cautioned against using this to generalise, saying many young drivers also suffer from similar disabilities.“Different people have different capabilities,” he said. “Young drivers can also suffer from eye conditions that bar them from driving.“As for me, my eyesight is still good and I can see well enough to drive. I can still step on the pedal at night, and I have no problem at all.”Malaysia is expected to become an ageing nation by 2030, with 15% of its population aged 60 and above.Mahathir said this is because senior citizens are now healthier, with better medical advancements.He said many are also still able to work, with the retirement age extended to 60.“Our intelligence, ability to think, and strength extend from years back when people at the age of 55 could no longer work,” he said.Mahathir has often stressed the importance of staying mentally active, attributing his good health to a controlled diet and regular exercise.


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Russia reports 50,000 Covid-19 cases for second day running

Russia recorded more than 50,000 new daily Covid-19 cases for the second day running on Saturday, the government's coronavirus task force said.
Over the last 24 hours, 51,699 cases were detected across Russia – the most in a single day since March 9.
On Friday, Russia's caseload passed the 50,000 mark for the first time in almost six months.
Infections rose in July and August as new highly-transmissible variants of the coronavirus swept across the country.
The task force said 92 people had died with Covid-19 over the last 24 hours.
According to excess fatality statistics, Russia has been among the most severely affected countries by the pandemic, with vaccine uptake slow and the government reluctant to impose restrictions beyond a short lockdown in 2020.


Myanmar junta hints at further election delay

Myanmar will hold a national census late next year, state media reported Friday, hinting at another delay in elections the junta has pledged to hold to end the crisis sparked by its coup.
The Southeast Asian country has been in turmoil since the army's power grab in 2021, with a subsequent crackdown on dissent sparking fighting between military and anti-coup forces across swathes of the nation.
The "census will be taken simultaneously throughout the country" from Oct 1-15, 2024, immigration and population minister U Myint Kyaing was reported as saying by the Global New Light of Myanmar.
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing had previously said a national census would be required to ensure voting lists in the country of some 54 million were "accurate", suggesting a census would precede any election.
He also said fresh polls could only be held when the country was "stable".
In February, the junta announced a six-month extension to a two-year state of emergency, delaying elections it said it would hold by August.
The military justified its February 2021 power grab with unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud in 2020 elections that the party of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi won in a landslide.
Observers say any fresh poll could not be free and fair under the present circumstances.
The US maintains that any junta-held poll would be a "sham", while Russia – a close ally and arms supplier of the military – has said it would support elections.
Two years after the coup, the situation in Myanmar is a "festering catastrophe", United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk said last week, adding that the military was operating with "complete impunity".
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the bloody impasse led by the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional bloc have made little headway, with the military's generals refusing to engage with opponents.
The junta in December wrapped up a series of closed-court trials of Suu Kyi, jailing its longtime enemy for a total of 33 years in a process rights groups have condemned as a sham.


Gerakan apologises over spokesman's 'burdensome civil servants' remark

Gerakan today apologised for the recent remarks made by Penang Gerakan spokesman Mok Kok On about civil servants.
Gerakan secretary-general Mak Kah Keong said the party had referred the case to its disciplinary committee for further action.
"I have given him (Mok) some stern warnings and left the rest to the disciplinary board. If necessary, I will take the case to the (party's) central working committee.
"If there is no good or reasonable explanation (from Mok) in this matter, we will suspend (his membership)," he said at a press conference here today.
Meanwhile, Mak also emphasised that Gerakan disagreed with the view presented in Mok's statement.
"Civil servants are not a burden but the backbone of the country. Every daily activity, every public institution and our lives are indeed closely linked to civil servants who have served the country well," he said.
The media reported that Mok, in a statement on social media, called civil servants a burden and also questioned the government's measures to increase the number of civil servants.
It was also reported that the statement, which was recently deleted, was criticised by various parties, including Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan, who described Mok's words as outrageous and upsetting for civil servants.


Weekly dengue cases up 9%, 2 deaths recorded

A total of 2,444 cases of dengue fever were recorded in the 20th epidemiological week (ME) from May 14 to 20, which increased by 9% or 202 cases from 2,242 cases reported in the previous week.
Health director-general Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan in a statement in Putrajaya yesterday said two deaths were also recorded this week.
He said the cumulative number of dengue cases reported to date was 43,619 compared to 16,144 cases recorded in the same period last year, which is an increase of 170.2%.
“There were 28 deaths due to dengue complications reported compared to only nine deaths for the same period last year,” he said.
According to Radzi, 77 hotspots were reported this week compared to 87 in the previous week, with 51 localities in Selangor, Penang (14), Sabah (six), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (three), Kedah (two) and Perak (one).
Meanwhile, he said the cumulative number of chikungunya cases to date is 131.
For Zika surveillance, a total of 1,114 blood samples and 49 urine samples were screened and the results were all negative.


Parliament dissolves when PM announces it, Ismail says

Ismail Sabri Yaakob today said that the views and cues of political parties on the dissolution of Parliament cannot change or influence the power of the prime minister to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the matter.
Similarly, he said, the calls against the early dissolution of Parliament, although taken into consideration, would not influence his decision.
He said the decision to dissolve Parliament should not involve open discussions, including with government and opposition parties, but should be done only if the prime minister feels that Parliament should be dissolved.
"The decision to dissolve Parliament has nothing to do with other political parties. It was never discussed openly before. Parliament dissolves when the prime minister announces the dissolution.
"No political parties ever gave their opinions or interfered in the matter. Never. It was never discussed within the (ruling) party, let alone with others," he told reporters after an event in Shah Alam.
Ismail said as prime minister, he had the power to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve Parliament, but that it was the king who had the absolute power to make it happen.
"Some say it should be dissolved before the tabling of Budget 2023, some say it should be on Monday after the tabling, some say next month, some say next year, so many speculations. Let’s just wait," he said.
On the expiry of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Transformation and Political Stability and the opposition’s support for the prime minister, Ismail reiterated that there was no expiry date but that the MoU would stand until the Parliament is dissolved.
"When Parliament is dissolved, the MoU will be nullified," he said.
On the allegedly failed negotiations on an Umno-PAS collaboration, Ismail said Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had held a meeting before but that the negotiations would not end with just one meeting.
"It involves discussions of major issues such as cooperation during elections. One meeting will not resolve it all. There may be other things that need to be discussed, so the discussions continue.
"It is not a failed negotiation until it is declared so," he added.