Anger as Indian govt forces Twitter to remove critical Covid posts

Social media users across India are outraged after the government ordered Twitter to remove posts critical of its handling of the virus.A Twitter spokesman confirmed it had blocked some material from being viewed in India.The country faces a massive surge in cases, with some hospitals running out of oxygen.One Twitter user accused the government of “finding it easier to take down tweets than ensure oxygen supplies”.The government made an emergency order to censor the tweets, Twitter revealed on Lumen, a database that keeps track of global government orders around online content.Twitter did not specify which content it had taken down, but media reports say it includes a tweet from a politician in West Bengal holding Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly responsible for Covid-19 deaths, and from an actor criticising Modi for holding political rallies while the virus rampaged.Twitter said it reviewed content when it received a “valid legal request” – in this case, the Indian government is said to have cited the Information Technology Act 2000.“If it is determined to be illegal in a particular jurisdiction, but not in violation of the Twitter Rules, we may withhold access to the content in India only,” the platform said.An Indian official said the material in question was misleading or could spark panic.“We cannot allow fake news that harms the country,” BJP national spokesman Gopal Agarwal told the BBC.The crisis was being worsened by fake news, he explained, pointing out that social media content had to be in line with the rule of law.An official of the electronics and IT minister had earlier told The Hindu newspaper that it was “necessary to take action against those who are misusing social media for unethical purposes”.But on social media, many criticised the government for focusing on “censorship” while the country was in the midst of a “humanitarian disaster”.Many online also criticised Twitter for complying with the order, calling them “complicit”.Twitter has in the past been criticised for bowing to pressure from the Indian government. In February, it blocked hundreds of accounts linked to ongoing farmers’ protests.Twitter said if it had not complied, it could have meant prison for its employees in India.On Sunday, the prime minister said the second wave was a storm that had “shaken the nation” but that a “positive approach” was key to fighting the pandemic.


Selangor within grasp of PN as 39 Malay-majority seats set to reject PH-BN candidates, survey finds

A new survey has confirmed one of Umno's biggest worries in the run-up to the six state elections next month: that Malay voters in Selangor who supported the party in the last elections are more likely to vote for Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidates.
In the report of a recent survey published by ISEAS Perspective, a journal from the Singapore-based Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, a political scientist and think-tank head also found that 39% of Malay voters who voted for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the general election last year said they would vote for PN in the Aug 12 state elections, while only 15% of them said they would vote for Pakatan Harapan (PH), which has inked a deal with its federal ally Barisan Nasional (BN) to avoid clashing at the polls.
"This means that there is no significant vote transferability between PH and BN Malay voters in Selangor despite the fact that the two coalitions are partners in the unity government at the federal level," wrote Marzuki Mohamad, a political scientist at the International Islamic University, and Khairul Syakirin Zulkifli, a researcher at socio-economic think tank Institut Masa Depan Malaysia.
Vote transferability is seen as key to ensuring the success of the PH-BN alliance, where supporters of each coalition must reciprocate to deny victory to PN.
"If there is full vote transferability, both parties will enjoy a net gain in the election. But if there is no vote transferability, there is not much that the parties can gain from the collaboration," they added.
The survey involved 1,200 voters in face-to-face interviews conducted between March 1 and April 20 this year.
Malays make up some 54% of Selangor's population, followed by Chinese (32%), Indians (13%) and other races (1%).
The ethnic composition for the study was 69% Malays, 18% Chinese and 12% Indians, reflecting the voter demography in 39 Malay-majority state seats which are the focus of the survey.
Some 24% of the samples are from rural areas of Selangor, 35% urban and 41% semi-urban. Their age groups are also reflective of current voter configurations, with those between 21 to 35 years of age forming the bulk at 46%.
What 'unsure' means in Malaysian election polls
Selangor is Malaysia's wealthiest state, and as such, is seen as the epicentre of the elections which will see voters in Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu going to the polls on Aug 12 to choose their state governments.
With 56 seats up for grabs, a party must win at least 29 to form the government.
Marzuki and Khairul said while the state may be experiencing "winds of change" after a decade and a half under PH, it would still depend on the strength of PN to convert the situation in its favour.
They said the fact that a big number of respondents are "unsure" or did not indicate who they would vote for – some 46% – is not surprising in Malaysia's election trends.
"It is an unwritten rule of thumb for Malaysian pollsters to allocate to the opposition parties a greater percentage of those in the 'unsure voters' category for a few reasons.
"First, these voters might have made up their minds on their party of choice but refused to disclose it for fear of retribution, especially if they are supporting an opposition political party.
"Second, as these voters voted for BN in the last general election, being 'unsure' this time round indicates a shift of support away from the party or its allies," they added.
Meanwhile, their survey found that PN chairman and former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin is still the favourite national leader with 60% approval, followed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at 43%.
If it is any indication of problems ahead for Umno in the coming polls, it is the party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's low approval rating of 17%.
Meanwhile, some 48% of respondents are "satisfied" with Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, while 37% are "dissatisfied" and 15% are "unsure".
Explaining further on the unlikelihood of Umno supporters supporting PH, Marzuki and Khairul cited a survey by pollster Merdeka Center before the general election last year, which found that only 32% of Malay voters agreed with a scenario where BN and PH join hands to form the government.
"Malay voters' rejection of such a coalition seems to be consistent with the findings of our pre-state election survey in Selangor, which shows that most of the BN Malay voters are persistent in their political choice by indicating that they will not transfer their votes to PH.
"While PH and BN political elites who stand to gain from the coalition seemed to be comfortable with the arrangement, grouses among party supporters had already been detected long before the two former political archrivals sealed their post-election cooperation," they said, adding that the PN's trouncing of PH in Padang Serai, Kedah, just days after the general election, confirmed the voters' sentiments.


India's Adani Group pre-pays over US$900 million worth share-backed financing

Embattled Indian conglomerate Adani said on Tuesday it prepaid share-backed financing of US$901.16 million (about RM4 billion), as part of its promoters' commitment to cut overall leverage backed by shares of the Group's listed companies.
The billionaire Gautam Adani-led Adani Group has been looking to ease concerns about its credit profile after a US-based short seller noted high debt and alleged improper use of offshore tax havens and stock manipulation, which Adani denied.
Promoters of the group's flagship firm, Adani Enterprises will release 31 million shares, or a 4% stake, while Adani Ports' promoters will release 155 million shares, or an 11.8% stake, the group said in a statement.
Promoters of Adani Green Energy and Adani Transmission will release 1.2% and 4.5% stakes in the respective companies.
In a similar move, the group in February pre-paid US$1.11 billion. With Tuesday's repayment, the group has so far repaid around US$2.02 billion of share-backed financing, it said.


Taliban near gates of Kabul as US prepares to fly out thousands

The Taliban seized more major cities on Friday as they raced towards full control of Afghanistan and inched closer to Kabul, with the US preparing to airlift thousands of people a day out of the capital.The first US Marines leading the evacuations landed at the civilian airport in Kabul, one of the few cities still in government hands after the Taliban took control of their spiritual heartland Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second-largest city.The scale and speed of the onslaught has shocked Afghans and the US-led alliance that poured billions into the country after toppling the Taliban in the wake of the Sept 11 attacks nearly 20 years ago.Days before a final US withdrawal ordered by President Joe Biden, individual soldiers, units and even whole divisions have surrendered – handing the insurgents even more vehicles and military hardware to fuel their lightning advance.Pul-e-Alam, capital of Loghar province, was the latest city to fall Friday, putting the Taliban just 50km from Kabul.Khairddin Logari, a resident of the capital, summed up the confusion.“We don’t know what is going on,” he told AFP.British Defence Minister Ben Wallace said Friday that the hasty pullout, which London followed after Biden ordered the withdrawal of the larger US contingent, had been “a mistake”.Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to “not turn our backs on Afghanistan” but acknowledged that outside powers had limited power to impose a solution.‘Completely conquered’Earlier Friday, officials and residents in Kandahar told AFP that government forces had withdrawn en masse to a military facility outside the southern city.“Kandahar is completely conquered. The Mujahideen reached Martyrs’ Square,” a Taliban spokesman tweeted, referring to a city landmark.Hours later, the Taliban said they had also taken control of Lashkar Gah, the capital of neighbouring Helmand province.A security source confirmed the fall of the city, telling AFP that the Afghan military and government officials had evacuated Lashkar Gah after striking a local ceasefire deal with the militants.In Herat on Friday, the Taliban captured the city’s long-time strongman Ismail Khan, who helped lead the defence of the provincial capital along with his militia fighters.The warlord’s spokesman later confirmed Khan had been allowed to return to his residence following negotiations with the insurgents.Helicopters flitted back and forth between Kabul’s airport and the sprawling US diplomatic compound in the heavily fortified green zone – 46 years after choppers evacuated Americans from Saigon, signalling the end of the Vietnam War.Biden ordered troops to the airport to start pulling out some 30,000 embassy employees as well as Afghans and their families who fear retribution for working as interpreters or in other support roles for the United States.Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that most of the 3,000 troops would be in place by Sunday and “will be able to move thousands per day” out of Afghanistan.“Capacity is not going to be a problem,” he told reporters.He said Kabul was “not right now in an imminent threat environment” but that the Taliban appeared to be following a strategy of isolating the city to force a surrender.Britain is also evacuating citizens and other nations including Denmark, Norway and Germany announced that their Kabul embassies would be temporarily shuttered or operations reduced due to security concerns.Kandahar calmThe insurgents have taken over more than half the nation’s provincial capitals in the past week and encircled the biggest city in the north, the traditional anti-Taliban bastion of Mazar-i-Sharif, which is now one of the few holdouts remaining.In Kandahar, resident Abdul Nafi told AFP the city was calm after the government forces pulled out early Friday.“I came out this morning, I saw Taliban white flags in most squares of the city,” he said. “I thought it might be the first day of Eid.”Pro-Taliban social media accounts have boasted of the vast spoils of war captured by the insurgents, posting photos of armoured vehicles, heavy weapons, and even a drone seized by their fighters at abandoned military bases.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres renewed calls for a diplomatic solution and said he was “deeply disturbed” by accounts of poor treatment of women in areas seized by the Taliban, who imposed an ultra-austere brand of Islam on Afghanistan during their 1996-2001 rule.“It is particularly horrifying and heartbreaking to see reports of the hard won rights of Afghan girls and women being ripped away,” Guterres said.


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Anti-refugee soundbites from ministry might deal a blow to Wisma Putra’s bid for UN rights council seat

Rights activists are ruffled by what they say is an “increasingly worrying narrative” from top immigration and home ministry officials on managing refugees in the country, while a diplomatic source says it could put Putrajaya in direct conflict with UNHCR, the United Nations’ refugees commission, MalaysiaNow has learnt.This comes amid speculation that a mass deportation of refugees could be in the works, as part of a grand plan by the home ministry to ensure zero illegal migrants, which would impact tens of thousands of Rohingya and other groups who fled violence in Myanmar.MalaysiaNow also understands that any new plan for an anti-refugee move will not sit well with the foreign ministry, which under Hishammuddin Hussein has been trying to build rapport with UNHCR in the wake of negative publicity over Malaysia’s treatment of migrants.But beyond its international image, there are also concerns that a reversal of earlier commitments by Putrajaya to protect the rights of refugees could deal a blow to its diplomatic image, and ultimately upset its campaign to be elected to the UN’s Human Rights Council (UNHRC).As early as 2019, Malaysia had announced its interest in a seat at the council, with then-foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah giving the government’s commitment to the plight of Rohingya refugees.In February 2019, Saifuddin told a UNHRC meeting in Geneva that while Malaysia would like to repatriate Rohingya refugees, this would be done on a voluntary basis and in a “dignified” manner, in a break from the past practice of lumping refugees together with other undocumented migrants and deporting them to their home countries.In December last year, Hishammuddin formally announced Malaysia’s bid for a UNHRC seat for the 2022-2024 term.The UNHCR office in Malaysia issues ID cards to Rohingya refugees in the country but the move has done little to prevent arrests during immigration operations.“At one time, during the Vietnam War, many refugees fled so we were forced to use the services of the UNHCR to help us repatriate them to a third country.“Today, there are almost 200,000 refugees. Not one of them has been taken over by UNHCR to send them to a third country,” Hamzah said.When contacted, a source in UNHCR disputed the claim, saying it has worked with the authorities and has since resettled many refugees in third countries.The UNHCR office in Malaysia issues ID cards to Rohingya refugees in the country in order to differentiate them from other migrants. But due to Malaysia’s official stance against recognising refugee status, the move has done little to prevent arrests during immigration operations.Malaysia’s treatment of refugees and migrants entered the spotlight again at the height of the movement control order (MCO) last year.This was after foreign workers and refugees in Kuala Lumpur were seen being rounded up by immigration officers despite official assurances that no enforcement would be carried out during the pandemic.Immigration detention centres later reported new Covid-19 clusters with a spike of cases among the migrants.The bad publicity came in spite of authorities such as the federal territories and health ministries helping tens of thousands of migrants including Rohingya refugees who were stranded in cities following the various lockdowns throughout the Covid-19 pandemic last year.The government had then spent millions ensuring basic supplies for thousands of undocumented migrants stranded in Kuala Lumpur, as well as for foreign workers out of a job following the MCO.A similar humanitarian gesture was seen in the massive Covid-19 vaccination programme, when the government agreed to bear the cost of vaccinating millions of foreigners in the country including undocumented migrants.Now, critics note the lack of similar sentiments from the immigration authorities, and the soundbites coming from the home ministry appear to confirm their concerns.Earlier this year, authorities also deported more than 1,000 undocumented migrants from Myanmar, even as activists resorted to legal channels to stop the move, citing the danger to their lives in the wake of the coup by the Myanmar junta in February.Just last week, Hamzah derided rights NGOs critical of the government’s policies on refugees, telling them to instead bear the cost of taking care of them.Rights group Lawyers for Liberty today spoke of “a progression of an increasingly regressive immigration policy” and an “unjustified” crackdown against migrant workers.“The ministry must differentiate between genuine refugees such as the Rohingya whom the UNHRC has validated.”“We can draw no other conclusion other than that the government is encouraging and implementing xenophobia in its policies and enforcement of the law with absolute disregard to the impact it has on all foreigners who are currently in Malaysia,” it said in a statement on the directive for foreigners with expired social visit passes to leave the country by April 21.The group’s coordinator Zaid Malek also warned that continuing down “this destructive path may negatively impact Malaysia’s international image and foreign relations”.When contacted, a diplomatic source told MalaysiaNow that the home ministry’s direction was not in sync with Wisma Putra’s.“The ministry must differentiate between genuine refugees such as the Rohingya whom the UNHRC has validated. Under international laws, it is wrong to repatriate them,” it said.The source also reminded Hamzah of his expression of sympathy for the plight of the Rohingya during his time as deputy foreign minister under the Barisan Nasional administration.“What happened? If the issue is about undocumented workers, then take care of that. Don’t take aim at refugees especially those recognised by the UNHCR,” the source added.It said the Malaysian government had yet to take up an offer by UNHCR to train immigration officers in validating genuine refugees, one of the problems cited by authorities hesitant about accepting the UNHCR IDs.“UNHCR also opened its doors for officers to undertake a one-year course to understand the implementation and the process of its ID cards. Eventually, we would have had our own database for refugees instead of relying on UNHRC. We did not accept the offer,” it added.


Anwar confident of forming govt, denies meeting Zahid

Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Anwar Ibrahim has defended his statement that PH has enough seats to form a federal government through a coalition with other parties.
The PKR president said once an understanding was reached with the other parties, it would be presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for consent.
"I still affirm my position that we already have the majority and enough support, and I am confident that we will be given the opportunity to govern the country.
"National stability, providing protection from negative elements to restore the country – those are the common duties (of all the parties)," he said when met by reporters at his residence in Sungai Long in Kajang last night.
However, Anwar refused to reveal which party would support PH to form the government, saying he would allow the parties to announce this themselves.
"Since yesterday, we have had enough (numbers to form the majority). Let the parties concerned announce who they will cooperate, either tonight or tomorrow," he said.
On rumours that he would be meeting with Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to negotiate a coalition to form the government, Anwar denied the matter.
In the 15th general election, PH won 82 parliamentary seats, followed by Perikatan Nasional (73), BN (30), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (22), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (six) and Warisan (three).
One seat each went to Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat and Parti Bangsa Malaysia while two were won by indepedent candidates.


Suit against Anwar’s aide goes to trial Thursday

The defamation suit filed by Muhammed Yusoff Rawther against Anwar Ibrahim’s press secretary Tunku Nashrul Tunku Abaidah will be decided through a hearing at the Shah Alam Sessions Court which starts on Thursday.The trial meanwhile will begin if both parties fail to reach an agreement for the case to be settled through mediation, Yusoff’s lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said.He said the hearing would last for half a day, from 9am to 12 noon with Yusoff, the plaintiff, as the first witness.“There are other witnesses but I cannot reveal them now,” he told MalaysiaNow.“The only witness for the hearing on Thursday is Yusoff.”MalaysiaNow reported on July 15 that Yusoff had filed a defamation suit against Nashrul as well as a separate civil suit against Anwar’s political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, claiming compensation for injuries allegedly sustained after an assault.Yusoff, Anwar’s former research assistant, also filed a suit against the PKR president accusing him of sexually assaulting him 10 days before the opposition leader won the Port Dickson by-election on Oct 13, 2018.Yusoff claimed to have suffered serious physical, psychological and social trauma as a result of the incident.Anwar however denied the claims, saying they had been fabricated in cahoots with a “person or persons currently unknown” as part of a plan to smear his political image ahead of the PKR congress in December 2019 as well as the promised transition of power from Dr Mahathir Mohamad.


Rosmah seeks to recuse judge from hearing money laundering case

Rosmah Mansor has filed an application to recuse High Court justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan from presiding over her money laundering and tax evasion trial.Rosmah, 69, who filed the application in the High Court through Messrs Geethan Ram on Nov 2, also applied for an order that, following Zaini’s move to recuse himself, the case should be set before another High Court judge.Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, filed the application on the grounds that Zaini is the judge presiding over her corruption case involving a solar hybrid project in Sarawak.On Feb 18, Zaini ruled that the prosecution had made out a prima facie case against Rosmah, and ordered her to enter her defence in the graft case, the proceedings of which are to resume on Dec 8.Rosmah claimed that statements and exhibits tendered before the court in the solar case could directly or indirectly influence Zaini if he was to preside over the money laundering case.“The applicant’s right to a fair trial is protected as a fundamental right under the Federal Constitution, and that right will be severely prejudiced and pointless if the judge hears the case,” Rosmah claimed in her application.When contacted, her lawyer Geethan Ram Vincent said that today was set for the management of the case before High Court deputy registrar Catherine Nicholas.Rosmah is facing 12 money laundering charges involving RM7,097,750 and five counts of failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board.The offences were allegedly committed at Affin Bank, Bangunan Getah Asli branch, ground floor, 148 Jalan Ampang between Dec 4, 2013 and June 8, 2017, and the Inland Revenue Board, Kompleks Bangunan Kerajaan, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim between May 1, 2014 and May 1, 2018.The charges of money laundering were framed under Section 4(1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, punishable under Section 4(1) of the same law, which provides for imprisonment of up to 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds of unlawful activity, or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.The charges of tax evasion, made under Section 77(1) of the Income Tax Act 1967, said that she had failed to furnish returns of her income for the assessment years 2013 to 2017 to the LHDN director-general on or before April 30, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 without reasonable excuse, contrary to Section 112 of the law.


Queen Elizabeth catches ‘mild’ Covid

Britain’s 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday but her symptoms are “mild” and she intends to continue with light duties at her Windsor Castle residence, aides said.The news comes after Prince Charles, the queen’s eldest son and heir, tested positive on Feb 10, two days after meeting his mother at Windsor.No information was given then on whether Queen Elizabeth – who this month marked 70 years on the throne – had taken any Covid tests herself.She resumed in-person audiences at the castle last week, but complained to one attendee of suffering from stiffness and was photographed holding a walking stick.“Buckingham Palace confirms that the queen has today tested positive for Covid,” a statement from the palace said.“Her Majesty is experiencing mild cold-like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week,” it said.“She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines.”While normally secretive about the queen’s health, the palace has previously confirmed she is fully vaccinated against Covid-19.Britain’s Press Association said “it is understood a number of cases have also been diagnosed among the Windsor Castle team”.There was no immediate comment from Prime Minister Boris Johnson. But his health secretary, Sajid Javid, tweeted: “Wishing Her Majesty The Queen a quick recovery.”Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition Labour party, also tweeted his best wishes for “a speedy recovery”, adding: “Get well soon, ma’am.”Nationwide celebrations to mark the queen’s Platinum Jubilee are due to be held in June.On the eve of the 70th anniversary of her accession on Feb 6, the monarch held a reception for locals at Sandringham, her estate in eastern England.It was reportedly her largest in-person public engagement since an unexplained health issue saw her spend a night in hospital last October.The Covid scare comes with the royal family mired in scandals.The queen’s second son, Prince Andrew, settled a sexual assault civil lawsuit in the United States last week, reportedly for £12 million (US$16.3 million, 14.3 million euros) – which newspapers claim she will partly fund.Meanwhile police in London have said they are investigating claims that a Saudi tycoon was offered UK honours in return for donations to Prince Charles’ charitable foundation.The queen, whose husband Prince Philip died aged 99 last April, has spent much of the coronavirus pandemic at Windsor Castle, with a reduced number of household staff dubbed “HMS Bubble”.Respecting the government’s then rules on Covid distancing, she sat alone at Philip’s funeral.


Chinese court orders man to pay ex-wife for housework in landmark ruling

A Chinese man has been ordered to pay his ex-wife almost US$8,000 for years of unpaid housework, in a landmark divorce case that has sparked furious debate in China.Under the country’s new civil code, which came into effect this year, divorcing spouses have the right for the first time to request compensation if they bore more responsibilities at home.Ex-wife Wang told the Beijing court that during five years of marriage she “looked after the child and managed household chores, while (her husband) Chen did not care about or participate in any other household affairs besides going to work”.She filed a claim for extra compensation for housework and childcare duties, according to a Feb 4 court statement.The court ruled that Wang had indeed taken on more household responsibilities and should receive US$7,700 plus sole child custody and an additional 2,000 yuan (about US$310) in alimony per month.But after local media reported this week that Wang had appealed – having originally requested 160,000 yuan compensation – the ruling sparked widespread online debate over the value of women’s unpaid domestic labour.The trending hashtag “stay-at-home wife receives 50,000 yuan housework compensation” gained over 570 million views on the Twitter-like platform Weibo by Wednesday.“Women should never be stay-at-home wives… when you divorce, you are left with nothing whatsoever. 50,000 yuan in housework compensation is bullshit,” read one comment.“A full-time nanny could cost more than this for half a year, are women’s youth and feelings this cheap?” read another.The amount reflected the length of time the couple were married plus “the effort Wang put into housework, Chen’s income and the local cost of living”, according to one of the judges, quoted Monday in local media.The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has estimated that Chinese women spend nearly four hours doing unpaid labour daily – 2.5 times that of men and higher than the average.Marriage breakups have surged over the last two decades in China as divorce laws were liberalised and women became more financially independent – to the concern of Beijing, which is trying to boost birth rates in an ageing population.


No US-style mass lay-offs expected in Malaysia, experts say

Experts predict that Malaysia will buck the trend of mass lay-offs currently seen in the US where more than 70,000 have been discharged in a wave led by tech giants Amazon, Microsoft, Spotify and IBM amid concerns over a global economic downturn.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) acknowledged that 2023 would be a challenging year for Malaysia as well.
However, MEF president Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the number of employees losing their jobs had been on a downtrend since 2020.
"From Jan 1 to 20, 3,181 employees were laid off," he said.
"Based on the number of employees who lost their jobs up to Jan 20, the number of lay-offs in 2023 is projected to be 61,000."
A total of 107,704 Malaysians lost their jobs in 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic began sweeping across the country.
Another 61,360 were laid off the following year. Last year, the number shrank to 34,388.
Syed Hussain said the local job market was in fact expected to benefit from strong domestic demand, the reopening of China after three years of adhering to a strict "zero Covid" policy, and the revival of construction projects.
"The unemployment rate is below the 4% threshold, which puts Malaysia at full employment as per international standards specified by the International Labour Organization," he said.
Shahryn Azmi, founder of local gig jobs portal MakeTimePay, said any mass lay-offs in Malaysia would likely come as part of moves by US companies to rationalise their global operation costs.
"We also have to look at the types of workers being laid off in the US," he said.
"A close examination indicates that this may actually be just a significant housecleaning effort after a long period of overhiring.
"Google, for instance, has laid off its 31 massage therapists – about 6% of the 12,000 staff members laid off company-wide."
In Malaysia, Shahryn said, the problem was more likely the rising cost of living and employers' unwillingness or inability to raise their employees' salaries.
As a result, he added, some were looking for ways to supplement their income even while holding down full-time jobs.
"They are effectively becoming gig workers, but with a firmer income base because they are also fully employed," he said.
He warned that this would continue to be the case pending a solution to the gap between salary and cost of living, envisioning a scenario where the majority of workers choose to be self-employed, working only in the gig market on a permanent basis.
Syed Husman meanwhile said that Malaysia continues to face a shortage of foreign workers, of between 700,000 to 800,000.


‘Some fatalities,’ more than 20 hurt after vehicle plows through parade in US

Some people were killed when a sports utility vehicle sped through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Sunday, bowling over at least 20 people including a group of young dancers waving pompoms.Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson said a person of interest was in custody and the suspect vehicle had been recovered after the incident in Waukesha, about 32km west of Milwaukee.“The vehicle struck more than 20 individuals. Some of the individuals were children and there are some fatalities as a result of this incident,” Thompson told reporters.Asked about the fatalities, Thompson said: “I don’t have an exact number at this time.”It was not known whether the incident was related to terrorism, but an earlier shelter-in-place order in the town of around 72,000 had been lifted, he added.A video posted online showed a red SUV plowing through the parade, appearing to run over more than a dozen people before crowds ran from sidewalks to offer assistance.In another video, police appeared to open fire on the vehicle as it crashed through street barriers.Thompson said an officer fired shots at the vehicle and no bystanders were injured.Belen Santamaria, her husband, and their three-year old daughter were planning to join the late afternoon parade with their Catholic Church. But Santamaria, a 39-year old Mexican factory worker, woke up on Sunday with a backache, so the family watched the procession from the sidewalk instead.“The SUV came by at full speed,” said Santamaria. “Then I started to hear people screaming.”She hid in a restaurant with their daughter while her husband, 39-year old delivery worker Jesus Ochoa, ran ahead to try to help injured people. He said he heard through other members of their church that roughly 10 members, mostly Latinos and both adults and children, are injured.“I was going to be there, walking,” Santamaria said. “The SUV would have hit us too.”Dance groups hitA woman told Milwaukee’s Fox6 TV station that the SUV hit a dance team of girls between 9 and 15 years old. She said the immediate reaction was silence, followed by screaming, running and checking on those injured, Fox6 reported. Video on social media showed small groups surrounding injured girls with white pompoms scattered around.One witness said the driver also hit a group of “Dancing Grannies” and at least one person flipped over the hood of the SUV, according to Milwaukee’s WISN-TV, an ABC affiliate.“Members of the group and volunteers were impacted and we are waiting for word on their conditions,” the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies said on their Facebook page. “Please keep the Grannies, all those injured, and all those who witnessed this horrible event in your thoughts and prayers.”The local CBS affiliate later showed a picture on Twitter of what appeared to be the red SUV involved with its hood crumpled and front fender hanging off, parked in a driveway.Another witness estimated the SUV was going about 64kph when it hit the crowd parading down the street, the TV station said.“As we were walking back in between the buildings… we saw an SUV cross over, just put the pedal to the metal and just zooming full speed along the parade route. And then we heard a loud bang, and just deafening cries and screams from people who are struck by the vehicle,” Angelito Tenorio, an alderman in nearby West Allis, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.Photos and videos of Waukesha circulating on Twitter showed police cars and ambulances crowding a street decked out with Christmas lights in the aftermath of the incident, which occurred around 4.39pm (2239 GMT). People bundled up against the cold huddled on sidewalks as dusk fell.Some of the injured were taken to the hospital by ambulance, others by police and still more by family and friends, Thompson said.The Children’s Wisconsin hospital said on Twitter it had received 15 patients as of 8pm, with no reported fatalities at that time.Schools would remain closed on Monday for grades 4K-12 and additional counselors would be available for students who may need support services, the district superintendent of schools said.In 2015, four people were killed and 46 injured in Stillwater, Oklahoma when a woman drove into a crowd watching the homecoming parade for a football team.A truck was deliberately driven into a Christmas market in Berlin, Germany in 2016, killing 12 people in an attack linked to Islamic State.


Top global bank offers permanent hybrid working to new employees

In a sign of what office workers may expect when their employers get back up to full speed, UBS, the largest private bank in the world, is implementing a permanent hybrid work structure, where working hours are split between home and office, for up to two-thirds of its new and returning employees.The Swiss multinational investment bank and financial services company maintains a presence in all international financial centres worldwide, so the effects of this decision will influence office working practices around the world.A UBS spokesman told CNBC: “We are committed to offering our employees the flexibility for hybrid working where role, tasks and location allow. Hybrid work options will be introduced on a country-by-country basis, with timing dependent on the local pandemic situation.”Through using the hybrid work model, UBS is betting it will attract new talent as it offers more flexibility as an employer, Bloomberg reports.Workers can start to apply for a hybrid work position as soon as local pandemic rules allow for the safe return to the office full-time at their location, Bloomberg added.Staff in Australia, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Taiwan have already begun the application process, a source told the news outlet.While UBS has not set a firm date for its 72,000 global employees to return to work, the bank told CNBC that only employees who are required to be in the office, such as those in supervisory roles or those in trading or branch positions, will have less flexibility in their roles.Other international banks and financial institutions are taking a different approach with their employees.Goldman Sachs required workers to return to the office this month, the Financial Times reported.JPMorgan Chase also plans to have employees back in the office by July 6, according to Bloomberg.And at Morgan Stanley, which has one of the strictest office policies, CEO James Gorman said at a June company investment event, “If you can go into a restaurant in New York City, you can come into the office, and we want you in the office.”Morgan Stanley not only requires workers to be physically present but will also require employees, clients, and visitors to be vaccinated against Covid-19 before they can return to New York City office locations starting in July.Goldman Sachs told workers they would be required to disclose their vaccine status to return to the office, but said it still would allow unvaccinated staff in its buildings so long as they wear face masks, according to CNBC.With vaccinated employees in the office, companies will be able to ease back mask and social distancing policies as they look to get their offices back to normal operations.


Recoveries outpace new cases, death toll up by 13

Another 3,384 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 254,988.Selangor recorded 1,082 cases followed by Johor (777), Kuala Lumpur (435), Kedah (228), Sarawak (184), Penang (144), Sabah (142) and Melaka (101).Negeri Sembilan recorded 89 cases, Perak 82, Kelantan 48, Terengganu 26, Pahang 21, Labuan 14, Putrajaya seven and Perlis four.Active cases stand at 51,783 with 259 in the ICU and 122 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 3,774 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 202,269.However, 13 more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 936.


MP, officers who attended PAC meetings in Parliament positive for Covid-19

An MP who attended Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meetings at the Parliament last week has tested positive for Covid-19.It is understood that two officers of the MP have also tested positive.“The PAC member attended the sitting last week and even attended PAC proceedings between July 26 and 28,” a source told MalaysiaNow.This follows the confirmation of more than 80 infections in Parliament during the recent special sitting which came to an abrupt halt on July 29 following a directive from health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.He said at least six of the cases in Parliament could be of the Delta variant based on PCR genotyping assay tests.


Hack exposed personal data of entire Swiss town, report says

A small Swiss town acknowledged late Wednesday that it had underestimated the severity of a cyberattack, following reports the personal data of the entire population was exposed online.The small, picturesque town of Rolle, on the shores of Lake Geneva, acknowledged last week that it had been the victim of ransomware attack, and that data on some administrative servers had been compromised.But the municipal government in the town of some 5,400 inhabitants insisted that only small amounts of data had been affected, and that all the information had been restored from backup copies.The town administrative chief Monique Choulat Pugnale told the Swiss daily 24 heures at the time that it was “a weak attack”, which only affected email servers that “did not contain any sensitive municipal data”.But according to an investigation published by the Le Temps daily Wednesday, the attack first detected on May 30 had in fact been “massive”.The paper cited an unnamed cybersecurity expert on the “dark web” saying it had taken him only 30 minutes to turn up thousands of Rolle municipal documents.The documents, he said “are personal and extraordinarily sensitive”.Rolle municipality, which has filed a criminal complaint in the case, acknowledged in a statement late Wednesday that it “underestimated the severity of the attack (and) the potential uses of the data.The town said it “admits with humility a certain naivete towards the stakes when dealing with the dark web and malicious hacks”, and said it had set up a task force to deal with the crisis.It did not go into details about the kinds of information that had been exposed, but Le Temps said its journalists had seen spreadsheets with data on all inhabitants.That data included names, addresses, dates of birth, social security numbers and residency permit information for non-Swiss nationals. In some cases, religious affiliation was also listed.School records had also been found, with list of students’ grades, as well as information on children who had contracted Covid-19.Forms used to evaluate the performance of communal employees were also found, as were some criminal records, according to the paper.


Beijing to reopen schools and workplaces as Covid-19 curbs ease

Beijing will gradually lift Covid-19 restrictions this week, city officials said Sunday.After some easing in recent days, the Chinese capital – which reported 19 new infections Sunday – announced residents would start returning to work from Monday and schools would reopen from June 13.China is wedded to a zero-Covid strategy of hard lockdowns, mass testing and long quarantine periods to wipe out clusters as they emerge.That strategy has meant restrictions on movement in major cities including Shanghai and Beijing, a metropolis of 22 million people where a resurgence of Covid-19 in April led to just under 2,000 infections.From Monday, restaurants will be able to welcome customers again – if they have tested negative in the previous three days – and public transport will operate normally, the city’s government said in a statement.Two districts in the capital will maintain restrictions.In Shanghai, most of the city’s 25 million inhabitants have been able to move freely since Wednesday.But hundreds of thousands still face restrictions after being designated close contacts of infected people.


Top PH meeting ‘silent’ on Anwar-Zahid-Najib plan

There was no mention of the now well-known collaboration between Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Anwar Ibrahim and top Umno leaders when leaders of the opposition coalition met yesterday, MalaysiaNow has learnt.The situation was a stark contrast to the controversy created about a decade ago, when PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang mooted the idea of a “unity government” which included the political enemies of Pakatan Rakyat.Pakatan Rakyat was formed by PAS, PKR and DAP following their gains in the 2008 election. The coalition collapsed in 2015 after bickering between PAS and DAP.“The elephant in the room was not addressed,” said an aide to one of the leaders who attended the PH meeting yesterday.“The discussion was on the upcoming budget, and how the coalition should respond to the royal statement a day earlier (Wednesday),” the aide added, referring to a statement from the palace urging MPs to support the budget to be tabled next week for the sake of ensuring funds in the battle against Covid-19.The latest PH meeting followed the revelation that a triumvirate comprising Anwar, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Najib Razak had attempted to engineer the downfall of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, led by Muhyiddin Yassin, through the defection of a group of Umno MPs.But unlike PH, Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs and the Umno Supreme Council had at separate meetings held heated debates on the matter.“The elephant in the room was not addressed.”This week, Najib, a key target of PH’s 2018 general election campaign in the wake of the 1MDB scandal, admitted that he had asked BN MPs to support Anwar’s prime ministerial ambitions.Earlier this month, MalaysiaNow’s revelation that Zahid had written to the palace expressing support for Anwar – two days before the PKR chief’s royal audience with the Agong to show proof of his majority support – had riled up senior Umno leaders.MalaysiaNow also revealed details of “tense” private meetings at Muhyiddin’s house in Bukit Damansara after the prime minister was given a copy of the letter, co-signed by Najib.Zahid backtracked on his support for Anwar following pressure from the Umno leadership and was forced to issue at least two statements – including one late last night – declaring support for the PN government of which Umno is a part.His about-turn also followed two royal warnings this week against any attempt at destabilising the government amid an increasingly difficult battle to contain the Covid-19 pandemic which has claimed more than 100 lives this month, about half of the total fatalities recorded since the virus was detected in Malaysia early this year.Demand to be part of budget draftingThe aide to a former minister who spoke to MalaysiaNow said the silence of the PH leadership on the Anwar-Zahid cooperation was “understandable”, as many coalition leaders felt that they now faced a bigger hurdle.“And that is how to go around an unprecedented royal directive that they support the upcoming budget,” the aide added.The directive was issued by the palace amid fears that any move to shoot down the budget, to be tabled next Friday, could lead to the collapse of Muhyiddin’s government and trigger a pandemic-season general election.“There has been a proposal to interpret the statement by the Comptroller of the Royal Household on Wednesday to the advantage of PH, including a demand that Muhyiddin makes consultation with the opposition in drafting the budget.“It’s an impossible demand,” the aide added, “but it was felt adequate to justify the opposition not supporting the budget bill despite the royal call.”MalaysiaNow’s attempts to obtain comments from key PH leaders have so far failed.


82.8% of teens, 95.9% of adults fully jabbed

A total of 2,607,392 individuals or 82.8% of teenagers had completed their Covid-19 vaccination as of yesterday.Based on data from the CovidNow website, 2,762,739 individuals or 87.7% of adolescents have received at least one dose of vaccine.In terms of the adult population, 22,442,346 individuals or 95.9% have completed their vaccination while another 22,944,240 or 98% have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine.A total of 138,752 vaccine doses were administered yesterday with 5,067 as first doses, 8,428 as second jabs and 125,257 as booster shots.This brings the cumulative number of vaccine doses administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme so far to 52,391,444.


AstraZeneca EU supply chain shortfall continues in second quarter

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said Tuesday its EU supply chains would only be able to deliver half of an expected supply of Covid-19 vaccines to the bloc in the second quarter – but that it would look to make up the shortfall from elsewhere.A spokesman for the British drugs group told AFP AstraZeneca was “working to increase productivity in its EU supply chain” and would use its “global capability in order to achieve delivery of 180 million doses to the EU in the second quarter”.“Approximately half of the expected volume is due to come from the EU supply chain” while the remainder would come from its international supply network, he added.The announcement follows controversy over deliveries of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University jab to the European Union in the first quarter, which has caused tension between the bloc and the pharmaceutical company.Ahead of the EU’s approval of the vaccine at the end of January, the British-Swedish company sparked fury among European leaders by announcing that it would miss its target of supplying the EU with 400 million doses, due to a shortfall at the firm’s European plants.The disagreement also caused diplomatic tensions with Britain, which definitively left the EU after 40 years of membership following a transmission period at the end of 2020 – with Brussels implicitly accusing AstraZeneca of giving preferential treatment to Britain at the expense of the EU.The UK government has vaccinated millions of Britons with the AstraZeneca jab since late last year.But the company only began shipping it to the EU in early February, after the bloc’s drug regulator took its time over recommending its use.The AstraZeneca vaccine has suffered a number of other setbacks – it was temporarily excluded from South Africa’s immunisation campaign because of concern it was less effective towards new virus variants there; and Germany’s vaccine commission recommended it only for people aged 18 to 64 years old.But more recently, World Health Organization experts recommended it for use on people aged over 65 and in settings where new strains of the virus are circulating.The shot forms the bulk of doses being rolled out around the world – especially in poorer countries – under the Covax programme.It has attracted praise for its low cost relative to rivals and its ease of storage – a regular refrigerator can be used.AstraZeneca announced on Feb 11 it had seen its profits double in 2020.


UK reports 50 virus deaths in highest level since April

The UK reported 50 deaths over the past 24 hours yesterday, its highest level since April and a sharp jump from six deaths the day before, as England moves towards easing Covid-19 restrictions on July 19 in what has been called “Freedom Day”.Official data also shows that another 36,660 cases were recorded.This, too, is an increase from the 34,471 new infections reported the day before, and the 28,773 cases and 37 deaths recorded about a week ago.Daily new infections are running at more than 30,000 in the UK, with average deaths in single digits, data from England’s National Health Service shows.This is despite a successful vaccination campaign which has seen nearly two-thirds of adults fully jabbed.Health Secretary Sajid Javid had said that the caseload could reach 100,000 a day in the coming months, but stressed that the link to hospitalisations and deaths was “severely weakened”.By July 19, the majority of legal restrictions on social contact in England will be removed although Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was vital to proceed with “caution”, warning “this pandemic is not over”.The peak of the current wave is not expected before mid-August and could lead to between 1,000 and 2,000 hospital admissions per day, according to government scientists.


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Hackers steal US$97 million from Japanese crypto exchange

Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Liquid was scrambling Friday to recover stolen assets worth nearly US$100 million, in the second such major heist by hackers in recent days.The Tokyo-based company said in a statement Thursday that it had “detected unauthorised access of some of the crypto wallets managed at Liquid”.Elliptic, a London-based firm which helps track stolen cryptocurrencies, said its analysis found “just over US$97 million in cryptoassets have been received by the accounts identified by Liquid as belonging to the thief”.“Our investigators are also aiding Liquid with tracking the stolen funds,” Elliptic added in a blog post.The heist comes after a hacker stole assets worth US$600 million last week from cryptocurrency trading company Poly Network, before gradually giving the money back, claiming they had pulled off the theft to highlight a security flaw.Liquid said it had suspended cryptocurrency withdrawals while it assesses the impact of the attack, although trading was continuing.Cryptocurrencies have soared in popularity as assets in recent years, despite their volatility and concerns over their environmental impact as trading them requires vast quantities of electricity.Bitcoin, Ethereum and other digital currencies use a technology called blockchain, which ensures that every transaction is recorded.Thieves trying to steal cryptocurrencies typically move the funds through many different accounts at dizzying speed – sometimes hundreds of thousands of transactions – in an attempt to cover their tracks.However, industry players have grown better at identifying and blocking stolen coins.Liquid said US$16.3 million worth of stolen Ethereum had already been frozen “due to the assistance of the crypto community and other exchanges”.


A month after reopening, Thailand sees gradual tourism recovery

Thailand was among the first countries in Asia to reopen for foreign arrivals, and it is seeing a slow recovery, including new hotels touting longer stays for individual travellers.In the first 10 months of 2021, Thailand saw 106,117 foreign tourists, a drop from 6.7 million in 2020. Before the pandemic, Thailand saw about 40 million visitors a year.Hospitality firms like Asset World Corporation Pcl, which opened its 19th property this month, saw the majority of its bookings come from Western countries and the Middle East.“About 70% of total bookings came from Europe, including Germany, UK, Scandinavian countries, followed by the US, Middle East, and Asia,” chief executive Wallapa Traisorat told Reuters, adding that domestic travel helped. “For November, we should see 30% occupancy, and in the fourth quarter we hope to see better momentum from the reopening.”Thailand, one of the region’s most popular destinations, is heavily dependent on tourism. In 2019, 40 million arrivals spent 1.91 trillion baht (US$57.3 billion).Centara Hotels and Resorts is moving ahead with plans to open a 1.1 billion baht hotel on the island of Samui in December.Initially the property expects most guests to be locals on longer stays, said Centara Hotels chief financial officer Gun Srisompong.“Demand patterns have changed. Individual travellers on longer stays and ‘workations’ need more personalisation,” Srisompong said.Thailand expects only 200,000 foreign tourists this year, and 5 million in 2022.Thinner crowds and discounts made for a more pleasant experience, said German tourist Markus Klarer.“It’s a good time to come back to Thailand again,” Klarer said.Despite the reopening, some businesses said Covid rules still made some things hard.“Tourists are not fully confident and still confused with government regulations,” said Chitchai Senwong, a restaurant manager in Bangkok, citing a government rule that prohibits alcohol consumption after 9pm.


Pejuang ready to work with PN to form govt but minus Umno ‘court cluster’

Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Pejuang bloc says it is willing to work with Perikatan Nasional (PN) to form the government if such cooperation does not involve the leaders of the so-called “court cluster” from Umno led by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.“Yes, we are ready to work with them,” the bloc’s president, Jerlun MP Mukhriz Mahathir, said in an interview with Astro Awani when asked about the possibility of working with PN parties such as Bersatu, PAS and GPS.“I don’t think we can avoid that if we want enough numbers.”The court cluster refers to a group of Umno leaders facing multiple charges of corruption, abuse of power and money laundering.Pejuang was formed after the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in February last year.The Bersatu splinter party, which has four MPs, recently received the green light for registration as a political entity.Yesterday, Muhyiddin Yassin resigned as prime minister after Zahid, former leader Najib Razak and 13 other MPs from Umno retracted their support for him in Parliament.Umno currently has 38 seats in the Dewan Rakyat.Zahid’s group has been dubbed “the Umno 15” while the others from the party remain loyal to PN under the leadership of vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob.Zahid, Najib and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim had been at the forefront of efforts to topple Muhyiddin since last year.Mukhriz said any cooperation by Pejuang with a political pact should not go against the principles of the party’s struggle.“From the start we have stood firm on our principles regarding the fight against corruption,” he said.“This is why we will have problems if the majority that we support includes what is known as the court cluster.”Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and his deputy, Sultan Nazrin Shah, today met with the leaders of political parties as part of the process of appointing a new prime minister.Each MP is required to submit the name of his or her candidate of choice as prime minister to Istana Negara by 4pm tomorrow.


South Korea's Yoon oversees major live-fire drills with US

Several thousand South Korean and US troops took part in joint live-fire exercises on Thursday, in a show of force after North Korea's failed attempt last month to launch a spy satellite ratcheted up tensions in the region.
The drills, overseen by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, are also being held to mark the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the countries and the 75th anniversary of the founding of the South Korean military, his office said.
A total of 2,500 troops took part in the drills in Pocheon, northeast of Seoul, supported by "cutting-edge" military assets, including South Korean F-35 fighters and K9 self-propelled howitzers and US F-16 jets and Gray Eagle drones.
"The exercises were aimed at checking the ability to conduct combined and joint operations to realise 'peace through strength' through practical manoeuvring and live-fire training under the scenario of a North Korean provocation," Yoon's office said in a statement, describing them as the largest live-fire drills ever held with the US.
The initial phase of the drills were designed to show a response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and a full-scale attack.
Later in the programme, allied troops prepared the ground for a counterattack through air and artillery precision strikes on key targets, in order to "completely destroy the North's military threats," it said.
North Korea unsuccessfully tried to launch a spy satellite late last month, in its first such attempt since 2016, with the rocket booster and payload plunging into the sea.
Seoul and Washington condemned the launch as a grave provocation and violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions banning the North's use of ballistic missile technology.
Pyongyang said it was exercising its right to space development and vowed to stage another launch soon to boost its surveillance capabilities against US and South Korean threats.
The isolated North has previously reacted angrily to the allies' military drills, calling them a rehearsal for its invasion.
The United States has about 28,500 troops in South Korea.


China relaxes some Covid test rules for US, other travellers

China has removed some Covid-19 test requirements for people flying in countries such as the US and shortened the pre-departure quarantine for some inbound travellers, as it fine-tunes its measures to cope with the Omicron variant.The slight relaxations were made in response to factors including the “characteristics of coronavirus variants”, according to notices from Chinese embassies and consulates that did not provide further details.From Friday, travellers from Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago will no longer need an RT-PCR test seven days before flying, or any antibody test, according to notices issued late on Tuesday from the Chinese embassy in the United States and several consulates.Those travellers will still need to do two RT-PCR tests within 48 or 24 hours of their flights – depending on which airport they are flying out of – plus another pre-flight antigen test, those notices showed.Travel in and out of China has plunged during outbreaks of Covid as the country insists on its “dynamic Covid zero” playbook that has involved restrictions on the issue and renewal of passports, mandatory quarantines for most travellers upon arrival, and flight cancellations.But the shorter incubation period of the Omicron variant has allowed for a slight easing of curbs on international travellers. The capital city Beijing has reduced the quarantine period at centralised facilities upon arrival for travellers to 10 days from 14 days.The removal of RT-PCR test seven days before flights and the elimination of antibody tests will apply to travellers to China from Canada starting Sunday, and those who had recovered from Covid infections will no longer need to provide chest scan images, the Chinese embassy in Canada said on Thursday.Embassies in the UAE, Serbia and Bangladesh said on Wednesday they had removed some testing requirements and shortened the pre-departure quarantine period for employees at Chinese companies to 10 days from 21 days.Bangladesh has further reduced the pre-flight quarantine for other travellers to five days from seven days, while Serbia has halved the pre-departure quarantine time for certain personnel to one week, according to embassy notices.


Govt to list out offences subject to RM10,000 compound

The government will spell out the offences which are subject to compounds of RM10,000 under the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 to clear any confusion on its implementation, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Takiyuddin Hassan.Takiyuddin, the minister in charge of law, said the matter would be discussed at the Covid-19 Emergency Management Technical Committee meeting tomorrow.“We will maintain the ordinance on RM10,000 compounds for individuals and RM50,000 for companies but the government will resolve the issue of its implementation, including on the issuance of summonses to violators,” he said after an event in Kangar today.He said it would not be appropriate to issue compounds of RM10,000 for minor violations such as not wearing a face mask.“The law needs to be firm but at the same time we need to exercise discretion to strike a balance,” he added.He said the main aim of issuing compound notices was not to punish but to educate people and help prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the country.


Could underdog PN come from behind in BN-PH battle for Melaka?

Some 476,000 voters in Melaka will determine the next state administration today, after two weeks of campaigns held under strict Covid-19 measures in a pandemic-era first for polls.A total of 11,557 early voters already cast their votes on Nov 16, while 7,601 others will be sending their ballots through the post.Attention continues to focus on the three main political blocs: Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN).Theirs are among the 112 candidates contesting the 28 seats in the state legislative assembly.At times, the campaigns saw political parties attacking and spreading propaganda about the two others.A couple on a motorcycle make their way past dozens of Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional flags at Bukit Rambai in Melaka.BN had launched an attack on PN, its partner at the federal level, before even nominating its candidates when seat negotiations failed to find common ground between the three Malay parties – Umno, Bersatu and PAS.PN meanwhile reminded voters that the Melaka election had been sparked by a power struggle among Umno politicians, resulting in the dissolution of the state legislative assembly after four assemblymen jumped ship.PH, whose components were initially at loggerheads over the coalition’s candidate for chief minister, finally came to an agreement after PKR president Anwar Ibrahim complied with DAP’s call for Adly Zahari from Amanah to be nominated for the role.The question of who would be nominated for the role was also a hot topic in BN, with the initial option of Melaka BN chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh or the incumbent, Sulaiman Md Ali.BN eventually chose Sulaiman as its candidate.PN on the other hand made a bold move in naming Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who will become Malaysia’s first woman head of state if the coalition succeeds in forming the next administration.Tight SOPsNevertheless, all of the parties struggled with the same problem of how to campaign within the tight constraints put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19 during the election period.These included a ban on traditional election activities such as physical campaigns, lectures and house-to-house visits.An Election Commission officer in full personal protective equipment disinfects the polling centre at SK Asahan.The measures succeeded in lowering the political temperature on the field, although clashes also moved online, carried out in the digital arena through posters, social media posts and live streamed lectures.Mudslinging was also kept to a minimum with most candidates opting to cut down or refrain altogether from hitting out at their opponents.In general, observers expect the results to swing in favour of either PH or BN forming the next state government.Both coalitions could win anywhere between eight and 10 seats.Which way the vote tilts in the remaining eight to 12 seats will determine who emerges the victor.Political analyst Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia who conducted a study on 4,000 respondents in Melaka said chances are 50-50 between BN and PH.Motorcyclists stop at the traffic light of a junction hung with Barisan Nasional posters.“The people are more inclined towards stability,” he told MalaysiaNow. “For two years, they have endured many hardships and challenges due to Covid-19.”Stability, for him, will be the main factor in this election.On paper, Umno has strong support from its grassroots although voters in Melaka are somewhat open after 22 months of PH rule, he said.PH’s chief minister candidate, Adly, is popular among the voters including in areas considered as Umno strongholds, he added.“PH will win if outstation voters return and the percentage of non-Malay voters who turn up is high,” he said.Otherwise, Mazlan expects BN will have a chance of winning the race.PN could surpriseNevertheless, he said this does not mean that PN, led by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, should be discounted.Workers from the Perikatan Nasional election machinery put up a billboard showing the face of the coalition’s candidate in Klebang.This is because PAS votes which will go towards PN comprise 10 to 13% of the total ballots.“PN will be able to form the state government if it can draw the votes that normally go to BN and PH,” he said.He added that PN could cause an upset in at least four seats although it will not be able to form the government without a shift of support from BN assemblymen.Ilham Center executive director Mohamad Hisommudin Bakar said fierce fights can be expected in mixed constituencies with 50 to 69% made up of Malay voters.Such seats include Rim, Kelebang, Rembia, Pengkalan Batu, Bukit Katil, Asahan, Paya Rumput, Bemban, Duyong and Gadek.“BN is ahead of the other two pacts,” he said.“The two factors that would give PH a chance to win are a voter turnout of more than 80% and if PN succeeds in splitting the Malay vote that normally goes to BN.“If neither of these two scenarios plays out, BN could have a chance to win.”


Accountants drop Trump, say records can’t be relied upon

Donald Trump’s longtime accountants have ditched the former US president as a client, saying a decade’s worth of financial statements could not be relied upon, court documents showed Monday.Mazars informed the Trump Organization in a letter last Wednesday that it would no longer work for the company, which is being probed by New York prosecutors for alleged fraud.The letter was revealed in court by New York state attorney-general Letitia James as she asked a judge to force Trump to comply with subpoenas seeking testimony in her investigation.James announced last month that her civil inquiry into Trump’s family firm had uncovered “significant evidence” of misleading business practices, including the fraudulent valuation of assets.Mazars wrote that James’ findings had contributed towards it deciding that accounts for Trump for the years ending June 30, 2011 to June 30, 2020 “should no longer be relied upon.”The accounting firm added that an investigation of its own and “information received from internal and external sources” had also played a part in it reaching that conclusion.“While we have not concluded that the various financial statements, as a whole, contain material discrepancies, based upon the totality of the circumstances, we believe our advice to you to no longer rely upon those financial statements is appropriate,” it said.The letter added that in part because of the decision regarding the statements, Mazars “are not able to provide any new work product to the Trump Organization.”The financial records are at the heart of James’ investigation and a criminal probe by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.The twin inquiries are investigating whether the Trump Organization defrauded lenders into providing favorable loans.James, a Democrat, said in January that her ongoing inquiry had found that the Trump Organization fraudulently overvalued multiple assets to secure loans and then undervalued them to minimise taxes.She said the company had “misrepresented” the valuation of assets to financial institutions including the Internal Revenue Service, banks and insurers for “economic benefit.”Parallel investigationsIf James finds evidence of financial misconduct she can sue the Trump Organization for damages but cannot file criminal charges.The probe, however, is running alongside a similar criminal investigation by the Manhattan DA for possible financial crimes and insurance fraud.Last July the Trump Organization and its long-serving finance chief, Allen Weisselberg, pleaded not guilty to 15 felony fraud and tax evasion charges.The DA’s office in January 2021 finally received roughly eight years of Trump tax returns from Mazars following a marathon legal battle that went to the Supreme Court.Trump has slammed both probes as politically motivated.A spokesman for the Trump Organization said in a statement Monday evening that they were “disappointed” by Mazars’ decision to cut ties.The firm’s “letter confirms that after conducting a subsequent review of all prior statements of financial condition, Mazars’ work was performed in accordance with all applicable accounting standards and principles and that such statements of financial condition do not contain any material discrepancies,” the spokesman said, calling both investigations in New York therefore “moot.”In her filing Monday, James repeated her request that the former president, Donald Trump Jr, and Ivanka Trump give evidence under oath. Her office has already questioned Eric Trump.The legal woes could make a second White House run more difficult for the 75-year-old Trump, who has kept Americans guessing about his plans.


Musk sends fresh letter to scrap Twitter deal after whistleblower claims

Elon Musk has sent an additional letter of deal termination to Twitter Inc after the world's richest person subpoenaed a whistleblower seeking documents on how the social media company measures spam accounts.
Musk walked away from a US$44-billion offer for Twitter in July saying the company misled him and regulators about the true number of spam or bot accounts on the microblogging platform.
According to a court filing on Monday, Musk has sought information from whistleblower and former head of Twitter's security Peiter Zatko mostly about the way the microblogging site measures spam account.
A famed hacker known as "Mudge," Zatko said in his complaint that became public last week that the company falsely claimed it had a solid security plan and prioritised user growth over reducing spam.
Following the disclosure, Musk's legal team said allegations on certain facts, which were known to Twitter prior to July 8 but were not disclosed to them, have come to light that provide additional and distinct bases to end the deal.
The subpoena to Zatko comes in the run-up to a five-day trial at the Delaware Court of Chancery set to begin on Oct 17.
While Musk wants to terminate the deal, Twitter is asking Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick to order him to buy it for the agreed US$54.20 per share.
Meanwhile, an additional termination notice dated Aug 29 was delivered in case the July 8 notice was determined to be invalid for any reason, according to a regulatory filing by Musk on Tuesday.
Twitter shares were down 2.5% at US$39.02 before the bell.


New cases top 6,100

Another 6,144 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,608,979.Another 6,602 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,510,029.Meanwhile 516 are in the ICU, including 443 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 272 are in need of respiratory assistance including 157 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 6,144 cases reported today, 96 (1.6%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 6,048 (98.4%) are in Category One and Two.


You only live twice: Indian man found alive in morgue succumbs to injuries

An Indian man mistakenly declared dead after a road accident only to be found still breathing in a hospital morgue freezer has been cremated after succumbing to his injuries, relatives said Wednesday.Srikesh Kumar suffered critical injuries after a speeding motorbike hit him last week and was declared dead on arrival at a hospital in Moradabad, east of the capital New Delhi.His body was placed in the morgue freezer until his family arrived six hours later, when they discovered him unresponsive but still breathing.The 45-year-old was shifted to a hospital ward but passed away on Tuesday evening after slipping into coma due to a brain injury.“He died last night… and his body has been handed over to his family,” district medical officer Shiv Singh told AFP.Kumar’s brother told AFP that the deceased was cremated late Wednesday.Friday’s discovery sparked a hospital probe, and Singh said the investigation had determined Kumar was in a state of “suspended animation” when he was declared dead.“It seems there was no negligence on part of the doctors but we are still investigating,” he added.


Pressure builds to drop Tajuddin as election director as Umno feels GE15 heat

One of Umno’s most vocal leaders could see himself sidelined amid growing disenchantment with his leadership style, as the party finds itself still far from election mode despite talk of snap polls when the current emergency rule ends.MalaysiaNow has learnt that Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, the Pasir Salak MP who is currently the party’s election chief, could see himself being forced out of the post to which he was appointed late last year.Sources within the party said there is unhappiness not only over his open criticism of other bureaus in the party but also over his failure to retain Umno’s allies.“Efforts to convince PAS to remain with Muafakat Nasional are seen as having failed as it is more inclined to be with Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional (PN),” a senior Umno leader told MalaysiaNow in exchange for anonymity.It is understood that Tajuddin’s days as Umno election chief are numbered.Muafakat Nasional is the charter signed between Umno and PAS in 2019, when both were in the opposition. It marked a formal end to decades of hostility between the two largest Malay-based parties.Several Umno leaders aligned with former president Najib Razak have urged PAS to prioritise its cooperation within the charter, but the Islamist party has repeatedly said its focus is on strengthening the PN government.It is understood that Tajuddin’s days as Umno election chief are numbered.“It is not impossible that a new post could be created to draw out the party’s future strategies, at the same time taking over Tajuddin’s decision-making powers,” the source told MalaysiaNow.The development comes as the Umno Supreme Council meets again this afternoon to make a decision on its election planning.When contacted, Tajuddin did not deny speculation on his replacement, and said he was prepared for any decision by the party.“I have no problem, let the new appointee do the job. It is good to help with Umno’s election preparations. Right now, it is me alone, travelling the whole country using my own money,” Tajuddin told MalaysiaNow.“I welcome the new person but do the job, don’t just hold the title.”Tajuddin, who is seen as close to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, was appointed as the party’s election director in November last year.The two are among a group of Umno MPs including Najib who have stepped up criticism of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in recent months, with repeated threats to pull out of his ruling coalition.The posts of election director and deputy director are traditionally held by the party president and his deputy.There are now plans to appoint others from among the Supreme Council members.“I know, many people are uneasy with my criticism.”Tajuddin questioned those who are unhappy with his leadership.“Have I done anything to harm Umno? Have I done anything to harm the president? If I were a problem to the president, he would not have appointed me as the election director,” he told MalaysiaNow, adding that calls for him to step down could be due to jealousy.It is understood that during the last Supreme Council meeting, Tajuddin had openly reprimanded Umno’s information bureau about its work.“I know, many people are uneasy with my criticism.”He questioned how effective the information bureau had been in clearing disputes among members as well as in countering negative perceptions towards Umno.He said the information bureau should work to promote a more positive image of Umno and Barisan Nasional, “not just beautiful charts and paperwork”.He also said it appeared that many of the programmes by the party were overrated and a waste of energy, without any impact for the party.


Germany’s Covid-19 infections pass 1 million

Germany, once a beacon of hope in Europe’s coronavirus nightmare, logged its one millionth case on Friday, as questions emerged over just how much protection is offered by one of the leading vaccine candidates.Like much of the continent, Germany is battling a resurgence of a pandemic that shows little sign of retreating before the release of several leading inoculations.But the developers of one of the jabs, British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, said Thursday that further research was needed after mixed results were produced in a late-stage trial.The complication came as millions of Americans gathered for Thanksgiving in defiance of Covid-19 guidelines, despite the US registering a six-month high of more than 2,400 deaths.Germany had largely contained the spread of the virus in the spring but has been hit hard by a second wave of infections.Its Robert Koch Institute for disease control recorded more than 22,000 new daily cases on Friday, pushing the country’s total beyond the one million mark.The number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care nationwide has soared from just over 360 in early October to more than 3,500 last week.Europe’s biggest economy has shuttered restaurants, bars, sporting facilities and cultural venues, though schools and shops remain open.But the rules will be temporarily eased over Christmas and New Year to accommodate the celebrations, allowing meetings of up to 10 adults from Dec 23 to New Year’s Day.Vaccine hopeMany nations are pinning their hopes on a vaccine to end the misery, with two jabs on the cusp of approval by authorities after showing about 95% efficacy in trials.But a third candidate by AstraZeneca faced uncertainty Friday after researchers accidentally discovered it performed best when a half dose is given followed by a full one, rather than two full doses.The vaccine has nevertheless been submitted to Britain’s regulator for approval.In the meantime much of the world faces a gloomy winter dampened by lockdowns, economic anxiety and devastating human loss.US president-elect Joe Biden however offered a message of hope on Thursday in a Thanksgiving video address that rallied Americans to pull together to defeat the outbreak.“I know better days are coming, I know how bright our future is. I know the 21st century is going to be an American century,” he said.Biden said he normally travels to the New England coast for a big family feast but would be staying home in Delaware this year for a small get-together.“I know this isn’t the way many of us hoped we’d spend our holiday. We know that a small act of staying home is a gift to our fellow Americans,” he said.But Trump’s White House urged “all Americans to gather, in homes and places of worship” despite the health risk.Anthony Fauci, America’s top infectious disease expert, said he was expecting “a surge superimposed upon a surge” caused by the holiday festivities despite many being toned down.The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, a cherished tradition nearly a century old featuring giant balloons and colourful floats, went ahead in a truncated made-for-TV celebration across just one city block, with no crowds and much of it pre-recorded.‘People don’t understand’Globally, more than 60 million infections and 1.4 million deaths have been recorded since the new coronavirus emerged in China late last year, according to a tally compiled by AFP from official sources.Countries that have seen strong success against the virus are now cracking down on new outbreaks.South Korea closed bars and nightclubs this week as it braces for a third major wave, with virus cases at their highest level since March.Britain and France meanwhile are mulling easing lockdowns soon, but authorities have said restrictions will remain.“Basically what the prime minister is trying to do is save our lives, and I don’t think people understand the seriousness of it,” said David Walker, 75, a care worker in Darlington, north England.“I think common sense has gone out of the window.”


South Korean intelligence officers charged with raping defector from North

South Korea’s military prosecutors indicted a master sergeant and a lieutenant colonel of the Defence Intelligence Command on charges of raping a female North Korean defector, Yonhap News Agency reported officials as saying today.The two were accused of abusing their authority to rape the victim between May 2018 and February last year while she was under their protection and supervision for espionage operations, officials at the military prosecution said.The master sergeant allegedly had the victim drink alcohol before raping her in May 2018 following which he habitually committed sexual crimes against her, while the lieutenant colonel also raped her after she asked him for help, officials said.The victim filed a criminal complaint against the two last year. A lawyer for the victim said at the time that she became pregnant twice and was pressured to have abortions.The two have been under investigation since being removed from their duties.Military authorities plan to launch a disciplinary process as soon as a court verdict is finalised.


Local govt elections, a top priority

While the various ministries are deciding their priorities, we hear the new ;ocal government development minister, Nga Kor Ming, say that restoring local council elections will not be the immediate focus of his ministry.
Who decides that this should be the case and on what basis? If now is not the time for the leader of reformasi, Anwar Ibrahim, to bring back this essential local election level of democracy to Malaysian society, one that has been suspended since 1965, when exactly can civil society expect its promised restitution?
This is not the first time we have seen the reneging of this basic democratic demand in the election manifesto by Pakatan Harapan (PH). After GE14 in 2018, then new housing and local government minister Zuraida Kamaruddin gave the same excuse, that the new government had to give priority to other important matters because the country could not afford to run local elections.
Appointments to local councils are a colonial practice
This justification for putting off the holding of local council elections is laughable when we bear in mind that even before we became independent, we had our very first democratic election – the Kuala Lumpur municipal elections of 1952. It was the first step we took on the way to self-government. At independence, we continued our commitment to local government elections because appointments to political office were seen as a colonial practice. This is remarkable considering how economically poor we were at independence compared to our economy today.
At independence, our GNP per capita was US$800. Our GDP per capita is now more than US$10,000 and we are supposed to be almost a high-income society, but we are told we can’t afford local government elections.
Then PH prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad gave the even more gobsmacking excuse that local government elections would be detrimental to race relations. His reasoning was that since most of the ethnic Chinese reside in urban areas while most of the Malays are in rural areas, the holding of local council elections would see urbanites governed by one race, with another race managing the rural areas.
In fact, during the early years of independence, Barisan Nasional (BN) was reluctant to have local council elections because many local council elections in the towns and cities tended to be won by the opposition. During the 60s, many towns and cities were run by the Socialist Front. This was the real reason for not wanting local elections, not because of the so-called racial divide. But then, Mahathir has never been noted for any commitment to justice, democracy, and human rights.
Furthermore, non-partisan local government is neither unique nor inconceivable. Local government in Malaya before 1960 was conducted without parties. Many cities around the world, including, for example, some of the largest in the US such as Los Angeles and Chicago, have non-partisan elections for their city councillors. There is no reason why race and religion should dominate over a healthy focus on the welfare and demands of ratepayers. Even in developing countries like Bangladesh and South Africa, the devolved local government system is widely recognised as one of the key institutional forms for a public service delivery system that ensures democratic governance at the grassroots level.
I have often stressed the fact that elected local government can, at a stroke, depoliticise education in Malaysia simply by building schools based on the need of the local communities rather than being treated like a political football in general elections by the education ministry. Few Malaysians have noticed, for example, that the all-important role of local education authorities in the Education Act 1961 is no longer mentioned in the new Education Act 1996. Local education authorities are familiar with their local community and can thus accurately match funds and facilities to the sectors most in need, which can counter the politicisation of education.
More convenient to appoint party cronies
It was clear that the Alliance and later BN opted for the convenience of appointing their own political party cronies as councillors rather than risk the uncertainties of democratic elections. Since 2008, the PH government has been following suit in the states they control, namely Selangor and Penang. This temptation for any ruling coalition is certainly strong, for the local tiers of government have been seen as the launch pad for political party appointees as well as their NGO allies all these years.
During the 10 years of PH rule in the states of Selangor and Penang, polls could have been held unofficially with the support of civil society and without requiring the Election Commission. But political party appointments provide the convenience of perpetuating patterns of patronage. The periodic outbursts of discontent by those party leaders and NGO activists who were overlooked are symptoms of this unhealthy party appointment system.
Local government elections long overdue
In the democratic tradition, taxation cannot be justified without representation. Ratepayers must be represented on the governing body which determines how that money is to be spent. This is a fundamental precept of parliamentary governance which is critically applicable at local-level government. It is to satisfy the requirement in a democratic society for greater pluralism, participation, and responsiveness.
The Royal Commission of Enquiry into the Workings of Local Authorities in West Malaysia led by senator Athi Nahappan in 1968 recommended the return of elected local government. Their recommendation was not carried out by the BN government, and it proved to be the start of a disgraceful habit by the BN to ignore RCI recommendations.
If we hold fast to the time-honoured concept of "no taxation without representation", nominated local government undermines the legitimacy of local authorities to collect assessment rates which are the most important source of income of the local authorities. That is why the royal commission report concluded that the merits of elected local government with all its inherent weaknesses outweigh those of the nominated ones.
Local councils must be accountable and responsive to residents
Malaysians are no longer prepared to put up with negligence or irresponsibility. Residents whose voices objecting to crass so-called "development" projects, water disruptions and periodic floods have been ignored, are demanding that their voices be heard at the local council. In this sense, we can see why local authorities are considered the primary units of government. Many services including education, housing, health, and transportation require local knowledge and can be better coordinated and more efficiently implemented through the local authority.
Finally, we find that in the modern state, many social groups such as women and manual workers are grossly under-represented. Local government can provide them with the channels to air their concerns and to participate in decision making. Bottom-up local level participation is vital to ensure voters can influence decisions. Imagine how empowering it will be when we can determine who our local leaders are and vote them out if they prove to be unheedful of our demands, negligent or corrupt.
Bersih must lead the campaign to bring back local elections
Since PH has reneged on this promise to bring back elected local government, it is incumbent on Bersih to take up this challenge of fighting for our right to have this third tier of democracy. I am sure Malaysian civil society is totally behind Bersih on this move.
One would expect that as our society becomes more mature in the "new" Malaysia helmed by a reformasi champion, democratic principles of accountability at the local community level would be considered the highest of priorities and the new normal. After all, we are merely bringing back the democratic rights we had from 1957 to 1965.
Kua Kia Soong is a human rights activist.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Anwar not ruling out talks with Bersatu

Pakatan Harapan (PH) leader Anwar Ibrahim has indicated that talks with Bersatu may still be possible despite objections from fellow PH leaders who say that any discussions for a so-called “big tent” approach to the general election should not take into consideration parties from Barisan Nasional (BN) or Perikatan Nasional (PN). Speaking in an interview with Malaysiakini, the PKR president said that as political leaders, it would not be right to stop people from negotiating. “For example, if the prime minister asked to meet tomorrow, I would reschedule my appointments and make time to see him although politically, we are enemies,” he told the portal. “But that does not mean we are making peace, it just means that we are working together for the rakyat, for the country.”Yesterday, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu said the “big tent” approach should not include alliances or cooperation with parties in the government, whether Umno, Bersatu or PAS.“There is no way that PH will work with traitors who have clearly betrayed the trust and mandate of the people,” he said. Describing these “traitors” as those who had jumped ship to Bersatu and PN, he said it would however be “irrational” to similarly label other parties such as Pejuang, Warisan and Muda “because of the betrayals of Mahiaddin and Bersatu”. DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng meanwhile said at the party’s national congress last month that there could be no cooperation with those who had betrayed the party and its struggle. “If we are stabbed in the back once, shame on them,” he said. “If we allow them to stab us in the back a second time, shame on us.”In his interview, however, Anwar spoke of the importance of being “ready to discuss”.“If it is for the good, I believe that as prominent leaders we must be ready to avoid being seen as a leader who is confined by narrow-minded partisan politics, but instead as someone who has strong principles but is ready to discuss,” he said.


US to fly in baby formula on military contracted planes

The US government will fly in baby formula on commercial planes contracted by the military in an airlift aimed at easing the major shortage plaguing the country, the White House said on Wednesday.The Department of Defense “will use its contracts with commercial air cargo lines, as it did to move materials during the early months of the Covid pandemic, to transport products from manufacturing facilities abroad that have met Food and Drug Administration safety standards,” the White House said.“Bypassing regular air freighting routes will speed up the importation and distribution of formula and serve as an immediate support as manufacturers continue to ramp up production,” it said, dubbing the effort “Operation Fly Formula.”US President Joe Biden has also invoked the Defense Production Act to give baby formula manufacturers first priority in supplies.“Directing firms to prioritise and allocate the production of key infant formula inputs will help increase production and speed up in supply chains,” the White House said.Families around the US have grown increasingly desperate for formula amid a perfect storm of supply chain issues and a massive recall.The average out-of-stock rate for baby formula hit 43% earlier this month, according to Datasembly, which collected information from more than 11,000 retailers.


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Over 1,000 fined RM10,000 so far but no appeals, says health minister

More than 1,000 people have been slapped with a RM10,000 compound since the enforcement of the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 on March 11 but none has submitted an appeal for a lower compound amount, says Health Minister Dr Adham Baba.Adham told reporters today that the offenders could appeal to the state health director or deputy director for a lower amount based on the offence committed.“So far, no one has appealed. When an appeal is made, a (new) compound will be issued based on the type and the date the offence was committed,” he said.On the appeal process, Adham said an investigation paper would be opened by the health inspector to assess the type of offence committed and the amount of compound to be re-imposed.He said investigation papers would be opened for four categories of offenders, namely persons with disabilities, the B40 group, students and those who could not afford to pay the compound. He said individuals from the B40 group would need to submit proof to enable them to appeal for a lower compound.Adham said the strict enforcement of the regulation and the increase in amount of compound was not intended to punish, but rather as a preventive measure to break the chain of Covid-19 transmissions as well as to encourage the public to always follow the SOPs set by the government.“Individuals who have been given (a lower) compound should immediately pay the compound to be eligible for the reduction,” he added.